THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

810-Billy Joel-We Didn’t Start the Fire.

1989-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 0.14.When the music career comes to an end, he can always become a history teacher.

William Martin Joel was born May 9th, 1949, in The Bronx, New York,United States,he is the sixth best selling recording artist, and third best selling solo artist, in America of all time,with sales in excess of 150 million worldwide.

Billy Joel (see also best songs 215) got the idea for the song when he had just turned 40 years old. He was in a recording studio, and a friend of Sean Lennon’s who had just turned 21 said to him,’It’s a terrible time to be 21.’ Joel replied ‘Yeah, I thought it was an awful time, and we had Vietnam, and y’know, drug problems, and civil rights problems, and everything seemed to be awful. Lennon’s friend replied,’Yeah, but it’s different for you, you were a kid in the fifties, and everybody knows nothing happened in the fifties.Joel replied,’Wait a minute, didn’t you hear of the Korean War, or the Suez Canal crisis?

Joel who was always mad keen on history, got the idea for this song from that conversation, he put pen to paper, and listed in chronological order several significant people, and events from the time of his birth, through to that present day,in total there are 119 different things mentioned, spanning the years 1949-1989.Billy Joel has stated that he has no plans to make a follow up, covering 1990 onward.

‘Hypodermics on the shores,China’s under martial law. rock and roller Cola wars, I can’t take it anymore.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

811-Jan and Dean-Surf City.

1963-Number 26 single.

Best Bit-At 1.22.Some say three’s a crowd, but not in this case.

William Jan Berry (1941-2004,) and Dean Torrence met while both were students at Emerson Junior High School in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United States, between 1959-1966 they had 13 top 40 singles on Billboard, including this song which reached Number 1.

Surf Music is a sub-genre of Rock Music,associated with surf Culture,this song is filed under ‘Vocal Surf.’ Instrumental surf is distinguished by ‘Reverb-Heavy’ electric guitars, played to evoke the sound of crashing waves, largely pioneered by Dick Dale (1937-2019.) Dale didn’t like vocal surf,’They were surfing sounds with surfing lyrics, in other words, the music wasn’t surfing music. The words made them surfing songs, that was the difference, the real surfing music is instrumental.’

Jan and Dean had been touring with The Beach Boys (see also best songs 930-180 and 74,) when Brian Wilson told them about a song he hadn’t yet completed, and was struggling with.Jan and Dean contributed additional writing, and it went on to become the first ‘Surf Song’ to get to Number 1 on Billboard.The Beach Boys manager,who was also Wilson’s father Murry, was reportedly angry with his son, believing that Brian had wasted a Number 1 record by letting someone else record it instead of his group, The Beach Boys.

‘And there’s two swingin’ honey’s for every guy, and all you gotta do is just wink your eye.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

812-Michael Jackson-Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.

1979 Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 2.56.A tip for those who choose this as there karaoke song.There are two ‘ooh ooh’s’ at 4.27,as opposed to just the one at 2.18.You must also work your way through the minefield of vocal tics, and hiccups, and occasional grunts.

This song and it’s parent Album ‘Off the Wall’ are a defining moment in the career of Michael Jackson (1958-2009,) (see also best songs 511-249 and 191,) as it was the first time in over a decade of recording that he had full creative control over his own output.He brought in Quincy Jones (see also best songs 703-511 and 191) to co-produce with him, and they would go on to also work together on ‘Thriller,’ and ‘Bad.’

The singer/songwriter, and keyboardist, Greg Phillinganes, who has worked on many of the world’s best known artists Albums, including Michael Jackson, has said that some of this song came about through his input, and he was agreed 10% in royalties, however he was later informed that his contribution would merely be considered as an arrangement of the song.Quincy Jones has backed Phillinganes’ allegation.

When Jackson’s mother Katherine, a devout Jehovah’s Witness heard the song she was shocked by the lyrical content and felt that the title could be misconstrued as pertaining to sexual activity, Jackson reassured her that the song was not a reference to sex, but could mean whatever people wanted it to.

‘Lovely is the feeling now, fever, temperatures rising now, power is the force, the vow.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

813-Lethal Bizzle featuring Diztortion-Fester Skank.

2015-Number 15 single.

Best Bit-At 0.08. Has Maverick Sabre become a household name, or is it that he just rhymes nicely with irrelevant pager.

Lethal Bizzle was born Maxwell Ansah on September 14th, 1984, in Walthamstow, London, England.He first found success in 2002 as part of the ‘More Fire Crew,’ who had a UK Number 7 hit with the ‘Grime’ track ‘Oi!.’ The group were one of the first acts to be successful with the then new genre of ‘Grime Music,’ which is a mixture of Electronic music, UK Garage, and Jungle, Dancehall, Ragga, and Hip-Hop, and generally quick fire Rapping.After the band split Lethal Bizzle went solo, and in 2004 reached Number 11 with his first release ‘Pow (Forward’.) To date he has released three studio Albums, and has had 10 top 40 singles, with three of them peaking at Number 11.

‘Fester Skank’ was co-written by Lethal Bizzle, and Dutch music producer Raoul Chen, who goes by the working name of ‘Diztortion,’ he also produced the track. The idea for the songs title came about when Diztortion saw Lethal Bizzle doing a silly dance on You Tube, which made him think he looked like Unkle Fester from The Addams Family.

‘You might see me in a Rari, Old School fella, Atari. It’s a new dance, no Tango,anywhere I go,I make the gang go.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

814-Black Sabbath-Paranoid.

1970-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01.I don’t know if Ozzy Osbourne has ever had paranoia, but he’s probably had everything else.

Black Sabbath were formed in Birmingham, England in 1968 by Tony Iommi (guitar,) Bill Ward (drums,) Geezer Butler (bass,) and Ozzy Osbourne (vocals,) they were active until 2006, but reformed in 2011, until retiring the band in 2017.Toni Iommi was the groups one constant, as the other three original members left, and later returned, there have also been 23 other members at some point through the years including Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan, and Cozy Powell. Black Sabbath are considered to be one of the most influential bands in popular music, influencing artists such as Nirvana, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Iron Maiden.

‘Paranoid’ is taken from Black Sabbath’s second studio Album of the same name, released in 1970.In his book ‘Iron Man, My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath,’ guitarist Tonni Iommi said that he and Ozzy probably had no idea what the word ‘Paranoid’ even meant at that time. They left the lyrics to bassist Geezer Butler, they considered him the intelligent one.

‘Finished with my woman ’cause she couldn’t help me with my mind.People think I’m insane, because I frown all the time.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

815-Herb Alpert-This Guy’s in Love with You.

1986-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 2.16.Even my musically uneducated ears can tell he is a lot better trumpeter than singer.

Herb Alpert was born on March 31st, 1935, in Los Angeles,California,United States, he has sold in excess of 72 million records to date.He is also the co-founder of the record label ‘A&M,’ along with Jerry Moss,whose acts included The Carpenters, The Police, and Supertramp, among many others.In 1989 they sold the label to PolyGram for $500 million, and received a further $200 million in 1998.

By the time Herb Alpert came to record this song he was already an international star due to the success of his hit records with his band The Tijuana Brass.’This Guy’s in Love with You’ was written by the legendary songwriting team of Burt Bacharach, and Hal David (see also best songs 902-832-740-644 and 224,) according to Bacharach, the recording originated when Alpert asked Bacharach, ‘Say Burt do you happen to have any old compositions lying around that you and Hal have never recorded,’Alpert has said, he made it his practise to ask songwriters that particular question.

The song became the first A&M recording to top the Billboard chart, and also give Bacharach, and David their first American Number 1 as well.Herb Alpert is also the only artist ever on Billboard to have a Number 1 vocal, and Number 1 instrumental, when ‘Rise’ also topped the chart in 1979.

‘My hands are shakin,’ don’t let my heart keep breaking,’cause I need your love, I want your love.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

816-John Cooper Clarke-Evidently Chickentown.

1980-Has never been released as a single.

Best Bit-At 0.49.It’s a bloody good song.

John Cooper Clarke was born on January 25th, 1949, in Salford, Lancashire, England, he is a performance poet, who first became famous during the Punk era of the late 1970’s.He would tour, often as an opening act for some of the biggest names of the day, including, the Sex Pistols, and New Order.Clarke has cited his English teacher, John Malone, and the works of the poet Sir Henry Newbolt (1862-1938,) as an inspiration. He also attributes English poet Pam Ayres, as inspiring him,after seeing her run of success on the British television talent show ‘Opportunity Knocks.’

‘Evidently Chickentown’ is from Clarke’s forth studio Album ‘Snap, Crackle & Bop’ released in 1980, the lyrics are by Clarke, and the music was written by Martin Hannett (1948-1991,) and Steve Hopkins, together with drummer Paul Burgess, the three were known as ‘The Invisible Girls.”Evidently Chickentown’ uses repeated profanity to get it’s point across about how tough life can be, when played live, Clarke will often substitute the word ‘Bloody’ for the ‘F’ word.

The lyrics (poem,) bears more than a passing resemblance to an earlier work titled ‘The Bloody Orkneys,’ written by the author, and journalist Andrew Blair, under the pseudonym Captain Hamish Blair. Clarke has said he ‘Didn’t consciously copy it, but I must have heard that poem, years ago, it’s terrific.’

‘The bloody pubs are bloody dull, the bloody clubs are bloody full, of bloody girls, and bloody boys, with bloody murder in their eyes.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

817-Dillinger-Cokane in My Brain.

1976-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 2.08.You can not learn your ‘A-B-C’ with kitchen utensils alone.

Dillinger was born Lester Bullock on June 25th, 1953, in Kingston, Jamaica,he was part of what has become known as the second wave of ‘DeeJay Toasters,’ who rose to prominence in the mid 1970’s in Jamaica.His first records were produced by the legendary Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry,but met with little success, it was Perry who gave him his stage name ‘Dillinger,’ after the American gangster of the Great Depression, John Dillinger.

‘Cokane In my Brain’ was taken from Dillinger’s second studio Album ‘CB200,’the first to be produced by Joseph ‘Jo Jo’ Hoo Kim (1942-2018,) and became a big hit in three European countries,reaching Number 1 in the Netherlands, Number 2 in Belgium, and Number 35 in West Germany.The song has several samples, most notably the beat of American funk band Peoples Choice’s 1975 song ‘Do It Any Way You Wanna,’ though that songs writers do not receive writing credits,(see also best songs 604.) The lyrics ‘A knife, a fork, a bottle, and a cork,that’s the way we spell New York,’ are taken from the 1962 Walt Disney children’s album, called ‘Acting Out the ABC’s.

‘No matter where I treat my guests, you see they always like my kitchen best.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

818-Tulisa-Young.

2012-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.16.Every generation need their own music, so that they have something to identify themselves with, and separate themselves from previous generations, so be young, be foolish, be happy.

Tulisa was born Tula Paulinea Contostavios on July 13th, 1988, in Camden Town, London, England. She first found success as part of the trio N-Dubz with her cousin Dappy, and Richard Rawson, who went by the name of Fazer, they achieved 13 top 40 singles between 2006-2011. Tulisa has also found success as an actress, and as an X-Factor judge. In 2011 Tulisa mentored the ‘Groups Category,’which included the shows winners Little Mix.She is also credited as one of the songwriters on the 2012 UK Number 1 single,’Scream & Shout,’ by Will.i.am, and Britney Spears.

In 2012 Tulisa launched her singing solo career releasing her debut Album ‘The Female Boss,’ from where ‘Young’ was it’s first single release. The song was co-written by Richard Rawson, Pete Ibsen, and Ali Tennant, who had previously written two top 10 singles for the boy band ‘JLS,’

While in the studio with Rawson, Tulisa overheard the song being developed for another singer, and was determined to record it for herself.She recalled,’They didn’t even get a chance to pitch it to the other singer,it wasn’t even finished, and I was like, ‘I’m having that song, give it to me.”According to Rawson, the song is about making mistakes during youth.He said the dance tune has,’A great message behind it.”Forgive us for what we have done,’cause we are young, that’s it,simple.’

‘We live on the edge of life, we don’t even compromise, we rush because we’re out of time.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

819-Killing Joke-Love Like Blood.

1985-Number 16 single.

Best Bit-At 0.17.Jaz Coleman, one of the bands founding members, explained the evolution of their name,’The killing joke is like when people watch something like Monty Python on the television and laugh, when really their laughing at themselves. It’s like a soldier in the first Word War, he’s in a trench,he knows his life is gone, and in the next 10 minutes he’s gonna be dead, and then suddenly he realises that some c”’t back in Westminster’s got him sussed,-‘What am I doing this for? I don’t want to kill anyone, I’m just being controlled.’

Killing Joke were formed in Notting Hill, London, England in 1978, they were active until 1996, but reformed in 2002, with the original four members of Jaz Coleman, Geordie Walker, Paul Ferguson, and Martin ‘Youth’ Glover (see also best songs 1047,) all still part of the band.They have covered many genres of music including, ‘Industrial Rock,’ and ‘Synth Pop,’ with artists such as Nirvana,and Metallica siting them as a major influence.

‘Love Like Blood’ is a call to live every day like it is your last, don’t be afraid to take that extra step, be brave, and fearless, as you are only hear for a short time.Do everything with a passion, and don’t wait for others to do it for you.

‘We must play our lives like soldiers in the field. The life is short, I’m running faster all the time, strength and beauty destined to decay.’