THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

472-Libertines-Can’t Stand Me Now.

2004-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 1.43. The bands two main protagonists Carl Barât, and Pete Doherty had a turbulent relationship, they rarely saw eye to eye, and were often at loggerheads…. and they weren’t even married.

The Libertines were formed in London, England, in 1997, by Carl Barât, and Pete Doherty, they are both guitarists in the group, and also share the lead vocals, as well as being a songwriting partnership. The Libertines remained active until 2004, but reformed in 2010 for a brief period, to play the ‘Reading and Leeds Festivals,’ and then reformed again in 2014 to record new material and play live, and at the time of writing they remain active. In 1998 Carl Barât, and Pete Doherty were joined by Johnny Borrell, (bass) who was a group member until 1999, and in 2000 by Paul Dufour, (1948-2022) (drums) who was a group member until 2001. In 1999 John Hassall, (bass) and in 2001 Gary Powell (drums) joined the group, as their replacements.

The discography of the Libertines, who took their name from the French writer Marquis de Sade’s (1740-1814) unfinished novel ‘Lusts of the Libertines,’ (1785) includes four studio Albums released between 2002-2024, and 12 singles between 2002-2023, there are also four extended plays, (EP’s) one official compilation Album, and one official live Album available. In the UK, two of their studio Albums ‘The Libertines,’ (2004) and ‘All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade,’ (2024) both reached Number 1, while six of their singles have made the UK top 40, with ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ peaking the highest at Number 2 in 2004.

Pete Doherty was born on March 12th, 1979, in Hexham, Northumberland, England, at the age of 16, he won a poetry competition and embarked on a tour of Russia organised by the British Council. Pete Doherty first met Carl Barât when Barât was studying drama at ‘Brunel University,’ in Uxbridge, West London, and sharing a flat in Richmond, London, with Amy-Jo Doherty, Pete’s elder sister. The pair soon realised that they shared a passion for songwriting, and decided to abandon their university courses, and move into a flat together, which they named ‘The Albion Rooms.’ The working and personal relationship between Pete Doherty and Carl Barât was repeatedly put under strain by Doherty’s drug addiction, which has seen Doherty serve time in prison, and spend time trying to get clean in rehabilitation facilities. In 2022 Doherty stated that he had ‘Been clean since December 2019.’ Away from the Libertines Pete Doherty has released four solo studio Albums between 2009-2022, and four solo singles between 2009-2016. While still a member of the Libertines, Pete Doherty formed the ‘Indie Rock’ band ‘Babyshambles’ in 2003, and with ‘Babyshambles,’ he has released three studio Albums between 2005-2013, and seven singles between 2004-2013, with six of those singles reaching the UK top 40, with ‘F#ck Forever,’ peaking the highest at Number 4 in 2005, there are also three extended plays, (EP’s) one official live Album available.

‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ was the first of two singles released from the Libertines second studio Album ‘The Libertines,’ from August 2004, the song was co-written by Peter Doherty, Carl Barât, and Mark Hammerton, (1970-2021) with the production of the track, and it’s parent Album being by Mick Jones, formally of ‘The Clash,’ and ‘Big Audio Dynamite,’ (see also best songs 867-638 and 294) Jones had also produced the Libertines debut studio Album ‘Up the Bracket.’ Mark Hammerton, who was also known as Mark Keds, were the working names of Mark Myers, who was born on October 28th, 1970, in London, England, he died on January 11th, 2021, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, at the age of 50. Myers was best known for being a member of the English ‘Post/Punk,’ groups ‘Senseless Things,’ and ‘Deadcuts.’

The Libertines breakthrough in 2002 occurred at the same time as ‘Garage Rock’ was making a revival through the success of bands such as ‘The Strokes,’ (see also best songs 450) and the ‘White Stripes’ (see also best songs 324.) Of the Libertines sound Pete Doherty has said, ‘Oasis (see also best songs 1006-758 and 15) is the sound of a council estate singing it’s heart out, and the Libertines is the sound of someone just put in the rubbish chute at the back of the estate, trying to work out what day it was.’

Have we enough to keep it together, or do we just keep on pretending and hope our luck is never ending now. You tried to pull the wool, I wasn’t feeling too clever, and you take all that they’re lending, until you need amending now.’