THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

116-Norman Greenbaum-Spirit in the Sky.

1970-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.19. Probably the most famous ‘One Hit Wonder’ of them all.

A ‘One Hit Wonder’ (in my opinion) is an artist or group who have a Number 1 single, and never reach the top 40 again. The act may have hits in other countries, but as long as they never chart again in that said territory, then the rule applies. On this ‘1000 Best Songs’ countdown there are six qualifiers, the other five are are, best songs 990-698-496-467 and 101.

Norman Joel Greenbaum was born on November 20th, 1942, in Maiden, Massachusetts, United States, he was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household, and attended Hebrew school at the local synagogue. Prior to his solo career he had been a member of the American Psychedelic Rock band ‘Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band,’ who released one studio Album in 1967, and four singles between 1967-1968, which included their novelty song ‘The Eggplant That Ate Chicago,’ which was written by Greenbaum, and reached Number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America in 1967. After the split of ‘Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band’ Greenbaum pursued a solo career as a Folk artist, which was when he submitted his original first version of ‘Spirit in the Sky’ to Erik Jacobsen who was producing for ‘Reprise Records’ at that time. Greenbaum was signed by ‘Reprise Records’ and went on to release three solo studio Albums between 1969-1972, and nine singles in the same time period.

‘Spirit in the Sky’ was written by Norman Greenbaum, and produced by Erik Jacobsen, who radically rearranged the acoustic ‘Folk’ rendition Greenbaum had initially sent him, adding electric guitar, synthesised effects, and Gospel styled backing singers. Prior to working with Greenbaum, Jacobsen had great success as the producer of three Albums for ‘The Lovin’ Spoonful,’ which included seven Billboard top 10 singles, one of which was the 1966 Number 1 ‘Summer on the City.’ Jacobsen is also remembered for producing the Folk singer Tim Hardin, (1941-1980) and also for producing nine Albums for Chris Isaak between 1985-2006.

Norman Greenbaum has explained the meaning of ‘Spirit in the Sky,’ ‘What did we grow up watching? Westerns! These mean and nasty varmints get shot and they wanted to die with their boots on. So to me that was spiritual, they wanted to die with their boots on. The song itself was simple, when you’re writing a song you keep it simple of course. It wasn’t like a Christian song of praise it was just a simple song. I had to use Christianity because I had to use something. But more important it wasn’t the Jesus part, it was the spirit in the sky. Funny enough, I wanted to die with my boots on.’ Greenbaum has also gone on to say,’I’m just some Jewish musician who really dug gospel music. I decided there was a larger Jesus gospel market out there than a Jehovah one.’

‘Spirit in the Sky’ became a UK Number 1 single in 1970, and peaked at Number 3 on Billboard in America, and has sold in excess of 2 million copies worldwide to date. In the UK the song has also been to Number 1 for two other acts as well. In June 1986 the British Rock band ‘Doctor and the Medics’ spent three weeks at Number 1 with their version, and then in March 2003 the English singer Gareth Gates teamed up with comedy act the ‘Kumars’ to record the song for that years British ‘Comic Relief’ charity single.

‘When I die and they lay me to rest, gonna go to the place that’s the best. when I lay me down to die, goin’ up to the spirit in the sky,’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

117-John McDermott-Danny Boy.

1992-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 2.29. The lyrics are set to the traditional Irish melody ‘Londonderry Air.’ Prudish Victorians who were concerned that ‘Londonderry Air’ bore too close a resemblance to the phrase ‘London Derriere,’ preferred to refer to it by the title ‘An air from County Derry.’ Heaven only knows what they would have made of some of today’s lyrics.

The lyrics to ‘Danny Boy’ were written in 1910 by by Frederick Weatherly, who was born on October 4th, 1848, in Portishead, Somerset, England, he died on September 7th, 1929, after a short illness at the age of 80. During his lifetime, Weatherly who was also a lawyer wrote the lyrics for an estimated 3,000 songs, including the religious ‘The Holy City,’ (1892) and the wartime song ‘Roses of Picardy’ (1916.)

Weatherly originally wrote ‘Danny Boy’ to a different tune, and there are conflicting stories as to how he came about finding the one that is now known, but in all probability the melody was introduced to Weatherly by his sister-in-law Margaret Enright who was an Irish American. According to Weatherly’s great grandson Anthony Mann, Enright visited Weatherly in 1912, and sung him ‘Londonderry Air,’ which is a traditional Irish melody that had originated in ‘County Londonderry’ sometime in the 17th Century, and had become popular with Irish settlers in America over many years. Margaret Enright probably knew of ‘Londonderry Air’ through the Irish Folk song collector Jane Ross, (1810-1879) who collected a number of traditional songs and then sent them to George Petrie, (1790-1866) who published them with other songs as ‘Ancient Music of Ireland,’ in 1855.

‘Danny Boy’ has continued to grow in stature over the years, and is often performed on important occasions,such as major sporting events, it is also one of the most requested songs to be played at funerals. There are various interpretations as to what the songs lyrics actually mean. Some think it refers to Irish people and their descendants who live outside the island of Ireland, and some have even suggested that it might refer to a gay relationship, but the most accepted one is that the song is a message from a parent to his son who is going off to war, or participating in the Irish uprising.

‘Danny Boy’ has been recorded multiple times, with the first being by Elsie Griffin (1895-1989) in 1915. Many of Pop Music’s biggest names have performed the song, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Bing Crosby, although no version of the song has ever charted inside the top 40 in the UK, or America.

The version I have chosen is the 1992 recording by John McDermott, who was born on March 25th, 1955, in Glasgow, Scotland, and then emigrated with his family to Canada in 1965. McDermott is a ‘tenor’ who is best known for singing ‘Celtic Music,’ and has toured the world both as a solo artist, and as part of ‘The Irish Tenors,’ of which he was a member from 1998-2000. McDermott has issued 34 Albums between 1992-2014, and in 2000 he launched the ‘McDermott House’ in Washington D.C., a transitional home for homeless veterans.

‘Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling, From glen to glen, and down the mountain side. The summer’s gone, and all the roses falling, It’s you, it’s you must go and I must bide.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

118-David Bowie-Heroes.

1977-Number 24 single. After Bowie’s death in 2016 the song re-entered the chart, and this time it peaked at Number 12.

Best Bit-At 3.59. In 2009 the finalists for the British television music competition ‘The X Factor’ released a version of ‘Heroes’ for the ‘Help for Heroes’ charity, Regarding this version, the writer Nicholas Pegg who is considered to be the worlds most noted authority on the life and work of David Bowie wrote that it introduced, ‘A new generation to David Bowie, by subjecting one of his greatest songs to the anodyne arrangements, Eurovision key-changes, and sub-Mariah Carey karaoke yodeling, which are the core ingredients of The X Factor’s ongoing mission to eradicate real music from planet earth.’

Tired with the stresses of fame, touring, and his lifestyle, Bowie (see also best songs 807-440-334-302-209-186-47-31 and 5) uprooted to make a complete change when moving to West Berlin, Germany, in late 1976. This was where his three consecutively released Albums known as the ‘Berlin Trilogy’ were conceived,’Low,’ (1977) ‘Heroes,’ (1977) and ‘Lodger’ (1979.)

‘Heroes’ is track 3 on side 1 of David Bowie’s 12th studio Album of the same name, and was the first of two singles taken from the Album, the other being ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ ‘Heroes was co-written by Bowie, and Brian Eno, (see also best songs 766-302-190-109 and 57) who collaborated on all three Albums of the ‘Berlin Trilogy,’ with the production being credited to Bowie, and Tony Visconti, (see also best songs 386-302 and 209) who had worked with Bowie on many previous occasions.

From where David Bowie was living at the time, he looked out of the window at the Berlin Wall, and had seen Tony Visconti kissing his girlfriend, the backing singer Antonia Maass. At that time Visconti was still married to Mary Hopkin (see also best songs 692) but their marriage was failing, and this got Bowie thinking about couples who had to steal moments together because they were being kept apart by the Berlin Wall divide of East and West Germany. Bowie also got inspiration for the song from Otto Mueller’s (1874-1930) painting ‘Lovers Between Garden Walls’ (1916.) Bowie and Iggy Pop (see also best songs 701 and 219) had seen the painting at Berlin’s ‘Brucke Museum,’ which depicts an embracing couple between two walls, representing the brutality of World War I. Bowie also took inspiration from Alberto Denti di Pirajno’s (1886-1968) book ‘A Grave for a Dolphin.’ (1956) which concerns a doomed love affair between an Italian soldier, and a Somalian girl during World War II, ‘Heroes’ is a song about two lovers, one from East Berlin, and the other from the West. Under constant fear of death, they dream they are free, swimming with dolphins.

‘Heroes’ has been a slow burner, it is one of those that has grown in popularity over the years, and is now considered to be one of Bowie’s greatest songs, having initially only reached Number 24 in the UK, and totally failing to reach the Billboard Hot 100 in America. Bowie has said,’This is a strange phenomenon that happens with my songs Stateside. Many of the crowd favourites were never radio or chart hits, and “‘Heroes'” tops them all.’ Following his death in 2016 the German government thanked Bowie for ‘Helping to bring down the wall,’ adding,’ You are now among Heroes.’

‘I, I can remember, standing by the wall, and the guns, shot above our heads, and we kissed, as though nothing could fall. And the shame, was on the other side, oh, we can beat them, forever and ever. Then we could be heroes just for one day.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

119-Richard Harris-MacArthur Park.

1968-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 4.52. The odds were totally stacked against this one even seeing the light of day. At 7 minutes and 21 seconds it was far too long to be played on the radio, the lyrics appeared unfathomable, it was written in a Classical Music style, and to top it all off it was sung by an actor.

‘MacArthur Park’ was written by Jimmy Webb (see also best songs 846 and 1) at the request of the music producer Bones Howe, who asked Webb to create a pop song with different movements and changing time signatures. Webb came up with ‘MacArthur Park,’ but the group the ‘Association’ whom Howe had intended the song for refused to record it, stating it was ‘unorthodox.’

The lyrics for ‘MacArthur Park’ were inspired by Jimmy Webb’s breakup with his girlfriend Susie Horton. ‘MacArthur Park’ is in Los Angeles, California, which was where the two of them would sometimes meet for lunch during 1965, Horton worked for a life insurance firm whose offices were located just across the street from the park. Webb has said about the songs lyrics,’It was meant to be symbolic, and referred to the end of a love affair. Everything in the song was visible. There’s nothing in it that’s fabricated. The old men playing checkers by the trees, the cake that was left out in the rain, all of the things that are talked about in the song are things I actually saw. And so it’s a kind of musical collage of this whole love affair that kind of went down in MacArthur Park, back then I was kind of like an emotional machine, like whatever was going on inside me would bubble out of the piano and onto paper.’ Jimmy Webb wrote a number of songs which were inspired by his breakup with Susie Horton, including ‘By the Time I Get to Phoenix’ (see also best songs 1.)

‘MacArthur Park’ was first recorded by the acclaimed Irish actor Richard Harris, (1930-2002) Harris and Webb had first met at a fundraiser in East Los Angeles. At first Webb didn’t take Harris seriously when he suggested that they make a record together, but when sometime later Harris again made the same suggestion, Webb presented Harris with several of his songs, including ‘MacArthur Park.’ Richard St John Francis Harris was born on October 1st, 1930, in Limerick, Ireland, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease in August 2002, and after being hospitalised with pneumonia he died on October 25th, 2002, at the age of 72. Harris was one of Ireland’s most celebrated actors, with his first starring role being in ‘This Sporting Life,’ (1962) and his final film appearance was as ‘Dumbledore’ in ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.’ (2001.) Harris recorded 14 Albums between 1967-1992, and has appeared on 11 soundtrack and compilation Albums issued between 1988-2008. He has released 17 singles, with ‘MacArthur Park’ being the only one to chart, reaching Number 1 in America, and Canada, as well as reaching the top 10 in many other countries.

Richard Harris recorded ‘MacArthur Park’ for his debut Album ‘A Tramp Shining,’ (1968) which was the first of two Albums that Jimmy Webb wrote and produced for him, the other being ‘The Yard Went On Forever (1969.) ‘MacArthur Park’ has also charted on two other occasions on Billboard in America. In 1971 The Four Tops (see also best songs 650) made Number 38 with their recording, while in 1978 Donna Summer (1948-2012) reached Number 1 with her Giorgio Moroder, and Pete Bellotte (see also best songs 78 and 11) produced ‘Disco’ version.

‘MacArthur’s Park is melting in the dark, all the sweet, green icing flowing down. Someone left the cake out in the rain, I don’t think that I can take it ’cause it took so long to bake it, and I’ll never have that recipe again, oh no.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

120-Frank Sinatra-My Way.

1969-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 3.13. ‘My Way’ is the most requested song by people to be played at their funerals, presumably it’s the Frank Sinatra version, and not the one by Sid Vicious.

‘My Way’ is also the title track of Frank Sinatra’s 1969 Album, and was the only single released from it, ‘My Way’ has since gone on to become one of Frank Sinatra’s (see also best songs 877-567-469 and 73) signature songs. Having spent a total of 75 consecutive weeks inside the UK top 40 between 1969-1971, it holds the record for the longest stay on the chart.

It was the Canadian born singer/songwriter Paul Anka who having heard the original French version called ‘Comme d’habitude’ sung by Claude Francois (1939-1978) while he was on holiday in the South of France, then flew to Paris to negotiate the rights to the song, and agreed to share royalty’s with the songs writers Claude Francois and Jacques Revaux. The original French recording which has absolutely nothing to do with Paul Anka’s re-written lyrics tells the tale of a couple who are falling out of love, and their marriage is coming to an end.

Paul Anka had Frank Sinatra in mind when he re-wrote the lyrics, he had been having dinner with Sinatra in Florida and ‘a couple of mob guys,’ during which Sinatra said,’I’m quitting the business, I’m sick of it, I’m getting the hell out.’ Anka’s lyrics tell of a man looking fondly back on a life he lived on his own terms. Of writing the lyrics to ‘My Way’ Paul Anka has said,’At one o’clock in the morning, I sat down at an old IBM electric typewriter and said, ‘If Frank were writing this, what would he say?’ And I started, metaphorically, ‘And now the end is near.’ I read a lot of periodicals, and I noticed everything was ‘my this’ and ‘my that’. We were in the ‘me generation’ and Frank became the guy for me to use to say that. I used words I would never use: ‘I ate it up and spit it out.’ But that’s the way he talked. I used to be around steam rooms with the Rat Pack guys, they liked to talk like Mob guys, even though they would have been scared of their own shadows.’

Paul Anka was born on July 30th, 1941, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, he became a ‘teen idol’ at the age of 16 when his song ‘Diana’ became an international hit, reaching Number 1 in Canada, and the UK, and Number 2 in America. He would go on to release 29 studio Albums between 1958-2013, and 93 singles between 1956-1996, with four of those topping the charts in his native Canada. Other very well known Paul Anka compositions include ‘Puppy Love,’ (Billboard Number 2, 1960) and UK Number 1 in 1972, when it was covered by Donny Osmond. Anka also had great success in the 1970’s when teaming up with the American singer Odia Coates (1941-1991) for three consecutive Billboard top 10 singles, including the 1974 chart topper ‘(You’re) Having My Baby.’)

‘My Way’ has been covered on numerous occasions by other artists over the years. In 1970 the Welsh singer Dorothy Squires (1915-1998) took her recording to Number 25 in the UK, with it charting at the same time as Sinatra’s version. In 1977 a live recording was posthumously released for Elvis Presley, (1935-1977) which peaked at Number 9, but the most famous, and controversial cover is by Sid Vicious (1957-1979) who recorded his version for the Sex Pistols (see also best songs 576-92 and 27) 1978 Album ‘The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle,’ with many new lyrics. Paul Anka has said that he was ‘Somewhat destabilised by the Sex Pistols version. It was kind of curious, but I felt he (Sid Vicious) was sincere about it.’

‘For what is a man, what has he got, If not himself, then he has naught. To say the things he truly feels, And not the words of one who kneels. The record shows I took the blows, And did it my way.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

121-Monkees-Daydream Believer.

1967-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 2.15. The song is about the ‘seven year itch.’

The Monkees were the brainchild of Bob Rafelson, (1933-2022) and Bert Schneider (1933-2011) who after watching the Beatles films ‘A Hard Days Night,’ (1964) and ‘Help!’ (1965) were inspired to make a television sitcom about four young men trying to make a name for themselves as a ‘Rock ‘N Roll’ band. The show proved to be very successful running from 1966-1968, over two seasons, and 58 episodes. An advertisement had been placed in the ‘Daily Variety,’ and ‘The Hollywood Reporter,’ to which 437 applied, with the eventual four who were selected to become the ‘Monkees’ being Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, (1942-2021) Peter Tork, (1942-2019) and Davy Jones (1945-2012.) The Monkees remained active until officially breaking up in 1970, but there have been many re-unions over the years, leading to new recordings, and touring, although rarely with all four members together at the same time. In total there have been 16 studio Albums issued between 1966-2018, and 24 singles in the same time period. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, they have achieved seven top 40 hits, with three of those songs reaching Number 1, while in the UK, they have charted eight times, with ‘I’m a Believer’ making Number 1 in 1966. The Monkees are one of the worlds best ever selling bands with sales in excess of 75 million records worldwide.

The Monkees were very much considered second class ‘musical’ citizens in their day by many in the music industry and the press, who heavily criticised them for being manufactured, and also for their lack of supposed musical talent. but history now shows them in a much more favourable light. They are now seen as a forerunner to what was to become the ‘Boy Band,’ and lead singer Davy Jones is considered an inspiration for future teen idols such as David Cassidy, (1950-2017) and Justin Bieber.

‘Daydream Believer’ was the first of two singles released from the Monkees fifth studio Album ‘The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees’ from 1968, it was written by John Stewart, and produced by Chip Douglas, who had also worked with the Monkees on many previous occasions. John Stewart (1939-2008) was a prolific songwriter who is said to have written over 600 songs. and recorded around 50 Albums. Apart from ‘Daydream Believer’ his biggest chart success came in 1979 when his song ‘Gold’ reached Number 5 on Billboard, and was also a top 5 hit in Canada and Australia. Stewart who had been a member of the ‘Folk’ group the ‘Kingston Trio’ between 1961-1967 wrote ‘Daydream Believer’ shortly after leaving that group to embark on a solo career.

John Stewart has explained the songs meaning,’Married couples start out in a idealistic haze, but after a few years it wears off, and each see the other as he or she really is, this is supposedly when genuine love is proven.’ Stewart’s original lyrics were ‘Now you know how funky I can be, (one meaning of funky being smelly.) RCA records objected to the Monkees singing ‘funky’ and insisted on a word change to ‘happy,’ which Stewart detested, stating that it ‘Completely reversed the meaning of the line, and would not make sense in the context of the song.’ Stewart eventually relented, and said,’The proceeds from ‘Daydream Believer’ kept me alive for all these years.’

‘7-A. What number is this to? 7-A, okay, don’t get excited man, it’s ’cause I’m short, I know.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

122-Desmond Dekker & The Aces-Israelites.

1969-Number 1 single. When it was re-issued in 1975 it made Number 10.

Best Bit-At 0.19. If you can’t make out the lyrics to a song, like me, do you make your own up?

Desmond Dekker was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres on July 16th, 1941, in Saint Andrew Parish, Colony of Jamaica, he died of a heart attack on May 25th, 2006, in his adopted home of London, England, at the age of 64. In 1961 he auditioned for Leslie Kong (1933-1971) (see also best songs 291) who was the owner of ‘Beverley’s’ record label, which was situated on Orange Street in Kingston, Jamaica, he was signed to his first contract by Kong, although it would be a further two years until his first recording would be released. It was Dekker who having heard Bob Marley (1945-1981) (see also best songs 618 and 56) alerted Leslie Kong, who signed him, and released his first singles ‘Judge Not,’ and ‘One Cup of Coffee,’ in 1962.

The discography of Desmond Dekker includes 12 studio Albums issued between 1967-2019, and a further 25 compilations Albums released on various labels between 1969-2021. His first four solo singles which were released between 1963-1964 were all local hits in Jamaica, as were his next four recorded with his backing band the ‘Four Aces’ in 1965. He finally broke through internationally in 1967, with his backing band ‘Aces,’ with a cover version of ‘007 (Shanty Town’) which reached Number 14 in the UK, making it the first Jamaican produced record to reach the UK top 20. Dekker would go on to issue a further 20 singles with the Aces through until 1969, and then a further 18 as a solo artist between 1970-1993. In total Desmond Dekker achieved five UK top 40 singles, while in America on Billboard the ‘Israelites’ was his only charting song, reaching Number 9 in 1969.

‘Israelites’ was co-written by Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong, and also produced by Kong, and was also the title track of Dekker’s third studio Album from 1969. The song became an international hit, with sales said to be around the 2 million mark worldwide. It became the first Reggae song to reach Number 1 in the UK, and it also topped the charts in Germany, and Holland, while making Number 5 in Australia. Dekker composed the lyrics after overhearing an argument, he has explained,’I was walking in the park, I heard a couple arguing about money. She was saying she needs money, and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough.’

The songs title has always been a source of confusion, but the best explanation is that of the ‘Rastafarians’ religious similarities to the religion of ‘Judaism,’ and being likened to the ‘Twelve Tribes of Israel,’hence the application of the ‘Israelites’ to refer to fellow devout Rastafarians. In the 1960’s Jamaican Rastafarians were seen as outsiders even by the conservative Christian church in Kingston. Many Rastafarians living in Jamaica were destitute (‘slaving for bread’) and unkempt (‘shirt them a tear up, trousers is gone’) which led to some Rastafarians being tempted to a life of crime (‘I don’t want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde.’) The ‘Israelites’ tells of the struggle of living day to day, not only for the Rastafarians, but also for the poor people of Jamaica.

‘After a storm there must be a calm, they catch me in the farm you sound your alarm, poor me Israelites.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

123-Avicii and Nicky Romero-I Could Be the One.

2013-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.00. In the religion of Buddhism ‘Avici’ is the lowest level of Hell, with most of the suffering, it is where those who have committed the worst crimes go.

Avicii was born Tim Bergling on September 8th, 1989, in Stockholm, Sweden, during his short lifetime he suffered from depression, culminating with him taking his own life on April 20th, 2018, at the age of 28. During his lifetime Avicii released two studio Albums,’True’ in 2013, and ‘Stories’ in 2015, and following his death a posthumous third Album ‘Tim’ was issued, containing previously unreleased material. Avicii has also released 56 singles as lead artist between 2008-2020, with 27 of those reaching the top 40 in his native Sweden, and eight making the Number 1 spot. While in the UK he has charted on 15 occasions, with two of his songs reaching Number 1, the other being ‘Wake Me Up’ in 2012. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 only two of his tracks have made their chart, with ‘Wake Me Up’ charting the highest when reaching Number 4. In March 2019 his family launched a mental illness and suicide prevention foundation in his name, the ‘Tim Bergling Foundation’ which also works to tackle climate change, and conserve endangered species. Avicci struggled with the pressures of touring, and it is said that although he was a performer he hated all the publicity it brought, which led to extreme stress. His death has led to a lot more awareness of mental health problems in the music business.

Six days after his death Avicii’s family issued a open letter which partly read, ‘Our beloved Tim was a seeker, a fragile artistic soul searching for answers to existential questions. An over-achieving perfectionist who travelled and worked hard at a pace that led to extreme stress. When he stopped touring, he wanted to find a balance in life to be able to be happy and to do what he loved most, music. He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could now not go on any longer. He wanted to find peace. Tim was not made for the business machine he found himself in, he was a sensitive guy who loved his fans but shunned the spotlight.’

‘I Could Be the One’ has several writing credits, as well as Avicci the song is credited to the Dutch music producer Nicky Romero, Arash Pournouri who was also Avicci’s manager at the time, Linus Wiklund, Mans Wredenberg, and also Noonie Bao, who provides the songs unaccredited vocals. In 2017 Bao revealed that despite working on this song, and also another for Avicci from his 2013 Album ‘True,’ she never actually met him until a number of years later.

‘I Could Be the One’ has a very clever and memorable video that was directed by Peter Huang, who originates from Jiamusi, China, and stars the American comedy actress Inessa Frantowski. In the songs video Frantowski plays the part of a bored office worker who dreams of a more glamorous life, she finally plucks up the courage and buys a one way ticket to Barbados, but as she excitedly bursts out of the office and into the road, she is hit by a delivery van with a written sign on it saying ‘2Late.’ The songs lyrics are written to sound like a love song, but in my opinion it is someone telling themselves to live each day to the full, as there may not be a tomorrow.

‘I could be the one to make you feel that way, I could be the one to set you free. I could be the one to make you feel that way, I could be the one to set you free.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

124-Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood-Jackson.

1967-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 2.05. It is rumoured, although denied by Paddy McAloon, that it was the misheard lyrics ‘hotter than a pepper sprout’ that led to him naming one of the great bands of the 1980’s (see also best songs 718.)

‘Jackson’ was originally written and recorded in 1963 by Billy Edd Wheeler, and the legendary lyricist Jerry Leiber, (1933-2011) and first recorded by Wheeler that same year. Billy Edd Wheeler who is a Folk, and Country Music performer was born on December 9th, 1932, in Boone County, West Virginia, United States, and has issued 15 Albums between 1961-2006, with his greatest success coming in 1979 when co-writing ‘Coward of the County,’ which reached Number 1 in the UK, and Number 3 in America on Billboard when recorded by Kenny Rogers (1938-2020.) The other writer of ‘Jackson’ was Jerry Leiber (see also best songs 954-804 and 86) who is best remembered as one half of the songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller who together wrote in excess of 70 chart hits for artists such as Elvis Presley, The Drifters, and The Coasters. On ‘Jackson’ the songwriting credit is actually given to Gaby Rodgers, who was the wife of Jerry Leiber.

Billy Edd Wheeler has explained the writing of ‘Jackson,’ and also Jerry Leiber’s involvement. ‘Jackson’ came to me when I read the script for Edward Albee’s ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.’ When I played it for Jerry Leiber, he said ‘Your first verses suck,’ or words to that effect. ‘Throw them away and start the song with your last verse, “We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout.” When I protested to Jerry that I couldn’t start the song with the climax, he said, ‘Oh, yes you can.’ So I rewrote the song and thanks to Jerry’s editing and help, it worked.’

In 1967 Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) (see also best songs (1010-978 and 367) recorded ‘Jackson,’ which was later included on their 1968 Album ‘Nancy & Lee,’ reaching Number 14 on Billboard, and Number 11 in the UK, when issued as a double ‘A’ side with ‘You Only Live Twice.’ Also that same year Johnny Cash (1932-2003) and June Carter (1929-2003) released a version which made Number 2 on the Billboard Country Music chart.

‘Jackson’ tells the story of the fiery relationship between a husband and wife, while arguing he threatens to go to Jackson where he feels that he will be more appreciated, particularly by the ladies. She scoffs at this, telling him that he will only make a fool of himself, and anyhow she feels that if she went, she would receive even more attention than him.

There has always been speculation as to which city of ‘Jackson’ the song refers to, with Wheeler saying,’Actually, I didn’t have a specific Jackson in mind. I just liked the sharp consonant sound, as opposed to soft-sounding words like Nashville.’ Incidentally I have done my research, and I find that there are 32 places in America named Jackson.

‘We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout, we’ve been talkin’ ’bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out. I’m goin’ to Jackson, I’m gonna mess around, yeah, I’m goin’ to Jackson, look out Jackson town.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

125-Thin Lizzy-The Boys Are Back in Town.

1976-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 3.23. Lock up your daughters, just in case.

Thin Lizzy were formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1969 by Phil Lynott, (1949-1986) and Brian Downey, who had both known each other from their school days, and they had also both been members of a band called ‘Orphanage.’ The original line up was completed when the pair were introduced to Eric Wrixon, (1947-2015) and Eric Bell, who had both previously been members of the Rock band ‘Them’ (see also best songs 762.) In total there were 10 different official members between 1969-1983, with Lynott, and Downey being the only two constants. The band took their name from a robot character in the British children’s comic ‘The Dandy,’ which was called ‘Tin Lizzie,’ which they adjusted to ‘Thin Lizzy’ as a playful reference to the local Dublin accent, in which “thin” would be pronounced as ‘t’in.’ The discography of Thin Lizzy consists of 12 studio Albums released between 1971-1983, and 33 singles issued between 1970-1991, with two of those singles ‘Whiskey in the Jar,’ and ‘The Boys Are Back in Town,’ both reaching Number 1 in their native Ireland. In the UK, 15 of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ charting the highest at Number 6 in 1972, while in America on Billboard only this song has charted, when reaching Number 12.

Philip Parris Lynott was born on August 20th, 1949, in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England, he died on January 4th, 1986, at the age of 36, having been addicted to drugs and alcohol for many years. Lynott’s mother, Philomena (1930-2019) was Irish, and his father Cecil Parris (1926-2012) was from British Guiana, due to accounts of racism, and Lynott being of mixed race, his mother sent him to live with his grandparents, in Crumlin, Dublin, at the age of eight. Such is the esteem that Phil Lynott is held in, particularly in Ireland, that in 2005 a life-size bronze statue of Lynott by Dublin sculptor Paul Daly was unveiled on Harry Street, off Grafton Street, in Dublin.

‘The Boys Are Back in Town’ was the first single released from Thin Lizzy’s sixth studio Album ‘Jailbreak’ from 1976, and was written by Phil Lynott, with production by John Alcock. There are many theories regarding the inspiration behind ‘The Boys Are Back in Town,’ although none have ever been verified, but the most likely is the one about the ‘Quality Street Gang.’ Lynott’s mother Philomena was the proprietor of the Clifton Grange Hotel, in Manchester, England, in the 1970’s, where many known criminals operating in the Manchester area would congregate, it has been claimed the ‘Gang’ had ties with organised football hooliganism connected to Manchester United Football Club, as well as being involved in countless other criminal activities. On a lighter note it is said that the ‘Gang’ were named after the Quality Street confectionery, because most of the gangs members were overweight.

‘Guess who just got back today, them wild-eyed boys that had been away. Haven’t changed that much to say, but man, I still think them cats are crazy.’