THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

840-Sparks-This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us.

1974-Nunber 2 single.

Best Bit-At 1.58.If Ron Mael, and his menacing Adolph Hitler moustache tell you there isn’t room for the both of you, you’d better leave.

Sparks are the duo of the brothers Ron (keyboards,) and Russell Mael (vocals,) who were both born in California, United States, Ron who was born in 1945, is three years older than Russell. Their first recordings in 1967 were made under the name ‘Urban Renewal Project,’ which they later changed to ‘Halfnelson,’ and eventually ‘Sparks,’ in recognition of ‘The Marx Brothers.’In the early part of the 1970’s their music was defined as ‘Glam Rock,’ but in 1978 they changed styles radically, by working with legendary producer Giorgio Moroder (see also best songs 11 and 78) on the Album ‘No. 1 in Heaven,’ making them forerunners of ‘Synthpop,’ influencing the next generation of musicians such as New Order, and Depeche Mode.

‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us’ was written by Ron Mael, and has quirky lyrics, as is the case with many of the bands songs, basically the songs main character, keeps trying to work up the nerve to ask girls out, but always chickens out, in order to make him feel better about himself, he watches old cowboy movies.

‘Shower, another shower,you’ve got to look your best for her, and be clean everywhere.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

841-The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes-Don’t Cha.

2005-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.04.Having a positive body image is a good thing, but this lot appear to suffer from a severe case of egotism.

The Pussycat Dolls were the brainchild of Robin Antin, who formed the original group in 1995 as a modern burlesque troupe, by 2003, with a revised lineup they signed a record deal. Although they have only ever released two studio Albums, they are the forth best selling ‘girl group’ of all time, with sales in excess of 55 million.

‘Don’t Cha’ was co-written, and produced by CeeLo Green (see also best songs 174,) it heavily samples the song ‘Swass’ by the Rap artist Sir Mix-a-Lot from 1988, therefore giving him co-writing credits.The original version of the song was recorded by R&B singer Tori Alamaze, a former backing singer with the Hip-Hop group Outkast, but after the song failed to chart it was offered to The Pussycat Dolls, and with the aid of Busta Rhymes (see also best songs 210 and 675) adding his part, the song went on to top the charts in 15 countries.Nicole Scherzinger said she did most of the singing ‘On my own,’ for the debut Album ‘PCD.’ I finished the Album, and the girls came in to the studio, and we played it for them, it was the first time they’d ever heard the songs, do you understand what I’m saying?’

‘Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

842-Dick Haymes-It Might As Well Be Spring.

1945-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 1.16.Some music critics have commented that the lyrics verge on corny, well if that’s true, sign me up for the corny fan club immediately

‘It Might As Well Be Spring’ was written for the 1945 film ‘State Fair,’ the only Rodgers and Hammerstein musical written directly for film.In the movie version of the song, the actress Jeanne Crain (1925-2003) mimes to the dubbed vocals of Louanne Hogan.

Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) who wrote the melody, is one of the most acclaimed composers of the 20th Century, musicals he co-wrote include ‘Oklahoma!,’ ‘Carousel,’ ‘South Pacific,’ The Kind and I,’ and ‘The Sound of Music.’ Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein (1895-1960) was an American lyricist who co-wrote 850 songs, including the musical ‘Showboat,’ with Jerome Kern, as well as all of the musicals stated above (see also best songs 343-82 and 60.)

Dick Haymes (1918-1980) was an Argentinian actor, and singer who had acted in ‘State Fair.’ He recorded his version of this song in 1945, taking it to a peak of Number five on the American chart.In total Haymes had 62 top 30 hits on Billboard between 1941-1951.

‘I’m as busy as a spider spinning daydreams, I’m as giddy as a baby on a swing.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

843-Gary Byrd and the GB Experience-The Crown.

1983-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 5.30.The musical royalty, that is his highness, Stevie Wonder, obviously.

In America this was the only song released on Stevie Wonder’s short lived ‘Wondirection’ record label, a subsidiary of the Motown label.It failed to chart on Billboard, as at the time of release Motown were in takeover negotiations with MCA records, and the small label received little promotion.

Gary Byrd was born in 1954, in Buffalo, New York, United States,he has been a radio disc jockey since the age of 15, and during the 1980’s he presented a Gospel music programme on BBC Radio 1 called ‘Sweet Inspirations.’Prior to this songs release, Byrd had released the Album ‘The Gary Byrd Experience, and the single ‘Every Brother Ain’t A Brother.’This wasn’t the first time that Byrd and Wonder had teamed up as they had previously collaborated on four songs, including ‘Village Ghetto Land,’ from Wonder’s ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ Album.

The Crown’ was co-written by Stevie Wonder (see also best songs 920-834-682-570-503-366-205-152 and 65) and Gary Byrd, and tells the story of human progress, beginning with the ancient Egyptians, and continuing to the present day.Gary Byrd described the songs meaning,’The idea is not that black, white or anyone is better, but we all have our place. We’ve all made contributions, and mistakes too. Wearing the crown is reaching the top of your potential.’

‘I wear the crown, you wear the crown,so proud to say that we all wear the crown,get down.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

844-The Charlatans-The Only One I Know.

1990- Number 9 single.

Best Bit- At 2.54.At the height of the ‘Madchester’ music scene in 1990, the University of Manchester was the most sought after destination for university applicants in the UK, it appears they didn’t want to just come and learn, they wanted to listen as well.

The Charlatans are considered one of the leading exponents of the ‘Madchester’ music scene, although they formed in the West Midlands, of England in 1988, with only their lead singer Tim Burgess hailing from the Manchester area, having been born in Salford. To date they have released 13 studio Albums, three of which have reached Number 1, and had 22 top 40 singles in the UK.’The Only One I Know’ was released as the bands second single, from their debut Album ‘Some Friendly’ in 1990, and although only the band members receive writing credits, this track is heavily influenced by two other songs.The lyrics,’Everyone has been burned before, everybody knows the pain,’ are from the ‘Byrds’ 1967 song ‘Everybody’s Been Burned,’ and the organ riff is lifted from Deep Purple’s version of the Joe South song ‘Hush’ (see also best songs 550.)

The lyrics to ‘Everybody’s Been Burned’ tell us that although you will probably get hurt by trying to love someone, it is still better than hiding away, and not trying to love at all.’The Only One I Know’ is a tale of loving someone far more, than they probably love you.’

The only one I see,is mine when she walks down the street. The only one I know, has carved her way in to me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

845-Dobie Grey-Out on the Floor.

1965-It didn’t chart in the UK until re-released in 1975, when reaching Number 42.

Best Bit-At 2.16.In 2000 Wigan Casino DJ Kev Roberts compiled the Northern Soul Top 500, which was based on a survey of Northern Soul fans, and this song was placed at Number 2. Which song was Number 1? (see best songs 97.)

Northern Soul is Soul music that originated from American Northern cities such as Detroit, and Chicago, in the mid 1960’s, that was first introduced in clubs in the UK, in Northern England, and the English Midlands, in the late 1960’s.The term Northern Soul was devised by music writer, and record store owner Dave Godin (1936-2004,) he stated,’I had started to notice that Northern football fans who were in London to follow their team were coming in to the store to buy records,but they weren’t interested in the latest developments in the Black American chart. I devised the name as a shorthand term.It was just to say,’if you’ve got customers from the North, don’t waste time playing them records currently in the U.S. black chart, just play them what they like-‘Northern Soul.’

‘Out on the Floor’ was written by Alfred V. De Lory (1930-2012,) who was a record producer, arranger, conductor, and session musician (see also best songs 846.)

Dobie Grey (1940-2011) (see also best songs 243) was an American singer, and songwriter whose musical career spanned Soul, Country, Pop, and Musical Theatre.His two big hit singles were ‘The ‘In’ Crowd’ in 1965, and ‘Drift Away,’ in 1973.

‘The chicks are out of sight, and I am a groovin’,the crowd is in tonight beggin’ for more.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

846-Glen Campbell-Wichita Lineman.

1968-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 1.47.If you can make what is probably quite a mundane job appear mysterious, and romantic, you must be doing something right.

The songs writer is Jimmy Webb (see also best songs 119 and 1) who was born in Elk City, Oklahoma, United States, on August 15th, 1946, he is the only artist ever to have received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration.As well as writing, and arranging for others, he has released 13 studio Albums, and although not great sellers, they have been critically acclaimed, he is also the writer of the song I have chosen as the ‘Best song in the world ever.’

Webb’s inspiration for writing ‘Wichita Lineman’ came about while driving through Washita County in Oklahoma. At that time many telephone companies were county owned utilities, and their linemen were county employees. Webb drove past endless telephone poles, then in the distance he saw a solitary lineman atop a pole. He described it as ‘The picture of loneliness,’ as the lineman spoke in to the phone, Webb considered what the man was saying in to the receiver.

‘And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

847-Taylor Swift-Love Story.

2008-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 3.18.In William Shakespeare’s version of Romeo and Juliet there is a tragic ending, but in Taylor Swift’s version they live happily ever after.

Taylor Alison Swift was born 13th December, 1989, in West Reading, Pennsylvania, United States, she was named Taylor after the singer/songwriter James Taylor.At the age of 14 she became the youngest artist to be signed by ‘Sony/ATV Music,’ with her self titled debut Album in 2006, going on to become the longest charting Album of the 2000’s, on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart.Over the course of her seven Album career to date, she has covered music genres as diverse as Country Pop, Synth Pop, Rock, and Hip-Hop.

Many of Taylor Swift’s songs are based on her real life experiences, and this one is rumoured to be about Swift’s relationship with Joe Jonas, of the Jonas Brothers, whom she dated for much of 2008, and Swift’s father who objected to the relationship.Swift had always been a fan of the William Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet, and likened her situation to that of those lovers, but instead of a tragic ending like that in the Shakespeare play, Swift opted for a happy ending, where her Romeo asks for her hand in marriage.

‘He knelt to the ground, and pulled out a ring, and said, ‘Marry me Juliet, you’ll never have to be alone.”

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

848-Soft Cell-Tainted Love.

1981-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 4.00. Everyone knows about the fun you can have with an air guitar, but what about air percussion, space age noises,and clicking fingers.

Marc Almond was born Peter Mark Sinclair Almond, 9th, July, 1957, in Southport, England, he took his stage name, and it’s spelling Marc, from his boyhood idle Marc Bolan. The other half of Soft Cell was David Ball, born 3rd May,1959, in Chester, England, they met, while both studying at Leeds Polytechnic in 1977.

‘Tainted Love’ was written in 1964 by Ed Cobb (1938-1999,) and originally recorded by Gloria Jones as the ‘B’ side to her 1965 single ‘My Bad Boy’s Coming Home’. In 1973 British club DJ Richard Searling, purchased a copy while on a trip to the United States. The tracks Motown influenced sound, fit in perfectly with the music favoured by those involved in the UK Northern Soul scene, of the early 1970’s.Marc Almond and David Ball became aware of the song , and recorded a drastically different arrangement with synthesizers, which were very much the latest thing at the time. Marc has called the song,’A mixture of cold electronics, with an over passionate, over exuberant, slightly out of key vocal.’The song went on to become the best selling single of 1981.

‘Once I ran to you, now I’ll run from you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

849-Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz-Mercy.

2012-Number 55 single.Best Bit-At 3.13.The Fuzzy Jones sample, that takes us in to Kanye West rapping over some ‘EDM’, that’s come absolutely out of nowhere,just ahead of 2 Chainz introducing himself. As the ‘Big O’ said, some 48 years earlier, ‘MERCY.’

It must be difficult living inside the head of Kanye West, on the one hand you can’t help yourself, because you have to brag about all the trappings of your success, such as your ‘Lamborghini Murcielago,’ (Mercy for short,) and on the other hand as a God fearing born again Christian, you feel you must spread the word that if you break the rules on earth, you will end up in hell, with no ‘MERCY’ being shown, hence the opening line,’Well it is a weeping, and a moaning, and a gnashing of teeth.

In 2004 Kanye West (see also best songs 1049-636-477 and 267) set up his own record label ‘GOOD Music,’ in order to release his own music, and that of the artists he would sign, which include Big Sean, and Pusha T, who perform on this song. In 2012 West released an Album of new music, featuring many artists from his record label to showcase the labels talent. The compilation was called ‘Cruel Summer,’ and ‘Mercy’ was the first single released, peaking at Number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

‘Most Rappers taste level, ain’t at my waist level,turn up the bass ’til it’s up in your face level’.