THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

363-Lady Gaga-Bad Romance.

2009-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.18. Rob Fusari who was Lady Gaga’s first music producer, and boyfriend until 2007, claims to have been the first person to call her ‘Lady Gaga,’ which he derived from the 1984 Queen song ‘Radio Ga Ga.’ According to Fusari the name was coined when on one occasion he attempted to call her ‘Radio Ga Ga’ via text message, but the spell check converted the word ‘Radio’ to ‘Lady.’

Lady Gaga was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, on March 28th, 1986, in Manhattan, New York City, United States. She is one of the world’s best selling artists of all time, with sales in excess of 170 million records, and in 2020 she became the first female artist to achieve four singles that have sold 10 million copies each globally, with ‘Just Dance,’ (2008) Poker Face,’ (2008) ‘Bad Romance,’ (2009) and ‘Shallow’ (2018.) In 2009 she became the first female artist to have three UK Number 1’s in the same calendar year, with ‘Just Dance,’ ‘Poker Face.’ and ‘Bad Romance.’ In 2015 Lady Gaga ventured into acting, winning awards for her leading roles in the American television miniseries ‘American Horror Story: Hotel,’ (2015–2016) and the American romantic drama musical film ‘A Star Is Born’ (2018.) Her contributions to the ‘A Star Is Born’ soundtrack, which spawned the Billboard Number 1 single ‘Shallow,’ made her the first woman to win an ‘Academy Award,’ ‘BAFTA Award,’ ‘Golden Globe Award,’ and ‘Grammy Award’ in one year.

The discography of Lady Gaga includes seven studio Albums released between 2008-2020, and 39 singles released between 2008-2024, there are also four extended plays, (EP’s) four soundtrack Albums, three remix Albums, two collaborative Albums, and two official compilation Albums available. In America on Billboard, six of her Albums have reached Number 1, while 27 of her singles have made the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, with five of those songs reaching Number 1, with ‘Bad Romance’ peaking at Number 2. In the UK, Lady Gaga has had 30 top 40 hit singles, with six of those tracks reaching the Number 1 position. Her two collaborative Albums are with Tony Bennett, (1926-2023) (see also best songs 868) which were released in 2014, and 2021.

‘Bad Romance’ was co-written, and co-produced by Lady Gaga, and Nadir Khayat, and was one of eight new songs recorded by Lady Gaga in 2009, and added to her debut studio Album ‘The Fame,’ first released in August 2008, to become ‘The Fame Monster,’ a deluxe edition of that debut, although in some countries the eight new songs were released as a stand alone extended play (EP) also called ‘The Fame Monster,’ and issued in October 2009. ‘Bad Romance’ was the first of four singles released from ‘The Fame Monster,’ and as for sales, ‘The Fame’ has gone on to become the 12th best selling Album of all time on Billboard, while ‘The Fame Monster’ was the best selling Album worldwide in 2010. Sales of both Albums combined are in excess of 17 million worldwide.

‘RedOne’ (see also best songs and 957 and 876) was born Nadir Khayat, (Arabic: نادر خياط, Nādir Ḵayyāṭ;) on April 9th, 1972, in Tétouan, Morocco, having been influenced in his youth by Abba, (see also best songs 44) Roxette, and Europe, he immigrated to Sweden when he was 19, to pursue a career as a musician. He chose the stage name ‘RedOne’, which is a pseudonym of the name of a friend of his called Redouan. RedOne and Lady Gaga were first introduced to each other in 2007, when contracted to the same management team. As well as ‘Bad Romance,’ the pair also collaborated on several other tracks on ‘The Fame,’ and ‘The Fame Monster.’ RedOne has released four singles as the lead artist between 2016-2019, and has appeared as a featured artist on a further 11 between 2010-2021.

‘Bad Romance’ is a declaration by the narrator that she will love her partner unconditionally no matter what. She wants her partner to hide nothing from her, and encourages them to open up totally emotionally. Lady Gaga name checks three Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) directed films in the songs lyrics ‘Psycho,’ ‘Vertigo,’ and ‘Rear Window.’ She also sings some of the songs lyrics in French, and was probably partly inspired to write the song after listening to the 1994 track ‘Self Esteem’ by the American Rock band ‘The Offspring.’ Lady Gaga has spoken about her inspiration for ‘Bad Romance, ‘I was in Russia, then Germany, and spent a lot of time in Eastern Europe. There is this amazing German House-Techno music, so I wanted to make a pop experimental record. I kind of wanted to leave the ’80s a little bit, so the chorus is a ’90s melody, which is what the inspiration was. There was certainly some whisky involved in the writing of the record. It’s about being in love with your best friend.

‘I want your psycho, your vertigo shtick. Want you in my rear window, baby you’re sick.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

364-Tiffany-I Think We’re Alone Now.

1987-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.09. Some Pop stars are so well known, that they are recognisable by just one name. There’s Elvis, and Madonna, and Kylie, and…er…Tiffany.

Tiffany Renee Darwish was born on October 2nd, 1971, in Norwalk, California, United States. At the age of 16 she became the youngest solo artist ever to have a debut Billboard Number 1 Album, and she also has the distinction of being the first person who was born in the 1970’s to top the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, with this song in 1987. Tiffany was singing Country & Western music at the age of 10, when coming to the attention of the American Country singer Hoyt Axton, (1938-1999) leading to her singing in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1984 she signed a recording contract with the music producer George Tobin who as well as producing her first two Albums, would also become her manager. After the failure of her first single ‘Danny,’ Tobin sent Tiffany out on a nationwide tour of American shopping malls. At first she was playing to small gatherings, but as word spread the crowds grew. This songs iconic video was recorded during the tour, with much of the footage used being from the end of the tour, when the audience was larger. By the end of 1988 her career had peaked, and she has never had a major hit single or Album since. She has attempted to resurrect her career in the years since, in 2002 she posed nude for ‘Playboy’ magazine, and in 2005 she became a regular on ‘reality’ television shows, including ‘Hit Me, Baby, One More Time,’ ‘Celebrity Fit Club,’ and ‘Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling.’ Tiffany has continued to record and tour, and at the time of writing she remains active as a performer.

The discography of Tiffany includes 11 studio Albums released between 1987-2022, and 44 singles within the same time period, there is also one extended play, (EP) and eight official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, five of her singles have reached the top 40, with ‘I Think We’re Alone Now,’ (1987) and the follow up single ‘Could’ve Been,’ (1987) both making the Number 1 position. In 1991 she was part of the ‘supergroup’ ‘Voices That Care,’ that reached Number 11 on the ‘Hot 100’ with the charity single also called ‘Voices That Care.’ In the UK, Tiffany has had four top 40 hits, with ‘I Think We’re Alone Now,’ charting the highest at Number 1.

‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ was the second of five singles released from Tiffany’s self titled debut studio Album from June 1987, the song was written by Ritchie Cordell, (1943-2004) with the production being by George Tobin. ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ was a cover version of the song which was originally recorded in 1967 by the American ‘Rock/Pop’ group ‘Tommy James and the Shondells,’ who took their version to Number 4 on Billboard, but it has never charted in the UK. At first Tiffany wasn’t keen to record ‘I Think We’re Alone Now,’ thinking it would be two old fashioned for her potential fan base, but after it was explained to her that the song is about teenagers wanting to spend ‘quality time’ together, which their parents wouldn’t allow, she realised the songs appeal to a young audience. Tiffany has recalled, ‘When I heard that my hit song had went Number one, I was washing dishes. I was doing my chores because I was a teenager, of course. My manager called me and said ‘Congratulations, you have the number one single in the country.’ I said, ‘You know what? I have to get off the phone because I have to finish my chores otherwise I’m going to be busted and I won’t be able to do anything.’ And, he’s like, ‘You don’t get it’… but I had to finish those chores.’ Tiffany has also said, Usually, I have that song at the end of the show and I’m looking forward to that moment and that excitement, I don’t look at it as a bad thing. It opens the doors to allows me to continue to do music and tell my story now. There still are some hurdles sometimes because I’m painted as the ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ mall tour girl,’ but I just keep pounding the pavement doing what I love.’

‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ was produced by George Edward Tobin, who is an American music producer, and is best remembered for discovering, managing, and producing the teenage singer Tiffany, and showcasing her in malls across the country. As well as producing three studio Albums for Tiffany, he is also notably the producer of ‘Sad Eyes,’ for Robert John, (1979-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 31) and ‘Being With You,’ for Smokey Robinson, (1981-Billboard Number 2 & UK Number 1.)

‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ was written by Ritchie Cordell, who was born Richard Joel Rosenblatt, on March 10th, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, United States, he died on April 13th, 2004, of pancreatic cancer, at the age of 61. Ritchie Cordell also wrote other hits for Tommy James and the Shondells, including their 1968 Billboard Number 3 & UK Number 1 single ‘Mony Mony.’ Cordell was also the co-producer of ‘I Love Rock ‘n Roll,’ the 1982 Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 4 single for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, he was also the co-producer of the Ramones seventh studio Album ‘Subterranean Jungle,’ in 1983. In 1987 Cordell hit the jackpot when the song that knocked Tiffany’s version of ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ off the top spot on Billboard, was Billy Idol’s live cover of ‘Mony Mony.’

‘Children behave, that’s what they say when we’re together, and watch how you play, they don’t understand, and so we’re running just as fast as we can, holding on to one another other hands.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

365-Diana Ross-I’m Still Waiting.

1971-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.46. I suppose the moral of the story is, if you’re a five year old girl, don’t fall in love with a 10 year old boy, because it will mess the rest of your life up.

Diana Ross, who as a solo artist (see also best songs and 900-519 and 28) and as a member of the Supremes, (see also best songs 1001-411-212 and 148) was born on March 26th, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, United States. She was first a member of the Supremes, originally called ‘The Primettes,’ between 1959-1970, where she achieved 12 American Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 singles, then she launched her solo career, and has had a further six chart toppers on Billboard, including ‘Endless Love,’ a duet with Lionel Richie, (1981) and ‘We Are the World,’ (1985) as part of the charity single recorded by the ‘supergroup’ ‘USA for Africa.’ For the solo discography of Diana Ross (see beast songs 28) and for the discography of the Supremes (see best songs 148.) Diana Ross is best known as a singer, but she has also had a successful career as an actress in films, and on television. Her first role was her ‘Golden Globe Award’ winning portrayal of Billie Holiday (1915-1959) (see also best songs 624) in the film ‘Lady Sings the Blues,’ (1972) becoming the first African-American actress to receive an ‘Academy Award’ nomination for a debut film performance, she also recorded its soundtrack, which became her only solo Album to reach Number 1 on the American ‘Billboard 200’ chart. She also starred in two other feature films, Mahogany, (1975) and The Wiz, (1978), and later appeared in the television films ‘Out of Darkness,’ (1994) for which she was nominated for a ‘Golden Globe Award,’ and ‘Double Platinum’ (1999.)

‘I’m Still Waiting’ was the first of two singles released from ‘Everything Is Everything,’ the second solo studio Album by Diana Ross, from November 1970, the song was written and produced by Deke Richards (1944-2013.) The Album was rush released in order to keep up the momentum of promoting Diana Ross as a solo artist, after the success of her debut release ‘Diana Ross’ less than five months earlier. ‘I’m Still Waiting’ was initially not intended for single release, but after the British DJ Tony Blackburn promised ‘EMI’ (the label distributors of all Motown tracks at that time) that he would play the song every morning on his BBC Radio 1 radio programme, they were persuaded. Blackburn was proved right as ‘I’m Still Waiting’ went on to spend four weeks at Number 1, becoming the best selling Motown song in the UK up to that time. In 1978 The Commodores, with the Lionel Richie penned ‘Three Times a Lady,’ which spent five weeks at Number 1, surpassed ‘I’m Still Waiting’ for sales, and became Motown’s best selling single in the UK. ‘I’m Still Waiting’ didn’t meet with the same success in the States, where it stalled a Number 63 on Billboard. The spoken part in ”I’m Still Waiting’ (‘Love has never shown his face…’) is not uncommon in Diana Ross’ songs, and dates back to her time in the Supremes. A good example is the Supremes song ‘Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone’ (1967-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 17.)

‘I’m Still Waiting’ was written and produced by Deke Richards, who was born Dennis Lussier on April 8th, 1944, in Los Angeles, California, United States, he died of esophageal cancer on March 24th, 2013, at the age of 68. When the star Motown writing team of ‘Holland Dozier Holland’ (see also best songs 969-823-650-553-411-212 and 148) left the label in 1967, Richards was one of the songwriters brought in by Berry Gordy to replace them, initially working with Frank Wilson, (1940-2012) (see also best songs 97) R Dean Taylor, (1939-2022) (see also best songs 969) and Pam Sawyer (see also best songs 519) as ‘The Clan,’ they worked together until 1969. In that time they were responsible for the two Diana Ross and the Supremes Billboard Number 1 singles, ‘Love Child,’ and ‘I’m Living in Shame,’ (see also best songs 1001-411-212 and 148.) After ‘The Clan’ disbanded, Richards stayed on at Motown, charged with writing and producing for the labels next big stars,’The Jackson 5.’ The new team of songwriters who Richards joined were known as ‘The Corporation,’ which also included Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren (1943-2004) (see also best songs 514) and Alphonso Mizell (1943-2011.) They guided The Jackson 5 (see also best songs 249 and 137) to early success with the songs ‘I Want You Back,’ ‘ABC,’ and ‘The Love You Save,’ ‘The Corporation’ disbanded in 1972. In the liner notes to the ‘Everything Is Everything’ Album reissue, Deke Richards said he wanted ‘I’m Still Waiting’ to be ‘simple and unassuming,’ adding, ‘Diana liked the song but the soft, vulnerable style took her by surprise.’

In 1990 ‘I’m Still Waiting’ was remixed by the British music producer ‘DJ Phil Chill’ (see also best songs 520) as an uptempo ‘Dance’ track, and released as a single, reaching Number 21 in the UK chart.

‘Love has never shown his face since the day you walked out that door. You filled my life with empty space, come back can’t you see it’s you I’m waiting for.’