THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
258-McFadden & Whitehead-Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now.
1979-Number 5 single.
Best Bit-At 0.18.Their name may sound like a firm of accountants but they were actually one of the top songwriting partnerships at Philadelphia International Records.
Gene McFadden(January 28,1949-January 27,2006) met John Whitehead(July 10,1948-May 11,2004) when they were both teenagers.The first band they formed together was called the ‘Epsilons’ a Soul Music group who toured with Otis Redding until his death in 1967.
Soon after they signed with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadelphia record label(see also best songs 896-725-648-604 and 322) writing songs for the labels top artists such as The O’Jays(Backstabbers) and Harold Melvin(Wake Up Everybody.)
It is said that they became frustrated at not being able to perform their own songs and the lyrics are a direct response to the labels owners Gamble and Huff who wanted to give this song to The O’Jays.
The song may have been inspired by their own personnel experience but has down the years become an anthem for anyone looking forward to a challenge.
‘There’s been so many things that’s held us down,but now it looks like things are finally comin’ round.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
259-Bing Crosby-Brother,Can You Spare A Dime?
1932-Has never charted ,there was no UK chart until 1952.
Best Bit-At 2.59.In today’s money a dime is $1.50.
The song is also known as ‘Buddy,Can You Spare A Dime?’ written in 1930 it would go on to become the ‘anthem’ of the ‘Great Depression.’
The songs lyrics were written by E.Y.’Yip’ Harburg,his most famous composition would occur some nine years later with ‘Over The Rainbow.’The music was composed by Jay Gorney who based the melody on a Russian-Jewish lullaby his mother had sung to him as a child.
The song has been recorded many times down the years,the early famous versions are by Bing Crosby(see also best songs 934 and 457) and Rudy Vallee.
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression that took place mostly during the 1930’s,beginning in the United Stares.The song asks why the men who built the nation,built the railroads,built the skyscrapers and fought in World War 1,who did what the nation asked of them,should find themselves abandoned and on the bread line.
‘Once in khaki suits,gee,we looked swell,full of that Yankee doodle de dumb.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
260-David Guetta featuring Taped Rai-Just One Last Time.(Tiesto Mix.)
2012-Number 12 single.
Best Bit-At 5.07.This is the first song on the countdown that is a remix.It was part of the original release,but was not the official main version.
When I started buying records back in 1973 there was only a 7 inch single comprising of an ‘A’ side and a ‘B’ side.Around 1990 when the ‘CD’ format was taking over from vinyl,record labels were able to release more music onto each disc because of the longer playing time,although the powers that be would only allow around 20 minutes of music for it to be eligible for the singles chart.
Dance Music took advantage of this new opportunity and would produce several versions of the same song by different music producers.
To my ears ‘Just One Last Time’ is only a run of the mill song until you hear what Tiesto did with it.
David Guetta(see also best songs 909) was born in Paris,France on the 7th
November,1967,he has had seven UK Number 1 singles and a further one as producer of The Black Eyed Peas,with ‘I Got A Feeling.’
Tiesto was born in Breda,The Netherlands on January 17th,1969.He is regarded by many as the ‘Godfather’ of Electronic Dance Music.’
The vocals on this track are provided by Swedish duo Taped Rai who are Tom Lilegren and Alexander Ryberg.
‘Even though it hurts I can’t slow down,walls are closing in and I hit the ground.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
261-Depeche Mode-Everything Counts.
1983-Number 6 single.
Best Bit-At 0.50.In order to embrace this theme of everything counts in large amounts I have posted the long version.
After the release of Depeche Mode’s debut Album ‘Speak & Spell’ in 1981 the bands main songwriter Vince Clark(see also best songs 700 and 451) left to form the duo Yazoo with Alison Moyet,this led to Martin Gore taking over the bulk of songwriting duties.As a result the bands music and lyrics significantly changed from Clarke’s light and commercial sound to Gore’s darker and moody music.
‘Everything Counts’ is taken from the bands third Album ‘Construction Time Again’ from 1983 and was written by Gore.The lyrics address the issue of corporate greed and corruption in Britain,as the chorus sings of ‘grabbing hands’ that ‘grab all they can.’
In 1989 Depeche Mode(see also best songs 968) released a live Album called ‘101,’ a live version of Everything Counts was released as a single and peaked at Number 22.
‘The turning point of a career in Korea being insincere.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
262-The Crystals-Da Doo Ron Ron.
1963-Number 5 single.
Best Bit-At 1.04.And after all you’re my Wonder-‘Wall Of Sound.’
Phil Spector(see also best songs 782 and 737) was born on December 26,1939 in The Bronx,New York,he is recognised as one of the most influential figures in Pop Music.His biggest achievement was in the development of music production which has become known as the ‘Wall Of Sound.’He would record songs with,for example an acoustic piano and then duplicate with an electric piano and a harpsichord,when mixed the three instruments would be indistinguishable to the listener.Additionally Spector incorporated an array of orchestral instruments such as strings,woodwind,brass and percussion,reverb from an echo chamber was also used for additional texture.
‘Da Doo Ron Ron’ was co-written by Spector and the husband and wife song writing team of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich(see also best songs 820 and 331.)
The Crystals were an all girl group formed in New York in 1960 and remained active until 1968.
In 1977 American teen idol Shawn Cassidy who is the half brother of David took his version of ‘Da Doo Ron Ron’ to Number 1 on Billboard.
‘I met him on a Monday and my heart stood still,somebody told me that his name was Bill.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
263-Goo Goo Dolls-Iris.
1998-Number 50 single.It re-entered the chart in 1999 this time reaching Number 26.With the advent of downloads the song peaked at an all time high of Number 3 in 2011,it was also back in the chart again in 2013 reaching Number 12.
Best Bit-At 3.31.They took their name from an advertisement in ‘True Detective Magazine’ for a toy called a Goo Goo Doll,although I can’t find a picture of one anywhere.
The Goo Goo Dolls are an American Alternative Rock band formed in Buffalo,New York in 1986 by Johnny Rzeznik,Robby Takac and George Tutuska.
In 1997 Rzeznik was approached by the makers of the film ‘City Of Angels’ to write a song for the soundtrack. Rzeznik said ‘I was thinking about the situation of the Nicolas Cage character.This guy is completely willing to give up his own immortality,just to be able to feel something very human,that’s a pretty heavy thought.’
In 1999 the bands bass player Robbie Takac suggested that the name Iris was inspired by Country singer Iris DeMent.
In Greek mythology Iris was the winged God messenger who left her messages in a rainbow.
‘And I’d give up forever to touch you ’cause I know that you feel me somehow.’
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