THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

348-Everything but the Girl-Missing (Todd Terry Remix.)

1995-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 0.55. ‘Could you be dead, you always were two steps ahead.’ Which is probably taking trendsetting a little bit too far.

Everything but the Girl were formed in 1982, in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, by Tracey Thorn (vocals, and guitar) and Ben Watt (guitar, keyboards, and vocals.) The pair first met when both were attending the University of Hull, they were both also signed to the independent record company ‘Cherry Red Records’ as solo artists at that time. Both Thorn and Watt who had already had material previously released by the label decided to form a duo, and took their name ‘Everything but the Girl’ from the advertising slogan used by the Hull shop ‘Turner’s Furniture,’ situated on Beverley Road. The couple were also romantically involved, which was something they have always tried to keep quiet, they eventually married in 2009, and have three children. The duo’s early work has been described as ”Sophisti-Pop’ with Jazz’ influences,’ before undergoing an ‘Electronic Music’ turn, following the worldwide success of this song ‘Missing,’ remixed by Todd Terry (see also best songs 805.) In 2000 both Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt put ‘Everything but the Girl’ on extended hiatus, Ben Watt has said, ‘Self-awareness is a dangerous thing, by about the third or fourth record, people were throwing comparisons at us and you have to be very tough to withstand it. And by the end of the ’90’s, we were playing to 5,000 people a night. I’d stand on stage, looking out, thinking, “I don’t want to be this big.” Tracey Thorn stated in 2000 that she would no longer perform live. In 2023, 24 years after the release of their 1999 10th studio Album ‘Temperamental,’ the duo released their 11th studio Album ‘Fuse’ to critical acclaim.

The discography of Everything but the Girl includes 11 studio Albums released between 1984-2023, and 36 singles released between 1982-2023, there are also five extended plays, (EP’s) and nine official compilation Albums available. In the UK, 12 of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘I Don’t Want to Talk About It,’ (1988) and ‘Missing,’ (Todd Terry Remix) (1995) both peaking the highest at Number 3. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, their only top 40 entry remains ‘Missing,’ (Todd Terry Remix) which made Number 2, and at the time went on to break the record by spending 55 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

Tracey Thorn was born on September 26th, 1962, in Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire, England, since 2013 she has been active as a writer of books and essays. Tracey Thorn began her musical career in the ‘Punk-Pop group ‘Stern Bops,’ playing guitar, and providing some vocals backing between 1979-1980, before forming the ‘Post-Punk’ group ‘Marine Girls’ where she was the primary songwriter, the group released two Albums before disbanding in 1983. In the 1990’s she collaborated with the English ‘Trip-Hop’ group Massive Attack (see also best songs 733) on several projects, including the song ‘Protection,’ for which she wrote the lyrics and melody, and provided the vocals (1995-UK Number 14.) Tracey Thorn has issued five solo studio Albums between 1982-2018, and 13 singles within the same time period. She is also a successful writer, publishing her memoir ‘ Bedsit Disco Queen: How I Grew Up and Tried to Be a Pop Star’ in 2013, she has since had a further three books published. Between 2014-2022 she began a regular column called ‘Off the Record,’ for the British political and cultural news magazine ‘New Statesman.’

Ben Watt was born Benjamin Brian Thomas Watt on December 6th, 1962, in Marylebone, London, England, he is a musician, singer, songwriter, author, DJ, and radio presenter, and is the son of the Scottish Jazz bandleader Tommy Watt (1925-2006.) Ben Watt has released four solo Albums between 1983-2020, and 18 singles and EP’s between 1981-2021. In 2003 he launched his own independent ‘Deep House,’ and ‘Techno’ record label ‘Buzzin’ Fly Records,’ The label proceeded to foster the careers of young and emerging producers/DJ’s, as well as Watt’s own productions. In 1992, Watt was diagnosed with Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, (EGPA) which is an extremely rare and potentially deadly autoimmune condition. He eventually had 5 m (15 ft) of necrotized small intestine removed, (about 75%) leaving him on a permanently restricted diet. He later wrote the memoir ‘Patient,’ which is about his experiences with the disease and recovery.

‘Missing’ in it’s original form was written by Tracey Thorn and Ben Watts, and was released as the second of two singles from Everything but the Girl’s eighth studio Album ‘Amplified Heart,’ from June 1994, the original production was done by Ben Watt and John Coxon. Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt had originally written ‘Missing’ as a dance oriented track, but it was after asking the ‘Dance Music’ producer Todd Terry to remix it, that it really took off. The original Album version had stalled at Number 69 on the UK singles chart in 1994, with the Todd Terry remix eventually becoming the ninth best selling single in the UK in 1995. Todd Terry has revealed how Everything But The Girl were not initially sold on his ‘Missing’ remix. ‘The group and some of the label guys felt it didn’t fit their image. We fought for the record to come out. We believed in it, and believed that it was what that group needed at that time. In fact, the guys around me thought they were a lame group, and that I had given the track life, ha.’

‘Missing’ is a song that tells of great sadness, where the narrator although having not seen the person they are longing for, for possibly many years, still makes the long journey by train to where they once lived. The narrator has no idea where this person is, and for all they know they could be dead. Whether this person was a former lover, family member, of friend is not explained.

‘Back on the train, I ask why did I come again? Can I confess, I’ve been hanging round your old address, and years have proved to offer nothing since you’ve moved. You’re long gone, but I can’t move on.’