THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

920-Stevie Wonder-Do I Do.

1982-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 7.46. Stevie Wonder’s attempt at Rapping, was more prankster, than gangster.

‘Do I Do’ was the first of four singles released from ‘Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium I,’ which was a compilation Album issued by ‘Tamla Motown’ records in May 1982, in order to fill the gap between Stevie Wonder’s 1980 ‘Hotter Than July’ Album, and 1984’s ‘The Woman in Red.’ ‘Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium I,’ collects together 11 previous top 40 1970’s, and 1980’s hit singles, five of his 1970’s Album tracks, and four brand new songs, including ‘Do I Do.’ The Album was issued as a double Album, with each sides last track being a brand new song,’Do I Do’ is the closing song on side 4 .

‘Do I Do’ was written and produced by Stevie Wonder, (see also best songs 843-834-682-570-503-366-205-152 and 65) and appears in all of it’s 10 minutes and 27 seconds on the Album version. The single edit at 5 minutes and 2 seconds cruelly omits the Dizzy Gillespie trumpet solo, and Stevie Wonder’s attempt at Rapping. Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993) was a boyhood hero of Wonder’s, and along with other notable names such as Nathan Lamar Watts, (bass) Dennis Davis, (1949-2016) (drums) and Paul Riser, (string arrangements) they and others contributed to song.

Dizzy Gillespie was born John Birks Gillespie on October 21st, 1917, in Cheraw, South Carolina, United States, he died on January 6th, 1993, of pancreatic cancer, at the age of 75, it is said that he earned his nickname ‘Dizzy’ for his erratic, and mischievous behaviour. Gillespie is best remembered as a Jazz trumpeter, who in the 1940’s became a major figure in the development of ‘Bebop,’ and ‘Modern Jazz.’ ‘Bebop’ is a style of ‘Jazz’ that features compositions characterised by a fast tempo, which usually exceeds 200 BPM. ‘Bebop’ is also noted for it’s complex chord progressions, with rapid chord changes, and numerous changes of key, instrumental virtuosity, and improvisation based on a combination of harmonic structure. There are several stories as to how the term ‘Bebop’ derived, with Dizzy Gillespie’s version stating that the audiences coined the name after hearing him ‘scat’ the then-nameless compositions to his players, and the press ultimately picked it up, using it as an official term. Gillespie has said,’People, when they’d wanna ask for those numbers and didn’t know the name, would ask for ‘Bebop.’

Other notable musicians on ‘Do I Do’ included Nathan Lamar Watts, who is a long term collaborator with Stevie Wonder, having played on all 10 Stevie Wonder studio Albums from ‘Songs in the Key of Life,’ (1976) through to ‘A Time To Love,’ (2005) His critically acclaimed bass playing has been singled out for plaudits on other tracks as well as ‘Do I Do,’ including ‘I Wish,’ (1976) (see also best songs 152) and ‘I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It’ (1980.) Watts whose musical education included attending rehearsals, and recordings of ‘The Funk Brothers’ (see also best songs 948-650-569-411-382-212-148 and 28) at ‘Motown’s Hitsville Studios,’ has also played on the Albums of dozens of other artists. The drummer on ‘Do I Do’ was Dennis Davis (1949-2016.) Davis who was born in New York, United States, was a session musician who is best remembered for playing on selected tracks over the course of 10 David Bowie (1947-2016) studio Albums, including on the Billboard Number 1 single ‘Fame,’ (1975) Davis died of cancer in 2016, at the age of 66.

Towards the end of ‘Do I Do,’ Stevie Wonder surprises us all when he lightheartedly starts ‘Rapping.’ Back in 1982 ‘Rap’ was still in it’s infancy, and somewhat of a novelty, and Stevie is obviously enjoying experimenting with this new musical genre. In 2001 the American Rapper ‘Ja Rule’ sampled ‘Do I Do’ for his Billboard Number 6, and UK Number 5 hit single ‘Livin’ It Up.’

‘Girl, I’ve got some chocolate kisses for your lovin’ baby, oh yea. Do you want some candy? Do you want some honey suckle? Do you want some chocolate dripping kisses full of love for you?’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

921-Drake-Started from the Bottom.

2013-Number 25 single.

Best Bit-At 1.37. He wears every single chain, even when he’s in the house. Now that is dedication to the lifestyle.

Aubrey Drake Graham (see also best songs 1043 and 858) was born on October 24th, 1986, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His father who is an African-American, is a practising Catholic, who toured as a drummer for Jerry Lee Lewis, (1935-2022) (see also best songs 678-362 and 99) and his mother is a Jewish white Canadian, she made a cameo appearance in this songs official video. Drake has two very famous uncle’s, one is Larry Graham, a former member of ‘Sly and the Family Stone, (see also best songs 589) and founder of ‘Graham Central Station,’ and the other is Teenie Hodges, (1945-2014) who is best remembered for his work with Al Green, and Ann Peebles, as a songwriter and guitarist. In his youth Drake attended a Jewish day school, and had a ‘Bar Mitzvah’ when reaching the age of 13.

Since releasing his first music in 2006, Drake has gone on to become the best selling ‘Rap’ artist of all time, with sales at the time of writing in excess of 170 million records sold worldwide. As well as being amongst the best selling artists of all time, Drake also holds many records, including, being the best selling artist of the 2010’s decade. He has had (at the time of writing) the most top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles, (67) and the most top 100 chart entry’s, (293) these are songs that Drake has appeared on as either lead, or as a featured artist. He additionally has the most Number 1 singles on the ‘R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay,’ ‘Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs,’ ‘Hot Rap Songs,’ and ‘Rhythmic Airplay’ charts, on Billboard in America. Drake has been cited as an influential figure in popularising the bringing together of both singing, and Rapping, in his fusing of ‘R&B,’ and ‘Hip-Hop’ music.

The extensive discography of Drake includes seven studio Albums released between 2010-2022, and seven Mixtapes that have been issued between 2006-2020. There are also three compilation Albums, released between 2009-2019, and one collaborative Album, ‘Her Loss,’ (with 21 Savage) which was issued in 2022. Drake has officially released 143 singles, as either the lead or featured artist at the time of writing, but he has also appeared on/or charted on dozens of other tracks by other artists, through either promotional release, digital downloads, or airplay. By the end of 2022, as the lead artist, in Canada, Drake has charted within the ‘Canadian Hot 100’ top 40 on 46 occasions, with eight of those tracks reaching Number 1. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, he has had 54 top 40 hits, and also reached the top spot on eight occasions, while in the UK, he has charted within the top 40 on 35 occasions, with five of those singles making Number 1. For more on the discography of Drake (see best songs 858.)

‘Started from the Bottom’ was the first of seven singles released from ‘Nothing Was the Same,’ the third studio Album by Drake from September 2013. The song was co-written by Drake, Mike Zombie, and Drake’s long term collaborator Noah ’40’ Shebib, with the production being by Zombie and Shebib. The songs backing track which was created by Zombie, features a sample of the 2008 Ambient piece ‘Ambessence Piano & Drones 1,’ by the Argentinian composer Bruno Sanfilippo. In the song Drake is telling us that to have got to this point in his life wasn’t easy, and there has been many obstacles to overcome. He wrote the song in response to other Rappers who had claimed that Drake’s upbringing was a lot easier than their own. Drake counters by saying that he also had problems to overcome in his youth, just different ones.

Commenting on his reasons for writing the songs lyrics Drake has said,’I feel sometimes that people don’t have enough information about my beginnings, and therefore they make up a life story for me that isn’t consistent with actual events. My family, and my second family, consisting of the best friends anybody could ever have, all struggled and worked extremely hard to make all this happen. I did not buy my way into this spot and it was the furthest thing from easy to achieve. I am proud of every part of my past, and I’m excited for this song to find a place in your life as well.’

‘We just want the credit where it’s due, I’ma worry ’bout me, give a f..k about you. N…a, just as a reminder to myself, I wear every single chain, even when I’m in the house.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

922-Lil Louis-French Kiss.

1989-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 7.03. The poor girl sounds like she is completely exhausted from dancing to this song. I think she needs a lay down.

Lil Louis was born Marvin Burns on May 13th, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, he has also worked under the stage names ‘Li’l Louis & the World,’ and ‘Li’l Louis & the Party.’ He is one of the many musicians name checked on the track ‘Teachers,’ on Daft Punk’s (see also best songs 140) 1997 Album ‘Homework.’ In January 2015, he suffered permanent sound-induced hearing loss in his left ear during a soundcheck in Manchester, England, when a compressed air horn was let off in close proximity to him. He is songwriter and producer of ‘House Music,’ (see also best songs 981) with his discography including two studio Albums released in 1989 and 1992. He has also released 11 singles between 1987-2001, with his only entry on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in America being ‘French Kiss,’ which reached a peak of Number 50, although three of his songs have made the Number 1 spot on the Billboard ‘Dance Club Songs’ chart. In the UK, Lil Louis has reached the top 40 on three occasions, with ‘I Called U (But You Weren’t There,’) reaching Number 16 in 1990, and ‘How’s Your Evening So Far?,’ with Josh Wink, making Number 23 in 2000.

‘French Kiss’ was co-written by Lil Louis and Kariana Johnson, with the production being by Lil Louis, and is track 4 on Lil Louis’ debut studio Album ‘From the Mind of Lil Louis,’ from 1989. Kariana Johnson receives songwriting credit for the ‘moaning vocals’ on the track, which she also performed. Initially ‘French Kiss’ wasn’t banned by radio stations, with many having their knuckles wrapped for playing it. In the UK, the ‘Home Secretary’ at that time ‘Jack Straw’ told the ‘Times’ newspaper that his nine year old son could not understand ‘Why so many people should buy a record of a woman panting, then groaning, interspersed with the occasional mumbled phrase.’

‘French Kiss’ has been critically acclaimed on many occasions, with the American ‘Electronic Dance Music’ producer Armand van Helden (see also best songs 645 and 138) saying,’This song is my first introduction to ‘Trance’ because, to me, it’s a serious ‘House’ track. It was for real House enthusiasts at the time. It’s a simple track which builds, it’s very Electronic. It’s full of Soul. It’s very sexual. It’s the first dance track I’ve known to date to change BPM’s drastically. I’ve never heard of an Electronic track that had the balls to do that.’ The British DJ and music producer Pete Tong has said,’It is one of the most important riffs ever written in House Music, and frequently imitated, but never bettered. You can hear its influence in almost 50% of House music that comes out in Europe.’ In 2015 the global magazine ‘Time Out’ included ‘French Kiss’ in it’s list of ‘The 20 Best House Tracks Ever,’ writing,’This number from Chicago’s Lil’ Louis was one of the first House tracks to enjoy both considerable commercial success and heavy club airplay on its release. Even one listen to its infectious, unrelenting groove and orgasmic tempo shifts is enough to understand why it got everyone so excited.

‘French Kiss’ was originally written as an instrumental, (apart from the moaning bit) but once the song took off in the clubs and in the charts, lyrics were written. There are many unreleased versions of the track, in the United States there are re-makes of the song with vocals provided by the American singer Shawn Christopher, while in Europe the vocals were provided by a female singer going by the name of ‘Pasquale.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

923-The Bellamy Brothers-Let Your Love Flow.

1976-Number 7 single. When re-issued in 2008, it reached Number 21.

Best Bit-At 0.44. Unlike the ‘Walker’s,’ and the ‘Righteous,’ and the ‘Beyond’s,’ these two are actually real brothers.

The Bellamy Brothers are the American ‘Pop,’ and ‘County’ duo of Homer Howard Bellamy, who was born on February 2nd, 1946, in Dade City, Florida, United States, and his younger brother David Milton Bellamy, who was born on September 16th, 1950, also in Dade City. The brothers first major breakthrough occurred in 1974 when they were introduced to the American singer/songwriter Jim Stafford. Together David Bellamy and Jim Stafford co-wrote ‘Spiders & Snakes,’ which would go on to make Number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, and Number 14 in the UK, in 1974. Homer Bellamy who was now using his middle name ‘Howard’ as his stage name, took on the role of road manager to Stafford. In 1975 the duo were signed to the ‘Curb Records’ label, where David released an unsuccessful single called ‘Nothin’ Heavy,’ which was just prior to the big breakthrough hit,’Let Your Love Flow.’

The Discography of The Bellamy Brothers includes 37 studio Albums released between 1976-2021, and 85 singles that have been issued between 1976-2019, there are also 19 official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, they have charted twice within the top 40, with ‘Let Your Love Flow’ going all the way to Number 1, and ‘If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me,’ reaching Number 39 in 1979. In the UK the same two songs remain their only chart entry’s, with ‘If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me,’ making Number 3. The Bellamy Brothers have found their greatest chart success on the American Billboard ‘Hot Country Songs’ chart where 35 of their singles have made that charts top 40, with 10 of those tracks reaching Number 1.

‘Let Your Love Flow’ was the debut single from The Bellamy Brothers, and also the title of their debut studio Album from 1976. ‘Let Your Love Flow’ was written by Larry E. Williams, and produced by Phil Gernhard, (1940-2008) (see also best songs 803) and Tony Scotti. The songs composer Larry Eugene Williams had been a roadie working for Neil Diamond (see also best songs 536-426 and 13) on his live shows. Williams offered the song to Diamond who turned it down, and then according to Howard Bellamy, the song was next offered to the American ‘Rockabilly’, and ‘Blue Eyed Soul’ singer Johnny Rivers who also passed it up, before Williams offered it to The Bellamy Brothers. ‘Let Your Love Flow’ was also recorded by the American ‘Pop/Folk’ singer Gene Cotton in the autumn of 1975 for single release, but it is unsure who actually recorded the first version.

Howard Bellamy has recalled how it paid off to be in the right place at the right time,’Around ’74, we moved from Florida to L.A. to kind of pursue a career. We’re from here in Central Florida in a little community called Darby, there is not much of a music scene here, to say the least. So we moved out there and met a lot of guys and met Neil Diamond’s band, became good friends with his band. And one day Neil’s drummer came over to our house and brought the demo of ‘Let Your Love Flow,’ and said, ‘Hey, this sounds like something you guys would do.’ So we went off to record that, and the rest is kind of history. It became not only the largest song of that year, it’s become somewhere in the area of one of the largest songs ever, as far as being played. And it’s become a standard, basically. I wish another one of those would come along.’ Bellamy has also gone on to say,’I would say the guy who wrote this song is the wealthiest roadie now that ever was.’

In 2008 ‘Let Your Love Flow’ was used in a television commercial to promote ‘Barclay’s Bank’s ‘Barclaycard’ in it’s contactless format, this brought the song to the attention of a whole new generation, and put it back in the UK top 40 again. David Bellamy said,’We had no idea the song ‘Let Your Love Flow’ had been licensed to Barclay for an advertisement until after the single started climbing the charts in England. Any artist is always thrilled when one of your signature songs has longevity like this because it was thirty-two years ago when we first released the tune.’

‘There’s a reason for the sunshine sky, and there’s a reason why I’m feelin’ so high. Must be the season when those love lights shine all around us. So let that feeling grab you deep inside, send you reeling where your love can’t hide, and then go stealing through the moonlit nights with your lover.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

924-The Special A.K.A featuring Rico-Too Much Too Young.

1980-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.56. Dr. Hall’s family planning classes.

The Specials, (see also best songs 372) also known as ‘The Special A.K.A’ were formed in Coventry, England, in 1977, the group remains active at the time of writing, with just the founding members Lynval Golding, and Horace Panter being the current line up. The Specials were the leading protagonists in what was to become known as ‘The Second Wave of Ska,’ which occurred in the late 1970’s, and into the early 1980’s, in the UK. The Specials music combines the danceable rhythms of ‘Ska’ and ‘Rocksteady,’ with the energy and attitude of ‘Punk.’ ‘Ska’ music was a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950’s, and was the precursor to ‘Rocksteady,’ and ‘Reggae.’ The Specials were also notable for their fashion, wearing ‘Mod-style’ 1960’s period ‘Rude Boy’ outfits, including pork pie hats, tonic and mohair suits, and loafers.’

‘Too Much Too Young’ first appeared on The Specials self titled debut studio Album from October 1979 in it’s full 6.06 version, the track and it’s parent Album were both produced by Elvis Costello (see also best songs 836.) The version I have chosen is the live version recorded in London, and issued as one of five tracks on The Specials 1980 live ‘EP,”The Special A.K.A. Live!’ Two of the tracks were recorded in London in 1979, and the other three recorded in Coventry, also in 1979, the other four tracks apart from ‘Two Much Too Young’ are all cover versions of 1960’s Jamaican Ska, and Reggae songs.

‘Too Much Too Young’ was written by The Specials founding member Jerry Dammers, with the live version also produced by Dammers, and long term Specials collaborator Dave Jordan. The song borrows the melody, (speeding it up) and also the subject matter of the 1969 Reggae song ‘Birth Control,’ by the Jamaican Reggae singer Lloyd Charmers (1938-2012.) Dammers has explained how a real life experience led him to write ‘Too Much Too Young,”I nearly had a thing with a married woman and, it didn’t happen in the end, obviously because she was married, so there was all that sort of rage and frustration of a young man. The song kind of got a happy ending because, obviously, the kid came first. So behind all that rage it’s actually quite nice, because we both walked away from it for the sake of the kid.’

The lead vocals on ‘Too Much Too Young’ were provided by Terry Hall who was born Terence Edward Hall on March 19th, 1959, in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, he died on December 18th, 2022, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 63. Hall has said that he suffered from lifelong depression after being abducted by a paedophile ring, and then having been sexually abused by them at the age of 12 while on a trip to France. In 2004 he attempted suicide, and following that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Terry Hall became the lead singer with The Specials in early 1979, and remained with the group through until the summer of 1981, when he and his band mates, Lynval Golding, and Neville Stalple, left to form the ‘Fun Boy Three.’ The discography of Terry Hall includes four studio Albums with ‘The Specials,’ two with the ‘Fun Boy Three,’ and a further two with ‘The Colourfield.’ He also released an Album as part of ‘Terry, Blair & Anouchka,’ and an Album with Dave Stewart, (see also best songs 562) ) as one half of the duo ‘Vegas.’ Hall also issued an Album with the English singer/songwriter ‘Mushtaq’ in 2003, and two solo Albums in 1994 and 1997.

‘Two Much Too Young’ topped the UK top 40 for two weeks in February 1980, becoming only the second ever ‘EP’ to reach Number 1, the first having been ‘The Roussos Phenomenon EP,’ from Demis Roussos (1946-2015) in 1976. ‘Too Much Too Young’ was also the first live recording to make Number 1 in the UK since Billy Connolly’s ‘D.I.V.O.R.C.E.’ in 1975, and at 2.04, it would go on to become the shortest song to top the UK chart in the 1980’s.

‘Too Much Too Young’ pulls no punches, it tells us that getting pregnant at a very young age is stupid, and you have wasted a lot of opportunities you can no longer pursue. It also warns that when having sex, you must use protection.

‘Ain’t you heard of the starving millions, ain’t you heard of contraception. Do you really a program of sterilisation, state control of the population boom. It’s in your living room, keep a generation gap, try wearing a cap.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

925-Prodigy-No Good (Start the Dance.)

1994-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.28. I suppose if you are one of the main innovators of new musical genres that are embraced by millions, then you are quite entitled to call yourselves, ‘Prodigy.’

The Prodigy (see also best songs 151) were formed in Braintree, Essex, England, in 1990, through a chance encounter the previous year, when Keith Flint (1969-2019) met Liam Howlett at a ‘Rave’ that Howlett was DJing. Flint was so impressed with Howlett’s performance, and after requesting, and receiving a ‘mixtape’ from Howlett, on a cassette, they decided to get together and form the band along with Flint’s friend, the keyboardist, and dancer Leeroy Thornhill, and the vocalist Maxim Reality. The original line up was completed by the female dancer and vocalist ‘Sharky. At the time of writing only Howlett and Maxim Reality remain as the current members of the Prodigy, as Sharky left the group in February 1991, just four months after becoming a member. Leeroy Thornhill stayed until 2000, appearing on the first three Prodigy Albums, and Keith Flint was still a member of the group when he was found dead on March 4th, 2019, at the age of 49. The Prodigy who have sold in excess of 25 million records worldwide took their name from the ‘Moog Prodigy’ synthesizer, which Howlett in his early youth had initially used to make music on.

The Prodigy released their debut single ‘Charly’ (UK Number 3) in August, 1991, which sampled dialogue from the ‘Charley Says’ series of animated films aimed at children, and produced and released by the ‘Central Office of Information,’ The song became a hit on the ‘Rave’ scene, leading to a spate of tracks mixing Dance and Rave tracks with cartoon samples, such as ‘A Trip to Trumpton,’ by Urban Hype (UK Number 6-1992) and ‘Sesame’s Treet,’ by Smart E’s,’ (UK Number 2-1992.) Although these songs were a hit with clubbers, and the general public, the fad was dismissed by music critics who called these songs ‘Kiddie Rave,’ and ‘Toytown Techno.’

The music produced by the Prodigy can be described as a mixture of ‘Techno,”Breakbeat Hardcore,”Hardcore Techno,’ and ‘Rave,’ The Prodigy, and mainly because of Liam Howlett, are considered to have pushed forward the boundaries of ‘Electronic Dance Music’ in it’s development, alongside other 1990’s Dance acts, including the Chemical Brothers, (see also best songs 300 and 53) and Fatboy Slim (see also best songs 950-760-387 and 95.) These three artists and others made ‘Big Beat’ Electronic Music.’Big Beat’ features heavy and distorted drum beats at tempos between 100, and 140 beats per minute, These tracks are often accompanied by ‘Punk’ style vocals, and sounds such as spoken word samples, and dialogue from film and television. ‘Big Beat’ tracks have distorted synthesizer basslines, with conventional Pop, House and Techno song structures, and sounds that includes ‘crescendos,’ ‘builds’, ‘drops,’ and extended ‘drum rolls.’

‘No Good (Start the Dance’) was the second of four singles released from the Prodigy’s second studio Album ‘Music for the Jilted Generation,’ from July 1994. ‘No Good (Start the Dance’) was written and produced by Liam Howlett, and features two prominent samples. One is the 1971 song ‘Funky Nassau’ from the Nassau, Bahamas based Funk group ‘The Beginning of the End,’ and the other is a vocal lift from the 1987 ‘House/Garage House’ track ‘You’re No Good for Me,’ by the American singer Kelly Charles. The vocal sample of ‘You’re No Good for Me’ has been used on numerous other songs over the years, including on hits for ‘Hithouse,’ with ‘Jack to the sound of the Underground,’ (UK Number 14-1988) and Oxide & Neutrino’ with ‘No Good 4 Me,’ (UK Number 6-2000.)

‘Come on, who can, who can, can hear the bass drum? You’re no good for me, I don’t need nobody, don’t need no one, that’s no good for me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

926-The Who-My Generation.

1965-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 2.23. I always publish the position in the chart that the song peaked at, but unfortunately it is no guide to an artists actual talent, as ‘The Who’ never had a UK Number 1 single, whereas ‘Westlife’ had 16, ‘Boyzone’ had 6, and ‘One Direction’ had 4. It’s a funny old world that we live in.

‘My Generation’ was the first of four singles released from the debut studio Album by The Who, (see also best songs 306 and 265) also called ‘My Generation,’ from December 1965, the single was issued a month prior to the Album.’My Generation’ was written by Pete Townsend, (see also best songs 891) and produced at the request of Townsend by Shel Talmy, (see also best songs 1014-939-770 and 592) after Townsend had been impressed with the production work Talmy had recently done with fellow British ‘Rock/Pop’ group the ‘Kinks’ (see also best songs 1014 and 770.)

‘My Generation was written by Pete Townsend on his 20th birthday, for the rebellious British youths known as ‘Mods,’ in order to express their feelings that the older generation just don’t understand today’s youth. Speaking in 1987 Townsend who had written the song while on a train ride from London to Southampton said,’My Generation was very much about trying to find a place in society. I was very, very lost. The band was young then. It was believed that its career would be incredibly brief. Townsend also commented on the song back in 1967 when calling it,’The only really successful social comment I’ve ever made.’ He then went on to explain the meaning of the song as, ‘Some pilled-up ‘Mod’ dancing around, trying to explain to you why he’s such a groovy guy, but he can’t because he’s so stoned he can hardly talk.’

‘My Generation’ contains one of the most famous lyrics in ‘Rock N’ Roll’ history,’I hope I die before I get old.’ Townsend has said that the lyrics are not meant to be taken literally, and that ‘Old’ actually means ‘Very Rich,’ as Townsend could see what he perceived to be the injustices of the class system. He has said,’The line actually came from a time when I was living in a really wealthy district of London, just by accident. I didn’t really understand quite where I was living at the time. And I was treated very strangely on the street, in an imperious way by a lot of people, and it was that that I didn’t like. I didn’t like being confronted with money, and the class system, and power. I didn’t like being in a corner shop in Belgravia, and some woman in a fur coat pushing me out of the way because she was richer, and I didn’t know how to deal with that. I could’ve, I suppose, insisted on my rights and not written the song. But I was a tucked-up little kid and so I wrote the song.’ Townsend has also credited the ‘Blues’ singer ‘Mose Allison’ (1927-2016) for the lyrics to his 1957 song ‘Young Man’s Blues’ as inspiration, saying,’Without Mose I wouldn’t have written ‘My Generation.’ The Who would later go on to record ‘Young Man’s Blues’ on their 1970 Album ‘Live at Leeds.’

Roger Daltrey who sang lead vocals on ‘My Generation’ has always had a stutter, and it was The Who’s manager Kit Lambert (1935-1981) who suggested that Daltrey should sing the song like a ‘Mod on speed.’ Daltrey has said,’I have got a stutter. I control it much better now, but not in those days. When we were in the studio doing ‘My Generation’, Kit Lambert came up to me and said ‘STUTTER!’ I said ‘What?’ He said ‘Stutter the words, it makes it sound like you’re pilled’ And I said, ‘Oh… like I am!’ And that’s how it happened. It was always in there, it was always suggested with the ‘f-f-fade,’ but the rest of it was improvised.’ When the song was first released the ‘BBC’ refused to play it, because they didn’t want to offend people with a stutter, but once the song became a hit, they changed their mind and played it.

Roger Harry Daltrey was born on March 1st, 1944, in London, England, he was one of the three founding members of ‘The Who,’ along with Pete Townsend, and John Entwistle (1944-2002.) As well as being recognised as one of the most charismatic ‘frontmen’ in ‘Pop Music’ history he has also had a very successful career in acting, including in the films ‘Tommy,’ (1975) and ‘McVicar’ (1980.) Daltry also pursued a solo music career while still a member of ‘The Who,’ which has seen him release 10 studio Albums between 1973-2018, and 42 singles between 1973-2014, he has also worked on 11 soundtrack Albums, issued between 1975-2002. In the UK, two of those singles have reached the top 40, with his debut solo single ‘Giving It All Away’ charting the highest when reaching Number 5 in 1973, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, his only top 40 entry to date is ‘Without Your Love,’ which made Number 20 in 1980.

‘People try to put us d-down, (talkin’ ’bout my generation,) just because we get around, (talkin’ ’bout my generation.) Things they do look awful c-c-cold, (talkin’ ’bout my generation.) I hope I die before I get old, (talkin’ ’bout my generation’)

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

927-John Lennon-#9 Dream.

1975-Number 23 single.

Best Bit-At 2.09. Only a true genius could invent a new language, ‘Ah! Bowakawa, pousse pousse,’ and people would believe it.

‘#Number 9 Dream’ was the second of two singles released from ‘Walls and Bridges’ the fifth solo studio Album from John Lennon, (see also best songs-solo-473-456-168 and 20) and with the Beatles, (see also best songs 599-456-319-238-218-141-80-51-10 and 5) which was released in September 1974. The song was written and produced by John Lennon, and among the nine musicians who played on the Album, and this track, were Klaus Voormann, (bass guitar) who had also played on the 1971 Lennon Album ‘Imagine,’ and Nicky Hopkins, (1944-1994) (electric piano) who had also played on ‘Imagine,’ and also on the 1971 Lennon Xmas single ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over.’)

John Lennon has said that the song came to him a dream, and was just ‘Churned out’ with ‘No inspiration.’ May Pang, who was in a relationship with Lennon at the time confirmed that the repeated phrase,’Ah! Bowakawa, pousse, pousse,’ came to Lennon in a dream, and has no specific meaning. Pang has said.’He woke up and wrote down those words along with the melody. He had no idea what it meant, but he thought it sounded beautiful.’ May Pang who also sang backing vocals on the track, and can be heard whispering ‘John,’ has also said that Al Coury, (1934-2013) who was vice-president of ‘Capitol Records’ initially protested against the use of the word ‘pussy’ in the chorus, but after Lori Burton, (1940-2021) who also sang backing vocals on the track, and was the wife of studio engineer Roy Cicala, (1939-2014) suggested that it should be sung as “poussé’, as if in a foreign language, the lyrics were kept in. In 1980 John Lennon spoke about ‘#9 Dream,”That’s what I call craftsmanship writing, meaning, you know, I just churned that out. I’m not putting it down, it’s just what it is, but I just sat down and wrote it, you know, with no real inspiration, based on a dream I’d had.

May Fung Yee Pang was born on October 24th, 1950, in New York City, United States. In 1970 she became the personal assistant and production coordinator, for John Lennon, and Yoko Ono, and when Lennon and Ono separated in 1973, Pang and Lennon began a relationship that lasted for more than 18 months, Lennon would later refer to this time as his ‘Lost Weekend.’ In 1973 Lennon and Ono were having marital problems, and it was with Ono’s blessing that Lennon and Pang should get together. Speaking about that period of his life Lennon said,’I may have been the happiest I’ve ever been. I loved this woman (Pang), I made some beautiful music, and I got so f….d up with booze and s..t and whatever.’ In 1989 Pang married the record producer Tony Visconti, (see also best songs 386-302-209 and 118) the couple had two children, and they got divorced in 2000.

Four months prior to the release of ‘Walls and Bridges,’ John Lennon had just finished producing the 10th studio Album ‘Pussy Cat,’ by the American singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson, (1941-1994) (see also best songs 388 and 39) and Lennon freely admitted that the string arrangement on ‘#9 Dream’ is very similar to Nilsson’s rendition of ‘Many Rivers To Cross,’ on that ‘Pussy Cat’ Album.

Throughout his life John Lennon had always been fascinated with the ‘Number 9.’ Two Beatles songs have that Number in their title,’Revolution 9,’ (1968) and ‘One After 9’ (1970.) John Lennon was born on October 9, as was his son Sean, the Beatles first gig at ‘The Cavern Club’ took place on February 9, 1961, and their manager Brian Epstein (1934-1967) first saw them perform on November 9, of that same year. The Beatles first single ‘Love Me Do.’ was released on ‘Parlophone Records’ ‘R4949,’ and it was on May 9, 1962, that the Beatles contract with ‘EMI Records’ was confirmed. Lennon’s first home was 9 Newcastle Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, those three names each contain 9 letters, and to top it all off, this song peaked at Number 9 on the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

‘So long ago, was it in a dream, was it just a dream? I know, yes I know., it seemed so very real, seemed so real to me. Took a walk down the street, through the heat whispered trees. I thought I could hear.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

928-Kylie Minogue-Can’t Get You Out of My Head.

2001-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.15. The song does exactly what it says on the tin.

Kylie Ann Minogue was born on May 28th, 1968, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and with worldwide record sales in excess of 80 million she is the highest selling female Australian artist of all time. Prior to launching a singing career, Kylie was an actress, starting with a minor role in the Australian soap opera ‘The Sullivans’ in 1979, then she next appeared in another small role in 1980, in another Australian soap opera, ‘Skyways.’ In 1985 she was cast in her first major role in the Australian television series ‘The Henderson Kids,’ before moving on to ‘Neighbours’ in 1985, where she starred as ‘Charlene Mitchell,’ until leaving to start her singing career in 1988.

In 1987 at a benefit concert Kylie performed ‘The Loco-Motion,’ (see also best songs 1030) which impressed the television producer Greg Petherick, who arranged for Kylie to record a demo of the song, re-titled as ‘Locomotion.’ The song was was released as her debut single, and went on to become the best selling song of the 1990’s in Australia. The success of ‘Locomotion’ then led to Kylie travelling to England to meet the songwriters/producers ‘Stock Aitken Waterman,’ (see also best songs 627 and 402) who would go on to produce her first four studio Albums.

The discography of Kylie Minogue includes 15 studio Albums released between 1988-2020, and 13 compilation Albums released between 1992-2019. Kylie has also issued 96 singles between 1987-2022, of which 46 of those tracks have made the ‘ARIA’ top 40 Australian chart, with 10 of those songs making Number 1. In the UK, she has charted within the top 40 on 52 occasions, with seven of those songs reaching the Number 1 spot, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, she has had five top hits, with ‘Locomotion’ charting the highest at Number 3 in 1988.

Kylie Minogue is recognised for reinventing herself in her music, and in her fashion, which has led to her being referred to as the ‘Princess of Pop,’ and the success of ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head’ is defined as the pinnacle of her ‘Disco’ period. The song was the first of four singles released from her eighth studio Album ‘Fever’ from October 2001, and was co-written, and co-produced by Cathy Dennis, and Rob Davis (see also best songs 773.) Catherine Roseanne Dennis who was born on March 25th, 1969, in Norwich, Norfolk, England, is a very successful songwriter, having written or co-written eight UK Number 1 singles, and two Billboard chart toppers, including ‘Toxic,’ for Britney Spears, (2004) ‘Before Your Love,’ for Kelly Clarkson, (2002) and ‘I Kissed a Girl,’ for Katy Perry (2008.) Prior to her success as a songwriter and producer, Cathy Dennis was a singer, first charting in 1989 when providing vocals for the British Dance act ‘D Mob’ on the UK Number 15 hit ‘C’mon and Get My Love.’ The discography of Cathy Dennis includes three studio Albums released between 1990-1996, and 16 singles issued between 1989-1997, of which 11 of those songs made the UK top 40, with ‘Touch Me (All Night Long’) peaking the highest at Number 5 in 1991. In America on Billboard, she has charted on five occasions, with ‘Touch Me (All Night Long’) making Number 2.

‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head’ is recognised as Kylie Minogue’s signature tune, and is her best selling single. With sales in the UK of around 1.2 million, it is currently the 75th best selling song of all time in that country at the time of writing, while worldwide sales are said to be in excess of 5 million copies, as the song has topped the charts in 40 different countries. Initially Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis wrote the song with ‘S Club 7’ in mind, but their manager Simon Fuller felt that it wasn’t right for that bands image. The song was then offered to the management of Sophie Ellis-Bextor, but that was also met with rejection, although Bextor denies ever being informed. In 2012 the UK agency ‘PRS’ for Music, which collects royalties on behalf of songwriters and composers, named ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head’ as the the most played song in the 2000’s decade, with another Cathy Dennis song ‘Toxic,’ by Britney Spears, taking the Number 2 position.

‘La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. I just can’t get you out of my head, boy, your lovin’ is all I think about. I just can’t get you out of my head, boy, its more than I dare to think about.’