THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

870-Kelly Clarkson-Since U Been Gone.

2005-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.47.Ever wondered why so many songs sound the same? It’s the fault of Max Martin.

Karl Martin Sandberg was born in Sweden in 1971, he has written or co-written 23 Billboard Number 1 singles to date, writing for artists such as The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift.

‘Since U Been Gone’ was co-written by Martin, and the almost as prolific hit maker, Lukasz Gottwald, who is better known by his working name of Dr. Luke (see also best songs 824.)By 2004 Martin had already written, and produced many ‘Pop’ hits,and was wanting to produce something with more of a ‘Rock’ influence. Martin, and Dr. Luke had been listening to,and admiring ‘Alternative Rock,’ and ‘Indie Music,’ and were inspired by the group, the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s.’ and particularly their song,’Maps.’They realised that by writing a song in that style, but adding a big chorus, would give them a hit.

The song was first offered to Pink, who turned it down,then given to Hilary Duff, but she rejected it because she couldn’t reach it’s higher notes, so finally on the recommendation of the music veteran Clive Davis it was offered to Kelly Clarkson, who was the first ever winner of ‘American Idol’ in 2002. Clarkson was looking to give her music more of a Rock, than Pop edge, for her second Album,’Breakaway,’ and she agreed to record the song, as long as more drums, and guitars were added to the mix.

‘Here’s the thing, we started out friends, it was cool, but it was all pretend, yeah, yeah.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

871-Pet Shop Boys- A Red Letter Day.

1997-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 3.47.A Red letter day, is a day of special significance, it dates back to Roman times (509-27 BC,) when important days were indicated in red, in their calendar.

‘A Red Letter Day’ is taken from the Pet Shop Boys sixth studio Album ‘Bilingual’ from 1996.At the time, the song held the unenviable record of the biggest weekly fall in UK chart history, having entered the top 40 at Number nine, and a week later dropping to Number 42.As with all Pet Shop Boys (see also best songs 378) singles there are many commissioned remixes, and Neil Tennant was so impressed with the Motiv8 remix, that he incorporated the synth line in to the official single, the original version of the song is on the Album. Motiv8 is the working name of Steve Rodway, who was a go to re mixer, particularly in the 1990’s.His biggest success was co-writing, and producing,’Ooh Aah, Just A Little Bit,’ a 1996 Number 1 for Gina G.

‘A Red Letter Day’ tells us that being loved is far more important than material things,and also being accepted for the person you are, is something you should strive to achieve.

‘But for all of those who don’t fit in, who follow their instincts, and are told they sin. This is a prayer, for a different way.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

872-Small Faces-Itchycoo Park.

1967-Number 3 single. When re-released in 1975, it reached Number 13.

Best Bit-At 2.23. When she played the song, I always remember the first female Radio 1 DJ, Annie Nightingale saying, ‘Drummers of the world unite.’

‘Itchycoo Park’ was written by Steve Marriott (1947-1991,) and Ronnie Lane (1946-1997,) and features on the Small Faces 1967 Album,’There Are But Four Small Faces'(see also best songs 1048.)

‘Itchycoo Park’ is the nickname of ‘Little Ilford Park’ in London. An ‘Itchtcoo’ is slang for a flower found in the park, called a ‘stinging nettle,’which can burn your skin, if touched.

The song is about skipping school, to spend the day in the park, but with controversial lyrics such as,’What did you do there? I got high,’ it was banned by all the radio stations, until the Small Faces put out a statement saying that Itchycoo Park was a piece of waste ground in the East End, that the band had played on as kids. Ronnie Lane said that the meaning of getting high, was the buzz of playing truant from school, they put the statement out at 10.0.am, and by lunchtime the ban had been lifted.

‘I feel inclined to blow my mind,get hung up,feed the ducks with a bun.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

873-Bachman-Turner Overdrive-Roll On down the Highway.

1975-Number 22 single.

Best Bit-At 2.35.’Ah, breaker one-nine, this here’s the Rubber Duck. You gotta copy on me, Pig Pen, c’mon?’

‘BTO’ were formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1973, the original line up was Randy Bachman (lead guitar,) Fred Turner (leads vocals, and bass guitar,) and Robbie Bachman (drums.) Blair Thornton (guitar) joined the group in 1974, replacing Tim Bachman, who had been fired after the release of the bands second Album,’Bachman-Turner Overdrive 2.’

‘Roll On down the Highway’ is taken from the bands third studio Album,’Not Fragile’ released in 1974, it was their most successful, and included the Billboard Number 1 song ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’ (see also best songs 1005.)

The Ford Motor Company had contacted the band to write a song for the automotive company’s commercials, but decided against using any of their compositions.Robbie Bachman developed one of Fred Turner’s ideas to form this song.Randy Bachman has said,’It’s like getting an assignment.Write a new commercial for Ford, and you’ll get paid $100,000. Well, I’d sit down, and I’d write a commercial for Ford,’let it roll down the highway,’Ford never picks it up,and I have a song called ‘Roll On down the Highway.”

‘The time’s real short,you know the distance is long, I’d like to have a jet, but it’s not in the song.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

874-Eels-Susan’s House.

1997-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.47.Just think if Bon Jovi hadn’t have got there first, they could have called their Album’ Slippery When Wet.’

Before forming Eels, Mark Everett had released music under the name ‘E,’ so when forming Eels with drummer Jonathan ‘Butch’ Norton, and bassist Tommy Walter, he chose the bands name so that their records would be close to ‘E’ solo recordings, in alphabetical ordering.Mark Everett was born in Virginia, United States, in 1963, and formed Eels in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, U.S.,in 1995, they are still active, with Everett being the one constant. Everett’s father was the famous physicist, Hugh Everett, and his maternal grandfather was Harold ‘Kid’ Gore, a legendary football, and basketball coach.’Susan’s House’ is taken from the bands 1996 critically acclaimed debut Album,’Beautiful Freak,’ the piano part is sampled from the 1974 song,’Love Finds It’s Own Way,’ a song written by Jim Weatherly,for Gladys Knight & the Pips, Weatherly does receive co-writers credit, along with Everett.

The song tells the tale of Everett walking from his house, to Susan’s house, and the horrors he encounters along the way, but he is comforted in the knowledge that when he arrives, he will be safe.

‘And I’m thinking,that must be her sister,that must be her sister,right?’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

875-Love Affair-Everlasting Love.

1968-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.31.Everlasting Love is the only song to have been a top 40 hit in the UK in the 1960’s. 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, and the 2000’s.

‘Everlasting Love’ is one of the most covered songs of all time. Other significant versions are the original version from Robert Knight (1967,) Town Criers (1968,) Carl Carlton (1974,) Sandra (1987,) the Cast of Casualty (1998,) and Jamie Cullum (2004,) the song has also charted for other artists, worldwide down the years.

‘Everlasting Love’ was written especially for Robert Knight (1940-2017) by Buzz Cason, and Mac Gayden, they also wrote his other UK hit ‘Love on a Mountain Top.’ The Love Affair who were formed in London in 1966 were the second choice to record the song, after it had been turned down by the Scottish group Marmalade. The only member of Love Affair who actually appeared on the song was 16 year old lead singer, Steve Ellis, as it was decided to use session musicians, including backing singers Kiki Dee, Madeline Bell, and Lesley Duncan. The famous bass part was played by Russ Stableford, and the drums were played by Clem Cattini, who has appeared on more than 40 UK Number 1 singles.

‘Where life’s river flows, no one really knows, ’til someone’s there to show the way to lasting love.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

876-Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull-On the Floor.

2011-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.15.’You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching. Love like you’ll never be hurt, sing like there’s nobody listening, and live like it’s heaven on earth.’ That probably sums up what this song is all about.

‘On The Floor’ is taken from Jennifer Lopez’s seventh studio Album ‘Love?,’ released in 2011, two months after this songs release, which gave Lopez her third UK Number 1 single.The track features a rap by Pitbull, who has also topped the UK chart on three occasions.’On the Floor’ samples the 1989 hit ‘Lambada,’ by the French/Brazilian group Kaoma, who in turn sampled the ‘Lambada’ from a song called ‘Llorando se fue,’ which is a 1981 Bolivian folk song, recorded by the band Los Kjarkas, so Gonzalo Hermosa of that group, is given co-songwriting credit.

The song was also co-written, and produced by Nadir ‘RedOne’ Khayat, who based parts of the song on the 2010 track ‘Party O’Clock’ by Kat DeLuna, which he also wrote,and produced, and had only been a top 20 hit in Belgium.

‘If you go hard, you gotta get on the floor. If you’re a party freak, then step on the floor.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

877-Frank Sinatra-You Make Me Feel So Young.

1956-Has never been released as a single.

Best Bit-At 1.21.The very first British Album chart was published on July 22, 1956, and ‘Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!’ by Frank Sinatra, became the first ever Number 1 Album, staying at the top for two weeks.

‘Songs For Swingin’ Lovers’! was the 10th Album release by Frank Sinatra (1915-1998,) the arrangement was by Nelson Riddle, and is considered by many to be their best work.

The Album opens with ‘You Make Me Feel So Young,’ a song which was originally written in 1946 for the musical film,’Three Little Girls in Blue’, with lyrics by Mack Gordon (1904-1959,) (see also best songs 321 and 775,) and the music by Josef Myrow (1910-1987.)

Sinatra’s (see also best songs 567-469-120 and 73) musical career was badly in need of a boost, and that happened when he signed with Capital Records in 1953, but essentially when being teamed up with arranger, composer, and band leader Nelson Riddle (1921-1985,) Riddle had already arranged ‘Mona Lisa’ for Nat King Cole, the best selling song of Cole’s career, and the team at Capital brought Sinatra, and Riddle together, for the 19 Albums they collaborated on.

‘You and I are just like a couple of tots, runnin’ across the meadow, pickin’ up lots of forget me nots.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

878-The Jesus and Mary Chain-Sometimes Always.

1994-Number 22 single.

Best bit-At 1.57.In one last ditch attempt to get on the Radio 2 playlist, they came up with this.

The Jesus and Mary Chain (see also best songs 336) were formed in East Kilbride, Scotland in 1983, by the brothers Jim (singer/songwriter,and lead vocalist,) William Reid (composer,singer. and lead guitar,) Douglas Hart (bass,) and Murray Dalglish (drummer.) Over the years the Reid brothers have seen 18 other members come and go.They were active between 1983-1997, but reformed in 2007, and are still active to this very day.

‘Sometimes Always’ is a very different sound to that which got them signed to ‘Creation Records’ in 1983. The Reid brothers were originally influenced by bands like The Stooges. and The Ramones, but this track sounds like the the best song Lee Hazelwood never wrote.The song is taken from the bands fifth studio Album,’Stoned & Dethroned, and is a duet between Jim Reid, and guest vocalist Hope Sandoval, who at that time was a member of the American Alternative Rock band ‘Mazzy Star.’ The songs lyrics are very straightforward,with him wanting to get back, after leaving her, but before she takes him back, she has to be sure, and he must beg forgiveness.

‘I won’t get on my knees, don’t make me do that please, I’ve been away, but now I’m back.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

879-Beck-Where It’s At.

1996-Number 35 single.

Best Bit-At 2.44.He’s got two turntables, and a microphone, all he needs now is a few flashing lights, and he can do mobile disco’s.

Beck Hansen (see also best songs 230) was born Bek David Campbell on July 8, 1970, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., he is considered to be one of the most innovative artists, since the start of the 1990’s.He has covered many musical genres, including,Alternative Rock, Folk, Americano, and Hip-Hop. His mother, Bibbie Hansen is a musician, and actress, who has performed in the Andy Warhol film ‘Prison,’

‘Where It’s At’ is taken from Beck’s critically acclaimed fifth studio Album, ‘Odelay’, released in 1996. The song was co-written by Beck, and The Dust Brothers, who are John King, and Michael Simpson. The song references early Hip-Hop, when DJ’s would use two turntables, and a microphone to create the right atmosphere.Beck also reminisces about his early days as a struggling musician,when having to work odd jobs to make ends meet. There are also several samples in the song, including audio from a 1969 middle-school sex education Album called ‘Sex For Teens (Where It’s At’) The line, ‘That was a good drum break’ is sampled from the 1989 song ‘I Don’t Care If U Disrespect Me,’ by The Frogs, and the sample, ‘Two turntables and a microphone,’ is lifted from the song ‘Needle to the Groove,’ by the Old School Hip-Hop group The Mantronix.

‘Move through the room like ambulance drivers,shine your shoes with your microphone blues.’