THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
103-Bob Dylan-Blowin’ in the Wind.
1963-Has never charted in the UK,
Best Bit-At 2.21.This was the first song to make Bob Dylan financially secure.He had released the song as a single himself but without any success,but after letting the Folk trio Peter,Paul and Mary record a version which reached Number 2 on Billboard,things were to change forever.Peter Yarrow recalled that when he told Dylan he would make more than $5000(equivalent to $41,000 in 2019) from the publishing rights,Dylan was speechless!
‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ was written and performed by Bob Dylan(see also best songs 792 and 358) in 1962 and appeared on his second studio Album,’The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.’The inspiration for the song may have come from Dylan’s idol,the Folk singer Woodie Guthrie whose autobiography,’Bound for Glory’ includes Guthrie comparing his political sensibility to newspapers blowing in the winds of New York City’s streets and alleys.The melody of Blowin’ in the Wind is not totally a Dylan original,he has stated it was adapted from an old African/American slave song,’No More Auction Block/We Shall Overcome.’
‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ is a protest song,it tells us peace and freedom are achievable as is the ending of war,the answer to all these questions are right in front of us,yet we do not see it.
‘How many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died.’
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This is the 3rd highest placed Bob Dylan song on this countdown.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
104-Dexys Midnight Runners-Geno.
1980-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 2.39.Iv’e never been the greatest fan of Brass Band music but if it all sounded like this,convert me quick.
Dexys Midnight Runners(see also best songs 913) were formed in Birmingham in 1978,they have been through several personal changes with Kevin Rowland being the only constant,they split in 1986 but reformed in 2003.The bands name was derived from Dexedrine which was commonly used as a recreational drug among Northern Soul fans to give them energy to dance all night.
‘Geno’ was co-written by band members Kevin Rowland,supplying the lyrics and Kevin Archer,music,I would urge you to listen to a song called ‘One and Only Man’ by Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band,you will see were Archer got the idea for the melody.
The song is a tribute to Soul singer Geno Washington.In 1968 at the age of fifteen Rowland skipped school to be the youngest member of his crowd at a Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band concert.The gig left a lasting impression on him and when this song became a hit in 1980 it made Geno Washington far more famous than he was in his heyday in the 1960’s.
‘Academic inspiration you gave me none,but you were Michael the lover the fighter that won.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
105-Village People-Y.M.C.A.
1979-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At-0.45.Village People group members dress as Policemen,Navel Officers,leather clad bikers,construction workers,Native American Indians and Cowboys.They say that ladies are attracted to men dressed in uniform,but I don’t think they will have much luck with this lot.
Village People are an American Disco group formed in 1977 by Henri Belolo and Jacques Morali,(1947-1991) they were a French Disco music production team who also created The Richie Family.They were joined by Victor Willis who along with Morali co-wrote this song.Willis was the lead singer dressing as either a policeman or naval officer,he was the only group member who was not gay,making him ‘the only non gay in the Village-‘People.
The famous Y.M.C.A. dance where you move your arms to spell out the songs letters came about in early 1979 when the Village People appeared on the Dick Clark American Bandstand television programme(similar to Top of the Pops in the UK.) Audience members randomly began doing the now famous actions,after the show Dick Clark showed Victor Willis the tape of the hand gestures,Clark said to Willis,’Victor,think you can work this dance into your routine?’Willis responded,’I think we’re gonna’ have to.’
‘Young man there’s a place you can go. I said young man when you’re short on your dough.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
106-Kings of Leon-Sex on Fire.
2008-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 2.54.They say sex sells anything,but I have a sneaky feeling this would have sold anyway.
Kings of Leon(see also best songs 551) are an American Rock band from Nashville,Tennessee,they are the three brothers Caleb,Nathan and Jared Followill and their cousin Matthew Followill. When forming in 1999 their music was a mixture of Southern Rock and Blues which gradually developed over the years into a more Alternative Rock sound.By the time of their fourth Album release,’Only by the Night,’from 2008 which includes ‘Sex on Fire’ some of the more hardcore fans of the band accused them of selling out because of the commercial radio friendly sound.
The lyrics to Sex on Fire were written about Caleb Followill and his then girlfriend,and now his wife,the model Lily Aldridge. When interviewed by The Sun newspaper in 2008 Caleb explained the songs meaning in no uncertain terms,’It’s about a great sexual relationship with hot,hot sex that you remember forever.’
‘Hot as a fever,rattle of bones,I could just taste it,taste it.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
107-Paul McCartney and Wings-Band on the Run.
1974-Number 3 single.
Best Bit-At 2.22.On the album sleeve of Sgt. Pepper’s I reckon there are 62 different people present,on Band on the Run there are 8.Paul and Linda,Michael Parkinson,Kenny Lynch,James Coburn,Clement Freud,Christopher Lee and John Conteh.
McCartney’s(see also best songs 646-319-238-218 and 141) previous two Albums,’Wild Life'(1971) and ‘Red Rose Speedway(1973) had met with mixed reception,so this time he felt he needed to re-establish his career.In order to give himself a fresh start he decided to record ‘Band on the Run’ in Lagos,Nigeria,but it wasn’t the glamorous location he was hoping for.
‘Band on the Run’ is about running away from things that tie you down and escaping to freedom.While in Lagos,Paul and Linda had been robbed at knife point and they were also under constant scrutiny from the press for their use of Cannabis.added to this two of the band refused to travel to Nigeria,leaving only Denny Laine with the McCartney’s.
The song was also inspired by something George Harrison had said back in 1969 when the Beatles were trying to get out of their contract with Alan Klein and the Apple Record label. During a business meeting Harrison had said,’We were all prisoners in some way,’ a remark which resonated with McCartney in his current situation at that time.
‘Well the rain exploded with a mighty crash as we fell into the sun.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
108-Status Quo-Caroline.
1973-Number 5 single.
Best Bit-At 3.25.When playing live Status Quo would often open with this song which is unusual because most acts normally save their best song till last.
Status Quo(see also best songs 905) have a very long lifespan,starting out life as The Scorpions formed by Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster in 1962,there would be three more name changes before ‘Status Quo’ was settled upon in 1969.
‘Caroline’ was co-written by Francis Rossi and long time Quo collaborator Bob Young,who is often called the bands fifth member.Young was also co-writer with Rossi again on Status Quo’s only UK Number 1 ‘Down Down.’
There are various thoughts as to whom Caroline is,at the time the song was written ‘Sweet Caroline’ by Neil Diamond was a very big song.When asked Francis Rossi has said,’Bob Young did know a Caroline,which I mustn’t talk about,but I suppose he was thinking that.’
In 1982 Status Quo released a live version of the song which peaked at Number 13 in the UK.
They were the first band to play at ‘Live Aid’ in 1985 they opened with ‘Rockin’ All Over The World,’Caroline was their second song.
‘Come on sweet Caroline,take my hand,together we can Rock ‘N’Roll.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
109-James-Laid.
1993-Number 25 single.
Best Bit-At 1.38.The age old problem with relationships,’Can’t live with them,can’t live without them.’
James(see also best songs 490) were formed in Manchester in 1982,they were active until 2001,in 2007 they reformed and are still together at this time of writing.’
The song is about a destructive relationship that is addictive.The narrator is in love with a partner he knows is bad for him.Their passion is shown with lyrics such as,’This bed is on fire with passionate love’ and ‘Fought with kitchen knives and skewers.’The line ‘She only comes when she’s on top’ was banned for being suggestive by many Radio stations.
‘Laid’ is the title track of their fifth studio Album released in 1993,it was co-written by the bands lead singer Tim Booth,bassist Jim Glennie and ex member Larry Gott who played guitar,flute and keyboards.The song was produced by the legendary Brian Eno.
In America this is their best known track thanks to it’s inclusion as the theme song for the ‘American Pie’ films.This has led to it becoming a staple of College Radio and Alternative Rock radio stations in the U.S.
‘Moved out of the house so you moved next door,I locked you out,you cut a hole in the wall.’
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