THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

830-Miley Cyrus-We Can’t Stop.

2013-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.49.Billy Ray needs to have a word, if she was my daughter, I’d be very worried, these antics could break his achy breaky heart.

Miley Cyrus was born Destiny Hope Cyrus on November 23rd, 1992, in Franklin, Tennessee, United States, she is the daughter of Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.Between 2006-2011 she portrayed the character of Hannah Montana, attaining two Number one, and three top 10 soundtracks, on the Billboard Album chart.

In an attempt to get rid of her ‘Good girl next door, Disney image,’ in 2013 Miley Cyrus went all Hip-Hop.The highly controversial lyrics in this song about recreational drugs have been almost unanimously criticised by music critics.In a further attempt to distance herself from her past, at the 2013 MTV music awards, she performed with Robin Thicke, her simulated sex acts with a foam finger were described as ‘disturbing,’ and the whole performance as ‘cringe-worthy.’

‘We Can’t Stop’ was co-written by Cyrus, Mike Will Made It, and Rock City, who also produced the song.The track also samples the 1985 Hip-Hop song ‘La Di Da Di,’ giving that songs writers Doug E, Fresh, and MC Ricky D writing credits as well.

‘So la-da-di-da-di, we like to party, dancing with Molly.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

831-The Bar-Kays-Shake Your Rump to the Funk.

1976-Number 41 single.

Best Bit-At 0.48.Whether it’s your Booty, or your Tail Feather, or your groove thing, or even your money maker, when the call comes for you to take to the dance floor, you must always Shake it.

The Bar-Kays formed in 1966 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, starting out as a studio session group, backing the major artists at Stax Records, as well as releasing their own material. In 1968 bass player James Alexander who was one of original members at the bands formation, and drummer Willie Hall who joined later,played on Isaac Hayes classic Album ‘Hot Buttered Soul.'(see also best songs 1)Their first hit single was ‘Soul Finger,’ which reached Number 17 on Billboard in 1967, and Number 33 in the UK. They have gone on to release 21 studio Albums, the latest in 2012.

On December 10th, 1967, four members of the band were flying with Otis Redding (see also best songs 712 and 377) as they toured as his backing band, when their airplane crashed in to Lake Monona, Wisconsin, United States, while attempting to land at Truax Field.The only survivor of the seven on board was the bands trumpeter Ben Cauley (1947-2015,) bassist James Alexander was on another plane, as the plane carrying Redding held only seven passengers. Cauley and Alexander went on to rebuild the group, eventually shifting the bands sound from the R&B, and Soul of the 1960’s, to the Funk of the 1970’s.

‘Don’t stop dancing to the music, just let the music make you high.We got rhythm you can use it, don’t let this feeling pass you by.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

832-B.J. Thomas-Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.

1970-Number 38 single.

Best Bit-At 2.28.It’s a glass half full song, and if you can catch some of them raindrops, it will be even fuller.

‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head’ was written by the legendary songwriting team of Hal David (1921-2012,) and Burt Bacharach (see also best songs 902-815-740-644 and 224) for the 1969 film ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which starred Paul Newman, and Robert Redford.The song was first offered to Ray Stevens, who turned it down, and then supposedly Bob Dylan, who also declined.It was Dionne Warwick who recommended B.J. Thomas to Bacharach and David, as she had already recorded many of their songs, and shared the same record label, ‘Scepter Records’ with Thomas.

B.J. Thomas was born Billy Joe Thomas on August 7th, 1942, in Hugo, Oklahoma, United States, he has achieved great success on the Billboard chart with 14 top 40 hits.He has had two Number 1 singles, with this song, which also provided Bacharach and David with their first million seller, and (‘Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,’ in 1975, which is the longest song title to have ever been an American Number 1.

‘And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed, nothing seems to fit.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

833-Captain Sensible-Glad It’s All Over.

1984-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 1.05.This isn’t happy talk, this is sensible talk.

Captain Sensible was born Raymond Ian Burns on 24 April, 1954, in Balham, London, England,He adopted his stage name Captain Sensible ironically because he used to be a ‘debauched maniac’ who had fun ‘regardless of the consequences,’ but he admits to calming down after becoming a vegetarian.He started his music career as a member of the group the Damned, who are considered the first Punk Rock group to release a single, ‘New Rose,’ in 1976 (see also best songs 273.)

‘Glad It’s All Over’ was co-written by Captain Sensible, and Tony Mansfield who was also the songs producer, and percussionist.It is said that Mansfield used a Duckhams oil can (floor tom,) a casserole dish (high hat,) and a Rountrees chocolate tin (snare drum,) and after a ‘bit of tuning’ with a panel hammer, the kit sounded just right.Prior to working with Captain Sensible, Mansfield had been a member of the synth-pop band New Musik, who achieved three top 40 singles in 1980, he would go on to produce other artists in the 1980’s, including A-ha, and The B-52’s.

‘Glad It’s All Over’ was written as an anti war song, and was Captain Sensible’s comment on the 1982 Falklands War.

‘Submarines in the harbour, incognito, submarines of your dreams not mine.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

834-Detroit Spinners-It’s a Shame.

1970-Number 20 single.

Best Bit-At 1.13.Tamla Motown’s second team, finally given their day in the spotlight.

In America they are known as the Spinners, but in the UK to avoid confusion with the British Folk group The Spinners, they are known as the Detroit Spinners.They originally formed in 1954, in Ferndale, Michigan,United States, and after several lineup changes signed with Motown Records in 1964. The only remaining, and still living original member of the band is Henry Fambrough (born 1938,) who stills tours with the group.In 1972, on the advice of Aretha Franklin they moved from Motown to Atlantic Records, where they would achieve great success, including the UK 1980 Number 1 single ‘Working My Way Back To You.’

‘It’s a Shame’ was co-written by Stevie Wonder (see also best songs 920-843-682-570-503-366-205-152 and 65,) Syreeta Wright, and Lee Garrett, the song is notable for it being the first track Wonder had produced for anyone but himself, he also played the drums on the song.

The song was sampled in 1990 by British born Rapper Monie Love,who took her version to Number 12 in the UK top 40.Her version, and the Detroit Spinners original both deal with the break up of a love affair.

‘You’re like a child at play, on a sunny day, but you play with love, and then you throw it away.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

835-Flo Rida featuring T-Pain-Low.

2008-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.22.If you are stood in front of the bedroom mirror at home, and thinking which is the best song for me to practice my Twerking to, try this one.

‘Low’ has the distinction of being the most downloaded song of the 2000’s decade, with digital downloads in excess of six million.It went to Number one in nine countries, including in America, on Billboard, where it spent 10 consecutive weeks at the top of that chart.The song was co-written by Flo Rida, who provides the Rap, and T-Pain, who sings, and co produces the track, with DJ Montay. Flo Rida was born Tramar Dillard in Carol City, Florida (hence his stage name,) in 1979, he has achieved 20 top 40 singles in the UK to date, five of which have gone to Number 1, including collaborations.

The songs makes reference to a ‘Shawty’ in a club, a shawty is American slang, used as a term of endearment, for an attractive woman, or girlfriend.The song concentrates on two women, one is wearing ‘Apple Bottom Jeans,’ which is a fashion brand for women, and the other is wearing ‘baggy sweaty pants,’ and Reebok brand shoes. T-Pain prefers the former, and Flo Rida the later, but in the second verse T-Pain admits that he,’Prefers them, no clothes.’

‘Had a million dollar vibe, and a bottle to go, dem birthday cakes, they stole the show.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

836-Elvis Costello and the Attractions-Oliver’s Army.

1979-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 1.54.A deceptively jolly ‘Abba’ type tune, that hides a sinister message.

Nick Lowe who was the songs producer has said that Costello was going to dump the song when they first started recording it,’We went through it all afternoon, and it just wasn’t happening at all.’ Then out of the blue Steve Nieve (who was one of the Attractions) said,’What about if I do a sort of Abba piano part on it?’ Lowe said,’We knew their records were good, but no one wanted to own up to it. Nieve did the piano part, and suddenly the thing went from black and white to fireworks.’ (see also best songs 44.)

Elvis Costello who was born Declan Patrick MacManus on 25th August, 1954, in Paddington, London, England, wrote the lyrics after visiting Belfast for the first time.He was shocked to see very young soldiers from the British Army walking around with machine guns.It was a time of great unemployment, especially in the North of England, and Costello is saying that the only real option that young men had to avoid unemployment was to join the army.The songs title is a reference to Oliver Cromwell who established the first professional, properly trained, fighting force, who were known as the ‘New Model Army,’ who fought the English Civil War against the Royalist army of Charles 1.

Elvis Costello has said,’Oliver’s Army became our biggest hit single, stalling at Number 2 on the charts, while records by Blondie, Boney M, and the Bee Gees all overtook us at the top of the hit parade. I thought briefly about changing my name again to something beginning with a ‘B.’

‘But there’s no danger, it’s a professional career, though it could be arranged with just a word in Mr Churchill’s ear.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

837-Rage Against the Machine-Killing in the Name.

1993-Number 25 single. In 2009 it peaked at Number 1

Best Bit-At 3.50.As a protest against the monotony of the Christmas Number 1 being another mind numbing, syrupy, soulless, inane,predictable, X-Factor winning,depressing karaoke song, the general public finally saw sense, and purchased 502,672 downloads, in this songs first week of re-release.

In early December 2009, English DJ Jon Morter launched a group on Facebook encouraging people to buy the song in an attempt to prevent the winner of X-Factor from topping the Christmas chart for the fifth year running. Rage Against the Machine donated all profits to charity.

Rage Against the Machine are an Alternative Rock band who formed in Los Angeles, California, U.S.,in 1991, they have released four studio Albums,the latest being ‘Renegades’ in 2000.They are known for their revolutionary political views, which are expressed in many of their songs.

‘Killing In the Name’ makes the allegation that some members of the U.S. police forces are members of the ‘Ku Klux Klan.’The song reflects the racial tensions that exist in the United States.

‘Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

838-Petula Clark-Downtown.

1964-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 1.58.In America ‘Downtown’ is the heart of the city where the action happens. The word isn’t used much in Britain, but it generally means the less affluent part of town.

The writer of the song Tony Hatch used the word in the American meaning, he recalled,’ I was staying at a hotel on Central Park, and I wandered down to Broadway, and to Times Square, and naively, I thought I was downtown. I loved the whole atmosphere there, and the music came to me very, very quickly.’

Tony Hatch was born in Pinner, Middlesex,England, in 1939, after the success of ‘Downtown’ he would go on to write many more of Petula Clark’s 1960 hits, including ‘Don’t Sleep in the Subway,’ and ‘The Other Man’s Grass Is Always Greener.’ Hatch is also responsible for writing several movie, and television themes, which include, the themes from ‘Neighbours,’ Crossroads,’ and ‘Emmerdale Farm.’

Petula Clark was born Sally Olwen Clark in Epsom, Surrey, England, in 1932, it is said her father chose her stage name from two of his old girlfriends,’Pet, and ‘Ula.’ Clark had her first UK hit in 1954 with ‘The Little Shoemaker,’ but her music career was on the wain until ‘Downtown’ broke her in America, going on to be Number 1 on Billboard, in early 1965.For the rest of the decade, her songs were far more successful in The States, than in the UK, where she achieved a further 13 top 40 singles.

‘Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city, linger on the sidewalk, where the neon signs are pretty.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

839-Neneh Cherry-Buffalo Stance.

1988-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 2.35.Nenah Cherry received a lot of criticism when she performed the song live on Top of the Pops, as she was seven months pregnant. When asked by a reporter if it was safe to go up on stage and perform, Cherry answered,’Yes, of course! It’s not an illness.’

Neneh Cherry was born Neneh Karlsson 10th March, 1964, in Stockholm, Sweden.She has released five studio Albums to date, the first ‘Raw Like Sushi’ in 1989, and the latest ‘Broken Politics’ in 2018.In 1990 she married music producer Cameron McVey, they have two daughters, Tyson, born in 1989, and singer Mabel, who was born in 1996, and has had nine top 40 singles at the time of writing.

‘Buffalo Stance’ was co-written by Cherry, McVey, Jamie Morgan, and Phillip Ramacon, and is taken from her debut Album ‘Raw Like Sushi.’ An early version of the song appeared as the ‘B’ side of the Morgan-McVey 1986 single ‘Looking Good Diving,’and was chosen to be her debut single, when reworked, and produced by Tim (Bomb the Bass) Simenon.

The songs title ‘Buffalo’ refers to a group of photographers, models, musicians, hair, and makeup artists, etc,formed by fashion stylist Ray Petri (1948-1989,) of which Neneh Cherry, and Cameron McVey were both members.’Stance’ would be what you would do when posing for a photo shoot.

‘No moneyman can win my love, it’s sweetness that I’m thinking of.’