THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

276-Rupert Holmes-Escape (The Pina Colado Song)

1979-Number 23 single.

Best Bit-At 2.32. They have both just found out that their partner has been cheating on them, so what do they do? They laugh for a moment and say,’ I never knew that you liked Pina Colada.’

Rupert Holmes was born David Goldstein on February 24th, 1947, in Northwich, Cheshire, England, at the age of six he emigrated with his family to Nanuet, New York, United States. Holmes has had a varied career as a successful singer/songwriter, musician, playwright, and author. He has released nine studio Albums between 1974-2012, and 18 singles between 1974-1983, three of which have reached the Billboard top 40 singles chart, with this song making Number 1. In the UK two of his songs have charted, with this song reaching Number 23, and the follow up ‘Him’ making Number 31 in 1980. His songs have been recorded by many of the worlds top artists including Barbra Streisand, and Dolly Parton, and as a music producer he has worked with artists including Sparks, producing their 1976 Album ‘Big Beat,’ Holmes is also a playwright, he made his professional debut as a playwright in 1985 with the musical ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood,’ in total he has worked on 18 musicals. Holmes has also written for film and television, most famously the American comedy drama series ‘Remember WENN,’ writing all 56 episodes, he has also written three books. Holmes has said of his varied career, ‘I have a feeling that if I saved an entire orphanage from a fire and carried the last child out on my shoulders, as I stood there charred and smoking, they’d say,’Aren’t you the guy who wrote the pina colada song?’

‘Escape (The Pina Colada Song) was the lead single from Rupert Holmes fifth studio Album ‘Partners in Crime’ from 1979, the song was written by Holmes, and co-produced by Holmes and Jim Boyer. Rupert Holmes got the initial idea for the song after seeing the personal columns in ‘The Village Voice’. He got to thinking what it would be like to arrange a meeting with a complete stranger, and then he let his imagination run wild, what if the stranger turned out to be his partner.

It had been a last minute decision to introduce pina colada into the song. The original lyrics written by Holmes were ‘If you like Humphrey Bogart and getting caught in the rain’, but Holmes felt that someone yearning escapism would want something more exotic sounding, and also more modern. Holmes thoughts turned to escaping to a vacation on a beach where you may order a pina colada, he has acknowledged that the last minute decision to change the lyrics changed his life.

‘Escape (The Pina Colada Song’) is the tale of a man who reads the personal advertisements in the newspaper and spots an ad that catches his attention, a woman seeking a man who among other things enjoys pina colada’s. He replies to her ad, and they arrange to meet, where on meeting they are both shocked to realise that they are each others partners. The morale of the story is give your relationship every chance to blossom, before looking elsewhere. The song was the last Number 1 on the American Billboard chart for the 1970’s, and after being knocked off the top spot the following week, regained the Number 1 spot again for the second week of 1980. At the time of writing the song is the 357th best selling song on Billboard since it’s inception in 1958.
‘So I waited with high hopes, then she walked in the place. I knew her smile in an instant, I knew the curve of her face. It was my own lovely lady, and she said, ‘Oh it’s you,’ and we laughed for a moment, and I said ‘I never knew.”

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

277-Nina Simone-My Baby Just Cares for Me.

1958-It did not chart in the UK until 1987 when it reached Number 5.

Best Bit-At 1.13. It is said that Sybil Burton (1929-2013) the ex wife of the actor Richard Burton (1925-1948) became incensed when she heard this song, having heard the lyric ‘Liz Taylor is not his style.’ Sybil and Richard had recently divorced, after Richard had left her for Liz Taylor.

‘My Baby Just Cares for Me’ is considered a Jazz Standard. A Jazz Standard is a song that is widely known, and performed often by many Jazz musicians. The song was written for the 1928 American Musical Comedy ‘Whoopee!’ which starred the American actor/dancer/singer/songwriter Eddie Cantor (1892-1964) who first introduced the song in the film, and went onto become one of his signature tunes. ‘My Baby Just Cares for Me’ was co-written by Walter Donaldson (1893-1947) who provided the lyrics, and Gus Khan (1886-1941) who wrote the melody, both had been commissioned to write the soundtrack for ‘Whoopee!’ which also included the other notable song ‘Makin’ Whoopee,’ also introduced by Cantor.

In 1957 Nina Simone recorded ‘My Baby Just Cares for Me’ for her debut studio Album ‘Little Girl Blue,’ (also known as ‘Jazz As Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club’) it was released on the ‘Bethlehem Records’ label in February 1959. Simone only recorded the Album as a way to financing her true love which was to become a Classical concert pianist, so she immediately sold the rights for the Album to ‘Bethleham Records’ for $3,000 (around 28,000 in 2020.)

‘My Baby Just Cares for Me’ remained relatively obscure until it was used in a 1987 television commercial for ‘Chanel No. 5’ perfume. To follow up the exposure the song was receiving, record companies fought over the rights to release the song as a single with ‘Charly Records’ winning the battle. Simone who had sold her rights to the song many years earlier, and had always had a tenuous relationship with record labels was outraged, claiming she didn’t receive any royalties.’They went behind my back and stole from each other like I was a slave. They took me and sold me, from one record company to another, because they couldn’t deal with me openly.’ It is probably the case that Nina Simone selling the rights to the song cost her well over one million Dollars.

Nina Simone was born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21st, 1933, in Tryon, North Carolina, United States, she had suffered from breast cancer for several years, before she died in her sleep on April 21st, 2003, at the age of 70. In 1954 in order to make a living she played piano in a nightclub in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and because her parents didn’t approve of her playing the ‘devils music’ she changed her name to ‘Nina Simone,’ ‘nina’ was a nickname given to her by a boyfriend, and ‘Simone’ was taken from the French actress ‘Simone Signoret,’ (1921-1985) whom she had seen in the 1952 movie ‘Casque d’Or.’

Nina Simone was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the late 1980’s. She was known for her temper, and outbursts of aggression, and after an incident in 1995 she was sentenced to eight month in prison, which was suspended pending a psychiatric evaluation, and treatment. In the 1960’s Simone was a prominent public figure as a civil rights activist for ‘The American Civil Rights Movement,’ with her own composition ‘Mississippi Goddam’ from 1964 becoming a well known song during the civil rights years. Another of Nina Simone’s best known songs is ‘To Be Young, Gifted and Black,’ which has famously been recorded by Aretha Franklin in 1972, and was a 1970 UK Number 5 hit for the Reggae duo of Bob and Marcia. In total Nina Simone released 19 studio Albums between 1959-1993, and 14 live Albums. Her only Billboard Hot 100 top 40 single was ‘I Love You, Porgy,’ which made Number 18 in 1959, while in the UK five of her singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Ain’t Got No, I Got Life,’ making Number 2 in 1968.
‘My baby don’t care for shows,my baby don’t care for clothes, my baby just cares for me. My baby don’t care for cars and races, my baby don’t care for high-tone places.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

278-N-Trance-Set You Free.

1994-Number 39 single. When it was re-issued in 1995 it peaked at Number 2. In 2001 it was again re-issued with new remixes, and this time reached Number 4.

Best Bit-At 4.23. Because they made one of the best Dance songs of the 1990’s, I think we should forgive them for some horrendous cover versions.

N-Trance were formed in Oldham, England, in 1990 by the Electronic music producers Kevin O’Toole, and Dale Longworth. The pair met at Oldham College in Greater Manchester, where they were both studying sound engineering. They were initially signed to ‘380 Records’ which was a subsidiary of the ‘PWL’ label which at that time was owned by Pete Waterman, (see also best songs 627) but they were not happy with that labels marketing, so they moved to the ‘All Around he World’ label in September 1993.

N-Trance have released three studio Albums between 1995-2009, and a ‘Best of N-Trance 1992-2002,’ in 2001. They have also released 19 singles, including the three re-issues of ‘Set You Free,’ between 1994-2009, of which 13 have made the UK top 40. The duo of O’Toole and Longworth have also had a further UK top 40 hit using the alias ‘Freeloaders’ in 2005, when ‘So Much Love to Give,’ reached Number 9. N-Trance remain active with Kevin O’Toole now being the only constant, as Dale Longworth split from the group in 1999. Since 1991 Lee Limer, also from Oldham, has worked as a dancer for the group.

‘Set You Free’ was the debut single from N-Trance, and was added to their 1994 debut studio Album ‘Electronic Pleasure,’ both O’Toole. and Lomgworth, co-wrote, and co-produced the Album, and the single. The vocals on ‘Set You Free’ were provided by a then 16 year old Kelly Llorenna, who was born in Slough, England, in 1975, but raised in Oldham. Llorenna has explained how she first met ‘N-Trance,’They came to my college and asked if anyone sung, and everyone replied ‘Kelly sings!’ Llorenna has said of the song,’When people hear the opening, which features thunder, lightning and rain, their faces light up, and the’re transported back to where they were. Kelly Llorenna went on to record further songs with N-Trance, and also has achieved five solo top 40 singles on the UK top 40 between 2002-2004.

‘Set You Free’ was inspired by a night out at the ‘Hacienda’ club in Manchester that Kevin O’Toole had in 1989. He has said,’They used to pass round pints of water, and a woman came up to me and I felt her heartbeat through her top, the song created a diary of what was happening at the time.’ Initially only 500 12 inch vinyl copies were made for promotional use in 1992, but slowly the record grew in popularity, and was pushed to even greater success by several remixes, it has currently sold in excess of 600,000 copies in the UK.

‘Oh, oh, yeah. When I hold you baby, feel your heartbeat close to me, wanna stay in your arms forever, only love can set you free.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

279-Perez Prado-Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White.

1955-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.01. Perez Prado may have written ‘Mambo No 5,’ but this was definitely Mambo’s Number 1 song.

Mambo is a genre of Cuban dance music that was developed by the Cuban multi-instrumentalist Orestes Lopez, (1908-1991) his brother Israel ‘Cachao’ Lopez, (1918-2008) and the Cuban flautist Antonio Arcario (1911-1994) in the late 1930’s. By the late 1940’s Mambo had become a dance craze in the United States, with bandleaders such as Perez Prado refining the genre. Prado adapted the fast Mambo rhythm to the American style Big Bands of the 1940’s, distancing the style away from it’s more traditional quieter Cuban roots.

Perez Prado was born Damaso Perez Prado on December 11th, 1916, in Matanzas, Cuba, he died of complications from a stroke after being in ill health for the previous two years on September 14th, 1989, at the age of 72. In 1949 Prado moved to Mexico where he formed his own band, after signing with ‘RCA Victor’ records in Mexico City. Prado had 23 Albums released by that label between 1951-1976, he also provided the soundtrack to four films in the 1950,s. His most well known compositions include his 1958 American Number 1 song ‘Patricia,’ and ‘Mambo No 5,’ from 1949. In 1999 ‘Mambo No 5’ was sampled by the German singer Lou Bega for his worldwide hit ‘Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit’) In 2001 the song once again topped the UK chart, when a novelty version by ‘Bob the Builder,’ from the BBC children’s television show, was sung by the British actor Neil Morrissey. Perez Prado who became affectionately known as the ‘King of the Mambo’ performed for the last time in 1987, but his son Perez Jr. continues to direct the Perez Prado Orchestra in Mexico City.

‘Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White’ is the English version of ‘Cerisiers Roses et Pommiers Blancs’ with the music written by Louiguy,’ (1916-1991) his other most notable composition is ‘La Vie en Rose,’ which became the signature song of Edith Piaf (see also best songs 178.) The French lyrics to ‘Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White’ were written by Jacques Larue, while the English lyrics were written by Mack David, (1912-1993) the older brother of Hal David.

Perez Prado’s instrumental with his orchestra, which features the very distinctive trumpet playing of Billy Regis, was first recorded for the 1955 movie ‘Underwater!’ where Jane Russell can be seen dancing to the song. When released as a single it topped the American chart, and went onto be the best selling song of 1955. The most successful vocal version in America was by Alan Dale (1925-2002) whose recording made Number 14, also in 1955. In the UK the Perez Prado version spent two weeks at Number 1, while a competing instrumental recording by the British trumpeter Eddie Calvert (1922-1978) also made Number 1, but for four weeks. The song also charted in the UK in 1982 for the British Pop/Salsa group ‘Modern Romance,’ whose vocal version peaked at Number 15.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

280-Pink Floyd-Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2.)

1979-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.17. And they say that school days are meant to be the best days of your life.

‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2’) was the first single released by Pink Floyd in 11 years. The band felt that the single format didn’t suit their music, as all their songs were parts of concept Albums. It was the groups producer Bob Ezrin who talked the band around to the idea of a single release, even coming up with the idea of giving the song a ‘Disco’ beat, which to a Progressive Rock group would have probably seemed abhorrent at the time. ‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2’) went on to top the chart in both America and the UK, and has sold in excess of four million copies. In the UK it was the Xmas Number 1 of 1979, and also the last Number 1 single of the 1970’s.

‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2’) was taken from Pink Floyd’s 11th studio Album ‘The Wall’ from 1979, and like the majority of the Albums other tracks was written by band member Roger Waters. ‘The Wall’ is a concept Album, and loosely deals with Waters life as an adolescent growing up after World War 2. In 1982 ‘The Wall’ was made into a musical psychological drama film called ‘Pink Floyd – The Wall,’ the screenplay was written by Roger Waters, with Bob Geldof (see also best songs 632 and 455) starring as the Rock Star character ‘Pink.’ The character ‘Pink’ was based on Waters himself, and also his ex-Pink Floyd bandmate Syd Barrett (1946-2006.)

‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2′) is a protest song, with Waters relaying the torrid time he had as child at school, where not only was he bullied by other children, but also by his school teachers. Waters has explained,’ You couldn’t find anybody in the world more pro-education than me, but the education I went through in a boys’ grammar school in the 50’s was very controlling and demanded rebellion. The song is meant to be a rebellion against people who have power over you, who are wrong.’ The lyrics attracted controversy, with the ‘Inner London Education Authority’ describing the song as ‘Scandalous,’ and it was also rumoured that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ‘hated it.’

‘The Wall’ is one of the best selling Albums of all time, with sales in excess of 30 million copies. The Album is Pink Floyd’s second biggest seller behind their 1973 eighth studio Album ‘The Dark Side of the Moon,’ which has estimated sales of 45 million. ‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2’) appears on ‘The Wall’ Album in a slightly different format to the songs single release. On ‘The Wall’ it follows on continuously from ‘Another Brick in the Wall Part 1, and ‘The Happiest Days of Our Lives,’ both of those songs were also written by Waters.

Roger Waters was born George Roger Waters on September 6th, 1943, in Great Bookham, England, and was the co-founder of Pink Floyd, following the departure of Syd Barrett in 1968, he took over as the bands main lyricist. Pink Floyd (see also best songs 992) were formed in London, England in 1964, and are one of the worlds best ever selling artists, with sales in excess of 250 million Albums. It was Syd Barrett who chose the bands name, using the names of his favourite Blues artists Pink Anderson, (1900-1974) and Floyd Council (1911-1976.) Waters left Pink Floyd in 1984, and has since released five solo studio Albums between 1984-2018)

‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2’) is about Waters schooldays, but the Album ‘The Wall’ explores his life growing up, including his Rock Star career, and the death of his father. Each event, and the problems that occur in his life, are ‘another brick in the wall.’

‘We don’t need no education, we don’t need no thought control. No dark sarcasm in the classroom, teachers leave those kids alone.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

281-Anne Shelton-Blues in the Night.

1942-Has never charted, there was no UK chart until 1952.
Best Bit-At 0.11. Another of the classic songs from the ‘Great American Songbook.’

The ‘Great American Songbook’ is an imaginary list of songs written and recorded between 1920-1960, often referred to as the ‘Golden Age’ of American music. The genre is created from songs that were popular in Hollywood Musical film, musical theatre, and Broadway theatre. To read about the other 30 songs from the ‘Great American Songbook’ in this countdown see the list at the end of this article.

‘Blues in the Night’ was co-written by the legendary song writing team of Harold Arden, (1905-1986) (see also best songs 934-634 and 68) who wrote the music, and Johnny Mercer, (1909-1976) (see also best songs 45) who wrote the lyrics. Arden and Mercer had been commissioned to write the entire score for the 1941 American Musical film provisionally called ‘Hot Nocturne,’ based on a play of the same name, but after the success of the song ‘Blues in the Night,’ the film was renamed after the song. Arden and Mercer had been told that the main requirement was to write a ‘Blues’ song which was to be sung in a jail cell, as usual with the way Johnny Mercer worked, he would have the music presented to him, and from there he would write the lyrics. In the film the song is performed by the African/American baritone William Gillespie, (1908-1968) whose appearance at that time was not credited, he later went on to serve in the army in World War 2.

‘Blues in the Night’ has been recorded on numerous occasions down the years, and was a hit on ‘Billboard Magazine’ five times in 1942, for Woody Herman, (Number 1) Dinah Shore, (Number 4) Jimmy Lunceford, (Number 4) Cab Calloway, (Number 8 and Artie Shaw (Number 10.) The other hit version was in 1952 for Rosemary Clooney which reached Number 29, the song has never charted in the UK.

The version of the song I have chosen is the 1942 recording by Anne Shelton OBE. She was born Patricia Jacqueline Sibley on November 10th, 1923, in Dulwich, London, England, she died of a heart attack on July 31st, 1994, at the age of 70. Shelton is remembered for providing inspirational songs for soldiers, in radio broadcasts, and also for making personal appearances at British military bases during the Second World War. In 1990 she was awarded the OBE for her work with the ‘Not Forgotten Association,’ a charitable organisation for disabled former service personnel from all wars. Two of her singles charted on Billboard in 1949, while in the UK she achieved five hits, with ‘Lay Down Your Arms’ making Number 1 in 1956.

‘My mama done told me, when I was in pigtails. My mama done told me, uuhm. A man’s gonna sweet talk and give you the big eye, but when the sweet talkin”s done, a man is a two face, a worrisome thing, who’ll leave you to sing the blues in the night.’
Here is the list of all 31 songs from the ‘Great American Songbook’ in this countdown. (see also best songs 944-934-887-842-808-775-706-687-651-634-567-457-396-385-370-343-321-295-286-277-259-252-231-226-185-100-82-68-73-68 and 45.)

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

282-Mary Mary-Shackles (Praise You.)

2000-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 2.34. So good they named them twice.

‘Mary Mary’ are the female American duo composed of the sisters Erica Campbell, who was born Erica Monique Atkins, on April 29th, 1972, in Inglewood, California, United States, and Tina Campbell, who was born Trecina Evette Atkins, on May 1st, 1974, also in Inglewood, California, They both married men called Campbell, (who are unrelated) which is why they both have the same surname. The Atkin sisters grew up in a family of eight children, and were brought up by very religious parents, their mother, Thomasina is an Evangelist, and choir director, and their father, Eddie, who died in 2013, was a member of the ‘Church of God in Christ’. On signing their contract to ‘Columbia Records’ in 1999, the sisters decided to perform as ‘Mary Mary,’ taking their name from two famous Mary’s from the Bible, ‘Mary mother of Jesus,’ and ‘Mary Magdalene,’ a follower of Jesus.

As ‘Mary Mary’ the sisters have released six studio Albums to date, between 2000-2011, and 19 singles, between 2000-2016, they also appeared on the charity single ‘We Are the World 25 for Haiti,’ released in 2010, which made Number 2 on Billboard on the American singles chart. In both America, and the UK, ‘Shackles (Praise You’) remains their only top 40 song, peaking at Number 28 in the States, and Number 5 in the UK in 2000. Both sisters have also had solo careers, with Erica issuing two solo Albums, and eight singles, and Tina also releasing two Albums, and six singles, including ‘Love Love Love’ from 2015, which featured Stevie Wonder.
‘Shackles (Praise You’) was the debut single released by Mary Mary, from their debut studio Album ‘Thankful’ from 2000, and was co-written by the sisters, and the songs producer Warryn Campbell, who married Erica in 2001. The song samples the much sampled 1984 track ‘Don’t Look Any Further,’ by Dennis Edwards featuring Siedah Garrett, and therefore that songs writers Dennis Lambert, (see also best songs 197) Franne Golde, and Duane Hitchings also receive writing credits.

‘Shackles (Praise You’) can be considered a ‘boundary breaking’ song. It’s message is from the ‘Gospel’ genre, but it became a crossover hit because of it’s R&B melody, this genre of music is known as ‘Urban Gospel.’ The song is one of only a few that has received extensive exposure on ‘MTV,’ and significant airplay on many ‘Contemporary Christian Music’ radio stations across America. As with many other contemporary Gospel songs ‘Shackles (Praise You’) received a lot of criticism, with many citing the song as too modern, and not staying true to it’s Gospel roots. ‘Mary Mary’ have hit back by saying,’It’s music that everybody in any style of music can relate to. It’s universal, but the lyrics are undeniably Gospel.’

‘Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance, I just want to praise you. You broke the chains now I can lift my hands, and I’m gonna praise you, I’m gonna praise you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

283-The Dubliners with The Pogues-The Irish Rover.

1987-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 3.20. The songs narrator appears to embellish the facts, perhaps he has had one or two many Guinness’.
The Dubliners were an Irish Folk band formed in 1962, in Dublin, Ireland, they were initially called ‘The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group,’ and remained active until 2012. The group were founded by Ronnie Drew, (1934-2008) Luke Kelly, (1940-1984) Barney McKenna, (1939-2012) and Ciaran Bourke (1935-1988) as ‘The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group,’ but shortly after being joined by John Sheahan they became ‘The Dubliners.’ In total there have been 12 different members come and go during the bands 50 year career. They recorded 17 studio Albums between 1967-1996, and 23 singles between 1964-2013. In Ireland 17 of their singles reached the top 40, with four of those making Number 1, while in the UK, three singles have reached the top 40, including ‘Seven Drunken Nights,’ (1967 Number 7 ) and ‘Black Velvet Band’ (1967 Number 15.) The Dubliners were by far the leading force in popularising Irish Folk music in Europe, influencing generations of Irish bands such as The Pogues, (see also best songs 35) and the Dropkick Murphys. They are held in the highest regard in Ireland, where their covers of traditional Irish ballads are regarded as the definitive versions,

This version of ‘The Irish Rover’ first appeared on The Dubliners 1987 double Album ’25 Years Celebration,’ which has 30 tracks, of which two are collaborations with The Pogues, the other track they recorded together is the traditional Irish Folk song ‘Mountain Dew.’ ‘The Irish Rover’ is also a traditional Irish Folk song, dating back to around the early 1800’s, the authorship is uncertain, but it has been attributed to J.M. Crofts. Others have come to the conclusion that it was probably written by a sailor, as there are nautical references.

The lyrics describe an unrealistically large 27 masted ship carrying a very colourful crew, and various types of cargo in impossible enormous amounts. The probability is that the amount of cargo carried has been exaggerated more and more down the years, for example ‘The Irish Rover’ carries ‘one million bags of the best Sligo rags,’ and travels with ‘five million hogs,’ and six million dogs,’ -which I think even ‘Noah’s Ark’ would have been jealous of. After seven years the voyage ends disastrously, when the crew contract measles, the ship loses it’s way in the fog, strikes a rock, and leaves the songs narrator as the only survivor, so there is no one else alive to contradict his tale.

‘On the fourth of July eighteen hundred and six we set sail from the sweet cove of Cork. We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks for the Grand City Hall in New York.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

284-The Four Seasons-Big Girls Don’t Cry.

1962-Number 13 single.

Best Bit-At 2.04. In the interest of gender equality 10CC whispered loudly that ‘Big boys also don’t cry’ (see also best songs 154.)

The Four Seasons were formed as ‘The Four Lovers’ in Newark, New Jersey, United States, in 1956, they would retain that stage name until settling on ‘The Four Seasons’ in 1960, with the recognised 1960’s classic line up of Franki Valli, (vocals) Bob Gaudio, (vocals, keyboards, and guitar) Tommy DeVito, (1928-2020) (vocals, and guitar) and Nick Massi (1927-2000) (vocals, and bass.) These were the four musicians who played on this song, and also The Four Seasons debut studio Album ‘Sherry & 11 Others,’ from 1962.

The Four Seasons are one of Pop musics longest active acts, and continue to tour to this day, with only Frankie Valli (see also best songs 83) from the original line up still performing. In total there are 12 members in the touring band of 2022, but since the bands inception a further 33 artists have been official group members at some point. They have also released music under 17 different names including ‘The Wonder Who?,’ ‘The Variatones,’ and ‘The Village Voices.’ The Four Seasons have recorded 21 studio Albums between 1962-1992, and approximately 100 singles under a variety of different names. In America on Billboard five of their singles have reached Number 1, while in the UK there only chart topper remains ‘December, 1963 (Oh What a Night’) from 1975 (see also best songs 739.)

‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ was co-written by the legendary songwriting team of Bob Crewe, (1930-2014) (see also best songs 914-863-739-499-393-164-112 and 83) and Bob Gaudio,(see also best songs 1007-914-863-739-499-393-164 and 112) who was also a member of The Four Seasons at that time. The song was released as the follow up to their Billboard Number 1 single ‘Sherry,’ which had spent five weeks at Number 1, and repeated the fete by also spending five weeks at the top, making The Four Seasons the first group in the Rock N’ Roll era to achieve back to back Number 1’s with their first two hits.

There are contrasting stories as to who came up with the song title ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry.’ According to Bob Gaudio he was falling asleep while watching a movie called ‘Tennessee’s Partner,’ when he was jolted awake by the on-screen noise of John Payne slapping Rhonda Flemming, whose character replied, ‘Big girls don’t cry.’ Gaudio claims he immediately wrote down the iconic line on a scrap of paper, before falling asleep again. When he woke the next morning he started writing the song. The problem with that story is that the line big girls don’t cry is never uttered in that film.

According to the other songs writer Bob Crewe, he was also dozing off when he awoke to see Payne attacking Fleming, although he claims he had also been watching the movie ‘Slightly Scarlet,’ in which the line does actually appear. Frankie Valli tells a different tale.’It was taken from a Clark Gable movie, then he tells a girl he’s leaving, and says that big girls don’t cry.’

‘Told my girl we had to break up, hoped that she would call my bluff. Then she said to my surprise,Big girls don’t cry.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

285-Pulp-Common People.

1995-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 4.38. A lyrical fanfare for the common man.

When Jarvis Cocker first played the melody to the rest of the band, bass player Steve Mackey burst out laughing, saying, ‘It sounds like Emerson Lake and Palmer’s ‘Fanfare for the Common Man (1977, UK Number 2 )

Jarvis Cocker has explained in detail over the years how ‘Common People’ came to fruition. ‘It all started with me getting rid of a lot of Albums at the ‘Record and Tape Exchange’ in Notting Hill. With the credit I went into the second hand bit and bought this Casio keyboard. When you buy an instrument, you run home and want to write a song straight away. So I went back to my flat and wrote the chord sequence for ‘Common People,’ which isn’t such a great achievement because it’s only got three chords, I thought it might come in handy for our next rehearsal.’

Anyone who has read about a number of the songs in this countdown will know that I am a great believer that nothing in Pop Music is totally original. I urge you to take a listen to the 1988 song by the Spanish Pop band Mecano, called ‘Los amantes,’ it’s similarity to ‘Common People’ will raise your eyebrows high.

On writing the songs lyrics, Cocker has said,’I always thought the word ‘common’ was an interesting thing. It would be used in ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’ as this idea of the noble savage, whereas it was a real insult in Sheffield (Cocker’s hometown) to call someone common. That set off memories of this girl that I met at college. She wanted to go and live in Hackney and be with the common people. She was from a well-to-do background, and there was me explaining that that would never work. I hated all that cobblers you got in films and magazines in which posh people would ‘slum it’ for a while. Once I got that narrative in my head it was easy to write, lyrically.’

Cocker had met the girl who had given him the idea for the songs lyrics at St Martin’s College, London, when they were both on a sculpture course around 1988. Cocker has said that he was having a conversation with the girl at the bar at college because he was attracted to her, although he found some aspects of her personality unpleasant. He remembered that at one point she had told him she ‘Wanted to move to Hackney and live like common people.’ In 2012 the ‘BBC’ set about locating the woman who had inspired the song, but they couldn’t find her. In 2015 the Greek newspaper ‘Athens Voice’ suggested that the woman who inspired the song is Danae Stratou, the wife of a former Greek Finance minister, Stratou had studied at St Martins between 1983-1988, and is the eldest daughter of a wealthy Greek businessman. Stratou has said,’I think the only person who knows for whom the song was written is Jarvis himself.’

Pulp were not an overnight success, (see also best songs 605) ‘Common People’ was their 15th single release, and their first to break in to the UK top 10. It was already a big hit before the other 11 tracks from their fifth studio Album ‘Different Class’ had been written, but the success of ‘Common People’ would inspire the band, and give them confidence. The songwriting for ‘Common People’ is credited to all five members of Pulp at that time, and the song, and it’s parent Album, was produced by the legendary music producer Chris Thomas (see also best songs 721-576-316-92 and 27.)

‘She came from Greece she had a thirst for knowledge. She studied sculpture at St Martins College, that’s where I caught her eye.’