THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

477-Jay-Z and Kanye West-N….s in Paris.

2012-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 2.43. The song received it’s title, as it was recorded at ‘Le Meurice,’ which is a hotel in Paris. If you want to stay the night, that will set you back well over $3,200.

‘N….s in Paris’ which is edited for radio as ‘In Paris,’ or ‘Paris,’ was the fourth of seven singles released from the collaborative studio Album ‘Watch the Throne,’ by the American Rappers Jay-Z, (see also best songs 636-267 and 23) and Kanye West, (see also best songs 1049-849-636 and 267) from August 2011. The song was co-written by Jay-Z, Kanye West, Chauncey Hollis, and due to part of it’s sampling the American screenwriter, and film producer John Altschuler is also credited, the track was produced by Kanye West, Chauncey Hollis, Mike Dean, and Anthony Kilhoffer. Jay-Z and Kanye West had already collaborated on many occasions prior to 2011, and the idea was to record enough material for a five track extended play, (EP) but things went so well that it ended up as a 12 track Album, with seven of the songs, all with promotional video’s, being released as singles. The duo had first begun working together in 2000 on the track ‘This Can’t Be Life,’ from Jay-Z’s fifth studio Album ‘The Dynasty: Roc La Familia,’ on which West co-wrote the track with Jay-Z, and others, and also was that songs producer. They would next work closely on Jay-Z’s sixth studio Album ‘The Blueprint,’ in 2001.

Chauncey Hollis, (see also best songs 267) who was one of the co-writers, and co-producers of ‘N….s in Paris,’ was born Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr. on May 21st, 1987, in Fontana, California, United States, he is known professionally as ‘Hit-Boy.’ In 2011 he was signed by Kanye West to his ‘GOOD Music’ record label as an in-house production staff member, prior to his signing ‘Hit-Boy’ had first gained major recognition for his work on Lil Wayne’s 2009 single ‘Drop the World,’ featuring Eminem, which had reached Number 18 on the American Billboard Hot 100. Since 2011 ‘Hit-Boy’ has gone on to work with countless ‘Hip-Hop,’ and ‘R&B’ artists, including the likes of Drake, Beyonce, and Mary J Blige. It was ‘Hit-Boy’ who wrote the ‘beat’ for ‘N….s in Paris,’ and he has said, ‘N….s in Paris’ came about from me having a beat idea already. When I went to New York, I just further went into it. It was just a batch of beats. Kanye asked me for some beats, and that was one of the beats I gave him.’ The song was recorded by Jay-Z and Kanye West in Paris, hence the songs title, and ‘Hit-Boy’ has also said that he sent all the necessary files so that the duo could complete the track. ‘They actually went over to Paris, I didn’t get to make that trip. next thing I know, they’re like, ‘Yo, I need all the files for that beat.’ Kanye West has said that he was inspired to write ‘N….s in Paris’ after a previous visit to Paris. ‘I am where art meets commercial. The sweet spot between the hood and Hollywood. When we’re in Paris dressing all crazy at fashion shows, we listening to Jay-Z. Jeezy in Paris, that’s what it is.’

‘N….s in Paris’ makes use of musical, and vocal samples, including loops, beats, and drum loops, from the American software company ‘Big Fish Audio, Inc.’ Also sampled is the 1959 song ‘Baptising Scene,’ by Reverend W.A. Donaldson, and Jay-Z raps the line, ‘Jackson, Tyson, Jordan,’ which is lifted from the 1998 song ‘Victory,’ performed by Puff Daddy, The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes (Billboard-Number 19 single.) At the start of ‘N….s in Paris’ you hear the line We’re gonna skate to one song, and one song only,’ this is the voice of the American actor Will Ferrell, sampled from the 2007 American sports comedy film ‘Blades of Glory. Ferrell has said, ‘I was completely flattered when they asked if they could sample me into the song, and when I heard it for the first time, I just started to laugh because it felt so surreal, but I really did like the song.’

On the surface ‘N….s in Paris’ appears to contain the usual amount of bragging that can be heard on many a ‘Rap’ record, but if you dig a little deeper, you realise that all the bravado is just a safety mechanism, as the two rappers try to come to terms with dealing with all of the trappings of fame, and wealth. The Album’s title ‘Watch the Throne’ could be their way of telling us that while they are at the top of the ‘Rap’ game, the next generation are waiting in the wings, just waiting for the chance to take their crown.

What’s Gucci, my ni..a? What’s Louis, my killer? What’s drugs, my dealer? What’s that jacket, Margiela? Doctors say I’m the illest, ’cause I’m suffering from realness, got my niggas in Paris and they going gorillas, huh. ‘I don’t even know what that means. No one knows what it means, but it’s provocative. No, it’s not, it’s gross, gets the people goin.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

478-Symarip-Skinhead Moonstomp.

1969-It didn’t chart in the UK until it was reissued in 1980, when reaching Number 54.

Bet Bit-At 1.58. Light years before the more difficult to perform the ‘Moonwalk,’ (see also best songs 581 and 191) came the ‘Moonstomp.’

‘Symarip’ were formed in the late 1960’s by Frank Pitter, (drums) and Michael Thomas, (bass guitar) originally calling themselves ‘The Bees.’ Throughout their career they have also used other stage names including ‘Seven Letters,’ Zubaba,’ and ‘The Pyramids.’ The bands name was originally spelled ‘Simaryp,’ which is an approximate reversal of the word pyramids. The other three group members who were also of West Indian descent were Josh Roberts, (guitar) Roy Ellis, (vocals, and trombone) and Monty Nalsmith, (keyboards.) The group were active between 1967-1985, with Thomas and Nalsmith, plus other new members reforming in 2008 to tour. ‘Symarip’ were heavily influenced by the ‘Ska,’ Reggae,’ and ‘Rock Steady’ music coming out of Jamaica in the mid to late 1960’s. and are widely regarded as one of the first ‘skinhead’ Reggae bands, targeting skinheads as an audience. The discography of ‘Symarip’ includes four studio Albums (two as ‘Symarip,’ and two as ‘The Pyramids’) released between 1968-1985, and a further two compilation Albums released on ‘Trojan’ records in 2004, and 2009, they have also released at least 65 singles under their differing stage names, between 1967-1974.

In 1969 the Jamaican Reggae artist Derrick Morgan wrote and recorded ‘Moon Hop,’ which reached Number 49 in the UK. The song was written to commemorate the July 20th, 1969 landing of the ‘Apollo Lunar Module’ on the moon. Symarip’s very similar sounding ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ soon followed. Symarip denied accusations of plagiarism, saying there was no relation between the two songs, but Derrick Morgan disagreed, calling them ‘Copy Cats.’ The Symarip recording of ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ is credited as being co-written by Roy Ellis and Monty Nalsmith, of Symarip, with the production credited to Graeme Goodall (1932-2014.) At the very start of ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ you hear the lyrics ‘I want all you skinheads to get on your feet, put your braces together and your boots on your feet,’ this introduction was heavily influenced by the ‘Sam & Dave’ song ‘I Thank You’ (1968-Billboard Number 9 & UK Number 34.) In 1980, in the wake of the ‘Second coming of Ska,’ and the forming of ‘2 Tone Records,’ ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ was reissued, and charted for the first time in the UK, when reaching Number 54. Other notable versions recorded, include ‘The Specials’ from their 1980 ‘The Special A.K.A. Live! EP,’ which also included their UK Number 1 single ‘Too Much Too Young,’ (see also best songs 924) and also a version by the late great Judge Dread (1945-1998.)

Derrick Morgan ‘OD’ was born on March 27th, 1940, in Clarendon, Jamaica, he has written, produced and recorded in the genres of ‘Rocksteady,’ ‘Reggae and ‘Ska.’ He has been a prolific recording artist, issuing over 250 singles in Jamaica, from 1959 onwards, and 21 Albums between 1969-2019. In 1960 he became the only artist ever to fill the places from one to seven on the Jamaican Pop chart simultaneously. In the 1960’s in Jamaica there was a great rivalry between Morgan and Prince Buster, (1938-2016) (see also best songs 734 and 139) who accused Morgan of stealing his ideas. This led to several ‘diss’ records from both parties, with followers of the two artists often clashing, eventually the government had to step in with a staged photo shoot depicting the rivals as friends. Derrick Morgan retired from the music industry because of illness in the 2010’s, but has since performed sporadically.

‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ was produced by Graeme Goodall, who was born in 1932, in Caulfield, Victoria, Australia, he died on December 3rd, 2014, from natural causes, at the age of 82. Goodall was a key figure in the promoting of Jamaican music, constructing several of the Island’s recording studios, and co-founding ‘Island Records’ in 1959 with Chris Blackwell, (see also best songs 494-291 and 56) and Leslie Kong (1933-1971.) After Goodall’s relationship broke down with Chris Blackwell he relocated to the UK in 1965, and starting up his own record labels ‘Doctor Bird,’ ‘Pyramid.’ and the ‘Trojan Records’ subsidiary ‘Attack Records.’ In 1969 Leslie Kong sent Goodall the master tapes of a song called ‘Poor Me, Israelites’ by Desmond Dekker, (1941-2006) which was proving popular in clubs, but receiving little air play, Goodall remixed the track and released it in the UK in 1969 on ‘Pyramid Records’ as ‘Israelites.’ the single went on to top the UK Singles Chart, and sell in excess of two million copies (see also best songs 122.)

Now, before we reach the moon, fellas, we got to make sure that everything is spic and span, alright? We got to make sure you, shine your boots, brush your teeth, because the man on the moon look different from man on the Earth. That’s what I say boys.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

479-Def Leppard-Animal.

1987-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 3.54. The band play a very well deserved encore.

Def Leppard were formed in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, in 1977, originally calling themselves ‘Atomic Mass,’ at the time of writing they remain active, with two of the founding members Rick Savage, and Joe Elliott being the bands two constants. It was the groups lead singer Joe Elliott who suggested the bands name ‘Deaf Leopard,’ which was modified to ‘Def Leppard’ by Tony Kenning, who was a a band member in the original line up, and stayed with the group until 1978. The other founding member was Peter Willis, who remained with the band until 1982, and was then replaced by Phil Collen. Rick Allen joined as the drummer in 1978, the same year as Steve Clark (1960-1991) joined as a guitarist, after Clark’s death, Vivian Campell became his replacement. On March 29th, 2019, Rick Savage, Joe Elliott, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell, Peter Willis, and Steve Clark were inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.’ Def Leppard whose musical style has been described as ‘Glam Metal,’ ‘Hard Rock,’ ‘Heavy Metal,’ ‘Arena Rock,’ and ‘Power Pop,’ are one of the best selling groups of all time, with sales in excess of 100 million records sold worldwide. Two of their studio Albums ‘Pyromania,’ (1983) and ‘Hysteria,’ (1987) have both been certified ‘Diamond’ by the ‘Recording Industry Association of America’ (‘RIAA.’) making them one of only five ‘Rock’ bands with two original studio Albums selling over 10 million copies each in the United States, alongside the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Van Halen.

Rick Allen who was born Richard John Cyril Allen, on November 1st, 1963, in Dronfield, Derbyshire, England, has been the drummer with Def Leppard since the age of 15, when his mother replied on his behalf to an advertisement placed by a band called ‘Def Leppard’ looking for a drummer to replace Tony Kenning, the advertisements headline read, ‘Leppard loses skins.’ He celebrated his 16th birthday with a performance at the ‘Hammersmith Odeon,’ London, when Def Leppard opened for AC/DC. (see also best songs 797-245 and 170.) On the afternoon of 31st December 1984, Allen was involved in a car crash when a car in front of his deliberately slowed for Allen to catch up, only to speed up as he tried to pass. This went on for several miles until, in frustration, Allen accelerated to finally pass, at which point he lost control of his left-hand-drive ‘Corvette C4,’ which hit a dry stone wall and entered a field. His left arm was entangled in the seat belt and severed, remaining in the car while Allen was flung out. Doctors initially re-attached the arm, but it was later amputated due to an infection. After receiving hundreds of thousands of letters from all around the world, Allen eventually decided that he wanted to continue playing drums with Def Leppard, and adopted a specially designed electronic drum kit. He uses four electronic pedals for his left foot to play the pieces he used to play with his left arm, which from left to right trigger sounds of a closing hi-hat, bass drum, snare drum, and a tom drum. On the British ‘Gigwise’ website, Allen is ranked Number 7 on the their ‘Greatest Drummers of All Time’ list.

The discography of Def Leppard includes 12 studio Albums released between 1980-2022, and 60 singles released between 1979-2024, there are also four extended plays, (EP’s) 11 box sets, six official compilation Albums, and four live Albums available. In the UK, 19 of their singles have reached the top 40, with both ‘Let’s Get Rocked,’ (1992) and ‘When Love & Hate Collide,’ (1995) peaking the highest at Number 2, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, they have had 15 top 40 hits, with ‘Love Bites,’ (1988) reaching Number 1, while ‘Animal’ made Number 19.

‘Animal’ was the first of seven singles released from ‘Hysteria,’ the fourth studio Album by Def Leppard from August 1977, the song was co-written by Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Steve Clark, and Rick Savage, of Def Leppard, along with Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange, (see also best songs 632-314 and 170) who was also the songs producer. Prior to the release of ‘Hysteria,’ Def Leppard had become superstars in America, due to the success of their previous Album ‘Pyromania,’ although they had a following in the UK, it wasn’t until ‘Animal’ and the more commercial ‘Pop/Rock’ production on ‘Hysteria,’ which brought them success in Europe. Phil Collen the groups guitarist who had written the original demo for ‘Animal,’ a while earlier has said, ‘We’d revisit it, and I remember we were recording vocals in Paris for something and one day Joe (Elliott) had done this vocal and Mutt Lange had said, ‘Wow, this vocal’s killer. Let’s rewrite the song around that.’ So we did and it was our first English top 10 single, so it was worth waiting.’ Phil Collen has credited the songs producer Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange for taking the song to the next level. ‘He said, ‘Yeah, this is okay but this can be great.’ That’s always his thing. ‘Yeah, it can be alright and it can be an okay song but we want to make it great.’ And I think we achieved that. Certainly with the album, Hysteria. It had a different kind of response to it than if we had just sat there and released the first draft.’

‘Animal’ is a song about lusting after another, the narrator compares himself to an animal who is stalking his prey. The line, ‘Like the restless rust, I never sleep,’ is a reference to Neil Young’s 1979 live Album ‘Rust Never Sleeps’ (see also best songs 602.)

‘A wild ride, over stony ground, such a lust for life, the circus comes to town. We are the hungry ones, on a lightning raid, just like a river runs, like a fire needs flame, oh I burn for you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

480-Yvonne Fair-It Should Have Been Me.

1976-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 2.20. With hindsight I would imagine that the Preacher probably regretted asking if anyone had any objections to this wedding.

Yvonne Fair was born Flora Yvonne Coleman on October 21st, 1942, in Richmond, Virginia, United States, she died from pancreatic cancer on March 6th, 1994, at the age of 51. Yvonne Fair started her music career as a member of the all girl African/American ‘Pop,’ and ‘Doo-Wop,’ and ‘Rock ‘N Roll’ group ‘The Chantels’ for a short while in the late 1950’s, before joining the ‘James Brown Revue’ in 1961. Her first solo single release was on the ‘King’ record label in 1962, it was a James Brown (1933-2006) (see also best songs 880-349-270 and 88) composition called ‘I Found You,’ which failed to chart, but was later re-worked by Brown to become one of his signature songs ‘I Got You (I Feel Good’) (see also best songs 270.) After working with James Brown, with whom she had a child with in 1965, she left the ‘King’ label, and signed with ‘Motown’ records, where she toured regularly with that labels top names, often opening for them. In 1972 she had a small part as a singer in the Motown produced biographical musical drama film ‘Lady Sings the Blues.’ In the mid 1970’s Norman Whitfield (1940-2008) (see also best songs 911-777-569-533-346 and 233) worked with her on a series of Motown singles, which all became part of her one solo Album release ‘The Bitch Is Black’ in 1975. By the 1980’s Yvonne Fair had retired from recording, and would occasionally perform in small clubs and bars around Los Angeles. She also worked as Dionne Warwick’s (see also best songs 224) wardrobe coordinator. Prior to starting her music career, she had been married, and had a child with Leroy Fair. Her second marriage was to the American R&B vocalist Sammy Strain, who was a member of both Little Anthony and the Imperials, (see also best songs 338) and the O’Jays (see also best songs 648.) Sammy Strain is one of the few artists in music history that is a double ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ inductee, having been inducted with the O’Jays in 2005, and the Imperials in 2009. Yvonne Fair’s daughter Venisha Brown, whom she had with James Brown, struggled with drug addiction, and was arrested multiple times, she died from complications from pneumonia on September 19th, 2018, at the age of 53.

The discography of Yvonne Fair includes one studio Album ‘The Bitch Is Black,’ from 1975, and 13 singles released between 1962-1975, of which her first three singles were ‘with the James Brown Band.’ Her only charting single is ‘It Should Have Been Me,’ which was also her final single release, which reached Number 85 in America on the Billboard Hot 100, Number 5 in the UK, and Number 10 in Australia.

‘It Should Have Been Me’ was originally written in 1963 by William ‘Mickey’ Stevenson, and Norman Whitfield, who were both long term employees at ‘Motown’ records. The first recording of the song was in 1963 by Stevenson’s wife Kim Weston, with backing vocals by ‘The Supremes,’ (see also best songs 1001-411-212 and 148) and instrumentation by ‘The Funk Brothers’ (see also best songs 948-650-569-480-414-382-212-148 and 28.) The first hit version of the song was the 1968 recording by Gladys Knight & The Pips, which reached Number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, once again the instrumentation was provided by The Funk Brothers, and also the ‘Detroit Symphony Orchestra,’ who have provided music on other Motown recordings. In 1975 The Funk Brothers completed the treble when once again providing the instrumentation on the Yvonne Fair version, which was produced by Norman Whitfield, and was one of seven previous singles that had been issued by Yvonne Fair, and collected for her ‘The Bitch Is Black’ Album. In 1991, the American singer ‘Adeva’ released a ‘House Music’ version of ‘It Should Have Been Me,’ which reached Number 48 in the UK.

‘It Should Have Been Me’ was co-written by William ‘Mickey’ Stevenson, (see also best songs 948 and 346) who was born on January 4th, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, after spending his formative years recording ‘Doo-Wop,’ and ‘Gospel Music,’ he joined ‘Motown’ in 1959, the year it was founded. He was head of the ‘A&R’ department there during the ‘glory’ years of the mid 1960’s, and was also responsible for organising and establishing the company’s in-house studio band, which came to be known as ‘The Funk Brothers.’ Other ‘classic’ Motown songs co-written, or co-produced by William ‘Mickey’ Stevenson, include Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston’s ‘It Takes Two,’ (1966-Billboard Number 14 & UK Number 16) Jimmy Ruffin’s ‘What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,’ (1966-Billboard Number 7 & UK Number 8) and Stevie Wonder’s ‘Uptight (Everything’s Alright’) (1965-Billboard Number 3 & UK Number 14.)

‘Then the preacher asked, ‘Will there be silence, please? If any objections to this wedding speak now or forever, forever hold your peace.’ Then I shouted, it should have been me, you know that it should have been me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

481-Elton John and Kiki Dee-Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.

1976-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.53. Watching Elton’s dance moves in the iconic video makes you realise why when performing in concert, he tended to spend most of his time sat at the piano.

‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ was issued as a stand alone single on June 25th, 1976, it was co-written by Elton John, (see also best songs 946-237 and 62) and his usual songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, but this time using the pseudonyms ‘Anna Orson’ (Elton John) and ‘Carte Blanche,’ (Bernie Taupin) with the production being by Gus Dudgeon (1942-2002) (see also best songs 946-223 and 62.) Elton John and Bernie Taupin were both big fans of the ‘Motown’ style duet of the 1960’s, such as those performed by Marvin Gaye (1939-1984) (see also best songs 723-183 and 114) and Tammi Terrell, (1945-1970) and Kim Weston. Initially the idea was to cover The Four Tops (see also best songs 650) song ‘Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever,’ (1966-Billboard Number 45) until they came up with this original gem. Elton had planned to record the duet with Dusty Springfield (1939-1999) (see also best songs 882 and 171) but she had to withdraw because she was too ill at that time. ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ went on to become the first UK Number 1 single for Elton John, although it would be a further 14 years until his first solo UK Number 1 ‘Sacrifice.’ In 1993 Elton John re-recorded ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ in a ‘Disco’ style with the American drag queen RuPaul, for his duets Album, the song was produced by Giorgio Moroder, (see also best songs 78 and 11) and reached Number 3 in the UK. In 1981, Elton John and Kiki Dee finally got around to covering ‘Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever,’ as a duet, with the song appearing on Kiki Dee’s 11th Album release ‘Perfect Timing,’ the song was issued as a single, but failed to chart. ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ went on to reach Number 1 in the UK, and also Number 1 in America on Billboard. The song finished as the second best selling record of 1976 in both countries, in the UK behind ‘Save Your Kisses for Me,’ by Brotherhood of Man, and on Billboard behind ‘Silly Love Songs,’ by Wings. In June 2013, 37 years after its original release, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ reached one million sales in the UK, and at the time of writing it’s sales are now 1.2 million.

Elton John recorded his vocals for ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ in Toronto, then the tape was sent to London, where Kiki Dee recorded her vocal. The songs producer Gus Dudgeon has said, ‘I was with Elton in Canada and he actually sang about three quarters of the song and gave Kiki about four lines. I said, ‘Hang on a minute, is this supposed to be a duet or a guest appearance? Elton replied, ‘A duet.’ Then you’ve got to give her at least 50% of the song.’ Kiki Dee has said, ‘Elton had recorded the song abroad and also did my vocals in a high-pitched voice which was quite funny, so I knew which lines to sing.’ Bernie Taupin has recalled, ‘I was in Barbados one evening in 1976 when Elton called from Toronto to play me a backing track he’d just cut with the band. Half cut myself by this point, the afternoon’s poolside cocktails having muddied my brainwaves, I listened and took note. Elton was in need of a lyric that could be done as a duet. I told him I would give it a shot, hung up, and stuck my head in the ice bucket. In 10 minutes, I’d thrown something together that was simplistic without being overly trite, and that is how ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ came about.’

Kiki Dee was born Pauline Matthews on March 6th, 1947, in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, it was the English songwriter Mitch Murray who created her stage name. Her breakthrough occurred when signing with ‘Fontana Records’ in 1963, where she released 11 non charting singles between 1963-1968, and also her debut Album ‘I’m Kiki Dee’ in 1968. In 1970 Kiki Dee became the first British white artist to sign with ‘Motown Records,’ on it’s subsidiary ‘Rare Earth’ label, which was a short lived label dedicated to ‘Rock Music,’ played by white artists, she released one Album ‘Great Expectations,’ for the label in 1970, and two singles in 1970, and 1971. It was her next move to ‘Rocket’ records co-owned by Elton John, which saw her finally break in to the charts, when ‘Amoureuse’ reached Number 13 in the UK in 1973. In 1993 Kiki Dee and Elton John once again joined forces, recording the 1956 Cole Porter (1891-1964) (see also best songs 944-655-295 and 73) song ‘True Love,’ for Elton’s ‘Duets’ Album, the song reached Number 2 in the UK, and is Kiki Dee’s last appearance on the chart to date.

The discography of Kiki Dee includes 22 Albums released between 1968-2022, and 37 singles released between 1963-1993. In the UK, Kiki Dee has had nine top 40 hit singles, with ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ peaking the highest at Number 1, while without Elton John, her three highest charting singles ‘Amoureuse,’ (1973) ‘Loving and Free,’ (1976) and ‘Star,’ (1981) all coincidentally reached Number 13. In America on Billboard her only other charting single is ‘I’ve Got the Music in Me,’ which reached Number 12 in 1974.

‘Nobody knows it, when I was down I was your clown. Nobody knows it, right from the start I gave you my heart, I gave you my heart. So don’t go breaking my heart, I won’t go breaking your heart.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

482-2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman-California Love.

1996-Number 6 single.

Best Bit- At 2.19. Like so many other great ‘Hip-Hop’ songs, this one also uses many samples, but before some of you get on your musical high horses, just remember that in ‘Pop Music’ ‘NO’ song has ever been totally original. Every new song is influenced by something that has gone before.

Tupac Amaru Shakur was born Lesane Parish Crooks on June 16th, 1971, in East Harlem, Upper Manhattan, New York City, United States, he died from internal bleeding after being shot four times, once in the arm, once in the thigh, and twice in the chest, in a drive by shooting on September 13th, 1996, in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, he was 25 years old. Both of his parents were political activists and were heavily involved in the ‘Black Panther Party,’ and he was renamed at the age of one year old in honour of Tupac Amaru, (1738-1781) who had led the ‘Andean uprising’ in 1780. Tupac Shakur who is also known by his other stage names ‘2Pac,’ and ‘Makaveli,’ is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential Rappers of all time, and one of the most influential music artists of the 20th century, especially in his role as a prominent political activist for Black America. His early lyrics have been noted for addressing social injustice, political issues, and the marginalisation of other African-Americans, but towards the end of his recording career he became more synonymous with ‘Gangsta Rap,’ where his lyrics were aimed more at the ‘Gangsta’ lifestyle. Away from music, Tupac Shakur also had a career as an actor, appearing in movies, and on television, including the 1993 American romantic drama film ‘Poetic Justice,’ where he co-starred alongside Janet Jackson (see also best songs 679.) From around the age of 11, Tupac began writing poetry, some of which sold for $90,000 at auction in 2022.

The discography of Tupac Shakur who has sold in excess of 75 million records worldwide, includes four studio Albums released between 1991-1996, and 44 singles released between 1991-2008, there are also seven posthumous Albums, one soundtrack Album, two remix Albums, two live Albums, and nine official compilation Albums available. In America on Billboard, five of his Albums have reached Number 1, which includes three posthumous releases, while 10 of his singles (including one as a featured artist) have made the Billboard Hot 100, with ‘California Love’ peaking the highest at Number 1. In the UK, he has had 16 top 40 hits, with the posthumous release ‘Ghetto Gospel’ featuring Elton John, getting to Number 1 in 2005.

‘California Love’ is credited with 11 different writers due to all of it’s sampling, with the production being by Dr. Dre (see also best songs 564-544-189-128 and 48.) The song was the first of four singles released from ‘All Eyez on Me,’ which was the fourth and final studio Album released by Tupac Shakur during his lifetime. ‘California Love’ which was issued as a double ‘A’ sided single with ‘How Do U Want It, (also from the Album) was one of two tracks that Dr. Dre collaborated on with Tupac for the Album, which was first released on June 4th, 1996. ‘California Love’ samples the 1972 Joe Cocker (1944-2014) song ‘Woman To Woman,’ which reached Number 1 in Spain. The chorus ‘California knows how to party,’ was performed by the American ‘Funk’ artist Roger Troutman, (1951-1999) using his characteristic ‘Talk Box,’ and was taken from the 1982 song ‘West Coast Poplock,’ by ‘Ronnie Hudson & The Street People,’ which was written by Ronnie Hudson, and Mikel Hooks, and was itself a reworking of Roger Troutman’s 1981 song ‘So Ruff, So Tuff.’ In ‘California Love,’ Troutman also sings ‘Shake it, shake it, baby,’ he first sang that line on his own 1982 song ‘Dance Floor,’ when performing with his band ‘Zapp.’ Dr. Dre performs the first verse, which was ghost written by James ‘J-Flexx’ Anderson, and Tupac Shakur, who it is said took 15 minutes to write his Rap, performs the second verse, the song is a celebration of Californian life.’

‘California Love’ was released as Tupac Shakur’s comeback single after his release from prison in 1995, and was his first release on ‘Death Row Records.’ The labels owner Suge Knight (see also best songs 520) had helped Tupac out of his worsening financial situation while in prison, in return for Tupac releasing music on his label. The gambol paid off as ‘California Love’ became an American Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 single, and the Album ‘All Eyez on Me’ sold in excess of seven million copies worldwide. Dr. Dre performed ‘California Love’ with Snoop Dogg (see also best songs 544) at the 2022 ‘Super Bowl’ halftime show, changing the line ‘I been in the game for 10 years makin’ rap tunes’ to ‘I been in the game for 30 years makin’ rap tunes.’

‘Out on bail, fresh out of jail, California dreamin.’ Soon as I step on the scene, I’m hearin’ hoochies screamin.’ Fiendin’ for money and alcohol, the life of a Westside player, where cowards die and the strong ball, only in Cali where we riot, not rally, to live and die.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

483-Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin-Don’t You Worry Child.

2012-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.40. In ‘Electronic Dance Music’ this segment is known as a ‘Drop,’ and is one of the reasons why DJ’s love doing the job.

Prior to the forming of the Swedish House Mafia (see also best songs 883) in 2008, the three founding members Axel Christofer Hedfors, (Axwell) Steven Fragogiannis, (Steve Angello) and Sebastian Ingrosso, along with Eric Prydz, had worked as solo artists, as well as collaborating together on occasions. Eric Prydz has stated that he preferred to work on his own, so declined the offer to join the other three. Axwell, and Ingrosso were both born in Sweden, while Angello was born in Greece, but lived in Sweden from an early age, it was when fans began nicknaming them the ‘Swedish House Mafia,’ that they decided to use the name on their formation. They were active between 2008-2013, but reformed in 2018, and at the time of writing they remain active. The Swedish House Mafia have been called ‘The faces of mainstream ‘Progressive House Music,’ and have been credited for ‘Setting the tone for the ‘Electronic Dance Music’ boom of the early 2010’s, more than any other act in modern dance music.’ They are also credited with increasing the popularity of ‘House Music’ in the United States in the late 2000’s.

The discography of the Swedish House Mafia includes one studio Album ‘Paradise Again,’ released in 2022, and 16 singles released between 2010-2024, there are also two extended plays, (EP’s) two official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In their native Sweden on the ‘Sverigetopplistan,’ (the Swedish national record chart) the Swedish House Mafia have had 13 top 40 singles, with ‘Don’t You Worry Child,’ featuring John Martin, reaching Number 1, while in the UK, they have charted within the top 40 on eight occasions, with ‘Don’t You Worry Child’ peaking the highest at Number 1. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, two of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Don’t You Worry Child’ charting the highest at Number 6.

‘Don’t You Worry Child’ was the fourth and final single released from the Swedish House Mafia’s second compilation Album ‘Until Now,’ from October 2012, the song was co-written by the three members of the Swedish House Mafia, along with John Martin and Michel Zitron, with the production credited to the Swedish House Mafia. John Martin was born, John Martin Lindström, on August 22nd, 1980, in Stockholm, Sweden. Martin bought a guitar at the age of 13 and formed a band, he then began singing at the age of 15. In 2010 he first met Axwell of the Swedish House Mafia, and co-wrote the group’s 2011 song, ‘Save the World’ (Sweden-Number 4 & UK-Number 10.) As the lead artist John Martin has released four singles between 2014-2021, with his debut single ‘Anywhere for You,’ reaching Number 38 in Sweden, and Number 7 in the UK, he has also appeared on a further nine singles as the featured artist, with ‘Don’t You Worry Child’ reaching Number 1 in Sweden and the UK. Michel Zitron is a long term collaborator with John Martin, ever since they co-wrote ‘Save the World’ in 2011. In 2018 the pair began releasing music together as ‘VCATION.’ Michel Zitron was also the co-writer of song ‘Red Lights,’ by Tiesto,’ on which he provides vocals on, although unaccredited (2013-Sweden Number 9 & UK-Number 6.)

‘Don’t You Worry Child’ began to come to fruition in 2010 when John Martin and Michel Zitron were in Zitron’s studio. Both were reminiscing about their early lives, when Zitron started opening up about his upbringing in a broken home in Stockholm, mentioning the divorce between his parents. The pair took around a month to put the song together, then recorded a demo, and eventually decided to send it to Sebastian Ingrosso of the Swedish House Mafia, it would be a further two years before the song was released as a single. John Martin has spoken about how the song developed, ‘That song was actually written by me and Michel Zitron, my friend that I write with. We sat down in Michel’s studio on a Sunday, we were kind of hangover. We had this discussion about our relationship with our dads. We started to play around with a loop, then this melody came out quickly, and we did it in one day. You have to touch the crying nerve in music. When you mix sad melodies with euphoric tracks, there is something that happens that really works.’

‘Don’t You Worry Child’ was first performed at the Swedish House Mafia’s final UK gig, at the Milton Keynes Bowl on the 14th July 2012, it featured John Martin on vocals. In September 2012 the song debuted at Number 1 in the UK, and has gone on to sell in excess of 600,000 copies in the UK.

‘There was a time, I used to look into my father’s eyes, in a happy home, I was a king I had a golden throne. Those days are gone, now the memories are on the wall, I hear the sounds from the places where I was born.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

484-The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group-Rock Island Line.

1955-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 1.09. No exaggeration, this is one of the most important songs in the development of ‘Pop’ music, as it influenced many of the next generations top musicians.

The musical genre of ‘Skiffle’ is ‘Folk’ music, with influences of ‘Jazz,’ and ‘Blues,’ that developed in the early part of the 20th Century in America. Artists who performed ‘Skiffle’ would use homemade, or improvised instruments such as the ‘washboard,’ ‘musical saw,’ and ‘comb and paper kazoos,’ by the 1940’s the term ‘Skiffle’ had disappeared from American music.

‘Skiffle’ was all but forgotten until it’s revival in the mid 1950’s, by it’s main proponent Lonnie Donegan (1931-2002) (see also best songs 136.) British teenagers saw that it was possible to form bands, and make music with a very low cost budget. Among those who were influenced was future ‘Beatle’ John Lennon, (1940-1980) (see also best songs 927-599-473-456-319-238-218-168-141-80-51-20-10 and 5) who formed the ‘Skiffle’ group the ‘Quarrymen’ in 1956. The English singer/songwriter Billy Bragg in his 2017 book ‘Roots, Radicals and Rockers, a history of the skiffle movement,’ has compared the development of ‘Skiffle’ in Britain in the 1950’s to ‘Punk Rock’ in the 1970’s, noting that ”Skiffle’ was a revolt by young people against the culture of their parents, and allowed them to create their own style of music without expensive equipment, or great musical virtuosity.’ The origin of the English word ‘skiffle’ is unknown, however, in the dialect of the West of England to make a ‘skiffle,’ meaning to make a mess of any business, can be traced back to 1873. In early 20th Century in America the term ‘skiffle’ was one of many slang phrases for a ‘rent party,’ which was a social event with a small charge designed to pay rent on a house. Tenants would hire a musician or band to play, and pass the hat around to raise money to pay their rent, this originated in Harlem during the 1920’s.

‘Rock Island Line’ is an American Folk song that was written in 1929 by Clarence Wilson, who was a member of the ‘Rock Island Colored Booster Quartet,’ a singing group which was made up of employees of the ‘Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.’ The original lyrics bare little resemblance to later versions, including Lonnie Donegan’s cover, as artists would develop the song in their own way over the years. Lonnie Donegan got to know about the ‘Rock Island Line’ song after hearing it performed on record by the ‘Blues’ musician ‘Lead Belly’ (1888-1949) (see also best songs 431.) According to ‘The Penguin Book Of American Folk Songs’ published in 1964, they say of ‘Rock Island Line,’ ‘John A. Lomax (1867-1948) (see also best songs 781) recorded this song at the ‘Cummins State Prison farm,’ Gould, Arkansas, in 1934 from its convict composer, Kelly Pace. The Negro singer, Lead Belly, heard it, rearranged it in his own style, and made commercial phonograph recordings of it in the 1940’s. One of these recordings was studied and imitated phrase by phrase, by a young English singer of American Folk songs, (referring to Lonnie Donegan) who subsequently recorded it for an English company. The record sold in the hundreds of thousands in the U.S. and England, and this Arkansas Negro convict song, as adapted by Lead Belly, was published as a personal copyright, words and music, by someone whose contact with the Rock Island Line was entirely through the grooves of a phonograph record.’

‘Rock Island Line’ was recorded in July 1954 by Lonnie Donegan, (guitar and vocal) Chris Barber, (1930-2021) (bass) and Beryl Bryden (1920-1998) (washboard) and released as ‘The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group.’ The song was the first debut single record to be certified gold in the UK, where it triggered the ‘Skiffle’ craze. In the UK the song reached Number 8, while in America on Billboard it also peaked at Number 8, and eventually went on to sell in excess of one million copies worldwide. It is said that after recording ‘Rock Island Line’ the trio accepted a flat session fee of £50 rather than a royalty on every copy sold. Lonnie Donegan lived to regret that decision, and complained throughout his career about his lack of financial reward for cutting the song, although he was compensated by re-recording it on more than one occasion.

‘The Acoustic Music’ organisation has said about Lonnie Donegan’s version. ‘It flew up the English charts. Donegan had synthesized American Southern Blues with simple acoustic instruments, acoustic guitar, washtub bass, and washboard rhythm. The new style was called ‘Skiffle’ …. and referred to music from people with little money for instruments. The new style captivated an entire generation of post-war youth in England.’

‘Well if you want to ride you gotta ride it like you find it. Get your ticket at the station of the rock island line. Well I may be right, I may be wrong, you’re gonna miss me when I’m gone.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

485-Ike & Tina Turner-Nutbush City Limits.

1973-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. Nutbush isn’t a city, it’s actually a ‘little old town in Tennessee.’ Apparently, a ‘one horse town.’

Tina Turner (see also best songs 752 and 192) was born Anna Mae Bullock, on November 26th, 1939. in Brownsville, Tennessee. United States, she died at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, on May 24th, 2023, at the age of 83 following years of illness. In her 2018 memoir ‘My Love Story,’ she revealed that she had multiple life-threatening illnesses, including high blood pressure since 1978, which remained mostly untreated, and resulted in damage to her kidneys and eventual kidney failure. In 2013, three weeks after her wedding to the German born actor and producer Erwin Bach, she had a stroke and needed to learn to walk again, and in 2016, she was diagnosed with intestinal cancer.

Tina Turner was the youngest of three sisters, and during the war years the sisters were separated when their parents relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, to work at a defence facility during World War II. Tina Turner went to stay with her strict, religious paternal grandparents who were deacon and deaconess at the ‘Woodlawn Missionary Baptist Church.’ After the war the family settled in ‘Nutbush,’ where Tina Turner grew up, attending school, and singing in the church choir at Nutbush’s ‘Spring Hill Baptist Church.’

Tina Turner is considered to be one of the best singers of all time, and her reinvention as a solo artist in the 1980’s, after her split from Ike Turner, (1931-2007) is cited as one of the greatest comebacks of all time. In January 1988 she performed in front of approximately 180,000 at the ‘Maracanã Stadium,’ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, setting a ‘Guinness World Record’ at the time for the largest paying concert attendance for a solo artist. She has sold anywhere between 100-150 million records worldwide, making her one of the best selling artists of all time, and she is the only artist to have had a top 40 hit single in the UK in seven different decades (1960’s-2020’s.)

The solo discography of Tina Turner includes nine studio Albums released between 1974-1999, and 72 singles released between 1964-2023, there is also one soundtrack Album, six official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, 14 of her singles have reached the top 40, including her duet with Bryan Adams on ‘Its Only Love,’ (1985-Billboard Number 15 & UK Number 29) with ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It,’ in 1984, and the remix by Kygo in 2020, both reaching Number 1, while in the UK, Tina Turner has had 31 top 40 hit singles, with both ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It,’ (1984) and ‘We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome’) (1985) peaking the highest at Number 3.

‘Nutbush City Limits’ was the first of two singles released from Ike & Tina Turner’s 16th studio Album of the same name from November 1973, the song was written by Tina Turner, with the production being by Ike Turner. ‘Nutbush City Limits’ is semi-autobiographical, with Tina telling us about life growing up in a close knit community, as she reminisces about everyday life, and the places she knew as a child. When recalling memories of Nutbush, Tina has said that she didn’t turn any heads, as she was too skinny, and ‘Many women there had the goods.’ Tina Turner has recorded ‘Nutbush City Limits’ on two further occasions for single release. In 1988 she released a live version, which had been recorded on her 1986-1987 ‘Break Every Rule’ tour, but the single failed to chart. In 1991 for part of the promotion for her solo greatest hits Album ‘Simply the Best,’ the song was reworked in a 1990’s ‘Dance’ style, and reached Number 23 in the UK.

In Australia where the original version of ‘Nutbush City Limits’ peaked at Number 14 in 1973, it has become a staple of social occasions, and celebrations. The ‘Nutbush’ is a line dance that is performed by people of all ages and genders, with it’s own dance moves. On July 16th, 2019, a new record of 2,330 people performed the ‘Nutbush’ at the ‘Big Red Bash,’ breaking the previous years record. It had been rumoured for years that Marc Bolan, (1947-1977) (see also best songs 790-386 and 67) played the guitar on the original recording of ‘Nutbush City Limits,’ this was confirmed in 2007 by Bolan’s girlfriend Gloria Jones.

In 2002 a segment of Tennessee State Route 19, near Nutbush, was named ‘Tina Turner Highway’ in her honour. Other notable residents of Nutbush include the ‘Blues’ singers Hambone Willie Newbern, (1901-1965) Sleepy Joe Estes, (1899 or 1900-1877) and Noah Lewis (1891-1961.)

‘A church house, gin house, a school house, outhouse. On highway number nineteen, the people keep the city clean. They call it Nutbush, oh, Nutbush, call it Nutbush city limits.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

486-Bob Lind-Elusive Butterfly.

1966-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.51. Don’t be concerned, this will not harm you, it’s just poetry in musical motion.

Bob Lind was born Robert Neale Lind, on November 25th, 1942, in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, he is a singer, songwriter, and author. In 1965 he signed with ‘World Pacific Records,’ which was a subsidiary of ‘Liberty Records.’ For many years Bob Lind suffered from drug and alcohol problems, but he has been clean and sober since 1977. Between 1971-2006 he didn’t release any new music, instead concentrating on writing. In 1988 he relocated to Florida, where he went on to write five novels, an award winning play, and a screenplay called ‘Refuge,’ which won the ‘Florida Screenwriters’ Competition’ in 1991. In October 2019, his short play ‘A Good Night’ won a place in the ‘Delray Beach Playwright’s Festival,’ and in May 2023, another of his one-acts, ‘Spain,’ enjoyed a successful run in ‘The Curtain Call Playhouse’s Short Play Festival.’ Bob Lind has also been a regular contributor to weekly American tabloid newspapers for many years, and at the time of writing he still composes new music, and continues to perform live from time to time.

The discography of Bob Lind who helped define the 1960’s ‘Folk/Rock’ movement in the United States and the UK, and has had his body of work covered by over 200 artists, includes eight Albums released between 1966-2022, and nine singles released between 1965-1971. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, his only charting single is ‘Elusive Butterfly, which reached Number 5, while in the UK that song is also his only one to chart, and also made Number 5.

‘Elusive Butterfly’ was the only single released from Bob Lind’s 1965 debut Album called ‘Don’t Be Concerned,’ it was written by Bob Lind, with the production being by Richard Bock, (1927-1988) and the string arrangement being by Jack Nitzsche (1937-2000.) Bob Lind has said that he wrote the lyrics around sunrise, sometime in 1964. He credits the songs inspiration as coming from the Irish poet W B Yeats’ (1865-1939) poem ‘The Song of Wandering Aengus,’ first printed in 1897. Lind has said, ‘I wanted to write something like Yeats’ poem, that had the sense we feel of being most alive when we’re searching or looking or chasing after something. That expectation is more life affirming than getting the thing you’re after.’ In the song the narrator sees himself as a butterfly hunter, he is looking for romance, but he finds it as elusive as butterflies are to capture. The original version, first recorded by Bob Lind of the song, is more of a ‘Folk’ guitar based acoustic recording, (think early Bob Dylan) and when recorded lasted for nearly six minutes, and had more verses, Lind has said, ‘I played it for everybody I knew, but I didn’t think ‘Man, this is my best song, it’s going to be a hit that millions of people will hear. It was just another Bob Lind song. I was thrilled then by everything I wrote.’ It was after the songs producer Richard Bock had Jack Nitzsche take a listen, that the song was transformed. Nitzsche added a lush string arrangement, thus making the song one of the first ‘Folk/Rock’ songs to feature a string section.

Jack Nitzsche was born Bernard Alfred Nitzsche, on April 22nd, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in 1998 he suffered a stroke which ended his career, and he died on August 25th, 2000, of cardiac arrest brought on by a recurring bronchial infection, at the age of 63. Jack Nitzsche was a musician, arranger, songwriter, composer, and record producer, who first came to prominence in the early 1960’s as the right hand man of the producer Phil Spector, (1939-2021) (see also best songs 820-782-737-262-192-127-91 and 20) working as the arranger and conductor, orchestrating almost all of the ‘Wall of Sound’ hits for Spector. Nitzsche worked with many big names including The Rolling Stones, and Neil Young, he can be heard playing keyboards on The Rolling Stones hit singles ‘Paint It, Black,’ (1966) and ‘Let’s Spend the Night Together,’ (1967) he also wrote the choral arrangements for ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ (1968.) Jack Nitzsche wrote film scores, and these included ‘Performance,’ (1970) ‘The Exorcist,’ (1973) and ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ (1975.) His songwriting credits include co-writing the 1983 ‘Academy Award for Best Original Song,’ ‘Up Where We Belong,’ with his then wife Buffy Sainte-Marie, and his co-write with Sonny Bono of ‘Needles and Pins,’ which was first a hit for Jackie DeShannon in 1963.

‘Elusive Butterfly’ was initially released as the ‘B’ side to Bob Lind’s first single release ‘Cheryl’s Goin’ Home,’ in November 1965, because the record company thought it was too different sounding from the types of music that were becoming hits at that time, and therefore wouldn’t be successful. It was when one of the DJ’s at the Miami radio station ‘WQAM’ began playing it, the track started to get requests from the listening audience, leading ‘Elusive Butterfly’ to be re-issued as the ‘A’ side in January 1966, with ‘Cheryl’s Goin’ Home,’ relegated to the ‘B’ side.

‘Elusive Butterfly’ has many cover versions. In 1966 the song was also recorded by the Irish singer Val Doonican, (1927-2015) and released as a competing version with Bob Lind’s original, both competing versions reached Number 5 in the UK. Other noteworthy cover versions include the one by the Zimbabwe born singer Judy Page, who made Number 5 in South Africa with her recording in 1966, and Levi Stubbs’ (1936-2008) passionate rendition on the Four Tops 1970 Album ‘Still Waters Run Deep.’ Of all the cover versions Bob Lind has said that his favourite is the 1966 recording by Petula Clark, ‘Nobody believes me when I say that, she wasn’t considered cool in the 60’s, she was considered mainstream and very vanilla, but I love her version of ‘Elusive Butterfly.’

‘Don’t be concerned, it will not harm you, it’s only me pursuing somethin’ I’m not sure of. Across my dreams with nets of wonder, I chase the bright elusive butterfly of love.’