THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

890-Faithless-Insomnia.

1995-Number 27 single. When it was re-released in 1996, it peaked at Number 3.

Best Bit-At 6.52.’Sweet dreams are made of this.’

Faithless (see also best songs 207) are an ‘Electronic Dance Music’ group who were formed in London, England, in 1995, by Maxwell Frazer, (Maxi Jazz) (1957-2022) who was the lead vocalist, Alalah Bentovim, (Sister Bliss) who plays keyboards, and produces, Rowland Armstrong, (Rollo) who is a music producer, and is also the brother of the singer Dido (see also best songs 936.) James Catto, who provided vocals was also a founding member, but left in 1999 to form the ‘Electronic Music’ duo ‘1 Giant Leap,’ with Duncan Bridgeman. The groups other member was Aubrey Nunn, (bass guitar) who joined late in 1995, and stayed until leaving in 2006.

‘Insomnia’ was co-written by Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss, and Rollo, with the production credited to Rollo. The song was the second of four singles released from Faithless’ debut studio Album ‘Reverence,’ from April 1996, which later in 1996 was re-released as ‘Reverence / Irreverence,’ which contained an extra CD with remixes of the original songs. ‘Insomnia’ was first issued in November 1995, when reaching Number 27 in the UK, but over the next few months the song proved very popular in Europe, and it was the BBC Radio 1 DJ Pete Tong who campaigned for the songs re-release, which saw it peak this time in the UK at Number 3, in 1996.

As the songs title suggests, ‘Insomnia’ is about the medical condition of not being able to sleep. The subject is resonant with fans of ‘Dance Music,’ as stimulant use is common in club, and rave culture, and insomnia is a common side effect. Sister Bliss has spoken about the development of the song, ‘We wrote Insomnia in a garden shed, since that was where our producer Rollo Armstrong had his studio. Being in there all day and then DJ-ing all night was like having permanent jetlag. So I came up with the title ‘Insomnia’ because I couldn’t get to sleep. Rollo didn’t really play an instrument. He has a condition called ‘synaesthesia,’ where you see music as colours, so he’d just describe how he wanted something to sound. We were very stoned a lot of the time.

The lyrics for ‘Insomnia’ were written by Maxi Jazz who has said,’I got a call from Rollo asking if I could write some words for a new Dance track called ‘Insomnia.’ I spent 20 minutes with a pad jotting down my thoughts, finished the lyrics in the studio the following evening, then spent about 25 minutes putting the vocals down. That was that. The lyrics are from personal experience. I didn’t suffer from insomnia, but I’d just had an abscess on my tooth. It was so painful it would keep me awake. That first line, ‘Deep in the bosom of the gentle night,’ is not me channelling Dylan Thomas. That was forced on us by ‘MTV’ because they felt the original first line, ‘I only smoke weed when I need to,’ was too graphic. There were eyebrows raised about the lines ‘Making mad love to my girl on the heath, tearing off tights with my teeth,’ but they managed to stay in.’ Maxi Jazz has also said,’If I had a quid for every time someone’s come up going, “I can’t get no sleep”, I’d be living on the space station.’

As with many songs of the ‘Dance Music’ genre, there are a countless amount of official, and unofficial remixes that flood the market, for ‘Insomnia’ there are three main ones to concentrate on. The original ‘Reverence’ Album version at 8.46, the radio edit at 3.38, and the ‘Monster Mix’ at 8.38. The Album version contains some bells chiming at the start of the song, which were sampled from a BBC Sound Archive disc. The Album version also features a sample from the 1994 song ‘Novelty Waves,’ by the Norwegian ‘Electronic’ musician Geir Jenssen, who records under the stage name ‘Biosphere.’ The best known version of ‘Insomnia’ is the ‘Monster Mix,’ which is the mix that is also featured on Faithless’ greatest hits album ‘Forever Faithless,’ which was released in 2005. This mix was created by Bill Padley in 1995, with the edit being picked up by BBC Radio 1, and helped turn the song into a hit single.

‘I used to worry, thought I was going mad in a hurry. Gettin’ stressed, makin’ excess mess in darkness. No electricity, something’s all over me, greasy insomnia, please release me, and let me dream of makin’ mad love to my girl on the heath, tearin’ off tights with my teeth.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

891-Thunderclap Newman-Something in the Air.

1969-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.56. Pete Townshend never knew the feeling of having a Number 1 single in the UK with The Who, but he got a taste of what it was like here.

Pete Townshend (see also best songs 926-306 and 265) can actually boast two Number 1 songs, as he also co-produced the 1968 UK chart topper, ‘Fire,’ for ‘The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.’ In 1969, Pete Townshend, along with ‘The Who’s’ manager Kit Lambert, (1935-1981) put together a group of musicians to create a band to perform songs written by John ‘Speedy’ Keen, (1945-2002) who Townshend had previously shared a flat with. Speedy Keen had previously been a roadie for The Who, and had also written ‘Armenia City in the Sky,’ which is the opening track on The Who’s 1967 Album ‘The Who Sell Out,’ this was the only song that The Who ever performed live, that was specifically written for the group by a non-member. Townshend and Lambert also recruited the Jazz pianist Andy ‘Thunderclap’ Newman, (1943-2016) whom Townshend had known from his time at art college, and also the 16 year old Scottish guitarist Jimmy McCulloch (1953-1979.) These three musicians would play on ‘Something in the Air,’ along with Pete Townshend who played bass, under the pseudonym ‘Bijou Drains.’

‘Something in the Air’ was the first of four singles released from ‘Hollywood Dreams,’ from September 1970, which would be the only studio Album issued by Thunderclap Newman. The four singles were also the bands only other releases. In the UK, ‘Something in the Air’ went to Number 1, making them ‘One Hit Wonders,’ (see also best songs 990-698-496-467-116 and 101) as the other three singles failed to chart within the top 40, with the follow up single ‘Accidents’ stalling at Number 46, and the other two failing to make any impact at all. ‘Something in the Air’ was initially going to be called ‘Revolution,’ but was later re-named to avoid confusion with the Beatles 1968 song of the same name, which had appeared on the Beatles ‘White Album,’ and also as the ‘B’ side of ‘Hey Jude.’ In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart,’Something in the Air’ would also provide Thunderclap Newman with their only chart hit, peaking at Number 37.

‘Something in the Air’ was written by Speedy Keen, who also provided the vocals, and played the drums on the track. Keen would go on to release two solo studio Albums in 1973, and 1975, before turning to production, where he produced for the American Punk band ‘Johnny Thunders’ Heartbreakers,’ and he also produced the self titled debut Album by the English Heavy Metal band ‘Motorhead’ in 1977. Speedy Keen who died of heart failure in March 2002, at the age of 56 reflected on ‘Something in the Air,’ in a 1975 interview, saying,’I wrote it about two months before we recorded it, and we put it out as a joke. He also gave his thoughts on why ‘Thunderclap Newman’ were ‘One Hit Wonders,’Something In The Air’ was very hard to live up to because it wasn’t done under any pressure, and it was very hard to get that same feel when we knew we had to produce another single,’

‘Andy ‘Thunderclap’ Newman after whom the band were named, got his nickname ‘Thunderclap’ at school, in honour of his playing technique on the keyboards. After ‘Thunderclap Newman’ parted ways in 1971, Newman released his one solo Album ‘Rainbow,’ in 1971, and then left music to work as an electrician. In 2010 Newman put together a new version of ‘Thunderclap Newman,’ with him being the only original member, they recorded the Album ‘Beyond Hollywood,’ and played several live shows. Andy Newman died on March 29th, 2016, at the age of 73.

Jimmy McCulloch was the guitarist with Thunderclap Newman, in 1974 he became a full time member of ‘Paul McCartney and Wings,’ his debut track with them was ‘Junior’s Farm’ (see also best songs 646.) then after leaving ‘Wings’ in 1977, he toured with the reformed ‘Small Faces.’ McCulloch died on September 27th, 1979, of heart failure, due to morphine and alcohol poisoning, although he was not a user of hard drugs, he was 26 years old.

‘Something in the Air’ is a call for revolution, but whereas many songs of the ‘Flower Power’ era called for peaceful revolt, it appears that the message in this song is to revolt by any means necessary.

‘Hand out the arms and ammo, we’re going to blast our way through here. We’ve got to get together sooner or later, because the revolution’s here, and you know it’s right, and you know that it’s right.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

892-Mike Posner-I Took a Pill in Ibiza. (SeeB remix.)

2015-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.38. You can’t please everyone. Ibiza’s tourism officials were annoyed, as they felt the songs lyrics contributed to the islands reputation for drug related debauchery. As a result Mike Posner was invited to the island to discover how much more it had to offer as a destination, apart from it’s nightlife.

Michael Robert Henrion Posner was born on February 12th, 1988, in Detroit, Michigan, United States. To date he has released four studio Albums between 2010-2020, and 25 singles between 2010-2022, he has also issued four ‘Mixtapes’ from 2009-2019, and a collaboration Album with the American musician ‘Blackbear’ in 2017, called ‘Mansionz.’ In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, four of his songs have reached the top 40, with this song charting the highest at Number 4, while in the UK, he has had three top 40 hits, including his featured artist appearance on the 2011 Number 4 hit ‘With Ur Love,’ by Cher Lloyd, a song that he also co-wrote. As well as writing and recording for himself, Mike Posner has several writing co-credits for other artists, including, ‘Sugar,’ for Maroon 5, (2014-Billboard Number 2, and UK Number 7) ‘Beneath Your Beautiful,’ for Labrinth featuring Emeli Sande, (2012-Billboard Number 34, and UK Number 1) and ‘Boyfriend,’ for Justin Bieber (2012-Billboard Number 2, and UK Number 2.)

The original version of ‘I Took a Pill in Ibiza,’ was written by Mike Posner, and produced by Posner, and the Swedish born music producer Martin Terefe, and was first issued on Posner’s second ‘EP’ ‘The Truth,’ in June 2015. The original version of ‘I Took a Pill in Ibiza,’ is a ‘Folk/Pop’ song, and has an extra verse, which doesn’t appear on the ‘SeeB’ remix. Both the original version, and the SeeB remix appear on Mike Posner’s second studio Album ‘All Night, Alone,’ from May 2016.

Mike Posner got the idea for the song when he was on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza with Avicii (1989-2018) (see also best songs 123.) Posner was watching Avicii doing a DJ set at his show, when he was offered a pill. Posner has explained,’I would go back and forth between the backstage and the VIP area, and then where the actual kids were. And most people didn’t know who the f–k I was in Ibiza, except for this one guy who recognised me. He was like, ‘Are you Mike Posner?’ and he was all excited. He holds up this little bag of pills and is like, ‘You want one?’ And drunk Mike Posner was like, ‘F–k it, yeah.’ So I took one, and I had never done that before, and I felt amazing. Then when I came down I felt ten years older.’

The lyrics to ‘I Took a Pill in Ibiza’ see Mike Posner reflecting on his career as a musician, and also on the pressures of fame. Posner had great success with his breakthrough hits ‘Cooler Than Me,’ and ‘Please Don’t Go,’ but then the hits dried up. Posner has said,’I made two records on RCA that got shelved, and remain on my laptop. In the industry, my career was generally considered over, and people were calling me a one-hit wonder. With that song, (‘I Took a Pill in Ibiza’) I was just trying to be honest about coming down from the mountaintop of success, people’s ascent to the top is always very well documented, and everybody wants to write about it, but I was interested in what it’s like to come back down again. I had to live that, and it was a great experience for me, it made me a much better person.’ Ironically a song which is about falling from a great height, and nearlly hitting the bottom, put Mike Posner right back at the top of the tree.

‘SeeB’ are the Norwegian duo of Simen Eriksrud, and Espen Berg, their working name is made up of the initials of the first letter of their name, and surname. Together they have released one studio Album,’Sad in Scandinavia,’ in 2021, and 30 singles, between 2015-2021. In their native Norway they have achieved 10 top 40 hits on the ‘VG-lista’ Norwegian record chart, with different featured artists on each hit, including ‘One Republic,’ and ‘Bastille.’

The ‘SeeB’ remix of ‘I Took a Pill in Ibiza’ is recorded in the genre of ‘Tropical House’ music, which is a sub-genre of ‘House Music.’ ‘Tropical House’ possesses typical house music characteristics, including synthesizer instrumentation, and a 4/4 kick drum pattern. It differentiates itself from ‘Deep House’ which can often have a very dark sound, whereas ‘Tropical House’ can be described as having a more uplifting and relaxing sound. ‘Tropical House’ usually includes tropical instruments such as steel drums, marimba, guitar, saxophone, or even pan flute, and can sometimes use ‘Dembow’ rhythm patterns, often attributed to genres such as ‘Dancehall’ and ‘Reggaeton.’

‘I took a pill in Ibiza, to show Avicii I was cool, and when I finally got sober, felt ten years older, but f..k it, it was something to do.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

893-KC and the Sunshine Band-(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty.

1976-Number 22 single.

Best Bit-At 0.17. In the 21st Century they call it ‘Twerking,’ but back in the 20th Century, it was known as ‘Shaking.’

KC and the Sunshine Band were formed in Hialeah, Miami, Florida, United States, in 1973, by Harry Wayne Casey, (KC) and Richard Finch, the bands name comes from Casey’s surname, and the ‘Sunshine State’ of Florida. The band was originally called ‘KC & The Sunshine Junkanoo Band,’ because they used studio musicians from the ‘TK’ record label, and also from a local ‘Junkanoo band,’ called the ‘Miami Junkanoo Band.’ Casey and Finch were soon joined by Jerome Smith, (1953-2000) (guitar) and Robert Johnson (drums.) In total there have been 28 different members who have worked under the ‘KC and the Sunshine Band’ banner. The band were active between 1973-1985, and then reformed in 1993, and have released their last new music to date in 2022.

The discography of KC and the Sunshine Band includes 15 studio Albums released between 1974-2015, and 49 singles issued between 1973-2022, there are also 12 official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, they have achieved 11 top 40 hits, with five of those songs making Number 1, including this track. In the UK, they have charted within the top 40 on 10 occasions, with ‘Give It Up’ from 1983, reaching Number 1.

Harry Wayne Casey was born on January 31st, 1951, in Opa-locka, Florida, United States, he is seen as a pioneer of the genre of ‘Disco Music’ in the 1970’s. Casey and Finch first met, when both were working in menial roles at ‘TK Records,’ After forming KC and the Sunshine Band, they started to write together, with their big breakthrough hit coming in the summer of 1974 with ‘Rock Your Baby,’ (see also best songs 64) which was sung by George McCrae, ‘Rock Your Baby is currently the 27th best selling single worldwide of all time, with sales in excess of 11 million copies sold. George McCrae can also be heard adding backing vocals to KC and the Sunshine Band’s first hit single ‘Queen of Clubs’ (1974-UK Number 7.) Casey and Finch also had success writing for other ‘TK Records’ artists, including Betty Wright, (1953-2020) and Jimmy ‘Bo’ Horne (see also best songs 375.) Away from KC and the Sunshine Band, Casey charted at Number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979, with the American singer Teri DeSario, on a cover version of the 1965 Barbara Mason song ‘Yes, I’m Ready,’ DeSario had been a high school classmate of Casey’s, and he was also producing her second studio Album ‘Moonlight Madness’ at the time. For all their success in the 1970’s, in the UK, KC and the Sunshine Band, are probably best remembered for the 1983 hit ‘Give It Up,’ which was their last UK, and U.S hit single, although in America it didn’t chart until 1984, when peaking at Number 18.

‘(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty’ was co-written, and co-produced by Harry Wayne Casey, and Richard Finch, and was the first of five singles released from KC and the Sunshine Band’s fourth studio Album ‘Part 3,’ from October 1976. The songs original ‘B’ side was ‘Boogie Shoes,’ which had previously appeared on the bands self titled second studio Album from 1975, and after being chosen for the ‘ Saturday Night Fever’ soundtrack, (see also best songs 211-184 and 35) the song was released as a ‘A’ side single, reaching Number 35 in America, and Number 34 in the UK.

Richard Finch has explained how ‘(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty’ was directly inspired by dance moves that he and Casey had witnessed in clubs, he has said,’The Bump was big back then, and then every once in a while you’d see someone break loose and shake their booty like Jell-O. We figured, okay, how do you write about this? You know, say it like it is. We also were collecting phrases, trying to find a buzz word and write about it, or a catch phrase, and try and expound on that. Just trying to keep it fun. As we started performing, we’d pay attention to what the people were doing, either body moves or body language, and try to transfer that back into the next production. As soon as we got back off the road we’d go right into the studio with that freshly captured energy, start recording, and not try to think too much.’

‘Everybody, get on the floor, let’s dance. Don’t fight the feeling, give yourself a chance. Shake shake shake, shake shake shake, shake your booty, shake your booty.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

894-Nick Heyward-Whistle Down the Wind.

1983-Number 13 single.

Best Bit-At 3.10. To ‘Whistle Down the Wind,’ means you abandon, send away, or leave something, or someone.

Nicholas Heyward was born on May 20th, 1961, in Beckenham, Kent. Heyward began playing in bands as far back as 1977, with his school friends, Graham Jones, and Les Nemes, who along with three others would form ‘Haircut One Hundred in 1980. It was Heyward who suggested the name ‘Haircut One Hundred,’ when the band were trying to come up with ideas, Heyward has said that the name was chosen, ‘Because it was the one that made us laugh the most.’ Heyward who was the main songwriter, and the lead vocalist with Haircut One Hundred was a member until 1982, when he was dismissed by the other group members as tensions grew. In later years Heyward stated that he had been struggling with stress and depression at that time, after a year of constant work and pressure, which led to him being, in effect, sacked by the other members of the band. As a member of Haircut One Hundred, Heyward only appeared on their debut studio Album ‘Pelican West,’ which was released in February 1982. Heyward had written 11 of the 12 songs on the Album, and had co-written the other with Les Nemes. The Album produced four UK top 10 hits, with ‘Love Plus One,’ charting the highest at Number 3, the same song gave the band their only chart entry on Billboard in America, where it reached Number 37. After Heyward left the group, Haircut One Hundred released just one more studio Album,’Paint and Paint,’ in 1984, which failed to chart, as did the three issued singles taken from it. Nick Heyward and other members of Haircut One Hundred have reformed to play live on occasions through the years, which saw the release of ‘Live at the Indig02,’ in 2011.

Nick Heyward’s solo career began in 1983, with the release of the single ‘Whistle Down the Wind,’ the song had been intended to be the next Haircut One Hundred single release, before Heyward’s dismissal. ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ was the first of four singles issued from his debut solo studio Album ‘North of a Miracle,’ from October 1983, and was written by Heyward, with the production being by Geoff Emerick, (1945-2018) (see also best songs 39 and 2) and the orchestral arrangements by Andrew Powell, (see also best songs 866-130-81 and 2) the Album was recorded at the world famous ‘Abbey Road Studios,’ in London, England. Nick Heyward has gone on to release nine solo studio Albums between 1983-2017, and 22 solo singles, between 1983-2018. As a solo artist he has achieved one top 40 Album with ‘North of a Miracle’ reaching Number 10 in the UK, and six of his solo singles have also made the UK top 40, with ‘Take That Situation,’ charting the highest at Number 11 in 1983.

Geoff Ernest Emerick was born on December 5th, 1945, in Crouch End, North London, United Kingdom, he died from a heart attack on October 2nd, 2018, at the age of 72. Emerick got his first break in music at the age of 16, when one of his school teachers heard about a job vacancy at ‘EMI,’ and suggested he apply. Emerick started out as an assistant engineer, and was present to witness the Beatles recording for the first time with their new drummer, Ringo Starr, on what became the band’s debut hit single, ‘Love Me Do,’ in 1962. At the age of 20, Emerick took over as the Beatles’ recording engineer, at the request of producer George Martin, (1926-2016) two of the Beatles songs it is said that Emerick had great influence on are ‘Tomorrow Never Knows,’ from ‘Revolver,’ (1966) and ‘Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!’ from ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ (1967.) Of all the Beatles, Emerick was always the closest to Paul McCartney, and after the Beatles split, he worked as the recording engineer on many of McCartney’s solo projects, including ‘Band on the Run’ (1973) (see also best songs 107.)

‘Whistle Down the Wind’ is probably a song about regret. In my opinion, the narrator is missing his lover, and will give everything to get them back.

‘Out the window, look what’s happening. In my prism, watching day by (day by day.) In my humour (ha,) kiss and make up friend. Out the window, look what’s happening.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

895-Livin’ Joy-Dreamer.

1994-Number 18 single. When it was re-issued in 1995, it reached Number 1.

Best Bit-At 1.04. This one really is an amateur mixing DJ’s dream, as it will mix effectively into almost anything.

Livin’ Joy are one of the musical projects of the Italian music producers Paolo Visnadi, and his brother Gianni Visnadi, along with the American vocalist Tameko Star, who joined the group in 1995, following the departure of the original lead singer Janice Robinson in 1994. Prior to forming Livin’ Joy, the Visnadi brothers had already tasted success with their previous project ‘Alex Party,’ working alongside DJ Alex Natale, and the vocalist and songwriter Shanie Campbell. As ‘Alex Party’ they were active between 1993-2000, producing music in the genre of ‘Italian House.’ They released one studio Album, the self titled ‘Alex Party’ in 1996, and seven singles, between 1993-2000. Four of those singles reached the Italian (FIMI) top 40, with ‘Wrap Me Up,’ from 1995, peaking the highest at Number 2, while in the UK, they also achieved four top 40 hits, with ‘Don’t Give Me Your Life,’ charting at Number 2 in 1995. Alongside releasing singles, ‘Alex Party’ also remixed tracks for artists of the calibre of Alison Moyet, Everything but the Girl, and The Shamen.

Livin’ Joy were leading exponents in the genre’s of ‘Eurodance,’ and ‘Italo House.’ Italian House Music is a form of ‘House Music’ that originated in Italy in the late 1980’s, The genre’s main musical characteristic is its use of predominantly electronic piano chords in a more lyrical form than classic ‘Chicago House’ records (see also best songs 981) A good example of ‘Italo House’ is the influential track ‘Ride on Time,’ by Black Box (see also best songs 501.)

The Visnadi brothers formed Livin’ Joy to run alongside Alex Party, issuing one studio Album called ‘Don’t Stop Movin” in 1996. They also released six singles between 1994-1999, with three of those tracks making the top 40 in Italy, with the single ‘Don’t Stop Movin,” making Number 1, although ‘Dreamer’ was never a hit in Italy. In the UK, Livin’ Joy have achieved six top 40 chart entries, including the 1995 re-issue of ‘Dreamer.’ In America on the Billboard ‘Dance Chart,’ ‘Dreamer’ made Number 1, and ‘Don’t Stop Movin” reached Number 3, they have never charted within Billboard Hot 100, top 40.

‘Dreamer’ was one of four singles to appear on Livin’ Joy’s’ debut studio Album ‘Don’t Stop Movin,” from November 1996. The song was co-written by Paolo Visnadi, Gianni Visnadi, and Janice Robinson, with the production being by the Visnadi Brothers. Following the release of ‘Dreamer’ in August 1994, the brothers were unable to reach an agreement with Robinson for a follow up single, so she left Livin’ Joy to pursue a solo career, at which point Tameka Starr was brought in as her replacement on vocals. Tameka Starr’s re-recorded ‘Dreamer’ for the Album, and also sang on all of the other 10 tracks. The original version of ‘Dreamer’ with the Janice Robinson vocal, was added to the Album as a bonus hidden track at the end of the disc.

Prior to joining forces with the Visnadi Brothers, Janice Robinson had toured as a vocalist for the ‘Euro-Dance’ group ‘Snap!’ between 1991-1992, although she never recorded with ‘Snap!’ in the studio. In 2000 Robinson toured America as an opening act for Tina Turner, (see also best songs 752-485 and 192) and then in 2005 she re-recorded ‘Dreamer,’ releasing it as ‘Dreamer 05.’ In total Robinson has released four solo singles between 1999-2015, and has written for artists including Taylor Dayne, and Tevin Campbell. In 2018 Robinson appeared as a contestant on the British reality television music competition ‘The X Factor,’ surprising the judging panel with the revelation that she was the voice, and co-songwriter behind the international Dance track ‘Dreamer.’ Robinson made it through to the live shows, as part of the ‘Over 28’s’ category, eventually finishing in 14th place.

‘Here we lie all alone am I dreaming? Your heart’s smooth my soul is unbelieving. Now you see the me and I’m feeling, I’m feeling. I feel your hands, your lips, the heat of your body, whisper your love to me say that you love me. Please just love me down, and never leave me, I’m a dreamer.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

896-Billy Paul-Me and Mrs Jones.

1972-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 3.37. There is a very clever hint as to what this song is about at 0.17 seconds, when the saxophonist is playing the 1953 song,’Secret Love,’ by Doris Day.

Billy Paul was born Paul Williams, on December 1st, 1934, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, he died on April 24th, 2016, from pancreatic cancer, at the age of 81. It was his manager at the time, Jules Malvin, who suggested his stage name, to avoid confusion with the songwriter Paul Williams, and saxophonist Paul ‘Hucklebuck’ Williams (1915-2002.) Prior to signing with the newly set up ‘Philadelphia International Records’ in 1971, Billy Paul had recorded two studio Albums, and six singles between 1952-1970, and although none had been commercially successful, they had been critically well received. His earliest recordings were ballads, but he was heavily influenced by Jazz, and also recorded in that genre. On signing with ‘Philadelphia International Records,’ his music was redefined by Leon Huff, and Kenny Gamble (see also best songs 1001-896-725-648-604-571-338 and 322) who sought to find the balance between Paul’s ‘Jazz roots,’ and the ‘Funky Soul’ that they hoped would bring mainstream success.

The discography of Billy Paul includes 13 Albums released between 1968-1988, and 37 singles, (including re-issues) released between 1952-2011. His only charting Album in America on Billboard was ‘360 Degrees of Billy Paul,’ which made Number 17 in 1972, but seven of his other Albums did chart within the top 40 on the Billboard R&B chart. Two of his singles also made the top 40 on Billboard, with Me and Mrs. Jones’ going all the way to Number 1. In the UK, Billy Paul has had six top 40 hit singles, with ‘Me and Mrs. Jones,’ charting the highest.

‘Me and Mrs. Jones’ was the first of two singles released from Billy Paul’s fourth Album, ‘360 Degrees of Billy Paul,’ from 1972, it was his second album release on ‘Philadelphia International Records.’ ‘Me and Mrs. Jones,’ was written by the legendary songwriting, and production duo of Leon Huff, and Kenny Gamble, who wrote the music, with the lyrics written by Cary ‘Hippy’ Gilbert, (1942-1993) (see also best songs 725) Huff and Gamble also produced the single, as well as the parent Album.

‘Me and Mrs. Jones’ is a romantic song that tugs at the heartstrings, so it is easy to forget that it’s subject is actually adultery, and although the narrator is cheating on someone, Billy Paul’s heartfelt delivery makes you feel sorry for the adulterers. Kenny Gamble has explained how he and Leon Huff got the idea for ‘Me and Mrs Jones,’ after several visits to a little bar downstairs in the Schubert Building, which was where their record company ‘Philadelphia International Records’ was located. Kenny Gamble has said, ‘This guy used to come into the bar every day, a little guy that looked like a judge. We’re songwriters, so we’re always thinking about a song. The next day he came in again, and every day after he’d come in, this girl would come in 10-15 minutes after he’d get there, and they’d sit in the same booth, then go to the jukebox, and play the same songs. We said, ‘That’s me and Mrs. Jones.’ Then, when they’d get ready to leave, he would go his way and she would go hers. It could have been his daughter, his niece, anybody, but we created a story that there was some kind of romantic connection between these people, so we went upstairs to our office and wrote the song.’

Billy Paul would probably have been an even bigger star had he just stuck to singing love songs, but although he has been critically acclaimed for his pro ‘Black Power’ political songs, such as ‘Am I Black Enough for You? and ‘Let Em In,’ these tracks didn’t find favour at the time with mainstream radio, and goes someway to explaining why he failed to come anywhere near matching the success of ‘Me and Mrs. Jones’ again. Perhaps the greatest tribute to Billy Paul came from Stevie Wonder who called him,’One of the criminally unmentioned proprietors of socially conscious post-revolution ’60’s Civil Rights’ music.’ After Billy Paul’s death in 2016, Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble released a statement saying,’Our proudest moment with Billy was the recording of the salacious smash ‘Me and Mrs. Jones.’ In our view, it is one of the greatest love songs ever recorded. Billy was one of the first artists to help launch the ‘PIR/TSOP’ brand, and he will forever have a special place in music history.’

‘We meet every day at the same cafe, six-thirty, and no one knows she’ll be there. Holding hands, making all kinds of plans, while the jukebox plays our favourite songs.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

897-Simple Minds-Don’t You (Forget About Me.)

1985-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 3.43. The moment you have sung all the lyrics, but it’s so good, you can’t stop yourself from improvising.

Simple Minds were formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1977. At the time of writing the group remain active, with the two constants being Jim Kerr, and Charlie Burchill. Kerr and Burchill, had known each other since the age of eight, and just prior to forming Simple Minds, they had both been members of the short lived ‘Punk Rock’ outfit ‘Johnny & The Self-Abusers,’ but that group folded after bad reviews in the music press, for their debut single, ‘Saints and Sinners.’ The first line up of Simple Minds comprised Kerr and Burchill, and four others who had been in ‘Johnny & The Self-Abusers,’ in total there have been 23 different members come and go over the years, Simple Minds chose their stage name from lyrics in the song ‘Jean Jeanie,’ by David Bowie, (1948-2016) and made their very first live performance at Glasgow’s ‘Satellite City,’ on 17th January, 1978.

Simple Minds were the best selling Scottish act of the 1980’s, and have sold over 65 million records worldwide. Their discography includes 21 studio Albums released between 1979-2022, and 68 singles issued within the same time period, there are also 10 official compilation Albums, and 11 live Albums available. In the UK, three of their studio Albums have made Number 1, while 24 of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Belfast Child,’ reaching Number 1 in 1989. In America their only charting Album was ‘Once Upon a Time,’ (Billboard Number 10) from 1985, which was released around the same time as ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me,’) which went all the way to Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. In total Simple Minds have achieved five top 40 hit singles on Billboard.

‘Don’t You (Forget About Me’) was written by Keith Forsey, and Steve Schiff, with the production being by Forsey, for the 1985 American teen coming-of-age comedy-drama film ‘The Breakfast Club,’ which would become one of the most critically acclaimed films of the 1980’s, although the films soundtrack, was given the thumbs down, with only ”Don’t You (Forget About Me’) receiving praise. Keith Forsey was heavily involved in the ‘Disco’ scene of the mid to late 1970’s, and became the go to drummer for Giorgio Moroder, (see also best songs 78 and 11) Albums he played on include ‘Bad Girls’ for Donna Summer,’ and ‘”No. 1 in Heaven,’ for Sparks, both issued in 1979. Other career highlights for Forsey include, producing Billy Idol’s (see also best songs 945) first two solo studio Albums, and co-writing ‘Flashdance… What a Feeling,’ with Giorgio Moroder, and Irene Cara, (1959-2022) for the 1983 movie ‘Flashdance.

‘Don’t You (Forget About Me’) was the gem that nobody wanted. Both Forsey and Steve Schiff were big fans of Simple Minds, and had written the song with them in mind, but initially Simple Minds declined the song, with Jim Kerr explaining,’We were young, we were a bit brattish, we were insecure. We were loving what we were doing and thinking, ‘Hang on a minute, you want us in ’cause you love us because we write these songs, but you want us to do your song?’ We weren’t even willing to listen initially. We were like, ‘No, we don’t do other people’s songs. End of story.’ And of course, later on it was explained, but the song was written to the script and every time they tried to make it more amenable, it sounded worse, because they would say, ‘It sounds really like Simple Minds,’ and we would be infuriated. ‘How dare you rip us off, and then try and sell us on an idea!’

With Simple Minds initially turning down the song, it was next offered to Bryan Ferry, (see also best songs 721-316 and 57) who due to other work commitments had to turn it down. It was then offered to Billy Idol, but he was not interested. Eventually after a lot of persuasion from their record label, and Kerr’s wife Chrissie Hynde, Simple Minds recorded it, believing it would be a throwaway song, on a soundtrack, to a forgettable movie. The rest of course is history, as ‘The Breakfast Club,’ would go on to become one of the most popular films of the 1980’s. The song played out over the films end credits, and broke Simple Minds in America, and as of 2018 ”Don’t You (Forget About Me’) was the 485th best selling single of all time in America on Billboard.

‘Won’t you come see about me? I’ll be alone, dancing, you know it, baby. Tell me your troubles and doubts, giving everything inside and out and love’s strange, so real in the dark. Think of the tender things that we were working on.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

898-Buddy Holly-Peggy Sue.

1957-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 1.24. Air guitar for the 1950’s teenager.

Buddy Holly (see also best songs 264) was born Charles Hardin Holley, on September 7th, 1936, in Lubbock, Texas United States, he died in the early hours of February 3rd, 1959, in a plane crash, at the age of 22. In his 1971 song ‘American Pie,’ (see also best songs 4) Don McLean refers to the event as ‘The day the music died.’ Buddy Holly was signed to ‘Decca Records’ in 1956, on the contract, Decca misspelled Holley’s surname as ‘Holly,’ and from then on he was known as ‘Buddy Holly’, instead of his real name ‘Holley.’

Buddy Holly (lead vocals, and guitar) was one of the four original members of the group ‘The Crickets’ who signed that contract with ‘Decca’ in February 1957, the other three were Jerry Allison, (1939-2022) (drums) Joe B. Mauldlin, (1940-2015) (bass) and Niki Sullivan (1937-2004) (guitar.) In total there have been 11 different official members of ‘The Crickets,’ with Jerry Allison being the groups one constant, through until Allison announced ‘The Crickets’ retirement in 2016. The Crickets had noticed that many contemporary groups had taken their names from birds, so they chose an ‘insect-centred name. They almost chose the name ‘Beetles,’ which years later the ‘Beatles’ chose, partly in homage to the Crickets. The Crickets are considered to be one of the most influential groups of all time, especially in the development of ‘Rock’ music, and are considered to be one of the first to perform as a ‘Rock’ group, with two guitarists, a bass player, and a drummer. John Lennon, (1940-1980) and Paul McCartney, have said that they studied Holly’s records, learned his performance style, and lyricism, and based their act on his persona. Other artists who have said that they owe a debt to Holly, include Bob Dylan, who saw Holly perform live, three days before his death on New Years Eve, 1958, in Duluth, Minnesota. Keith Richards has said that he modelled his early guitar work on the 1957 Crickets song ‘Not Fade Away.’ Richards also said that Holly has passed on his guitar playing, via the Beatles, and via The Rolling Stones, Richards has said,’He’s in everybody.’

Due to contractual legal reasons of Buddy Holly having already recorded for ‘Decca’ records in 1956, and the ‘Crickets’ being signed to ‘Brunswick’ records, and ‘Coral’ records, which were both subsidiary labels of ‘Decca,’ it meant that no recordings of the group before Holly’s death were stated as ‘Buddy Holly and The Crickets,’ with releases being by either Buddy Holly, or by ‘The Crickets.’ After the death of Holly, The Crickets continued to record, releasing new music, as well as completing songs that Holy had been working on before his death, that they would add to, and re-record. The discography of The Crickets includes 15 studio Albums released between 1957-2005, and 32 singles issued between 1957-1988. There are also 18 EP’s that were released between 1957-1998, and there are 20 official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, five of those songs credited to The Crickets have made the top 40, with their debut single release ”That’ll Be the Day,’ from 1957, reaching Number 1, while in the UK, 12 of their singles, have made the top 40, with ‘That’ll Be the Day,’ also being their only Number 1.

‘Peggy Sue’ was co-written by Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty, (1927-1984) with the production being by Petty, The Crickets are not mentioned on the label, with the song credited to just Buddy Holly. After the death of Holly, at the insistence of Allison, Holly’s name was added to the writing credits. The song was originally entitled ‘Cindy Lou,’ after Buddy Holly’s niece, the daughter of his sister Pat Holley Kaiter, (1929-2008) but the title was later changed to ‘Peggy Sue,’ in reference to ‘Peggy Sue Gerron, (1940-2018) who was the then girlfriend, and future wife of Jerry Allison. Allison and Gerron had had a serious fallout, and ‘Peggy Sue’ is Allison pouring his heart out in the song. The couple would marry in 1958, and divorce nine years later.

One of the incomplete songs that Holly left behind before his death was a ‘demo’ called ‘Peggy Sue Got Married,’ which he had recorded in December 1958. In 1960 The Crickets released their own version as a single. They followed the original arrangements, with David Box, a Holly soundalike, as the lead vocalist, the song was issued as the ‘B’ side to The Crickets ‘A’ side ‘Don’t Cha Know,’ which failed to chart. The Buddy Holly original, undubbed home recording, was used as theme music in the 1986 American fantasy comedy-drama film ‘Peggy Sue Got Married.’ ‘Peggy Sue’ is also name checked in the 1961 hit ‘Barbara Ann’ by The Regents, (Billboard Number 13) and later covered by the Beach Boys in 1965 (Billboard Number 2, and UK Number 3.) ‘Peggy Sue’ is also mentioned in the 1958 novelty hit ‘Splish Splash’ by Bobby Darin (Billboard Number 3 and UK Number 18.)

‘If you knew Peggy Sue, then you’d know why I feel blue without Peggy, my Peggy Sue. Oh well, I love you gal, yes, I love you Peggy Sue.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

899-Black Eyed Peas-Boom Boom Pow.

2009-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.00. Will. i. am’s unfathomable dislike of fairies who mend shoes, surfaces again, or is he just talking a load of old cobblers.

The Black Eyed Peas (see also best songs 234) were formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, the classic line up, and the four who performed on this song, are the three founding members, William Adams, (Will.i.am) Allan Lindo, (apl.de.ap) Jaime Gomez, (Taboo) and Stacy Ferguson, (Fergie) (see also best songs 909) who replaced the original lead singer Kim Hill in 2002, and was a group member until leaving in 2017.

‘Boom Boom Pow’ was the first of five singles released from the Black Eyed Peas fifth studio Album ‘The E.N.D.’ (The Energy Never Dies) from June 2009. ‘Boom Boom Pow’ credits all four group members as songwriters, with the production credited to Will.i.am. ‘The E.N.D.’ was a conscious decision by the Black Eyed Peas to re-invent themselves as a commercial outfit, moving away from their ‘Hip-Hop’ roots, to a more radio friendly ‘Electronic Dance Music/Dance Pop’ group. The decision proved very successful, as the Album has gone on to sell in excess of 8 million copies worldwide, while ‘Boom Boom Pow’ went on to become the best selling single worldwide in 2009, spending 12 consecutive weeks at Number 1 on Billboard in America. It’s run at the top of the chart was brought to an end when the Black Eyed Peas released their follow up single ‘I Gotta Feeling,’ which took over the Number 1 spot, and stayed there for the next 14 weeks. The Black Eyed Peas became only the 11th act ever to have the Number 1, and Number 2 songs in the same week on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Will.i.am had got the idea for ‘Boom Boom Pow’ while he was in Australia filming for his role as ‘John Wraith,’ in his major film debut, ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine,’ which was a prequel to the ‘X-Men’ film series. Will.i.am had been spending evenings in nightclubs in Sydney, where he was influenced by the ‘Electronic Music’ that he heard. He has stated that the song ‘Planet Rock’ by Afrika Bambaataa (see also best songs 716) was a major influence, which is ironic, because ‘Boom Boom Pow’ is a meant to be a ‘futuristic’ sounding track, while ‘Planet Rock’ dates back to 1982. ‘Boom Boom Pow’ features a vocal sample from the 1990 ‘House Music’ track ‘Reach Out,’ by the British duo ‘Sweet Mercy’ featuring the vocals of ‘Rowetta.’ ‘Sweet Mercy’ are not credited as songwriters on ‘Boom Boom Pow,’ and no lawsuit has ever come to light.

Will.i.am was born William James Adams Jr. on March 15th, 1975, in Los Angeles, California, United States. Away from music he has appeared in eight films between 2004-2014, and has worked in television since 2012, as either a judge or mentor on shows such as ‘American Idol,’ ‘The Voice Australia,’ and ‘The Voice Kids UK.’ Will.i.am has also released four solo studio Albums between 2001-2013, and 59 singles without the Black Eyed Peas, between 2001-2020. 12 of those singles have charted on the Billboard Hot 100, with the 2010 track ‘OMG’ by Usher featuring Will.i.am making Number 1. In the UK, without the Black Eyed Peas he has achieved 24 top 40 hits, with five of those tracks reaching Number 1. Will.i.am also has an extensive production discography, between 1998- 2018.

Will.i.am has explained the meaning behind those very unusual lyrics ‘Beats so big I’m steppin on leprechauns,’ he has said,’It’s not about actual leprechauns. I’m rapping about, um, er… Cons. Convicts. Criminals. Who are leopards. Leopard-cons. So it’s not offensive at all.’ Fergie has also commented on the song saying,’I feel that ‘Boom Boom Pow’ is not your typical first single. It’s not the typical, let’s do a hooky chorus, and you know, have a feel good-heart love song, or anything like that. It’s basically kind of to the left. We’ve always been kind of misfits, and so it kind of fits. The song is to the left, but it works, because we’re being true to ourselves.’ The songs attempts a futuristic theme, with Fergie rapping,’I’m so three thousand and eight, you so two thousand and late.’

And finally to save you from having to do the totting up, the word ‘Boom’ is spoken 168 times.

‘People in the place, if you wanna get down, put your hands in the air. Will.i.am drop the beat now.’