THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

246-De La Soul-Say No Go.

1989-Number 18 single.

Best Bit-At 0.06. How do you explain De La Soul to someone who doesn’t know of them?

De La Soul (see also best songs 444) have been described as the ‘Hip-Hop Beatles,’ and also as the ‘Hip-Hop Hippies.’ Their debut Album ‘3 Feet High and Rising’ from 1989 was released at around the same time as when ‘Gangsta Rap’ was booming, performed by acts such as Public Enemy (see also best songs 578 and 37) and N.W.A. (see also best songs 664 and 128) The respected American writer Robert Christgau in his revue of the ‘3 Feet High and Rising’ Album in the ‘Village Voice’ in 1989 wrote,’An inevitable development in the class history of Rap, De La Soul is new wave, to Public Enemy’s Punk’,

De La Soul have issued nine studio Albums between 1989-2016, and 26 singles between 1988-2019, they have also appeared as the featured artist on a further seven singles between 1990-2019. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, they have reached the top 40 twice, with their 2005 collaboration with the ‘Gorillaz’ on ‘Feel Good Inc’ charting the highest at Number 14, while in the UK, 11 of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Feel Good Inc’ being the most successful, when reaching Number 2.

‘Say No Go’ was the third of six singles released from De La Soul’s debut studio Album ‘3 Feet High and Rising’ from 1989, the Album’s title comes from the 1959 song ‘Five Feet High and Rising’ from Johnny Cash. (1932-2003) The Album has been critically acclaimed as not only one of the greatest Rap Albums, but is recognised as one of the most important Albums of all time, appearing in many ‘best of’ lists. The Album is acclaimed for it’s lyrical content, and clever use of it’s numerous samples, it is also credited with introducing the Hip-Hop skit, a style of comedic sketch used both to introduce rap albums, and as interludes between songs.

‘Say No Go’ has song writing credits given to all three band members, along with the songs producer Prince Paul, although the track contains at least five prominent samples, only they are credited. The songs samples include ‘I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do’) from Daryl Hall & John Oates, (see also best songs 881) ‘That’s The Joint’ from The Funky Four Plus One More, and ‘Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms’) by The Detroit Emeralds. The songs message is about the evils of drugs, in particular ‘Base,’ which is Crack Cocaine, the songs title is a reference to Nancy Reagan’s 1980’s anti-drug campaign ‘Just Say No.’

David Jude of De La Soul who goes by the stage name ‘Trugoy the Dove’ has said,’Crack. We grew up around neighbourhoods where there was an epidemic. We knew drug dealers and some of us actually stood on the corner ourselves. We didn’t know about songs where people were boasting about being drug dealers at that time, so for us, speaking about social issues and things that were going on in our neighbourhood worked. Those three words, ‘say no go,’ kinda caught our ear, and we thought we could make that about not doing drugs.’

‘Now let’s get right on down to the skit, a baby is brought into a world of pits, and if it could’ve talked that soon in the delivery room, It would’ve asked the nurse for a hit.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

247-Mama Cass Elliott-Make Your Own Kind of Music.

1969-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.28. In 2005 the American television series ‘Lost’ used this song for the opening scene of series 2, episode 1, called ‘Man of Science,’ ‘Man of Faith,’ which is considered by ‘Spin Magazine’ to be one of the ‘Best Musical Moments From TV’s Latest Golden Age.’ As the man said,’I’ll see you in another life brother.’

‘Cass Elliot was born Ellen Naomi Cohen on September 19th, 1941, in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, she died in her sleep due to heart failure on July 29th, 1974, at the age of 32. Ellen chose the name ‘Cass’ in high school, probably due to her admiration for the American actress ‘Peggy Cass,’ (1924-1999) as Ellen was interested herself in becoming an actress. It was quite a while after that, that she took the name ‘Elliot,’ in memory of a friend who had died.

Prior to pursuing a solo career after the split of ‘The Mamas & the Papas’ in 1971 (see also best songs 660) Mama Cass Elliot had started out as part of the American Folk music trio the ‘Big 3,’ with whom she recorded two Albums with in 1963, and 1964. After the demise of the ‘Big 3’ which splintered into the Folk/Rock band the ‘Mugwumps’ she recorded one studio Album in 1965 called ‘The Mugwumps,’ as part of that quartet. That group stayed together for eight months, with Elliot then having a brief spell as a solo act, before being asked to join ‘The Mamas & the Papas,’ with whom she recorded six Albums between 1966-1971. As a solo artist Elliot released eight solo Albums between 1968-1973, with the five being released while she was still a member of The Mamas & the Papas,’ she also issued 16 singles in the same time period, with three of those tracks reaching the Billboard top 40 in America, and two charting on the UK top 40.

Mama Cass Elliot’s weight fluctuated, and she weighed over 300lb at times. She became a drug user and had admitted to having a shot of Heroin before going on stage, she also used Cocaine, the embarrassment of this led to Elliot plunging into a deep depression. It was while staying in an apartment in Mayfair, London, owned by the singer Harry Nilsson (1941-1994) (see also best songs 388 and 39) on July 29th, 1974, that she died in her sleep from heart failure, the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy found there to be no drugs in her system. Elliot died in Flat 12, 9 Curzon Place, where four years later on September 7th, 1978, ‘The Who’s’ drummer Keith Moon also died in the same room, also aged 32.

‘Make Tour Own Kind of Music’ was added to Mama Cass’ second solo studio Album ‘Bubblegum, Lemonade, and…Something for Mama’ from December 1969, after the moderate success of the single (Billboard Number 36) the Album was re-packaged, and re-named ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music/It’s Getting Better,’ increasing the track listing from 11 to 12 tracks. ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music was co-written by the husband and wife songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (see also best songs 782) and produced by Steve Barri (see also best songs 527.)

Mann and Weil who had also been responsible for Elliot’s previous hit ‘It’s Getting Better,’ first had the song recorded by the American Folk/Rock group the ‘Will-O-Bees in 1968, who would record a lot of their material. The song finally became a hit in the UK in 2018 when the English singer Paloma Faith released a very similar sounding version to that of Mamma Cass for a television commercial promoting ‘Skoda Cars, Faith’s version peaked at Number 28 in the UK.

‘Nobody can tell ya there’s only one song worth singing. They may try and sell ya,’ ’cause it hangs them up to see someone like you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

248-Manic Street Preachers-Motorcycle Emptiness.

1992-Number 17 single.

Best Bit-At 5.20.It might not be totally true, but lead singer James Dean Bradfield relates that while out busking one day in Cardiff he got into an altercation with someone (sometimes said to be a homeless man) who asked him, ‘What are you, boyo, some kind of manic street preacher.’

The Manic Street Preachers, also now often called ‘The Manics’ were formed in 1986 at Oakdale Comprehensive School, Blackwood, South Wales, where all the band members attended. The first line up consisted of James Dean Bradfield, (lead vocals, and guitar) his cousin Sean Moore, (drums) Nicky Wire, (bass and piano) and Miles ‘Flicker’ Woodward, (bass) Woodward left in 1988 claiming he was unhappy that the band were moving away from their ‘Punk’ roots. Woodward was replaced by Richey Edwards (guitar) in 1989 after the release of the bands first single ‘Suicide Alley.’

The Manic Street Preachers sound has altered over the years from ‘Glam Metal,’ and ‘Punk Rock, to ‘Alternative Rock,’ from around the release of their fourth studio Album ‘Everything Must Go’ in 1996, and the disappearance of Richey Edwards in February 1995 (see also best songs 901.) In total The Manic Street Preachers have released 14 studio Albums to date between 1992-2021, and 57 singles between 1988-2021. In the UK 33 of those singles have made the top 40, with two reaching the Number 1 spot.

‘Motorcycle Emptiness’ was the fifth and final single released from The Manic Street Preachers debut Album ‘Generation Terrorists’ from February 1992. The lyrics were written by Richey Edwards and Nicky Wire, with the music by James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore. The track has been interpreted by the band as an attack on the hollowness of the consumer lifestyle offered by capitalism, describing how society expects young people to conform. The lyrics were inspired by S.E. Hinton’s 1975 novel ‘Rumble Fish, which is about biker gang culture. The song was derived from two previous ‘Manics’ tracks,’Go, Buzz Baby, Go,’ which shares the same chord structure, and the phrase ‘motorcycle emptiness,’ and also ‘Behave Yourself Baby,’ that has the lines ‘All we want from you is the skin you live within”, similar to “All we want from you are the kicks you’ve given us” in this song. Some of the other lyrics are taken from the poem ‘Neon Loneliness,’ by the Welsh poet Patrick Jones, who is the brother of Nicky Wire.

Nicky Wire has spoken about his pride in the song,’It’s probably the four of us at our peaks, four people coming together to create that landscape of existential despair, because the production is almost cosmetic, it’s actually pretty timeless, it doesn’t sound like the 90’s. There’s just something about it, for such a complicated lyric, wherever you go, people sing along, that’s a pretty amazing trick.”

‘Culture sucks down words, itemise loathing and feed yourself smiles. Organise your safe tribal war, hurt, maim, kill and enslave the ghetto. Each day living out a lie, Life sold cheaply forever, ever, ever.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

249-The Jacksons-Blame It on the Boogie.

1978-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 2.42. This is confusing because Mick Jackson wrote the song, and Michael Jackson sang it. It was a complete coincidence….so don’t blame it on, anything.

By 1976 The Jackson 5’s (see also best songs 137) record sales were in decline, and they were also in a legal battle with Motown supremo Berry Gordy over royalty payments. This led to the brothers mutually agreeing with Gordy that they should leave Motown, with the exception of Jermaine Jackson (see also best songs 570) who was married to Gordy’s daughter, and he therefore stayed with the label to pursue a solo career. The remaining four brothers Jackie, Tito, Marlon, and Michael, (see also best songs 812-511 and 191) were joined by their youngest brother Randy, and signed a new contract with ‘Epic Records’ in 1976.

Due to Motown owning the brand ‘The Jackson 5,’ the brothers changed their name to ‘The Jacksons’, and recorded six studio Albums between 1976-1989. They also issued 17 singles in the same time period, of which seven made the top 40 in America on the Billboard chart, with ‘State of Shock’ charting the highest at Number 3 in 1984. While in the UK, 11 of their singles made the top 40, with ‘Show You the Way to Go’ reaching Number 1 in 1977. For the discography of ‘The Jackson 5’ (see best songs 137.) ‘The Jacksons’ officially split in 1989, but re-grouped to tour in 2001, with Jemaine joining them, and although they have released no new music, they have played together again since 2012, to the present.

‘Blame It on the Boogie’ was written by a different ‘Jackson’ called Michael George Jackson, who was born in Germany, on November 2nd, 1947, but was raised in England. He and his brother, and others played in a band that went by the name of ‘Mick Jackson,’ ‘Blame It on the Boogie’ was written in collaboration by Mick, and his brother Dave, and Elmar Krohn, with the intention of hopefully getting it recorded by an artist of the stature of Stevie Wonder. The song was circulated, and first off the mark was Bobby Colomby, a music producer who brought the song to the attention of The Jacksons.

In the UK, both The Jacksons version and the original recording by Mick Jackson were both released within a few days of each other in September 1978. The UK music press had a field day declaring it ‘A Battle of the Boogie.’ Mick Jackson got to do ‘Top of the Pops’ first, with The Jacksons appearing the next week. Radio 1 championed The Jacksons version, while ‘Capitol’ radio played the Mick Jackson recording, and even the music press chose sides with ‘Melody Maker’ on side of The Jacksons, and the ‘NME’ siding with Mick Jackson. In the end The Jacksons version peaked at Number 8, and Mick Jackson made Number 15, but of course the real winner was Mick Jackson, has he received the songs royalties as the writer. In 2003 Mick Jackson was quoted as saying,’The Jacksons’ version of “Blame It on the Boogie”: “[the original] version had 100% of our heart and soul in it, but the Jacksons’ version had the magic extra 2% that made it incredible.’

In total Mick Jackson released three studio Albums between 1978-1982, and was saved from being known as a ‘one hit wonder’ when this songs follow up,’Weekend’ reached Number 38, a cover version of ‘Weekend’ by ‘Wet Willie’ reached Number 29 in America in 1979. ‘Blame It on the Boogie’ has also charted twice since in the UK. In 1989 the Stock, Aitken and Waterman produced version of the song by the English Boy Band ‘Big Fun’ reached Number 4, and in 1998 the Dance Music act ‘Clock’ took their version to Number 16.

‘That nasty boogie bugs me, but somehow it has drugged me, spellbound rhythm gets me on my feet. I’ve changed my life completely, I’ve seen the lightning leave me, my baby just can’t take her eyes off me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

250-Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers-Why Do Fools Fall in Love.

1956-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.14. The founder of Motown records Berry Gordy based much of the sound of this band on the development of Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5, as well as many of his other Motown acts.

The group who would become Frankie Lyman & the Teenagers were formed in 1954 in Harlem, New York City, New York, United States. In total there have been 22 members come and go, with the groups one constant being Herman Santiago, as of 2022 they are still a touring band. In 1954 a 12 year old Frankie Lymon met with Santiago, and Jimmy Merchant, another founding member of the group who would become the Teenagers, and Lymon helped re-write an earlier Santiago/Merchant composition that would become ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love.’ As Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers they released one studio Album ‘The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon’ in 1956, and 12 singles, three of which reached the top 40 in America on Billboard, and also three which made the UK top 40.

Frankie Joseph Lymon was born on September 30th, 1942, in Harlem, New York, United States, he died of a Heroin overdose on February 27th, 1968, at the age of 25, having been an addict since the age of 15. At the age of 13 he became the youngest person at that time to achieve a UK Number 1 single with this song, he was surpassed in 1972 by Little Jimmy Omond singing ‘Long Haired Lover from Liverpool,’ at the age of nine years and eight months, a record which still stands. Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers have the distinction of being called ‘Rock Music’s’ first successful all-teenaged act, and in 1998 Lymon’s life was dramatised in the film ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love.’

The songs royalties have been the cause of constant dispute. When the song was first issued in 1956 on the ‘Gee’ record label, the labels owner George Goldner (1918-1970) added his own name to the credits, with later releases attributed to just Goldner and Lymon, leaving off Santiago and Merchant. When Goldner sold his record label to Morris Levy, (1927-1990) Levy replaced his name on the songs writing credits removing that of Goldner. After a lengthy court battle in 1992, Santiago and Merchant were awarded the songs writing credits, but in 1996 the ruling was overturned by the Court of Appeals under the stature of limitations and authorship, because Santiago and Merchant did not bring the case to court soon enough, with the songs rights being given back to Lymon and Levy.

In 1981 Diana Ross (see also best songs 1001-900-519-411-365-212-183-148 and 23) recorded ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love’ for her first single for ‘RCA’ since leaving ‘Motown,’ taking the song to Number 4 in the UK, and earning in excess of one million in royalties worldwide. This led to legal cases being brought to court by the family of the late Frankie Lymon. Lymon had been married three times during his short life, although two of those marriages were legally dubious. Eventually Lymon’s third wife, and probably the only legal one, Emira Eagle Lymon Bryant (1939-2019) was awarded Lymon’s estate, which is depicted in the 1998 film ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love, where Bryant is played by the actress Lela Rochon.

Oh wah, oh wah, oh wah, oh wah, oh wah, oh wah, why do fools fall in love? Why do birds sing so gay? And lovers await the break of day, why do they fall in love?

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

251-Roberta Flack-The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

1972-Number 14 single.

Best Bit-At 0.34. It is said that the songs writer Ewan MacColl disliked the many cover versions of his song. He had a special section in his record collection for them entitled ‘The Chamber of Horrors.’ He said that the Elvis Presley version was like ‘Romeo at the bottom of the Post Office Tower singing up to Juliet,’ and the other versions, he thought, were ‘Travesties: bludgeoning, histrionic, and lacking in grace.’

Ewan MacColl was born James Henry Miller on January 25th, 1915, in Broughton, Salford, Lancashire, England, After many years of poor health, having suffered the first of many heart attacks in 1979, he died following complications after having had heart surgery, on October 22nd, 1989, at the age of 74. MacColl was a Folk singer/songwriter, and a collector of traditional Folk songs. He was a Labour activist, and a communist throughout his life, and many of his songs were politically motivated. His extensive discography includes 17 solo Albums released between 1956-1972, and 41 Albums recorded with his third wife Peggy Seeger between 1958-1986. MacColl is the father of Kirsty MacColl (1959-2000) (see also best songs 32) whose mother was MacColl’s second wife Jean Newlove (1923-2017.)

MacColl wrote ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ in 1957 for (and probably about) his future wife, the Folk singer Peggy Seeger, with whom he was having an affair with, at that time he was still married to Jean Newlove. Seeger has said MacColl had been challenged to write a love song, given that his repertoire was largely political, and this song was his response. The first recording of the song was in 1960 by the Canadian Folk singer Bonnie Dobson, and over the course of the next few years the song grew in popularity, with versions recorded by artists such as Peter, Paul and Mary, and Gordon Lightfoot.

Roberta Cleopatra Flack was born on February 10th, 1937, she has released 19 studio Albums between 1969-2018, which includes two Albums in collaboration with Donny Hathaway (see also best songs 541.) She has also released 48 singles between 1969-2021, of which 11 have made the American Billboard top 40, while in the UK she has charted on six occasions. In America ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ spent six weeks at Number 1, and was the best selling single in that country in 1972.

Roberta Flack had originally recorded the song in 1969 for her debut Album ‘First Take,’ but it was not released as a single until receiving exposure in the 1971 Clint Eastwood film ‘Play Misty for Me’ (see also best songs 706.) The story goes that Eastwood first heard the song on his car radio while driving down the L.A. Freeway. He phoned Flack and said,’I’d like to use your song in this movie…about a disc jockey [with] a lot of music in it. I’d use it in the only part of the movie where there’s absolute love.’ The pair came to an agreement where Eastwood paid Roberta Flack $2,000 for the rights.

Roberta Flack has said about the song,’It’s a perfect song, second only to “Amazing Grace, I think.”It’s the kind of song that has two unique and distinct qualities, it tells a story, and it has lyrics that mean something. Because of it’s meaningful lyrics the song can be interpreted by a lot of people in a lot of different ways, the love of a mother for a child, for example, or that of two lovers. I wish more songs I had chosen had moved me the way that one did. I’ve loved most every song I’ve recorded, but that one was pretty special.’

‘The first time ever I saw your face, I thought the sun rose in your eyes, and the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave, to the dark and the endless skies.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

252-The Andrews Sisters-Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

1941-Has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 0.17. 1940’s ‘Girl Power’ that helped win World War 2.

The Andrew Sisters were made up of the three sisters LaVerne, (1911-1967) Maxene, (1916-1995) and Patty, (1918-2013) there was also a fourth sister Anglyn, who died at eight months old on March 16th, 1914, all of the sisters were born in Minneapollis, Minnesota, United States.

The Andrews Sisters (see also best songs 934) were at the height of their fame in the 1940’s, and are fondly remembered for boosting morale during the War years, where they would entertain the Allied forces in Africa, and Italy, as well as in the United States, where they would visit Army, Navy, Marine and Coast Guard bases, war zones, hospitals, and munition factories. With record sales in excess of 80 million The Andrews Sisters were the most successful girl group of the first half of the 20th Century, and the second best selling artists of the 1940’s behind Bing Crosby (see also best songs 934-457 and 259) They teamed up with Bing Crosby (1903-1977) on record on many occasions recording 47 songs with him, of which 23 charted on Billboard in America. The Andrews Sisters had in total 113 Billboard hit singles, of which 46 reached the top 10, and eight made Number 1, between 1938-1955, they also appeared in 17 Hollywood films between 1940-1948.

‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ was written by Don Raye, (1909-1985) and Hughie Prince, (1906-1960) who were commissioned by ‘Universal’ pictures to compose songs for the 1941 musical military comedy ‘Buck Privates,’ starring Bud Abbott, (1897-1974) and Lou Costello, (1906-1959) The Andrews Sisters who were also under contract at ‘Universal’ at that time were asked to perform the song in the film. ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ is heavily based on the 1940 song ‘Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar,’ which had also been written by Raye and Prince, and had been recorded by The Andrews Sisters in 1940.

‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ had originally been written for Lou Costello to perform, but with amendments it was decided that it should be performed by The Andrew Sisters. The song is about a renowned trumpeter who is drafted into the army, and is given the task of blowing the wake up call, which is known as the ‘reveille.’ He grows tired of this mundane activity, until the Captain empathises and drafts in other musicians, the bugler is inspired by this and he now plays reveille in his own ‘Boogie Woogie’ style, which has a positive effect on everyone.

In 1972 Bette Midler recorded the song for her debut Album ‘The Divine Miss M,’ it was produced by Barry Manilow (see also best songs 750.) When it was released as a single in 1973 it reached Number 8 on Billboard, bringing the song to the attention of a whole new generation. In 2007 Christina Aguilera (see also best songs 373) and Linda Perry (see also best songs 296) co-wrote ‘Candyman’ for Aguilera’s Album ‘Back to Basics,’ the song was a tribute to The Andrews Sisters, and ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.’

‘He was a famous trumpet man from out Chicago way, he had a boogie style that no one else could play. He was the top man at his craft, but then his number came up and he was gone with the draft.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

253-The Stone Roses-Fools Gold.

1989-Number 8 single. It re-entered the chart in 1995, reaching Number 25, and after being remixed in 1999, it once again charted at Number 25.

Best Bit-At 4.03. I can’t help feeling that if Ian Brown had stood closer to the microphone we would have heard him a little clearer.

The Stone Roses were formed in Manchester, England, in 1983, and remained active until 1996, they re-united in 2011, and parted ways again in 2017. In total there have been 11 official members of the group, with the classic line up consisting of Ian Brown, (lead vocals) John Squire, (guitar) Gary Mounfield, (bass) and Alan Wren (drums.) The Stone Roses (see also best songs 979) have released just two studio Albums, ‘The Stone Roses’ in 1989, and ‘Second Coming’ in 1994, They have also issued 15 singles between 1985-2016, with only their debut release ‘So Young’ failing to make the UK top 40.

The Stone Roses are one of Pop Music’s most critically acclaimed acts although they only released two studio Albums. Their mix of Rock, Funk, and Psychedelic Rock was the inspiration for many bands of the early 1990’s including fellow Manchester band Oasis (see also best songs 1006-758 and 15.) Noel Gallagher has said,’When I heard ‘Sally Cinnamon’ for the first time, I knew what my destiny was,” while his brother Liam has stated that they were the first band he saw live, and that seeing them perform influenced him to become a singer.

‘Fools Gold’ was taken from The Stone Roses critically acclaimed self titled debut studio Album released in May 1989. ‘Fools Gold’ was co-written by Ian Brown, and John Squire, and produced by John Leckie who also produced the Album. The song was initially planned as the ‘B’ side to ‘What the World Is Waiting For,’ but after their record label ‘Silvertone’ suggested ‘Fools Gold’ for the ‘A’side, the band and the record label compromised, and both tracks were issued as a double ‘A’ sided single.

‘Fools Gold’ is built around a loop from the 1970 song ‘Funky Drummer’ by James Brown (1933-2006) (see also best songs 880-349-270 and 88) ‘Funky Drummer’ is a song John Squire had first heard on a compilation Album he had picked up in a Manchester record store.’Funky Drummer’ is also one of the most sampled songs in the history of Pop Music, especially in the ‘Hip-Hop’ community. ‘Fools Gold’ also samples the bassline from a 1988 song called ‘Know How,’ by the English Rapper ‘Young MC.’

‘Fools Gold’ is a song about greed, with the lyrics written by Ian Brown who had got inspiration having seen the 1948 Humphrey Bogart film ‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.’ In the film friends go up a mountain in search of gold, and after being successful their greed gets the better of them, and they turn on each other, Brown has said,’That’s how it felt once the Roses started getting successful. Suddenly everyone was after their piece of gold.”

‘These boots were made for walking,The Marquis de Sade don’t wear no boots like these. Gold’s just around the corner, breakdown’s coming up ’round the bend.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

254-Peter Gabriel-Games Without Frontiers.

1980-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.16. Where you will hear one of Pop Music’s most misheard song lyrics. Some people hear ‘she’s so popular,’ I always thought she was saying ‘she’s so funky yeah.’ The actual lyrics are ‘Jeux Sans Frontieres,’ and were sung by Kate Bush, (see also best songs 866) who would later record the 1986 UK Number 9 hit single duet with Peter Gabriel called ‘Don’t Give Up.’

Peter Brian Gabriel was born on February 13th, 1950, in Chobham, England, before embarking on a solo career in 1975 he had been a founding member, and the lead singer of the Progressive Rock band Genesis (see also best songs 741.) Gabriel is one of the leading exponents in the making and promoting of the genre ‘World Music,’ which is basically music not associated with Western Countries. As a solo artist Peter Gabriel has released nine studio Albums between 1977-2011, and 43 singles, of which 10 have reached the UK top 40, with both this song and ‘Sledgehammer’ from 1986 both charting highest when making Number 4. In America on Billboard, five of his songs have reached the top 40, with ‘Sledgehammer’ making Number 1. In 2010 Gabriel was inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ as a member of Genesis, and in 2014 he was inducted as a solo artist.

‘Games Without Frontiers’ was taken from Peter Gabriel’s third solo Album ‘Peter Gabriel (Melt’) from 1980, and was written by Gabriel, and produced by Steve Lillywhite. ‘Games Without Frontiers’ is an anti-war song, comparing world leaders squabbling with each other like children in the school playground. The lyrics ‘jeux sans frontieres’ is French for ‘games without frontiers, ‘Jeux sans Frontieres was the name of a long running television programme broadcast in several European countries between 1962-1999, the British version of the show was called ‘It’s a Knockout.’ The show featured teams from different countries competing against each other in absurd games, and generally dressed in ridiculous outfits, such as large foam rubber suits.

Gabriel has explained the songs meaning,’I just began playing in a somewhat light-hearted fashion, ‘Hans and Lottie …’ – so it looked, on the surface, as just kids. The names themselves are meaningless, but they do have certain associations with them. So it’s almost like a little kids’ activity room. Underneath that, you have the TV programme [and the] sort of nationalism, territorialism, competitiveness that underlies all that assembly of jolly people.”

‘Andre has a red flag, Chiang Ching’s is blue, they all have hills to fly them on, except for Lin Tai Yu. Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games, hiding out in treetops, shouting out rude names.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

255-Buffy Sainte-Marie-Universal Soldier.

1964-Has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 2.01. One of the greatest anti war songs, but perhaps more poignantly, the most controversial of them all.

Buffy Sainte-Marie whose real name is Beverly Sainte-Marie was born on February 20th, 1941, on the Piapot 75 reserve, in the Qu’ Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Cree parents. As an infant she was abandoned, and then adopted by Albert and Winifred Sainte-Marie, who were a couple of ‘Mi’kmaq descent, who took her to live with them in Massachusetts, United States, where she grew up, attending the University of Massachusetts, earning degrees in teaching, and Oriental philosophy. Throughout her life Buffy Sainte-Marie has always fought for, and championed the rights of the indigenous peoples of the America’s. Between 1976-1981 she regularly appeared on the educational television programme ‘Sesame Street,’ helping with their Native American programming, and in 1997 she founded the ‘Cradleboard Teaching Project,’ an educational curriculum devoted to better understanding of Native Americans. Buffy Sainte-Marie has released 17 studio Albums between 1964-2017, there are also seven official Anthologies available. She has issued 13 singles between 1965-2017, with two of those songs reaching the Canadian top 40, and three making the UK chart, where ‘Soldier Blue’ from 1971, charted the highest when making Number 7.

Buffy Sainte-Marie wrote ‘Universal Soldier’ in 1963, after seeing wounded soldiers returning from Vietnam. The song is very controversial because it says that the soldier is the one to blame, he or she is the one who has the choice to fire, or not fire their weapon, he or she has the choice to follow or not follow the politicians orders. Buffy Sainte-Marie has explained some of the songs lyrics,’I’ve always worked very hard to make my protest songs bulletproof, when it says, ‘He’s 5-foot-2 and he’s 6-feet-,’ I didn’t make that up, those were the height parameters of the Vietnam War.” She has also stated that she wrote the song from the perspective of a student writing an essay for a professor who didn’t see eye to eye with her perspective, in the hope that people could see a different point of view.

‘Universal Soldier’ was never issued as a single by Buffy Sainte-Marie, and first appeared on her debut Album ‘It’s My Way’ released in April 1964. In 1965 the song came to the attention of the Scottish Folk/Rock singer Donovan, who recorded it as part of his ‘Universal Soldier EP’. In 1965 Jan Berry (1941-2004) of Jan and Dean fame (see also best songs 811) released as a single an ‘answer song’ to ‘Universal Soldier,’ presenting the opposite point of view, it was called ‘The Universal Coward,’ which was a scathing attack on anti war protesters. Jan Berry’s musical partner Dean Torrence objected and did not participate in the recording.

‘He’s the Universal Soldier and he really is to blame, his orders come from far away no more. They come from him and you and me, and brothers can’t you see this is not the way we put an end to war.’