Song Facts – Ramblin’ Tunes

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Sources

The information sources of the song facts include, but are not limited to, Wikipedia, songfacts.com, discogs.com, secondhandsongs.com, YouTube and artists’ related websites.

This song facts list includes all episodes.

Episode	Title	Artist	Year	Comment
Pilot	Sweet Home Alabama	Lynyrd Skynyrd	1974	Lynyrd Skynyrd a band from Jacksonville, Florida. From 1970 to 1972 they recorded at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama and wrote this song about their impressions and as a tribute to the studio musicians, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Neil Young had implied in his songs, “Southern Man” and “Alabama”, that people in the American South were racist and stuck in the past. In response to those songs, Lynyrd Skynyrd sing about Southern pride and all the good things in Alabama. To know more about the legendary studios and artists you should watch the documentary Muscle Shoals (2013).
Pilot	California Dreamin’	The Mamas & The Papas	1963	This song from the Mama’s and the Papa’s is about longing to be in another place. (Mama) Michelle Phillips was living with her husband (Papa) John Phillips in New York and she felt homesick. Michelle was from sunny California.
Pilot	It Never Rains In Southern California	Albert Hammond	1972	Albert Hammond wrote this song with Michael Hazlewood in London, before they came to Los Angeles. He had never been in California when he wrote this song.
Pilot	Work Song	Nina Simone	1961	Nina Simone, one of a kind, imprisoned for robbing a grocery and condemned to work in a chain gang. (At the same time, she likens the heavy labor of breaking rocks to slavery, through which the song becomes a cry for emancipation as well.) Her music was often censored and sometimes even prohibited in the Southern states (by the Jim Crow laws).
Pilot	Giant	Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man	2019	Rag’n’Bone Man feels like a giant. Now he has another success after his breakthrough single called “Human”.
Pilot	Gypsy Woman	Crystal Waters	2008	Crystal Waters is best known for this groundbreaking 1991 single “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)”. She wrote down what she had witnessed in Washington, D.C. A woman who had lost her job dressed all in black wearing make-up, singing gospel songs in front of a hotel. Crystal, daughter of jazz musician Junior Waters, had studied business and computer science and was employed at that time.
Pilot	When Am I Going to Make a Living	Sade	1984	The story has it that Sade wrote the song on the back of a cleaning ticket after she picked her clothes up from the cleaners. She had no money and she wrote down, “When Am I Going to Make a Living.”
Pilot	Busy Earnin’	Jungle	2014	Jungle, is a London based group founded by two friends and expanded to a seven piece band to turn the music from their laptops into a full and organic live experience. Busy Earnin’ is directed at individuals who spend their existence working for money and neglecting other aspects of their life. It’s about that fear of spending your life chasing a career you don’t really want.
Pilot	Je veux	Zaz	2018	‘Je Veux’, ‘I want’ is the debut single of the talented singer ZAZ, born Isabelle Geffroy. Her fifth studio album is called ‘Isa’ by the way. Her mother was a Spanish teacher and ZAZ toured in the early years 2000 with a basque group Izar-Adatz (Basque for “Shooting Star”).
Pilot	The Race	Yello	1998	“The Race”, a song by Swiss band Yello, released in April 1988,
Nine 2 Five	A Hard Day’s Night	The Beatles	1964	It was Beatles’ drummer Ringo Starr that used the expression first and later repeated by John Lennon in his book In His Own Write before ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ was used as a movie and song title.
Nine 2 Five	9 To 5	Dolly Parton	1980	This epic song from 1980 by Dolly Parton from the movie “9 to 5” speaks to the frustrations – and hopes – of the average working-class person and exposes the gender balance in the workplace. It didn’t start any kind of movement at that time, but it did push the issue forward. The film is worth watching. Not only because it’s a funny classic movie but also to better understand the statements and the sounds in the song.
Nine 2 Five	Morning Train (Nine To Five)	Sheena Easton	1990	Outside of the United States, Sheena Easton’s “Morning Train” was released as “9 To 5”. Female songwriter Florrie Palmer wrote this song about how dull a woman’s life can be while she’s waiting for her man to come home and show her a good time.
Nine 2 Five	The Worker	Fisher-Z	1979	Fischer-Z’s band leader John Watts was still studying clinical psychology and working in mental institutions at the he wrote this song in 1979 about his father’s daily commute to London.
Nine 2 Five	Sixteen Tons	Tennessee Ernie Ford	1955	Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford was written in 1947 by singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Rosewood, Kentucky Merle Travis and based on the experiences of his coal-mining family. His brother, John Travis, who wrote him a letter quoting the sentence “It’s like working in the coal mines. You load 16 tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt.” and his father who told a neighbour, “I can’t afford to die. I owe my soul to the general store,” inspiring the lyrics: Saint Peter don’t you call me, ’cause I can’t go, I owe my soul to the company store.
Nine 2 Five	Chain Gang	Sam Cooke	1960	Chain gangs, were groups of prisoners linked together while performing physical labor. They were first used during the reconstruction of the south after the US Civil War as a way to utilize prisoners as free labor in rebuilding Southern states’ infrastructure. Sam Cook wrote the “Chain Gang” in 1959 while on tour by bus, meeting a chain gang of prisoners in Georgia working on the side of the road.
Nine 2 Five	Let’s Clean Up The Ghetto	Philadelphia International All Stars	1977	“Let’s clean up the ghetto” was released in 1977 and performed by the Philadelphia International All Stars who were a funk and soul collective including Dee Dee Sharp, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, The O’Jays & Archie Bell
Nine 2 Five	Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)	Jay-Z	1998	Jay-Z’s ‘Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)’ is based on the song from the Broadway musical “Annie” where little orphan Annie is punished after she tried to escape. Just like Jigga, she tries to overcome her difficult circumstances.
Nine 2 Five	Living For The City	Stevie Wonder	1973	“Living For The City” by Stevie Wonder, who not only wrote the song but also played all the instruments on this song and also did all the vocals. The story of a young kid leaving his hometown in the south, where he has seen the hardships faced by his family, seeking for opportunities in New York City where he gets caught up in a different system of inequality that imprisons him and leaves him disillusioned.
Nine 2 Five	Movin Out (Anthony’s Song)	Billy Joel	1977	Billy Joel’s “moving out” from 1977 deals with working and lower-class New Yorkers to find a bigger and brighter future and get their own slice of the “American Dream.” Near the end of the recording is the sound of a car starting up and driving away, and it was actually the bass player’s (Doug Stegmeyer) 1960s Corvette that was used.
African Waves	In Zaire	Johnny Wakelin	1976	This song commemorates the “Rumble In The Jungle”, the famous boxing match between world heavyweight champion George Foreman and Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.). The fight took place on October 30, 1974, in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The location in Kinshasa was “le Stade du 20 Mai” (originally known as Stade Roi Baudouin) and now known as “Stade Tata Raphaël”. You get to know much more about this event if you watch the American documentary film “We Were Kings” of 1996.
African Waves	A.I.E. (A’mwana)	Black Blood	1971	Believe it or not, this is a Belgian production. Black Blood with singer Steve Banda Kalenga from Lubumbashi in Zaire, was a Belgium-based, African group. They recorded « A. I. E. (A Mwana) », a cheerful family hymn, with a typical African disco rhythm, in 1975. The song was written by their creator and mentor Michel Jaspar, at that time a young airline pilot, born in Belgian Congo. Apart from the title, the lyrics are in Swahili. In 1981 it was covered by the London all-female trio Banarama.
African Waves	Africa	TOTO	1982	Toto keyboard player David Paich, at the beginning of the eighties, was deeply impressed by a TV documentary about the people in Africa suffering and dying. He tried to imagine how he would feel about if he was there and what he would do because he had never been in Africa when he wrote the song.
African Waves	The Boy in the Bubble	Paul Simon	1986	Forere Motloheloa an accordionist from Lesotho wrote the original song. Paul Simon recorded with his band at the Ovation Studios in Johannesburg in 1985. Simon wrote English lyrics and called it “The Boy In The Bubble” about his own observations that life is filled with so much potential (days of “miracle and wonder”) but also so many challenges. Forere Motloheloa, plays the piano accordion, which is an accordion with piano keys on one side.
African Waves	Nelson Mandela	Special AKA	1984	Written by Jerry Dammers, “Nelson Mandela” was the first hit song specifically about the imprisoned South African political leader and apartheid government he fought against. Jerry Dammers, founder and keyboard player of the Special A.K.A., also known as The Specials, was inspired by the spirit and positivity of that African music. “Nelson Mandela” was the first hit song specifically about the imprisoned South African political leader and apartheid government he fought against. He had been imprisoned by the South African government since 1962 on charges of sabotage and attempting to overthrow the government. Unsurprisingly this song couldn’t be played freely in South Africa, however it helped install optimism within the black community there. Prisoner no 46664 was finally released in February 1990 and became State President of South Africa in 1994.
African Waves	Scatterlings of Africa	Johnny Clegg & Savuka	1987	The original song is from the South African band Juluka and you listened to its successor band Savuka a multi-racial band formed in 1986 by Johnny Clegg (sometimes called “The White Zulu”). They mixed Zulu music with influences from rock and Celtic music. This song is “reflecting the myriad dislocations of South African society.”.
African Waves	Ebony And Ivory	Stevie Wonder	1982	Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney was inspired by British TV comedian Spike Milligan playing on a TV show a segregated piano, on which the white and black keys were kept apart, in order to demonstrate how one couldn’t work without the other. Despite it’s huge US and UK hit success in 1982, it has been named worst duet ever by BBC 6 Music listeners in 2007.
African Waves	Black And White	Three Dog Night	1972	“Black and White” was co-written in 1954 by American folk singer Earl Robinson. It was inspired by a US Supreme Court ruling that segregation in public schools is illegal. Pete Seeger, an American folk singer and activist first recorded it two years later. The original lyrics opening line, in reference to the court: “Their robes were black, their heads were white” was omitted in later version like this one by Three Dog Night from 1972.
African Waves	Khululuma	African Rhythm Travellers	2003	‘Khululuma’ meaning luxury in Zulu was released in 2003 by the African Rhythm Travellers
On The Road	Jet Airliner	The Steve Miller Band	1973	Steve Miller recorded this song in 1977. “Jet Airliner” was written by blind American bluesman Paul Pena who taught himself the vocal techniques of traditional Tuvan throat-singing. He became known as “Cher Shimjerg ” meaning “Earthquake” in the Tuvan language because of his amazingly deep voice. In 1999 Paul was named ‘San Francisco’s Tuvan Blues Ambassador’ and since then, July 11 is ‘Paul Pena Day’. The documentary Genghis Blues tells you all about it.
On The Road	San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)	Scott McKenzie	1967	John Phillips from The Mamas And The Papas wrote this as the unofficial anthem for the Monterey Pop Festival, near San Francisco, which he helped organising. It became one of the big Hippie hits during the Summer Of Love in 1967. Many peace activists and folkies wore flowers in their hair.
On The Road	On The Road Again	Canned Heat	1967	This was Canned Heat, with guitar player Henry Vestine a.k.a. “The Sunflower” and Alan Wilson playing the tambura that gives this song the psychedelic touch. Their hit “On the Road Again” is based on earlier versions of Chicago blues musician Floyd Jones and Mississippi Delta bluesman Tommy Johnson’s song “Big Road Blues” from 1928.
On The Road	A Horse With No Name	America	1971	Three sons of US Air Force personnel stationed in the UK, met in high school in London in the late sixties. They started the band called “America”, because they did not want anyone to think they were British musicians trying to sound American. Being stuck in rainy England, this song goes back to their childhood when traveling through the Arizona and New Mexico desert. But it is also inspired by Salvador Dali’s painting and stands for a metaphor to get away from life’s confusion into a quiet, peaceful place”.
On The Road	(I’m A) Roadrunner	Jr. Walker & The All Stars	1966	“(I’m a) Road Runner” by Junior Walker & the Allstars is a one of the greatest R&B singles ever made. It first appeared on their debut album “Shotgun” in 1965 and because of its success was repeated on the following album. The record sleeve pictured a running bird similar to the Road Runner cartoon character, part of the successful Looney Tunes universe at that time.
On The Road	Midnight Train To Georgia	Gladys Knight & The Pips	1973	This song was originally recorded by Jim Weatherly as “Midnight Plane to Houston”. The song got written after a phone call with ‘Charlie’s Angels’ actress Farrah Fawcett telling she was gonna take the midnight plane to Houston to visit her folks. The song got renamed to “Midnight Train To Georgia” when Cissy Houston (Whitney Houston’s mother) recorded it. The rest is history.
On The Road	Come Fly With Me	Frank Sinatra	1958	Co-writer Jimmy Van Heusen had a passion for flying and wrote Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly with Me” specifically for Ol’ Blue Eyes in 1958.
On The Road	Airport	Motors	1978	Airport by the Motors, was written by Scottish co-founder Andrew McMaster while living under the Heathrow flightpath.
On The Road	We Can’t Fly (radio edit)	Aeroplane	2010	Vito de Luca, a Belgian club DJ and producer, better known as Aeroplane, created together with Belgian fellow DJ Stephen Fasano (The Magician), and Nicole ‘Coco’ Morier the single and album ‘We Can’t Fly’ in 2010.
Hard Times	Shout To The Top!	The Style Council	1984	The Style Council’s frontman and songwriter Paul Weller addresses in his song ‘Shout to the Top’ the turmoil in England at the time their Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, wanted to reduce the power of the trade unions.
Hard Times	Smalltown Boy	Bronski Beat	1984	The song “Small town boy” is a semi-autobiographical story of Jimmy Somerville, the lead singer of Bronski Beat. “Smalltown Boy” discusses the oppression and mistreatment of closeted gay youths in Scotland during the 1980s.
Hard Times	Parklife	Blur	1994	Damon Albarn, frontman of the band Blur, was inspired by the novel “London Fields” for Parklife. The song and video won numerous awards in England but went nowhere in the US (maybe it was too British). The band asked British actor Phil Daniels doing the verses as they were big fans of his film, Quadrophenia, where he played a young working-class mod, named Jimmy. Another mod that featured in the movie was Sting as “Ace Face” who had a job as a bellboy in a Brighton hotel.
Hard Times	While You See A Chance	Steve Winwood	1980	Steve Winwood had known success as a member of The Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith and Traffic. When he went solo and was living in rural England, Will Jennings wrote him this song in the spirit of the old English saying “Fake it till you make it.”
Hard Times	Slippery People	Talking Heads	1983	“Slippery People” by the Talking Heads from 1983 could well be referring to the charismatic preachers and the congregations that they lead. The American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group The Staple Singers, with civil rights activist, Mavis Staples, recorded the song in 1984.
Hard Times	Feeling Good	Nina Simone	1965	Nina Simone’s mother was a Methodist preacher. Nina became an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her 1965 version of this Broadway musical song ‘feeling good’ became one of her best known songs. The message of joy and contentment after hard times translated well to Simone’s vocal stylings.
Hard Times	365 jours	Oxmo Puccino	2009	Oxmo Puccino is a French hip hop musician born in Mali as Abdoulaye Diarra. 365 Jours deals with the perception of time with age: Born in the morning, major at noon, old at 8 pm.
Hard Times	I Need Never Get Old	Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats	2015	This is a song by Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats from 2015 before he founded The Marigold Project that supports community and non-profit organisations working on issues of economic, racial and social justice.
Hard Times	Débranche	France Gall	1987	“Débranche” (“Loosen-up”) by France Gall was released in the mid-eighties when she joined Chanteurs Sans Frontières and Action Écoles for the benefit of Ethiopia and other African countries where famine and drought prevailed. “débrancher” basically means “unplug” or “turn off”, but it was also a trendy term in the 80’s for “chill out” or “relax”. This beautiful song was written by her husband Michel Berger, who was a songwriter and singer. Her father, the lyricist Robert Gall, wrote songs for Édith Piaf and Charles Aznavour. After they married on 22 June 1976,, Gall only sang songs written by Berger until his death in 1992.
Hard Times	This World Today Is a Mess	Donna Hightower	1974	Missouri born Donna Hightower settled in the sixties in France, then Belgium and finally in Madrid and won in 1971 the Costa del Sol International Song Festival.
Hard Times	Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves	Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin	1985	“Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves” is a modern feminist anthem, written by Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. It featured on both Eurythmics’ and Aretha Franklin’s albums of 1985.
Hard Times	Only the Strong Survive	Jerry Butler	1968	“Only the Strong Survive” is a song by Jerry Butler, a successful songwriter of numerous big R&B hits in the sixties.
Hard Times	Hey, Hey, Rise Up	Pink Floyd	2022	British rock legends Pink Floyd reunited to write their first new track in almost three decades “Hey Hey Rise Up”.“Hey, Hey, Rise Up”. It is inspired by Andriy Khlyvnyuk’s Instagram post. Khlyvnyuk – whose band BoomBox had performed with David Gilmour in 2015, had joined the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces and made a recording singing the Ukrainian folk song “Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow” while on the front lines in Kyiv against the Russian invasion. The track was recorded on March 30, 2022, and released a week later.
Hard Times	A Change Is Gonna Come	Sam Cooke	1964	A year after hearing Dylan’s “Blowing in the wind”, Sam Cooke wrote in 1964 “A Change Is Gonna Come”, a protest song to support the civil rights movement for Black Americans equality. The song was released as a single a few months after Cooke was fatally shot at a Los Angeles motel.
Hard Times	What’s Going On	Marvin Gaye	1971	“What’s Going On” was written by three Motown hitmakers and golfing buddies: Al Cleveland, Four Tops member Renaldo “Obie” Benson and singer Marvin Gaye. Marvin Gaye’s lyrics were inspired by stories his brother Frankie told him when he came back from the Vietnam War. “What’s Going On” was an expression he used to greet his friends.
Hard Times	Mad World	Tears For Fears	1983	Tears For Fears’ first UK hit ‘Mad World’ was written by Roland Orzabal when he was as a 19 year old unemployed boy living with his girlfriend in Bath, watching people go about their daily routine, having to work, nine to five, for a living.
Hard Times	Stand by Me	Playing for Change	2009	“Stand By Me” was the name of a gospel hymn written in 1905. Playing For Change, is a multimedia music project, founded in 2002, and featuring musicians and singers from across the globe. It’s aim is to connect the world through music.
Resist	A quién le importa	Alaska y Dinarama	1986	“A quién le importa” or “Who cares?” written by Carlos Berlanga and “Nacho” Canut in March 1986 and performed by the band ‘Alaska y Dinarama’ with singer María Olvido Gara Jova. The song became a gay anthem by the Spanish language-speaking LGBT community.
Resist	Controversy	Prince	1981	“Controversy” from American musician Prince in 1981. He could not understand the curiosity surrounding him at the time such as his sexuality, gender, religion, and racial background. “my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ” as well as a deep fascination with the afterlife and Judeo-Christian scripture, which he was constantly quoting
Resist	Diamonds	Rihanna	2012	“Diamonds” by Rihanna in 2012. The song’s message is to embrace and love yourselves, to do what you love and what makes you happy.”
Resist	I Got You (I Feel Good)	James Brown	1964	James Brown reworked the song “I found you” from 1962, added some instrumentation, and recorded this version of “I Got You (I Feel Good)” in October 1965 at the Criteria Studios in North Miami, Florida
Resist	Pressure Drop	The Maytals	1970	The Maytals frontman Toots Hibbert wrote Pressure Drop in the late sixties while his fellow Jamaican musicians had a hard time to make a decent living. He believed that if you do bad things to innocent people, then “pressure is going to drop on you”.
Resist	No Stress	Laurent Wolf	2008	“No Stress” recorded in 2008 by the French house producer and DJ Laurent Wolf, featuring Anggun, an Indonesian-born artist, entertainer and humanitarian activist. Anggun was not only UN Goodwill Ambassador but also joined the Belgian “Make A Wish” foundation to help children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Resist	Résiste	France Gall	1981	France Gall’s “Résiste” is a call to protect one’s freedom of choice. Not to blame the political system, but to change the world little by little by changing yourself. It could be considered “feminist” and “revolutionary”.
Resist	Resistiré	Duo Dinamico	1988	Inspired by Spanish novelist and Nobel Prize winner, Camilo José Cela’s phrase “el que resiste gana”, “Resistiré” (in English: “I Will Resist”) by Spanish group Dúo Dinámico from 1988, became the anthem of resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, being played in many cities and neighborhoods of the country to encourage the workers of the Spanish Health System.
Resist	I Saved The World Today	Eurythmics	1999	This hit from the Eurythmics (the duo of Annie Lennox with Dave Stewart) deals with the idea of all the problems and the million things to solve. The song from 1999 tells our mind can’t cope with all that information and puts us at risk of many ridiculous mental problems.
Resist	Bright Side Of The Road	Van Morrison	1979	Van Morrison wrote the uplifting, almost spiritual song “Bright Side of the Road” in 1979 in answer to James Carr’ soul song, “Dark End of the Street” from 1967 (written by Dan Penn and Chips Moman). George Ivan Morrison was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on August 31, 1945; his mother was a singer, while his father ardently collected classic American jazz and blues recordings. At 15, he quit school to join the local R&B band the Monarchs, touring military bases throughout Europe before returning home to form his own group, Them. Plagued for some time by chronic stage fright.
Resist	White Room	Cream	1968	Cream in 1968 and “white room”, one of the rooms in poet and writer Pete Brown’s apartment where he was trying to come to terms with various things that were going on.
Resist	Pills	Selah Sue	2022	“Pills” by the so talented Belgian pop and soul artist Selah Sue, born Sanne Putseys, telling her story about the numbing effects antidepressants can have on her.
Resist	Bad Day	Carmel	1983	“Bad day” from the band “Carmel” with singer Carmel McCourt, much appreciated by the French as the new Edith Piaf after the release of the album ‘Strictly Piaf’.
Resist	Survivor (blade runnaz remix)	The blade runnaz remix of destiny’s child’s song survivor.	2006	The blade runnaz remix of destiny’s child’s song survivor.
Resist	When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going	Billy Ocean	1985	Billy Ocean’s single “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going” became the theme song for the 1985 movie “The Jewel of the Nile”, a romantic adventure comedy featuring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.
at the movies	Theme From “Shaft”	Isaac Hayes	1971	“Theme from Shaft”, written and recorded by Isaac Hayes in 1971 for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie Shaft. The theme describes the character of John Shaft and Isaac Hayes became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
at the movies	Across 110th Street	Bobby Womack	1973	New York City’s “110th Street” is the traditional dividing line between Harlem and Central Park that functioned as an informal boundary of race and class in the 1970s. The 1972’s movie title song, written and performed by Bobby Womack, was later featured in Quentin Tarantino’s 1997 homage ‘Jackie Brown’.
at the movies	Everybody Needs Somebody to Love	The Blues Brothers	1980	This song was originally recorded in 1964 by one of the founding fathers of soul music, Solomon Burke and since then covered by many other artists. In the 1980 American musical comedy film “The Blues Brothers”, “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” is sung by Saturday Night Live stars John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as The Blues Brothers.
at the movies	Ghostbusters	Ray Parker Jr.	1984	The movie “Ghostbusters”, co-written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, was released in 1984. Aykroyd had initially conceived it as a project starring himself and John Belushi, who died in 1982. The theme song, “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr., became a number-one hit.
at the movies	Don’t You (Forget About Me)	Simple Minds	1985	Scottish rock band Simple Minds released their number one hit single “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” in 1985. They had been reluctant to record the song which was written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff for the 1985 American coming-of-age movie “The Breakfast Club”.
at the movies	Pinball Wizard	Elton John	1975	The original song “Pinball Wizard” is written by Pete Townshend, member of the English rock band the Who, for their 1969 rock opera album “Tommy”. “Tommy” is about a “psychosomatically deaf, mute, and blind” boy who becomes a pinball champion and a religious leader. In 1975 Ken Russell produced the film version of the Who’s rock opera Tommy where Elton John performs this song. It’s among the first films to be released with Dolby-encoded soundtracks.
at the movies	Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life	Monty Python	1979	Monty Python’s Life of Brian, is a 1979 British comedy film telling the story of a young Jewish-Roman man who is born on the same day as Jesus, and is subsequently mistaken for the Messiah. Some countries like Ireland, Norway and Italy banned the showing of the movie. Monty Python member Eric Idle wrote the song “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” which appears at the end of the film. The rest is history ..
at the movies	Everybody’s Talkin’	Nilsson	1968	“Everybody’s Talkin’ ” sung by Harry Nilsson is the title song for the 1969 film “Midnight Cowboy”. Nilsson had earlier discovered this song written and performed by Fred Neil in 1966. Nilsson’s version later also appeared on the soundtrack of the 1994 film “Forrest Gump”.
at the movies	You’re the One That I Want	John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John	1978	This world hit was released in May 1978 as the second single from the Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture “Grease” with John Travolta as Danny Zuko, leader of the T-Birds, and his girlfriend Sandy Olsson, played by Olivia Newton-John. Rest in peace dear Liv. They were the subject of persistent romance rumours after they steamed up screens in 1978’s “Grease.” Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta never got physical while filming the movie musical, and instead went on to share a 44-year friendship that remained strictly platonic.
at the movies	Stayin’ alive	Bee Gees	1977	Another world hit released in 1977 as the second single from the Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture “Saturday Night Fever”, featuring John Travolta as Tony Manero a 19-year-old Italian-American from Brooklyn, New York, who spends his weekends dancing and drinking at a local discothèque where he is king of the dance floor. “Stayin’ Alive”, written and performed by the Bee Gees, has a disco beat of 120 beats per minute which coincides the heartbeat of your heart when you’re excited. A study on medical professionals found that the quality of CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is better when thinking about the beat of “Stayin’ Alive”. Bee Gees manager and film producer Robert Stigwood had signed a million dollar deal with John Travolta in 1976.
at the movies	Flashdance…What A Feeling	Irene Cara	1983	American singer and actress Irene Cara Escalera (born in The Bronx, New York on March 18, 1959) co-wrote the song “Flashdance… What a Feeling”. She had already become a star since her performance in the 1980 hit film “Fame”. For the movie “Flashdance” in 1984 she worked with Keith Forsey on the lyrics and Giorgio Moroder for the music composition.
at the movies	A Brand New Day (Everybody Rejoice)	The Wiz Stars	1978	The Wiz is a 1978 American musical adventure fantasy film directed by Sidney Lumet, featuring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.The story is based on the children’s novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. The adapted 1978 movie version follows the adventures of Dorothy Gale, a shy, twenty-four-year-old Harlem schoolteacher who finds herself magically transported to the urban fantasy Land of Oz, which resembles a dream version of New York City. “A Brand New Day”, also known as “Everybody Rejoice”, is written by Luther Vandross.
at the movies	Over the Rainbow	Judy Garland	1939	At the age of sixteen, Judy Garland played the role of Dorothy Gale in the 1939 cinematic adaptation of The Wizard of Oz where she performed this ballad “Over the Rainbow”. She received the Academy Juvenile Award for it. Fifteen years later she received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in “A Star Is Born”.
at the movies	Evergreen (Love Theme from”A Star Is Born”)	Barbra Streisand	1976	“Evergreen” (also called “Love Theme from A Star Is Born”) is the theme song from the the film “A Star Is Born”. Composer, performer and actress Barbara Streisand received an Academy, a Grammy and a Golden Globe Award for it. The 1976 version is a remake of the 1937 original picture, which had also been adapted in 1954 as a musical starring Judy Garland, and again in 2018 starring Lady Gaga.
at the movies	Hero	Family of the Year	2012	“Hero” is a song by American band Family of the Year and written by Joseph Keefe. It was used first in the 2012 comedy ‘Thanks for sharing’ and was prominently used in the 2014 epic coming-of-age drama ‘Boyhood’. Director Richard Linklater filmed from 2002 until 2013 the childhood and adolescence of Mason Evans Jr., played by Ellar Coltrane.
at the movies	In The Death Car	Iggy Pop	1993	“In the Deathcar” comes from the 1993 comedy drama “Arizona Dream” composed by Sarajevo born, Goran Bregović, starring Johnny Depp, Jerry Lewis and Faye Dunaway. “In the Deathcar” is a variation of Enrico Macias song “Solenzara” sung by Iggy Pop.
at the movies	Car Wash	Rose Royce	1976	The Los Angeles-based group Rose Royce released in 1976 their Billboard number one single and movie theme “Car Wash”.
at the movies	Goldfinger	Shirley Bassey	1984	Welsh singer, Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey recorded the theme songs to three James Bond films: Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979). The picture “Goldfinger” starring Sean Connery and with music by John Barry received the Oscar for Best Sound Editing.
City 2 City	Nutbush City Limits	Ike & Tina Turner	1973	“Nutbush City Limits” one of the last hits that husband-wife R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner released together August 1973. Tina Turner wrote it to commemorate the rural little village of Nutbush, Tennessee were she grew up.
City 2 City	Hometown Glory	ADELE	2007	Adele wrote this love song to her hometown of West Norwood, South London as a still-at-home teenager.
City 2 City	Goodbye Yellow Brick Road	Elton John	1974	“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is a ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, The titular road is a reference to The Wizard of Oz film and book series. Taupin expresses a desire to get back to one’s “roots”, to leave Oz and get back to his childhood farm in Lincolnshire.
City 2 City	Durham Town	Roger Whittaker	1969	“Durham Town (The Leavin’)” is written by British singer Roger Whittaker. The song was released as a single in 1969. Its original title was “The Leaver”. Roger was born in Kenya, lived in Ireland for ten years until 2006. He was very successful in Germany and moved to the south of France with his great love Natalie O’Brien.
City 2 City	Streets Of London	Ralph Mctell	1969	The song was inspired by McTell’s experiences busking and hitchhiking throughout Europe, especially in Paris and the individual stories are taken from Parisians. McTell was originally going to call the song “Streets of Paris” but eventually London was chosen, because he realised there was another song called “The Poor People of Paris”. McTell’s song contrasts the common problems of everyday people with those of the homeless, lonely, elderly, ignored and forgotten members of society. McTell left the song off his debut album, Eight Frames a Second, since he regarded it as too depressing.
City 2 City	Georgia On My Mind	Ray Charles	1960	The song was written and first recorded in 1930 band leader Hoagy Carmichael for his sister Georgia Carmichael. Ray Charles, born in Albany, Georgia, made it a #1 hit and today it has become the official song of the state.
City 2 City	L.A. Is My Lady	Frank Sinatra	1964	“L.A. Is My Lady”, recorded in Los Angeles, is the title song of Frank Sinatra’s final solo studio album, released in 1984 and produced by Quincy Jones.
City 2 City	Down town	Petula Clark	1964	English singer Petula Clark and her first US hit “Downtown”, written by Tony Hatch after he made his first trip to New York City in 1964.
City 2 City	Empire State of Mind	Jay-Z & Alicia Keys	2009	This song was originally from Brooklyn-native singer/songwriter Angela Hunte who lived in the same building where Jay-Z lived. Jay-Z penned new verses mentioning Angela’s place “560 State Street” and claiming “I’m the new Sinatra”.
City 2 City	New York, New York	Frank Sinatra	1979	Frank Sinatra’s 1979 version of the theme song “New York, New York” is amongst the best-known songs about New York City. It’s is written by John Kander and Fred Ebb for Martin Scorsese’s movie starring Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro and praising the “City that never sleeps”.
City 2 City	Big City Life	Mattafix	2005	This song is about the hard life in a metropolitan city. It explains how living is hard, and how everyone’s on the move. The British band Mattafix won with “Big City Life” the Polish ‘Sopot Music Festival Grand Prix‘ in 2006.
City 2 City	Bruxelles je t’aime	Angèle	2021	“Bruxelles je t’aime” (transl. Brussels I love you) is a song by Belgian singer-songwriter Angèle, born in 1995 in Ukkel as Angèle Joséphine Aimée Van Laeken. She composed “Bruxelles je t’aime” during the first COVID lockdown to express her love for her hometown where all her family and childhood friends live. The song was released in October 2021. While she might miss her home city, she mainly lives in Paris.
City 2 City	Il Est Cinq Heures, Paris S’eveille	Jacques Dutronc	1968	“Il est cinq heures, Paris s’éveille” (English: “It is five o’clock, Paris awakens”) takes inspiration from song by Marc-Antoine Madeleine Désaugiers: “Tableau de Paris à cinq heures du matin” in 1802, Jacques Dutronc and Jacques Lanzmann modernised the lyrics with less soothing scenes of trucks, cars and strippers and reexamined familiar Parisian landmarks in the sixties. Thomas Dutronc, his son, recorded in 2007 “J’aime plus Paris”. In 2022 father and son recorded together a new version of “Il est cinq heures, Paris s’éveille”.
City 2 City	Twist à Saint-Tropez	Les Chats Sauvages	1961	Les Chats Sauvages (The Wild Cats) with Dick Rivers (Hervé Forneri) on vocals was one of the first rock and roll bands in France formed in 1961. The song is a hymn to the crazy nights at Saint-Tropez, at that time a small port on the French Riviera.
City 2 City	Summer in the City	The Lovin’ Spoonful	1966	Here’s another song talking about nightlife but in a big city during a hot summer. The Lovin’ Spoonful released “Summer in the City” in July 1966. Based on his younger brother Mark’s poem, founder John Sebastian wrote the song together with base player Steve Boone. They added sound effects to mimic the city noises.
City 2 City	Barcelona	Freddie Mercury	1988	The Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballe requested her friend Freddie Mercury to write a song about her hometown Barcelona, which he did. Montserrat Caballe performed it at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games opening ceremony with Freddie Mercury’s vocals on a backing track since he had recently died from AIDS.
City 2 City	We’re From Barcelona	I’m From Barcelona	2006	‘I’m from Barcelona’ is a Swedish 29 member band from south of Sweden. The song “We’re From Barcelona” is an homage to the Spanish waiter Manuel, a character on BBC Television comedy series Fawlty Towers with John Cleese stating: “He’s from Barcelona”.
City 2 City	Amsterdam	Jacques Bel	1964	The legendary grand Jacques Brel live in the Paris Olympia in 1964. He first wrote this song about the sailors sailors on shore leave situated in Belgian port of Zeebrugge, but moved to Amsterdam as “it sounded better to the ear”.
City 2 City	On My Way to Harlem	Gregory Porter	2012	Gregory Porter born and raised in California by his mother who encouraged him: “Sing, baby, sing! He moved on and performed at Harlem club St. Nick’s Pub.
OMG	One of Us	Joan Osborne	1995	“One of Us” is a song by American singer Joan Osborne written by Eric Bazilian, released on November 21, 1995. The song is about the personification of a God and how you would deal with it. Hence the many questions in the song. The lyrics end by “Nobody callin’ on the phone ‘Cept for the Pope, maybe, in Rome” – I wonder which number she dialled?
OMG	Superstar	Murray Head & Jesus Christ Superstar Original Cast	1973	Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera written by Tim Rice and composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber about the psychology of Jesus and other characters. In 1970 they released it as a concept album featuring Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) singing as Jesus. In 1971 it came on-stage on Broadway and eventually in 1973 a movie was filmed in the Holy Land itself (in Israel) featuring Ted Neeley playing Jesus and Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene. Jesus Christ Superstar was initially considered by some as ultimate blasphemy. Eventually it became a spiritual “Sesame Street” used to teach children spirituality since children can relate to the story and the music. For many it was their first theatre production to see.
OMG	I Don’t Know How to Love Him	Yvonne Elliman	1973	Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene in the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” was one of the few cast members to have performed on the original record, original Broadway production and the movie. Both, Helen Reddy and Yvonne Elliman released the single “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” in 1971 and concurrently reached the Top 40.
OMG	Are You Gonna Go My Way	Lenny Kravitz	1993	Maybe some of you are too young to have known Lenny Kravitz. However, this was one of his greatest hits. “Are You Gonna Go My Way” is one of the biggest anthems of the 1990s and also appears in video games like Gran Turismo and Guitar Hero. In the song, Lenny refers to Jesus Christ, as “the ultimate rock star.” It’s about how God gives choice to man about where to turn.
OMG	Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)	Kate Bush	1985	The song “Running up that hill” was originally titled “A Deal with God”. British singer-song writer Kate Bush considered making “a deal with God” was more powerful than “a deal with the Devil” and can create a greater understanding between men and women. The song was first released in 1985, it got a remix in 2012 for the London Olympics and re-entered the UK Singles Chart as #1 in June 2022 after its appearance in an episode of the BBC series “Stranger Things”. It made Kate Bush at age 63 the oldest female artist to top the UK singles chart.
OMG	Laughing With	Regina Spektor	2009	Regina Spektor is a Russian Jew immigrated to New York. Sometimes she is really positive about religion and sometimes she can really be sarcastic about it. “Laughing With” she wrote a couple of years before she released the song on her album “Far” in 2009.
OMG	Whenever God Shines His Light	Van Morrison	1989	Whenever God Shines His Light is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and released on his 1989 album Avalon Sunset as a duet with Cliff Richard. the most manifest example of Morrison’s Christian commitment, it works as a testament of faith. Have I Told You Lately is a romantic ballad written and recorded by Northern Irish singer and songwriter Van Morrison in 1989. “Van the Man” wrote it as a prayer and relationship with God.
OMG	Reverence	Faithless	1995	‘Reverence’ is the title song of the debut album of Faithless, released in April 1996. Frontman Maxi Jazz, born Maxwell Fraser, introduces himself as the Grand Oral Disseminator, or GOD … two years later he claimed GOD is a DJ. Jazz peacefully passed away on 23 December this year at age 65. Rest in peace Maxwell.
OMG	Lift Me Up	Moby	2005	“Lift me up” by Moby in 2005, singing the chorus line: “Lift me up, higher now, Ama.”. God names such as Buddha, Jehovah, Allah, and Krishna, all have an ‘ah’ sound in common that Moby was trying to emulate. It’s about how religious leaders and political leaders play upon people’s willingness to lose themselves in said atavistic, tribal, collective, irrational behaviour.
OMG	Life	Des’ree	1998	“Life” from and by Des’ree with lyrics and rhymes voted as the “worst ever pop lyric” in a 2007 BBC poll.
OMG	Stairway To Heaven	Led Zeppelin	1971	“Stairway To Heaven” is a legendary song from British band Led Zeppelin, featuring on their fourth studio album from 1971. Written by frontman Robert Plant with music composed by their lead guitarist Jimmy Page. It is one of the most famous rock songs of all time. Rumour has it “to have hidden messages” but maybe Plant was only inspired by books like “Magic Arts in Celtic Britain” and “The Lord Of The Rings” or recent events like the death of Janis Joplin. And then there was also the controversy about the song’s opening riff compared to the instrumental song “Taurus” from the band “Spirit”.
OMG	Mercedes Benz	Janis Joplin	1971	“Mercedes Benz” by Janis Joplin, one of the last tracks she ever recorded as she died three days later, on October 4, 1970.
OMG	Sympathy for the Devil	The Rolling Stones	1968	“Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones. Mick Jagger wrote it inspired by the novel “The Master and Margarita” where the devil shows up in Stalinist Russia. He gives everybody what they want but no one believes he’s real. The Rolling Stones muses Marianne Faithfull and Anita Pallenberg played also a role in the conception of the song and not only for their backing vocals.
OMG	Personal Jesus	Depeche Mode	1989	Depeche Mode and “Personal Jesus” is from 1989. The lyrics are inspired by Priscilla Presley’s book about Elvis, her man and her mentor. Founding member, singer and guitar player, Martin Gore wrote the song.
OMG	It’s a beautiful day	U2	2000	‘I’’s a beautiful day’ written by U2’s frontman Bono in 2000 is about losing everything but still finding joy in what one has. The lyrics were inspired by Bono’s experience with Jubilee 2000, which was set up with the sole aim of urging politicians to drop the Third World Debt. R.E.M.’s frontman Michael Stipe wished he had written it.
OMG	Everybody Hurts	R.E.M.	1992	“Everybody Hurts” was written by R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry before he left the band to become a farmer. The “ultra melancholic ballad” from 1993 is an anti-suicide song reaching out to people who feel they have no hope and especially aimed at teenagers. Michael Stipe stated to be proud that R.E.M. created a song that actually saved lives.
OMG	Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down	Eiric Bibb, Rory Block & Maria Muldaur	2004	“Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down” is co-written by Eric Bibb and Charlotte Höglund. Songwriter Eva Charlotte Höglund, born (on June 9, 1964) in Sweden these days serves as pastor in a missionary community. In 2018, Eric Bibb recorded in Sweden with his wife Ulrika an album ‘PRAY SING LOVE’.
OMG	Human	Rag’n’Bone Man	2006	“Human” was released as a digital download on 21 July 2016 and won a Brit Award for British Single of the Year in 2018. Rag’n’Bone Man being “only human after all” and only the “Lord in heavens above” can resolve some of the issues people face.
OMG	We’re Only People (And There’s Not Much Anyone Can Do About That)	Father John Misty	2018	Joshua Michael Tillman (born May 3, 1981), better known by his stage name Father John Misty, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. “We’re Only People” is the closing track of his 2018 album “ God’s Favorite Customer” Father John Misty is known for his satire he puts in his songs.
OMG	Creep	Vega Choir	1992	I am not a Radiohead fan, so forgive me to present you a cover song by Vega Choir from Malmö in Sweden. Here’s looking at you Mark Zuckerburg! The original 1992 song “Creep” from Radiohead written by Thom Yorke, is supposed to be a happy song about “recognizing what you are” but it is also about social alienation. Yorke based this on a song called “The Air That I Breathe” which was written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood in 1972. After “Creep” was released, Radiohead agreed to share the songwriting royalties, so this is credited to Yorke, Hammond and Hazlewood.
OMG	The Air That I Breathe	Albert Hammond	1973	“The Air That I Breathe” written and performed by Albert Hammond shortly after he moved to Los Angeles in 1972. Co-writer Mike Hazlewood stated it referred to the smog, for Hammond it referred to a girl that gave him shelter. Hammond recorded a Spanish version in 1976 called “Necesito poder respirar.” The Hollies recorded the song in 1974 with success.
OMG	He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother	The Hollies	1969	“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” is a ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. It was recorded in June 1969 at the Abbey Road Studios, with Allan Clarke on lead vocals and Elton John playing the piano. The title phrase goes back to “The Parables of Jesus” a book of 1884 and the story of a little girl carrying a big baby boy. Seeing her struggling, someone asked if she wasn’t tired. With surprise she replied: “No, he’s not heavy; he’s my brother.”
OMG	Run Shaker Life	The Voices of East Harlem	1971	The Voices of East Harlem was an African-American energetic young vocal ensemble of black adolescents (aged between 12 and 21). Founded as a community initiative in 1969, the group performed with top soul and R&B musicians and recorded four albums in the early and mid-1970s. Issachar Bates is the composer of this original Shaker dance song: “Come Life, Shaker Life” which has nearly identical lyrics as Richie Havens version (1967) “Run, Shaker Life”. This recording is of the band’s performance in Ghana at the “Soul to Soul” soul and gospel music concert in 1971.
OMG	Brand New Christmas	Hot Chocolate	1980	Hot Chocolate probably made the most funky Christmas song so far with “Brand New Christmas”, a song from their 1980 album “Class”.
OMG	I’m Going All the Way	Sounds of Blackness	1993	“I’m Going All the Way” by Sounds of Blackness was released in 1993, a year before their very successful album “Africa to America: The Journey of the Drum “.
Wandering	Trains And Boats And Planes	Dionne Warwick	1966	“Trains and Boats and Planes” was written, arranged and conducted by Burt Bacharach with lyrics from Dave Hal. Dionne Warwick recorded her version of the song in 1966.
Wandering	Via Con Me	Paolo Conte	1981	Paolo Conte earned International acclaim in 1981 with his jazzy song “Via Con Me” (Come away with me). The Italian song includes references to nature and landscapes. The rhythm reminds me of a galloping horse. In 2022 a documentary titled “Paolo Conte, Via con me” was released.
Wandering	Voyage Voyage	Desireless	1986	Claudie Fritsch-Mentrop (born 25 December 1952), is the woman behind Desireless (oui, il faut le dire avec un accent français – French pronunciation: [deziʁlɛs]) and the International hit “Voyage Voyage”. This French song from 1986 has been covered in various languages. In Japanese by the female duo Wink and in Spanish by the Mexican boys-band Magneto.
Wandering	Marrakesh Express	Crosby, Stills & Nash	1969	“Marrakesh Express” written by Graham Nash while he was still a member of the English rock band The Hollies but released by the band Crosby, Stills and Nash (CSN) in May 1969. Nash describes in the song his train ride from Casablanca to Marrakesh during his holiday in Morocco in 1966.
Wandering	City To City	Gerry Rafferty	1978	Gerry Rafferty released in 1978 an album titled “City To City” with a couple of numbers inspired by his long distance commuting. The album was released outside the UK with a slightly higher pitch than the actual recording speed. In this title song the night train is carrying Rafferty home to his daughter Martha.
Wandering	I.G.Y.	Donald Fagen	1982	The song ‘I.G.Y.’ is a look back at the “International Geophysical Year” from 1957 to 1958 (the year of the World Exposition in Brussels) of scientists trying to improve the world through technology. Musically, this is also the brilliant opening track to his 1982 album, The Nightfly from Donald Fagen. Donald Fagen describes a futuristic world like a transatlantic tunnel (Ninety minutes from New York to Paris: More leisure for artists everywhere) and cities fully powered by solar energy.
Wandering	Last Train to Clarksville	The Monkees	1966	“Last Train to Clarksville” was released as the Monkees’s debut single on August 16, 1966. It as well featured several times in the band’s television series. Because of their TV series, the lyrics remained rather vague meaning it did not explicitly refer to the Vietnam War or army base. Anyway, the story goes they replaced the initial city name Clarkdale by Clarksville because it sounded better. Musically, the songwriting duo Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, was inspired by the Beatles, in particular their hit at the time “Paperback Writer”.
Wandering	Last Train To London	Electric Light Orchestra	1979	“Last Train to London” is a song from the English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It appeared on their disco-inspired successful album Discovery in 1979. Band leader, writer and producer Jeff Lynne was inspired by the time they spent on trains going back and forth from their home town Birmingham to the various TV and radio stations in London.
Wandering	Enjoy the Ride	Morcheeba	2008	Here is some good advice from Morcheeba: “Enjoy the Ride”. Guest vocalist Judie Tzuke wrote the inspiring lyrics like “The day that you stop running Is the day that you arrive”. Tzuke, sticked to her Polish name, and seemed to be familiar with traveling titles. Her first album of 1997 was called “Welcome to the Cruise”. “it’s about accepting who you are in the moment and not trying to distract yourself with everything else – gaining a new understanding of yourself and life.
Wandering	Homeward Bound	Simon & Garfunkel	1966	“Homeward Bound” the American duo Simon & Garfunkel’s second single (after “The Sound of Silence”) in 1966. Paul Simon wrote this song at age 22 when he toured small folk clubs in England and was stuck at a train station. Peter Carlin used the title for his book ‘Homeward Bound: The Life of Paul Simon’ released fifty years later in 2016.
Wandering	Adieu Sweet Bahnhof	The Nits	1984	“Adieu Sweet Bahnhof” by Dutch band The Nits in 1984. The title translates “Farewell Sweet Railway Station”. Sitting in a train back to Paris, arriving at the Gare du Nord upon arrival what do you do? Take the metro or jump into a taxi?
Wandering	Joe Le Taxi	Vanessa Paradis	1987	“Joe Le Taxi” is a big hit from Vanessa Paradis when she was still a young teenager (14). The songwriter Estèva Roda Gil used the life of the lesbian Portuguese Maria-José Leao Dos Santos, who he met in a Parisian club and who was a night shift taxi driver. At the beginning of the song you hear Paradis’s destination is “Barbès” which used to be one of the cheapest districts of Paris with a large immigrant population.
Wandering	Low Rider	War	1975	“Low Rider” is a song written by American funk band War in 1975. The vocals are from saxophonist Charles Miller, A low rider is a customized car with a lowered body initially designed by Mexican-American youth in Los Angeles, California, to cruise as slowly as possible,
Wandering	Route Nationale 7	Lunabee	2008	The Belgian “Lunabee” won a cover contest (organized by the Tilt festival & CQFD (Inrocks)) in 2008 with this version of “Route Nationale 7” from Charles Trenet. Trenet drove many times the 996 Km long RN7 that links Paris to the south of France. Lunabee added a dash of salt and a good dose of carbon dioxide to his composition of 1955. Today, most people use the motorways ‘sur l’autoroute des vacances’.
Wandering	Une Belle Histoire	Michel Fugain	1977	Michel Fugain et Le Big Bazar with one of the many songs written by Pierre Delanoë, Un beau roman (Une belle histoire). The romance of two people crossing each other along the motorway. One heading home to the foggy (hazy) north, the other going south.
Wandering	Born To Be Wild	Steppenwolf	1968	“Get your motor runnin’ and Head out on the highway” “Born to Be Wild” by the American-Canadian rock band Steppenwolf. The song featured (during the opening credits) in the 1969 road movie “Easy Rider“ about two bikers who travel through the American Southwest and South, carrying the proceeds from a cocaine deal.
Wandering	Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time)	Elton John	1972	Rocket Man” (officially titled “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)”) is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. Taupin based it on The Illustrated Man, a 1951 collection of 18 science fiction short stories by American writer Ray Bradbury. One of them, “The Rocket Man”, presumably situated in decade 2020-2030 is about a boy missing his astronaut father who often goes to space for periods of three months and is only home for a few days. His mother is no longer attached to her husband for she knows that some day he won’t return home.
Wandering	Major Tom (Coming Home)	Peter Schilling	1983	One-hit wonder Peter Schilling, born in Stuttgart, Germany with “Major Tom (Coming Home)” from his 1983 album, ‘Error in the System’. Schilling first released the songs in German: Das Original war “Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst – translated: completely detached)” und das Album ‘Fehler im System’. The song is a retelling of David Bowie’s classic (1969) “Space Oddity”. Schilling formed in 1995 a new band the Space Pilots and released several remixes of his hit. His songs often feature science-fiction themes like aliens, astronauts and catastrophes. Synthpop was a popular genre in Europe those years …
Wandering	Magic Fly	Space	1977	Space was a French group, created around Didier Marouani (Ecama) and Roland Romanelli, acclaimed for their 1977 synthpop hit “Magic Fly”. The composition initially was for the credits for a program on the first French TV channel, requested by the astrologer Élizabeth Teissier in early 1977. In the official video clip (https://youtu.be/ZavwtJxmqJI) they perform in space suites, no wonder they inspired their compatriots of Daft Punk.
Wandering	Le vent nous portera	Noir Désir	2001	“Le vent nous portera” from the French rock band Noir Désir. The song from 2001 evokes the story of two inseparable characters, whose memories will fly away forever. “Le vent nous portera” meaning “the wind will carry us”. The peaceful style is marked by the participation of Manu Chao on guitar and Akosh S. on bass clarinet marked.
Wandering	Sailing	Rod Stewart	1975	Rod Stewart, as a fan of the Sutherland Brothers, put a cover of their song ‘Sailing’ on his album ‘Atlantic Crossing’, which he recorded in 1975 (at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio). Writer Gavin Sutherland explained the spiritual meaning of the song: “it’s an account of mankind’s spiritual odyssey through life on his way to freedom and fulfilment with the Supreme Being.”
Wandering	Leaving on a Jet Plane	John Denver	1969	John Denver wrote this song at age 23 during a layover at Washington Airport in 1966 as “Babe I Hate To Go”. His producer Milt Okun convinced him to rename it as “Leaving on a Jet Plane” in 1967. Okun was also producer of the folk group ‘Peter, Paul and Mary’ and they recorded the song the same year on their LP “Album 1700”. Denver released his version in October ‘69 which caused ‘Peter, Paul and Mary’s belated success. In December ‘69 their version of “Leaving On A Jet Plane” became their only No. 1 single as well as their final top 40 pop hit.
Wandering	I Don’t Wanna Die In an Air Disaster	Albert Hammond	1974	Gibraltarian singer-songwriter Albert Hammond wrote “I don’t wanna die in an air disaster” when he was young and pretty in 1974. The same year he also released “I’m a train” and one year later he sang “Rivers are for boats to take us sailing, One day we will” …
Wandering	Night Boat To Cairo	Madness	1979	“Night Boat to Cairo” is a song by British ska/pop band Madness from their debut 1979 album One Step Beyond…. Keyboard player Mike Barson composed it as an instrumental, but lead singer Graham McPherson (Suggs) added lyrics. The band often closes their concerts with this song.
Wandering	Vesoul	Jacques Brel	1968	“Vesoul” is a song written, composed and performed by Jacques Brel, released in 1968 on his album “J’arrive”. Brel stayed twice in a hotel in the city of Vesoul in France and was so grateful that he dedicated a song title to it. The song is a mix of musette and swing where Jacques Brel is accompanied by the accordionist Marcel Azzola, The story goes that Brel only had ten minutes left at the recording studio, just enough for two takes. In the second and final take, Marcel Azzola was asked to add a few musical and rhythmic variations from which comes Brel’s expression “chauffe, Marcel, chauffe”.
Wandering	Wand’rin Star	Lee Marvin	1970	“Wand’rin Star” is a song written for the Broadway musical comedy “Paint Your Wagon” of 1951. For the 1969 movie, Nelson Riddle orchestrated and arranged Lee Marvin’s version of the song. The soundtrack became a success and “Wand’rin Star” topped the UK charts in March 1970.
Wandering	Andando	Sidestepper	2000	Sidestepper is a Colombian band from Bogota D.C. started in 1996 by English DJ/producer Richard Blair (born 17 June 1965, London). Richard Blair collaborated with Toto La Momposina. who had arrived in Paris in 1979 as a refugee and performed extensively in Europe, particularly France and Germany. Totó la Momposina, the “Queen of Cumbia”, has dedicated her life to represent the music of Colombia’s Caribbean coastline, where African, indigenous Indian and Spanish cultures mingle to create a unique musical tradition. This original song ‘Andando’ was released on a compilation album ‘Nirvana Lounge – Ethnic Lounge’ in 2003.
Wandering	Spanish Stroll	Willy Deville	1977	“Spanish Stroll” was taken from the 1977 album Cabretta by Mink Deville. Willy Deville, a macho dandy, blended the tracks with the unique New-York Spanish flavour.
Wandering	Walking In Memphis	Marc Cohn	1991	“Walking in Memphis” from the American singer-songwriter Marc Craig Cohn (born July 5, 1959). According to Cohn, the song is “100 percent autobiographical”, about a Jewish gospel-music-lover and about more than just a place; it’s about a kind of spiritual awakening, one of those trips where you’re different when you leave.
Wandering	Home on Monday	Little River Band	1977	“Home on Monday” is a song by the Australian Little River Band, released inv1977. Songwriter Glenn Shorrock sings about the “Las Vegas Hilton”. This hotel was initially ‘The International Hotel’ that opened on July 2, 1969 and where Elvis Presley performed on July 31,1969, the first show of what would become a seven-year run at the hotel. More details about the 636 consecutive sold-out shows you get in the 2022 biographical drama film ‘Elvis’.
Wandering	Heartbreak Hotel	Elvis Presley	1956	Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” recorded with his band, The Blue Moon Boys, ‘Mr Guitar’ Chet Atkins, and the pianist Floyd Cramer in January 1956.
remains	Black Man in a White World	Michael Kiwanuka	2016	Michael Kiwanuka’s song is about his lack of self-esteem because he never really felt fitted in with the stereotypes of black culture.
remains	Going Back To My Roots	Odyssey	1994	“Going Back to My Roots” is a 1977 song by Lamont Dozier, a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland, the songwriting and production team responsible for much of the Motown sound. The song was written for the African-American market and touches on the matters of self-identity, family, and soul fulfilment.
remains	Alors on dance	Stromae	2009	“Alors On Danse” or “So we dance” the breakthrough single from Stromae in 2009. Wonder-boy Stromae was born as Paul van Haver in Etterbeek, Belgium as son of a Flemish mother and Rwandan Tutsi father. Stromae established himself as sort of a vocal activist and more songs about existential angst and personal trauma’s would follow. Recently, he was awarded as best male artist in France at the “Victoire de la music” for his latest album “Multitude” after a nine year career break.
remains	Fade to grey	Visage	1980	British band Visage and “Fade to grey” released in 1980. Frontman Steve Strange was assisted by the Belgian French spoken Brigitte Arens. Chris Payne wrote this song along with Visage band members Billy Currie and Midge Ure. Family is the key to staying colourful. If you lost the “joix de vivre” without human touch…you eventually may lose your purpose and fade to grey.
remains	Human Nature	Michael Jackson	1982	The song demo was initiated by Toto band members. Steve Porcaro was inspired by bringing comfort to his daughter’s bad experience at school. His fellow keyboard player David Paich added some synthesizer strings to it. The demo got into the hands of producer Quincy Jones and the rest is history.
remains	Don’t Look Back In Anger	OASIS	1995	“Don’t Look Back In Anger” by OASIS in which the Gallagher brothers recall St Patrick’s Day when their Mum would take their picture beside the fireplace to send it to Grandma in Ireland. Noel looked grumpy in these photos, so she told him to take that look from off his face. As stated once by Noel Gallagher, his alcoholic father “beat the talent into him”. The song became an anthem of solidarity after the Manchester terrorist attack. Three days after the suicide bomber killed 22 people at the Manchester arena, people gathered in the city centre to observe a minute of silence in honor of the victims. Following the silence, the crowd started singing this tune in an act of camaraderie.
remains	My Father’s Eyes	Eric Clapton	1998	Eric Clapton was raised by his grandparents and lost his son Conor in 1991 at age 4. In his song “My Father’s Eyes” of 1998 he tried to describe the parallel between looking into the eyes of his son and seeing the eyes of the father he had never met.
remains	Father & Son	Cat Stevens	1970	Stevens’ father, Stavros Georgiou, owned a restaurant in London, hoping his son Steven would join his family business. But Steven Georgiou pursued a music career. In 1965 he changed his name to “Steve Adams” then to Cat Stevens and adopted the name “Yusuf” when he converted to Islam in December 1977.
remains	Seven Seconds	Youssou N’Dour	1994	“‘7 Seconds’ is about the first positive 7 seconds in the life of a child just born not knowing about the problems and violence in our world.” Three different languages were used in this song: English, French and Wolof, which is a language spoken in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania.
remains	Born under a bad sign	Richard Hawley	2005	Richard Hawley was born in January 1967, in Sheffield, England. “Born Under A Bad Sign” is one of the lovely retro sounds that Hawley, as the crooner, masters. He tells the story of someone who has had an eventful life and who’s partner needs reassurance, commitment.
remains	Why	Annie Lennox	1992	This was the first single Annie Lennox released after the 1990 breakup of Eurythmics, (her duo with Dave Stewart). She had recently become a mother, her father had died, and she was just getting going as a solo artist.
remains	Les Enfants De Mes Enfants	Claude-Michel Schönberg	1976	“Les Enfants De Mes Enfants” a song from French singer and musical composer Claude-Michel Schönberg. The lyrics go “The children of my children, running in the fields in the middle of the Milky Way, will tell of me while mocking, our grandfather was a singer in a wild and lying World”.
remains	Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)	Pink Floyd	1979	Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) taken from Pink Floyd’s 1979 rock opera The Wall. Bassist and songwriter Roger Waters reflected on how schooling had been playing a part in his life and ended up with this protest song (against corporal punishment, and rigid and abusive schooling).
remains	Gangsta’s Paradise	Coolio	1974	Coolio and “Gangsta’s Paradise” of 1995 with a sample of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise” and why it has no profanity in it. The song is linked with the autobiographical picture “Dangerous Minds” where Michelle Pfeifer plays the role of LouAnne Johnson, a former marine, teaching a high school class of tough, sullen teenagers.
remains	Games People Play	Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra feat. Marc Almond	1968	“Games People Play” is the bestselling book published in 1964 by Psychiatrist Dr. Eric Berne which uncovered the dynamics of human relationships. The song “Games People Play” written, composed, and originally performed by American singer-songwriter Joe South in August 1968 is a protest song against various forms of hatred, hypocrisy, inhumanity, intolerance, and irresponsibility, in both interpersonal and social interactions between people. Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra with vocals by Marc Almond (known from Soft Cell) released this version on their album “Moving Out to the Country” in 2006.
remains	Everybody Wants To Rule The World	Tears For Fears	1985	Tears For Fears’ band member Curt Smith explained that “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” is about everybody wanting power, about warfare and the misery it causes.
remains	We Didn’t Start The Fire	Billy Joel	1989	“We Didn’t Start The Fire” from Billy Joel in 1989 is a stream-of-consciousness list of events that Billy Joel felt his generation, the baby boomers, was not responsible for. A lot of the references are to the Cold War (US vs. Russia), a problem his generation, the baby boomers, inherited.
remains	Golden Years	David Bowie	1975	The song utilises elements of 1950s doo-wop and the multi-tracked vocal refrain resembles the Diamonds’ 1958 single “Happy Years”. The main guitar riff is based on the 1968 Cliff Nobles and Company song “The Horse”. Rumour has it that David Bowie wrote the song for Elvis Presley, who just returned a note wishing Bowie good luck.
remains	Superstition	Stevie Wonder	1972	“Superstition” by Stevie Wonder, playing Hohner clavinet, drums and Moog Synth Bass. The track was intended for Jeff Beck, who was brought in to play some guitar parts on the album in exchange for a song. Wonder wrote this about the dangers of believing in superstitions. Some of the bad luck superstitions he alludes to include walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror (said to bring seven years of bad luck), and the number 13.
remains	Nothing Rhymed	Gilbert O’Sullivan	1970	According to Irish singer-songwriter O’Sullivan, he wrote the song after seeing film footage of starving children in Africa (during the Nigerian Civil War) on television for the first time. He started as a drummer in a band called Rick’s Blues, founded by Rick Davies who later founded Supertramp and who taught O’Sullivan how to play both drums and piano. Hence his style of piano-playing, which often utilises a distinct, percussive piano pattern. O’Sullivan has explained “My left hand is hitting the high hat and the right hand is the snare.
remains	Dreamer	Supertramp	1974	This song was composed by Supertramp’s singer Roger Hodgson on his mother’s Wurlitzer piano at 19. “Dreamer” appeared on British band Supertramp successful album of 1974 “Crime of the Century”. This song is about a guy with big dreams who is incapable of acting on them, so they never come true.
remains	Blame	Gabriels	2021	Gabriels and “Blame” from 2021. The band is named after St. Gabriels Avenue, the street in Sunderland, England that producer Ryan Hope grew up on. They fuse musical styles such as gospel, doo-wop and jazz. Their special recording technique creates a vintage sound with the stunning gospel vocals of Compton’s Jacob Lusk. When examining our life’s problems, we hastily assign blame. ‘This happened because of this…’ The song ‘Blame’ seeks to examine the construct of not only fault and shame, but take a deep dive into the world of addiction, and indulgence.”
remains	Heaven Is a Place on Earth	Belinda Carlisle	1987	The song is about peace of mind and the hopeful idea you can make your own heaven on your own patch (in your comfort zone). Belinda Carlisle was the lead singer of the all female band the Go-Go’s. The song features Thomas Dolby on keyboards, and among the backing singers were Michelle Phillips (of the Mamas and the Papas) and the song’s writers, Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley.
remains	To My Father’s House	The Les Humphries Singers	1970	Englishman Les Humpries lived and worked in Hamburg, Germany, and formed ‘The Les Humphries Singers’ in 1970. “To My Father’s House”, a passage from the Bible set to a snappy tune, was their biggest hit in 1970.
remains	Who’ll Come With Me (David’s Song)	The Kelly Family	1980	The Kelly Family is an Irish-American family music group. In 1965 they settled in Spain and in the seventies the Kelly Kids popularity increased in Spain. They play a repertoire of rock, pop, and folk music, and sing fluently in English, Spanish, German, and Basque. After signing a record contract in Germany their first major chart hit came in 1980, with the song “Who’ll Come With Me (David’s Song). Family father Dan Kelly, wrote the lyrics for the instrumental composed by Vladimir Cosma. His twelve year old son John Kelly performed as lead singer.
remains	Beautiful People	Melanie	1969	Melanie Safka (Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk), an American singer and songwriter, born 3 February 1947 in Astoria, New York City, USA. She was a flower child of the Flower Power era and had her breakthrough at 18 during the Woodstock festival. The inspiration for “Beautiful People” came during a New York City blackout that happened in Melanie’s childhood. “It was dark,” Melanie said. “There were old people in the building. (OK, maybe they were in their 40s, but they seemed old at the time.)” Melanie handed candles out during the emergency. “The evening was magical,” she recalls. “It was anything but cold and uncaring, which was New York’s reputation. Days after the blackout, on the subway, I was thinking, ‘beautiful people caring from the heart.'”
remains	In My Life	Beatles	1965	“In my Life” a masterpiece by Lennon–McCartney with George Martin delivering the piano solo bridge. Autobiographical lyrics talking about people from Lennon’s childhood and younger years.
remains	One day like this	Elbow	2008	Elbow’s lead singer Guy Garvey had the chorus line lyric for several years in his diary: “one day like this a year would see me right”. The band’s 2009 BRIT Award and 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony appearance gave the single an extra boost into the charts.
remains	The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan	Marianne Faithfull	1979	“The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan” was originally recorded by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show in 1975. Shel Silverstein wrote this song, which is about a woman who lives a comfortable, middle class lifestyle, but goes crazy. In 1979 English singer Marianne Faithfull released her version with a happy end interpretation of the song. The woman gets taken away by “the man who reached and offered her his hand” and in a “long white car” (an ambulance) rides along to a psychiatric hospital.
remains	Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometimes	The Korgis	1980	Korgis’ member James Warren on vocals and bass, at the time, was very into Buddhist philosophy. Back in 1980 he pleaded in this song to break away from your social conditioning (oops how is this possible today) and to look at the world as if you were looking at it for the first time without any preconceptions. The lyrics are about changing fundamentally the way we look at life, the way we look at other people. Change your heart and look at the world with completely fresh eyes, not with the eyes of our social conditioning.
remains	I Shall Be Released	Nina Simone	1968	With “I Shall Be Released” Bob Dylan wrote his very own ‘prison song’. In 1967 he recorded it first in collaboration with the Band during the Basement Tapes sessions. Four years later in 1971 Dylan recorded an new version with altered arrangement and lyrics. Nick Cave once told he thinks Nina Simone sings other artist’s tracks better than her own. Indeed, in her version of Dylan’s song she is again moving like a butterfly and stinging like a bee.
remains	Green Green Grass Of Home	Tom Jones	1966	Nashville songwriter Claude “Curly” Putman Jr. wrote in 1964 this song that was inspired by a crime scene in John Huston’s film noir “The Asphalt Jungle” of 1950. “Green Green Grass Of Home” was Tom Jones’ biggest hit in the UK. Welshman Tom Jones learned the song from Jerry Lee Lewis, while staying in New York in 1965. But there exist of course many other cover versions and interpretations in different languages: Afrikaans (“Groene Velde Van My Land”), Czech, Danish (“Det grønne græs”), French, German (‘Der Weg zurück nach Haus’), Portuguese (“Os Verdes Campos Da Minha Terra”), Serbian (“Zelena trava doma mog”), Swedish (“En sång en gång för länge sen”) and so on, and so on. I couldn’t find a Spanish version though … In 1967 Dalida called it “Les grilles de ma maison” (the gates or bars of my house) while Nana Mouskouri (and Les Compagnons de la Chanson) called it “Le toit de ma maison” (the roof of my house). Maybe Dalida felt more imprisoned after attempting to take her life.
remains	New World In The Morning	Roger Whittaker	1971	On the album with the same name, Whittaker seems to be obsessed by mornings. He’s got four consecutive titles: “Early One Morning”, “Morning Please Don’t Come”, “New World in the Morning” and “Good Morning Starshine”.
remains	What A Difference A Day Makes	Esther Phillips	1975	“What a Diff’rence a Day Made”, also recorded as “What a Difference a Day Makes” is a song with a long history. It was originally written in Spanish by María Joaquina Grever, a Mexican songwriter, in 1934 with the title “Cuando vuelva a tu lado”. American songwriter Stanley Adams translated the song into “What a Diff’rence a Day Makes”. Orquesta Pedro Vía first recorded it in 1934. Thirty years later in 1964 it was recorded by the Trio Los Panchos with Eydie Gormé. Meanwhile, in 1959, Dinah Washington won a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Performance with her version of the song. It was Esther Phillips that made her comeback in 1975 with this disco version.
Funky Beach	Walking On Sunshine	Katrina & The Waves	1983	English rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Kimberley Rew wrote “Walking on Sunshine” for his rock band ‘Katrina and the Waves’ in 1983. In 1997, Katrina and the Waves won the Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom with another of Rew’s composition “Love Shine a Light”.
Funky Beach	Happy	Pharrell Williams	2013	Pharrell made the world “Happy” in 2014 with this feel-good anthem. The song soared to #1 in 35 countries—it was the best selling song of 2014. Originally, Pharrell intended Cee Lo Green to sing the song—but things didn’t work out. “Happy” is repeated 56 times over the course of the song.
Funky Beach	H.A.P.P.Y. Radio	Edwin Starr	1979	“H.A.P.P.Y. Radio” is a 1979 disco song written, produced and recorded by soul singer Edwin Starr.
Funky Beach	Yeke Yeke	Mory Kante	1987	Guinean recording artist Mory Kanté released “Yé ké yé ké” in 1987 as a single from his album “Akwaba Beach”. The lyrics are in Mandinka and adapted from a traditional song called “Yekeke”. ‘Yekeke’ is the sound that young girls, approaching the age of marriage, make when they dance and flirt with each other through music.
Funky Beach	Poppa Joe	Sweet	1971	The Sweet and ‘Poppa Joe’ in 1971 is one of the many songs by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. The Sweet, with their blond haired frontman Andy Scott and talented bass player Steve Priests, is one of the best glam rock bands of the seventies.
Funky Beach	Sunflower	Glen Campbell	1977	“Sunflower” is a song written by Neil Diamond and recorded by American country music singer Glen Campbell. It was released in June 1977. Neil Diamond did not release his own version of this song until late 2018, when it was included the release of his 50th Anniversary Collectors Edition 6-CD set.
Funky Beach	Good Vibrations	Beach Boys	1966	Glen Campbell played lead guitar on the final recording of ‘Good Vibrations’. Beach Boys lead singer Mike Love wrote the lyrics as a kind of a flower power poem. Brian Wilson composed it while on LSD, which explains why the song is the musical embodiment of a spectacular acid trip. The unusual, high-pitched sound in the song was produced using an electro-theremin.
Funky Beach	Sunshine Superman	Donovan	1966	More sixties psychedelic pop from Scottish singer-songwriter “Sunshine Superman”: Donovan. Session guitarist Jimmy Page (The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin) played the lead guitar, employing an innovative use of the volume control on his guitar for the repeating figure during the verses.
Funky Beach	All I Wanna Do	Sheryl Crow	1993	Sheryl Crow closely based her lyrics of this song on the poem “Fun” by Wyn Cooper, which starts with the phrase “’All I want do do is have a little fun before I die.” “All I Wanna Do” was her breakthrough hit and won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Funky Beach	Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In	The Fifth Dimension	1969	This song “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” is a medley of songs taken form the 1967 American Tribal Love Rock Musical “Hair” and released as a single by American group the “5th Dimension”. This song was one of the most popular songs of 1969 worldwide and won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group in 1970. In the documentary “Summer of Soul” about the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969, the story behind the unusual way they stumbled into recording “Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In,” is told by band members Billy Davis Jr. and his wife Marilyn McCoo.
Funky Beach	Funkin’ For Jamaica (ft. Toni Smith)	Tom Browne	1980	“Funkin’ for Jamaica (N. Y.)” is a 1980 single by jazz trumpeter Tom Browne with vocals performed by Toni Smith (Thomassina Carrollyne Smith), who also helped compose the song. . The single is a memoir of the neighbourhood in the New York City borough of Queens where Browne was born and raised. Browne got the idea for the song while he was at his parents’ home.
Funky Beach	Dreadlock Holiday	10cc	1978	10cc’s Internationally acclaimed reggae hit “Dreadlock Holiday” from their album, Bloody Tourists of 1978. The song lyrics are inspired by real experiences in Barbados and Jamaica.
Funky Beach	Kingston Kingston	Lou & The Hollywood Bananas	1978	The Belgian project “Lou & The Hollywood Bananas” added in 1978 some ska style to their reggae hit “Kingston Kingston”. The lyrics go: “C’est l’hiver à Paris – Paris la pluie et l’ennui – Mais ici plus d’ soucis“ meaning: “winter in Paris, rain and boredom but here no worries” Lou Deprijck is the mastermind behind ‘Two Man Sound’, ‘Plastic Bertrand’ and ‘Viktor Lazlo’, one of the “Hollywood Bananas”.
Funky Beach	Three Little Birds	Bob Marley & The Wailers	1980	Bob Marley based the song “Three Little Birds” on his observations around him, such as the pretty canaries flying around his home.
Funky Beach	Sunshine Reggae	Laid Back	1982	“Sunshine Reggae” is a song written and recorded by Danish electronic music duo Laid Back. It was originally released as a single in 1982 and released on their second album Keep Smiling (1983).
Funky Beach	Jamaica Farewell	Harry Belafonte	1956	Many of Harry Belafonte’s hits are Caribbean folk songs. The lyrics of “Jamaica Farewell” were written by Lord Burgess (Irving Burgie), an American-born, half-Barbadian songwriter. It is about the beauties of the West Indian Islands. The line “ackee, rice, saltfish is nice” refers to the Jamaican national dish.
Funky Beach	Isla en el Sol (Island In the Sun)	Julio Iglesias	1981	Harry “King of Calypso” Belafonte wrote “Island In The Sun” about simple life on a Caribbean island. The island is a fictional Caribbean one named Santa Marta. Julio Iglesias adapted the song in Spanish for his 1981 album ‘De Niña a Mujer’ (English: From a Child to a Woman) dedicated to his daughter Chábeli.
Funky Beach	La Isla Bonita	Madonna	1987	“La Isla Bonita” or “The Beautiful Island” from Madonna in 1987. She considers it a “A tribute to the beauty and mystery of Latin American people.” The location of San Pedro is unclear and goes from a Los Angeles’ neighbourhood to a Belize district. European tourists may know “La Isla Bonita” as La Palma, the most beautiful of the Canary Islands!
Funky Beach	El mismo sol (ft. Jennifer Lopez)	Álvaro Soler	2015	“El mismo sol” (English: The Same Sun) is a 2015 summer hit of Spanish-German singer-songwriter Álvaro Soler. This Spanglish version feature additional lyrics in English and vocals by American entertainer Jennifer Lopez. The lyrics convey an intense will to enjoy and love life, have fun, and travel.
Funky Beach	Vacances, J’oublie Tout	Elegance	1982	“Vacances, J’oublie Tout” by French one hit wonder “Elegance” in 1982. The title says it all: “on holiday, I forget about everything”.
Funky Beach	On The Beach	Chris Rea	1988	“On the Beach” is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea that was first released in 1986 and re-recorded in 1988. It is inspired by the Spanish island Formentera off the coast of Ibiza where Rea married his wife Joan Lesley.”
Funky Beach	You Are The Sunshine Of My Life	Stevie Wonder	1972	With “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” Stevie Wonder expressed his devotion to his wife Syreeta Wright. Earlier, in 1970, Syreeta had written the lyrics for “”Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”. The male vocalist who first sings on the track is Jim Gilstrap, and the female singer who follows is Lani Groves – both were backup singers in his band. Stevie is the third singer heard on the track.
Funky Beach	Mykonos	Fleet Foxes	2008	“Mykonos” by the American indie folk band Fleet Foxes in 2008. The Greek LGBT-friendly island Mykonos’s nickname is “The Island of the Winds”, due to the very strong winds that usually blow on the island or it it because its vibrant nightlife?
Funky Beach	The Speak Up Mambo (Cuéntame)	The Manhattan Transfer	1977	The original version of “The Speak Up Mambo (Cuentame)” was released in 1955 by Cuban bandleader Al Castellanos and his Orchestra. The Manhattan Transfer scored a world hit with it in 1977.
Funky Beach	Here Comes The Sun	The Beatles	1969	George Harrison found the inspiration for “Here Comes the Sun” during spring of 1969 in Eric Clapton’s garden in Surrey, England and completed the lyrics while on holiday in Sardinia, Italy. The song featured on the Beatles album Abbey Road of the same year.
Funky Beach	Soley Soley	Middle Of The Road	1971	“Soley Soley” is a song by Scottish band Middle of the Road, released as a single in August 1971. The song is written by Spanish musician Fernando Arbex (founder of Los Brincos) and and recorded in Spain.
Funky Beach	Kokomo	The Beach Boys	1988	“Kokomo” by the Beach Boys (without Brian Wilson) from the 1988 film Cocktail. The group later recorded a Spanish-language version of with participation from Wilson. The song is written by John Phillips, Scott McKenzie, Mike Love, and Terry Melcher and describes two lovers taking a trip to a relaxing place on Kokomo, a u topic island off the Florida Keys. In addition to the fictional Kokomo, the song also makes references to many real Caribbean islands, including Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahamas, Martinique, and Montserrat.
Funky Beach	So Nice (Summer Samba)	Bebel Gilberto	2000	Brazilian bossa nova singer Bebel Gilberto is the daughter of João Gilberto and singer Miúcha. “So Nice” or “Summer Samba” (originally “Samba De Verão”) created by the brothers Marcos and Paulo Sérgio Valle in 1964 became first a world hit in1966 for the “Walter Wanderley Trio”. Bebel Gilberto recorded the English version on her 2000 album Tanto Tempo
Funky Beach	Waters Of March (feat. Oleta Adams)	Al Jarreau	1997	Antônio Carlos Jobim wrote “Waters of March” (Portuguese: “Águas de março”). The inspiration comes from Rio de Janeiro’s rainiest month where the rains of March mark the end of a Brazilian summer. Al Jarreau’s version, with vocals by Oleta Adams, features on the 1997 compilation album ‘A Twist of Jobim’.
Funky Beach	In The Summertime	Mungo Jerry	1970	“In the Summertime”, released in 1970, is the debut single by British rock band Mungo Jerry. Written and composed by the band’s lead singer, Ray Dorset, the song celebrates the carefree days of summer.
Funky Beach	Summertime	Billy Stewart	1966	In his teens Billy Stewart won a talent singing contest performing George Gershwin’s “Summertime” but it was in 1966 that he recorded this “scat-singing style” cover. The drummer for Stewart’s recording was Maurice White (founder of the band Earth, Wind & Fire). Billy Stewart’s version became the most successful recording of “Summertime” in the 20th Century.
Funky Beach	Don’t Worry, Be Happy	Bobby McFerrin	1988	“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” is a song by American musician Bobby McFerrin, released with the 1988 movie Cocktail. The inspiration for the song came from a Meher Baba, an Indian spiritual master, poster. The song won the1989 Grammy awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Funky Beach	La ballade des gens heureux	Gérard Lenorman	1975	“La Ballade des gens heureux” (translation: The Ballad of the Happy People) is a song by Gérard Lenorman, released in 1975 with lyrics by Pierre Delanoë. French singer-songwriter Gérard Lenorman (born 9 February 1945) was born in Normandy as the son of Madeleine Lenormand and an unknown German soldier.
Funky Beach	Joy	Apollo 100	1971	“Joy” is a 1971 instrumental pop hit record by ‘Apollo 100’. Apollo 100 was founded by British arranger and multi-instrumentalist Tom Parker. “Joy” is a contemporary interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantata No. 147: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.
Sweet Sunset	Night Rider	The Electric Blues Band	2018	This song features on a compilation CD I got from my late neighbour.
Sweet Sunset	Stardust	Nat King Cole	1957	Bandleader Hoagy Carmichael composed the classic ‘Stardust’ after giving up his law career in 1927 and it was Mitchell Parish who wrote two years later the wonderful lyrics. Nat King Cole’s released his version in 1957 and got renewed success with it in 1993 when it featured in the movie ‘Sleepless In Seattle’.
Sweet Sunset	Slow	Rumer	2010	The British singer songwriter Rumer with ‘Slow’ from the album ‘Seasons of My Soul’. Rumer stated once in an interview she believes in angels. He is one from Elcho Island.
Sweet Sunset	Wiyathul	Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu	2008	Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter Gurrumul with a beautiful song inspired by his love for his people and homeland: Elcho Island. ‘Wiyathul’ (longing for place) is sung in Yolŋu. Yolngu culture in north-east Arnhem Land – a heartland of Aboriginal culture and land rights – is among the oldest living cultures on earth, stretching back over 40,000 years. Yolngu people speak a dozen dialects of a language group known as Yolngu matha. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu sang in Galpu, Djambarrpuynu, Gumatj – and, occasionally, in English. Even if you can’t understand the language, you can relate to the emotion. Blind from birth, Geoffrey was a long-time member of the Saltwater Band, a talented Aboriginal outfit from Elcho Island, before he developed a solo career.
Sweet Sunset	For All We Know	Donny Hathaway	1972	Soul legend Donny Hathaway (a.k.a. Donny Pitts) with the classic “For All We Know”, first published in 1934, with music by J. Fred Coots and lyrics by Sam M. Lewis.
Sweet Sunset	Fragile	Sting	1987	“Fragile” Sting from the 1987 Album: Nothing Like The Sun. As Sting stated once: “… every time something happens, it seems an appropriate song to play …”
Sweet Sunset	Fields Of Gold	Eva Cassidy	1996	The original of ‘Fields of Gold’ is by Sting, but Eva Cassidy’s voice and the way she changes the rhythm elevates it to the next level, so gifted that she did not need extra vibrato, electronics, background singers etc. The song is recorded live at the Blues Alley nightclub, Georgetown, Washington, D.C. in early January 1996. It was the last album recorded by Cassidy before her death in November 1996.
Sweet Sunset	Jesus To A Child	George Michael	1996	In January 1996, George Michael released “Jesus to a Child”, his melancholy tribute to his deceased Brazilian lover Anselmo Feleppa.
Sweet Sunset	If	Telly Savalas	1974	Hollywood actor Telly Savalas, best known at the time for his iconic role in the detective series Kojak released in 1974 a spoken word cover of a Bread song ‘If’.
Sweet Sunset	Calling You (Bagdad Cafe/Soundtrack Version)	Jevetta Steele	1988	The terrific American gospel singer Jevetta Steele sings Bob Telson’s “Calling You” from the 1988 movie soundtrack of Bagdad Café.
Sweet Sunset	The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face	Roberta Flack	1972	‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ was the breakthrough hit for Roberta Flack when it won in 1973 the Song and Record of the Year Grammy awards. Originally written by folk singer Ewan MacColl in 1957 for his lover, Peggy Seeger.
Sweet Sunset	Mad World	Gary Jules	2001	Gary Jules covered the Tears for Fears hit ‘Mad World’ for the 2001 movie Donnie Darko.
Sweet Sunset	To Love Somebody	Scott Matthew	2013	Australian singer Scott Matthew describes himself as a ‘Quiet-Noise-Maker’ with a passion for ballads. In 2013 he released the covers-album UNLEARNED with ‘To Love Somebody’ from the Bee Gees in 1967.
Sweet Sunset	Need Your Love So Bad	Fleetwood Mac	1968	In 1968, Peter Green with Fleetwood Mac recorded a version of the song “Need Your Love So Bad”, written in 1956 by the brothers William Edward “Little Willie” John and Mertis John Jr.
Sweet Sunset	I’d Rather Go Blind	Chicken Shack	1969	“I’d Rather Go Blind” was first recorded by Etta James in 1967. Chicken Shack released its version in 1969 with vocalist Christine Anne Perfect before she married Fleetwood Mac’s bass player John McVie.
Sweet Sunset	Ooh Baby Baby	Linda Ronstadt	1979	The classic Tamla Motown hit “Ooo Baby Baby” is written by Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore and in 1979 Linda Ronstadt (the most successful female singer of the 1970s) put her “stamp” on the song. Ronstadt’s touring band members Don Henley and Glenn Frey formed the Eagles shortly after playing on her 1972 self-titled album. Ronstadt was very supportive, encouraging Henley and Frey to form the group even though it meant losing some of her best talent.
Sweet Sunset	Desperado	Eagles	1973	“Desperado” by the Eagles was a touchstone in bringing this kind of song to the rock genre. Linda Ronstadt recorded and released it on her 1973 album Don’t Cry Now a few months after the Eagles’ Desperado album was issued. In 1975, Ronstadt performed shows with the Eagles singing lead vocal on Desperado.
Sweet Sunset	Angel	Sarah McLachlan	1998	“Angel” is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan inspired by articles about musicians turning to heroin to cope with the pressures of the music industry, in particular the overdosing and death of Smashing Pumpkins keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin in 1996.
Sweet Sunset	Into My Arms	Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds	1997	“Into My Arms” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds is a love ballad written by Nick Cave in rehab after consecutive relationship break-ups in 1997.
Sweet Sunset	More Than Words	Extreme	1991	“More Than Words” is a song by American rock band Extreme from March 1991. A sweet, pure acoustic ballad written by singer Gary Cherone and guitarist Nuno Bettencourt that proves that sometimes less really is more.
Sweet Sunset	Albatross	Fleetwood Mac	1969	After his brief tenure with the Bluesbreakers Peter Green recorded three studio albums with Fleetwood Mac before LSD and illness derailed his talent. In 1968 he created the instrumental ‘Albatross’, Fleetwood Mac’s first UK No. 1 hit. From start to finish, this song contains only two guitar chords: Emaj7 and F#m. Similarities can be found in Chuck Berry’s instrumental ‘Deep Feeling’ of 1957.
Sweet Sunset	I’m Not In Love	10cc	1975	10cc’s Eric Stewart’s dilemma to tell his wife he did love her without saying the three word phrase resulted in the 1975 track ‘I’m Not In Love’. It took over 256 vocal dubs to create the tsunami of voices. Kathy Redfern, the secretary of Strawberry Studios, whispered the vocals of “Be quiet, big boys don’t cry” as if they had a phone call.
Sweet Sunset	Hijo de la luna	Mecano	1987	“Hijo de la Luna” (English: “Son of the Moon”) is a song by the Spanish band Mecano. Written by José María Cano it refers to a tragic Romani legend. Mecano with singer Ana Torroja and brothers Nacho and José María Cano, was one of the most successful pop bands of Spain formed in 1981 (they were part of the countercultural movement La Movida Madrileña) and active until 1992.
Sweet Sunset	Riverside	Agnes Obel	2010	“Riverside”, referring to the river Spree in Berlin, is a song by Danish singer-songwriter Agnes Obel, using water as a border between one world and another during people’s transformation.
Sweet Sunset	Suzanne	Leonard Cohen	1966	Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen wrote a poet in 1966 inspired by Suzanne Verdal, a dancer living at the waterfront of Montreal harbour. Later, Cohen met Suzanne Elrod who gave birth to his two children, Adam and Lorca. After Judy Collins had recorded the song first it was Cohen’s debut single.
Sweet Sunset	L’Eté Indien	Joe Dassin	1975	“L’Été indien” (French for “Indian summer”) from 1975 is American/French singer Joe Dassin’s biggest hit. In the song he reflects with fond memories of his lover, who he met during an Indian summer, but with whom he has now lost contact. The song was based on the song “Africa” by Toto Cutugno (originally released by Toto Cutugno’s band Albatros).
Sweet Sunset	Perfect Day	Lou Reed	1972	Lou Reed’s description of a romantic ‘Perfect Day’ in 1972, produced by David Bowie.
Sweet Sunset	Roxanne	George Michael	1999	The Parisian red light district of Montmartre worked inspirational for Sting in October 1977 when he wrote this song. ‘Roxanne’ by The Police covered by George Michael in 1999.
Sweet Sunset	(You’re Gonna Look) Good In Blues	Tony Joe White	1991	“Good In Blues”, written and performed by Tony Joe White, a song from his successful album “Closer to the Truth” from 1991.
Sweet Sunset	Song for Guy	Elton John	1978	“Life… Isn’t ever-y-thing”, a song for Guy Burchett, a messenger for Rocket Records, Elton John’s label, who died in a motorcycle accident in 1978.
Sweet Sunset	Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue	Crystal Gayle	1977	American country musician Crystal Gayle recorded “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” in Nashville on October 27, 1976 (in one take). Writer Richard Leigh received a Grammy Award for “Best Country Song” for the song in 1978.
Sweet Sunset	Let it be me	The Everly Brothers	1959	For the Everly Brothers, “Let it be me” was the first song they did not record in Nashville. It was done in New York as one of the first pop songs to use a string section – eight violins and a cello were used. The song is an adaptation of French singer Gilbert Becaud’s 1955 song “Je t’appartiens” (I belong to you).
Sweet Sunset	Backdoor Man	Viktor Lazlo	1984	Viktor Lazlo (real name: Sonia Dronnier, born 7 October 1960) is a French-Belgian singer who took her stage name from a character in the 1942 film Casablanca. She sings in French, English, Spanish and German. “Backdoor Man” is written by Boris Bergman (a.k.a. John Kipoor) and composed and produced by Alain Chamfort.
Sweet Sunset	Wonderful Tonight	Eric Clapton	1976	Eric Clapton wrote this beautiful song for his future wife Pattie Boyd while she was trying on dresses upstairs. In the time she had taken to get ready Clapton had written the song. A win/win story you could say. Not sure if she dressed in red that night …
Sweet Sunset	The Lady In Red	Chris De Burgh	1986	Chris De Burgh remembers what his wife Diane was wearing when they first met and shared it with us in 1986.
Sweet Sunset	Ain’t No Sunshine	Eva Cassidy	1996	“Ain’t No Sunshine” was written by West Virginia soul star Bill Withers in 1970. Eva Cassidy recorded her version in 1996 before she died later that year at the age of 33. The song was four years later released on an album called “Time after Time”.
Sweet Sunset	Time After Time	Miles Davis	1985	In 1983, Rob Hyman and Cyndi Lauper wrote the number one hit “Time After Time”. In her memoir, Cyndi Lauper wrote that the most honoured she ever felt was when Miles Davis covered her song in 1985.
Cosy Comfy	I’ll Be There for You	The Rembrandts	1994	Written in 1994 by Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, as well as composer Michael Skloff and songwriter Allee Willis, the lyrics focus on Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), whose life is turned upside down after she abandons her fiancé, Barry, at the altar. The Friends theme song is generally seen as a memorable anthem about the hardships of adulthood and the restorative powers of friendship.
Cosy Comfy	(Theme From) The Monkees	The Monkees	1966	In 1966, The Monkees, a made-for-TV band, performed their own theme song of their TV series. “(Theme from) The Monkees” is a 1966 pop rock song, written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart as the signature tune for the TV series The Monkees. The TV comedy series The Monkees was inspired by “Catch Us If You Can” by The Dave Clark Five (DC5) and “A Hard Day’s Night” by the Beatles. In 1967, the Monkees (also referred to as the Pre-Fab Four) outsold both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined.
Cosy Comfy	Can’t Buy Me Love	The Beatles	1964	“Can’t Buy Me Love” is a song by the Beatles that was released in March 1964 and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The song was included on the group’s album A Hard Day’s Night and was featured in a scene in Richard Lester’s film of the same title. “Can’t Buy Me Love” supposedly written by Paul McCartney as a humorous reply to John Lennon’s performances of “Money”, while the Beatles were performing a series of shows at the Olympia Theater in Paris.
Cosy Comfy	Glad All Over	The Dave Clark Five	1964	“Glad All Over” is a 1965 song from The Dave Clark Five, written by group’s drummer Dave Clark and guitarist Lenny Davidson. In 1964, the Dave Clark Five with their Tottenham Sound roots helped spearhead the British invasion of popular rock n’ roll in the United States (along with the Beatles). The Dave Clark Five was the first band to have their own private plane, which bore the DC5 insignia that the group later was fondly referred to, for shorthand. They are referred to as DCQ = “Dave Clark Quintet” (1957 to 1962), DC5 = Dave Clark Five (1962 to 1970) and DC&F = Dave Clark & Friends (1970 to 1973).
Cosy Comfy	TSOP	MFSB	1974	TSOP was the theme song for the American musical television program Soul Train. “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” is a 1974 hit recording by MFSB (“Mother Father Sister Brother”) featuring vocals by The Three Degrees. It is written by Gamble and Huff, the fathers of the typical Philadelphia sound (a.k.a. Philly soul).
Cosy Comfy	Dirty Ol’ Man	The Three Degrees	1973	The Three Degrees with “Dirty Ol’ Man” written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff.
Cosy Comfy	Ma Quale Idea	Pino D’Angio	1980	“Ma quale idea” by Pino D’Angiò in 1980 is a humorous take on falling in love and making advances towards someone. The chorus of the song, “Che idea, Ma quale idea? Non vedi che lei non ci sta?” (“What an idea, what an idea? Don’t you see she doesn’t want it?”) serves as a reminder that a person has to respect the wishes of someone who has decided not to pursue a relationship with them. ‘No is no, no?’ Pino D’Aangio (born Giuseppe Chierchia in Pompei on August 14, 1952 ) used the base line of “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now”.
Cosy Comfy	Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now	McFadden & Whitehead	1978	In 1978 ‘McFadden & Whitehead’ released “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” later consider as “the new black national anthem”. The disco funk song is credited to Jerry Cohen, Gene McFadden and John Whitehead.
Cosy Comfy	Back Stabbers	The O’Jays	1972	Gene McFadden and John Whitehead wrote this song along with Leon Huff (playing also the piano intro), who along with Kenny Gamble produced the track and released it on their Philadelphia International label. The song was inspired by problems Whitehead faced with his family and friends. The O’Jays were formed in 1958 and named after Cleveland DJ Eddie O’Jay.
Cosy Comfy	Redondo Beach	Patti Smith	1975	One afternoon Patti Smith had a rare argument with her sister Linda and she left. Worried about her sister, who had not returned, Smith went to Coney Island and after sunrise had drafted the text. Patti Smith, who considered herself more as a poet and performer rather than a musician in any way, had published the lyrics as a poem entitled ‘Radando Beach’ in her 1972 book, Kodak, before turning them into a song for her debut album “Horses”. Guitarist Lenny Kaye and keyboard player Richard Sohl, came up with the reggae arrangement. As stated by Patti Smith: “Redondo Beach is a beach where women love other women.” In 1975, Patti Smith released one of punk rock’s most influential records: Horses. Smith was a longtime roommate of Robert Mapplethorpe and a frequent subject in his photography, including a stark, iconic photograph that appears on the cover of her first album, Horses. Mapplethorpe’s work inspired KT Tunstall for her song ‘Sunddenly I See”.
Cosy Comfy	Suddenly I See	KT Tunstall	2005	“Suddenly I See” is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall. The song is a tribute to “female power”, inspired by and about American singer and songwriter Patti Smith. As described in the lyrics, KT Tunstall was inspired to a career in music through looking at a black and white picture of a woman. Admiring her strength and accomplishments, she suddenly realised what she wanted to do with her life. Tunstall stated in an interview that the song was “about Robert Mapplethorpe’s photograph of Patti Smith on the cover of Horses”. The album cover for Horses (1975) also inspired Tunstall’s album cover for Eye to the Telescope. “Suddenly I See” became a popular hit and was played during the opening credits of the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada. It also featured in Blind Dating, Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy and Love, Rosie; Thrillville, and as a campaign song on the Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign. Norwegian Spam wanted to use this song in one of their commercials. Tunstall – a vegetarian – was amused by the situation but did not grant them permission to use the song.
Cosy Comfy	What’s Up	4 Non Blondes	1992	“What’s Up” not the App but the 1992 song by the authentic female rock band ‘4 Non Blondes’ or should we say one of the first openly lesbian groups? Frontwoman Linda Perry wrote the song at age 24. Especially European non-English speaking people could easily relate to the song because of the simple lyrics …
Cosy Comfy	Karma Chameleon	Boy George & Culture Club	1983	Best known for his soulful voice and his androgynous appearance, Boy George has been the lead singer of the pop band Culture Club since the group’s formation in 1981. His gender bending appearance of the New Romantic movement. Boy George’s band Culture Club, which formed in 1981, produced a sound that combined elements of Motown, Philly soul, reggae and lovers rock. Singer-songwriter Jimmy Jones claimed his 1959 hit “Handy Man” was plagiarizes. In 1981, Blitz Club regular Boy George occasionally sang with the group Bow Wow Wow, performing under the stage name Lieutenant Lush with the group. The New Romantic movement, where both sexes often dressed in androgynous clothing and wore cosmetics such as eyeliner and lipstick, partly derived from earlier punk fashions was heavily influenced by former glam rock stars of the 1970s like David Bowie, Marc Bolan and Roxy Music. The emergence of the New Romantic movement into the mainstream coincided with Vivienne Westwood’s unveiling of her “pirate collection”, which was promoted by Bow Wow Wow and Adam and the Ants, who were managed by her then-partner Malcolm McLaren.
Cosy Comfy	Because of You	Gustaph	2023	The Belgian Boy George: Gustaph will represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest this year in Liverpool with “Because of You”. Born as Stef Caers in Leuven on 5 July 1980, Gustaph performed as a backing vocalist at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018 and 2021. From top to bottom he will be dressed by ‘Antwerp Six’ fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck. So, the “W” on Gustaph’s shoes or clothes do not refer to “Waterloo” but Walter.
Cosy Comfy	Waterloo	ABBA	1974	ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 for Sweden with “Waterloo”. The song was written by Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. The 19th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest took place in Brighton, United Kingdom after Luxembourg, having won in both 1972 and 1973, declined to host it for a second successive year on the grounds of expense. The song differed from the standard “dramatic ballad” tradition of the Eurovision Song Contest by its flavour and rhythm, as well as by its performance. ABBA gave the audience something that had rarely been seen before in Eurovision: flashy costumes (including silver platform boots), plus a catchy uptempo song and even simple choreography. The song’s production style was influenced by Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” and in particular “See My Baby Jive”, by English glam rock band Wizzard.
Cosy Comfy	See My Baby Jive	Wizzard	1973	“See My Baby Jive” by Wizzard from 1973 is written by frontman Roy Wood as a faithful and affectionate tribute to the Phil Spector generated ‘Wall of Sound’. The song inspired the writers of ABBA’s hit “Waterloo” the following year.
Cosy Comfy	To Know Him Is to Love Him	Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris	1987	In 1989 Phil Spector won the BMI Country Song of the Year award for his composition “To Know Him Is To Love Him” recorded by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt performing under their collective group name “Trio.” Phil Spector wrote the song, inspired by words on his father’s tombstone, “To Know Him Was to Love Him.” It was first recorded by the only vocal group of which he was a member, the Teddy Bears. Phil Spector was one of the most distinctive producers in the history of popular music, the originator of the famous “Wall of Sound” production technique and a pioneer of the 1960s’ girl group sound.
Cosy Comfy	I Will Always Love You	Dolly Parton	1967	Dolly Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” in 1967 to show her appreciation for the time she had co-hosted Porter Wagoner’s TV show. Over time she composed three different versions of the song and it was covered by many artists, such as Linda Ronstadt.
Cosy Comfy	Blue Bayou	Linda Ronstadt	1977	“Blue Bayou” was originally recorded by Roy Orbison on his legendary 1963 album “In Dreams” and covered by Linda Ronstadt on her 1977 album “Simple Dreams”. Linda Ronstadt is a year older than Emmylou Harris and they’ve been friends since the early ’70s. In 1999 they recorded an album together in the Arizona Inn hotel in Tucson, Ronstadt’s hometown.
Cosy Comfy	You Never Can Tell	Emmylou Harris	1977	In 1977, Emmylou Harris, who mainly sees herself as a discoverer and interpreter of other artists’ songs, had a Top 10 Country hit with her version of Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell” which she renamed “(You Never Can Tell) C’est La Vie.”
Cosy Comfy	Johnny B. Goode	Chuck Berry	1958	“Johnny B. Goode” is Chuck Berry’s life story, although he was from St. Louis, not Louisiana and knew how to read and write very well. “Johnny” was inspired by Johnnie Johnson, whose band he played with (the Johnnie Johnson Trio), collaborated on many of Berry’s songs and was his regular piano player. “Goode” was from the street in St. Louis where he grew up (he lived at 2520 Goode Avenue). The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Sex Pistols and the Grateful Dead are among the many artists who covered the song.
Cosy Comfy	Great Balls Of Fire	Jerry Lee Lewis	1957	“Great Balls of Fire” is a 1957 popular song recorded by American rock and roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis on Sun Records and featured in the 1957 movie Jamboree. It was written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer. “A person tells at least a little bit about himself in any song he cuts,” Jerry Lee Lewis said once.
Cosy Comfy	Il jouait du piano debout	France Gall	1980	The song “Il jouait du piano debout”, brilliantly performed by Berger’s wife France Gall, refers to Jerry Lee Lewis and his particular way to play piano. According to Berger the ways Jerry Lee Lewis plays piano is a symbol of the right to be different.
Cosy Comfy	El Hombre Del Piano	Ana Belén & Víctor Manuel	2008	Singer actress Ana Belén interpreted Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” in Spanish in 2008. Billy Joel worked at the Executive Room bar in Los Angeles from 1972 to 1973 as a piano player using the name “Bill Martin” (Joel’s full name is William Martin Joel). Ana Belén’s husband, Victor Manuel, adapted the lyrics with a quiet distinct view and changed the point of view of the piano player as an observer of his clients to a third person talking about the piano player.
Cosy Comfy	Que Le Han Hecho A Mi Canción, Mamá?	Jeanette	1973	Melanie Safka’s “What Have They Done To My Song, Ma” covered by Spanish singer Jeanette and released on her 1973 album “Palabras, promesas…”. Jeanette’s (born Janette Anne Dimech on 10 October 1951) father was Belgian and French spoken (born in Belgian Congo) and her mother was from Tenerife. Janette Anne Dimech was born in the UK, grew up in the US and worked in France. Hence her perfect English and French accents.
Cosy Comfy	Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)	Melanie	1970	“Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” written and performed by Melanie Safka in 1970 in collaboration with the Edwin Hawkins Singers, who had reached the national Top Ten the previous year with “Oh Happy Day”. The song describes here feelings at her Woodstock performance in August 1969, overlooking the sea of people in the audience.
Cosy Comfy	Oh happy day	The Edwin Hawkins Singers	1969	The gospel style arrangement of the hymn “Oh, Happy Day” by The Edwin Hawkins Singers has influences of Sérgio Mendes and James Brown. George Harrison has stated the song was a primary inspiration in the writing of his 1970 international hit single “My Sweet Lord”.
Cosy Comfy	My Sweet Lord	George Harrison	1970	George Harrison wrote “My Sweet Lord” in praise of the Hindu god Krishna, with help of Billy Preston in 1970. He intended to offer it to Edwin Hawkins but eventually decided to record it with Billy Preston.
Cosy Comfy	That’s the Way God Planned It	Billy Preston	1969	“That’s the Way God Planned It” is one of Billy Preston’s best-known songs. Preston performed it at the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971 backed by George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Preston stated he was inspired by Paul McCartney’s composition “Let It Be” for writing the song.
Cosy Comfy	Let It Be	The Beatles	1970	“Let it Be”, a Lennon–McCartney ballad by The Beatles released in 1970 with Billy Preston on Hammond organ. Paul McCartney was inspired by a dream about his mother telling him “It will be all right, just let it be.” The Album “Let it Be” was produced by Phil Spector, which gave the song a different sound than its single version, produced by George Martin. George Martin wanted printing in the album cover credits “produced by George Martin, over produced by Phil Spector”!
Nah pop no style	Uptown Top Ranking	Althea & Donna	1977	Don’t worry if you don’t get the Rastafarian patois of this Jamaican female duo. This song became a hit in the UK after John Peel started to promote it on his BBC Radio 1 evening show and even the Britons didn’t understand the lyrics. 17-year-old Althea Rose Forrest and 18 year-old Donna Marie Reid used various local slang words. “Uptown Top Ranking” describes what a country Jamaican does when he goes to the city to show off and was a response to “Three Piece Suit” by Trinity (a Jamaican DJ), who used samples of Marcia Aitken’s ‘I’m Still In Love’. Black Box Recorder made an offbeat version of Uptown Top Ranking on their 1998 album England Made Me., here is Black Box Recorder.
Nah pop no style	I’m Still In Love With You / Three Piece Suit	Marcia Aitken & Trinity	1977	Marcia Aitken’s “I’m Still in Love” (with you boy) reggae hit in 1977 is a cover of Alton Ellis’s “I’m Still in Love With You” (1977), one of the innovators of rocksteady (“Godfather of Rocksteady”). “Three Piece Suit” by (Jamaican DJ) Trinity used samples of Marcia Aitken’s ‘I’m Still In Love’.
Nah pop no style	Girl I’ve Got a Date	Alton Ellis	1966	Alton Ellis (born Alton Nehemiah Ellis on 1 September 1938 in Kingston, Jamaica) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and one of the innovators of rocksteady (given the informal title “Godfather of Rocksteady”). Ellis recorded “Girl I’ve Got a Date” in 1966 with Jackie Jackson on bass. It is considered one of the foundational songs of the rocksteady genre. The bass line of “Girl I’ve Got a Date” was allegedly duplicated in other international hits “The Liquidator” (Harry J Allstars and “I’ll Take You There” (The Staple Singers).
Nah pop no style	I’ll Take You There	The Staple Singers	1972	I’ll Take You There” is a song by soul/gospel family band the Staple Singers, written by Al Bell and recorded with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Hip-hop trio Salt-N-Pepa sampled “I’ll Take You There” in their 1991 hit “Let’s Talk About Sex”.
Nah pop no style	Let’s Talk About Sex	Salt-N-Pepa	1991	American hip-hop group ‘Salt-N-Pepa’ released “Let’s Talk About Sex” in 1991. It samples “I’ll Take You There” by the Staple Singers. Salt-N-Pepa was formed in New York City in 1985 with Salt (Cheryl James), Pepa (Sandra Denton), and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper).
Nah pop no style	Teach Your Children	Kathy Mattea, Suzy Bogguss, Alison Krauss with Crosby, Stills & Nash	1994	Red Hot + Country (or RH+C), released in September 1994, is a classic country compilation album produced to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV as well as other related health and social issues. The album featured “Teach Your Children” performed by Suzy Bogguss, Alison Krauss and Kathy Mattea with Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
Nah pop no style	Wake Up Everybody	John Legend and The Roots	2010	Wake Up! is a collaborative studio album by American R&B recording artist John Legend and hip hop band The Roots. Inspired by the 2008 United States presidential election, Legend and The Roots primarily covered 1960s and 1970s soul music songs for the album with social themes of awareness, engagement, and consciousness. The album’s lead single, “Wake Up Everybody”, a cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes song of the same name, was released on April 29, 2010, and features rapper Common and Canadian R&B singer Melanie Fiona.
Nah pop no style	If You Don’t Know Me by Now	Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes	1972	“If You Don’t Know Me by Now” is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and recorded by the Philadelphia soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. It was originally written for Labelle (a trio led by Patti LaBelle) but they never recorded it.
Nah pop no style	Lady Marmalade	Labelle	1974	Philadelphia soul group Labelle with Patti LaBelle (born Patricia Louise Holte on May 24, 1944) as lead vocals on “Lady Marmalade” with backing vocals by bandmates Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash. The song was written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan who initially recorded it with his disco band The Eleventh Hour. Allen Toussaint decided to record the song with Labelle. Their manager Vicki Wickham (and Nona Hendryx’ partner), inspired by “watching pantos when she was a kid”, David Bowie and Elton John, gave them the glam style. Patti, with the powerhouse lead vocals, Nona, with the iconic futuristic fashion looks and stage presence, and Sarah, with the seductive and fun energy, turned Labelle into a super group. Vicki Wickham was besides assistant producer of the 1960s British television show Ready Steady Go! Also manager of Dusty Springfield who co-presented the show. After Labelle called it quits in 1976, Hendryx released her debut record Nona Hendryx, which was an amazingly strong amalgam of soul and hard rock. Nona Hendryx is a gay-rights activist and joined Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Tour (raising awareness of discrimination and the LGBT community) in the summer of 2008.
Nah pop no style	I Only Want to Be With You	Dusty Springfield	1963	Born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien (16 April 1939 – 2 March 1999), better known by her stage name Dusty Springfield, launched her successful career in 1963 with “I Only Want to Be With You”. At age 16, she started as a lifelong professional singer and only worked three weeks in an insurance company. The Queen of Blue-Eyed Soul hosted the ‘Ready Steady Go!’ TV special called ‘The Sound of Motown’ in 1965 and performed with the Funk Brothers and Martha and the Vandellas. Martha and Dusty remained friends until Dusty’s death.
Nah pop no style	(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave	Martha Reeves & The Vandellas	1963	“Heat Wave” by Martha and the Vandellas is a 1963 song written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Edward Holland, Jr. (Holland–Dozier–Holland) with Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers delivering the typical “Motown sound”.
Nah pop no style	Where Did Our Love Go	Diana Ross & The Supremes	1964	Diana Ross, (born Diane Earle, on March 26, 1944 in Detroit) together with the Supremes was the flagship act of with Berry Gordy’s Motown Records in 1960. In 1964 Holland-Dozier-Holland gave the Supremes their first number one single with “Where Did Our Love Go.” The Supremes were the idealized look and sound of the “integrated Negro.”
Nah pop no style	I’ve Got the Music In Me	The Kiki Dee Band & Kiki Dee	1974	In the 1960’s Kiki Dee was on the same label as Dusty Springfield, Fontana Philips, and did some backing vocals for her. At age twenty, she became the first white UK artist to sign with Tamla Motown Records. In 1970 she released an album “Great Expectations” with Motown covers. “I’ve Got the Music In Me” was her first US hit in 1974 and did her own backing vocals on the recording. Bias Boshell, on piano and electric piano, wrote the song. The song is about a free-spirited yet pragmatic woman who’s on her way up in life due to her musical talent and isn’t going to let anything get her down or stand in her way. Kiki Dee (born Pauline Matthews on 6 March 1947) is a lifelong professional singer. She left school at 15 and only worked for three months at Boots.
Nah pop no style	Indiana Wants Me	R. Dean Taylor	1971	In 1963, Canadian, Richard Dean Taylor signed as a writer and artist for Motown Records and became part of The Clan, the group of Motown composers. In 1970, Dean recorded “Indiana Wants Me” and became the first white artist in the history of Motown to reach #1 on the US charts. Taylor was inspired by the movie “Bonnie and Clyde” he had seen. When “Indiana Wants Me” was released, the content was controversial. It opened with a (very realistic) police siren which had to be removed to get airplay in California. Promoter Al Valente decided to release the promo copies for the radio stations on red vinyl.
Nah pop no style	The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde	Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames	1967	“The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde” is a song, written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander and recorded by the British rhythm and blues singer Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames. In fact ticket sales were so sluggish even for a bill with that line-up that the Number One act in the UK, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames whose Yeh Yeh was the currently top of the charts, was added to the line-up for extra box office appeal. Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames were added to the line-up of the 1965 Tamla Motown Package Show, a 24 day trip visiting 21 theatres for two shows a night – plus a Ready Steady Go! TV special called ‘The Sound of Motown’ (introduced by Dusty Springfield and RSG producer Vicki Wickham) featuring Martha & The Vandellas, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Little (14 years old) Stevie Wonder and The Supremes, all backed by the Earl Van Dyke Six, crack members of the Funk Brothers.
Nah pop no style	Going To A Go-Go	Smokey Robinson & The Miracles	1965	“Going to a Go-Go” by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, a song about the sixties (go-go) disco clubs. The Miracles were formed by members of The Matadors and Claudette Rogers from The Matadorettes. “Going to a Go-Go” was covered by The Rolling Stones on their 1982 live album Still Life.
Nah pop no style	Fingertips, Pt. 2	Little Stevie Wonder	1963	The big revelation in the US at Motown’s ‘Motortown Revue’ was the twelve year old ‘Little Stevie Wonder’. It was from a live Motortown Revue performance that Little Stevie Wonder got his first big hit, the 1963 No. 1 hit “Fingertips (Pt. 2)”. The Motortown Revue was the name given to the package concert tours of Motown artists in the 1960s. Recorded in 1963 during a Motortown Revue performance at the Regal Theater in Chicago, featured drumming by Marvin Gaye, member of the Motown houseband The Funk Brothers.
Nah pop no style	My Girl	The Temptations	1965	The Temptations, another band that came out of “Hitsville U.S.A.” with “My Girl” written by Smokey Robinson for his wife, Miracles member Claudette Rogers Robinson, and all the women in the world in mind. The year before, Robinson had written “My Guy” for Mary Wells.
Nah pop no style	My Guy	Mary Wells	1964	Mary Wells’ smash hit “My Guy”, written by Smokey Robinson was her last solo recording for Motown and Motown’s first British hit. Before leaving Motown, Wells recorded in the ‘Hitsville U.S.A.’ studio the album ‘Together’ with rising star Marvin Gaye. But it takes two to tango, so when Wells left Motown, Gaye teamed up with Kim Weston from Detroit.
Nah pop no style	It Takes Two	Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston	1966	When Mary Wells left Motown, Gaye teamed up with Kim Weston from Detroit. ‘It Takes Two’ was written by William “Mickey” Stevenson and Sylvia Moy and released in 1966. Sylvia Moy, born in Detroit, was the first woman to write and produce for Motown artists, in particular for Stevie Wonder. Marvin Gaye was a session drummer and backup singer with the Motown in-house band and drummer for the Miracles.
Nah pop no style	Your Precious Love	Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell	1967	This recording embraces all elements of Marvin Gaye’s entourage at the time with the talented Tammi Terrell, backing vocals and producer Harvey Fuqua and instrumentals by The Funk Brothers. “Your Precious Love” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in 1967 was the duo’s biggest hit written by the Motown husband-and-wife writers Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The same year, Tammi collapsed in Marvin’s arms during a performance in Virginia. Diagnosed with brain tumor, she died three years later at age 24. Her demise traumatized Marvin. He refused to perform live and grew reclusive.
Nah pop no style	I Heard It Through The Grapevine	Marvin Gaye	1968	Motown was a family operation in which Berry Gordy’s older sisters played prominent roles. Marvin Gaye had married in 1963 one of Gordy’s sisters, Anna, a woman seventeen years older. In 1968 Motown released “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” a mystical re-rendering of Gladys Knight & the Pips’ hit in 1967 with the voodoo rhythms of the Funk Brothers. Reflecting the turbulence in his marriage to Anna, the song became on of the biggest sellers in Motown history and turned Marvin Gaye into a superstar.
Nah pop no style	The Flick (ft. Earl Van Dyke)	The Funk Brothers	1965	‘The Flick’ was co-written by Earl Van Dyke and released by the ‘Earl Van Dyke & The Soul Brothers’ in 1965. The typical Motown sound was not only due to the recording rooms, like the unique ‘Snakepit’ and the ‘echo chambers’, and the equipment and instruments used at the “Hitsville U.S.A.” studios but also because of the talented house band musicians: the “Earl Van Dyke & the Soul Brothers” or later called The Funk Brothers. Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a 2002 American documentary film that tells the story of The Funk Brothers.
Nah pop no style	Pops, We Love You	Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder	1978	When Berry Gordy, the father of Motown passed away in 1978, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder, payed tribute to him with the song “Pops, We Love You (A Tribute to Father)” The song is written by Marilyn McLeod, Pam Sawyer and recorded at the Motown Studios in Los Angeles. In 1972, Berry Gordy had relocated the Motown Records headquarters and established Hitsville West studio in Los Angeles.
RadiOn	Driver’s seat	Sniff ‘N’ The Tears	1978	“Driver’s Seat” is a 1978 song by the British one-hit wonder Sniff ‘n’ the Tears. According to Paul Roberts, “Driver’s Seat” isn’t about driving, but rather “fragmented, conflicting thoughts and emotions that might follow the break-up of a relationship”. Several car related commercials have been using the song ever since.
RadiOn	Do You Remember Rock’n’Roll Radio?	The Ramones	1980	American rock band The Ramones looking for commercial success with producer Phil Spector in “Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio?”, released in 1980 from their album “End of the Century” (“When The Wall Of Sound Met The New York Underground”). Joey Ramone’s love letter to the past. Pure nostalgia: “Do you remember lying in bed / With your covers pulled up over your head / Radio playing so no one can see?”
RadiOn	Refugee	Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers	1980	Also in 1980, Tom Petty was at his best in “Refugee” with The Heartbreakers . The song written by Petty and composed by band member Mike Campbell was a reaction to the pressures of the music business. The band shot a music video to promote the song without showing up at TV shows which was picked up by MTV.
RadiOn	Thriller	Michael Jackson	1983	Here is another title where the video had to sell the song. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” helped MTV and Jackson gain in popularity. The video was a cultural milestone, introducing elaborate choreography, costumes and dialogue into the format. The music video is considered the most famous music video of all time. Jackson didn’t have to pay for the video out of pocket because they made deals with Showtime and MTV to cover the costs. Vincent Price, an actor known for his work on horror films, did the narration at the end of the song, including the evil laugh. With its famous graveyard dance, the video popularized group dance scenes in pop videos, a trend Pat Benatar pushed forward earlier in 1983 with her “Love Is A Battlefield” video.
RadiOn	Love Is A Battlefield	Pat Benatar	1983	“Love Is A Battlefield” is a ballad written by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight with the uptempo added by Pat Benatar’s husband, guitarist and producer Neil Giraldo. The music video got a great deal of airplay on MTV. It was one of the first videos to incorporate dialogue into the song to progress the storyline and contained a group dance sequence that was also used in Michael Jackson’s music video “Thriller”.
RadiOn	Super Freak	Rick James	1981	Rick James, was one of the first black artists from Motown to fight for the right to shoot videos and to get black artists on MTV. “Super Freak” is a 1981 single produced and performed by American singer Rick James written by Rick James and Alonzo Miller with backing vocals by The Temptations.
RadiOn	Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone	The Temptations	1972	In 1972 the third Temptations lineup with Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris and Richard Street released “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”, written by Motown’s duo Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield. At that time, Whitfield had taken over Smokey Robinson’s role as the main producer for the Temptations and moved them into the psychedelic soul music genre. It was one of the last big hits recorded at Motown’s ‘Hitsville U.S.A.’ in Detroit. Both sides of the single won Grammy awards: the A-side for Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus, and the B-side for Best R&B Instrumental Performance. The Temptations have been awarded more than 50 Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum Awards all combined.
RadiOn	Let’s Dance	David Bowie	1983	David Bowie was one of the first white artists to appear on ABC TV’s Soul Train in early November 1975. In 1983 in an interview with MTV whilst promoting his album Let’s Dance, David Bowie had some questions and criticisms about MTV’s lack of videos featuring black artists (https://youtu.be/XZGiVzIr8Qg). “Let’s Dance”, written and performed by David Bowie with Nile Rodgers, Stevie Ray Vaughan and drummer Omar Hakim.
RadiOn	The Horse	Cliff Nobles and Company	1968	“The Horse” was the b side of Cliff Noble’s single “Love Is All Right”. It featured many musicians that would join later famous in-house bands like the MFSB for Philadelphia Sound and the Funk Brothers for Motown. It was also well known as the theme music of “The Now Explosion” a unique marathon TV show featuring locally produced music videos for hours on end just like top forty radio – a decade before MTV. Founded by Bob Whitney and financed by Joe Field, “The Now Explosion” went on the air in Atlanta, GA, on March 14, 1970.
RadiOn	Video Killed the Radio Star	The Buggles	1979	“Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles is written by the initial three band members Geoff Downes, Trevor Horn and Bruce Woolley in 1979. The video clip was first aired on the BBC’s Top of the Pops for promotion of the single. MTV launched its broadcasting at one minute after midnight on August 1st, 1981 with the video clip ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ by The Buggles.
RadiOn	Money For Nothing	Dire Straits	1985	Frontman Mark Knopfler of the Dire Straits had observed very well how to get on MTV and MTV Europe used his video clip for their launch on the 1st of August 1987. Knopfler modeled his guitar sound on ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons’ trademark guitar tone, as ZZ Top’s music videos were already a staple of early MTV. This song is about rock star excess and the easy life it brings compared with real work. Mark Knopfler wrote it after overhearing delivery men in a New York department store complain about their jobs while watching MTV. He wrote the song in the store sitting at a kitchen display they had set up. Many of the lyrics were things they actually said. The songwriting credits for “Money For Nothing” are shared between Mark Knopfler and Sting. Sting contributed and sang “I want my MTV.”
RadiOn	Sharp Dressed Man	ZZ Top	1983	ZZ Top’s 1983’s “Sharp Dressed Man” music video continues the story of the “Gimme All Your Lovin'” video, and forms a loose trilogy (ending with the video for “Legs”). In the video, a male parking valet is remade as a star by a trio of women driving up in the Eliminator car; the band grants him the keys to the car. The “Eliminator” is Billy Gibbons’ 1933 Ford Hot Rod and the Album title where the three songs appeared. ZZ Top’s music videos provided everything MTV’s target audience craved: girls, rock and roll, and a really sweet ride.
RadiOn	Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll	Ian Dury and The Blockheads	1977	“Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” by ‘Ian Dury and The Blockheads’ is written by Ian Dury and keyboard/guitarist Chaz Jankel in Dury’s flat in Oval Mansions, London (nicknamed “Catshit mansions” by Dury) that overlooked The Oval cricket ground.
RadiOn	Glad to Know You	Chaz Jankel	1981	In 1981 Ian Dury returned a favour to Chaz Jankel with his vintage storytelling for the dance hit “Glad to Know You” the biggest selling 12-inch single of 1982.
RadiOn	Ai No Corrida (ft. Ibrahim Ferrer & Quincy Jones)	Vania Borges	2006	“Ai No Corrida” is written in 1980 by Chaz Jankel and Kenny Young. Kenny Young’s mission was to to help people affected by climate change and producing albums to raise money for environmental causes with leading artists, such as the Rhythms del mundo – cuba album in 2006. Quicy Jones recorded a Spanish-language version with vocals by Vania Borges.
RadiOn	Under the Boardwalk	The Drifters	1964	“Under the Boardwalk” is a pop song written by Kenny Young and Arthur Resnick and recorded by the Drifters in 1964 with Rudy Lewis as lead vocals. George Treadwell, the Drifters’ manager owed the group’s name from 1955 and as a result, the Drifters recycled many band members. In 1958, Treadwell replaced the entire group with another ensemble, the Five Crowns, led by Benjamin Earl Nelson. In 1960, Nelson left, after Treadwell rebuffed his salary increase and fairer share of the group’s royalties request and embarked on a solo career as Ben E. King.
RadiOn	Save the Last Dance for Me	The Drifters	1960	“Save the Last Dance for Me” by The Drifters was written by the songwriting team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman in 1960. Initially released as the ‘B’ side of the single ‘Nobody But Me’. Doc Pomus (born Jerry Felder son of British-born Jewish immigrants) wrote it when thinking back about his wedding, watching his brother Raoul (a famous divorce lawyer) dance with his bride, Willi Burke, a gorgeous gentile aspiring actress. While he was, polio-disabled, unable to dance, he knew that at the end of the evening, she would come home with him.
RadiOn	Stand By Me	Ben E. King	1961	Benjamin Earl King’s “Stand by Me”, was a huge success both in 1961 and later in 1986 (when it was used as the theme to the film of the same name). The song is written by Benjamin King, Jerome Leiber and Michael Stoller and a heartfelt ode to friendship and devotion. The ‘Stand by Me Foundation’, is a charity dedicated to children’s education.
RadiOn	Young Blood	The Coasters	1957	In 1957 Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller together with Doc Pomus wrote “”Young Blood” for The Coasters introducing the ground-breaking crossover hits with humorous ‘street saga’ songs of the white teenager sung by a black group.
RadiOn	Hound Dog	Big Mama Thornton	1953	In 1953 Big Mama Thornton released her hit ‘Hound Dog’, written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Freddie Bell of the Freddie Bell and the Bellboys, changed the lyrics in 1955 and turned the racy song about a disappointing lover into a song that was literally about a dog. As a white singer from Memphis with some black attitudes Elvis Presley stamped the song with his own identity and released it in July 1956 on the b side of his single “Don’t Be Cruel”.
RadiOn	That’s All Right	Elvis Presley	1954	Elvis Presley’s version of Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup’s 1949 song “That’s All Right, Mama” was recorded in July 1954 at the Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee, known as “The Birthplace of Rock’n’roll” Rufus Thomas, who recorded “Bear Cat” for Sun Records, an “answer record” to Big Mama Thornton’s R&B hit “Hound Dog”, was at the time a deejay on the Memphis’ WDIA radio station and introduced Elvis Presley to the black radio audience. The rest is history …
RadiOn	‘Cause I Love You	Carla & Rufus Thomas	1960	Thomas and his daughter Carla would become the first stars for the Stax label with their duet in 1959, “‘Cause I Love You” supported by the house band The Mar-Keys to turn Satellite into a rhythm and blues label. Originally known as Satellite, the Memphis company Stax was founded in 1957 by Jim Stewart and co-owned with his sister, Estelle Axton, and took its new name in 1961 from the first two letters of their last names.
RadiOn	Last Night	The Mar-Keys	1961	Formed in 1958, The Mar-Keys was the first house band for the legendary Stax label and included drummer Terry Johnson, pianist Jerry Lee “Smoochie” Smith, saxophonists Don Nix and Charles Axton, and trumpeter Wayne Jackson in addition to guitarists Steve Cropper and Donald “Duck” Dunn. In 1960 the group joined the staff at Charles Axton’s mother Estelle’s Satellite label, backing artists that included Rufus Thomas and his daughter Carla.
RadiOn	Green Onions	Booker T. & the Mgs	1962	Booker T. & the MGs, an interracial instrumental quartet, served as the Stax Records rhythm section and house band. The track “Green Onions” came about by accident during a jamming session. Hence it is credited to all band members Booker T. Jones (organ, piano), Steve Cropper (guitar), Lewie Steinberg (bass), and Al Jackson Jr. (drums). In 1962, jamming in the studio while fruitlessly waiting for Billy Lee Riley to show up for a session, they came up with a classic minor-key, bluesy soul instrumental, distinguished by its nervous organ bounce and ferocious bursts of guitar.
RadiOn	These Arms Of Mine	Otis Redding	1962	In August 1962 the young Otis Redding drove guitarist and Pinetoppers bandleader Johnny Jenkins for a recording session at Stax Records. At the end of the session, Stax co-owner Jim Stewart allowed Otis to cut a couple of songs with the remaining studio time. The result was “These Arms Of Mine”, released in 1962.
RadiOn	(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay	Otis Redding	1967	“(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” is a song co-written by soul singer Otis Redding and guitarist Steve Cropper. This was Otis’ final recording before the plane crash that took his life in December 1967, while touring with his backing band “The Bar-Kays”.
RadiOn	Soul finger	The Bar-Kays	1967	The song “Soul finger” is written by the Bar-Kays while they were rehearsing with Norman West to perform a cover of J. J. Jackson’s “But It’s Alright”. The track was used as the opening theme tune to BBC Radio 1 DJ Stuart Henry’s shows from 1969 to 1974. The Sugar Hill Gang’s 1979 single “Rapper’s Delight” contains multiple references to the Bar-Kays.
RadiOn	Hyperbolicsesquedalymistic	Isaac Hayes	1969	Surviving Bar-Kays members, trumpeter Ben Cauley and bassist James Alexander rebuilt the group after the plane crash and played on “Hot Buttered Soul” the timeless album in soul music history that launched the career of Isaac Hayes at Stax Records. “Hyperbolicsesquedalymistic” is one of the four tracks on the album, pronounced HY-PER-BO-LIC-SYL-LA-BIC-SES-QUA-DA-LY-MIS-TIC.
RadiOn	Soul Man	Sam & Dave	1966	Sam & Dave’s iconic soul anthem “Soul Man” is written by Stax legends Isaac Hayes and David Porter. The duo Sam & Dave consisted of Samuel Moore and David Prater. Isaac Hayes with David Porter became the éminence grises behind Sam & Dave, much as Holland-Dozier-Holland pulled the strings behind the Supremes. They wrote, they produced— and the result was a string of hits, including “Soul Man,” “Hold On! I’m Comin’,” and “I Thank You,” songs that survive as the very epitome of Southern soul. When Stax’s distribution deal with Atlantic ended they no longer had access to the production team of Hayes and Porter or the house band of Booker T. & the MG’s, and their recorded work took a slight dip in quality.
Places	Down Under	Men At Work	1981	“Men At Work” celebrate Australia’s origins in their song “Down Under”, where beer flows, and men chunder – “Chunder” is Aussie slang meaning to vomit. Vegemite sandwich – Vegemite is a fermented yeast spread that is pretty much a national institution in Australia – Some people love it and can’t start the day without a piece of toast spread with Vegemite, and some go so far as to carry a small jar of it with them when they travel overseas.
Places	Born to Run	Bruce Springsteen	1975	Bruce Springsteen in “Born to Run” dreams to get out of this town while he is young. A few more years in this town, he believes that he will be stuck here forever along with his dreams. “Born to Run” had a universal appeal among like-minded teens who were struggling to get out of their situations. Everybody wants to ‘move’ as opposed to staying stagnant and rotting in one place. Bruce encouraged all of us to ‘run.’
Places	Town Called Malice	The Jam	1981	Paul Weller, The Jam’s frontman, has said that “Town Called Malice” was written about his hometown Woking as a result of his teenage experiences there. “Town Called Malice” has been featured in many movies and recently in the British crime thriller television series with the same title.
Places	Echo Beach	Martha & The Muffins	1980	The inspiration for “Martha & The Muffins” “Echo Beach” was Sunnyside Beach on the shoreline of Lake Ontario in Toronto. Echo beach was a symbol of a place everyone wants to escape to when they’re not where they want to be.
Places	Rock This Town	Stray Cats	1981	“Rock This Town” is written by rockabilly “Stray Cats” band leader Brian Setzer.
Places	Itchycoo Park	Small Faces	1967	Written by band members Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, “Itchycoo Park” is said to be about a place where some of the band members grew up, when the Small Faces still had small faces, maybe? Anyway, a place with stinging nettles growing there.
Places	MacArthur Park	Richard Harris	1968	“MacArthur Park” is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb that was recorded first by Irish actor and singer Richard Harris in 1968. The inspiration for the song was his relationship and breakup with Susie Horton. MacArthur Park, in Los Angeles, was where the couple would occasionally meet for lunch and spent their most enjoyable times together. You may hear some resemblance with “music” the song by John Miles.
Places	Somewhere Only We Know	Keane	2004	“Somewhere Only We Know” is written by ‘Keane’ band members Tim Rice-Oxley, Tom Chaplin and Richard Hughes. The song’s lyrics refer to Manser’s Shaw, a place in Battle that Keane members used to visit in their childhood days and the site of the Battle of Hastings, fought on 14 October 1066.
Places	Tom’s Diner	Suzanne Vega	1987	Their exist no doubt where “Tom’s Diner” is in New York (Tom’s Restaurant is a diner located at 2880 Broadway (on the corner of West 112th Street). Suzanne Vega wrote the song in 1982, while she was a regular at the restaurant. The song was released in 1987 and is known for its use in testing various digital compression schemes during the development of the MP3, earning Vega the title of “Mother of the MP3”
Places	A Place with No Name	Michael Jackson	2014	The track is based on “A Horse with No Name”, the hit 1972 song by rock band America. The song featured on Xscape Michael Jackson’s second album of all new music released after his death in 2009.
Places	Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)	Marvin Gaye	1971	Written by Marvin Gaye and James Nyx Jr., the song depicts the ghettos and bleak economic situations of lower-income residential districts (inner-city) in America, and the emotional effects these have on inhabitants. This song deals with the poverty and hopelessness people living in the ghettos of urban America often felt. How the government would send guys to the moon, but not help folks in the ghetto. Gaye grew up in Washington, DC before moving to Detroit in 1960.
Places	Wind Of Change	Scorpions	1991	Written by Scorpions band leader Klaus Meine and released in 1991. The lyrics celebrate glasnost in the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War, and speak of hope at a time when tense conditions had arisen due to the fall of Communist-run governments among Eastern Bloc nations beginning in 1989. The opening lines are changed to “Now listen to my heart / It says Ukraine, waiting for the wind to change.” Meine stated, “It’s not the time with this terrible war in Ukraine raging on, it’s not the time to romanticize Russia.”
Places	Miss Sarajevo	Passengers	1995	Written by Brian Eno, Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. “Miss Sarajevo” is a song by Irish rock band U2 and British musician Brian Eno, credited to the pseudonym “Passengers”. It was released on 20 November 1995 as the only single from their album Original Soundtracks 1. Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti makes a vocal appearance, singing the opera solo. The song was written about a group of women who held a beauty pageant during the Siege of Sarajevo as an act of defiance. Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti makes a vocal appearance, singing the opera solo.
Places	We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee	Redbone	1973	In 1973 Redbone released the politically oriented “We Were All Wounded At Wounded Knee”, recalling the massacre of a band of Sioux Indians by the Seventh Cavalry in 1890. Pat Vegas quotes: “CBS/Epic wouldn’t record it, so I paid for it myself. They did me a favour and pressed up 500 copies, and I put it under my arm and carried it to Europe. I distributed it to the radio stations in Holland and before you know it it was number one across Europe.
Places	537 C.U.B.A.	Orishas	1999	The song “537 C.U.B.A.” by Orishas released in 1999 is a reference to the telephone country code for Cuba and the city code for Havana and uses a sampling of the famous Compay Segundo & El Cuarteto Patria’s song “Chan Chan”. The song pays a tribute to Compay Segundo & El Cuarteto Patria, a great Cuban “tres” player, by taking the melody of the traditional Cuban son “Chan Chan” or also classified as “sampling”. “Chan Chan” was made famous internationally by Compay Segundo with the release of the album “Buena Vista Social Club” in 1997. The title “537 C.U.B.A.” is a reference to the telephone country code for Cuba and the city code for Havana. This song embodies a nostalgic sound “that besets those in the Cuban diaspora as well as those weary of the dehumanizing aspects of capitalism in developed countries”. Overall, Orishas’ song is their anthem of the emigrant’s lament, expressing the sorrow and loneliness that result from being separated from the homeland. The song also is a representation of Orishas being away from Cuba for more than a year and it is their cry to Cuba expressed in a nostalgic and sorrowful sound. (The name “Orishas” refers to the set of deities worshipped in African-based religions in the Americas, like Santería in Cuba and Candomblé in Brazil, resulting from the relocation of Yoruba slaves. These orishas each represent a natural element (such as the ocean or leaves) and exhibit a human characteristic (such as motherhood or love)) Los Orishas began as Cuban rap group “Amenaza” in the early 1990s. The song “537 C.U.B.A.” is on the album “A Lo Cubano” by Orishas released in 1999.
Places	Goin’ Up the Country	Canned Heat	1968	Written by Alan Wilson & Henry Thomas, this song is essentially the essence of traveling around the country carelessly and with a group of friends. Nothing more than just a catchy tune about a road trip.
Places	Le Sud	Nino Ferrer	1975	“Le Sud” is a song written, composed and performed by Nino Ferrer. Nino Ferrer was inspired by the American folk and country music he heard while living in Italy. The song was released in February 1975 as a single. This song is about a place like Louisiana in Italy, and how nice it is there. The song was originally written in English, but was translated into French for the release of the single.
Places	I Know a Place	Petula Clark	1965	Written by Tony Hatch for Petula Clark in 1965, “I know a Place” refers to “a cellar full of noise”, a deliberate reference to the title of Brian Epstein’s 1964 autobiography (A Cellarful of Noise), describing the below-ground Cavern Club in Liverpool where he first discovered the Beatles. The song is featuring in many movies and TV series and translated in many languages.
Places	An Englishman In New York	Godley & Creme	1979	Former 10cc members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme wrote the impressions of their first visit to America in their song “An Englishman In New York”. Kevin Godley and Lol Creme are from England, but they have always been fascinated by America. This song was inspired by their first trip to New York City, when they were members of the band 10cc.
Places	So Far Away From L.A	Nicolas Peyrac	1975	Nicolas Peyrac (born 6 October 1949 as Jean-Jacques Tazartez) is a French musician, writer and photographer. In 1975 he wrote and performed ‘So Far Away From L.A.’ La chanson évoque des lieux (le Golden Gate, le pénitencier d’Alcatraz, le Queen Mary transformé en hôtel flottant, Beverly Hills, les collines d’Hollywood) et des personnages (Caryl Chessman, Greta Garbo, Humphrey Bogart dit « Bogie », Sharon Tate) emblématiques de San Francisco et de Los Angeles.
Places	Big Yellow Taxi	Joni Mitchell	1970	Joni Mitchell penned her environmental concerns down in “Big Yellow Taxi” in 1970. Joni Mitchell lived in Laurel Canyon, which is a section of Los Angeles, when she wrote this song (that’s the reference in the album title). At the time, big news in California was the battle to save the redwood forests, which were threatened by developers eager to cut down the trees to build shopping centers and other amenities. As Mitchell implies in this song, this could lead to trees someday becoming something you could only see in a museum. Mitchell (from a 1996 interview with the Los Angeles Times): “I wrote ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart… this blight on paradise. That’s when I sat down and wrote the song.” The line, “They paved paradise and put up the parking lot” refers to the destruction of The Garden of Allah, a Hollywood hotel renowned for its rowdy celebration parties.
Places	Hotel California	Eagles	1977	The legendary hit “Hotel California” is written by ‘Eagles’ band members Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey while staying at the The Beverly Hills Hotel in 1976. Released in February 1977 it is about “a journey from innocence to experience … that’s all”.
Places	Our House	Madness	1982	“Our House” by Madness, written by guitarist Chrissy Boy (Chris Foreman) and secondary vocalist, trumpeter and dancer Chas Smash (Cathal Smyth). “Our House” was Madness’ biggest hit in the US. There is also a musical called Our House, featuring Madness songs.
Places	Tobacco Road	Jefferson Airplane	1966	“Tobacco Road” was a semi-autobiographical tale of growing up in Durham, North Carolina, written and first recorded by John D. Loudermilk in December 1959 and released in 1960. This song became a hit for The Nashville Teens in 1964. Jefferson Airplane recorded a version of Tobacco Road on their first album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, in 1966 with their original lead singer Signe Anderson. Just as Jefferson Airplane was ascending, Anderson gave birth to her first child. Realizing that life on the road with a newborn was unfeasible, Anderson opted to part ways with Jefferson Airplane in 1966.
Places	Old Town	Philip Lynott	1982	“Old Town” is a song released by Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott from his 1982 self-titled solo album, The Philip Lynott Album; its autobiographical lyrics detail the end of a romance. The setting of the old town is Dublin, Ireland, were Lynott grew up. Phil Lynott co-wrote this song with Thin Lizzy bass player Jimmy Bain.
State of Mind	Dizzy	Tommy Roe	1968	This snappy bubblegum song “Dizzy” is written and recorded by Tommy Roe and was an international hit in 1969. Instrumental backing was provided by the Los Angeles session musicians known as the Wrecking Crew. In this song, Tommy Roe gets a touch of vertigo every time he is near a girl who captivates him. At first, he’s not sure what to do because other guys are always after her, but when he gets his chance and tells her how he feels, she kisses him and melts his heart. At this point, he’s so dizzy he might need medical help.
State of Mind	Paranoid	Black Sabbath	1970	“Paranoid” is a song by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1970. Frontman Ozzy Osbourne’s narrative “I tell you to enjoy life” was sometimes misheard as “I tell you to end your life” and caused some controversy for apparently encouraging suicide.
State of Mind	Boulevard Of Broken Dreams	Green Day	2004	“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” is a 2004 song by American rock band Green Day written by lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong. Armstrong stated that the title of the song was “nicked” from the picture of James Dean walking alone in New York and underneath it says ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams.’ There’s also a 1995 biography by Paul Alexander titled “James Dean: Boulevard of Broken Dreams”
State of Mind	My Ever Changing Moods	The Style Council	1984	“My Ever Changing Moods” was released in 1984 by The Style Council. Composed by lead singer Paul Weller, this song is a homage to Curtis Mayfield with overtones of nuclear threat. Paul Weller quoted: “I think it’s probably like a lot of songs I’ve done… they start of being about myself and then I get bored with it and I make it into something else.”
State of Mind	Move On Up	Curtis Mayfield	1971	“Move On Up” is a song by Curtis Mayfield released in 1971. Mr. Superfly Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up” was covered by Paul Weller’s band The Jam in 1982.
State of Mind	Crazy	Gnarls Barkley	2006	“Gnarls Barkley” is composed of producer Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) and vocalist Cee-Lo Green (Thomas Callaway). Their 2006 song “Crazy” is about insisting upon doing things your way, and the thin line between being crazy and being convinced that you’re right.
State of Mind	Happy Man	Jungle	2018	“Happy Man” from the band Jungle in 2018 is a “wake-up” call for their generation. They stated: “‘Happy Man essentially engages with the idea that our generation isn’t coping with the expectations that have been placed upon them by society. People are waking up to what the system is now, and how we feel trapped within it and often very isolated from each other in our quest for ‘The Dream.’ I guess the song is really a wake-up call, to yourself, mostly to stop chasing this mythical ‘end-goal’ to life, and enjoy the ride a little more.”
State of Mind	Fly Too High	Janis Ian	1979	“Fly Too High” from 1979 is one of Janis Ian’s more sultry songs, not typical of her other work. The lyrics are about a young teenage girl who is growing up quickly, perhaps too quickly. There are also suggestions of trying to fulfill ambitions as soon as possible, which Ian herself did shortly after leaving home at a young age.
State of Mind	Crunchy Granola Suite	Neil Diamond	1971	Crunchy Granola Suite” is a pop rock song written and recorded in 1971 by Neil Diamond. The opening song of Diamond’s live album Hot August Night, is one of the coolest song ever written about breakfast food and exposes his adherence to the stereotypical California, macrobiotic, granola, health food lifestyle.
State of Mind	Never Alone / Always Together	The Black Box Revelation	2008	The Black Box Revelation is a Brussels rock duo including the pounding drums of Dries Van Dijck and the roaring guitars and screaming voice of Jan Paternoster. “Never Alone / Always Together” was released in 2008.
State of Mind	Locomotive Breath	Jethro Tull	1971	“Locomotive Breath” by Jethro Tull was released on March 30, 1971. Band leader and writer Ian Anderson expressed his concern regarding overpopulation and its impact on prosperity, happiness, food and spread of wealth. His frequent use of public transport made the link with trains.
State of Mind	The Beast in Me	Nick Lowe	1994	The song “The Beast in Me” by Nick Lowe, released in 1994, features slow, mournful music and lyrics describing the narrator’s struggle with destructive habits and personality traits: “The beast in me / Is caged by frail and fragile bars” The recording debut for “The Beast In Me” was by American singer Johnny Cash from his American Recordings album released in April 1994. Cash was Lowe’s father-in-law from 1979 to 1990, during Lowe’s marriage to singer Carlene Carter.
State of Mind	Behind Blue Eyes	The Who	1971	“Behind Blue Eyes” was released by The Who in 1971. Band members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey both have blue eyes, however writer Townshend expressed his own feeling of angst for the temptation by a groupie.
State of Mind	Reflections Of My Life	Marmalade	1969	“Reflections of My Life” was a hit single for the Scottish band, Marmalade released on 14 November 1969. This dramatic ballad from the Age of Aquarius finds the singer describing a very bleak outlook on life and the times. The song was sort of a hippie version of the blues.
State of Mind	Simple Man	Lynyrd Skynyrd	1973	Lynyrd Skynyrd these days dedicates the 1973 song “Simple Man” to their late frontman and song co-writer Ronnie Van Zant. The mother/son relation song says a lot about a young man’s life and his disposition
State of Mind	Suddenly (ft. Weyes Blood)	Drugdealer	2016	Drugdealer started in 2016 as a solo project by Michael Collins with vintage style often working with guest vocals such as Weyes Blood (pronounced: Wize Blood), with her gorgeous lower register (as Karen Carpenter said, “it is not in the high notes. the money is in the basement”), born Natalie Mering an American singer and songwriter (born 11 June 1988 in Santa Monica, California, USA) living now in New York.
State of Mind	Thinking of a Place	The War on Drugs	2017	“Thinking of a Place” a song by the band “The War on Drugs”, written by frontman Adam Granduciel who attaches an aura of hazy nostalgia to the song. He’s thinking of a place, and, in his hypnotic way, he makes it real.
State of Mind	Nights In White Satin	The Moody Blues	1967	Receiving a set of white satin sheets gave Moody Blue’s band member Justin Hayward the inspiration for “Nights in White Satin” in 1967 when he was 19. It was a series of random thoughts and was quite autobiographical.
State of Mind	A Whiter Shade of Pale	Annie Lennox	1995	Keith Reid, very taken with surrealism, Magritte and Dali, wrote the lyrics to “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” Although not a band member he founded Procol Harum with Gary Brooker in 1967, named after a vanished cat called ‘Procul Harum’. Annie Lennox covered the song in 1995. Keith Reid recently died in a London hospital aged 76, after receiving cancer treatment for two years.
State of Mind	Have You Never Been Mellow	Olivia Newton-John	1975	“Have You Never Been Mellow” is a song recorded by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John Olivia is addressing someone who is stressed out and she even wonders if there was ever a time when he was not so uptight. “mellow” was Olivia’s bands’ favourite word at the time. Olivia is also known by the nickname Lovely Livvy
State of Mind	Mellow Yellow	Donovan	1966	“Mellow Yellow”, a song by Donovan in 1966, about being cool, laid-back, and also the electrical bananas that were appearing on the scene – which were ladies vibrators. I used to have a mellow yellow mini. Anyway, the song came at the time when meditation became more serious for him and the members of The Beatles …
State of Mind	Mind Games	John Lennon & The Plastic U.F.Ono Band	1973	“Mind Games” written by John Lennon, released in 1973 by the ‘John Lennon & The Plastic U.F.Ono Band’ is about making yourself a better person. John Lennon was inspired by the book ‘Mind Games: The Guide to Inner Space.’ written by Robert Masters and Jean Houston, which explains how we can improve ourselves on various levels by playing tricks on our minds. In 1973 John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono had a period of separation (called “the Lost Weekend”) and he moved to Los Angeles with his assistant and new lover May Pang. The line-up of the ‘Plastic U.F.Ono Band’ included John Lennon (vocals, rhythm guitar, slide guitar, percussion), Jim Keltner (drums), David Spinozza (lead guitar), Kenneth Ascher (piano, organ), Gordon Edwards (bass), Arthur Jenkins (percussion), Michael Brecker (saxophone), Sneaky Pete Kleinow (pedal steel guitar), Rick Marotta (drums) and Something Different (chorus).
boomer	Smoking My Ganja	Capital Letters	1978	‘Capital Letters’ was formed in 1972 in Wolverhampton, England and members of the seventies British roots reggae scene. ‘Smoking My Ganja’ was released in 1978.
boomer	Over My Shoulder	Mike + the Mechanics	1995	Mike Rutherford (former Genesis) and ‘Golden Voice’ Paul Carrack wrote “Over my Shoulder” in 1995 for their band Mike and the Mechanics.
boomer	Harvest For The World	The Christians	1988	The Christians released a 1988 the hit cover of the “Harvest for the World” a 1976 single released by American musical group The Isley Brothers.
boomer	We are the World	USA for Africa	1985	“We are the World” is written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones as a benefit single for victims of famine in Africa. It raised over $60 Million, which was distributed to Ethiopia, Sudan, and other impoverished countries. The single was modelled on Band Aid, the British group Bob Geldof put together the year before to record “Do They Know It’s Christmas?.” This was recorded at A&M Studios in Los Angeles on January 28, 1985, the night of the American Music Awards and included, in order, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Billy Joel, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Michael Jackson (again), Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, and Kim Carnes. Bob Dylan and Ray Charles were also featured on the song as well as Harry Belafonte, who had the original idea for the project, joining Bette Midler, Smokey Robinson, The Pointer Sisters, LaToya Jackson, Bob Geldof, Sheila E., and Waylon Jennings as backing singers.
boomer	The Message	Grandmaster Flash	1982	In 1982, “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five told with hip-hop’s rhythmic and vocal force, the truth about modern inner-city life in America.
boomer	Breakout	Swing Out Sister	1986	“Breakout” by the British band “Swing Out Sister” was released in 1986. Swing Out Sister was formed in 1985 in Manchester, England by keyboardist Andy Connell and drummer Martin Jackson joined by singer Corinne Drewery, who was previously a fashion designer. The official music video was inspired by Corinne Drewery’s previous career. It features her as a fashion designer, designing and making her own dress, then modeling it.
boomer	Follow Me	Amanda Lear	1978	“Follow Me” is a song by French singer, actress and former model, Amanda Lear released in 1978. According her official website, Amanda Tap(p) was born in Vietnam in 1950 from an English marine officer and an Asian mother. In 1965 she married Scottish Paul Morgan Lear, from whom she kept the surname. Ariola had launched a controversial publicity campaign presenting Amanda as an enigma: Was she born in Transylvania ? Was she a boy ? She finally posed in the nude in Playboy, Lui magazine and Penthouse to answer the question: was she a boy?
boomer	I’ve Seen That Face Before [Libertango]	Grace Jones	1981	“I’ve Seen That Face Before (Libertango)” is a single by Jamaican born singer Grace Jones, released in 1981. The song is a reworking of Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango”. Lyrically, it describes the darker side of Parisian nightlife. Grace Beverly Jones OJ (born 19 May 1948) is an American model, singer and actress, known for her distinctive androgynous appearance and bold features, working for fashion houses such as Yves St. Laurent and Kenzo, and appearing on the covers of Elle and Vogue.
boomer	Lola	The Kinks	1970	‘Lola’ written by Ray Davies of The Kinks, is based on a story about their manager. It is about a guy who meets a girl (Lola) in a club who takes him home and rocks his world. The twist comes when we find out that Lola is a man.
boomer	Brass in Pocket	The Pretenders	1979	“Brass in Pocket” was The Pretenders’ first and biggest hit and the first flowering of ‘girl power’. Hynde got the idea for the song’s title when, during an after-show dinner, she overheard someone enquiring if anyone had, “Picked up dry cleaning? Any brass in pocket?”
boomer	One Way Or Another	Blondie	1979	Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry wrote this song about a stalker, inspired by real events is. Blondie was one of the first ‘punk’ (female empowerment was punk) bands to have Pop success.
boomer	Message In A Bottle	The Police	1979	“Message In A Bottle” written by “The Police” frontman Sting in 1979. The lyrics can be seen as a metaphor for being lonely and realizing there are lots of people just like you.
boomer	The Passenger	Iggy Pop	1977	Iggy Pop wrote the lyrics for “The Passenger” and guitarist Ricky Gardiner composed the riff. This “simple celebration of life” was recorded in 1977 during his ‘exile’ in West-Berlin and while sharing an apartment with David Bowie and friends.
boomer	99 Luftballons	Nena	1983	99 balloons from German band Nena released in 1983 – is a song inspired by a Rolling Stones concert in West Berlin, so prior to the fall of the wall during the time of the Cold War. The story goes, letting 99 red balloons go in the air for fun. These balloons show up on the radar as unidentified objects (UFO’s) and both sides scramble planes and go to full alert to counteract a perceived nuclear attack, when in fact it is the most childlike of things, a bunch of balloons. A reference to the paranoia/hysteria surrounding a nuclear of war. At a 1982 Rolling Stones concert in Berlin, Nena’s guitarist Carlo Karges watched a mass of balloons released. The balloons came together into various odd shapes, some of the seeming to form spacecrafts. Karges wondered aloud later what the reaction to seeing the balloons floating over the wall would be. Would the communists think they were under attack and unleash war?
boomer	Start Me Up	The Rolling Stones	1981	The 1981 single “Start Me Up” was the last great Jagger–Richard song by the Rolling Stones. Bill Gates hired the song for the launch video of Microsoft Windows 95, its 32bit operating system for PCs.
boomer	Crazy	Seal	1991	Seal wrote the lyrics to “Crazy,” and Guy Sigsworth, who co-produced the song with Trevor Horn, arranged the music. This song was inspired by the crazy events of 1989-1990, in particular the fall of the Berlin Wall. The lyrics, “And through a fractal on a breaking wall, I see you my friend, and touch your face again” appear to be a reference to the Berlin Wall coming down.
boomer	The Times They Are A-changin’	Bryan Ferry	2007	Bryan Ferry released in 2007 the album “Dylanesque” with his ode to Bob Dylan including this call to action, “The Times They Are A-Changin'” an anthem for frustrated youth. It summed up the anti-establishment feelings of people who would later be known as hippies. Many of the lyrics are based on the Civil Rights movement in the US.
boomer	In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)	Zager & Evans	1969	“In The Year 2525” is a one-hit wonder song by the American, Nebraska band “Zager & Evans” from 1969. You may find on YouTube a matching vintage film footage from Fritz Lang’s movie “Metropolis” (https://youtu.be/zKQfxi8V5FA)
boomer	When I’m Sixty-Four	The Beatles	1967	Sir Paul McCartney wrote “When I’m Sixty-Four” when he was fourteen (in 1956). How little did he know how his life would be reaching that age … The song was released on the 1967 Beatles album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”.
boomer	River Deep, Mountain High	Ike & Tina Turner	1966	“River Deep – Mountain High” is a song by Ike & Tina Turner released as the title track to their 1966 studio album on Philles Records. Produced by Phil Spector and written by Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. In Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 500 Songs, Tina Turner is quoted as saying of the recording of this, “I must have sung that 500,000 times. I was drenched with sweat. I had to take my shirt off and stand there in my bra to sing.” R.I.P. Anna Mae Bullock.
boomer	Proud Mary	Creedence Clearwater Revival	1969	“Proud Mary” is a song by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival written by John Fogerty. Fogerty stated that the song about a washerwoman named Mary, was the result of high spirits on gaining his discharge from the Army Reserve. Ike & Tina Turner released in 1971 most likely the best cover ever made of CCR’s hit ‘Proud Mary’,
boomer	Wannabe	Spice Girls	1996	One of the most recognisable pop song of the last 60 years and a symbol of female empowerment. “Wannabe” is the debut single from the ‘Spice Girls’. This 1996 hit is their most emblematic song of the British group’s Girl Power philosophy.
boomer	Holiday	Madonna	1983	“Holiday” was Madonna’s first hit released in 1983. The was written by Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens and first offered to Mary Wilson of The Supremes who turned it down. Madonna is credited for playing “cowbelle” on this track.
boomer	Love Generation	Love Generation	2005	“Love Generation”, featuring Jamaican singer Gary “Nesta” Pine, is credited to Bob Sinclar, and was released in September 2005.
Tides	Quiero	Julio Iglesias	1975	“Quiero” by Julio Iglesias. A song from 1975 written by Cecilia and Narciso Yepes. About a special place by the sea, where the wind and the breeze embrace you. Cecilia is Evangelina Sobredo Galanes, Singer-songwriter, who took her stage name from the song by Simon and Garfunkel.
Tides	Good Times	Chic	1979	Chic’s “Good Times” is a block party favourite composed by Nile Rodgers with Bernard Edwards’ distinctive bassline, making it one of the most copied and sampled records ever.
Tides	Another One Bites The Dust	Queen	1980	Queen bass player John Deacon wrote “Another One Bites The Dust” song. Deacon was influenced by the Chic song Good Times. All four members of Queen wrote songs, and each wrote at least one hit.
Tides	Rappers Delight	Sugarhill Gang	1979	“Rapper’s Delight,” released on September 16, 1979, got rap into the mainstream helped by Sylvia Robinson at Sugar Hill Records. “Rapper’s Delight” used real musicians to re-create the “Good Times” rhythm because the technology didn’t exist to make it into a sample loop.
Tides	We Are Family	Sister Sledge	1979	(The four) Sister(s) Sledge’ biggest hit “We Are Family” released in 1979. This was written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers who got the idea for the song’s title when they first met the sisters. The sisters’ grandmother was an opera singer who taught the girls how to harmonize and invited them to sing at her church. As a result, in their early days of performing around Philadelphia, they were known as Mrs. Williams’ Granddaughters.
Tides	Happiness	The Pointer Sisters	1979	“Happiness” is a song by The Pointer Sisters, written by Allen Toussaint, which was released in early 1979.
Tides	Respect Yourself (ft. The Pointer Sisters)	Bruce Willis	1986	In 1986, American actor Bruce Willis (as his fictitious alter-ego Bruno Radolini) began a short-lived singing career. Willis covered the Staple Singers’ seventies hit “Respect Yourself” for his 1987 album ‘The Return of Bruno’, featuring backing vocals by the Pointer Sisters; June Pointer also sings a verse.
Tides	If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me)	The Staple Singers	1973	“If You’re Ready (Come Go with Me)” is a song by the Staple Singers. The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing family band, composed of patriarch Roebuck “Pops” Staples, Cleotha, Pervis, Mavis and Yvonne who replaced her brother when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and again in 1970.
Tides	I Can See Clearly Now	Johnny Nash	1972	Houston, Texas’ born Johnny Nash wrote and performed “I Can See Clearly Now”, a song of hope and courage for individuals who have experienced adversity in their lives but have overcome it.
Tides	The Tide Is High	Blondie	1980	“The Tide Is High” is 1967 song originally recorded by the Jamaican group The Paragons, written by John Holt. Australian producer Mike Chapman helped American band Blondie to record their number hit version in 1980.
Tides	Formidable	Charles Aznavour	1993	“Formidable” is a French love song, composed by Charles Aznavour, and written by Jacques Plante, based on the theme of a “humorous declaration of love by Charles Aznavour in Franglais.” The singer loves the woman he is singing for. He sang in French because it is a more romantic language than English, and he wants her to understand how much he loves her. Even though she doesn’t seem to be interested in him. He’s actually wondering why he loves her at all since she mocks him and everything else.
Tides	Sympathique	Pink Martini	1997	Thomas Lauderdale founded the “little orchestra” Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, cleaning up the Willamette River, funding for libraries, public broadcasting, education and parks. China Forbes and Lauderdale co-wrote many of the band originals. Their first song – “Sympathique” (Je ne veus pas travailler) – became an overnight sensation in France, was nominated for “Song of the Year” at France’s Victoires de la Musique Awards, and to this day remains a mantra (“Je ne veux pas travailler” or “I don’t want to work”) for striking French workers.
Tides	Que Sera, Sera	Doris Day	1956	Doris Day’s signature song “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) is a song written by the team of Jay Livingston and Ray Evans that was first published in 1955. Doris Day introduced it in the Alfred Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956).
Tides	At Seventeen	Janis Ian	1975	“At Seventeen” It is one of Janis Ian’s most commercially successful songs, considered by critics her signature song. “At Seventeen”, written by Janis Ian at the age of 23 and released in 1975, is a ballad about being a social outcast in high school, particularly with respect to adolescent cruelty and rejection. Some commentators viewed “At Seventeen” as a gay anthem by the line “I learned the truth at seventeen” as discovering one’s homosexuality.
Tides	Time in a Bottle	Time in a Bottle	1973	“Time in a Bottle” is a song by singer-songwriter Jim Croce. He wrote the lyrics after his wife Ingrid told him she was pregnant in December 1970. Two years later, as Jim Croce’s songs were topping the music charts, his plane crashed in Natchitoches, Louisiana, on September 20, 1973, a week before his son’s second birthday.
Tides	Wonderful Life	Black	1987	“Wonderful Life” by Black, aka Colin Vearncombe (1962-2016), The irony of this song is that it took Colin’s miserable situations that made him write the song (a couple of car crashes, mother’s serious illness, dropped by a record company, marriage breakup and being homeless). Moreover, he died from a car accident on his way to the airport to start writing sessions after the release of his new album “Blind Faith” in 2016.
Tides	Cherish the Day	Sade	1993	“Cherish the Day” is a song by English band Sade, released in 1993. Sade’s minimalist lyrics… say all that needs to be said: a joyous soulful song embracing one to cherish each and every day. Helen Folasade Adu was born in Ibadan, Nigeria (1959) and best known as Sade Adu. Sade grew up listening to American soul music, particularly the wave led in the 1970’s by artists such as Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, and Bill Withers.
Tides	Lovely Day	Bill Withers	1977	“Lovely Day” is a song by American soul and R&B singer Bill Withers, released in December 1977 and re-released multiple times since it was used in several adverts over the years. Toward the end of the song Withers holds a note for 18 seconds,
Tides	Don’t Get Me Wrong	The Pretenders	1986	Written by Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, “Don’t Get Me Wrong” describes the complexities of love from a female perspective: “If you say hello and I take a ride Upon a sea where the mystic moon Is playing havoc with the tide”.
Tides	Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps	CAKE	1996	Cuban songwriter Osvaldo Farrés wrote the original Spanish song (“Quizas Quizas Quizas”) which became a hit for Bobby Capó in 1947. A year later it got translated in English by Joe Davis. US Californian band CAKE released their version in 1996. The song is a plea for clarity and to finally know if their efforts are appreciated and reciprocated.
Tides	These Boots Are Made for Walkin’	Nancy Sinatra	1966	“These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” is a hit song written by Lee Hazlewood and recorded by American singer Nancy Sinatra. It charted on January 22, 1966, and reached No. 1 in the United States Billboard Hot 100 and in the UK Singles Chart.
Tides	Under My Thumb	The Rolling Stones	1966	“Under My Thumb” by the English rock band the Rolling Stones is written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Brian Jones (their original lead guitarist) made it a musical gem thanks to the variety of instruments he played.
Tides	Wild World	Cat Stevens	1970	“Wild World” is a song written and recorded by English singer-songwriter Cat Stevens and released in 1970. Stevens was inspired by the end of his romance with model and actress Patti (lady) D’Arbanville. Patricia D’Arbanville is an American actress, known as the title character in the David Hamilton film Bilitis (1977).
Tides	Every Breath You Take	The Police	1983	The Police frontman Sting (Gordon Sumner) wrote “Every Breath You Take”. Sting wrote the song in 1982 in the aftermath of his separation from Northern Irish actress Frances Tomelty and the beginning of his relationship with Trudie Styler. Sting declared it is about the obsession with a lost lover, and the jealousy and surveillance that follow.
Tides	In The Air	Phil Collins	1980	The grim track “In The Air” as well as all songs on his Phil Collins’ album “Face Value” are referring to negative feelings surrounding his first divorce in 1980 from his wife, Andrea Bertorelli, a Candian-born former actress.
Tides	The Winner Takes It All	ABBA	1980	“The Winner Takes It All” by ABBA was released in 1980. The sad experience of ABBA band members’ Bjorn and Agnetha’s divorce (the previous year) left its mark on the lyrics of “The Winner Takes It All”. This song was once voted “Britain’s Favourite Break-Up Song.”
Tides	Go Your Own Way	Fleetwood Mac	1977	“Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac released in 1977, the first single from the Rumours album, which became one of the best-selling of all time. Lindsey Buckingham wrote this as a message to Stevie Nicks. Stevie Nicks got equal time on the album with “Dreams,” her message to Lindsey Buckingham. While the Rumours album was being recorded, the marriage of John and Christine McVie (both of them Mac members) was also coming to an end.
libido	Addicted To Love	Robert Palmer	1986	“Addicted to Love” is a song by English rock singer Robert Palmer released in 1986 with members of the Power Station. Andy Taylor of Duran Duran (and a bandmate of Palmer’s from the Power Station) provides lead guitar. The other guitar part on the song is played by Eddie Martinez, while keyboards were played by Wally Badarou. As well as producing the song, Bernard Edwards also played the bass. The song is also notable for its opening drum solo by Tony Thompson, another Power Station alumnus.
libido	Whole Lotta Rosie	AC/DC	1977	“Whole Lotta Rosie” by AC/DC, released in 1977 is about a woman called “Big Bertha”, a very large woman lead singer Bon Scott had relations with early in the band’s career. Bertha kept a black book where she recorded her conquests. When Scott did the deed with Bertha, she called to her friend, “that’s the 37th this month,” Scott turned the incident into a song, this time naming the woman “Rosie.”
libido	Sledgehammer	Peter Gabriel	1986	“Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel is about sex, and the lyrics are loaded with phallic symbols. In addition to the word “sledgehammer,” other references to the male member include the train, bumper cars, and the big dipper. The innuendo was typical of the blues music Gabriel drew from. Gabriel said regarding the theme of this song: “Sometimes sex can break through barriers when other forms of communication are not working too well.” Some of the lyrics were inspired by a quote from German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who said a good book breaks through like “an ax in a frozen sea.”
libido	The Seed (featuring Cody Chestnutt)	The Roots	2002	“The Seed 2.0” is a reworking of the original recording, “The Seed,” by Cody Chestnutt, who is a featured vocalist on this track. It’s one of those songs that becomes more convoluted the more you try to put together a precise linear narrative. Either way, the general spirit is that the guy wants to get as many women pregnant as possible.
libido	Wild Thing	Tone-Lōc	1988	Wild Thing by Tone-Lōc, released in 1988. Loc, whose writer credit appears as his real name, Anthony Smith, got the idea for the song after watching the 1986 Spike Lee movie She’s Gotta Have It, where hip-hop scenester Fab 5 Freddy tells a woman, “Let’s do the wild thing!” “The Wild Thing” is slang for sex. It was a popular and benign euphemism that worked well in the late ’80s when people like Arsenio Hall needed to talk about sex without arousing censors (the phrase “making whoopie” was hopelessly outdated).
libido	Push it	Salt-N-Pepa	1987	This follows the tradition of edgy-but-ambiguous songs about “it,” which can mean just about anything. The big hook is the “Oooh, baby, baby” section, which complements the percussive production. Another memorable section is the vocal interlude, where Hurby implores us to get on the dance floor, but “only the sexy people.”
libido	Walk This Way	Aerosmith	1975	“Walk This Way” is a song by the American rock band Aerosmith, released in 1975. The lyrics, which tell the story of a high school boy losing his virginity. The “walk this way” line is the experienced girl showing the young man where to put his finger – showing him how to walk.
libido	Steamy Windows	Tony Joe White	1991	Tony Joe White released in 1991 his album “Closer to the Truth”, recorded in the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Alabama, and produced by Dan Hartman. The album featured “Steamy Windows” and “Undercover Agent for the Blues” songs Tony Joe White originally wrote for Tina Turner.
libido	Private Dancer	Tina Turner	1984	This song is about either a prostitute or stripper who prefers to consider herself a “private dancer,” describing how empty she feels inside. Mark Knopfler wrote this song for his band Dire Straits, but realized that it didn’t work with a guy singing it, so he pitched it to Turner, who was beginning her comeback.
libido	Physical	Olivia Newton-John	1981	“Physical” is a song recorded by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John released in 1981. The song had also been offered to Tina Turner by her manager Roger Davies, but when Turner declined, Davies gave the song to Newton-John, another of his clients. Physical” (originally “Let’s Get Physical”) was written by Terry Shaddick and Newton-John’s longtime friend Steve Kipner, and initially was intended for a “macho male rock figure like Rod Stewart”, according to Kipner.
libido	The Sweetest Taboo	Sade	1985	The “Sweetest Taboo” is the height of sexual pleasure. In this song, Sade sings lovingly about a man who gets her there. With him, every day is Christmas, every night is New Year’s Eve. The line, “There’s a quiet storm,” is a reference to the Quiet Storm radio format, which is filled with baby-making music like this song. The Quiet Storm indicates a sensual sexual experience.
libido	Afternoon Delight	Starland Vocal Band	1976	This is a double-entendre song named after the late-afternoon appetizer menu at the restaurant Clyde’s Of Georgetown in Washington, DC, where they have a Gold record from the song hanging in the bar. That’s the official explanation at least – the other meaning is daytime sex. The inspirational menu heading read: “Afternoon Delights.” The Starland vocal band delivered four-part harmonies with the married couple Bill and Taffy Danoff (Taffy Nivert after they split up), and another couple: Margot Chapman and Jon Carroll (the baby of the bunch, he was just 19 when the song was released). Taffy spiced up the stage banter when they performed this song, explaining that the title came from the menu, but adding some version of “…then Bill came home and we had our own Afternoon Delight. We wrote the song instead of having a cigarette.”
libido	Do That To Me One More Time	Jheena Lodwick	2009	“Do That to Me One More Time” was written by Toni Tennille and a hit for the duo Captain & Tennille, here covered by the Asian jazz singer Jheena Lodwick. This song is clearly about foreplay, although ambiguously enough to keep the censors at bay.
libido	The Bad Touch	Bloodhound Gang	1999	“Bad Touch” by the ‘Bloodhound Gang’, released in 1999, refers to what children are told to shout to avoid being sexually molested. The title is not part of the lyrics, and the song is often referred to as “Discovery Channel” or “Mammals.”
libido	Cream	Prince & The New Power Generation	1991	A playfully sexual song, this was Prince’s last #1 hit. The lyrics are very suggestive, but tame compared to Prince’s previous single “Gett Off,” which had more trouble getting pop airplay. He probably didn’t put too much effort into the words (“You got the horn so why don’t you blow it… You’re filthy cute and baby you know it”), as it is the distinctive track that made this song stand out.
libido	Beep	Pussycat Dolls	2005	“Beep” is a song recorded by American girl group the Pussycat Dolls for their debut studio album PCD (2005). “Beep” is a hip hop song written by William Adams, Kara DioGuardi, and Jeff Lynne,
libido	Freak Like Me	Adina Howard	1995	“Freak Like Me” is a song by American R&B singer Adina Howard, released on January 25, 1995 The song’s drum beat is sampled from Sly & the Family Stone’s “Sing a Simple Song”. The song also interpolates “I’d Rather Be with You” by Bootsy’s Rubber Band.
libido	Candy Shop	50 Cent	2005	The lyrics are about oral sex (“Lick the lollipop”). The sexual imagery is pretty blatant, and many radio stations played a heavily edited version. The line “I melt in your mouth girl, not in your hand” is another metaphor for oral sex. It is a reference to advertising slogan for M&M chocolate candy.
libido	Relax (Come Fighting)	Frankie Goes To Hollywood	1983	“Relax” was the debut-single for the British band Frankie Goes to Hollywood, released in 1983. BBC Radio initially banned the record because of its record sleeve and lyrics.
libido	I’m On Fire	Bruce Springsteen	1984	The song was recorded in May 1982 and released in 1984. The song is about a man who wakes up with night sweats lusting for a woman – he feels like he’s on fire when he suddenly awakes.
libido	Slow Hand	The Pointer Sisters	1981	In the early ’80s, Karen Carpenter wanted her lover to Touch Me When We’re Dancing and Olivia Newton-John wanted to get “Physical,” but The Pointer Sisters made it clear that slow, sensual love was their priority. The songs were all written by men – this one by John Bettis and Michael Clark.
libido	Let’s Get It On	Marvin Gaye	1973	Originally written by 1950s one-hit-wonder Ed Townsend (“For Your Love” in 1958), the song originally addressed the author’s desire to get on with life after beating alcoholism. Marvin Gaye completely changed the lyrics (and meaning) to the song after meeting Janis Hunter, the woman who would become his second wife. The song helped cement Gaye’s reputation as one of the greatest singers of baby-making music. Song writing credits on the song went to both Gaye and Townsend.
libido	Ring My Bell	Blood Sisters	1979	The invitation to relax, “Ring My Bell” was a disco hit for Anita Ward in 1979 written by Frederick Knight. Blood Sisters covered the legendary song in reggae dub style.
libido	Honky Tonk Women	The Rolling Stones	1969	Like many Rolling Stones songs, it has highly suggestive lyrics, but they are just subtle enough to keep it from getting banned by radio stations. British rock bands often wrote lyrics that were ambiguously offensive, falling just in line with BBC guidelines for airplay. A good example in this song is, “She blew my nose and then she blew my mind,” which implies both cocaine and sex, but didn’t give the BBC any specific reason to ban it.
libido	December ’63 (Oh What A Night)	The Four Seasons	1975	Franki Valli and The Four Seasons with drummer, Gerry Polci, as lead vocals in 1975 with “December ‘63”, “about losing your cherry” (a guy having sex for the first time).
bbc	Dave Allen at Large [Irish Gnome]	Alan Hawkshaw	1993	Theme song of “Dave Allen at Large”, an Irish comedian who always had his glass of whiskey on stage (https://youtu.be/BqbEMmI78HY?t=269) …
bbc	Handbags and Gladrags	Rod Stewart	2001	Big George’s version of “Handbags and Gladrags”, written in 1967 by Mike d’Abo is the theme song of the BBC Two series The Office.
bbc	Where Everybody Knows Your Name	Gary Portnoy	1982	“Where Everybody Knows Your Name”, also credited as “Theme from Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your Name)”, is the theme song from the television sitcom Cheers, about a Boston bar, as well as the debut single for Gary Portnoy.
bbc	Chef un p’tit verre on a soif	Grand Jojo	1989	The honorary citizen of Brussels: “Lange Jojo” or “Grand Jojo” (born Jules Jean Vanobbergen (6 July 1936 – 1 December 2021)) is the Belgian singer-songwriter of “Chef, un p’tit verre, on a soif” (Bartender, a little drink, we are thirsty).
bbc	Drunken Sailor	Ferre Grignard	1966	Ferre Grignard, (13 March 1939 – 8 August 1982) a Belgian skiffle-singer from Antwerp, Belgium, singing “what shall we do with the drunken sailor”, a 19th Century sea shanty.
bbc	Zeven Dagen Lang	Bots	1976	“Zeven dagen lang” or ‘Seven days long’ is based on a Briton ‘cider song’ from the late ninteeen twenties and reworked by the Dutch band Bots, released in 1976. It is made into a kind of protest song … one of the lines translate into “what shall we drink seven days long, there is enough for everyone hence we drink together …”
bbc	People Everyday	Arrested Development	1992	“People Everyday” uses the chorus and basic structure of Sly & the Family Stone’s 1969 hit “Everyday People”, with new verses written by lead singer Todd Thomas (“Speech”). One of the lines state “Drinking the 40 oz”.
bbc	Long Tall Glasses	Leo Sayer	1974	This is certainly the most famous song about a hungry hobo who has to dance for his dinner. He insists he can’t dance, but the hosts have a hard-and-fast rule: before you can eat, you gotta dance like Fred Astaire.
bbc	Beer For My Horses (ft. Willie Nelson)	Toby Keith	2002	When Toby Keith worked as a kid for a rodeo company, he saw men raise their glass and say: ‘Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses, bartender.’ Willie Nelson joined in singing the Texas verse.
bbc	Whisky In The Jar	Thin Lizzy	1972	Traditionally an Irish folk song, this was covered by The Dubliners in 1967 before Thin Lizzy rocked it up in 1972 for their breakthrough hit. The song tells the story of a bandit in southwest Ireland who robs an English Army Officer to keep his girlfriend Molly happy after she promises to love him forever. She then betrays him and the young man is taken to jail.
bbc	Have A Drink On Me	AC/DC	1980	This song is about a guy trying to buy his buddy a drink, which might seem like poor taste considering their lead singer, Bon Scott, drank himself to death just months before the album was released. His replacement, Brian Johnson, stayed true to Scott’s form by writing about topics consistent with AC/DC’s ethos, and that includes drinking. Many bands would have released a heartfelt ballad to honour a fallen member, but that’s not the AC/DC way – Bon would have wanted them to rock out, and that’s exactly what they kept doing.
bbc	Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)	Paul McCartney & Wings	1973	The famed Spanish artist Pablo Picasso died at the age of 91 on April 8, 1973. News of the legendary Spaniard’s passing reached Paul McCartney, when he was in Jamaica. While having dinner there with Paul McCartney, Dustin Hoffman told the story of the death of Pablo Picasso and his famous last words, “Drink to me, drink to my health. You know I can’t drink anymore.” Paul had a guitar with him and immediately played an impromptu chord progression while singing the quote. Thus, “Picasso’s Last Words” was born, later recorded and added to the album Band On The Run.
bbc	Cracklin’ Rose	Neil Diamond	1970	The stories about how Diamond was inspired to write the song are apocryphal. “Crackling Rosé” is the name of an inexpensive sparkling wine once produced by Andres Wines of British Columbia, Canada, which was popular among the Indigenous population. One story suggests that Diamond heard a story about a native Canadian tribe while doing an interview in Toronto, Canada—the tribe had more men than women, so the lonely men of the tribe would sit around the fire and drink their wine together—which inspired him to write the song.
bbc	The Bottle (ft. Brian Jackson)	Gil Scott-Heron	1974	“The Bottle” is Gil Scott-Heron’s social commentary on alcohol abuse. He discusses the destructive power of addiction and how it can ruin people’s lives. Scott-Heron took inspiration from observing and talking to alcoholics outside a liquor store called the Log Cabin in Northern Virginia, near Washington DC. Every day, they lined up to exchange their empty bottles for a discount on their next purchase.
bbc	I’ll Never Drink Again	Alexander Curly	1972	Dutch singer Alexander Curly wrote “I’ll Never Drink Again” after having a hangover while staying in Bangkok at the time he was steward for KLM airways.
bbc	Rehab	Amy Winehouse	2006	“Rehab” by Amy Winehouse is about Winehouse’s refusal to attend an alcohol rehabilitation centre after her management team encouraged her to go.
bbc	Closing Time	Leonard Cohen	1992	“Closing Time” by Leonard Cohen, released in 1992, starts off as an euphoric track about a wild party. As the song goes on, the scene evolves from the closing of the bar, to the concluding of a relationship, to the end of life.
The Happening	Handsfree (If You Hold My Hand)	Sonny J	2008	Sonnington James III or Sonny J, released Handsfree in 2008 featuring a sample of “If You Hold My Hand” by Donna Hightower.
The Happening	Long Train Runnin’	The Doobie Brothers	1973	It took Doobie Brothers band member Tom Johnston a long time to convince him to write lyrics and release this good rhythm track. Doobie Brothers guitarist and lead singer Tom Johnston might have found his inspiration for the song ‘Long Train runnin’ of the many trains he had been on and off throughout his life.
The Happening	Son of My Father	Chicory Tip	1971	“Chicory Tip”’s band name was taken from a coffee bottle. “Son of My Father” was written and initially recorded by Giorgio Moroder, the Godfather of the Euro Disco and synthesizer music.
The Happening	From Here To Eternity	Giorgio Moroder	1977	“From Here To Eternity” from Giorgio Moroder in 1977 with its metallic beats, high-energy impact, and futuristic effects prove that Moroder was ahead of his time like few artists of the 1970s.
The Happening	Take My Breath Away	Berlin	1986	Moroder has said that of all the songs he has produced in his career, he is most proud of this song. “Take My Breath Away” is a song written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock for the 1986 film Top Gun, performed by American new wave band Berlin.
The Happening	Sweet Dreams	Eurythmics	1982	Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart came up with the beat and Annie Lennox improvised the synthesizer riff. Lennox stated once “Sweet Dreams” should rather be regarded as a mantra.
The Happening	Don’t You Want Me	The Human League	1981	Nothing but electronic sounds for The Human League who considered guitars “archaic and antique.” Lead singer Phil Oakey claims “Don’t You Want Me” is not a love song but about power politics between two people.
The Happening	Just Can’t Get Enough	Depeche Mode	1981	More Synth-pop from the same year 1981 … “Just Can’t Get Enough” with Depeche Mode. I recommend you the “Depeche Mode Baar” in Tallinn, Estonia if you can’t get enough of their music.
The Happening	The Happening	The Supremes	1967	“The Happening” was the last hit released under the name “The Supremes.” Later in 1967, they became “Diana Ross & the Supremes.” The Motown hit is written by Holland–Dozier–Holland and Frank De Vol (The Happening’s musical director) Tittle song of the 1967 movie The Happening, which starred Anthony Quinn, George Maharis, Michael Parks, Robert Walker Jr., and Faye Dunaway.
The Happening	You Can’t Hurry Love	Phil Collins	1982	Phil Collins’ version of the 1966 Supremes hit was used as the main theme for the 1988 film of the same name. Phil Collins did a re-make of the song but altered parts of the lyrics .
The Happening	The Way to Your Heart	Soulsister	1988	“The Way to Your Heart” is a 1988 hit single by Belgian band Soulsister, written by Jan Leyers and Paul Michiels (a.k.a. Polle Pap). A mixture of pop and rock with a very Motown-sounding tune, the song is about a boy dreaming of a girl that he‘s in love with, but she doesn’t answer his love.
The Happening	Save Tonight	Eagle-Eye Cherry	1998	This is a simple song by the Swedish-born singer Eagle-Eye Cherry expressing the values of the night, relationships and ultimately life. The singer is going to go away the next day and he wants to cherish this one last night spent with his love. He explains that you can’t fight changes, all you can do is accept them.
The Happening	Cherry, Cherry	Neil Diamond	1966	“Cherry, Cherry” is a song by Neil Diamond helped by producers Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich doing also backing vocals. “Cherry, Cherry” was originally “Money, Money,” but the Bang records owner Bert Berns convinced Diamond to make it lighter and more teen-friendly. Diamond has stated that the song was inspired by an early relationship with a significantly older woman.
The Happening	Little Sister	Ry Cooder	1979	“Little Sister” was written by Mort Shuman and Doc Pomus for Ry Cooder and first recorded and released by Elvis Presley in 1961.
The Happening	Should I stay or should I go	The Clash	1982	“Should I stay or should I go” is sung bilingual: in English and Spanish. The Clash frontman Joe Strummer knew Castilian Spanish, because he grew up in Spain in his early life. Eddie Garcia, the sound engineer, called his mother who is Ecuadorian and got her to translate some of the lyrics over the phone. So Joe Strummer and Joe Ely ended up singing in Ecuadorian Spanish. Rumour has it that Mick Jones wrote this song about his girlfriend Ellen Foley
The Happening	Dejame	Los Secretos	1978	Los Secretos are a Spanish rock band founded in Madrid in 1978 made up of the three Urquijo brothers. Enrique Urquijo wrote “Dejame” in 1978. The band ‘Tos’ recorded the first version of Déjame in September 1979, at the DoubleWtronics Studios in Madrid. “Dejame” or ‘Let me’ was considered as a hymn of “la movida madrileña” is one of the greatest Spanish pop hits. Ry Cooder is one of the artists that inspired the band.
The Happening	Send Me a Postcard	Shocking Blue	1969	Shocking Blue’s guitarist Robbie Van Leeuwen wrote this song. The group is from The Netherlands, which led to an interesting translation problem when Shocking Blue lead singer Mariska Veres sang the English lyrics. Van Leeuwen wrote the first line down incorrectly: what was supposed to be “A goddess on the mountain top” he wrote as “A goddness on the mountain top,” and that’s exactly how Veres sang it. Most listeners didn’t notice, and the many cover versions corrected the error, but the result was a #1 hit with a misspoken first line thanks to a typo.
The Happening	The Letter	The Box Tops	1967	“The Letter” is a song written by Wayne Carson that was first recorded by the American Memphis, Tennessee local band the DeVilles, renamed as the Box Tops in 1967.
The Happening	Brown Eyed Girl	Van Morrison	1967	“Brown Eyed Girl” was Van Morrison’s first release as a solo artist. This was originally called “Brown Skinned Girl,” and was about an interracial relationship. Morrison changed it to “Brown Eyed Girl” to make it more palatable for radio stations. Some stations banned it anyway for the line, “Making love in the green grass.” Morrison was signed to Bert Berns’ label, Bang Records, in a deal that included management, production and publishing. Morrison stated that he has never received any royalties for writing or recording “Brown Eyed Girl” from Bang Records. The female backing vocals were performed by The Sweet Inspirations, a gospel-influenced group.
The Happening	Love Is In The Air	John Paul Young	1977	“Love Is in the Air” is a 1977 disco song by Australian singer John Paul Young. It was written by George Young (no relation) and Harry Vanda, and released as the lead single from Young’s fourth studio album, Love Is in the Air (1978). The song was played at the closing Ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy.
The Happening	Viva la Vida	Coldplay	2008	Frontman Chris Martin told he was inspired by the phrase on a painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo called Sandías con leyenda: Viva la vida. He explained: “She went through a lot of s–t, of course, and then she started a big painting in her house that said ‘Viva la Vida.’ I just loved the boldness of it.”
The Happening	Cézanne peint	France Gall	1985	“Cézanne peint” by France Gall, written by her husband Michel Berger in a summer house in Aix-en-Provence, facing ‘La Montagne Sainte-Victoire’, and next to Cézanne’s studio. The claps of thunder at the end of the song remind us that Paul Cézanne, while painting in the Aix countryside in October 1906, fell victim to illness following a violent storm and a very heavy downpour. which fell on him. He died a few days later from pneumonia.
The Happening	Vincent	Don McLean	1972	“Vincent” is a song by Don McLean, written as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh. McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of Van Gogh.
The Happening	Rosas	La oreja de Van Gogh	2003	“Rosas” (English: “Roses”) is a song performed by the Spanish pop group La Oreja de Van Gogh, written by keyboard player Xabi San Martín. The song tells the story of the protagonist who sees her first love with another woman and remembers the moments they lived together for six months. At the same time, she narrates how she waits for him to arrive with roses every Friday in a place they frequented so they can continue with their relationship.
The Happening	Un Ramito De Violetas	Cecilia	1974	The song “Un Ramito De Violetas” emerges as a short story in the style of James Joyce, one of Cecilia’s favourite authors. A husband incapable of expressing his feelings, writes anonymous poems, aware of the illusions and happiness that knowing that she is loved by an anonymous admirer awakens in her. Evangelina Sobredo Galanes, known as Cecilia, (11 October 1948 – 2 August 1976) was a Spanish singer-songwriter. She took her stage name from the song “Cecilia” by Simon and Garfunkel.
The Happening	Cecilia	Simon & Garfunkel	1970	“Cecilia” by Simon & Garfunkel in 1970, written by Paul Simon. In the Catholic church, Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians. In this context, the song can be interpreted as the singer asking for musical guidance, possibly to help writing a song. Paul Simon says he can’t remember the specific inspiration when he was writing the song, but he knew Cecilia is the goddess of music.
seaborn	In the Navy	Village People	1979	“In the Navy” is a song by American disco group Village People.
seaborn	Super Strut	US Navy Port Authority	1974	‘US Navy Band Port Authority Soul Band’ or ‘The U.S. Navy Soul Band’ is a soul/jazz-rock group comprised of United States Navy personnel, active from 1971-85. “Super Strut”, written by Eumir Deodato, appeared on their album “Together”, released In 1974.
seaborn	French Navy	Camera Obscura	2009	Camera Obscura are a Scottish indie pop band from Glasgow. “French Navy” by ‘Camera Obscura’ with Tracyanne Campbell’s gloominess was released in 2009.
seaborn	Captain of Your Ship	Reparata & The Delrons	1968	The song is unusual in its atmospheric use of sound effects (foghorn, ship’s bell, Morse code) and features psychedelic instrumentation and treatments including electric sitar, backwards piano, filtered vocals and phasing. In 1969, the group provided backing vocals for The Rolling Stones’ single “Honky Tonk Women”, The Delrons started out as a five-piece group in 1962 at St. Brendan’s Catholic School in Brooklyn, New York, led by lead singer Mary Aiese (born 31 December 1945). Reparata was Aiese’s confirmation name, which she had taken from one of her favorite teachers at Good Shepherd Catholic grammar school, and which Aiese says sounded more marketable than either of her given names, Mary and Katherine. The other original members included Nanette Licari, Regina Gallagher, and Anne Fitzgerald, but they were soon replaced by Sheila Reilly, Carol Drobnicki, and Cathy Romeo. When Romeo was allegedly forced out of the group, she was replaced by Marge McGuire.
seaborn	Sloop John B	The Beach Boys	1966	The Beach Boys released in 1966 “Sloop John B”, Brian Wilson’s adaptation of a Bahamian folk song from Nassau, originally published as “The John B. Sails” in 1966. It was the first single my dad offered me when he bought me my first record player.
seaborn	Rock The Boat	Hues Corporation	1974	The Hues Corporation was a Los Angeles band formed in 1969. ‘Rock The Boat’ was written by the band’s manager, Wally Holmes.
seaborn	Love Will Keep Us Together	Captain & Tennille	1975	“Love Will Keep Us Together” is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield in 1973. Dragon and Tennille acknowledged Sedaka’s authorship—as well as his mid-1970s comeback—by working the phrase “Sedaka is back” into the song’s fadeout, where the applause from the studio musicians can be heard. In 1976, Captain & Tennille released a Spanish version called “Por Amor Viviremos”
seaborn	Swimming Into Deep Water	Don Rosenbaum	1972	Donald Paul Rosenbaum (born in Amsterdam, April 1947) is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. “Swimming into Deep Water” was produced by Boudewijn de Groot at Phonogram.
seaborn	Too Many Fish in the Sea	The Marvelettes	1964	“Too Many Fish in the Sea” is a 1964 hit song recorded by Motown singing group The Marvelettes written by Norman Whitfield.
seaborn	El Rey Tiburón	Maná	2006	“The Shark King” is a song performed by the Mexican rock group Maná,
seaborn	Burbujas de amor (ft. 440)	Juan Luis Guerra	1990	Juan Luis Guerra wishing he was a fish to swim inside his lover’s… fish bowl.
seaborn	Octopus’s Garden	the Beatles	1969	“Octopus’s Garden”, is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written and sung by Ringo Starr. The idea for the song came about when Starr was on a boat belonging to comedian Peter Sellers in Sardinia in 1968. He ordered fish and chips for lunch, but instead of fish he got squid (it was the first time he’d eaten squid, and he said, “It was OK. A bit rubbery. Tasted like chicken.”) The boat’s captain then told Starr about how octopuses travel along the sea bed picking up stones and shiny objects with which to build gardens.
seaborn	All Time High (From Octopussy)	Rita Coolidge	1983	All Time High is the theme song for the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy (Octopussy played by Maud Adams). “All Time High” is written by John Barry and Tim Rice and produced by Stephen Short and Phil Ramone, the song was released through A&M Records in 1983.
seaborn	Tommy and the Whale	Dorléac	2010	Dorleac owes its existence to the film Adem by Flemish director Hans van Nuffel. In 2010 Arnaert was brought together with Spinvis to work on the soundtrack of Breath (original title: Adem), a Belgian film about young people who suffer from mucovisidosis. Having written more material than needed for the film, they released a record, calling themselves Dorleac for the project. . The collaboration went so well that Arnaert and Spinvis improvised an entire album together. Given its cinematic roots, the end result was named after the French actress (1942-1967). Her life came to an abrupt end when she was tragically killed at the age of 25. Dorleac’s music is not particularly cheerful, not to say: very heavy on hand. The low tempos make the simple yet effective listening landscapes as idyllic as they are viscous. Arnaert’s whispering voice cuts right through the production of minimalist electronics, creating a dreamy effect. With this debut in the background, your own life will also turn into a movie. That is a plus, although there is also the danger that the listener will regard the collaboration as musical wallpaper.
seaborn	Zoutelande (feat. Geike Arnaert)	BLØF	2017	“Zoutelande” by the Dutch band BLØF with the Belgian Geike Arnaert is an adaptation of the German song “Frankfurt Oder” by Axel Bosse with Anna Loos. Zoutelande is a tourist resort for beach recreation in the southwestern Netherlands and part of the “Zeeland’s Rivièra”. “Zoutelande” is about a couple in love who have no money for an expensive holiday, so they spend the holiday in their parents’ old beach house.
seaborn	The Sea	Morcheeba	1998	The Sea by Morcheeba was released in 1998 and published on their album Big Calm. The sea represents a place of calmness and freedom for the protagonist. Despite the temptation to stay, they know they have to go back to the city.
seaborn	Mediterráneo	Lolita	2002	‘Mediterráneo’ was written in 1971 by Joan Manuel Serrat. Lolita Flores recorded her version for the soundtrack of the 2002 movie Rencor in which she played Chelo, a female singer.
seaborn	La Mer	Charles Trénet	1946	La Mer” (“The Sea”) is a song by the French composer, lyricist, singer and showman Charles Trenet, based on a poem he wrote at the age of 16.
seaborn	Gente Di Mare (ft. Raf)	Umberto Tozzi	1987	“Gente di mare” (“People of the sea”) was the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1987, performed in Italian by Umberto Tozzi & Raf.
seaborn	Les Filles Du Bord De Mer	Adamo	1964	“Les Filles Du Bord De Mer” is a song written and performed by Adamo. The song is about swimming young girls at the seaside. Salvatore Adamo, first of seven brothers, emigrated to Belgium from Comiso, Sicily, Italy at age three in 1947. Since 2019 he has the dual nationality Italian and Belgian.
seaborn	Vista Do Mar	Rosalia De Souza	2002	Rosalia de Souza featured on the album of the London-based Les Hommes with her song ‘Vista Do Mar’. Rosalia de Souza is a Brazilian bossa nova singer. After travelling to Italy at the age of 21, she began to study music theory, Cuban percussion, and jazz at the Scuola Popolare di Testaccio (Popular school of Testaccio) in Rome
seaborn	Aquí no hay playa	The Refrescos	1989	«Aquí no hay playa» by the Spanish band “The Refrescos”. Written by band member Bernardo Vázquez, the song complains that despite all its benefits (leisure, museums, parks), the city of Madrid lacks a beach.
seaborn	Islands In The Stream (ft. Kenny Rogers)	Dolly Parton	1983	The song was written by the Bee Gees for Marvin Gaye, however it was recorded instead as a duet by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. The title came from an Ernest Hemingway story that was published in 1970.
seaborn	Harborlight	Windjammer	1977	Harborlight by Windjammer is written by band members Peter van Asten and Richard de Bois.
seaborn	Shipbuilding	Elvis Costello & The Attractions	1983	“Shipbuilding”, written by Elvis Costello was first recorded by Robert Wyatt. Costello asked Chet Baker to come in and play on the recording to make it distinct from Robert Wyatt’s original 1982 single. Written from the perspective of workers in British shipbuilding seaports during the buildup to England’s war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1982, before the Belgrano conflict (Argentinean Navy cruiser sunk by British forces during the 1982 Falklands conflict in controversial circumstances).
peripatetics	Vertigo	U2	2004	This song is instantly identifiable by its intro, where Bono says “Uno, dos, tres, catorce,” which is “1, 2, 3, 14” in Spanish. One theory is that Bono was directing listeners to The Bible: 1st Testament, 2nd Book, 3rd Chapter, 14th verse – “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Another theory is that he did it because How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb was U2’s 14th album. U2, a band you experience best live, here with their energetic song ‘Vertigo’, used in the Apple Ipod commercials.
peripatetics	Walls Come Tumbing Down	The Style Council	1985	“Walls Come Tumbing Down” was Paul Weller’s call to revolt against Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government in the mid eighties. The Old Testament Book of Joshua Chapter six recounts how the Israelite army led by Joshua marched around the Canaanite city of Jericho, whose fortified walls were up to 25 feet high and 20 feet thick. After the seven priests blew their trumpets, Joshua ordered the Israelites to shout, and the walls collapsed. Then, in the same way that Joshua fought the Battle of Jericho, the walls of the Conservative party will come a-tumbling down.
peripatetics	Business Casual (ft. Coco O.)	Vulfpeck	2017	Vulfpeck (German for wolfpack), an American funk band, released in 2017 “Business Casual” featuring the Danish singer Coco O., claiming something haimish for the peripatetic.
peripatetics	Road to Nowhere	Talking Heads	2009	Talking Heads on the Road to Nowhere in 1985 …
peripatetics	Every Kinda People	Robert Palmer	1992	Robert Palmer remixed his 1978 song “Every Kinda People”, replacing the bass-heavy guitar hook by an acoustic guitar figure, giving it an “unplugged” feel as was the fashion at the time by well-established artists remaking past hits as acoustic numbers. The song was written by Andy Fraser, bass player and founder of the band Free.
peripatetics	All Right Now	Free	1970	Andy Fraser, bass player and founder of the band Free co-wrote the “funky beer blues swinger” ‘All Right Now’ in 1970.
peripatetics	Baboom/Mama Said	Vaughan Brothers album	1990	The Vaughan Brothers together on their only studio album ‘Family Style’, released a month after Jimmie’s younger brother Stevie’s death in September 1990. The liner notes end with “Thanks Mama V. for letting us play.”
peripatetics	Dani California	Red Hot Chili Peppers	2006	“Dani California” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is about the early death of Dani, a poor, young Southern girl who eventually lived in California, became a mother and lived a hard, fast, unsettled life. The official music video is showing 40 years of rock and roll history during the 4-minute song.
peripatetics	Beds Are Burning	Midnight Oil	1987	“Beds Are Burning” by Australian rock band ‘Midnight Oil’ “Beds Are Burning” criticizes how Aboriginal communities were often forcibly removed from their lands. Australian rock band ‘Midnight Oil’ are more than just a rock ‘n’ roll band. From the northern beaches of Sydney to the streets of Manhattan, they have stopped traffic, inflamed passions, inspired fans, challenged the concepts of “business as usual” and broken new ground.
peripatetics	Cannonball	The Breeders	1993	‘Cannonball’ by The Breeders, is written by front woman Kim Deal, while she still was bass player of the Pixies. The song was originally titled “Grunggae,” a combination of “grunge” and “reggae.” The name came from Kim Deal thinking the accented riff resembled the accent in reggae.
peripatetics	Here Comes Your Man	Meaghan Smith	2009	Meaghan Smith is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, and visual artist. In 2009 she featured on the (500) Days of Summer movie soundtrack with a cover of the Pixies song “Here Comes Your Man”. The recording featured Smith playing an Omnichord.
peripatetics	Constant Craving	k.d. lang	1982	Kathryn Dawn Lang or k.d. Lang, is a Canadian singer-songwriter and Juno Awards winner. In “Constant Craving”, of 1982, Lang sings about desperation and waiting pictured in a Parisian setting of the decadent twenties.
peripatetics	This house is not for sale	Ryan Adams	2004	Not to be mistaken with Canadian singer Bryan Adams, Ryan Adams is an American singer, who released “This house is not for sale” in 2004. This song is a ghost story told from the perspective of the ghost although he is apparently unaware that he is one. A ghost couple are trying to interfere with the sale of the house that represents all the happiness they shared on their brief lives and they are not quite willing to give up on it yet. It is reminiscent of the Tim Burton movie Beetlejuice, minus the comic aspect. Ryan Adams shares a birthday with his namesake Bryan Adams. Both artists were born on November 5th (Bryan is 15 years Ryan’s senior).
peripatetics	House For Sale	Lucifer	1975	Dutch band ‘Lucifer’ had a big hit with ‘House for sale’ in 1975. Lead singer Margriet Eshuijs was married to the band’s co-founder and bass player for a few years and died on December 29th, 2022 at age 70.
peripatetics	I Lie And I Cheat	Won Ton Ton	1987	Belgian band ‘Won Ton Ton’ had a big hit with ‘I Lie And I Cheat’ in 1987 with lead singer Bea Van der Maat. Bea Van der Maat was married to the band’s bass player and passed away on 27 July 2023 at age 62, R.I.P. Béatrice Marguerite Van der Maat.
peripatetics	Delta Lady	Joe Cocker	1969	Joe Cocker and “Delta Lady” known to be Rita Coolidge, doing backing vocals. While Leon Russell was dating Coolidge, he wrote this song about her in 1969.
peripatetics	Rita Coolidge	We’re All Alone	1977	Rita Coolidge covered Boz Scaggs 1976 song ‘We’re All Alone’, while she was married to Kris Kristofferson
peripatetics	Me and Bobby McGee	Janis Joplin	1971	‘Me and Bobby McGee’ was written by Kris Kristofferson and first recorded in 1969 by a country singer named Roger Miller. Janis Joplin’s version was released in 1971 after she died of a heroin overdose on October 4, 1970. The lyrics tell the story of two young lovers who travel together, but break up so they can discover the world on their own. The characters in the song were a lot like Joplin, who was known as a free spirit.
peripatetics	Wishing on A Star	Paul Weller	2004	Wishing on A Star was written by Billie Rae Calvin, a female singer/songwriter who was formerly a member of Undisputed Truth. She wrote it with Barbra Streisand in mind but it was first recorded in 1977 by Rose Royce. Paul Weller covered the song in 2004. In this melancholy song the narrator regrets splitting up with her lover who has departed to somewhere wishing she can follow them so they can reconcile their relationship.
peripatetics	Guilty (with Barry Gibb)	Barbra Streisand	1980	“Guilty”, a beautifully crafted piece of ear candy by the Gibb brothers for Barbara Streisand in 1980, After their successful “Saturday Night Fever” project, they recorded a full album with Streisand.
peripatetics	I Started A Joke	Bee Gees	1968	“I Started A Joke” by the Bee Gees, with lead vocals by Robin Gibb in 1968 on their album “Idea” for which they recorded a TV Special in Brussels, Belgium (Idea – TV Special 1968). Their two weeks stay at The Metropole hotel in September 1968 coincided with a fashion show held there by French pop star Johnny Hallyday’s wife Sylvie Vartan.
peripatetics	This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us	Sparks	1974	The Mael brothers, better known as “Sparks” became famous after their appearance on TV with the Western movie cliché line ‘This town ain’t big enough for the both of us’. Sparks is an American pop and rock duo formed by brothers Ron (keyboard player and principal songwriter ) and Russell Mael (vocals) in Los Angeles.
peripatetics	My Life	Billy Joel	1978	“My Life” by ‘Piano Man’ Billy Joel in 1978.
peripatetics	Friday I’m In Love	The Cure	1992	The Cure’s frontman Robert Smith wrote “Friday I’m In Love”, which he declared a a dumb pop song for people who “aren’t actually fans of The Cure.” The opening line, “I don’t care if Monday’s blue,” is a reference to the New Order hit “Blue Monday.”
about the bass	This Girl (Kungs vs. Cookin’ On 3 Burners)	Kungs & Cookin’ On 3 Burners	2016	The Kungs remix of “This Girl” from Australian funk trio Cookin’ on 3 Burners, featuring vocals by Kylie Auldist (initially released on 22 June 2009) released in Europe in 2016.
about the bass	Prayer in C (Robin Schulz remix)	Lilly Wood & The Prick & Robin Schulz	2014	The original creators of the track is the Paris duo Nili Hadida (born in Tel Aviv) and Benjamin Cotto, alias Lilly Wood & The Prick. The track is driven by the absolutely captivating, goose-bump-inducing voice of Nili Hadida, who with her sexy-smoky timbre, the haunting lyrics as well as Benjamin Cotto’s wistful acoustic guitar melody create the organic vibe.The Robin Schulz remix underlays the track with a tight straight-on beat that transforms the original folk-pop track into an energic. melody-house club hymn.
about the bass	Fade Out Lines (The Avener Rework)	The Avener & Phoebe Killdeer	2013	“Fade Out Lines” is a song by French producer The Avener. It is a deep house rework of “The Fade Out Line” (written and composed by Phoebe Killdeer & Craig Walker), an original song by Australian band Phoebe Killdeer & the Short Straws. The Avener is the stage name of Tristan Casara (born 23 January 1987). Phoebe Killdeer was born in Antibes, South of France in 1977 to Australian parents. Killdeer worked as a live sound engineer for about 7 years, she developed quite a skill for it but ends up giving it up to follow a singing career first with ‘Nouvelle Vague’, with whom she toured from 2005 to 2007 and then went on to form her solo project with ‘The Short Straws’
about the bass	One Day (ft. Helena Josefsson)	Arash	2014	One Day is written by Arash and Robert Uhlmann. Arash Labbaf (born 23 April 1977) is an Iranian-Swedish singer, entertainer, and producer. Helena Marianne Josefsson (born 23 March 1978) is a Swedish singer and songwriter.
about the bass	Freedom	Pharrell Williams	2015	“Freedom” is a song by Pharrell Williams and written by Pharrell Williams & American hip-hop trio Naughty by Nature.
about the bass	Feel It Still	Portugal. The Man	2017	Portugal. The Man is an American rock band from Wasilla, Alaska. In this song, Portugal. The Man lead singer John Gourley is a “rebel just for kicks” because he’s now a family man, with a daughter, Francis, born in 2011. The song draws on the melody from the Marvelettes’ 1961 hit “Please Mr. Postman”;[4][5] written by the band along with producers John Hill and Asa Taccone, “Feel It Still” also includes a credit for Motown songwriter Brian Holland.
about the bass	Dance Wiv Me (Calvin Harris ft. Chrome)	Dizzee Rascal	2008	“Dance wiv Me” is a single by British rapper Dizzee Rascal,released on 30 June 2008, and features guest vocals from Scottish DJ Calvin Harris and British R&B singer Chrome.
about the bass	Dance Monkey	Tones and I	2019	“Dance Monkey” is a song by Australian singer Tones and I (Toni Watson), released on 10 May 2019. Dance Monkey’s lyrics are about the relationship she had with her audience when she was busking (street performing) on the streets of Australia.
about the bass	Dance the Way I Feel	Où est le Swimming Pool	2009	Ou Est le Swimming Pool are an English synth pop band founded in 2008 in Camden, London. The band was a trio comprised of Joe Hutchinson and Caan Capan, in addition to Charles Haddon. They made their commercial recording debut in 2009 with the single “Dance the Way I Feel” and toured as the supporting act of La Roux, another English synth pop act with a French name. Tragedy struck on the night of August 20, 2010, when Haddon killed himself after the band’s performance at the Pukkelpop festival in Hasselt, Belgium.
about the bass	Rather Be (ft. Jess Glynne)	Clean Bandit	2013	“Rather Be” is a song by English electronic music group Clean Bandit, featuring vocals by English singer Jess Glynne. Clean Bandit are an English electronic music group, formed in Cambridge in 2008.
about the bass	Be the One	Dua Lipa	2015	“Be the One” is a song recorded by English-Albanian singer Dua Lipa. “Be the One” was written by Lucy Taylor, Digital Farm Animals (i.e. Nick Gale) and Jack Tarrant. They wrote it about the miscommunication in a relationship Taylor was in at the time.
about the bass	Shape of You	Ed Sheeran	2017	“Shape of You” is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran released in 2017. Sheeran revealed that “Shape of You” was written with Rihanna in mind. The song’s lyrical rhythm drew some comparisons to the 1999 TLC hit “No Scrubs”, particularly in the pre-chorus line, “Boy, let’s not talk too much/ Grab on my waist and put that body on me”. Hence, the composers of “No Scrubs”, Kandi Burruss, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, and Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs, received co-writing credits on “Shape of You”.
about the bass	CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!	Justin Timberlake	2016	“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” is a song recorded by American singer Justin Timberlake. It was released on May 6, 2016, as the lead single of the soundtrack to the film Trolls (2016). Timberlake commented the song was inspired by Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day”.
about the bass	Troublemaker (ft. Flo Rida)	Olly Murs	2012	“Troublemaker” is a song by English recording artist Olly Murs, featuring American rapper Flo Rida. Lyrically Murs has said that the song is about “that special girl that you can’t shake off, even if you know you should because, let’s face it, she’s got a bit of a wild side.”
about the bass	Ziet Em Duun (Regi & Lester Williams Remix)	Van Echelpoel	2016	Jef & Yves Van Echelpoel or Tijs Vanneste and Yves Gaillard sing about a local guy hanging around in pubs and dancings. The song is in the ‘Kempens’ dialect (east of Antwerp).
about the bass	All About That Bass	Meghan Trainor	2014	“All About That Bass” is the debut single of American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor, released on June 30, 2014, co-written by Kevin Kadish. Trainor was inspired by her teenage problems with self-acceptance and body image. The lyrics of “All About That Bass” are a call to embrace inner beauty, and to promote positive body image and self-acceptance. In her song, Trainor criticizes the fashion industry for creating unreachable beauty standards.
about the bass	Holidays	Starwalker	2016	Starwalker is a project that started in 2014 and hinges on French electro-pop trailblazer Jean-Benoit Dunckel and acclaimed Icelandic composer and musical visionary Bardi Johannsson (Barði Jóhannsson). “Holidays” features a blissful, Icelandic choir.
about the bass	Ready For The Weekend	Calvin Harris	2009	“Ready for the Weekend” is a song by Scottish recording artist Calvin Harris. It features uncredited vocals from British singer Mary Pearce. Written and produced by Harris himself, the song was released on 9 August 2009.
about the bass	Astounded	Bran Van 3000	2001	“Astounded” is a song by Canadian musical collective Bran Van 3000 featuring vocals from American artist Curtis Mayfield. The song contains interpolations from Mayfield’s song “Move On Up” and also contains a sample and an interpolated melody of The Doobie Brothers’ “Rockin’ Down the Highway”. Bran Van 3000 member James Di Salvio approached Curtis Mayfield with the idea of collaborating months before his death in 1999. Mayfield was too ill to contribute a vocal, but weeks before his death, he gave Di Salvio permission to pull through his archives, which is where he discovered an unused vocal Mayfield recorded in the 1980s. With Mayfield’s permission, that vocal was incorporated into “Astounded.” Bran Van 3000 (also known as BV3) is a Canadian alternative rock and hip hop collective from Montreal, Quebec, founded by James Di Salvio and Eric-Pierre (E.P.) Bergen.
about the bass	Dancehall Queen (ft. Chevelle Franklyn)	Beenie Man	1997	“Dancehall Queen” by Beenie Man with Chevelle Frankly celebrating the talent and beauty of a dancehall queen. Beenie Man (Anthony Moses Davis) Jamaican dancehall rapper born August 22, 1973 in Craig Town, Kingston, Jamaica. Reggae and Gospel singer from Jamaica. Born March 4, 1974. Dancehall is a form of Jamaican popular music that emerged from that country’s fertile and diverse music industry in the late 1970s. Dancehall music borrowed the sinuous rhythms of reggae music but replaced its spirited live musicians with prerecorded or digitally composed tracks built on pure, driving grooves.
about the bass	Entre Tu Y Yo (ft. Linda)	Papa AP	2006	Papa A.P. and Muñequita Linda are both Salvadoran singers.
about the bass	L’hiver indien (Radio Edit)	Baloji	2017	‘L’hiver Indien’ (Indian Winter) is sung from the perspective of a refugee living in Europe and uses the weather and change in surroundings as a metaphor for the culture shock and struggles to adapt to their adopted home. Baloji (AKA: Baloji Tshiani) is an artist with a unique take on the world. Fusing funk and ragga with the urban sounds of his Congo homeland, Baloji has been labeled as one of the most innovative rappers ever to emerge from Africa. Born in Lubumbashi in 1978, he moved to Ostend, Belgium with his father at the age of three,
about the bass	Guitare De Plage	El Gato Negro	2019	“Guitare De Plage” or Beach Guitar by French artist ‘El Gato Negro’ was released in 2019. EL GATO NEGRO Cat prince crowned with feathers. El Gato Negro is a French artist and an eternal adventurer.
about the bass	Iko Iko	The Dixie Cups	1965	“Iko Iko” tells the story of a parade collision between the “tribes” of Mardi Gras Indians and the traditional confrontation. The Dixie Cups learned the song from their grandmother singing it. The song, under the original title “Jock-A-Mo”, was written and released in 1953 as a single by James “Sugar Boy” Crawford and his Cane Cutters but it failed to make the charts. Listen to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71A and you may find similarities.
about the bass	Jingo (Todd Terry Remix)	Candido	1993	Candido’s cover of Babatunde Olatunji’s classic “Jingo” was released in 1993. “Jin-go-lo-ba” (or “Jingo”) is a song by Nigerian percussionist Babatunde Olatunji, featured on his first album Drums of Passion (1959). In Yoruba (Olatunji’s native language) it means, “Do not worry.” Candido Camero (born April 22, 1921 in Regla (Havana), Cuba and died November, 7, 2020 in New York, USA) is a Cuban-born percussionist (mainly conga and bongo) who backed many Afro-Cuban and straight-ahead jazz acts starting in the 1950s. Todd (Norton) Terry is born 18th April 1967 in Brooklyn, New York, pioneering American house producer & DJ, Todd Terry is one of the producers who helped to define New York’s house music during the 1980’s.
about the bass	Udakwa Njalo (Urban Mix)	Mafikizolo	2005	Mafikizolo is an Afro-pop group/band from South Africa. Their music is also influenced by kwaito and they have been credited with a genre called Kwela after their style of music. It has been described as kwaito-cum-marabi house music. “Udakwa Njalo” is a vibrant, upbeat track that speaks of the timeless nature of love and devotion. The celebratory tone and positive message make it the perfect party anthem, and its Zulu lyrics add an extra layer of cultural significance. A song about how the “drunk partner” makes them feel, complaining that they would go anywhere with their partner, but problem is that they drink too much and end up embarrassing them in public. The lyrics of Mafikizolo’s song “Udakwa Njalo” speak of infatuation and devotion in love. The repetition of “Awe o awe ma” throughout the song serves as a chant-like call-and-response, adding to the upbeat and celebratory feeling of the tune. The verses are spoken in Zulu, with the refrain “Ngithi wena udakwa njalo” translating to “I say to you, you are taken forever.” The speaker declares their love for their partner, stating that they will follow them anywhere and that they are “taken forever.” The background vocals add to the joyful feeling of the song, which easily gets listeners up and dancing.
no loop	Black Horse and the Cherry Tree	KT Tunstall	2005	“Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall; KT sporting a black dress and cherry-red lips in the music video considers it a metaphor for good and evil, being inspired by an incident while traveling in Greece on a little moped when a massive black horse had broken free in an olive grove and was going nuts.
no loop	How Long Will It Take	Geoffrey Oryema	2010	Geoffrey Oryema was forced into Exile in the 1970’s when his father was murdered by the Amin Regime. He found refuge in France which became his home from where he was passionately fighting for human rights.Geoffrey took up the challenge of dealing with the child soldier problem and he also worked hard to bring peace to Northern Uganda.
no loop	Delay	Intergalactic Lovers	2011	Belgian indie rock Intergalactic Lovers, founded in 2008, is: Lara Chedraoui – Brendan Corbey – Maarten Huygens – Raf De Mey “Delay” by Intergalactic Lovers portrays a message of resilience, hope, and the passage of time. Overall, “Delay” emphasizes the belief that with patience and perseverance, things will eventually make sense and improve.
no loop	Count Your Blessings	Mattiel	2017	Mattiel Brown, born the only child in a rural Georgian household, Mattiel Brown spent her younger years immersed in the colourful music of the 1960s. Catchy, spirited and full of a vivid, bright spark of life, Mattiel’s “Count Your Blessings” is an engaging fire that glows with passion, character and resolve. It’s a daring escapade through vibrant metaphors and punctured warnings that remind us to keep alert, remember our roots, and always look forward.
no loop	Do It Again	Steely Dan	1972	‘Do It Again’ was Steely Dan’s first single, the band around Donald Fagen & Walter Becker, in 1972. This song is all about the three things that motivate men: Violence, Women, and Money. Each verse deals with a different topic, from a different point of view, with the point being that they all corrupt and destroy.
no loop	Big Bubbles, No Troubles	Ellis, Beggs & Howard	1988	Ellis, Beggs & Howard (EBH), an English pop music band formed in London, in 1987, had a big hit with “Big Bubbles, No Troubles”.
no loop	Nantes	Beirut	2007	Beirut, led by American multi-instrumentalist Zach Condon, fascinated with cities, is a band enraptured with the sound of the vagabond and homages to travels abroad.“Nantes” a city in France, where Condon spent significant time.
no loop	Howling at the Moon	Milow	2016	“Howling at the Moon” by Milow was released in 2016 on the album ‘Modern Heart’ Jonathan Vandenbroeck (born 14 July 1981 in Borgerhout), better known by his stage name Milow, is a Belgian singer-songwriter and one of the most successful DIY musicians in Europe.
no loop	Man on the moon	R.E.M.	1992	‘Man on the moon’ by R.E.M. is inspired by comedian Andy Kaufman. Michael Stipe once stated this would be the song he would most miss performing,
no loop	Cartoons and Forever Plans (ft. Michael Stipe)	Maria Taylor	2009	“Cartoons and Forever Plans,” from Maria Taylor is co-written by and including guest vocals from R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Taylor’s longtime friend from Athens, Georgia. Maria Taylor first came to prominence as a member of Azure Ray. Her luminous and ethereal yet strong and warm vocals and skill in multiple instruments helped to make that band stand out and resulted in Taylor being invited to collaborate with a broad array of artists like Moby, Crooked Fingers and Bright Eyes. Taylor still plays guitar without the high E string because she does not like high, treble-y noises.
no loop	7 Days, 7 Weeks	dEUS	2005	“7 Days, 7 Weeks”, the first single taken from the 2005 dEUS album Pocket Revolution. Belgians not only make the best waffles & chocolate, they also make great music. Deus (styled as dEUS) is a rock band based in Antwerp, Belgium, whose only continuous members up to the present day are Tom Barman (vocals, guitars) and Klaas Janzoons (keyboards, violin). The rest of the band’s line-up currently consists of drummer Stéphane Misseghers, bassist Alan Gevaert and guitarist/backing vocalist Mauro Pawlowski.
no loop	Pokito a Poko	Chambao	2005	The Latin pop group Chambao around La Mari (María del Mar Rodríguez Carnero), released ‘Pokito a Poko’ The three original members of Chambao, formed in 2001, La Mari, El Edi, and Dani, made waves in the world music scene with their new brand of flamenco, called flamenco chill, which combined the passion and vocal style of traditional Andalusian flamenco with elements of electronica, specifically chillout.
no loop	Paradise	Coldplay	2011	“Paradise” is a song by the British rock band Coldplay, released on 12 September 2011. The song became the anthem for the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London.
no loop	81	Joanna Newsom	2010	’81 (A.D.1) is full of images of nature. Joanna Newsom was inspired by the California-countryside home that she bought in 2007, with descriptions of gardens and soil.
no loop	The 3 R’s	Jack Johnson	2006	The 3 R’s by Jack Johnson was released in 2006 and resampled from Bob Dorough’s 1973 song “Three Is a Magic Number“ and De La Soul’s 1989 song “The Magic Number”. “Three is a magic number: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.’ The song may be highly offensive to an anti-environmentalist.
no loop	Virtual Insanity	Jamiroquai	1996	“Virtual Insanity” is a song by British funk band Jamiroquai, released on 19 August 1996, inspired by a walk in an underground city in Sendai, Japan. Written by vocalist Jay Kay and keyboard player Toby Smith.
no loop	Too Hot (ft. Anais)	Beat Assailant	2010	Adam Lamb Turner (born 1977 in Miami), known by his stage name Beat Assailant, is an American musical artist known for fusing hip hop with jazz, funk, and other musical genres. The Miami-born rapper lived in Atlanta, GA, before he traveled to Paris in 2001, where he explored the hip-hop scene across the Atlantic and met fellow musician Danny Wild, who produced Hard Twelve. French comedian Anaïs Croze was born in Grenoble on August 20 1976.
no loop	Street Life (ft. Randy Crawford)	The Crusaders	1979	“Street Life” is a song by American jazz band The Crusaders, released in 1979, with lead vocals by Randy Crawford. It is written by Joe Sample and Will Jennings and inspired by the beginner’s ski slope at Mammoth Mountain in California. In a Reuters interview, Sample said, “I saw people falling, running into each other… it was absolute chaos. It looked like a boulevard of madness. And I said, ‘That’s what street life is.”‘
no loop	Popsicle Toes	Michael Franks	1976	Michael Franks (born September 18, 1944) is an American singer and songwriter, considered a leader of the quiet storm movement. His album ‘The Art of Tea’ featured Joe Sample, Larry Carlton, and Wilton Felder of the Crusaders and included the hit song “Popsicle Toes”. This song with very suggestive lyrics was also covered by Diana Krall.
no loop	Sweet Caroline	Neil Diamond	1969	“Sweet Caroline” is a song written and performed by American singer Neil Diamond and released in May 1969 as a single with the title “Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)”. Diamond once claimed this song was about his second wife, Marcia Murphey, whom he married in 1969 and divorced in 1995. However, later in 2007 he stated the inspiration for the song was John F. Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline, who was 11 years old at the time it was released.
no loop	Only You (feat. Tame Impala)	Theophilus London	2018	NYC rapper Theophilus London and Tame Impala main man Kevin Parker teamed-up, informally known as Theo Impala to record ‘Only You’, which is actually a cover of a 1984 synth-disco single by Nigerian artist Steve Monite,
no loop	Overnight	Parcels	2020	Parcels, the Aussie fivesome known for their disco-pop bangers, recently released Live Vol.1 as a follow up to their 2018 self-titled debut album. Among the classic studio recordings made in Hansa, Berlin is “Overnight,” famously cowritten with Daft Punk and carrying the same funky vibes off of the iconic French duo’s Random Access Memories. ”Overnight” is a reminder of late nights spent out with friends, in your best outfits, dancing at halogen lit bars, skin sticky with the humidity, and the pulse of too many people packed into too small of a room.
no loop	Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams)	Daft Punk	2013	‘Get Lucky’ is the first single from Daft Punk’s fourth studio album Random Access Memories features American rapper and record producer Pharrell Williams on vocals and studio legend Nile Rodgers of disco pioneers Chic on guitar. Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter met at school in 1987 and have been working under the Daft Punk moniker since 1993 and took the name from a review by Melody Maker that described their song “Cindy, So Loud” as “daft punky thrash.”
Celebrate	Celebrate	Coely	2017	Antwerp born Coely released “Celebrate” in 2017. Coely Mbueno was born in Antwerp in 1994 to Congolese parents. I second what’s stated on her website: “In person, Coely blows everyone away with her energy, enthusiasm and exceptional voice. Whether you are a Baby Boomer, a member of Generation X, Y or Z, or something else completely, if you’ve seen Coely perform live, you’ll know that you’ve witnessed a world-class performance.” She played as an opening act for Kanye West, De La Soul and Kendrick Lamar, and performed at all major Belgian festivals, and international festivals like Glastonbury.
Celebrate	Girl On Fire	Alicia Keys	2012	“Girl on Fire” was inspired by Keys’ giving birth to her son Egypt and marriage to her husband Swizz Beatz. The song contains an interpolation of the drums from the 1980 song “The Big Beat” by American rock guitarist Billy Squier, who received a writing credit on “Girl on Fire”. The video portrays Keys as a working mother caring for her kids and an elderly mother, has received wide acclaim from critics.
Celebrate	Bicycle Race	Queen	1978	The song was written by Freddie Mercury and was inspired by watching the 18th stage of the 1978 Tour de France passing Montreux, where the band were recording Jazz in the Mountain Studios. The song is notable for its video featuring a bicycle race with nude women at Wimbledon Stadium. The controversial video was edited or even banned in several countries. The song itself has appeared in various media with a bicycle theme.
Celebrate	The Best	Tina Turner	1989	Also known as “Simply The Best,” by Tina Turner, was originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler in 1988 and written by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight.
Celebrate	Let’s Have a Party	Wanda Jackson	1957	With the uptempo rocker “Let’s Have a Party”, Wanda Jackson (“The Queen of Rockabilly”) helped to open the door for women who were tired of letting the guys have all the fun. It made Jessie Mae Robinson recognized as a serious professional black female songwriter
Celebrate	Cool for Cats	Squeeze	1979	‘Cool For Cats’ was the first rock ‘n’ roll television show in England during 1959. British band Squeeze with the cockney-accented released in 1979 their hit song with the same title ‘Cool for Cats’ written by band members Difford and Tilbrook. Jools Holland, on keyboards, was founding member of Squeeze.
Celebrate	Waka Waka (Esto Es Africa) (ft. Freshlyground)	Shakira	2010	Colombian singer Shakira, featuring the South African band Freshlyground performing the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which was held in South Africa. The song samples the original Cameroonian song “Zamina mina (Zangaléwa)” by Golden Sounds. The lyrics compare football (soccer) players to soldiers on a battlefield and encourage them to fight for their goals. The Spanish version of the song does not contain a war metaphor and instead “talks about walls coming down.” Shakira met Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué during the filming of the video, with whom she pursued a romantic relationship and has two sons
Celebrate	We Are the Champions	Holly Wilson	2006	Holly Wilson covered many hits in bossa nova style: Pink Floyd (2006), Genesis (2007) and Abba (2011). In 2006 she released the album “Queen En Bossa Nova”, featuring ‘We Are the Champions’.
Celebrate	Mr. le Président	Vive la Fête	2003	“Mr. le Président” by ‘Vive la Fête’ (English: Long live the party) is performed and written by Els Pynoo and Danny Mommens. Since 1997, the Belgian band of Danny Mommens (ex-bass player of dEUS) and Els Pynoo has been bringing danceable electro-rock, with a touch of kitsch and some new wave and French chanson lurking in the background. In 2002, the king of fashion Karl Lagerfeld meets the couple and is charmed by their music and their looks. This gives green light to the international adventure of Vive la Fête: fashion shows of Chanel in Tokyo, New York, Las Vegas, Berlin, Milan and Paris, the posh Bal de la Rose in Monaco and the face of Chilli Beans in Brazil. During the Corona era they were at home at their farm in the south-west of Belgium.
Celebrate	Good Kisser	Usher	2014	American R&B singer Usher giving praise to who is a ‘Good Kisser’ Real instrumentation with pure bass guitar and drums as opposed to electronic, synthesized music.
Celebrate	El Beso	Pablo Alborán	2012	“El Beso” (English: “The Kiss”) is a song recorded by the Spanish singer-songwriter Pablo Alborán, nicknamed El Blanco Moreno (The White Moreno).
Celebrate	Gold	Spandau Ballet,	1983	“Gold” is a song by English new wave band Spandau Ballet, released on 5 August 1983. The band’s classic line-up features brothers Gary and Martin Kemp on guitars, vocalist Tony Hadley, saxophonist Steve Norman and drummer John Keeble. Gary Kemp wanting to write a movie theme in the same vein as John Barry because of his work on the James Bond films and being inspired to the title by Shirley Bassey’s 1964 hit Bond theme “Goldfinger”.
Celebrate	Eye of the Tiger	Survivor	1982	“Eye of the Tiger” is a song by American rock band Survivor. It was written as the theme song for the 1982 film Rocky III, which was released a day before the single, and released as a single from their third album of the same name. Written by Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan and keyboardist Jim Peterik, it was recorded at the request of Rocky III star, writer, and director Sylvester Stallone, after Queen denied him permission to use “Another One Bites the Dust”, the song Stallone intended as the Rocky III theme.
Celebrate	Ladies Don’t Play Guitar	Tennis	2017	Tennis is an Indie pop band from Denver, Colorado, made up of husband and wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley. The ocean is to Tennis what the spinach is to Popeye: the source from which they derive their impressive power. Prior to forming the band, the husband-and-wife duo embarked on an eight-month sailing expedition that inspired the first songs they ever wrote together. Right from the outset, Alaina Moore’s on the offence “Ladies don’t play guitar/ Ladies don’t get down, down to the sound of it/ Maybe we can play pretend,” she sings with what you imagine is a damning glint in her eye, before turning her attack from the sexist perception to the sexists themselves: “Ladies just need your love/ Don’t you know we are all caught up in it.” Yet even through her sardonic sneer, Moore’s voice is as melodious as ever, and the song itself has that classic Tennis pep in its step. It’s perfect for catching sun on the high seas, but is also much needed social commentary on the expectations placed on female musicians.
Celebrate	First Day of My Life	Melanie C	2006	Melanie Jayne Chisholm (born 12 January 1974), professionally known as Melanie C or Mel C, is an English singer-songwriter, DJ, businesswoman and media personality. As one of the five members of the Spice Girls, she was nicknamed Sporty Spice. In 2005 her track ‘First Day Of My Life’ was to become one of her biggest hits to date, selling over 400,000 copies in Germany alone. It also went on to chart at Number 1 in Spain, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, and Portugal where it helped to propel the album ‘Beautiful Intentions’ to double-platinum status and kept it at Number 1 for 9 weeks. As a Spice Girls member Chisholm was called “Sporty Spice” because she usually wore a tracksuit paired with athletic shoes, wore her long dark hair in a high ponytail, and sported a tough girl attitude as well as tattoos on both of her arms. She has a tattoo on her left arm of a black Christian cross. On her upper-right arm she has tattoos of two Chinese characters: “女” meaning “female” and “力” meaning “force” which together represent the phrase “girl power”. She also possessed true athletic abilities, including being able to perform back handsprings.
Celebrate	Beautiful Days	Venus	2003	Venus was a band created in 1997 by five artists hailing from Brussels, Belgium. The original goal of the band was to create an original sound that expressed different emotions through several instruments including guitar, violin, double bass, organ, percussion, synth, and a host of others. Also using the scenography talents of former member Patric Carpentier to create visual emotion through their live performances. Although not well known in the United States they have had success with releases Beautiful Days and Wanda Wultz from their Capitol record label release in 2003, Vertigone. The single Beautiful Days was also a track featured in the film Immortel, which is based on the popular futuristic and Ancient Egyptian styled Enki Bilal comic series. The band’s name is in reference and
Celebrate	These Are The Days	10,000 Maniacs	1992	Founding member and co-writer Natalie Merchant is a vegetarian and an environmentalist and referred to Madonna as her “ideological enemy.” Mechant went for deep social commentary and played down any hint of sexuality.
Celebrate	Beautiful Days	Venus	2003	Venus was a band created in 1997 by five artists hailing from Brussels, Belgium. The single Beautiful Days was a track featured in the film Immortel, which is based on the popular futuristic and Ancient Egyptian styled Enki Bilal comic series. The band’s name is in reference to and inspired by the Velvet Underground track, Venus in furs.
Celebrate	Seven Nation Army	Ben l’Oncle Soul	2010	Benjamin Duterde (born in Tours, France on 10 November 1984), better known by his stage name Ben l’Oncle Soul is a French soul singer and songwriter. His friends called him “l’Oncle Ben” because he was often wearing a bow tie like Uncle Ben from Uncle Ben’s Rice. Jack White wrote the song and it was released it in 2003 by the husband and wife rock band ‘The White Stripes’. Belgium’s Club Brugge football fans began singing the riff in a game against Italy’s A.C. Milan 2003, which turned the song in the team’s “unofficial sports anthem”.
Celebrate	Als je wint (feat. Doe Maar)	Brood en Vrienten	1984	“Als je wint” (when your a winner) was written by Henny Vrienten from Dutch band ‘Doe Maar’ and performed with Dutch rocker Herman Brood. Brood was the Dutch personification of “sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll”. Belgian producer and musician Jean Blaute plays the Accordion. The lyrics baseline idea is that when you are successful, you have many friends.
Celebrate	The Winner Takes It All	ABBA	1980	ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus wrote it after the breakdown of his marriage with Agnetha Fältskog who calls it “her biggest favourite” from ABBA’s catalogue and regrets they never got to play it live, The Winner Takes It All is also the title to a 1999 documentary about the band.
Celebrate	You’ll Never Walk Alone	Gerry & The Pacemakers	1963	“You’ll Never Walk Alone” is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. The Liverpudlian Merseybeat group Gerry and the Pacemakers’ successful cover was released in 1963. The song quickly became the football anthem of Liverpool F.C., which adopted “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as its official motto on its coat of arms.
Celebrate	Survival	Muse	2012	The rock anthem ‘Survival’ was selected as the official song of London’s 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Muse’s frontman Matt Bellamy stated he wrote it with the Games in mind as it expresses a sense of conviction and determination to win.
Celebrate	Celebrate The World	Womack & Womack	1988	Womack & Womack was the singing and songwriting partnership of married American musicians Linda Womack and Cecil Womack. American singer and songwriter Linda Womack, born “Linda Marie Campbell” April 25, 1953 in Chicago (USA), is daughter of Sam Cooke. The Womacks, now using their adopted African name Zekkariyas, began recording as a family. The song is about celebrating love and unity in the world through music, that has the power to bring people together and create a universal feeling of love and peace.
lazy summer	Wake Up Boo!	Boo Radleys	1995	“Wake Up Boo!” is the Boo Radleys’ biggest hit in the UK. Its release in March 1995 coincided with the emergence of Britpop as a driving force in mid-1990s British music. This track is an upbeat guitar-pop song in which vocalist Martin Carr contrasts his own optimism (“Twenty-five I don’t recall a time I felt this alive”) with his lover’s pessimism (“You have to put the death in everything”). I once got this song as my alarm ringtone. The Boo Radleys originally formed in Wallasey, England in 1988 and disbanded in early 1999. Their name is taken from the character Boo Radley in Harper Lee’s 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.
lazy summer	Mockingbird (ft. James Taylor)	Carly Simon	1974	“Mockingbird” is based on a traditional American folk song sometimes known as “Hush Little Baby.” Inez and Charlie Foxx were brother and sister who recorded the song in 1963. Carly Simon released her version in 1974 as a duet with her then-husband James Taylor. The song captures the essence of love, loss, and resilience.
lazy summer	Summer Breeze	Seals & Crofts	1972	Jim Seals and Dash Crofts are from Texas and started as a duo in 1965. Writers Darrell Crofts and Jimmy Seals, stated that “Summer Breeze” was very simple song about a man coming home from work and hearing the dog barking and things like that, and to a lot of people the song’s about looking for security.
lazy summer	Daydream	The Lovin’ Spoonful	1984	“Daydream” by The Lovin’ Spoonful is John Sebastian’s lazy, laid back celebration of love on a summer’s day. This song was a major influence on Paul McCartney’s Beatles composition “Good Day Sunshine.”
lazy summer	Good Day Sunshine	The Beatles	1965	“Good Day Sunshine” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album Revolver. It was written mainly by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. McCartney intended it as a song in the style of the Lovin’ Spoonful’s contemporaneous hit single “Daydream”. The recording includes multiple pianos played in the barrelhouse style and evokes a vaudevillian mood. Author Steve Turner writes that the Kinks’ “Sunny Afternoon” could have been another source of inspiration for McCartney.
lazy summer	Sunny Afternoon	The Kinks	1966	“Sunny Afternoon” is a song by the Kinks, written by chief songwriter Ray Davies. Like its contemporary “Taxman” by the Beatles, the song references the high levels of progressive tax taken by the British Labour government of Harold Wilson.
lazy summer	Long Hot Summer	The Style Council	1983	On 13 August 1983, Paul Weller’s new band ‘The Style Council’ entered the UK chart with ‘Long Hot Summer,’ which became the biggest of their seven top ten (and 15 top 40) hits. The title even reflected the weather: Britain had just enjoyed, or endured, what remained the hottest July on record until that was beaten in 2006. The lyrics describe the longing for a love that is passionate, real, and long-lasting, the desire to escape the mundane life of the city and find peace in a more simplistic environment where he can be truly happy and contented. The song speaks to the idea that life is about living in the moment and letting go of past regrets to find true happiness.
lazy summer	De Zji	Ertebrekers	2016	De Belgian band ‘Ertebrekers’ (Heartbreakers) sing in their Flemish dialect about spending time at the sea (‘De Zji’).
lazy summer	Face A La Mer (Massive Attack Remix)	Les Négresses Vertes	1993	Written by vocalist and guitarist Stéfane Michel Mellino, describe a cemetery by the sea, where cypresses act as the silent guardians. There are iron beds planted in the sand, facing the sea. The protagonist suggests going to the cemetery to see their own name engraved on a stone and to greet the dead who rest there, intoxicated by life in the sunlight and warmth, as the cypresses sway in the silence. The band “Les Négresses Vertes” (Green Black Girls) is a French band from Paris that started in 1987. The original line-up included: Helno (Singer) (born Noël Rota in Paris, December 25, 1963 – ✝ January 22, 1993; also known as Helno Rota De Lourcqua), Jo Roz (also known as L’Ami Ro; real name Joe Ruffier des Aimes) (Piano), Stéfane Mellino (Guitar), Jean-Marie Paulus (Bass), [Laurent Gabriel=Gaby] (Drums), Matias Canavese (Accordion), Michel Ochowiak (Trumpet), Abraham Sirinix (also known as Abraham Braham) (Trombone) and Iza Mellino (Backing Vocals).
lazy summer	Cruel Summer	Bananarama	1983	Bananarama are a British and Irish pop group, formed as a trio in 1980 by friends Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, and Keren Woodward. “Cruel Summer” played on the darker side of summer songs: it looked at the oppressive heat, the misery of wanting to be with someone as the summer ticked by. We’ve all been there!
lazy summer	5 Years Time	Noah and the Whale	2008	“5 Years Time”, also known as “5 Years Time (Sun Sun Sun)”, is the debut single by English folk rock band Noah and the Whale, featuring backing vocals by Laura Marling. Written by vocalist and guitarist Charlie Fink, this glorious summer song is about having fun being in the sun and enduring love.
lazy summer	Jonah and the Whale	Louis Armstrong	1961	Louis Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Jonah and the Whale is a traditional gospel song with roots dating back to spirituals sung by African American communities. Released in 1961, this jazz classic tells the biblical tale of Jonah and his incredible encounter with a gigantic sea creature, referred to as a whale. This iconic song not only captivates listeners with its melodic charm but also carries a profound message of redemption, faith, and personal growth.
lazy summer	Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer	Nat King Cole	1963	Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer” is a popular song composed by Hans Carste. In 1963, it was recorded by Nat King Cole, with English lyrics written by Charles Tobias on a theme of nostalgia. Cole’s version, arranged by Ralph Carmichael and produced by Lee Gillette,
lazy summer	Quando Calienta El Sol	Trini Lopez	1964	Trini Lopez was an American singer, guitarist and actor Born: May 15, 1937 (Dallas, TX, USA); died: August 11, 2020 (Palm Springs, CA, USA) from complications of Covid-19 “Quando Calienta El Sol” is written by Los Hermanos Rigual, Cuban brothers Carlos and Mario Rigual.
lazy summer	La Madrague	Brigitte Bardot	1963	“La Madrague” is a French song written by Jean-Max Rivière and composed by Gérard Bourgeois. It was made famous by Brigitte Bardot in 1963, and was reportedly inspired by Bardot’s house in Saint-Tropez. Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot born 28 September 1934), often referred to by her initials B.B., is a French animal rights activist and former actress, singer, and model.
lazy summer	Het is weer voorbij die mooie zomer	Gerard Cox	1973	“’t Is weer voorbij die mooie zomer” (summer’s gone) by Dutch singer songwriter Gerard Cox from 1973 is based on the melody of ‘City of New Orleans’ from American folk and country singer songwriter Steve Goodman in 1971. Cox wrote the song while staying in Compiègne in France. Gerard Cox was born on March 6, 1940 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
lazy summer	Seasons In The Sun	Terry Jacks	1974	Terrence Ross Jacks (born March 29, 1944) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and record producer, best known for his 1974 hit song “Seasons in the Sun”. The song is based on Rod McKuen’s 1965 re-write of “Le moribond”, originally by Belgian singer Jacques Brel from 1962 and was originally intended for the Beach Boys, but they never released it. Jacks later released “If You Go Away”, another McKuen adaptation of a Jacques Brel song, titled “Ne Me Quitte Pas”. In the early 1960s, McKuen moved to France, where he first met the Belgian singer-songwriter and chanson singer Jacques Brel.
lazy summer	Where Have All The Flowers Gone	The Kingston Trio	1961	Where Have All The Flowers Gone by the Kingston Trio is an original from American folk singer and songwriter Pete Seeger in 1955. The Kingston Trio is an American folk and pop music group, in original lineup of Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds, that helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s to the late 1960s. In 1961, the Trio was described as “the most envied, the most imitated, and the most successful singing group, folk or otherwise, in all show business”. The name “Kingston Trio” was chosen because it evoked, through its association with Kingston, Jamaica, the calypso music popular at the time, and also on the uniform of three-quarter-length sleeved vertically striped shirts that the group hoped would help its target audience of college students to identify with them.
lazy summer	Kingston Town	UB40	1990	“Kingston Town” is a 1970 song by Lord Creator (Kentrick Patrick (21 August 1935 – 30 June 2023)). English reggae band UB40 covered “Kingston Town” in 1989 and released it as a single in early 1990.
lazy summer	Don’t Look Back (You’ve Gotta Walk)	Peter Tosh	1978	“Don’t Look Back” is a song written by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White and recorded by The Temptations in 1965. Peter Tosh scored a hit in 1978 with a reggae version of the song, sharing vocals with Mick Jagger.
lazy summer	Wonderful World, Beautiful People	Jimmy Cliff	1969	Jimmy Cliff (born July 30, 1944 in Jamaica) is a GRAMMY® Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® Inductee, musician, actor, singer, songwriter, producer, and humanitarian. His wife is Moroccan/French/Jamaican, and has a daughter Lilty Cliff and son Aken Cliff.
lazy summer	Melody Tempo Harmony – (ft. Jimmy Cliff)	Bernard Lavilliers	1995	Bernard Lavilliers is a French singer, born Bernard Ouillon on 7 October 1946. In 1970 he released his first single as ‘Edgar de Lyon’. In 1979 buys a boat and leaves for Jamaica, New York and Brazil. Upon his return to France in 1980 he released his most successful album ‘O gringo’. ‘Melody Tempo Harmony’, a reggae duo with Jimmy Cliff from 1995 is his biggest success.
lazy summer	International Rhumba (ft. Louis Mhlanga)	Musik Ye Afrika	1997	South African band ‘Musik Ye Afrika’ released March 25, 1997 “International Rumba” which featured the percussion and drumming of the late Jethro Shasha and Louis Mhlanga the South Africa-based guitarist from Zimbabwe. The band members are Jimi Indi – Bass Guitar, Jethro Shasha – Drums/Percussion and Louis Mhlanga – Guitars.
lazy summer	Y’a d’la rumba dans l’air	Alain Souchon	1977	“Y’a d’la rumba dans l’air” is a song written and performed by Alain Souchon released in 1977 with music composed by Laurent Voulzy. The intro is in Italian with the voice of Marie Ruggeri and the reply (« je sais, je sais… ») taken from the single “Maintenant je sais” from 1974 by Jean Gabin.
lazy summer	Belle Île En Mer, Marie Galante	Laurent Voulzy	1977	Lucien Voulzy (born 18 December 1948), better known as Laurent Voulzy, is a French singer-songwriter, composer and musician. “Belle-Île-en-Mer, Marie-Galante”, released by Laurent Voulzy in 1986 was written by Alain Souchon and composed by Laurent Voulzy. The song title mentions two islands, “îles de Belle-Île-en-Mer” in Brittany where Voulzy was raised and ‘Marie-Galante’ in Guadeloupe, where his parents were born.
lazy summer	Sarandonga	Lolita	2001	Sarandonga is a song composed by the Cuban duo Los Compadres, made up of Lorenzo Hierrezuelo and Francisco Repilado ‘Compay Segundo’, at the end of the 1950’s. Antonio González ‘El Pescaílla’, husband of Lola Flores and father of Lolita performed it in 1966. Lolita included her version of this song on her 2001 album Lola, Lolita, Lola,
swing ‘n sing	September	Earth, Wind & Fire	1978	“September” is a song by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire released as a single in 1978 Although several theories about the significance of the date have been suggested, the songwriter Maurice White claimed he simply chose the 21st due to how it sounded when sung. His wife, Marilyn White, however, claimed that September 21 was the due date of their son, Kahbran, according to lyricist Allee Willis.
swing ‘n sing	This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)	The Isley Brothers	1966	“This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)” is a Holland–Dozier–Holland song that was a hit for American musical group the Isley Brothers in January 1966 during their brief tenure on Motown’s Tamla label. Written by Motown’s main songwriting team Holland–Dozier–Holland alongside Sylvia Moy, “This Old Heart of Mine”, produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier, was originally intended for The Supremes (who later recorded their own version for their 1966 album The Supremes A’ Go-Go).
swing ‘n sing	You Keep Me Hangin’ On (The Almighty Remix)	The Supremes	1983	You Keep Me Hangin’ On” is a song written and composed by Holland–Dozier–Holland. It was first recorded in 1966 by American Motown group the Supremes, The song’s signature guitar part is said to have originated from a Morse code-like radio sound effect, typically used before a news announcement, heard by Lamont Dozier. Dozier collaborated with Brian and Eddie Holland to integrate the idea into a single
swing ‘n sing	You’re My One Weakness Girl	Street People	1976	The Street People, led by Ray Dahrouge, active in the mid 70’s, consisted of brothers Roy Daniels and Milton Daniels, Thomas “Toot” Williams, Joe Gardner and Rick Johnson. Their most successful hit single is “You’re My One Weakness Girl” (1976).
swing ‘n sing	Build Me Up Buttercup	The Foundations	1968	The Foundations were a British soul band and the first multiracial group to have a number one hit in the UK in the 1960s. The group had a diverse ethnic mix but also diversity in ages and musical backgrounds. ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ was written by Mike D’Abo and Tony Macaulay. D’Abo was lead singer of Manfred Mann. David Essex, who was unknown at the time but went on to success with “Rock On,” was offered this song, but he turned it down as he didn’t like the title.
swing ‘n sing	I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)	Four Tops	1965	“I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” is a 1965 hit song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown’s main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, “I Can’t Help Myself” is one of the most well-known Motown recordings of the 1960s and among the decade’s biggest hits.
swing ‘n sing	Hold Back The Night	The Trammps	1976	The songwriters behind Hold Back the Night are Ron Baker, Norman Harris, and Earl Young. Hold Back the Night encourages listeners to confront their fears and persevere, making it an anthem for triumph over obstacles. The Trammps began in Philadelphia in 1972 featuring vocalist, Jimmy Ellis, Harold Doc Wade, Stanley Wade and Earl Young and traveled with as many as 11 members, culled from the ranks of the busiest and best musicians, many of whom also played for Gamble and Huff’s Philly International and later for Vince Montana’s Salsoul Orchestra.
swing ‘n sing	I Love The Nightlife (Disco ’round)	Alicia Bridges	1978	“I Love the Nightlife (Disco ‘Round)” is a popular disco song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Bridges in 1978. The original title of the resultant song: “Disco ‘Round”, became the subtitle under the main title “I Love the Nightlife” as producer Steve Buckingham considered it an R&B number and did not want it labeled disco.
swing ‘n sing	A Night To Remember	Shalamar	1982	“A Night to Remember” is a song by American R&B group Shalamar, released in 1982. The Shalamar recording is also famously associated with the introduction of the Moonwalk dance by Shalamar member Jeffrey Daniel on the UK music show Top of the Pops in June 1982, several months before Michael Jackson performed the move on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television special.
swing ‘n sing	Billie Jean	Michael Jackson	1983	“Billie Jean” is a song performed, written and composed by American singer Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson’s performance of “Billie Jean” popularized the moonwalk. “Billie Jean” was inspired by letters Jackson received in 1981 from a woman claiming he was the father of one of her twins.
swing ‘n sing	I’ll Be Around	The Spinners	1972	“I’ll Be Around” is a song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners (known as “Detroit Spinners” in the UK). It was co-written by Thom Bell and Phil Hurtt and produced by Bell. Recorded at Philadelphia’s Sigma Sound Studios, the house band MFSB provided the backing. They got their start in Detroit at Motown in 1961 but in the seventies created and came to define the smooth sound of Philadelphia Soul (Philly Soul).
swing ‘n sing	I’m so glad that I am a woman	Love Unlimited	1979	“I’m so glad that I am a woman” performed by “Love Unlimited” was written by Frank Wilson, Paul Politi & Barry White. Love Unlimited was a trio formed by sisters Glodean James and Linda James with Diane Taylor. They were successful both as backing group for Barry White as well as a group in their own right, best known for their 1972-hit Walking In The Rain With The One I Love. Not to be confused with Love Unlimited Orchestra, a 40-piece string-laden group formed originally by Barry White, who served as a backing unit for his music project (Barry White, the artist) and Love Unlimited.
swing ‘n sing	Love’s Theme	The Love Unlimited Orchestra	1973	In 1973, White created The Love Unlimited Orchestra, a 40-piece orchestral group to be used originally as a backing band for the girl-group Love Unlimited. It lacks his basso profundo growl, of course, but in every other way, the luscious “Love’s Theme” is the quintessential Barry White track. No other song comes close to its seamless blending of soul and easy listening pop. Who but Barry White could take the funkiest wah-wah guitar track this side of “Theme from Shaft” and not only place it next to the sort of creamy full orchestral arrangement that Ray Conniff spent a career on, but have the whole thing sound so natural and right? Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter on September 12, 1944, married Love Unlimited singer Glodean James and dedicated “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” to her.
swing ‘n sing	Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe	Barry White	1974	“Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” was written, recorded, and produced by Barry White. Barry White fell in love in 1973 with Glodean James, who was one of the members of his Love Unlimited backing trio of singers. He wrote this song for her one night when he couldn’t get off to sleep. Barry and Glodean married in October 1974 and for a time were one of the best known couples in showbiz. The pair separated in 1988 but never divorced and remained good friends for the remainder of White’s life.
swing ‘n sing	A Woman Needs Love (just like you do) (ft. Ray Parker Jr.)	Raydio	1981	A Woman Needs Love (just like you do) is written by Ray Parker Jr. as an antithetical answer to the earlier Raydio hit, “Jack and Jill,”. Raydio scored their first big hit in 1977 with “Jack and Jill”, written by Ray Parker Jr. from “Jack’s” perspective of being neglected, just as “A Woman Needs Love” is written from “Jill’s” perspective, as indicated by the lyrics, “by the time poor Jack returned up the hill, somebody else had been loving Jill.” In 1973, Ray Parker Jr. became a session musician in Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra. In 1977, Parker created the R&B group Raydio with Vincent Bonham, Jerry Knight, and Arnell Carmichael
swing ‘n sing	Man! I Feel Like a Woman!	Man! I Feel Like a Woman!	1999	“Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain with lyrics about female empowerment and remains one of Twain’s biggest hits worldwide. Shania Twain wrote this song with her then-husband Robert John Lange, who 14 years later cheated on her with her best friend and eventually they swapped husbands and wife …
swing ‘n sing	Girls Just Want To Have Fun	Cindy Lauper	1983	‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ is a girl power song written by Philadelphia singer/songwriter Robert Hazard Cindy Lauper wanted ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ to be an anthem for all women around the world and a sustaining message that they are powerful human beings. It became an anthem for female attitude and set fashion trends as the video showed Lauper wearing bright, outrageous clothes that looked like they came from a thrift store (they often did). It set the stage for artists like Madonna: independent women wearing cheap, yet fashionable clothes with a taste for garish accessories. Cindy Lauper is an unwavering advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality.
swing ‘n sing	Come on Eileen	Dexy’s Midnight Runners	1982	This song is based on a true story. Eileen was a girl that Kevin Rowland grew up with. Their relationship became romantic when the pair were 13, and according to Rowland, it turned sexual a year or two later. Rowland was raised Catholic and served as an altar boy in church. Sex was a taboo subject, and considered “dirty” – something that fascinated him. The band’s name was inspired by the amphetamine drug Dexedrine, which is commonly known as “Dexys” Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” borrowed from the rhythm of this song.
swing ‘n sing	Whispering/Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon	Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band	1976	“Cherchez La Femme” (French for Seek the woman) is a song that was written and performed by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band with lead vocals by Cory Daye in 1976. August Darnell, stage named Kid Creole, is an American musician, singer and songwriter who co-founded Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band and subsequently formed and led Kid Creole and the Coconuts.
swing ‘n sing	I’m a Wonderful Thing, Baby	Kid Creole & The Coconuts	1992	“I’m a Wonderful Thing, Baby” is a 1982 song by Kid Creole and the Coconuts from their album Tropical Gangsters. It was the first single released from Tropical Gangsters and their first major hit. When he appeared on the BBC Breakfast news program on September 14, 2011, Kid Creole/August Darnell said he always liked to be the center of attention, which might make him sound extremely vain, but when he performed this song dressed in a yellow suit looking like the comic book character The Mask and boasting of his conquests, it was impossible to take him seriously, which was obviously the point. Darnel was nicknamed “Creole Kid” at high school and they called “Coconuts” caucasians with blond hair. Percussionist “Sugar Coated” Andy Hernandez helped create Kid Creole & The Coconuts and later worked with Hall and Oats, amongst many other artists.
swing ‘n sing	Your Kiss Is On My List	Hall And Oats	1980	“Kiss on My List” is a song by American duo Hall & Oates, written by Daryl Hall and Janna Allen. The song was written with the intention of Janna Allen, sister of Hall’s longtime girlfriend Sara Allen, singing it, as she was interested in starting a music career. Daryl Hall once stated he had no problem that Eddie Van Halen copied the synth part from ‘Kiss On My List’ and used it in ‘Jump.’.
swing ‘n sing	Jump	Van Halen	1983	“Jump” is a song written and performed by American rock band Van Halen in 1983. It is Van Halen’s most successful single, although it differs from other Van Halen songs in that it is driven by a keyboard line.
delicate 1	‘A Trick Of The Light’	Villagers	2018	Villagers are an Irish indie folk band from Dublin, formed in 2008 by songwriter and vocalist/guitarist Conor O’Brien. ‘A Trick Of The Light’ has a steady pulse and a groove in the bass that has slight hints of R&B, which O’Brien certainly emphasises with his vocal delivery. The track is later veered more towards the classic folk roots we know Villagers for, with delicate string arrangements and whistling theremin guiding us down an overgrown garden path, as we chase ‘A Trick Of The Light’.
delicate 1	People Help the People	Birdy	2011	English musician Birdy released a cover version of Cherry Ghost’s song, which was released on 28 October 2011 “People Help the People” is the second single taken from Cherry Ghost’s début album, written in Simon Aldred’s childhood box room bedroom in Bolton in the run up to Xmas 2005.
delicate 1	Someone You Loved	Lewis Capaldi	2018	Lewis Marc Capaldi (born 7 October 1996) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and musician. Capaldi revealed he wrote “Someone You Loved” about his grandmother who had died and it took him six months to finish.
delicate 1	I’ll Take Care of You (Radio Edit)	Joe Bonamassa & Beth Hart	2011	“I’ll Take Care of You” is a song written by Brook Benton and originally recorded by Bobby Bland in 1959 who developed a sound that mixed gospel with the blues and R&B. In 2011, Joe Bonamassa and Beth Hart covered the song.
delicate 1	Imagining My Man	Aldous Harding	2017	Hannah Sian Topp (born 1990), known professionally as Aldous Harding, is a New Zealand indie folk singer-songwriter. She was an only child, took her stepfather’s surname and lives in Cardiff, Wales since 2020.
delicate 1	Come Away With Me	Norah Jones	2002	“Come Away with Me” is a song written, produced, and performed by American recording artist Norah Jones. Norah Jones is legendary Indian sitar master Ravi Shankar’s daughter who took at 16 her mother’s name and moved to Manhattan, New York in 1999:. Jones was born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar on March 30, 1979, in Manhattan, New York City, to American concert producer Sue Jones and Indian Bengali musician Ravi Shankar.
delicate 1	Everybody Here Wants You	Jeff Buckley	1998	“Everybody Here Wants You” was written as a love song for Joan Wasser (Joan As Police Woman), Jeff Buckley’s girlfriend at the time. As a child, Buckley was known as Scott “Scottie” Moorhead, based on his middle name and his stepfather’s surname. After his biological father, American singer Jeff Buckley, died of a drug overdose in 1975, he chose to go by Buckley and his real first name, which he found on his birth certificate.
delicate 1	We Don’t Own It	Joan as Police Woman	2006	‘We Don’t Own It’, written by Joan Wasser is about and dedicated to friend (American musician and singer-songwriter) Elliott Smith. Joan Wasser (born July 26, 1970) is an American musician, singer-songwriter and producer who releases music as Joan As Police Woman. She began her career playing violin with the Dambuilders and played with Black Beetle, Antony and the Johnsons 1999 on their Mercury Prize-winning album, I Am a Bird Now. The band name was a reference to the TV series Police Woman featuring Angie Dickinson. Wasser found the actress inspirational as “she was really powerful but sexy at the same time” in the role. She also preferred “the name to be funny because, although my music is serious, I like to laugh at tragedy”
delicate 1	You Are My Sister	Antony And The Johnsons	2005	You Are My Sister by Antony and the Johnsons, was written by Antony Hegarty (a.k.a. Anohni) and released in 2005. It features co-lead vocals by Boy George.
delicate 1	How to Save a Life	The Fray	2006	The Fray was an American rock band from Denver, Colorado, formed in 2002 by schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King. According to lead singer Isaac Slade, the song ‘How to Save a Life’ was composed and influenced by his experience while working as a mentor at a camp for troubled teenagers in Denver called Shelterwood. The American medical drama television series Grey’s Anatomy brought popularity to the song.
delicate 1	To Build a Home (ft. Patrick Watson)	The Cinematic Orchestra	2006	“To Build a Home” is a song by English electronic music group the Cinematic Orchestra, with vocals and piano performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson. The song has been used in several different TV shows, movies, and adverts, including Grey’s Anatomy
delicate 1	Without You	Tobias Jesso Jr.	2015	Canadian-born songwriter and producer Tobias Jesso Jr. (born Tobias MacDonald Jesso Jr. on July 11, 1985) is known for his songwriting alongside Adele and Harry Styles. Danielle Haim plays drums on the track “Without You”. Tobias Jesso Jr. drew inspiration from personal experiences of heartbreak and loss when writing Without You. His intention was to create a song that reflected the rawness and depth of emotions felt during the aftermath of a broken relationship. The authenticity and honesty in the lyrics can be attributed to Jesso’s own journey through heartache.
delicate 1	Oceans	Morning Runner	2006	“Oceans” is a song written and performed by rock band Morning Runner and was featured on their debut album, Wilderness Is Paradise Now. Morning Runner were an English alternative rock band, formed in 2003 in Reading, England.
delicate 1	The Book of Love	Gavin James	2015	“The Book of Love” is a 1999 song written by Stephin Merritt from The Magnetic Fields, who’s lyrics are often about love and feature atypical or neutral gender roles, and are by turns ironic, tongue-in-cheek, bitter, and humorous. Gavin James (born Gavin Wigglesworth in Dublin on 5 July 1991) grew up in a household surrounded by music. Gavins’ dad would play Cat Stevens, Sam Cooke and Bob Dylan whilst his sister Emma sang and toured with a musical in Ireland. James’ great-grandparents were opera singers and his grandfather was a stand-up comedian and whistler.
delicate 1	Mia	Gorki	1992	“Mia” by Belgian band Gorki, was initially the b-side of another single “Soms Vraagt Een Mens Zich Af” released in 1992 but eventually became one of the most popular Flemish hits. Band leader Luc De Vos stated that Mia is about a kind of mythical woman, between a “madonna and a whore at the same time”, inspired by people who demotivated him and “tried to hinder his search for happiness”.
delicate 1	Need Your Love	Jasper Steverlinck	2017	“Need Your Love” is written, composed and performed by Jasper Steverlinck (born 30 April 1976), a Belgian Flemish singer and guitarist for Ghent-based Arid. In 2002 Steverlinck also started a solo career.
delicate 1	Amor particular	Lluís Llach	1984	luís Llach i Grande (born 7 May 1948) is a Catalan singer-songwriter, novelist and politician from Spain. The song “Amor Particular” is a beautiful tribute to a special person whom the singer has loved for a very long time. Through this song, the singer expresses his love and gratitude to this person for all the moments they have shared together, both happy and sad.
delicate 1	By this river	Brian Eno	1977	Brian Eno is one of the most influential/important/prolific musicians in the history of popular music. “By this river” is the maturity of love according to Brian Eno, released in 1977. After the third verse, Eno gives up on lyrics and starts humming. Brian Eno (Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno) composed the classic start-up sound for Windows 95
delicate 1	Words Are Dead	Agnes Obel	2013	Agnes Caroline Thaarup Obel (born 28 October 1980) is a Danish singer, songwriter, and musician based in Berlin. When Agnes Obel came home from touring with Philharmonics she got a new piano and a new computer and wanted to try them out so she wrote this song, quite quickly. She stated that with ‘Words Are Dead’ she really wanted to make a song that was bittersweet. It is about not being sad that you don’t have words for things. Just because you have lost your words, or can’t explain yourself doesn’t mean that you are unable to. There are other ways. “don’t cry for me” was supposed to be “don’t cry for them”.
delicate 1	When Love Is Gone	David Ackles	1968	David Ackles, is a cerebral, emotionally resonant, doomy singer-songwriter from Rock Island, Illinois. Born in Rock Island, Illinois, on 20 February 1937, into a show-business family, David Thomas Ackles became involved in performance at an early age. “When Love is Gone” with lovely bass line from Jerry Penrod and a beautiful melody and the desolate voice carrying a lyric of realisation and realism. The theme is breakup, appreciating that there is no point to a relationship once the love has gone from it.
delicate 1	Don’t Know How to Keep Loving You	Julia Jacklin	2019	The Australian indy-folk singer-songwriter weaves powerfully personal lyrics with a soft, sensual voice. The smooth drums and softly strummed guitar serve to push her voice front and center, where it shines. The inspiration behind “Don’t Know How to Keep Loving You” stems from Julia Jacklin’s own personal experiences with love and relationships. She stated: “I wrote this basically staring out the window one day in the tour van. I have always loved Fiona Apple’s ‘Not About Love’ and this is in that vein thematically I think.”
2 delicate	Dreamsome	Shelby Lynne	1999	“Dreamsome” by Shelby Lynne was released on her breakthrough album ‘I Am Shelby Lynne’ of 1999 and also appeared on the soundtrack of the film Bridget Jones’s Diary. Shelby Lynne and Willie Nelson have been friends a long time.
2 delicate	Always On My Mind	Willie Nelson	1982	“Always on My Mind” is a ballad written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, first recorded by Brenda Lee, and first released by Gwen McCrae (as “You Were Always on My Mind”) in March 1972. Popular versions of the song were recorded by Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee, Elvis Presley and Pet Shop Boys. Willie Nelson’s 1982 recording became the definitive version and the first to make the Hot 100 (#5; it was also a #1 Country hit). When songwriter-guitarist Wayne Carson called his wife to apologize for the delay to stay longer away from home, her reply helped him to complete this song. The same kind of inspiration came to Albert Hammond for writing “When I need you” …
2 delicate	When I Need You	Leo Sayer	1977	“When I Need You” is a popular song written by Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager and title track of Hammond’s 1976 album ‘When I Need You’. The song deals with Hammond’s personal experiences being away from home and his loved one. Leonard Cohen song “Famous Blue Raincoat” lyrics and melody “Jane came by with a lock of your hair, she said that you gave it to her that night, that you planned to go clear” matches the lyrics “(When I) need you, I just close my eyes and I’m with you, and all that I so want to give you, is only a heart beat away”.
2 delicate	Famous Blue Raincoat	Leonard Cohen	1971	Leonard Cohen wrote “Famous Blue Raincoat” in the form of a letter, signed “L. Cohen”. The lyrics contain references to the German love song “Lili Marlene,” to Scientology, and to Clinton Street. Cohen lived on Clinton Street in Manhattan in the 1970s when it was a lively Latino area.
2 delicate	Help Me Make It Through The Night	Gladys Knight & the Pips	1971	“Help Me Make It Through The Night” is a country music ballad written and composed by Kris Kristofferson and released on his 1970 album Kristofferson. It has been covered by Willie Nelson and Gladys Knight & the Pips. In late 1971, they released a soulful version of Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night”, which became an international hit.
2 delicate	How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?	Al Green	1972	Al Green recorded this in 1972 for his album Let’s Stay Together. Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees wrote this in the style of Andy Williams, who was a popular recording artist and television presenter at the time. It became the first #1 US hit for the group, topping the chart for four weeks.
2 delicate	The Way We Were	Barbra Streisand	1973	“The Way We Were”, title song of the romantic drama The Way We Were (1973) was a commercial success and Barbra Streisand’s first number-one single in the United States. Streisand attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn in 1956, where she became an honor student in modern history, English, and Spanish. She also joined the Freshman Chorus and Choral Club, where she sang with another choir member and classmate, Neil Diamond.
2 delicate	I Am… I Said	Neil Diamond	1971	“I Am… I Said” is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond. Released as a single on March 15, 1971. The 1971 release “I Am…I Said” was a Top 5 hit in both the US and UK and was his most intensely personal effort to date, taking over four months to complete.
2 delicate	You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (ft. Barbra Streisand)	Neil Diamond	1978	“You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” is a song written by Neil Diamond with Alan and Marilyn Bergman for the daily TV sitcom All That Glitters. n 1977, Diamond released the album I’m Glad You’re Here with Me Tonight, which included the track “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” as a solo performance. Early in 1978, Barbra Streisand covered the song on her album Songbird. Neil Diamond recorded his song “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” in 1977 which Barbara Streisand covered on her album Songbird. Radio station program director Gary Guthrie broadcasted a spliced-together duet version in May1978. Eventually, Columbia Records released this official studio version in October. WAKY (AM) Louisville, KY program director, Gary Guthrie, who spliced the two solo tracks together as a going-away present to his wife, Becky, whom he was in the process of divorcing. Guthrie’s spliced-together duet version first aired on WAKY on May 24, 1978. Guthrie sent CBS his version of the duet on July 27, and by August 3, both Streisand and Diamond had agreed to the release of a duet version. However, rather than issue any of the spliced-together versions, Columbia Records had Streisand and Diamond record a brand-new “official” studio version, which was released on October 17, 1978.
2 delicate	The Rose	Bette Midler	1979	“The Rose” is a pop song written by Amanda McBroom. Bette Midler made the song famous when she recorded it for her 1979 film The Rose, in which it plays during the closing credits. The Rose, as a drug-addicted rock star modelled after Janis Joplin. Bette Midler was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, where her family was one of the few Jewish families in a mostly Asian neighbourhood.
2 delicate	A Woman Left Lonely	Janis Joplin	1971	‘A Woman Left Lonely’ is written by Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham and recorded at Sunset Sound Studios (Los Angeles, CA) on 5 September 1970 and first released on the vinyl album “Pearl” (side 1 track 3) Columbia KC-3022. I am a big Janis Joplin fan and if you are interested in this wonderful artist that died too young, I suggest to visit https://www.janisjoplin.net/
2 delicate	Stand By My Woman	Lenny Kravitz	1991	“Stand by My Woman” is a song recorded by American singer Lenny Kravitz and released on September 2, 1991, as the fourth single from his second studio album In 1974, at the age of 10, Kravitz relocated to Los Angeles with his parents when his mother landed her role on The Jeffersons. Kravitz attended Beverly Hills High School, where he was classmates with Maria McKee, Nicolas Cage, and Slash.
2 delicate	Show Me Heaven	Maria McKee	1990	Maria Luisa McKee (born August 17, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her work with Lone Justice and her 1990 song “Show Me Heaven”, for which she (re-)wrote the lyrics and which appeared on the soundtrack to the film Days of Thunder.
2 delicate	So Far Away	Carole King	1971	“So Far Away” is a song written by Carole King, which appeared on her 1971 album Tapestry. The recording features James Taylor on acoustic guitar released in March 1971. The Troubadour in West Hollywood was the first venue that King and Taylor played together in November 1970.
2 delicate	Amoureuse	Véronique Sanson	1972	Véronique Sanson became one of the first French female singer-songwriters to break into stardom with her debut album “Amoureuse” in 1972, produced by Michel Berger. She became one of the most successful and most prominent members of the Seventies “Nouvelle chanson française” (“New French chanson”). Françoise Hardy declared that the release of Amoureuse marked the end of the Yé-yé era, as she confessed “When I first heard Amoureuse, I had the impression that every female singer, including myself, was left far behind”. Sanson was romantically involved with French singer-songwriter Michel Berger from 1967 to 1972. Their love story has become a part of French music legend, especially through songs they wrote to each other long after they broke up. From 1973 to 1979 she was married to American rock musician Stephen Stills.
2 delicate	Message Personnel	Françoise Hardy	1973	“Message personnel” is a song by Françoise Hardy from 1973. Around 1972, Hardy contacted songwriter and producer Michel Berger with the intention of working with him, after being impressed by his work with Véronique Sanson. Berger agreed to produce and arrange her following album, but was unable to write all of its music owing to other obligations. He wrote two of the record’s twelve songs of which “Message personnel” with Françoise Hardy: Title of the song and words of the spoken part and Michel Berger: Lyrics and music of the sung part.
2 delicate	Evidemment	France Gall	1988	“Evidemment” written by France Gall’s husband Michel Berger, is a tribute to Daniel Balavoine who was a close friend of the couple and who died about two years earlier. It was released in March 1988. Daniel Balavoine died in a helicopter crash on 14 January 1986 in Mali together with Thierry Sabine, founder and main organizer of the Dakar Rally.
2 delicate	One day I’ll Fly Away	Randy Crawford	1980	“One Day I’ll Fly Away” is a song performed by American R&B and jazz singer Randy Crawford, released in 1980. “One Day I’ll Fly Away” was written by Joe Sample and Will Jennings, and produced by Sample, Wilton Felder and Stix Hooper. The main hook (in which the singer sings the title of the song) is itself an interpolation of Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Flowers from his ballet, The Nutcracker.
2 delicate	Old and Wise	The Alan Parsons Project	1982	“Old and Wise” is a 1982 song by the Alan Parsons Project with the lead vocal performed by ‘Wonderful’ Colin Blunstone. This melancholic song about reconciliation and forgiveness can be interpreted in many ways. Alan Parsons wrote this song with his partner in the group, Eric Woolfson. The song is about a man approaching death, addressing those he knew with fond remembrance, as he now has no time for bitter memories. Zombies lead singer Colin Blunstone sings lead. Writer Eric Woolfson presented “Old and Wise” to Colin Blunstone in the Abbey Road Studio Three, where The Zombies recorded “Time of the Season.”
2 delicate	Time Of The Season	The Zombies	1968	Iconic British psychedelic pop legends The Zombies ironically broke-up just prior to achieving their greatest success – the worldwide chart-topping single “Time of the Season,” from their swan-song album Odessey & Oracle. The Zombies keyboard player Rod Argent wrote this song. The lyric “Who’s your daddy?” in “Time of the Season” is a little nod to “Summertime” (“Your daddy’s rich and your mama’s good looking.”).
2 delicate	Wonderful	Colin Blunstone	1974	“Wonderful” is written by The Zombies members Chris White and Rod Argent. After “The Zombies” disbanded in 1968, lead singer Colin Blunstone had taken a job in insurance and launched a solo career.
2 delicate	How Can I Tell You	Cat Stevens	1971	“How Can I Tell You” is one of the best love songs ever written and sung by Cat Stevens on his 1971 album ‘Teaser and the Firecat’. Stevens actually did not play guitar on the album recording. According to his producer Paul Samwell-Smith, the studio session was set up with “two stereo acoustic guitars put down first, Andy Roberts on one, Alun Davies on the other, [Cat] singing as an overdub later.” Cat Stevens, who later in life changed his name to Yusuf Islam (21 July 1948) is a singer songwriter from England. Tea For The Tillerman’s 1971 follow-up Teaser And The Firecat surpassed its predecessor’s sales at the time.
delicate3	Listen to the radio	Tom Robinson Band	1983	Tom Robinson’s autobiographical “Listen To The Radio” was co-written with Peter Gabriel.
delicate3	Wish You Were Here	Pink Floyd	1975	“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd was written by songwriters Roger Waters and David Gilmour, inspired by founding member Syd Barrett’s ordeal with schizophrenia. The sound coming from an AM radio somewhere in the distance represents the distance between the listener and the music. “Wish You Were Here” is the title track to Pink Floyd’s ninth album, their follow-up to The Dark Side Of The Moon.
delicate3	Don’t give up (ft. Kate Bush)	Peter Gabriel	1985	A newspaper article about a woman killing her child and herself, depression and a nervous breakdown inspired Peter Gabriel to write this song, released in 1986.
delicate3	Fix You	Coldplay	2005	This song deals with true love, helping someone in your time of need, and learning from your mistakes. According to Gwyneth Paltrow, she was the one Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin was trying to help fix. Paltrow met Martin in 2002 just a few weeks after her father, the actor Bruce Paltrow, passed away. When he appeared on The Howard Stern Show in 2015, she explained: “‘Fix You’ was about him trying to put me back together after my dad died. I think it’s pretty nice.” Martin and Paltrow got married in 2003 and had two children together before breaking up in 2014.
delicate3	Have a Little Faith in Me	John Hiatt	1987	“Have a Little Faith in Me” is a song written and performed by John Hiatt that appears on his 1987 album Bring the Family. The song was the first song written by Hiatt following his sobriety from drugs and alcohol, which had contributed to his marriage breakdown and his being released by former record labels. Hiatt’s original attempt at recording the song took place at a friend’s studio and included a larger instrument accompaniment. However, the recording was plagued by technical issues. The morning after, Hiatt was informed that his estranged wife had committed suicide. Hiatt attributes the technical problems with the original recording as a sign that the song was not meant to be heard that way, and he eventually released the song with a much simpler piano accompaniment.
delicate3	Eres mi religión	Maná	2002	“Eres Mi Religion” is a timeless love anthem about finding your soul mate and being devoted to them.
delicate3	Lean On Me	Bill Withers	1972	“Lean on Me” is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bill Withers. It was released in April 1972. Bill Withers’ childhood in the coal mining town of Slab Fork, West Virginia, was the inspiration for “Lean on Me”, which he wrote after he had moved to Los Angeles and found himself missing the strong community ethic of his hometown. He had lived in a decrepit house in the poor section of his town.
delicate3	All By Myself	Eric Carmen	1975	“All By Myself” written and performed by Eric Carmen is among the most-played songs in U.S. pop history. Eric Carmen was inspired by by Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” and The Beatles movie “A Hard Day’s Night” to kick-off his career.
delicate3	Hello	ADELE	2015	“Hello” was written by Adele and Greg Kurstin and produced by Kurstin, who also played bass, guitar, drums, piano and keyboards, while Adele played drums.
delicate3	Holding Back The Years	Simply Red	1985	Simply Red is fronted by singer-songwriter Mick Hucknall (“Red” was his nickname because of his red hair). Hucknall didn’t realize what the song was about until he’d finished it. “It’s about that moment where you know you have to leave home and make your mark, but the outside world is scary,” he explained. “So you’re holding back the years.”
delicate3	Lazarus	David Bowie	2015	The title song from David Bowies musical Lazarus taken from the album Blackstar. The show opened in New York in December 2015, and was a sequel to his cult classic movie The Man Who Fell to Earth where he played the lead Thomas Jerome Newton. Speaking to the New York Times, the musical’s director Ivo van Hove said: “Lazarus focuses on Newton as he remains on Earth, a man unable to die, his head soaked in cheap gin, and haunted by a past love.”. The song took on new meaning after Bowie passed away on January 10, 2016, two days after the Blackstar album was released.
delicate3	Chère amie (Toutes mes excuses)	Marc Lavoine en duo avec Françoise Hardy	2007	Marc Lavoine wrote and released “Chère amie (Toutes mes excuses)” first in 1990 and recorded a duet with Fançoise Hardy in 2007.
delicate3	When a Blind Man Cries	Deep Purple	1972	“When a Blind Man Cries” by Deep Purple was initially recorded during the Machine Head sessions in December 1971 in Montreux, Switzerland during a short break from touring.
delicate3	U-Turn (Lili)	AaRON	2007	AaRON (acronym for Artificial Animals Riding on Neverland) is a French musical duo made up of Olivier Coursier and lead vocalist Simon Buret. “U-Turn (Lili)”, which was released in 2007, is their debut single and in a way most-successful one. This song also made its way onto the soundtrack of Je Vais Bien, Ne T’en Fais Pas (aka “Don’t Worry, I’m Fine”), the 2006 French movie starring Mélanie Laurent.
delicate3	You do something to me	Paul Weller	1995	Paul Weller commented on this song “This definitely strikes a chord in people’s hearts, a song for lovers. I’m told by some many people they had it played at their wedding, the first dance…Ironically, it’s really about unattainable love. But you can interpret it whichever way you want.”
delicate3	The Blower’s Daughter	Damien Rice	2001	The ballad “The Blower’s Daughter” is written and performed by Irish musician Damien Rice, most likely inspired by Irish singer Lisa Hannigan, who features in the song and was in a relationship with Rice until 2007.
delicate3	Here’s to Love	Jasper Steverlinck	2017	“Here’s to Love” is written, composed and performed by Jasper Steverlinck in 2017. Jasper Steverlinck (born 30 April 1976) is a Belgian Flemish singer and guitarist for Ghent-based Arid.
delicate3	Che vuole questa musica stasera	Peppino Gagliardi	1967	Gaetano Amendola, Neapolitan lyricist, who often wrote with Peppino Gagliardi with whom he wrote many successes, like “Che vuole questa musica stasera”. Giuseppe Gagliardi was born in Naples on May 25, 1940 and died August 9, 2023. “Che vuole questa musica stasera” (Who wants this music tonight) is part of the original soundtrack of Scent of a Woman (Italian: Profumo di donna) in 1974 and the 2015 movie “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”
delicate3	La Solitudine	Laura Pausini	1993	“La solitudine” (“The Loneliness”) is an Italian ballad recorded by pop singer Laura Pausini released as her debut single in February 1993. The lyrics to the Italian version of the song where are about a boy named Marco, who is separated from his girlfriend at the urging of his family and sent to live far away from her. The now former girlfriend makes an emotional and heartfelt plea, singing to him about the loneliness and pain they would feel without each other. In 1994 Pausini released a Spanish-language version of the song, titled “La soledad” and an English-language version, adapted by Tim Rice, titled “La solitudine (Loneliness)” in 1995.
delicate3	Perfidia	María Dolores Pradera	2006	“Perfidia” (Spanish for “perfidy”, meaning faithlessness, treachery or betrayal) is a 1939 Spanish-language song written by Mexican composer and arranger Alberto Domínguez (1906–1975) from the perspective of a man whose lover has left him. The song has also been recorded in English (with lyrics by Milton Leeds) and as an instrumental. Dame María Dolores Fernández Pradera (29 August 1924 – 28 May 2018) was a Spanish melodic singer and actress, and one of the most famous voices in Spain and Latin America. Pradera recorded the song in 2006 with Los Sabandeños Spanish folk band from Tenerife, Canary Islands, founded in the sixties by a group of friends at the university of La Laguna.
delicate3	Delicate (Feat. Des’ree)	Terence Trent D’Arby	1993	“Delicate” is a song by American singer-songwriter Terence Trent D’Arby (born Terence Trent Howard; March 15, 1962) featuring English singer Des’ree, released on June 7, 1993
libido II	Don’t Stop Me Now	Queen	1979	“Don’t Stop Me Now” is written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, it was recorded in August 1978 at Super Bear Studios in Berre-les-Alpes (Alpes-Maritimes), France. The band felt they were “getting better at having a good time” and the lyrics reflect this.
libido II	I’m So Excited	The Pointer Sisters	1982	I’m So Excited was written and recorded by The Pointer Sisters with lead vocals by Anita Pointer. Anita Pointer died from cancer at her home in Beverly Hills, California, on December 31, 2022, aged 74
libido II	Paradise By the Dashboard Light	Meat Loaf	1977	“Paradise by the Dashboard Light” is a song written by Jim Steinman. It was released in 1977 on the album Bat Out of Hell, with vocals by the American musician Meat Loaf alongside Ellen Foley. The baseball play-by-play section, written specifically for New York Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto. According to Meat Loaf on VH1 Storytellers, the original length of the track was to be 27 minutes.
libido II	Half a Boy, Half a Man	Nick Lowe	1984	“Half a Boy, Half a Man.” was written and performed by British rocker Nick Lowe with nods to Tex-Mex music and released in 1984.
libido II	You Shook Me All Night Long	AC/DC	1980	“You Shook Me All Night Long” is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC,written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson and likely also by Bon Scott.
libido II	Sexy M.F.	Prince & The New Power Generation	1992	“Sexy MF” is a song by American musician Prince and the New Power Generation, released as a single from their 1992 album Love Symbol. The music and most of the lyrics were composed by Prince, while Levi Seacer Jr. came up with the chorus and the song’s title. Tony M. also delivers a rap, which he wrote.
libido II	Sexy Cinderella (C&J Remix)	Lynden David Hall	1997	“Sexy Cinderella” is written and performed by Lynden David Hall and released in 1997. Hall appeared in the film Love Actually in 2003 as the lead singer of the surprise band that plays the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” at the wedding of the characters played by Keira Knightley and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
libido II	Redbone	Childish Gambino	2016	Donald McKinley Glover Jr, also known by his stage name Childish Gambino, is an American actor, comedian, singer, rapper, writer, director, and producer. The song is based on “I’d Rather Be with You” by Bootsy’s Rubber Band, composed by George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and Gary “Mudbone” Cooper. Swedish producer Ludwig Göransson recorded all the instruments starting out from a drum beat that Donald Glover was playing. Glover stated that there was no vocal pitching on the song, he just sang differently.
libido II	King Kunta	Kendrick Lamar	2015	“King Kunta” is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kendrick Lamar co-written with Thundercat. “King Kunta” is a reference to Kunta Kinte a young man taken from The Gambia when he was seventeen and sold as a slave.
libido II	I Want Your Sex	George Michael	1987	Part 1 of “I Want Your Sex” was recorded and written entirely in the studio by George Michael playing all the instruments: a LinnDrum, a Roland Juno-106 and a Yamaha DX7.
libido II	Justify my love	Madonna	1990	“Justify My Love” was written by singer and songwriter Ingrid Chavez as a love letter dedicated to Kravitz, who was having an affair with her at the time. It features spoken word vocals by Madonna and Kravitz’s “moans” on background vocals.
libido II	Love To Love You Baby	Donna Summer	1975	Donna Summer suggested the lyric “Love to Love You Baby” to Giorgio Moroder who turned it into a full disco song. The album version is 16:49 (album version)
libido II	Sexual Healing	Marvin Gaye	1982	Marvin Gaye wrote his comeback song, “Sexual Healing”, while residing in Oostende, Belgium in 1981 together with two of of his musicians, Gordon Banks and Odell Brown,
libido II	Sex Bomb	Tom Jones	1999	“Sex Bomb” is a song by Welsh singer Tom Jones. Performed in collaboration with German DJ and record producer Mousse T.
libido II	Sex Machine	James Brown	1970	“Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine (Part 1)” centres on the insistent riff played by brothers Bootsy and Catfish Collins on bass and guitar and Jabo Starks on drums, along with the call and response interplay between Brown and Bobby Byrd’s vocals. During the song’s final vocal passages Brown and Byrd started to sing the main hook of Elmore James’ blues classic “Shake Your Moneymaker.”
libido II	Hot Stuff	The Rolling Stones	1976	The Rolling Stones’ “Hot Stuff” written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, features Ollie E. Brown on percussion and guest guitarist Harvey Mandel (providing the lead guitar solo throughout), formerly of Canned Heat. Lead Electric Guitar: Harvey Mandel, Electric Guitar Riffs: Keith Richards, Bass: Bill Wyman, Drums: Charlie Watts and Piano: Billy Preston
libido II	You Sexy Thing	Hot Chocolate	1975	“You Sexy Thing” is a song by British band Hot Chocolate, written by lead singer Errol Brown and bass guitarist Tony Wilson. Initially the b-side of their single “Blue Night”, it was re-released as a-side a few months later. It featured in the 1997 British film The Full Monty, as well as Tom Jones’ cover of “You Can Leave Your Hat On”
libido II	You Can Leave Your Hat On	Joe Cocker	1986	“You Can Leave Your Hat On” is a song written by Randy Newman. Joe Cocker recorded “You Can Leave Your Hat On” in 1986. It featured in the 1986 American movie 9½ Weeks.
libido II	A Far L’amore Comincia Tu	Raffaella Carrà	1976	¡Señoras y señores! La hora de… Raffaella Carrà “A far l’amore comincia tu” (“You start making love first”) is a song by Italian singer Raffaella Carrà, written by Franco Bracardi and Daniele Pace.
libido II	Je t’aime… moi non plus	Serge Gainsbourg	1967	“Je t’aime… moi non plus” (French for “I love you… me neither”) is a 1967 song written by Serge Gainsbourg for and with his girlfriend, Brigitte Bardot released in 1986. The title was inspired by a Salvador Dalí comment: “Picasso is Spanish, me too. Picasso is a genius, me too. Picasso is a communist, me neither”. The best known version with Jane Birkin was released in 1969, labeled “Interdit aux moins de 21 ans” (forbidden to those under 21) and could not be aired before 11 pm in France. It was banned from radio in Spain, Sweden, Brazil, the UK, Italy.
eclectic one	Malamente	Rosalía	2018	“Malamente” or “Badly” was written and recorded at the CasArte on the island of El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain and talks about a toxic relationship and how the woman knew that something wrong was going to happen in her life.
eclectic one	The Fear	Lily Allen	2008	Allen wrote and recorded the song with Greg Kurstin in a cottage located in Moreton-in-Marsh (within the Cotswolds district and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Gloucestershire, England.) in 2007.
eclectic one	La Loi de Murphy	Angèle	2017	“La Loi de Murphy” was written by Angèle with Belgian rapper Veence Hanao and Matthew Irons, the singer and guitarist of Belgian group Puggy. Angèle van Laeken was born on 3 December 1995, in Uccle, Brussels-Capital Region. Angèle is the daughter of the singer Marka and of the actress Laurence Bibot. Her brother is the rapper Roméo Elvis.
eclectic one	One More Night	Michael Kiwanuka	2016	Michael Kiwanuka is a singer-songwriter from Muswell Hill, London. Kiwanuka stated “I’ve been marketed as a Black soul singer, which is perhaps what I am. But I don’t feel like that. In my head, where I grew up, I was more used to middle-class white England. That’s what I’ve been around all my life. Also, the fact no Black people were coming to my gigs made me realize we’re more segregated than we think. Even in the kinds of music we listen to.”
eclectic one	Hey Brother (Do Unto Others)	The Family Daptone	2019	Hey Brother (Do Unto Others) features Antibalas, The Frightnrs, Charles Bradley, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, The James Hunter Six, Lee Fields & Saun & Starr. This track is Daptone’s 100th 45rpm release and a tribute to the tragic loss of singer DAN KLEIN from ‘The FRIGHTNRS’ to ALS. ‘Hey Brother’ is a song written and originally performed by The FRIGHTNRS.
eclectic one	Next to Me	Emeli Sandé	2012	Whether her morally righteous right-hand man and mysterious entity is a lover, her faith or the music itself is never clarified. Scottish singer songwriter Emeli Sandé got married with marine biologist Adam Gouraguine in his home nation of Montenegro on 15 September 2012. Ten years later, in September 2022, Emeli Sandé announced her engagement to female classical pianist Yoana Karemova.
eclectic one	Stop This Flame	Celeste	2020	“Stop This Flame” was written by Celeste and Jamie Hartman, former lead of Ben’s Brother. The song samples Nina Simone’s version of “Sinnerman” and Nina Simone is credited as a co-author.
eclectic one	Sinnerman (Felix Da Housecat’s Heavenly House Mix)	Nina Simone	2003	“Sinnerman” is an African American traditional spiritual song. Nina Simone recorded an extended 10-minute-plus version in 1965 which was credited as “Arranged by Nina Simone”. American DJ Felix da Housecat sampled it for Verve Record’s in 2003 and in 2020 Celeste track “Stop This Flame” also sample the song.
eclectic one	Feeling Alright	Joe Cocker	1969	“Feeling Alright”, written by Dave Mason of the English rock band Traffic in 1968. Joe Cocker released his version as a single in 1969.
eclectic one	Save room	John Legend	2006	John Legend released”Save Room” in 2006, which he co-wrote with will.i.am.
eclectic one	Out Of Reach	Gabrielle	2001	“Out of Reach” is written and performed by English singer Gabrielle for the 2001 romantic comedy film Bridget Jones’s Diary. The London Session Orchestra provides the string instruments on the track.
eclectic one	All Around The World	Lisa Stansfield	1989	Lisa Stansfield co-wrote the lyrics of “All Around the World” with her former bandmates Ian Devaney and Andy Morris from Blue Zone. The song is largely influenced by American singer-songwriter Barry White. As a tribute to him, they made a spoken intro on “All Around the World” like the one on the album version of White’s “Let the Music Play”, only shorter.
eclectic one	Let The Music Play	Barry White	1975	“Let the Music Play” written and performed by Barry White, which was actually an outtake from his previous album Just Another Way to Say I Love You and became the title song of his 1976 album.
eclectic one	I Can Hear Music	The Beach Boys	1969	“I Can Hear Music” was written and composed by the trio Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector for the Ronettes (credited as The Ronettes Featuring Veronica) in 1966. It was covered by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released on their 1969 album 20/20 with Carl Wilson on lead vocals. Brian Wilson, a Ronettes fan, wrote the 1964 hit “Don’t Worry Baby” as a response to the Ronettes 1964 hit “Be My Baby”.
eclectic one	Be My Baby	The Ronettes	1964	Another song written and composed by the trio Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector. The Ronettes’ lead singer Veronica Bennett (later known as Ronnie Spector) is the only Ronette on “Be My Baby”, their biggest hit. Phil Spector produced “Be My Baby” at Gold Star Studios with his de facto house band, later known as “the Wrecking Crew”. Sonny Bono and Cher were among the backing vocalists.
eclectic one	I Got You Babe	Sonny & Cher	1965	“I Got You Babe” became Sonny and Cher’s biggest single, their signature song, and a defining recording of the early hippie countercultural movement Sonny Bono, a songwriter and record producer for Phil Spector, wrote the lyrics and composed the music of the song for himself and his then-wife, Cher, late at night in their basement. The session musicians The Wrecking Crew performed the instrumental track. Recalling Dylan’s bitter 1964 song “It Ain’t Me Babe” (soon to be a folk-rock hit for the Turtles), Bono wrote his own opposite sentiment: “I Got You Babe.”
eclectic one	It Ain’t Me, Babe (ft. June Carter Cash)	Johnny Cash	1965	Country artist Johnny Cash covered Bob Dylan’s song ‘It Ain’t Me, Babe’ as a duet with his (future) wife June Carter. Dylan owes its inspiration to his former girlfriend Suze Rotolo. The refrain “no, no, no, it ain’t me babe” is a call-back to the Beatles’ “she loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah,” as heard on their song “She Loves You.” This was one of the songs given an electric arrangement by Dylan when he started the electric guitar concerts in 1965.
eclectic one	She Loves You	The Beatles	1963	Lennon and McCartney started composing “She Loves You” on 26 June 1963 after a concert at the Majestic Ballroom in Newcastle upon Tyne during their tour with Roy Orbison and Gerry and the Pacemakers. Lennon, being mindful of Elvis Presley’s “All Shook Up”, wanted something equally stirring: “I don’t know where the ‘yeah yeah yeah’ came from [but] I remember when Elvis did ‘All Shook Up’ it was the first time in my life that I had heard ‘uh huh’, ‘oh yeah’, and ‘yeah yeah’ all sung in the same song”
eclectic one	All Shook Up	Elvis Presley	1957	“All Shook Up” by Elvis Presley from 1957 is credited to Otis Blackwell and Elvis Presley. The duet vocal on the record is by The Jordanaires first tenor Gordon Stoker.
eclectic one	Crying	Don Mclean	1978	“Crying” is a song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson and covered in 1978 by Don McLean, with backing vocals from The Jordanaires.
eclectic one	You Got It	Roy Orbison	1989	“You Got It” was written by Orbison and his Traveling Wilburys bandmates Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty. Orbison gave his only public rendition of the hit at the Diamond Awards Festival in Antwerp, Belgium, on November 19, 1988, just 17 days before his death and before the single was released.
eclectic one	She’s My Baby	Traveling Wilburys	1990	The Traveling Wilburys were a British-American supergroup consisting of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. Following Orbison’s death in December 1988, the Wilburys continued as a quartet and released a second album, titled Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, in 1990. The opening song “She’s My Baby” was written by all four members of the band – George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty – and each of them sing a portion of the track.
eclectic one	Rock ‘N Roll Is King	Electric Light Orchestra	1983	“Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King” is a song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) released as a single from the 1983 album Secret Messages. With this song the band returned to their rock roots. It features a violin solo by Mik Kaminski.
disco	Celebration	Kool & The Gang	1980	Kool & the Gang’s co-founder and sax player Ronald Bell, also known as Khalis Bayyan, was inspired by his religious study, reading the Q’uran passage where God was creating Adam, and the angels were celebrating and singing praises: “’Everyone around the world, come on, celebration””
disco	Boogie Wonderland (ft. The Emotions)	Earth, Wind & Fire	1978	Earth, Wind & Fire’s song “Boogie Wonderland” teamed up with the talented vocal group the Emotions puts every wannabe disco queen or king in the spotlight at parties or discos. Co-writer Allee Willis was known for hosting spectacular parties at her home just outside Hollywood.
disco	Alexandrie Alexandra	Claude François	1978	In “Alexandrie Alexandra”, French musician Claude François refers to Egypt where he was born in 1939. While the initial song version had appeared on his album ‘Magnolias for Ever’ in 1977, the single version was released on the day of his funeral in March 1978. Claude François had met Tamla Motown artist Lamont Dozier, who had played the intro of “Going Back to My Roots”, which inspired him to write the melody for “Alexandrie Alexandra”.
disco	Going Back to My Roots	Odyssey	1981	“Going Back to My Roots” is a 1977 song by Lamont Dozier. Dozier, after moving to Los Angeles, found himself taking trips to Detroit, where he had his ‘roots’, to see his family and so on.” New York City disco group Odyssey released a cover version of this song in 1981.
disco	Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You	Boys Town Gang	1982	“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” is a 1967 song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, and first recorded and released as a single by Gaudio’s Four Seasons bandmate Frankie Valli. In 1982, San Francisco-based post-disco band Boys Town Gang released a dance version of the song.
disco	Do You Wanna Funk (ft. Patrick Cowley)	Sylvester	1982	“Do Ya Wanna Funk” is a 1982 dance song recorded by American recording artists Sylvester and Patrick Cowley. It was produced by Cowley, who incidentally died the same year. The song was inspired by “I’m Your Jeanie”, a single by Jeanie Tracy, who was a background vocalist for Sylvester.
disco	Disco Samba	Two Man Sound	1977	Two Man Sound was a Belgian pop trio of the 1970s with Lou Deprijck, Sylvain Vanholme (formerly of Wallace Collection) and Yvan Lacomblez. Their style combined the disco music typical of the era with samba and bossa nova. The medley of Brazilian pop songs “Disco Samba” is one of their signature hits released in 1977. Band members Lacomblez and Deprijck were also record producers and songwriters.
disco	Dance Classics -The Mix-	Ben Liebrand	1989	Ben Liebrand was a pioneer of mixing and remixing for the dance floor and experimented with all forms of signal processing including pitch-transpose to match the song key back in 1983, filtered tracks and reed relay triggered samples. In 1986 Ben started to make remixes in a tempo other than the original songs tempo.
disco	Disco Inferno	The Trammps	1976	The song was originally recorded by the Trammps in 1976 and released as a single. It was supposedly inspired by a scene in the 1974 blockbuster film The Towering Inferno. The nearly 11 minute album version was included on the soundtrack to the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever.
disco	You Should Be Dancing	Bee Gees	1976	“You Should Be Dancing”, written and performed by the brothers Gib in 1976, is also one of six songs performed by the Bee Gees included in the Saturday Night Fever movie soundtrack which came out a year later.
disco	You’re The First, The Last, My Everything	Barry White	1974	Barry White recorded and produced the song. Peter Radcliffe originally wrote the track as a country song with the title “You’re My First, You’re My Last, My In-Between”, which went unrecorded for 21 years.
disco	Its Raining Men	The Weather Girls	1982	The Weather Girls are an American female duo whose best-known line-up comprised Martha Wash and Izora Armstead. Formed in 1976 in San Francisco, California, Wash and Armstead began their musical careers as Two Tons O’ Fun, the female backup duo for disco singer Sylvester. Paul Jabara and Paul Shaffer wrote the song over the course of one afternoon in 1979, intending it for Donna Summer, who had scored a hit with “Last Dance” (1978). However, as Shaffer later recalled, Summer had recently become a born-again Christian and rejected the song as “blasphemous”. The song was then offered to Diana Ross, Cher, and Barbra Streisand, all of whom declined it.
disco	You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)	Sylvester	1978	The song was originally recorded as a mid-tempo piano-driven gospel song; however, after producer Patrick Cowley saw a rehearsal of the song at San Francisco’s City Club, he offered to remix the song, following closely on “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer which heavily used electronic instrumentation ahead of its time.
disco	Born To Be Alive	Patrick Hernandez	1978	Belgian producer Jean Vanloo recycled “Born to be alive”, originally a song of ‘Paris Palace Hôtel’, engaged French singer Patrick Hernandez and suggested to match it to the tempo of Sylvester’s ‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)’.
disco	Cuba	Gibson Brothers	1978	“Cuba” is a 1978 song by French musical group Gibson Brothers. It was written and produced by Daniel Vangarde, and the Belgian producer Jean Kluger. Vangarde is the father of Thomas Bangalter, who is best known as a member of the electronic music duo Daft Punk. He is credited with aiding the duo in their early musical career
disco	Singing In The Rain	Sheila & The Black Devotion	1977	The French Yé-yé artist Sheila (born Annie Chancel in Créteil, France on August 16, 1945) changed her image when she formed Sheila and B. Devotion (also credited as “Sheila B. Devotion”, “Sheila and the Black Devotion” or “S.B. Devotion”) in 1977.
disco	We Are Family	Sister Sledge	1979	“We Are Family” was the first song that Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards wrote for any act other than their own band Chic. The chorus (and therefore the title) makes reference to the fact that the group are the four sisters of a family. The lead vocals were recorded in a single take by then-19-year-old Kathy Sledge
disco	Le Freak	Chic	1978	This song commemorates Studio 54 in New York City for its notoriously long customer waiting lines, exclusive clientele, and discourteous doormen. The refrain went from originally “Fuck off!” to “freak off” to eventually “Freak out!”, referring to the doormen’s words when guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards’ were refused entrance during New Year’s Eve 1977.
disco	I Will Survive	Gloria Gaynor	1978	“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor was initially released as the B-side to “Substitute”. Co-writer Dino Fekaris,found inspiration in his experience getting fired by Motown Records in the mid-1970s after seven years working there as a staff writer.
disco	Dancing Queen	ABBA	1976	With ‘Dancing Queen’, ABBA made an Europop version of the dominating American disco music, replicating Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound arrangements. Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus cited George McCrae’s “Rock Your Baby” as a source of inspiration for the style of the song.
disco	Rock Your Baby	George McCrae	1974	“Rock Your Baby” is the debut single by George McCrae. Written and produced by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch of KC and the Sunshine Band, “Rock Your Baby” was one of the landmark recordings of early disco music, with Casey on keyboards and Finch on bass and drums. John Lennon admitted to using the song as an inspiration for the chord progression of “Whatever Gets You thru the Night”, released a few months later.
disco	Queen of Clubs	KC And The Sunshine Band	1974	KC and the Sunshine Band’s hit “Queen of Clubs” features uncredited vocals by George McCrae and Jimmy “Bo” Horne The band took its name from lead vocalist Harry Wayne Casey’s last name (‘KC’) and the ‘Sunshine Band’ from KC’s home state of Florida, the Sunshine State.
disco	Dance Across The Floor	Jimmy “Bo” Horne	1978	Jimmy “Bo” Horne’s (born Jimmie Horace Horne Jr. on September 28, 1949) biggest hit was “Dance Across the Floor”, released in 1978, which was written and produced by Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band.
disco	Funkytown	Lipps Inc.	1980	In 1980 Lipps Inc. put disco’s funeral on hold and proclaimed “Disco lives in Funkytown,” Lipps. Inc. merged the sounds of disco, new-wave pop and old rhythm and blues staples to create a crossover hit that knew no musical, racial or gender barriers.
fall	I Don’t Like Mondays	Boom Town Rats	1979	“I Don’t Like Mondays” is a song by Irish new wave group the Boomtown Rats about the Cleveland Elementary School shooting in San Diego. Geldof had been contacted by Steve Jobs to play a gig for Apple, inspiring the opening line about a “silicon chip”. His paternal grandfather, Zenon Geldof, was a Belgian immigrant.
fall	Monday, Monday	The Mamas & The Papas	1966	“Monday, Monday” is a 1966 song written by John Phillips and recorded by the Mamas & the Papas with members of the Wrecking Crew (a loose collective of Los Angeles–based session musicians).
fall	For What It’s Worth	Buffalo Springfield	1966	“For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound)” (often referred to as simply “For What It’s Worth”) by Buffalo Springfield is written by Stephen Stills and recorded on December 5, 1966. Stephen Stills was inspired to write the song because of the Sunset Strip curfew riots in Los Angeles in November 1966, a series of early counterculture-era clashes that took place between police and young people on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California. Buffalo Springfield had become the house band at the Whisky a Go Go in 1966.
fall	Love Street	The Doors	1968	The song was originally a poem written by singer Jim Morrison about the street in the Laurel Canyon section of Los Angeles, California, where he lived with his girlfriend Pamela Courson and watched hippies pass by. Morrison died unexpectedly in a Paris apartment at the age of 27. They were the house band (starting from May 1966) of the Whisky a Go Go (informally nicknamed The Whisky) a historic nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States.
fall	Who’ll Stop The Rain	Creedence Clearwater Revival	1970	“Who’ll Stop the Rain” is a song written by John Fogerty and originally recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1970. It is inspired by the Woodstock Festival in August 1969.
fall	Have You Ever Seen The Rain	Rod Stewart	2006	‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain’ written in 1970 by John Cameron Fogerty is about rising tension within CCR and the imminent departure of his brother Tom from the band, when they were on the top of the charts, and had surpassed all of their wildest expectations of fame and fortune. They were rich and famous, but somehow all of the members of the band at the time were depressed and unhappy.
fall	It’s Raining Again	Supertramp	1982	Written by founders and band members Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson, “It’s raining again’. Feeling sad about a lost friend on a rainy day inspired writer Roger Hodgson.
fall	Feels Like Rain (ft. Bonnie Raitt)	Buddy Guy	1993	Feels Like Rain is the title song of the 1993 album by Buddy Guy. The is written by John Hiatt and features Bonnie Raitt.
fall	Take Me To The River	Talking Heads	1978	Written by singer Al Green and guitarist Mabon “Teenie” Hodges in 1974 and covered in many ways by different artists.The American band Talking Heads covered it on their second album in 1978 with the rhythm section composed of bassist Tina Weymouth and drummer Chris Frantz. Byrne, Frantz and Weymouth met as freshman students at the Rhode Island School of Design, where they formed a band called the Artistics and later moved to New York where they formed Talking Heads.
fall	Genius of Love	Tom Tom Club	1981	“Genius of Love” is credited to songwriters Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, guitarist Adrian Belew, and producer Steven Stanley. Weymouth sings the primary lead on “Genius of Love.” Frantz plays drums and sings the song’s later male vocals. Weymouth’s sisters Lani and Laura feature on backing vocals. Adrian Belew is credited with guitar, Tyrone Downie with synthesizers, and Uziah “Sticky” Thompson with percussion. Although Tina Weymouth was responsible for writing the bassline and intended to play it on record, she was forced to pass on the latter task to another musician. Tom Tom Club is named after the dancehall in the Bahamas where they rehearsed for the first time.
fall	Foot Stompin’ Music	Hamilton Bohannon	1975	Hamilton Frederick Bohannon moved to Detroit in the early 1960s and worked as sideman for Stevie Wonder between 1965 and 1967 and became arranger for all of Motown’s top acts. He was recruited in 1964 as drummer in 13-year-old Stevie Wonder’s touring band.
fall	I Cannot Believe It’s True	Phil Collins	1983	“I Cannot Believe It’s True” is a song written and performed by Phil Collins. The great ‘jazz’ artist Chester Thompson plays the drums at live performances.
fall	How Long (Has This Been Going On)	Paul Carrack	1974	Although widely interpreted as being about adultery, the song was in fact composed by English band Ace lead singer Paul Carrack upon discovering that bassist Terry (“Tex”) Comer had been secretly working with the Sutherland Brothers and Quiver
fall	Arms of Mary	Sutherland Brothers & Quiver	1976	The Sutherland Brothers (Gavin and Iain Sutherland) were a Scottish folk and soft rock duo. From 1973 to 1978, they performed with rock band Quiver, Ian Sutherland wrote ‘Arms of Mary’ most likely the woman he first made love to. Their first single as the Sutherland Brothers Band was under this contract and was a minor hit, “The Pie”, in January 1972. Their follow-up single was “Sailing”, which had much radio play but was commercially unsuccessful (it was later covered by Rod Stewart).
fall	Moondance	George Fame	1996	Written and performed by Van Morrison in 1970. Georgie Fame covered the song, featuring Van the Man and Robben Ford on guitar in 1996. Georgie Fame was born Clive Powell on June 26, 1943, in Leigh, Lancashire (near Manchester, England). In 1989, Fame played organ on Van Morrison’s Avalon Sunset album, which grew into a fruitful collaboration over the course of the ’90s; Fame played on all of Morrison’s albums through 1997’s The Healing Game, received co-billing on Morrison’s 1996 jazz album ‘How Long Has This Been Going On’, and even served a stint as Morrison’s musical director. In 1998, Fame split with Morrison to record and tour with former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman’s new group the Rhythm Kings, contributing organ and vocals to several albums.
fall	Harvest Moon	Neil Young	1992	The song was written for his wife, Pegi Young, whom he met in the early seventies. The “harvest moon” is a metaphor for the final crop of the year, expressing the final moments of a fruitful season. Neil Young’s credits on the song “Harvest Moon” include guitar, banjo-guitar, piano, pump organ, vibes, and of course his unmistakable vocals. The backing vocals include Linda Ronstadt.
fall	You’re No Good	Linda Ronstadt	1974	“You’re No Good” is a song written by Clint Ballard Jr., first performed by Dee Dee Warwick in 1963. Linda Ronstadt began performing “You’re No Good” to close her live shows in early 1973, after her band member Kenny Edwards suggested it to her. She first included it in her setlist while opening for Neil Young.
fall	American Pie	Don McLean	1971	American Pie is written and performed by Don McLean. The repeated phrase “the day the music died” refers to a plane crash in 1959 that killed early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens, ending the era of early rock and roll; this became the popular nickname for that crash.
fall	That’ll Be The Day	Buddy Holly	1957	“That’ll Be the Day” is a song written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison. It was first recorded by Buddy Holly and the Three Tunes in 1956 and was re-recorded in 1957 by Holly and his new band, The Crickets. In June 1956, Holly along with his older brother Larry as well as Allison and Sonny Curtis went to see the film The Searchers, starring John Wayne, in which Wayne repeatedly used the phrase “that’ll be the day”. This line of dialogue inspired the young musicians.
fall	The Great Gig In The Sky	Pink Floyd	1973	The song features music by keyboard player Richard Wright and improvised, haunting, wordless vocals by session singer Clare Torry, who later got credited co-authorship for the song. You also hear Abbey Road Studios doorman Gerry O’Driscoll talking in the beginning of the track. Studio engineer at Abbey Road, London, Alan Parsons suggested 25-year-old songwriter and session vocalist Clare Torry, who improvised the part. Check out her live performance in 1990.
fall	Eye In the Sky	The Alan Parsons Project	1982	The song has been recorded at the Abbey Road studio in London late 1981. In 2019, Alan Parsons recorded a version in Catalan, under the title “Seré els teus ulls al camí” (“I’ll be your eyes on the road”), for the CD edited by La Marató de TV3, a telethon devoted to raising funds for the research of incurable diseases. Alan’s longtime hobby has been performing magic.
fall	Year of the Cat	Al Stewart	1976	The title song of Al Stewart’s album ‘The Year of the Cat” was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios, London, England, in January 1976 and produced by Alan Parsons. Scottish artist Al Stewart wrote and recorded the song in the Vietnamese Year of the Cat. The opening line “In a morning from a Bogart movie” comes from the movie Casablanca Stewart had seen on TV. Al Stewart played at the first ever Glastonbury Festival in 1970, worked with Yoko Ono pre-Lennon and shared a London apartment with a young Paul Simon.
play	Les play boys	Jacques Dutronc	1966	Words by Jacques Lanzmann and music by Jacques Dutronc. The lyrics reflected Lanzmann’s experience as the editor of the French adult-entertainment magazine Lui.
play	Girls & Boys	Blur	1994	Damon Albarn was inspired to write the song while on holiday in Magaluf, Spain, with then-girlfriend Justine Frischmann, lead singer of Elastica. According to Albarn, the city had “really tacky Essex nightclubs” and a rampant sexual scene among visitors, with “All these blokes and all these girls meeting at the watering hole and then just copulating. There’s no morality involved, I’m not saying it should or shouldn’t happen.” The music has a convergence of various pop and dance styles, summed up by bassist Alex James as “Disco drums, nasty guitars and Duran Duran bass.” Drummer Dave Rowntree admitted that he is not playing on the track, being replaced by a drum machine he programmed. Pet Shop Boys, who provided a remix of the track for the single release
play	West End Girls	Pet Shop Boys	1984	“West End Girls” is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. Written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, “about rough boys getting a bit of posh.” The song’s lyrics are concerned with class and the pressures of inner-city life which were inspired partly by T. S. Eliot’s poem The Waste Land.
play	Glamour Boys	Living Colour	1988	Written by founder and guitarist Vernon Reid and produced by Mick Jagger. Lyrically, “Glamour Boys” discusses young men obsessed with aspects of high society such as clothing and parties. The chorus shouts “I ain’t no glamour boy – I’m fierce!”
play	Boys (Summertime Love)	Sabrina	1987	The Italo disco track “Boys (Summertime Love)” by Italian singer, songwriter, and actress Sabrina Salerno, was written by composers Matteo Bonsanto and Roberto Rossi, alongside lyricists Claudio Cecchetto and Malcolm Charlton.
play	Boys Don’t Cry	The Cure	1979	Written by band members Michael Dempsey, Robert Smith and Lol Tolhurst, the lyrics tell the story of a man who has given up trying to regain the love that he has lost, and tries to disguise his true emotional state. The 1999 American biographical film directed by Kimberly Peirce took its title from the song.
play	Big girls don’t cry	The Four Seasons	1962	The Four Seasons’ member and songwriter Bob Gaudio picked up the line “Big girls don’t cry” from Slightly Scarlet, a 1956 film noir.
play	Girls & Boys	Prince & The Revolution	1986	“Girls & Boys” is written by Prince and performed by Prince and the Revolution. The lyrics speak of characters similar to Christopher and Mary from Under the Cherry Moon, although their actions are not seen in the film. The song includes a seduction spoken by Marie France in French, as well as an early attempt by Prince to deliver a short rap. Background vocals are Wendy & Lisa, and Susannah Melvoin.
play	Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon	Neil Diamond	1966	Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” is a song written and performed by American musician Neil Diamond. The lyrics describe a narrator romantically interested in a young woman whose friends and family disprove of him (“They never get tired of putting me down”) while he urges the woman to reach her own conclusions about him (“Don’t let them make up your mind”). The song enjoyed a second life when it appeared on the 1994 Pulp Fiction soundtrack, performed by rock band Urge Overkill.
play	He Made a Woman Out of Me	Bobbie Gentry	1970	Written by Dan Hill & Fred Burch and first released in December 1969 by Betty LaVette. Bobbie Gentrie covered the song on her 1970 album Fancy.
play	(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman	Carole King	1971	This “natural woman” song for Aretha Franklin is written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King in 1967. Carole King herself recorded the song for her 1971 album Tapestry.
play	She’s Always A Woman	Billy Joel	1978	“She’s Always A Woman”, is a love song that Billy Joel wrote for his then-wife, Elizabeth Weber. Joel has said that he was influenced by Gordon Lightfoot and his mellow acoustic guitar ballads.
play	Just Like a Woman	Bob Dylan	1966	“Just Like a Woman” is written and performed by Bob Dylan. To be noted that the key “delimitation” in the song is not between man and woman, but between woman and girl, so the issue is one “of maturity rather than gender”
play	What’s A Woman	Vaya Con Dios	1990	“What’s a Woman?” is a 1990 pop-rock song recorded by Belgian band Vaya Con Dios, written by Dani Klein, Dirk Schoufs and Jean-Michel Gielen. In 2006, the band re-recorded the song as a duet with Aaron Neville
play	It’s A Man’s Man’s World	James Brown	1966	This song, written by Burt Jones and James Brown, shows the constructed superiority of men over women, who have little power in societies. It also adds up the importance of women as the world won’t mean anything if women had no existence at all.
play	Woman	Neneh Cherry	1996	“Woman” is Swedish Neneh Cherry’s take on American singer James Brown’s 1966 hit “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” and a tribute to femininity and its loving, caring power written by Cherry, her husband Cameron McVey, and Jonathan Sharp. Born as Neneh Mariann Karlsson in Stockholm, Sweden, the daughter of Monika “Moki” Karlsson, a Swedish painter and textile artist, and the musician Ahmadu Jah, son of a tribal chief in Sierra Leone, she took her stepfather’s surname, American jazz musician, Don Cherry. Cherry also has a half-brother, musician Eagle-Eye Cherry.
play	Woman Is The Nigger Of The World	John Lennon	1972	“Woman Is the Nigger of the World” is a song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono with Elephant’s Memory. The song describes women’s subservience to men and misogyny across all cultures.
play	I’m Every Woman	Chaka Khan	1978	“I’m Every Woman” is written by the successful songwriting team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The B-side of the single was “A Woman in a Man’s World”.
play	More Than A Woman	Bee Gees	1978	“More Than a Woman” is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees (Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb) for the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever released in 1978.
play	My Man, A Sweet Man	Millie Jackson	1972	Written by Raeford Gerald, it drew inspiration from personal experiences and observations of relationships. She wanted to convey the highs and lows, the pain and joy, and the complexity of love through her music.
play	Civilized Man	Joe Cocker	1984	“Civilized Man” by Joe Cocker, composed by Richard Feldman and Pat Robinson, is the title song of his 1984 album. Backing vocals include Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney Houston, and the aunt of Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick.
play	I’m Your Man	Leonard Cohen	1988	Written and performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, the song is a response to: “What does a woman want?”. It started off as a song called “I Cried Enough for You”.
play	I’m A Man	Smoove	2018	“I’m a Man” is a song written by Steve Winwood and record producer Jimmy Miller recorded in 1967 by the Spencer Davis Group “I’m A Man” by Smoove was released in 2007 in Italy under the “Record Kicks” label. Smoove also goes by Jonathan Watson (his real name) and Ultragroove.
play	Hold On	Alabama Shakes	2012	“Hold On”, written by Alabama Shakes’ lead singer and guitarist Brittany Howard, for their debut album, Boys & Girls, is a mantra offering the encouragement needed to get through life’s rough patches
mixed blessings	What I Like About You	The Romantics	1979	“What I Like About You” was written by ‘The Romantics’ band members Palmar, Marinos and Skill around a guitar part by Skill. The song’s “Hey, uh-huh-huh” refrain was influenced by the Yardbirds’ “Over Under Sideways Down” and Chuck Berry’s “Back in the U.S.A.” The song’s riff is slightly similar to Neil Diamond’s “Cherry, Cherry”, the Standells’ 1966 hit “Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White”, and Joe Jackson’s 1979 single “I’m the Man.”
mixed blessings	Bohemian Like You	The Dandy Warhols	2000	“Bohemian Like You” was written by The Dandy Warhols’ frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor inspired by a woman he saw in a car stopped at the traffic light below his apartment window and fantasize about a relationship with her.
mixed blessings	Two Princes	Spin Doctors	1992	“Two Princes” is a song by American rock group Spin Doctors, released in 1992. Spin Doctors bandleader Chris Barron takes the voice of a poor prince (must be a pretty lame kingdom) trying to convince a girl that she should marry him instead of his wealthy counterpart.The line, “I know what a prince and lover ought to be” is often misheard, either as “Princeton lover” (plausible, since Barron lived in Princeton, New Jersey) or “prison lover.”
mixed blessings	Tainted Love	Gloria Jones	1965	“Tainted Love” is a song composed by Ed Cobb, formerly of American group the Four Preps, which was originally recorded by Gloria Jones in 1964. Jones re-recorded “Tainted Love” in 1976 and British synthpop duo Soft Cell in covered it in 1981.
mixed blessings	What’cha Gonna Do About It	Small Faces	1965	“Whatcha Gonna Do About It” is the debut single of the English band Small Faces, released in 1965. The melody inspiration came from Solomon Burke’s hit record “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love.”
mixed blessings	Good Thing	Fine Young Cannibals	1989	“Good Thing” is a song by British band Fine Young Cannibals, written by band members Roland Gift and David Steele; Jools Holland played piano on the track, noting that it was “one of the biggest selling records I’ve ever played on”
mixed blessings	Lust For Life	Iggy Pop	1977	“Lust For Life” by Iggy Pop is co-written and produced by David Bowie (written on a ukulele). The song is known for its opening drumbeat derived from “You Can’t Hurry Love”, released in July 1966 by The Supremes, and “I’m Ready for Love”, released in October 1966 by Martha and the Vandellas and rhythm based on the Armed Forces Network call signal. The drumbeat has since been imitated in numerous songs, including “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet and “Selfish Jean” by Travis.
mixed blessings	Selfish Jean	Travis	2007	Travis’ Scottish frontman and songwriter Francis Healy sampled the drum intro from the Iggy Pop song “Lust For Life” on his computer and looped it to create a basic rhythm. The title of the song is a reference to The Selfish Gene, a popular science book about evolution by Richard Dawkins. The band name Travis, is named after the main character in the Wim Wenders film Paris, Texas.
mixed blessings	Are You Gonna Be My Girl (alternative version)	Jet	2003	Australian band Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” has similarities with 1960s Motown songs “I’m Ready for Love” by Martha and the Vandellas and “You Can’t Hurry Love” by the Supremes. Jet’s frontman Nic Cester said he was influenced by the stop-start structure of “My Generation” by the Who.
mixed blessings	My Generation (Previously Unreleased)	The Who	1965	‘My Generation’ by the British band ‘The Who’ is about trying to find a place in society. The song is written by Pete Townshend and includes one of the most quoted—and patently rewritten—lines in rock history is “I hope I die before I get old,” Roger Daltrey’s angry and frustrated stutter is inspired by John Lee Hooker’s “Stuttering Blues”.
mixed blessings	Rockin’ In The Free World	Neil Young	1989	“Rockin’ In The Free World” written and performed by Canadian artist Neil Young was inspired by a statement of his band member, Frank “Poncho” Sampedro guitarist from The Restless, after a planned concert tour to the Soviet Union was not going to happen: “we’ll have to keep on rockin’ in the free world”.
mixed blessings	Supernatural Superserious	R.E.M.	2008	“Supernatural Superserious” by R.E.M. is written by Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe. Frontman Michael Stipe considers the song, about adolescent humiliation and the kinds of things that follow you through your life, to be “one of the best things we’ve ever wrote.” The cryptic lyrics have been compared by some critics to “Imitation Of Life.”
mixed blessings	Mama Weer All Crazee Now	Slade	1972	“Mama Weer All Crazee Now” by British band Slade is written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. Holder got the idea for the lyrics at the band’s concert at Wembley Arena in London, when, after the show, he looked at the remains of the auditorium’s smashed seating and thought “Christ, everyone must have been crazy tonight.”
mixed blessings	Paradise City (ft. Fergie and Cypress Hill)	Slash	2010	“Paradise City” only features on the deluxe versions of the “Slash” studio album and features Fergie (former Black Eyed Peas) and American hip hop group Cypress Hill. Saul “Slash” Hudson, best known as the lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses stated about Guns N’ Roses’ hard rock masterpiece “Paradise City.” that the original line was ‘Take me down to the Paradise City where the girls are fat and they got big titties.’ “We all thought it was funny but it wasn’t going to make it on the album…”, hence the other guys changed it. Equipped with a one-string flamenco guitar given to him by his grandmother, he began taking classes with Wolin. He vividly recalls the feeling after learning “Come Dancing” from Wired by Jeff Beck, his greatest influence, which he described as “fucking awesome”
mixed blessings	Dark Necessities	Red Hot Chili Peppers	2016	“Dark Necessities” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is a song that the band has written with Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse, which “speaks to the beauty of our dark sides and how much creativity and growth and light actually comes out of those difficult struggles that we have on the inside of our heads that no one else can see.” Danger Mouse produced, performed on, and co-wrote songs for the eleventh studio album by the Red Hot Chili Peppers titled The Getaway. Brian Burton formed Gnarls Barkley with CeeLo Green.
mixed blessings	Feel Good Inc.	Gorillaz	2005	In 2005, De La Soul collaborated with Gorillaz on the hit single “Feel Good Inc.”, the lead single from the band’s second studio album, Demon Days. Danger Mouse produced the second Gorillaz album.
mixed blessings	Eye Know	De La Soul	1989	De La Soul’s stage names include Trugoy (reversed spelling for yogurt) and Posdnuos (“sound sop” spelled backwards) underpinning the “D.A.I.S.Y. Age” (an acronym standing for “da inner sound, y’all”) concept. The song is filled with samples that the members had heard: Steely Dan’s “Peg” is heavily sampled throughout the song, providing the backing beat and some backup vocals for the chorus. The Mad Lads’ “Make This Young Lady Mine” provides the sample for both the guitar and the horn heard throughout the track. The whistling heard throughout the track is an Otis Redding sample from his song “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” And drums from “Sing a Simple Song” by Sly & the Family Stone are also sampled in the track.
mixed blessings	The Sound of C	Confetti’s	1988	“The Sound of C” stands for the Belgian club Confetti’s in Brasschaat, near Antwerp. Barmen at Confetti’s (Peter Renkens) became the frontman of the band. Dj Serge Ramaekers composed the song upon request by club owner Peter Vanderhallen making reference to his girlfriend Chrisje.
mixed blessings	Pump Up The Jam	Technotronic	1989	“Technotronic” is a music project of Belgian musician, songwriter, and record producer Jo Bogaert (born in 1956 in Aalst, Belgium). “Pump Up The Jam”, co-written by Congolese–Belgian singer Ya Kid K (born Manuela Barbara Kamosi Moaso Djogi, 26 January 1972) was released in 1989 with Congolese model Felly Kilingi as cover-girl for the promotion of the song.
mixed blessings	The Milky Way	2 Fabiola	1991	2 Fabiola is a project of Pat Krimson (born Patrick Claessen on April 17, 1965 in Hasselt), a Belgian musician/composer, former Leopold 3 (a Belgian band, performing only in Dutch, now defunct) with Zohra (born Zohra Bent Ali Aït-Fath on September 8, 1975 in Hasselt) is a Belgian artist of Moroccan descent. The first production by Pat Krimson under the name of 2 Fabiola was “The Milky Way” (a tribute to the Belgian royal family).
mixed blessings	Get Ready	2 Unlimited	1992	2 Unlimited is the brainchild of two Belgian producers Phil Wilde and Jean-Paul de Coster in the nineties with Dutch rapper Ray Slijngaard and vocalist Anita Doth. “Get Ready” has become one of the most frequently played songs at sporting events around the world. Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde met in their hometown of Antwerp, Belgium, and created 2 Unlimited in their studio, initially without any performers or vocalists. To release ‘Get Ready’ in 1992, they engaged Dutch rapper Ray Slijngaard and vocalist Anita Doth (born Anita Daniëlle Dels on 28 December 1971 in Amsterdam, Netherlands).
mixed blessings	Désenchantée	Kate Ryan	2002	Belgian Katrien Verbeeck (born on July 22, 1980 in Tessenderlo, Belgium), alias Kate Ryan, had massive success in France and around Europe with Mylène Farmer’s “Désenchantée” in 2002. “Disenchanted” or “Disappointed” was initially released in 1991 during the student demonstrations in France and the Gulf war.
mixed blessings	I Fail (Radio Mix) (ft. Scala)	Regi	2007	Belgian Regi Penxten ‘milkes’ the music industry since his success with La Vache in 1996 in France. DJ / media phenomenon in Belgium,  wine lover,  dad of two kids and hitmaker, Regi (Reginald Paul Stefan) Penxten (born on March 4th, 1976 in Hasselt) is known as one of the founders, producer & frontman of Belgian act Milk Inc.Milk Inc. In 2007 he recorded ‘I Fail’ with SCALA, a Belgian all-girls choir that performs and records classical arrangements of popular rock, metal, dance, hiphop and pop songs, conducted by Stijn Kolacny and accompanied on piano by Steven Kolacny, who also arranges the songs.
epic	The Eve Of The War	Jeff Wayne & Justin Hayward	1978	Jeff Wayne’s ‘The Eve of the War’ includes Richard Burton as narrator and Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues. Jeff Wayne’s The Musical Version of War of the Worlds, inspired by the 1953 film adaption, is a rock opera telling the H.G. Wells War of the Worlds story. The album features guest artists David Essex, Justin Hayward, Phil Lynott, Chris Thompson, and Julie Covington. Richard Burton performs the voice of George Herbert, the Journalist, who also narrates the story.
epic	Child In Time (Remastered Album Version)	Deep Purple	1970	“Child in Time” performed and written by British band Deep Purple was released in June 1970. Band members Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice used the Cold War as the theme
epic	Time	Pink Floyd	1974	“Time” performed and written by British band Pink Floyd was released as single in 1974 in the US. It is credited by all band members Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright and Nick Mason. The lyrics deal with the passage of time. The clocks chiming and alarms ringing sounds were recorded in an antique store made as a quadrophonic test by engineer Alan Parsons, not specifically for the album
epic	Band On the Run	Paul McCartney & Wings	1974	“Band On the Run” by Paul McCartney & Wings was released in 1974. Written by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney, the song-wide theme is one of freedom and escape, about the oppression of rock musicians by cannabis-crazed bureaucrats. Inspired by George Harrison’s quote during one of the Beatles’ many business meetings saying that they were all prisoners in some way due to the ongoing problems with their company (Apple).
epic	Why Can’t We Live Together?	Steve Winwood	2003	“Why Can’t We Live Together” is a song written and recorded by Timmy Thomas in 1972, inspired by the radio reporting on the number of deaths in the Vietnam war. Steve Winwood made a 6 minutes cover of the song for his 2003 album ‘About Time’.
epic	Kashmir	Led Zeppelin	1975	“Kashmir” is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin included on their sixth album Physical Graffiti (1975) It was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant with contributions from John Bonham over a period of three years. The lyrics were written by Plant in 1973 inspired during a drive through a desolate desert area of southern Morocco. None of the group members had visited Kashmir.
epic	Aqualung	Jethro Tull	1971	“Aqualung” by Jethro Tull was the title song of their 1971 album. Because of its length it was never released as single. Jethro Tull vocalist and flute player Ian Anderson wrote the song inspired by pictures and notes taken by his wife Jennie and called it “a guilt-ridden song of confusion about how you deal with beggars and the homeless.” This song deals with our reaction to the homeless population. An “Aqualung” is a portable breathing apparatus for divers.
epic	As	Stevie Wonder	1976	“As” written and performed by Stevie Wonder was released in 1976 and features on his album ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’. It’s a statement of faith, knowing that love and nature are the works of God. Stevie Wonder and jazz great Herbie Hancock both play Fender Rhodes pianos.
mixed blessings	Music	John Miles	1976	“Music” is a 1976 single by John Miles, from his album Rebel, produced by Alan Parsons. From 1985, Miles participated almost every year in the Night of the Proms and “Music” is regarded as the anthem of the show.
mixed blessings	Worn Down Piano	The Mark & Clark Band	1977	“Worn Down Piano” is a song by the American brothers Clark and Mark Seymour, The Mark & Clark Band, about an acoustic piano that is being bid for at an auction. Just when you think the song is over, it resumes …
mixed blessings	Miracles	Anita Garbo	1977	“Miracles” was initially written by UK band Oppo and recorded as Miracles (A Mini Epic) for a Mini advert in 1975 (shot in Amsterdam without any lyrics). The song for the advert, Miracles (A Mini Epic) was written by Jeff Boult (The Tapes), James Patrick Bradley, Fred Gardner (The Tapes), Donald Supner and Geoffrey Clive Tricker. This track was arranged by Tom Parker and their string arrangements were done by Louis Clark. Tom Parker founded the band Apollo 100 that had a hit with “Joy” in 1971. Anita Garbo was born in Birmingham from a Italian father and British mother as Anita Ferrari. The 2023 mini advertisement is set to the iconic beats of “Pump Up The Jam” by Technotronic.
mixed blessings	Mr. Blue Sky	Electric Light Orchestra	1978	“Mr. Blue Sky” is a song by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), written and produced by frontman Jeff Lynne. The song’s arrangement has been called “Beatlesque”.
mixed blessings	A Day In The Life	The Beatles	1967	“A Day in the Life” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as the final track of their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Credited to Lennon–McCartney. Lennon’s lyrics were mainly inspired by contemporary newspaper articles, including a report on the death of Guinness heir Tara Browne. A reputed drug reference in the line “I’d love to turn you on” resulted in the song initially being banned from broadcast by the BBC.
mixed blessings	African Reggae	Nina Hagen Band	1979	Released in 1979, “African Reggae” by the German Nina Hagen Band can be seen as a combination of social criticism, drug-related references, cultural appreciation, and a call for revolution. It raises questions about societal double standards, while also expressing a desire to embrace black culture and fight for change.
mixed blessings	Eloise	Barry Ryan	1968	“Eloise” is a song first released in 1968, sung by Barry Ryan, and written by his twin brother Paul Ryan influenced by Richard Harris’s arrangement of “MacArthur Park”. The song was then recorded at IBC Studios at the end of a recording session with their mother Marion and they had only two takes to do it due to the length of the song. The session musicians included Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, both of whom went on to form Led Zeppelin. The record influenced Freddie Mercury of Queen, who liked the song and used it as an argument to release ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
mixed blessings	Bohemian Rhapsody	Queen	1975	The final six-minute iconic mini rock opera was released on October 31, 1975. While writer Freddie Mercury put a lot of himself into that song, he recommended that people should just listen to it, think about it, and then make up their own minds as to what it says to them. “Galileo” into the lyrics are in honour of Brian May, who had a passionate interest in astronomy and would later go on to earn a Ph.D. in astrophysics. Scaramouche was a buffoonish character in 16th-century commedia dell’arte shows; “Bismillah”, which is taken from the Quran, means “in the name of Allah”; Beelzebub is an archaic name for the devil.
epic	Private Investigation	Dire Straits	1982	Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler was inspired by Philip Marlowe a private detective created by the American novelist Raymond Chandler when he wrote “Private Investigations”, released in 1982.
epic	The Load-Out	Jackson Browne	1977	“The Load-Out” by Jackson Browne, released in 1977 describes the daily practices of a band and its road crew on a concert tour, and the emotions evoked throughout such an endeavour Eventually “The Load-Out” segues into an interpretation of Maurice Williams’ 1960 hit “Stay” with Rosemary Butler and David Lindley singing the falsetto.
ms & mr	Mrs. Robinson	Simon & Garfunkel	1972	The infamous song “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel is the unofficial anthem of an extramarital affair. It’s the unofficial anthem of the older woman. The song’s working title was “Mrs. Roosevelt.” before it was used for the movie soundtrack of ‘the Graduate’. It includes references to big names like New York Yankees baseball player Joe DiMaggio, and Jesus. Simon also sings a quick “coo-coo-ca-choo,” which is an homage to the Beatles and their song, “I Am the Walrus.”
ms & mr	Mrs. Vandebilt	Paul McCartney & Wings	1974	“Mrs. Vandebilt” by Paul McCartney & Wings was released in 1974, written by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney. The opening lines of the song are taken from the catchphrase of English music hall performer Charlie Chester. Chester’s catchphrase was “Down in the jungle living in a tent, better than a bungalow, no rent”; the lyrics subsequently changed to “Down in the jungle living in a tent, You don’t use money you don’t pay rent”.
ms & mr	Lady Madonna	The Beatles	1968	Lady Madonna is written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. Paul McCartney used a 1905 Vertegrand piano on “Lady Madonna” and based his part for the song on Humphrey Lyttelton’s trad jazz rendition of “Bad Penny Blues”.
ms & mr	Vous Permettez Monsieur	Salvatore Adamo	1964	“Vous Permettez Monsieur” written and performed by Adamo is a song about a young man who asks permission to dance with a young woman, to her father who protects him.
ms & mr	Dear Mrs. Applebee	David Garrick	1966	“Dear Mrs. Applebee” is a song covered by David Garrick (born Philip Darrell Core in Liverpool on12 September 1945), written and first recorded by Flip Cartridge (born Billy Meshel).
ms & mr	Tell Laura I Love Her	Ricky Valance	1960	“Tell Laura I Love Her” written by Jeff Barry and Ben Raleigh, was a US top ten popular music hit for singer Ray Peterson in 1960 and later that year recorded and released by Ricky Valance in the United Kingdom. The lyrics of “Tell Laura I Love Her” originally concerned a rodeo, not an automobile race, as composer Jeff Barry was an aficionado of cowboy culture; Barry rewrote the song, in order to more closely resemble the No. 1 hit “Teen Angel”.
ms & mr	Sylvia’s Mother	Dr. Hook	1972	“Sylvia’s Mother” is an autobiographical song with songwriter Shel Silverstein, desperate to continue the relationship with Sylvia Pandolfi, called her mother, Louisa (Mrs. Avery). Shel Silverstein wrote “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan”, first recorded by Dr. Hook in 1975, and re-recorded by Marianne Faithfull in 1979. Silverstein also wrote Cash’s biggest hit, “A Boy Named Sue”
ms & mr	A Boy Named Sue (Live)	Johnny Cash	1969	“A Boy Named Sue” is a song written by humorist, children’s author, and poet Shel Silverstein and made famous by Johnny Cash. Cash recorded the song live in concert on February 24, 1969, at California’s San Quentin State Prison for his At San Quentin album.
ms & mr	A Girl Called Johnny	The Waterboys	1983	The Waterboys are a British-Irish folk rock band formed in London in 1983 by Scottish musician and songwriter Mike Scott. “A Girl Called Johnny” was inspired by American singer-songwriter Patti Smith, who has a line about a girl called Johnny in one of her songs, called ‘Redondo Beach’. Mike Scott noticed that Johnny is a hero or heroine on lots of her early songs.
ms & mr	Me & You and a dog named Boo	Lobo	1971	“Me & You and a dog named Boo” was written and performed by Roland Kent LaVoie (born July 31, 1943), better known by his stage name Lobo (which is a Spanish word for wolf), a song inspired by his big German Shepherd dog: Boo.
ms & mr	Elle Voulait Qu’on L’appelle Venise	Julien Clerc	1975	“Elle Voulait Qu’on L’appelle Venise” is composed by Julien Clerc and Étienne Roda-Gil. The song is about a woman’s desire to be called Venice It’s possible that she wants to be a romantic and mysterious figure like the city of Venice herself or that she wants to be seen as cultured and sophisticated or that she wants to escape her current reality by becoming someone else, and Venice is a symbol of that escape. Julien Clerc released the song after his breakup with France Gall after a relationship during five years.
ms & mr	Please Mr. Postman	The Marvelettes	1961	“Please Mr. Postman” is the debut single by the Marvelettes for the Tamla (Motown) label, written by Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Freddie Gorman, Brian Holland and Robert Bateman, on which Marvin Gaye plays the drums.
ms & mr	Mr. Tambourine Man	The Byrds	1965	American band The Byrds was formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964 when Roger (Jim) McGuinn, Gene Clark, and David Crosby came together as a trio. “Mr. Tambourine Man” was written and composed in early 1964 by Bob Dylan. On January 20, 1965, the band entered Columbia Recording Studios in Hollywood to record the then-unreleased Bob Dylan song “Mr. Tambourine Man” as their debut single.
ms & mr	Mr. Bojangles	The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band	1970	“Mr. Bojangles” is a song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker in 1968. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was founded around 1966 in Long Beach, California, United States, by singer-guitarist Jeff Hanna and singer-songwriter-guitarist Bruce Kunkel and released in 1970 a version of Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Mr. Bojangles”.
ms & mr	Mr. Jones	Counting Crows	1993	Counting Crows lead vocals and writer, Adam Duritz explained that even though the song “Mr. Jones” is named for his friend Marty Jones, it is actually about Duritz himself.
ms & mr	Me And Mrs Jones	Billy Paul	1972	“Me and Mrs. Jones” is a 1972 soul song written by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Cary Gilbert, and originally recorded by Billy Paul.
ms & mr	Mr. Sandman	Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris	2016	“Mr. Sandman” (or “Mister Sandman”) is a popular song written by Pat Ballard and published in 1954. It was first recorded in May of that year by Vaughn Monroe & his orchestra and later that year by The Chordettes and the Four Aces. The Chordettes’ recording of the song was released on the Cadence Records label on both 78 RPM and 45 RPM formats. Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris covered the song in 2016.
ms & mr	Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard	Paul Simon	1972	‘Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard’ is written and performed by Paul Simon in 1972 and produced by Phil Ramone. “Julio and I down by the schoolyard” would be correct. The line, “Rosie, the queen of Corona,” references the Corona neighbourhood in Queens, New York.
ms & mr	Ivan Boris et moi	Marie Laforêt	1967	“Ivan Boris et moi” by Marie Laforet was written by Émile Stern and Eddy Marnay. The lyrics paint a nostalgic picture of a group of friends, Anton, Ivan, Boris, and the singer herself, along with Rebecca, Paula, and Johanna. Marie Laforêt, born Maïtena Marie Brigitte Douménach (5 October 1939 – 2 November 2019): Maïtena, which is of Basque origin, means “beloved” and Douménach, her last name, is Catalan in origin – Domènec in Catalan.
ms & mr	Jack and Diane	John Mellencamp	1982	“Jack & Diane” is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp (John Cougar) as a tribute to life in the rural working class. The song was originally about an interracial couple, where Jack was African American and not a football star, but the record company persuaded him to change it.
ms & mr	Johnny And Mary	Robert Palmer	1980	“Johnny and Mary” is a song written and performed by Robert Palmer, while living in Nassau, Bahamas with a large ex-pat community comprised of people who thought moving to the Bahamas would solve their problems, only to discover their issues travel with them. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s it was the signature tune in advertisements promoting Renault cars.
ms & mr	Frank & Ava	Suzanne Vega	2007	“Frank & Ava” written and performed by Suzanne Vega is a song about the relationship between Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner. Gardner’s quote about her relationship with Sinatra: “We were great in bed. It was usually on the way to the bidet when the trouble began.” inspired Suzanne Vega.
ms & mr	The Ballad of John and Yoko	The Beatles	1969	John Lennon wrote the “The Ballad of John and Yoko” while he and Ono were on their honeymoon in Paris, and refers to their “Bed-In” at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel and their demonstration of “bagism” in March 1969.
ms & mr	Michelle	David & Jonathan	1966	David & Jonathan teamed with George Martin to do a cover of the Beatles’ 1966 hit single “Michelle”. “Michelle” was a tune that Paul McCartney had written in Chet Atkins’ finger-picking style.
ms & mr	Michele	Gérard Lenorman	1975	Michèle was written by the talented French singer-songwriter Gérard Lenorman telling the story of a man reminiscing about a lost love named Michèle. The song makes a reference to The Beatles with the quote ‘Oh Yesterday’. Gérard Lenorman (born 9 February 1945) is a French singer born at the Château de Bénouville, Calvados (Normandy) as the son of Madeleine Lenormand and an unknown German soldier.
ms & mr	Valerie (’68 Version)	Amy Winehouse	2011	This is the original version of Winehouse’s cover of a single by the Liverpool group The Zutons in 2006. According to Mark Ronson, this version is the one Amy loved the most. It was penned in 20 minutes by their lead singer Dave McCabe about an American friend of his, Valerie Starr, who was having a hard time after getting caught drink driving. Valerie Star, celebrity makeup artist, was dating The Zutons’ frontman Dave McCabe, but lived in Florida at the time and found herself in trouble with the law, which prevented them being together.
ms & mr	Valerie	Steve Winwood	1982	Steve Winwood wrote the music and Will Jennings wrote the lyrics of “Valerie” that was first released in 1982, in 1987 remixed by Tom Lord Alge with revised drum and vocal tracks for compilation album Chronicles. In 2004, the song was remixed once again, this time by the Swedish DJ Eric Prydz as “Call On Me.”
Merry MixMas	Driving Home For Christmas	Chris Rea	1986	Chris Rea’s “Driving Home for Christmas” many years before its first recording, in 1978, refers to the time he needed to get home to Middlesbrough from Abbey Road Studios in London. His wife had come down to drive him home in her Austin Mini to save money because it was cheaper to drive than travel by train.
Merry MixMas	Last Christmas	Wham!	1984	“Last Christmas” had its beginnings in 1983, while George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley were visiting Michael’s parents. It was written by Michael in his childhood bedroom. Written by George Michael and released in December 1984. Wham! donated all of their royalties to relief efforts for the Ethiopian famine.
Merry MixMas	Do They Know It’s Christmas	Band Aid	1984	“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is a charity song written in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. It was first recorded by Band Aid, a supergroup assembled by Geldof and Ure consisting of popular British and Irish musical acts. It was recorded in a single day at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, in November 1984.
Merry MixMas	Merry Christmas Everyone	Shakin’ Stevens	1985	“Merry Christmas Everyone” is a festive song recorded by Welsh singer Shakin’ Stevens, written by Scottish Bob Heatlie and produced by Dave Edmunds. “Merry Christmas Everyone” was recorded in 1984. Its original planned release was put back by a year to avoid clashing with the runaway success of Band Aid’s charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
Merry MixMas	Feliz Navidad	José Feliciano	1970	“Feliz Navidad” ”Merry Christmas”) is a Christmas song written and first recorded in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano. Feliciano says he recorded the song while feeling homesick at Christmas, missing his family in New York City and his extended family further afield as he sat in a studio in Los Angeles.
Merry MixMas	Wonderful Christmastime	Paul McCartney	1979	“Wonderful Christmastime” is a Christmas song by Sir Paul McCartney.
Merry MixMas	Merry Christmas Everyone	Slade	1973	“Merry Xmas Everybody” is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1973, written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and it was produced by Chas Chandler. Noddy Holder has referred to the song as his pension scheme.
Merry MixMas	Lonely This Christmas	Mud	1974	“Lonely This Christmas” is a Christmas song by the English glam rock band Mud, written and produced by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, released in 1974.
Merry MixMas	Fairytale Of New York (ft. Kirsty Maccoll)	The Pogues	1987	“Fairytale of New York” is recorded by the London-based Celtic punk band the Pogues, featuring English singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl on vocals. The Irish folk-style ballad is written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan About these old Irish-American Broadway stars who are sitting round at Christmas talking about whether things are going okay. The song titles is after J. P. Donleavy’s 1973 novel A Fairy Tale of New York.
Merry MixMas	2000 Miles	The Pretenders	1983	“2000 Miles” is a song by rock band Pretenders, written by lead vocalist Chrissie Hynde. The song is about two long-distance lovers who miss each other at Christmastime.
Merry MixMas	Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas	James Taylor	2002	“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is a song written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane and introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis. The song brought comfort to many American soldiers who were fighting overseas during World War II. James Taylor recorded his version using the original, melancholy lyrics, shortly before September 11, 2001 and which he released on his 2002 album ‘October Road’.
Merry MixMas	White Christmas	Bing Crosby	1942	“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, was written by American Irvin Berlin for the 1942 musical film Holiday Inn.
Merry MixMas	Little Drummer Boy	Pentatonix	2013	In 2013 the famed a capella group Pentatonix brought their own spin on “The Little Drummer Boy”. Katherine K. Davis composed ‘The carol of the drum’ in 1941, inspired by a 1720 French song ‘Patapan’, originally titled “Guillô, Pran Ton Tamborin” (“Willie, Take Your Little Drum”), written by Bernard de La Monnoye, and first recorded in 1951 by the Austrian Trapp Family.
Merry MixMas	All I Want for Christmas Is You	Mariah Carey	1994	“All I Want for Christmas Is You” is a Christmas standard song written and performed by American singer Mariah Carey, released in 1994.
Merry MixMas	Sleigh Ride	Amy Grant	1983	Amy Grant is an iconic Christian entertainer who released in 1983 her version of ‘Sleigh Ride’. Leroy Anderson wrote the music for this song during a heatwave in July of 1946, while staying at a cottage in Woodbury, Connecticut, with his wife and 18-month-old daughter.
Merry MixMas	Bakske Vol Met Stro	Urbanus	1979	“Bakske Vol Met Stro” (Bin Full Of Straw) is a parody of the birth of Jesus Christ in dialect by Flemish singer-songwriter and comedian Urbanus, released in 1979, which caused a lot of controversy at the time.
Merry MixMas	Baby, It’s Cold Outside (ft. Cerys Matthews)	Tom Jones	1999	Cerys Matthews is a musician, author and broadcaster and was a founder member of multi-million selling band Catatonia. She sings on the perennial winter favourite Baby its Cold Outside with Sir Tom Jones. Cerys Matthews collaborated with Tom Jones to record a version of Frank Loesser’s “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” on Jones’s 1999 album Reload. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” is a popular song written by Frank Loesser in 1944 to sing with his wife, Lynn Garland, at their housewarming party in New York City at the Navarro Hotel.They sang the song to indicate to guests that it was time to leave.
Merry MixMas	Santa baby	Eartha Kitt	1953	“Santa Baby” is a song performed by American singer Eartha Kitt with Henri René and His Orchestra and originally released in 1953, written by Joan Javits and Philip Springer.
Merry MixMas	Silent Night	Mahalia Jackson	1962	Silent Night is one of the most beloved and recognizable Christmas carols of all time. Mahalia Jackson, known as the “Queen of Gospel,” performed a soul-stirring rendition of this timeless song, adding her unique touch to its already powerful message. The song was originally written in German by Joseph Mohr in 1818 and later translated into English.
Merry MixMas	My December	Scala & Kolacny Brothers	2012	The Linkin Park cover ‘My December’ by the Belgian Scala & Kolacny Brothers is the title song of their 2012 album. Scala & Kolacny Brothers is a Belgian women’s choir conducted by Stijn Kolacny, and arranged and accompanied by Steven Kolacny on the piano.
Merry MixMas	Let It Snow!, Let It Snow!, Let It Snow!	Ella Fitzgerald	1960	“Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”, also known as simply “Let It Snow”, is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945 in Hollywood, California, during a heat wave as Cahn and Styne imagined cooler conditions.
Merry MixMas	Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town	Bruce Springsteen	1975	A rock version of “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” was recorded live by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band on December 12, 1975, at C. W. Post College in Brookville, New York “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” is written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie and first recorded by Harry Reser and His Band in 1934.
Merry MixMas	Happy Xmas (War Is Over)	John Lennon & Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir	1971	“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” is a Christmas song released in 1971 as a single by John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir and was also a protest song against the Vietnam War.
family3	Mama Loo	Les Humphries Singers	1973	The Les Humphries Singers was a pop vocal group formed in Hamburg, West Germany by English singer John Leslie Humphreys in 1969, inspired by the success of the Edwin Hawkins Singers gospel group. “Mama Loo“ was released on February 5th in 1973 and was one of the Les Humphries Singers’ biggest hits.
family3	Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag (ft. Pigbag)	Paul Hardcastle	1985	“Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag” is an instrumental written and performed by British dance-punk band Pigbag, first released in 1982. It was developed from an idea band members Chris Hamlin and James Johnson had had before the band was formed. The title is a play on the James Brown song “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”. Paul Hardcastle released his version with Pigbag in 1985.
family3	Does Your Mother Know	ABBA	1979	“Does Your Mother Know” is ABBA’s very few hits to feature a male lead vocal, written by Benny Andersson and Bjoern K Ulvaeus and released in 1979.
family3	Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep	Middle Of The Road	1971	“Chirpy Chirpy, Cheep Cheep” is a song recorded in 1970 by its composer Lally Stott, and made popular in 1971 by Scottish band Middle of the Road for whom it was a UK #1 chart hit.
family3	Mother And Child Reunion	Paul Simon	1971	Paul Simon got the title for “Mother and Child Reunion” from a chicken-and-egg dish on a Chinese restaurant’s menu. The song was recorded at Dynamic Sounds Studios at Torrington Bridge in Kingston, Jamaica, with Jimmy Cliff’s backing group and Cissy Houston on the recording.
family3	Toutes les mamas	Maurane	1998	“Toutes Les Mamas” by Maurane celebrates the strength, beauty, and diverse cultures of mothers from various backgrounds. Maurane (born Claudine Luypaerts), was often referred to as a “golden voice of francophone song”.
family3	Running in the Family	Level 42	1987	“Running in the Family” is a single released in 1987 by the British band Level 42, with frontman Mark Raymond King (born 20 October 1958) known for his slap style of playing the bass guitar. MusicRadar described him as “the guy who put the slap in pop during the 80s”
family3	My Perfect Cousin	The Undertones	1980	“My Perfect Cousin” is a song by Northern Irish punk rock band the Undertones, inspired by an actual cousin of one of the band members
family3	Brother Louie	Ian Lloyd & The Stories	1973	“Brother Louie” is a song by British soul band Hot Chocolate first released in 1973, featuring lyrics that touch on themes of interracial romance and the societal disapproval that often accompanies it. Ian Lloyd & The Stories covered the song the same year. Lloyd Buonconsiglio, known professionally as Ian Lloyd, is an American rock singer and songwriter best known as the lead singer and basist of the band Stories.
family3	Papa Don’t Preach	Madonna	1986	“Papa Don’t Preach” by Madonna, released in 1986, is a song is about teenage love, written by Brian Elliot.
family3	Ode To My Family	The Cranberries	1994	“Ode to My Family” is a song by Irish band the Cranberries, released in 1994. The song, written by singer Dolores O’Riordan and guitarist Noel Hogan, is about O’Riordan’s yearning for her simple life as a child after having achieved success.
family3	Ain’t Your Mama	Jennifer Lopez	2016	“Ain’t Your Mama” is J.Lo,’s anthem celebrating her independence and distaste in overly dependent partners, reminding about the Second-wave feminism.
family3	Sisters	Natalie Prass	2018	Natalie Prass stated that “Sisters” was written from her feeling that people don’t want to listen to women, people don’t want women leaders, women cut each other down, men cut women down, there are so many deep stereotypes, and women are pitted against one another.
family3	Madre	Orishas	2000	“Madre” by Orishas pays tribute to the selflessness, unconditional love, and resilience of mothers, acknowledging the sacrifices they make to provide for their children. Orishas is a Cuban hip-hop group from Havana, Cuba, founded in 1999.
family3	Children Of The Ghetto	Waldeck	1998	“Children of the Ghetto” was first released in 1986 by Philip Bailey. “Children Of The Ghetto” by Waldeck, with British singer Joy Malcolm, was released in 1998. Klaus Waldeck was born on March 23, 1966 in Vienna. Known as just “Waldeck” or “Dr. Waldeck”, in the 1990ies Waldeck became a defining force for the type of dub/trip-hop-inspired downtempo “Vienna sound”.
family3	Mama Leone	Bino	1978	“Mama Leone” by Bino (born in Italy as Vittorio Benedetto), written by Umberto Tozzi, reflects the hardships and struggles faced by individuals growing up in poverty. “Mama Leone” showcases the universal theme of maternal love and the enduring bond between a mother and her child.
family3	Calling My Children Home (A Cappella, 1986)	Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris	1987	The three longtime friends Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt released the original ‘Trio’ album in 1987. With its mournful harmonies and plaintive lyrics sung from the perspective of a mother missing her children and beckoning them to return home, the traditional tune “Calling My Children Home” is one of the most deeply moving a cappella songs of all time.
family3	Song for My Father	Horace Silver	1965	Pianist Horace Silver’s “Song for My Father” was released in 1965. His mother was of Irish and Negro descent, his father of Portuguese origin ( born John Tavares Silva on the Cape Verdean island of Maio). When he realized he had written a new song with a Brazilian rhythmic concept and a Cape Verdean melodic concept, he immediately thought about dedicating the song to his Dad and titled it ‘Song for My Father’.” The song has had a noticeable impact in pop music. The opening bass piano notes were borrowed by Steely Dan for their song “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”, while the opening horn riff was borrowed by Stevie Wonder for his song “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing”. Earth Wind & Fire also borrowed the opening bass notes for their song “Clover”. In the booklet of their box set, Paul Weller noted that he ‘nicked ‘the chords for The Style Council’s 1984 song ‘Me Ship Came In!’
family3	Les Yeux De Ma Mère (Piano Version/ Live)	Arno	1995	Arno (born Arnold Charles Ernest Hintjens), also known as the ‘Belgian Tom Waits’, released in 1995 “Les Yeux De Ma Mère” (my mother’s eyes), an intimate ode to his mother.
family3	Mama Said	The Shirelles	1961	“Mama Said” by The Shirelles, released in 1961, was written by Luther Dixon and Willie Denson. All of the band members went to the same high school, Passaic High School New Jersey, which is where they met each other. This song was the inspiration for “Days Like This” by Van Morrison.
family3	Family Affair	Sly & the Family Stone	1971	“Family Affair” is a 1971 hit by Sly & the Family Stone, written by Sly Stone, with the Bobby Womack on rhythm guitar and electric piano played by Billy Preston.
family3	La Mamma	Charles Aznavour	1963	“La mamma”, also known as “For Mama” in English, is a song written in 1962 by French lyricist Robert Gall and Armenian-French artist Charles Aznavour and first released in France by Les Compagnons de la chanson. Robert Gall is the father of singer France Gall.
family3	Bébé comme la vie	France Gall	1980	“Bébé comme la vie” (“Bebe, How Life (passes quickly)”) by France Gall, written by her husband Michel Berger. France Gall, born Isabelle Geneviève Marie Anne Gall, married Michel Berger in June 1976 and they had a daughter and a son. Her daughter Pauline Isabelle died at age 19 from a rare genetic disorder.
£￥€$	The Wall Street Shuffle	10cc	1974	The funky beats of 10cc’s “The Wall Street Shuffle” dance through financial districts and stock market shuffles, setting the tone for our melodic exploration of wealth, written by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman.
£￥€$	Money, Money, Money	ABBA	1976	ABBA with “Money, Money, Money” is a dazzling disco fantasy that’ll have you dreaming of dollar signs and dancing in financial bliss, written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.
£￥€$	She Works Hard For The Money	Donna Summer	1983	Donna Summer’s groove “She Works Hard For The Money” celebrates hard work, a soulful anthem appreciating the hustle, written by Donna Summer and Michael Omartian. Summer’s inspiration comes from an after-party for Julio Iglesias when she went to the ladies’ room and encountered a restroom attendant, named Onetta Johnson, who was exhausted from working long hours. Johnson agreed to be photographed for the album’s rear cover, standing in a diner with Summer, the two wearing matching waitress outfits.
£￥€$	Money	Pink Floyd	1973	Pink Floyd’s “Money” is a psychedelic journey through the world of cash, bringing a rock-infused exploration of wealth and consumerism, written by Roger Waters. With Pink Floyd’s “Money”, Roger Waters converted from a socialist to a capitalist …
£￥€$	Money Money	Joel Grey & Liza Minnelli	1966	Broadway meets finance with Joel Grey & Liza Minnelli’s “Money Money” from the musical Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, a theatrical twist on the financial narrative written by John Kander and Fred Ebb
£￥€$	Money, Money, Money	Kevin Ayers	1980	Singer-song writer Kevin Ayers brings an avant-garde touch with “Money, Money, Money” offering a unique and quirky perspective on the dynamics of wealth.
£￥€$	Money (That’s What I Want)	Barrett Strong	1959	Barrett Strong’s “Money (That’s What I Want)”, written by Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, is a timeless classic that hits the root of desire, the anthem of financial yearning.
£￥€$	Shake Your Moneymaker	Elmore James	1961	Singer-songwriter and “King of the Slide Guitar” Elmore James shakes things up with “Shake Your Moneymaker”, a bluesy vibe and the rhythm of financial freedom.
£￥€$	I Need a Dollar	Aloe Blacc	2010	Aloe Blacc’s “I Need a Dollar” is a modern twist with soulful vocals and catchy beats, exploring the struggles and aspirations tied to the almighty dollar, written by Aloe Blacc, Leon Michels, Nick Movshon, Jeff Dynamite.
£￥€$	Money (ft. Tom Misch)	Michael Kiwanuka	2019	Michael Kiwanuka and Tom Misch’s collaboration in “Money (ft. Tom Misch)” is a soulful blend of vocals and contemporary production, offering a modern take on the financial anthem.
£￥€$	Cash (Cash Money)	Prince Charles and The City Beat Band	1982	Charles Alexander (born April 2, 1958), a.k.a. Prince Charles playing the unique wind synthesizer called the Lyricon and The City Beat Band released the funky “Cash (Cash Money)” in 1982 adding a royal groove to the sound of currency, written by Prince Charles Alexander and Roger Glover.
£￥€$	For the Love of Money	The O’Jays	1973	The O’Jays with “For the Love of Money” add a social and political dimension by exploring the impact of wealth on society, written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Anthony Jackson.
£￥€$	Money Don’t Matter 2 Night	Prince & The New Power Generation	1992	Prince & The New Power Generation released “Money Don’t Matter 2 Night” in 1992, offering a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of wealth, written by Prince and Rosie Gaines.
£￥€$	Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)	Simply Red	1985	“Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)” by Simply Red is a smooth and soulful track that captures the essence of financial constraints, written and first recorded by the brothers John and William Valentine in 1982. The lyrics make reference to Reaganomics, a set of economic policies implemented by U.S. president Ronald Reagan in order to encourage the growth of the American economy.
£￥€$	If I Were A Rich Man	Roger Whittaker	1971	Broadway charm by Roger Whittaker with “If I Were A Rich Man” from the 1964 musical Fiddler on the Roof, written by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock.
£￥€$	Diamonds Are Forever	Shirley Bassey	1971	Dame Shirley Bassey performing the 1971 James Bond theme “Diamonds Are Forever”, written by John Barry and Don Black. It was the second James Bond film title song to be performed by Shirley Bassey, after “Goldfinger” in 1964 and John Barry’s sixth composition for a Bond film.
£￥€$	Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend	Marilyn Monroe	1953	This song was written by Jule Styne and Leo Robin for the Broadway production of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and was first performed by Carol Channing in 1949. Marilyn Monroe, as playgirl Lorelei Lee, in the 1953 film version of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” is undoubtedly the most iconic performance. Her own sultry voice was used for most of the song, but some rough patches were dubbed over with Marni Nixon’s vocals. Despite the film’s title, Monroe was paid her usual contract salary of $500 a week, while Russell, the better-known actress at the time, earned $200,000.
£￥€$	Matilda	Harry Belafonte	1956	Harry Belafonte’s tropical adventure with “Matilda” on Caribbean rhythms, was written and first recorded in 1939 by Norman Span (a.k.a. King Radio). Harry Belafonte released a version in May 1953 and re-recorded this version on August 17, 1955 for inclusion on his 1956 LP Belafonte. Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. in Harlem, NYC, on 1 March 1927; died 25 April 2023) was an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Caribbean-American pop star, he popularized Jamaican mento folk songs which was marketed as Trinbagonian Calypso musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. His breakthrough album Calypso, released in 1956, was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.
£￥€$	Get the Money	Iggy Pop	1993	“Get the Money” performed by Iggy Pop for the “Arizona Dream” movie soundtrack is an English-language cover of the Yugoslav “Hajdemo u planine” (“Let’s Go to the Mountains”) by Goran Bregović (guitarist) Yugoslav rock band Bijelo Dugme (trans. White Button) from their 1986 album Pljuni i zapjevaj moja Jugoslavijo.
£￥€$	Fools Gold	The Stone Roses	1989	“Fools Gold” is a song by British rock band the Stone Roses released in 1989. The lyrics reference Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” and Marquis de Sade. According to Brown, the song’s verses were inspired by John Huston’s 1948 film adaptation of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and tells about “three geezers who are skint and they put their money together to get equipment to go looking for gold, then they all betray each other…”.
£￥€$	Common People (ft. Joe Jackson)	William Shatner	2004	William Shatner (a.k.a. Star Trek’s captain Kirk) and Joe Jackson released a spoken-word twist on Pulp’s classic “Common People” in 2004, creating a cosmic flair version of the song written by Jarvis Cocker, Nick Banks, Candida Doyle, Steve Mackey, Russell Senior and Mark Webber.
£￥€$	Love Of The Common People	Paul Young	1983	“Love Of The Common People” by Paul Young, first sung in January 1967 by the Four Preps, is a soulful ballad celebrating the shared experiences that bind us all, written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins. Leonard Nimoy recorded a version on his second album Two Sides of Leonard Nimoy in 1968.
24	New Year’s Day	U2	1983	“New Year’s Day” is U2’s 1983 powerhouse anthem, written by the band, driven by Adam Clayton’s distinctive bassline and the Edge’s piano and guitar playing. With lyrics written about the movement, The lyrics refer to the Polish Solidarity movement lead by Lech Walesa. On New Year’s Day, 1983, Poland announced they would abolish martial law.
24	Don’t Stop	Fleetwood Mac	1977	Don’t Stop by Fleetwood Mac, a resilient anthem written by Christine McVie, released in 1977, remains a timeless testament to overcoming challenges. The song is generally seen as a positive anthem encouraging people to move forward despite challenges. It was written during a difficult period for the band members, including McVie’s divorce from John McVie.
24	Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)	The Byrds	1965	“Turn! Turn! Turn!”, also known as or subtitled “To Everything There Is a Season”, was adapted by the Byrds in a folk rock arrangement and released as a single by Columbia Records on October 1, 1965. The lyrics were taken from a passage from the book of Ecclesiastes (3:1-8) in The Bible. They were in 1959 rearranged and paired with Seeger’s music to make the song, as a plea for world peace. Adapted from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, the lyrics emphasize the cyclical nature of life.
24	Turn the Tide	Sylver	2000	In 2000, the Belgian band “Sylver”, “Turned the Tide” of the Eurodance. The song, written by Regi Penxten, Wout Van Dessel and John Miles Jr., is a dance-pop track with uplifting lyrics that convey a message of hope and perseverance. “Turn the Tide” was initially released in 2000 by “Liquid feat. Silvy”. The band continued in 2001 as “Sylver”, consisting of lead vocalist Silvy De Bie (born 4 January 1981) and keyboardist/songwriter Wout Van Dessel (born 19 October 1974).
24	Wake Me Up (ft. Aloe Blacc)	Avicii	2013	“Wake Me Up” was written by Tim ’Avicii’ Bergling, Mike Einziger, and American soul singer Aloe Blacc. Blacc also provides vocals for the track. The song fuses electronic dance music with folk influences. Aloe Blacc’s lyrics explore themes of self-discovery and pursuing one’s dreams. In loving memory of Tim Bergling (1989-2018).
24	Looking Back (ft. K’naan)	Keane	2010	In “Looking Back” Keane (Tim Rice-Oxley, Tom Chaplin, Richard Hughes) teams up with K’naan (additional vocals and writing) for a reflective piece, blending their distinctive styles into a soul-stirring composition. Keane’s 2010 track navigates introspection, showcasing their ability to craft emotive, anthem melodies. The song reflects on the passage of time and memories, with K’naan’s contribution adding a unique flavour.
24	Gonna Fly Now (Theme from ‘Rocky’)	Bill Conti	1976	Iconic theme from the movie “Rocky”. Composed as the iconic theme for the movie “Rocky,” the music is synonymous with triumph and overcoming challenges, capturing the spirit of the film.
24	High	Lighthouse Family	1977	“High” by the Lighthouse Family is from the album “Postcards from Heaven”, written by Tunde Baiyewu and Paul Tucker. The lyrics convey a message of comfort and support during difficult times. The song is actually a description of a very uncomfortable situation.
24	Heaven’s Wall (ft. Tom Morello)	Bruce Springsteen	2014	“Heaven’s Wall” by written and performed by Bruce Springsteen is part of the album “High Hopes”. The song features the co-founder of Rage Against the Machine, Tom Morello, and is known for its social and political themes, addressing issues such as immigration and inequality.
24	Sing Hallelujah!	Dr. Alban (Alban Uzoma Nwapa)	1993	“Sing Hallelujah!” written and performed by Dr. Alban, is a Eurodance track with uplifting lyrics, often associated with the joyous celebration of music.
24	Hope of Deliverance	Paul McCartney	1993	“Hope of Deliverance” written and performed by Paul McCartney, expresses optimism and hope for a better future, both personally and globally.
24	Year of Decision	The Three Degrees	1974	The song, written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, reflects the social and political climate of the 1970s and addresses themes of change and progress.
24	My year is a day	Les Irresistibles	1968	“My year is a day” is the English version of Dalida’s French song “Dans la ville endormie” written by William Sheller, released in 1968. Les Irrésistibles (The Irresistibles) were a boy band during the late 1960s and early 1970s, whose members were Americans living in France and teenage classmates at the American School of Paris. The lineup consisted of lead singer Jim McMains on keyboards and rhythm guitar, his identical twin brother Steve McMains on bass, Tom Arena on lead guitar, and Andy Cornelius on drums.
24	Who’s Gonna Stand Up? (orchestral)	Neil Young	2014	This version of “Who’s Gonna Stand Up?” recorded by Neil Young features a 92-piece orchestra and is a six-minute environmental call-to-arms crying foul of corporate greed and pleading to end the world’s dependence of fossil fuels.
24	1999	Prince	1982	“1999” by Prince, was written in 1982 during the height of the Cold War. this party jam has a much deeper meaning, as Prince addresses fears of a nuclear Armageddon. Billboard said that “the Apocalypse never sounded this danceable before. Under the Reagan administration, the United States was stockpiling nuclear weapons and taking a hawkish stance against the Soviet Union, which he referred to as the “Evil Empire”. The album version of the song starts with a slowed-down voice stating “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. I only want you to have some fun.”. Prince shares lead vocals on the track with members of his band The Revolution, namely Dez Dickerson, Lisa Coleman and Jill Jones.
24	Sussudio	Phil Collins	1985	“Sussudio” written and performed by Phil Collins, is are about a schoolboy crush on a girl at school.
24	London Calling	The Clash	1979	“London Calling” by The Clash is an apocalyptic song, detailing with the many ways the world could end, including the coming of the ice age, starvation, and war. Singer Joe Strummer was a news junkie, and many of the images of doom in the lyrics came from news reports he read.
24	Back in the U.S.S.R.	The Beatles	1968	“Back in the U.S.S.R.” by the Beatles is written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The title was inspired by Chuck Berry’s “Back In The U.S.A.”. Since Ringo had walked out on The Beatles, Paul McCartney took over the drum part for this song.
24	Back In The U.S.A.	Linda Ronstadt	1978	“Back in the U.S.A.” is a song written by Chuck Berry that was released in 1959 and was a top 40 hit. A cover version in 1978 by Linda Ronstadt was also a hit. The song’s lyrics were supposedly written based upon Berry returning to the United States following a trip to Australia and witnessing the living standards of Australian Aborigines. Paul McCartney got the inspiration for The Beatles “Back In The U.S.S.R.” from this.
24	Remember Russia	Fischer-Z	1979	Fischer-Z, “fisher zed” or ‘fish head’ as they like it to be said, are a British rock group and main creative project of singer, guitarist and poet John Watts. “Remember Russia” is on their debut album Word Salad (Track 5), released on 4 May 1979.
24	De Bom	Doe Maar	1982	De Bom’ (the bom) by the Dutch band Doe Maar is an eighties protest song against nuclear weapons as a response to the Cold War and the US government’s proposal to deploy cruise missiles in The Netherlands.
24	Abattoir Blues	Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds	2004	“Abbatoir Blues” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds is one of the songs in which Nick Cave draws on a sense of post-nuclear apocalypse. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds are an Australian rock band formed in 1983 by vocalist Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey and guitarist-vocalist Blixa Bargeld.
24	Eve Of Destruction	Barry McGuire	1965	“Eve Of Destruction” written by P.F. Sloan (a.k.a. Phil Sloan and born Phil Schlein to Jewish parents) is a protest song about political issues of the ’60s originally recorded by The Turtles on their first album (It Ain’t Me Babe) earlier in 1965 and which they decided to release as a single in 1970, after McGuire’s version became an instant hit, in July 1965, shortly before they broke up. The song was first offered to the Byrds as a potential single but they rejected it. “Eve Of Destruction” became a hippie anthem as the Vietnam War escalated and many radio stations refused to play “Eve Of Destruction” because of its antigovernment lyrics.
24	The Final Countdown	Europe	1986	“The Final Countdown” by the Swedish rock band Europe is both apocalyptic and optimistic, describing a trip into Space (heading for Venus) and leaving Earth behind. The song lyrics and famous lick are written by Europe lead singer Joey Tempest.
music	Radio Ga Ga	Queen	1984	“Radio Ga Ga” is considered one of Queen’s signature songs. The song was written by Queen’s drummer, Roger Taylor. He was inspired by his concerns about the impact of television on radio, fearing that it would overshadow and replace the traditional medium. The title “Radio Ga Ga” is a play on words, representing the repetitive and nonsensical nature of radio chatter.
music	Radio Song (ft. KRS-One)	R.E.M.	1991	“Radio Song” features a guest appearance by rapper KRS-One (of Boogie Down Productions). The song “Radio Song” by R.E.M. was written by the band’s lead vocalist, Michael Stipe, along with the other members of R.E.M., including Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass), and Bill Berry (drums). The lyrics of “Radio Song” touch upon themes of commercialism and the impact of mass media on society. The chorus includes the lines “That’s me in the corner / That’s me in the spotlight / Losing my religion,” referencing the band’s previous hit, “Losing My Religion.”
music	Radio	Radios	1992	The song “Radio” by The Radios is a pop-rock track with lyrics that reflect on the role of radio in people’s lives. The Radios consisted of Bart Peeters, Marc Kruithof, Alain Louvier, and Ronnie Van Baelen.
music	(Life Is a Rock) But the Radio Rolled Me	Tracey Ullman	1983	“(Life Is a Rock) But the Radio Rolled Me” originally by Reunion in 1974 was covered by Tracey Ullman in 1983. The lyrics, essentially a stream of consciousness list of references to pop culture elements from the 1950s through the early 1970s, were written by Paul DiFranco, Norman Dolph, and Joey Levine.
music	Hail Hail Rock ‘n’ Roll	Garland Jeffreys	1977	“Hail Hail Rock ‘n’ Roll” written and performed by Garland Jeffreys celebrates the power and impact of rock and roll music.
music	Play That Funky Music	Wild Cherry	1985	“Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry was written by Rob Parissi, the lead vocalist and guitarist of Wild Cherry. The inspiration for the song reportedly came from an incident where a fan shouted, “Play some funky music, white boy” during one of the band’s performances. Wild Cherry was formed in 1970 in Mingo Junction, Ohio. The original members included Rob Parissi (vocals and guitar), Ben Difabbio (drums), Allen Wentz (bass), Larry Brown (keyboards), and Bryan Bassett (guitar).
music	I Love Rock And Roll	Joan Jett and the Blackhearts	1986	“I Love Rock ‘n Roll” was originally released by the Arrows, a British band, in 1975. However, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ famous version was released in 1981. Joan Jett heard the song while touring in England with the Runaways and decided to record her own version. Joan Jett, an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter, formed the Blackhearts after the disbandment of her previous group, the Runaways.
music	Crocodile Rock	Elton John	1972	“Crocodile Rock” is a song by Elton John, with lyrics by Bernie Taupin released as a single on October 27, 1972. The song is a nostalgic homage to the early rock and roll era of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
music	Listen To The Music	The Doobie Brothers	1972	“Listen to the Music” was written by Tom Johnston, one of the founding members of The Doobie Brothers and released in 1972. The song reflects Johnston’s positive outlook on life and his desire to bring people together through music.
music	Titles	Barclay James Harvest	1975	”Titles’ by British band Barclay James Harvest is registered as a Traditional, arranged by band co-founder John Lees in 1975. The lyrics are made of Beatles song titles. Band members included Les Holroyd (bass, vocals), John Lees (guitar, vocals), Mel Pritchard (drums), Woolly Wolstenholme (keyboards, vocals, 1967-79).
music	Thank You For The Music	ABBA	1978	“Thank You for the Music” by ABBA was first released as the B-side to the single “Eagle” in 1978 written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus expressing gratitude for the gift of music and the joy it brings. The lead vocals on the track are performed by Agnetha Fältskog.
music	I Write the Songs	Barry Manilow	1975	“I Write the Songs” by Barry Manilow is written by Bruce Johnston and released in 1975. Bruce Johnston wrote “I Write the Songs” as a tribute to his mentor, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. The song was originally recorded by The Captain & Tennille for their 1975 album “Love Will Keep Us Together”, however Barry Manilow’s version became more widely known and successful.
music	Killing Me Softly With His Song	Pitingo	2008	“Killing Me Softly with His Song” is a classic song written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel, covered in 2008 by the Spanish flamenco singer Pitingo. The best-known version of this song is the one performed by Roberta Flack in 1973, and later covered by The Fugees in 1996.
music	Don’t Take Away The Music	Tavares	1976	“Don’t Take Away the Music” by Tavares was written by Keni St. Lewis and Freddie Perren. Freddie Perren, who was a member of the Corporation (Motown’s songwriting and producing team), also produced the song. Tavares, a family group consisting of five brothers.
music	Dance To The Music	Sly & The Family Stone	1968	“Dance to the Music” is a funk and soul song by Sly and the Family Stone, written and produced by Sly Stone, the frontman and leader of Sly and the Family Stone.
music	Funky street	Arthur Conley	1968	“Funky Street” is a soul and R&B song performed by Arthur Conley, written by Arthur Conley and Rose Marie McCoy and released in 1968.
music	Harlem Shuffle	Bob & Earl	1963	“Harlem Shuffle” was originally written and recorded by Bob & Earl, a Los Angeles-based R&B duo consisting of Bobby Byrd and Earl Nelson. The original version was released in 1963 and The Rolling Stones covered the song in 1986.
music	Dance Dance Dance (Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah)	Chic	1977	“Dance Dance Dance (Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah)” is a disco hit by Chic that was released in 1977, written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers. The word “yowsah” is a slang term that was popular in the 1920s and 30s, meaning “wow” or “amazing.”
music	Down On The Street	Shakatak	1984	“Down on the Street” is a 1984 song by British band Shakatak, written by Bill Sharpe and Roger Odell. The song is about the joy of nightlife.
music	Dancing In The Street	Martha Reeves & The Vandellas	1964	“Dancing in the Street” was released in 1964 as a single by Martha and the Vandellas, a Motown girl group consisting of Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, and Betty Kelly. The song was written by Marvin Gaye, William “Mickey” Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter and is known for its iconic opening line, “Calling out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat?” David Bowie and Mick Jagger covered the song during the Live Aid concert in 1985.
music	Roof Garden	Al Jarreau	1982	“Roof Garden” by Al Jarreau, released in 1982 was written by Al Jarreau, Tom Canning, and Jay Graydon.
music	Murder On the Dancefloor	Sophie Ellis-Bextor	2001	“Murder on the Dancefloor” by by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, released in 2001,was written by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Gregg Alexander. The lyrics tell a story of intrigue, betrayal, and romance set against the backdrop of a nightclub or dance floor.
music	I’m in the Mood for Dancing	The Nolans	1979	“I’m in the Mood for Dancing” by The Nolans, released in 1979, was written by Ben Findon, Mike Myers, and Robert Puzey. The Nolans, originally known as The Nolan Sisters, were a family group of Irish and British singers.
music	He’s The Greatest Dancer	Sister Sledge	1979	“He’s the Greatest Dancer” is a 1979 disco song by Sister Sledge, written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, members of the funk and disco band Chic, with backing vocals performed by Alfa Anderson and Luci Martin, also members of Chic. The distinctive guitar riff was sampled by Will Smith in his hit “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It.”
music	My Feet Keep Dancing	Chic	1979	“My Feet Keep Dancing” is a 1979 disco song, written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, the core members of Chic.
wicked ways	Crazy Little Thing Called Love	Queen	1979	“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” was Queen’s first song to top the US charts. Mercury composed it while taking a bath in a hotel in Munich.
wicked ways	Ain’t No Doubt	Jimmy Nail	1992	‘Ain’t No Doubt’ is written by Jimmy Nail, Danny Schogger and Charlie Dore, featuring additional vocals from Sylvia Mason-James.
wicked ways	Listen to Your Heart (Swedish Single Edit)	Roxette	1988	“Listen to your heart” by Swedish duo Roxette is written by Per Gessle and Mats Persson. Seven different versions of the song were released such as the original album version; the “Swedish Single Edit” and a slightly edited version included on subsequent greatest hits compilations. The song lyrics are inspired by a close friend of Gessle’s, who was in “emotional turmoil, stuck between an old relationship and a new love.
wicked ways	Baby I’m a Fool	Melody Gardot	2009	Melody Gardot is an acclaimed vocalist, known for her dusky mix of jazz, Brazilian traditions, folk, and artful pop. According to Gardot, the lyrics are about “two coquette people who won’t admit they are in love with each other.”
wicked ways	For You	Serena Ryder	2012	The Canadian singer-songwriter Serena Ryder wrote “For You” as part of her 2012 album Harmony, coming out of a depression as a vibrant, spiritual songwriter.
wicked ways	Just The Way It Is Baby	The Rembrandts	1990	“Just The Way It Is Baby” is about a woman named Leah who The Rembrandts, Danny Wilde and Phil Solem, double dated.
wicked ways	How ’bout Us	Champaign	1981	“How ’bout Us” written by vocalist and keyboard player Dana Walden, had originally appeared in1975 as the B side of the Water Brothers Band single “Have You Ever Been Lonely?”. Champaign re-recorded and released it in 1981 and became their biggest hit single.
wicked ways	This Will Be (an Everlasting Love)	Natalie Cole	1975	“This Will Be” a 1975 classic soul hit by Natalie Cole, was written by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy.
wicked ways	Your Love Still Brings Me To My Knees	Marcia Hines	1977	“Your Love Still Brings Me to My Knees” by Marcia Hines, released in 1977, was written by Jeff Barry and Tom Snow. Marcia Hines is an American-Australian singer, actress, and TV personality.
wicked ways	Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word	Elton John	1976	“Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” is a song performed by Elton John, with lyrics by Bernie Taupin, released in 1976, featuring Stevie Wonder, who played the harmonica on the track.
wicked ways	Am I Forgiven?	Rumer	2010	“Am I Forgiven?” is a track from Rumer’s (born Sarah Joyce) debut studio album, “Seasons of My Soul,” which was released in 2010.
wicked ways	That Look You Give That Guy	Eels	2009	“That Look You Give That Guy” is a track from Eels’ album “Hombre Lobo”, written by Mark Oliver Everett (E) and released in 2009. Eels is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, often known simply as “E.”
wicked ways	Wicked Game	Chris Isaak	1989	“Wicked Game” is a song written and performed by Chris Isaak, originally released on his 1989 album “Heart Shaped World.” The song gained widespread recognition and popularity when it was featured in the David Lynch film “Wild at Heart” in 1990.
wicked ways	I Can’t Make You Love Me (With Bruce Hornsby)	Bonnie Raitt	1991	“I Can’t Make You Love Me” is a one of the greatest ballads in contemporary music that was released as part of Bonnie Raitt’s 1991 Grammy Award winning album “Luck of the Draw”. The songwriters, Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin, crafted a timeless ballad that explores the pain of unrequited love and the acceptance of a relationship’s inevitable end.
wicked ways	When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman	Dr. Hook	1978	“When You’re in Love with a Beautiful Woman” by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show was released in 1978 and written by Even Stevens and recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Alabama.
wicked ways	Escape (The Pina Colada Song)	Rupert Holmes	1979	“Escape” written and performed by Rupert Holmes on his album “Partners in Crime” released in 1979 earned two Grammy Awards in 1980 for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Song of the Year.
wicked ways	50 Ways To Leave Your Lover	Paul Simon	1975	“50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” written and performed by Paul Simon is of his Grammy Award winning album “Still Crazy After All These Years” in 1976. The song earned Paul Simon also the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1976. The drum part is played by one of the most influential  drummers of all time, Steve Gadd , who recorded many other legendary  drum tracks like “Aja” and “Nite Sprite”.
wicked ways	Would I Lie To You	Charles & Eddie	1992	“Would I Lie to You?”, released in 1992 and written by Mike Leeson and Peter Vale, is performed by the American R&B duo Charles & Eddie, consisting of Charles Pettigrew and Eddie Chacon.
wicked ways	Why	Carly Simon	1982	“Why” by Carly Simon is a song written and produced by the Chic hitmakers Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards wrote “Why” for the 1982 comedy film Soup For One, for which they did the soundtrack.
wicked ways	Would You…?	Touch and Go	1998	“Would You…?” by Touch & Go, written by David Lowe, was released in 1998. One-hit wonder Touch & Go is a British jazz-pop ensemble founded in 1998 by television composer David Lowe, veteran radio presenter and music journalist Charlie Gillett, and co-founder of Oval Music, Gordon Nelki. The other band members are vocalist Vanessa Lancaster and multi-instrumentalist James Lynch.
wicked ways	My Boy Lollipop	Millie	1964	“My Boy Lollipop”, originally a hit in late 1956 for Barbie Gaye (including a saxophone solo) was covered in 1964 by the Jamaican seventeen year old singer Millie Small, adding a ska style and featuring a harmonica solo.
wicked ways	Feel the Need in Me	The Detroit Emeralds	1972	“Feel the Need in Me” was originally released in 1972 by the Detroit Emeralds, written by band member Abrim Tilmon. The Detroit Emeralds was an American R&B vocal group originally composed of Abrim Tilmon, Ivory Tilmon, and James Mitchell.
wicked ways	No Milk Today	Herman’s Hermits	1966	“No Milk Today” by Herman’s Hermits was released in 1966 and written by future 10cc member Graham Gouldman, who got the inspiration for the song by his father, telling about his visit to a friend of his and noticed the milk bottle on the doorstep with the note, ‘no milk today’.
wicked ways	Colour My Life	M People	1992	“Colour My Life” is a song by British band M People, released in 1992, written specifically for lead vocalist, 25-year-old Heather Small and the first M People track she ever recorded.
wicked ways	You And Me	Spargo	1980	“You and Me” was Dutch band Spargo’s first hit, released in 1980, written by vocalist and keyboard player Ellert Driessen and featuring Lilian Day Jackson as lead vocals and percussion.
words by numbers	ABC	Jackson 5	1987	“ABC” by the Jackson 5 was released in 1970 when Michael Jackson was just 11 years old and is written by the Motown writing team: “The Corporation”, including Freddie Perren, Fonce Mizell and Deke Richards with Berry Gordy.
words by numbers	Alphabet St.	Prince	1988	“Alphabet St.” written and performed by Prince was released in 1988 where he encouraged listeners to follow him to a place where his spiritual and sexual sides could coexist in harmony.
words by numbers	Word Up	Cameo	1986	“Word Up” by the funk band Cameo was released 1986. “Word Up” or “you bet” was a popular saying in New York. It features a reference to the opening notes of Ennio Morricone’s theme to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
words by numbers	Prisencolinensinainciusol	Adriano Celentano	1972	“Prisencolinensinainciusol” is a song composed by the Italian singer Adriano Celentano, and performed by Celentano and his wife Claudia Mori in 1972. The song is intended to sound to its Italian audience as if it is sung in English spoken with an American accent, however the lyrics are deliberately unintelligible gibberish with the exception of the words “all right”. Celentano is considered as the man who brought rock and roll to Italy.
words by numbers	Mah Na Mah Na	Mahna Mahna and The Two Snowths	1968	“Mah Na Mah Na” was written by composer Piero Umiliani for an Italian “mondo” film (exploitative pseudo-documentaries) about life (mostly sex-related) in Sweden, titled Svezia, Inferno e Paradiso (Sweden, Heaven and Hell). It is a nonsense song that achieved widespread fame as a classic Muppet sketch.
words by numbers	Sukiyaki	Kyu Sakamoto	1963	The Japanese star Kyu Sakamoto had a number one hit in his country with this song, initially known as “Ue O Muite Aruko”, meaning “I look up when I walk” in 1961, written by lyricist Rokusuke Ei and composer Hachidai Nakamura. In 1962, Louis Benjamin, a British music executive, renamed it as “Sukiyaki” after a Japanese hot pot, meaning “Beef Stew”.
words by numbers	I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten	Dusty Springfield	1968	I Close My Eyes and Count To Ten (Mono Version) is a song written by Clive Westlake and recorded by British singer Dusty Springfield. It was Springfield’s final release on the Phillips label.
words by numbers	1234	Feist	2007	“1234” by Canadian artist Feist, is co-written by Feist and Sally Seltmann, an Australian singer-songwriter. On September 5, 2007, Apple started using the song’s video in ads for its iPod Nano.
words by numbers	Take Five	The Dave Brubeck Quartet	1959	“Take Five” released in 1959 by The Dave Brubeck Quartet is written by Brubeck’s alto saxophonist Paul Desmond. The tune was written in an odd time signature, the 5/4 irregular meter, hence it’s title “Take Five”. This version comes from the 2020 album “Time OutTakes”, including brilliant alternate takes from the original 1959 sessions with Joe Morello on drums. Even alto saxophonist, Paul Desmond, had not yet settled on a consistent melody. Brubeck was playing the famous piano vamp in order to hold the piece together along with the glue provided by Gene Wright on bass. It was supposed to simply be a tune that would feature the drums. This version from Time OutTakes explodes with one hell of a drum solo, longer than the original hit single, proving why Joe was considered one of the very best drummers in jazz. Joe Morello’s father was a French emigrant from Nice and his mother hailed from French Canada.
words by numbers	Mambo N°5	Lou Bega	1999	German pop musician Lou Bega added lyrics to the Cuban-Mexican bandleader Perez Prado’s instrumental “King of the Mambo” or “Mambo No 5” one of a series of eight mambos. Rumor has it that all the girls he mentions are former girlfriends: Angela, Pamela, Sandra, Rita, Monica, Erica, Tina, Mary and Jessica.
words by numbers	99	TOTO	1979	“99” by Toto, released in 1979 was written by keyboard player David Paich and is inspired by the 1971 movie THX-1138, directed by George Lucas, where people are numbered drones.
words by numbers	96 Tears	The Stranglers	1990	“96 Tears” by “? and the Mysterians”, released in 1966, is written by the band’s frontman. The band’s keyboard player Frank Rodriguez used a Vox Continental and would later become vintage to get a retro sound. “? and the Mysterians” are a garage band formed in 1962 in Michigan by three offspring of migrant farmers: Bobby Balderrama (lead guitar), Larry Borjas (rhythm guitar) and Robert Martinez (drums). Garland Jeffreys covered this in 1980 and The Stranglers released a version in 1990.
words by numbers	The Magnificent Seven	The Clash	1980	The title “The Magnificent Seven” comes from John Sturgess’ 1960 Western movie of the same name. The Clash frontman Joe Strummer wrote the lyrics and Norman Watt-Roy (from Ian Dury and the Blockheads) ended up writing the bass line.
words by numbers	Song 2	Blur	1997	“Song 2” by Blur, released in 1997 (originally just a working title) was written by the band to make fun of Grunge music, adding loud guitars and cryptic lyrics. This is the second track on the CD, the second single from the album, it hit #2 in the UK, and it is 2 minutes long.
words by numbers	Be My Number Two	Joe Jackson	1984	The love ballad “Be My Number Two” by British singer-songwriter Joe Jackson, released in 1984, expresses “once bitten, twice shy”.
words by numbers	Tea for Two (feat. Anita O’day)	Gene Krupa	1999	Gene Krupa (1909-1973), the best drummer of all time, recorded “Tea for Two” from the Broadway musical “No, No, Nanette” with vocals by Anita O’Day (1919-2006).
words by numbers	2-4-6-8 Motorway	Tom Robinson Band	1978	“2-4-6-8 Motorway” by the Tom Robinson Band, released in 1978, was written by Tom Robinson, inspired by memories of driving back to London through the night after gigs with his band Café Society.
words by numbers	002.345.709 (That’s My Number)	Trinity	1976	“002.345.709 (That’s My Number)” was the biggest hit for the Belgian band Trinity and was released in 1976. Written by band members Fred Bekky and Bob Baelemans with female vocals by Sofie Verbruggen.
words by numbers	Four Letter Word	Kim Wilde	1988	The soothing ballad “Four Letter Word” by Kim Wilde is written by father Marty and younger brother Ricky Wilde and released in 1988.
words by numbers	Four to the Floor	Starsailor	2004	“Four to the Floor” is a song by British band Starsailor, released in 2004. Four-on-the-floor (or four-to-the-floor) is a rhythm used primarily in dance genres such as disco and electronic dance music. It is a steady, uniformly accented beat in 4 4 time in which the bass drum is hit on every beat (1, 2, 3, 4).
words by numbers	Words	F.R. David	1982	The plaintive ballad “Words” written and performed by French singer F.R. David was released in 1982. F.R. David (birth name Elli Robert Fitoussi) is a Tunisian-born French singer.
words by numbers	Les mots bleus	Christophe	1974	“Les Mots bleus” by French singer Christophe was released in 1974. The lyrics are by Jean-Michel Jarre and music composed by Christophe, inspired by the sound of the Eminent 310 Unique, a home electronic organ and the first commercial polyphonic string synthesizer on the market at the time. Jean-Michel Jarre used the Eminent 310 Unique organ on his albums Oxygène (1977) and Équinoxe (1978).
words by numbers	Words	Arid	2008	“Words” by Arid was released in 2008. Arid is a Belgian rock band, formed in the mid-1990s, made up of four members: Jasper Steverlinck (vocals and guitar), David Du Pré (guitar), Filip Ros (bass) and Steven Van Havere (drums).
words by numbers	Paroles, paroles (ft. Alain Delon)	Dalida	1973	“Paroles, paroles” by French singer Dalida featuring French actor Alain Delon was released in 1973. It is a bosa nova remake by Chris Michaële (lyrics) and Gianni Ferrio (composition) of the 1972 original “Parole parole” (translated ”Words words”) duet performed by Italian singer Mina and actor Alberto Lupo as opening theme for the prime time Italian TV show Teatro 10.
words by numbers	If I Had Words	Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley	1977	“If I Had Words” is a duet by Scottish singer Scott Fitzgerald and Dutch singer Yvonne Keeley with the backing of the St. Thomas More School Choir, released in 1977. The tune was taken from the main theme of the Maestoso from Saint-Saens Symphony No.3 in C minor (“Organ Symphony”) with a reggae beat added. The lyrics and arrangement were by Jonathan Hodge, a prolific writer of television jingles and film themes.
all female	Come See About Me	Diana Ross & The Supremes	1964	“Come See About Me” by The Supremes was written and produced by Motown’s main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland. The track opens with a fade-in, marking one of the first times the technique had been used on a studio recording. The Supremes, led by Diana Ross, are considered one of the best girl groups. Their everlastingly stylish and smooth tunes captured the hearts of generations with a perfect fusion of pop, soul, and R&B. As one of Motown’s most iconic acts, The Supremes not only broke racial barriers but also became trendsetters in fashion and style. Their trailblazing legacy has inspired countless artists and solidified their place in music history.
all female	Baby, I Love You	The Ronettes	1963	“Baby, I Love You” is a song originally recorded by the Ronettes in 1963, written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector. Lead vocals by Ronnie Bennett, background vocals by Cher, Sonny Bono, and the Blossoms (Darlene Love, Fanita James, and Gracia Nitzsche), and instrumentation by the Wrecking Crew. The Ronettes, led by Veronica Yvette Greenfield (born Bennett, formerly Spector; August 10, 1943 – January 12, 2022), is known to many as one of the best female bands. Their iconic beehive hairstyles and dramatic eye makeup only scratch the surface of The Ronettes’ influence on the music world. With their sultry harmonies and captivating stage presence, they became a defining force in the girl group era of the early 60s. As the embodiment of the “Wall of Sound” production, their impact can still be felt today in modern pop and rock music.
all female	Jimmy Mack	Martha Reeves & The Vandellas	1967	“Jimmy Mack” was originally recorded in 1964 when Annette Beard was still a part of the group Martha and the Vandellas. The song was shelved because the Motown Quality Control team felt the recording was not suitable for release because it sounded too much like a Supremes song. The Holland–Dozier–Holland song is written as a tribute to Ronnie Mack the writer. Martha and the Vandellas is one of Motown’s finest girl groups and remain an essential part of music history.
all female	Leader Of The Pack	The Shangri-Las	1964	The tune of “Leader of the Pack” by the girl group the Shangri-Las is credited to pop impresario George “Shadow” Morton together with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. The Shangri-Las captured hearts with their dramatic storytelling and emotive performances. Known for their captivating stage presence and heart-wrenching ballads, they became a defining force in the era’s music scene. As an influential part of music history, The Shangri-Las’ impact can still be felt in the sound of modern pop music.
all female	He Was Really Saying Something	The Velvelettes	1964	“He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin” by The Velvelettes is a soul song written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield, William “Mickey” Stevenson, and Edward Holland, Jr. in 1964. In 1982, the British girl group Bananarama recorded a cover version of the song As one of Motown’s hidden gems, The Velvelettes brought a unique sound to the world of pop and soul music in the 1960s. Their impeccable harmonies and heartfelt lyrics resonated with fans, making them a beloved part of the era’s musical landscape. With their enduring legacy and timeless appeal, The Velvelettes remain a cherished part of music history.
all female	Shy Boy	Bananarama	1982	“Shy Boy” is a 1982 song recorded by English girl group Bananarama which was written and produced by the production team of Steve Jolley and Tony Swain and marked the first in a long line of studio collaborations between them and Bananarama. Bananarama are a British-Irish girl group formed in London in 1980. The group, originally a trio, consisted of friends Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, and Keren Woodward
all female	Walk Like An Egyptian	The Bangles	1986	“Walk Like an Egyptian” is a song by American band the Bangles, released in 1986. Liam Sternberg said he was inspired to create the song while on a ferry crossing the English Channel. When the vessel hit choppy water, passengers stepped carefully and moved their arms awkwardly while struggling to maintain their balance, and that reminded Sternberg of the depiction of human figures in ancient Egyptian tomb paintings. Capturing the essence of the 80s with their infectious pop-rock tunes, The Bangles left an indelible mark on music history.
all female	Our Lips Are Sealed	The GoGo’s	1981	“Our Lips Are Sealed”, by the Go-Go’s, released in 1981 is a song co-written by Jane Wiedlin, guitarist of the Go-Go’s, and Terry Hall, singer of the Specials and Fun Boy Three. The Go-Go’s are pioneers of the punk and new wave scene and made their mark with their infectious tunes and rebellious spirit. As one of the first all-female bands to write and perform their own music, they broke down barriers and paved the way for future women in rock. Their energetic performances and timeless hits have established their legacy as one of the most influential girl groups of all time.
all female	It’s The First Time	Lois Lane	1989	“It’s The First Time” by Loïs Lane was released in 1989. Loïs Lane is a Dutch girl group consisting of the sisters Suzanne and Monique Klemann. Lois Lane is a fictional character appearing in American comic books reated by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster. Lois Lane’s career spans more than eight decades and has worn many hats besides that of the world’s most celebrated journalist. She’s been a wife of Superman and mother of Superboy, a costumed vigilante, a ghostwriter and a political activist, making her a Superwoman in fact as well as name.
all female	Miss Q-In	Zap Mama	2004	“Miss Q-In” by ‘Zap Mama’ is written by Chris Forman and Damon Bennett and released in 2004. For over 25 years Miss M. Daulne a.k.a. ‘Zap Mama’, has made her mark in the music and entertainment industry thanks to her vocal creativity and appearances on the most prestigious stages. Marie Daulne, the daughter of a Belgian father and a Congolese mother, and was born in the East Zaire City of Isiro. Zap Mama specializes in polyphonic, harmonic music with a mixture of heavily infused African instruments, R&B, and Hip-hop and emphasizes voice in all their music.
all female	Yes We Can Can	The Pointer Sisters	1973	“Yes We Can Can” by The Pointer Sisters is a funk song written by Allen Toussaint and released in 1970. A perfect fusion of R&B, pop, and disco, The Pointer Sisters brought an irresistibly infectious energy to the music world. Their timeless tunes showcased their incredible vocal range and ability to captivate listeners. As pioneers in the industry, they broke barriers for future generations of artists and solidified their status as musical icons.
all female	Baby Hold On	Dixie Chicks	2006	Known for most of their career as Dixie Chicks, they were named after the song “Dixie Chicken” by Little Feat. That song is about a woman who charms guys into falling in love with her, then takes them for all they’re worth. On June 25, 2020, they changed their name to “The Chicks,” dropping the “dixie” because it refers to the American South during a time of slavery.
all female	Chapel of Love	The Dixie Cups	1964	“Chapel of Love” by The Dixie Cups in 1964 was written in 1963 by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, who had themselves recently married. Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich had originally written the song for The Ronettes. The Dixie Cups (formerly known as The Mel-Tones) are an American pop music girl group of the 1960s.
all female	Angels with dirty faces	Sugababes	2002	“Angels with Dirty Faces” was written by the Sugababes in collaboration with members of the British songwriting and production team Xenomania, including Brian Higgins, Bob Bradley, Tim Powell and Matthew Del Gray. Original member Siobhán Donaghy, was replaced by former Atomic Kitten member Heidi Range in September 2001. The ever-evolving lineup of the girl group Sugababes didn’t stop them from leaving a lasting mark on the pop music landscape.
all female	All Night Long	Mary Jane Girls	1983	“All Night Long” by the Mary Jane Girls is a song written, arranged, and produced by American musician Rick James for the Mary Jane Girls. The name of the group referenced mary jane, slang for marijuana; a favored recreational drug of James. The group’s image was styled as containing a street-wise girl (Joanne “Jojo” McDuffie), a supermodel (Candice “Candi” Ghant), a cheerleader/valley girl (Cheryl Bailey (Cheri Wells)), and a dominatrix (Kimberly “Maxi” Wuletich).
all female	Waterfalls	TLC	2013	“Waterfalls” is an R&B song, written by TLC band member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes with Marqueze Etheridge and Organized Noize, released in 1995. The song’s lyrics refer to 1990s issues such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic and violence associated with the illegal drug trade. TLC is an American girl group formed in 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia. The group’s best-known line-up was composed of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas.TLC combined their smooth harmonies with a fierce attitude. With their bold messages of female empowerment, self-love, and social awareness, they cemented their status as a groundbreaking force in music.
all female	Waterfall	Wendy & Lisa	1987	“Waterfall” performed and written by Wendy and Lisa with co-writer, producer and former Revolution colleague Bobby Z., was released in 1995. Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman are an Emmy® Award winning musical composing duo based in Los Angeles. They both started their careers in one of the most successful rock bands of the 80s, Prince & the Revolution.
all female	Why (Am I Treated So Bad)	The Sweet Inspirations	1967	“Why? (Am I Treated So Bad)” was written by the Staple Singers patriarch Roebuck “Pops” Staples in reaction to the 1957 protests about the Little Rock Nine, the first black students to attend the segregated Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. The Sweet Inspirations’ original line-up comprised of group leader Emily “Cissy” Houston, Sylvia Shemwell, Myrna Smith and Estelle Brown.  They were backing vocalists for Elvis Presley (from 1968 up to his death in 1977), Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Herbie Mann, Nina Simone, Solomon Burke, and Chuck Jackson.
all female	Whatta Man	Salt-N-Pepa	1993	Linda Lyndell, a white singer who had been a supporting act with James Brown and Ike & Tina Turner and then recommended to Stax Records by Otis Redding, recorded “What a Man”. In 1993, American hip hop trio Salt-N-Pepa recorded the song retitled “Whatta Man” with En Vogue an American vocal girl group consisting of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Salt-N-Pepa (sometimes stylized as Salt ‘N’ Pepa) is an American hip hop group formed in New York City in 1985, that comprised Salt (Cheryl James), Pepa (Sandra Denton), and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper).
all female	I Love To Love	Las Seventies	2007	Las Seventies or Lola and Blanca covered in 2007 disco hits in rumba style, such as “I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)” by British singer Tina Charles, released in 1976.
all female	Lost In Music	Sister Sledge	1992	“Lost in Music” is a song by American vocal group Sister Sledge, released in July 1979, written by Nile Rodgers Bernard Edwards. Natives of Philadelphia, the sisters: Debra Edwina “Debbie” Sledge (born 1954), Joan Elise “Joni” Sledge (1956–2017), Kim Sledge (born 1957), and Kathy Sledge (born 1959) are the daughters of Broadway tap dancer Edwin Sledge (1923–1996) and actress Florez Sledge (née Williams; 1928–2007). Following the tragic passing of Joni sledge in 2017, Sister Sledge’s beautiful legacy is now evolving as their extraordinary adult children take centre stage.
all female	Best Disco In Town	Ritchie Family	1976	“The Best Disco in Town” is a 1976 crossover disco single by Philadelphia-based group, The Ritchie Family. The song is a medley of recent disco songs linked together with an original chorus. The Ritchie Family originally consisted of three singers: Cassandra Ann Wooten and Gwendolyn Oliver of the girl group Honey & the Bees, and Cheryl Mason Jacks.
all female	Take Good Care of Yourself	The Three Degrees	1975	“Take Good Care Of Yourself” by The Three Degrees was written by Leon Huff and Kenneth Gamble. The Three Degrees is an American female vocal group formed in 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Elegance and sophistication defined The Three Degrees, a girl group that rose to prominence in the 1970s with their luscious harmonies and soulful ballads. The line-up from 1967 to 1976 was Fayette Pinkney, Valerie Holiday and Sheila Ferguson, who would go on to sing lead on most of the group’s biggest hits.
all female	Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight	The McGuire Sisters	1954	“Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite” is a popular song that was a hit during the mid-1950s. It was written by Calvin Carter and James “Pookie” Hudson in 1951, and was first recorded by The Spaniels in 1953. The McGuire Sisters released it as “Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight” in 1954. Heralding from the golden age of vocal harmony groups, The McGuire Sisters were a singing trio in American popular music of the fifties, composed of three sisters;  Christine,  Dorothy and  Phyllis McGuire.
all female	Mister Sandman	The Chordettes	1954	“Mr. Sandman” (or “Mister Sandman”) is a popular song written by Pat Ballard and published in 1954. It was first recorded in May of that year by Vaughn Monroe & his orchestra and later that year by The Chordettes and the Four Aces. The Chordettes’ recording of the song was released on the Cadence Records label on both 78 RPM and 45 RPM formats. Formed in 1946, The Chordettes were a female popular singing quartet from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. They usually sung a cappella, and specialized in traditional popular music. Known for their close harmony singing and crisp vocals, The Chordettes became one of the most successful girl groups of the 1950s.
Diva	Respect	Aretha Franklin	1967	Otis Redding wrote “Respect” and originally recorded it in 1965. It was Aretha Franklin’s idea to cover this song. She came up with the arrangement, added the “sock it to me” lines, and played piano on the track. Her sister Carolyn, also helped work up the song. The “ree, ree, ree, ree…” refrain is a nod to Franklin’s nickname, Ree (as in A-Ree-tha). Both her younger sister Carolyn and elder sister Erma provided backing vocals. Dubbed the “Queen of Soul” for her awe-inspiring talent and unmatched soulful voice, she effortlessly moved through different genres, from gospel and R&B to pop and jazz. With 18 Grammy Awards and over 75 million records sold, there’s no doubt that she was one of the most influential and celebrated female vocalists in history.
Diva	Piece Of My Heart	Erma Franklin	1967	“Piece of My Heart” is a romantic soul song written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns, originally recorded by Aretha Franklin’s older sister Erma in 1967. Bert Berns asked Van Morrison, whom he was producing, to record the song, but Morrison declined, preferring to do his own material. The song came to mainstream attention when Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin on lead vocals covered the song in 1968.
Diva	Little Girl Blue	Janis Joplin	1969	“Little Girl Blue” was originally written by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart to be used in the 1935 musical Jumbo. Since then it has been covered by many artists. Janis put her own touch on the song by changing up the lyrics. “Janis: Little Girl Blue” is a 2015 American documentary film directed by Amy J. Berg, Forever immortalized as one of the most iconic voices in rock history, her raw, gritty vocals and electrifying stage presence captured the spirit of the late 1960s counterculture. Her incredible talent shone through in unforgettable songs like “Piece of My Heart,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” and “Cry Baby,” leaving an indelible mark on the music world despite her untimely death at 27.
Diva	My Baby Just Cares for Me	Nina Simone	1957	“My Baby Just Cares for Me” is a jazz standard written by Walter Donaldson (music) and Gus Kahn (lyrics) for the 1930 film adaptation of the musical comedy Whoopee!, where it was first performed by Eddie Cantor. Nina Simone recorded “My Baby Just Cares for Me” for her debut album “Little Girl Blue” in 1957. Nina Simone is a supremely talented singer, composer, and pianist, her unique, emotive voice was perfectly suited for conveying the raw truth and pain in her music. With unforgettable songs like “Feeling Good,” “Sinnerman,” and “I Put a Spell on You,” she became a leading figure in the civil rights movement and left an indelible mark on the worlds of jazz, blues, and soul music.
Diva	A Tisket, A Tasket	Ella Fitzgerald	1993	“A-Tisket, A-Tasket” is a nursery rhyme first recorded in the US in the late 19th century and used as a basis by Ella Fitzgerald for her 1938 composition in conjunction with Al Feldman (later known as Van Alexander). Nicknamed the “First Lady of Song,” she was an extraordinary singer whose flawless pitch and impeccable diction earned her a place among the pantheon of jazz greats. Throughout her illustrious career spanning over six decades, she amassed a total of 13 Grammy Awards and sold more than 40 million records, leaving behind an indelible imprint on the fabric of music.
Diva	Broken Hearted Melody	Sarah Vaughan	1959	Sarah Vaughan’s commercial success peaked in 1959 with “Broken Hearted Melody”, written by Hal David and Sherman Edwards, a song she considered “corny” which nevertheless became her first gold record, and a regular part of her concert repertoire for years to come. Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer. Nicknamed “Sassy” and “The Divine One”, she won four Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. She was given an NEA Jazz Masters Award in 1989. Critic Scott Yanow wrote that she had “one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century”.
Diva	La vie en rose	Édith Piaf	2013	“La Vie en rose” (French for ‘Life in pink’) is the signature song of French singer Édith Piaf, who wrote the lyrics in 1945 with music composed by Louiguy and released as a single in 1947. Édith Piaf (born Édith Giovanna Gassion, 19 December 1915 – 10 October 1963) was a French singer, songwriter, cabaret performer and film actress noted as France’s national chanteuse and one of the country’s most widely known international stars.
Diva	How Deep Is The Ocean (How High Is The Sky)	Diana Krall	1997	“How Deep Is the Ocean?” is a popular song written by Irving Berlin in 1932. The song was developed from an earlier Berlin song “To My Mammy” which was sung by Al Jolson in his film Mammy (1930). In the earlier song, the lyrics include the questions “How deep is the ocean? / How high is the sky?” and this was the genesis of “How Deep Is the Ocean?”. Diana Jean Krall (born November 16, 1964) is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer known for her contralto vocals.
Diva	My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from “Titanic”)	Céline Dion	1993	Canadian singer Céline Dion held the world spellbound with a remarkable ability to hit the highest notes with ease with her epic ballad “My Heart Will Go On” as the theme for the 1997 film Titanic. Renowned for her awe-inspiring vocal range and powerful, emotive performances, she is one of the most successful and beloved artists in the history of pop music. Over her illustrious career, she’s sold more than 250 million albums worldwide, earning numerous awards and accolades that firmly cement her status as a bonafide vocal powerhouse.
Diva	Greatest Love Off All	Whitney Houston	1985	This was written by songwriters Michael Masser and Linda Creed, recovering from breast cancer, in 1977 for the soundtrack of Muhammad Ali’s biography movie, The Greatest, recorded by George Benson. Whitney Houston’s version was originally the B-side of “You Give Good Love” With over 200 million records sold worldwide, she was a beloved icon and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, using her incomparable vocal prowess to captivate audiences with unforgettable renditions of “I Will Always Love You,” “Greatest Love of All,” and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.”
Diva	Don’t Know Why	Norah Jones	2002	“Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones, released in 2002, is a song originally written composed and performed by Jesse Harris in 1999. Norah Jones, born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar on March 30, 1979, is recognized internationally as a distinguished singer, songwriter, and pianist. Born in New York City and raised in Texas, her distinctive blend of jazz, pop, and soul music has earned her substantial acclaim across her career. She is the daughter of famed Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar and concert producer Sue Jones, a lineage that undoubtedly contributed to her profound musical talent. Jones’s stellar career began in earnest with the release of her debut album, Come Away with Me, in 2002.
Diva	Sodade	Cesária Évora	1994	“Sodade” is a Cape Verdean song written in the 1950s by Armando Zeferino Soares, and best popularized by Cesária Évora on her 1992 album Miss Perfumado. She released her debut album, La Diva Aux Pieds Nus, in 1988. Cesária Évora (27 August 1941 – 17 December 2011) was a Cape Verdean singer known for singing morna, a genre of music from Cape Verde, in her native Cape Verdean Creole. Sodade describes the nostalgia experienced by Cape Verdeans emigrants who have been seafarers and emigrants for centuries, repeating the question “Ken mostro-b es kaminhu longe?” (“Who showed you the faraway path?”)
Diva	Anyone Who Had A Heart	Dionne Warwick	1963	“Anyone Who Had a Heart” is a song written by Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (lyrics) for Dionne Warwick in 1963. During her career, Warwick has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and she has won many awards, including six Grammy Awards.
Diva	Sweet Love	Anita Baker	1986	“Sweet Love” was written by Anita Baker, Louis A. Johnson, and Gary Bias, and Anita Baker’s first big hit in 1986. Anita Denise Baker (born January 26, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter. “Sweet Love” won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards (1987).
Diva	What’s Love Got To Do With It	Tina Turner	1984	“What’s Love Got To Do With It” was Tina Turner’s comeback song at age 44 in 1984. In 1993, the title was used for a movie about her life starring Angela Bassett as Turner. With a career spanning six decades, countless accolades, and over 200 million records sold, Tina Turner remains an enduring symbol of strength and resilience.
Diva	I Feel The Earth Move	Carole King	1971	I Feel the Earth Move” is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Carole King, an iconic singer-songwriter whose incredible career has spanned over six decades, her emotive voice and timeless compositions have left a lasting impact on the world of music. With beloved hits like “You’ve Got a Friend,” “It’s Too Late,” and “I Feel the Earth Move,” she’s penned some of the most enduring tunes in the pop and rock canon, earning multiple Grammy Awards and selling millions of records.
Diva	Jolene	Dolly Parton	1973	Dolly Parton is a true country music legend, her distinctive, angelic voice and unparalleled songwriting prowess have secured her place as one of the most successful and influential artists in the genre. With beloved hits like “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You” to her name, she’s not only charmed listeners with her heartfelt storytelling but also inspired generations of female artists to follow in her footsteps. According to Parton, the song was inspired by a red-headed bank clerk who flirted with her husband, Carl Dean, at his local bank branch around the time they were newly married. In an interview, she also revealed that Jolene’s name and appearance are based on that of a young fan who came on stage for her autograph.
Diva	You Don’t Know My Name	Alicia Keys	2003	“You Don’t Know My Name” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, released in 2003. Best known for soulful anthems like “Fallin’,” “No One,” and “If I Ain’t Got You,” she’s won countless awards and accolades, including 15 Grammy Awards and more than 40 million records sold.
Diva	People	Barbra Streisand	1964	“People” is a song composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Bob Merrill for the 1964 Broadway musical Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand, who introduced the song. From unforgettable ballads like “The Way We Were” and “Evergreen” to powerful showstoppers like “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “People,” her incredible talent has earned her numerous awards, including ten Grammy Awards and an impressive record as the only artist to have number-one albums in six consecutive decades.
Diva	Lady Sings the Blues	Billie Holiday	1956	“Lady Sings the Blues” is a song written by jazz singer Billie Holiday and jazz pianist Herbie Nichols. She put this new signature sound on scores of stirring ballads such as her self-reflecting composition “Lady Sings The Blues”. Holiday’s complicated life and her genre-defining autobiography “Lady Sings the Blues” made her a cultural icon. Despite a relatively short career marred by tragedy and hardship, she left an enduring legacy in the music world, influencing countless artists and selling millions of records.
Diva	Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)	Diana Ross	1976	“Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)” was initially recorded by American singer Thelma Houston in 1973, and then by Diana Ross as the theme to the 1975 Motown/Paramount film Mahogany that also starred Ross. Produced by Masser, the song is a ballad that portrays its protagonist (Ross) as a black woman who becomes a successful Rome fashion designer. A legendary diva with a voice as smooth as silk, she was the epitome of glamour and sophistication as the lead singer of one of the most successful female groups before launching a wildly successful solo career.
Diva	Hero	Mariah Carey	1993	“Hero” is one of American singer-songwriter, and record producer Mariah Carey’s most inspirational and personal ballads released on October 18, 1993. Blessed with a stunning five-octave vocal range, Mariah Carey is widely regarded as one of the most technically skilled singers in the industry. With more than 200 million records sold, 19 number-one singles, and countless awards under her belt, there’s no question that she’s a living legend and one of the best-selling female artists of all time.
Diva	Rolling In The Deep	ADELE	2010	Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” made her a legend, as far as the whole world was concerned. Reeling from the “rubbish relationship” that inspired her breakthrough 21, Adele poured all her pain into this smash. On this revenge song, Adele lays into a former boyfriend.. With more than 120 million records sold and a legion of devoted fans, this British powerhouse is undeniably one of the most influential female vocalists of her generation.
Diva	Back To Black	Amy Winehouse	2006	“Back to Black” was written by Amy Winehouse and Marc Ronson. Her ex went back to his girlfriend and Winehouse went back to drinking and dark times. This song is about Winehouse’s breakup with her then-boyfriend Blake Fielder-Civil. They got back together and married in 2007. Despite her untimely death at just 27, she left behind a legacy of groundbreaking music, earning numerous posthumous awards and accolades, and selling over 33 million records worldwide.
Diva	This Is My Life	Shirley Bassey	1968	“This Is My Life (La vita)”, written by (Bruno Canfora, Antonio Amurri and Norman Newell is Shirley Bassey’s statement. Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey, (born 8 January 1937) is a Welsh singer whose career began in the mid-1950s, best known both for her powerful voice and for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979). In January 1959, Bassey became the first Welsh person to gain a No. 1 single.In 2000, Bassey was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to the performing arts. In 1977 she received the Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist in the previous 25 years. Bassey is considered one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the second half of the 20th century.
whereto	Far Far Away	Slade	1974	“Far Far Away” is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1974. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. Holder has cited the song as his favourite Slade song, while drummer Don Powell has stated it to be one of his favourites.
whereto	So Far Away	Carole King	1971	“So Far Away” is a song written by Carole King, which appeared on her 1971 album Tapestry. The recording features James Taylor on acoustic guitar. Carole King Klein (born to Jewish parents as Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has been active since 1958.
whereto	The Other Side of the Sun	Janis Ian	1979	“The Other Side of the Sun” by Janis Ian was written by Albert Hammond and Janis Ian and released 1979.
whereto	She’s Leaving Home	The Beatles	2009	Paul McCartney was inspired by a story on the front page of the Daily Mail, about a girl named Melanie Coe that had left at 17 her parents with her boyfriend.
whereto	I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For	U2	1987	“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” is a song by Irish rock band U2, written by Bono, composed by U2 and produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. I believe the Belgian festivals have contributed a lot to the breakthrough of U2, like the Werchter festival on July 3, 1983 when Jim Kerr of Simple Minds joins U2 on stage during 11 O’Clock Tick Tock. Happy Birthday is sung for drum technician Tom Mullally. Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics come on stage during the latter portion of 40.
whereto	Under The Milky Way	The Church	1988	“Under the Milky Way” is a single by Australian alternative rock band The Church, released in 1988. The song was written by bass guitarist and lead vocalist Steve Kilbey and his then-girlfriend, Swedish born, Karin Jansson of Curious (Yellow).
whereto	Breakout	Swing Out Sister	1986	“Breakout” is a song by British band Swing Out Sister. It was released in September 1986 as the second single from their debut album It’s Better to Travel. Singer Corinne Drewery wrote the song while recovering from a fractured skull from an equestrian accident.
whereto	Living Next Door To Alice	Smokie	1976	“Living Next Door to Alice” is a song co-written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Originally released by Australian pop band New World in 1972. In November 1976, the British band Smokie released their version of “Living Next Door to Alice”. Chapman stated that his source of inspiration for “Living Next Door to Alice” was “Sylvia’s Mother” by Dr. Hook.
whereto	Carrie	Cliff Richard	1980	“Carrie” is a song performed by Cliff Richard and released in December 1979. Carrie” was written by the songwriting partnership of Terry Britten and BA Robertson. Robertson stated that the song is very mysterious and musically falls in the same groove as ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’.
whereto	When I`m Gone	Eminem	2005	“When I’m Gone” is a song by American rapper Eminem. The song’s lyrics pertain to Eminem’s life as a celebrity musician interfering with his family.
whereto	Love Long Distance	Gossip	2009	“Love Long Distance” is a song written and performed by American band Gossip and released in 2009. It quotes the refrain from the song “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye.
whereto	Clouds across the Moon	The Rah Band	1985	“Clouds Across the Moon” by The Rah Band is written by Richard Anthony Hewson and was released in 1985. The vocals were performed by Hewson’s wife Liz.
whereto	Immigrant Song	Led Zeppelin	1970	“Immigrant Song” is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, written by band members Jimmy Page and Robert Plant . It is built upon a repeating riff and features lyrical references to Norse mythology, with singer Robert Plant’s howling vocals mentioning war-making and Valhalla.
whereto	Breakfast in America	Supertramp	1979	“Breakfast in America” is the title track from English rock band Supertramp’s 1979 album of the same name. The song is credited to band members Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson, about a child dreaming about visiting the United States some day.
whereto	Sail Away	Randy Newman	1972	“Sail Away” is a song by Randy Newman, and the title track to his 1972 album, described as “the American dream of a promised land as it might have been presented to black Africa in slave running days.”
whereto	Cargo de Nuit	Axel Bauer	1984	“Cargo” is a song by Axel Bauer released in 1984 Born in Paris on 7 April 1961, Axel Bauer grew up in a talented musical family, which included a classical concert pianist (his aunt) and a professional jazz musician (his father). Axel’s father honed his musical skills playing drums with Django Reinhardt and went on to work with the crème de la crème of the jazz world.
whereto	African Tour	Francis Cabrel	2013	“African Tour” written and performed by Francis Cabrel, offers a frank and powerful depiction of the desperation and danger that African migrants face as they attempt to make their way into Europe for a better life.
whereto	Le Métèque	Georges Moustaki	1969	“Le métèque” is a French chanson by Georges Moustaki. Métèque is a pejorative word for a shifty-looking immigrant of Mediterranean origin. “Meteque” can be translated as “foreigner” or “outsider,” and Moustaki uses this term to embody the experiences of immigrants and those who feel like misfits in society.
whereto	Clandestino	Manu Chao	1998	All the feelings and emotions that a backpacker can feel are condensed in Candlestino. Manu gets into the skin of not only the globetrotter who has decided to escape the boredom of everyday life, but also the migrant forced to flee from the most vile and imaginable circumstances.
whereto	No Soy de Aquí, Ni Soy de Allá	Facundo Cabral	1971	“No Soy de Aquí, Ni Soy de Allá” (translated ‘I am not from here, even not from there’) is a song written and performed by Facundo Cabral in 1971.
whereto	Mi Tierra	Gloria Estefan	1993	“Mi Tierra” (translated ”My Homeland”) is a song by Cuban American singer Gloria Estefan, celebrating love and longing for your homeland. Estefan noted that the song could apply to any Hispanic immigrant, “the song wasn’t just for a Cuban”.
whereto	Trans Europe Express	Kraftwerk	1977	“Trans Europa Express” was the original German studio version written by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1977, translated into Trans Europe Express. The themes include celebrations of the titular European railway service and Europe as a whole, and meditations on the disparities between reality and appearance. The TEE train services operated from 1957 to 1991 in First class only between Brussels and Paris.
whereto	I’m A Train	Albert Hammond	1974	“I’m a Train” is a song written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood and performed by Hammond. “I’m a Train” was featured on Albert Hammond’s 1974 self-titled album. It was first recorded in French, in 1967, by Les Troubadours as “La chaîne”. The first English version was recorded in 1968 by a UK group called Colors of Love, which included singer Elaine Paige.
whereto	No Cars Go	Arcade Fire	2007	“No Cars Go” is a song by Montreal-based band Arcade Fire released in 2007, written by band members and husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne. The song title is taken from the solo project of former Arcade Fire member Brendan Reed. No Cars Go by Arcade Fire is an anthemic and nostalgic song that captures the longing for a utopian place where modern constraints and limitations do not exist. This place where no cars go is not just an escape for the individual but a sanctuary for all, at the liminal space between reality and imagination.
secret agent	Mission Impossible	London Philharmonic Orchestra	1966	The theme of Mission Impossible is composed by the Argentine-American musician Lalo Schifrin (born Boris Claudio Schifrin). The 1966 TV series Mission Impossible is created by Bruce Geller who also wrote, produced, and directed the TV detective series Mannix (1967–1975) for which Lalo Schifrin also composed the theme.
secret agent	Mannix	Billy May	1967	The theme of Mannix is composed by the Argentine-American musician Lalo Schifrin (born Boris Claudio Schifrin) who also composed the theme of the 1966 TV series Mission Impossible. Both series were created by Bruce Geller.
secret agent	The Pink Panther Theme	Henry Mancini and His Orchestra	1964	“The Pink Panther Theme” is a jazz composition by Henry Mancini written as the theme for the 1963 film The Pink Panther and released as single in 1964. The movie features Peter Sellers as the French police detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The “Pink Panther”, the Maharajah, is the largest diamond in the world.
secret agent	Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow (Baretta’s Theme)	Sammy Davis Jr.	1976	“Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow”, written by Morgan Ames and Dave Grusin, is the theme song for the TV show “Baretta,” which ran from 1975 to 1978, performed by Sammy Davis Jr. The song reflects the mood and style of the detective-themed series.
secret agent	Cowboys & Gangsters (Single Version)	Gichy Dan	2012	“Cowboys & Gangsters” by Gichy Dan is written by Ronald Bruce Rogers. Silken-voiced Staten Island crooner Gichy Dan, aka Frank Passalacqua, was the precursor to Kid Creole and the Coconuts.
secret agent	Les Dalton	Joe Dassin	1967	“Les Dalton” (“The Daltons”) is a 1967 song by Joe Dassin. The song is based on The Daltons, the characters from the comic strip series Lucky Luke.
secret agent	Stool Pigeon	Kid Creole & The Coconuts	1982	“Stool Pigeon” by Kid Creole & The Coconuts was originally released in 1982, telling the story of a character who acts as an informer or spy, often referred to as a “stool pigeon.”
secret agent	Ma Baker	Boney M.	1977	“Ma Baker” by Boney M. was originally released in 1977 and tells the story of the legendary criminal Ma Barker and her gang, a life of crime and the inevitable downfall. Kate Barker, born Arizona Clark, who had four sons who became gangsters in the fashion of Bonny & Clyde and John Dillinger.
secret agent	Bonnie And Clyde (ft. Serge Gainsbourg)	Brigitte Bardot	1968	“Bonnie and Clyde” was released by Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg in 1968, romanticising the infamous criminal couple Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, their life of crime and the inevitable tragic end.
secret agent	The Friends Of Mr. Cairo	Jon and Vangelis	1981	“The Friends of Mr. Cairo” is a track from the album of the same name by Vangelis. The song features vocals by Jon Anderson of Yes and is known for its cinematic and progressive sound. The song makes reference to Joel Cairo (Mr Cairo), a movie character of John Houston’s movie “The Maltese Falcon” in which a San Francisco private detective deals with three unscrupulous adventurers, all seeking a jewel-encrusted falcon statuette. The track also incorporates sound effects and voice impressions of Humphrey Bogart, Sydney Greenstreet, and Jimmy Stewart.
secret agent	Secret Agent Man (James Bond Is Back)	Bruce Willis	1987	“Secret Agent Man” is a cover of the classic song, performed by Bruce Willis in 1987, about the life of a secret agent.
secret agent	For Your Eyes Only (Title Song From The United Artists’ James Bond Film)	Sheena Easton	1981	“For Your Eyes Only” is the title song from the 1981 James Bond film, performed by Sheena Easton, about love and loyalty, in the context of a James Bond film.
secret agent	Gangsters	The Specials	1979	“Gangsters” is the debut single by The Specials, released in 1979, “Gangsters”, addressing the issue of youth violence and crime in the UK and highlights the challenges faced by young people in a troubled society.
secret agent	Watching The Detectives	Elvis Costello & The Attractions	1978	“Watching the Detectives” is a single by Elvis Costello & The Attractions, released in 1977, exploring themes of paranoia, surveillance, and the impact of violence on television and reflects on the media’s influence on society.
secret agent	Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress	The Hollies	1971	“Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” by The Hollies was released in 1972 and is a tale of a government agent and a femme fatale. The story of a mysterious woman against a backdrop of criminal activity. This is the only Hollies single without any backing vocals. The reason why Clarke is the only singer on this record is that he didn’t intended the song to be released on a Hollies album, but as a record of his own.
secret agent	I Never Wear White	Suzanne Vega	2014	“I Never Wear White” by Suzanne Vega was released in 2014 and is about personal identity and the refusal to conform to societal expectations. It touches on themes of self-expression and individuality.
secret agent	Men In Black	Will Smith	1997	“Men in Black” is the theme song for the 1997 film of the same name, performed by Will Smith. Smith starred in the comedy thriller with Tommy Lee Jones. It references the secretive and often humorous nature of the Men in Black who monitor extraterrestrial activity on Earth. The song interpolates Patrice Rushen’s 1982 hit “Forget Me Nots,” with the chorus lyric changed from “To help you to remember” to “They won’t let you remember” to go along with the theme of the movie, as the Men In Black erase memories of people who have witnessed extraterrestrial activity.
secret agent	All Along The Watchtower	Jimi Hendrix	1968	This was written and originally recorded by Bob Dylan in 1967, but it was the Jimi Hendrix cover that made the song famous. Jimi Hendrix’s version was released in 1968. It often conveys a sense of foreboding and existential questioning.
secret agent	Bakerman	Laid Back	1989	“Bakerman” by Laid Back, released in 1989, featuring Danish singer Hanne Boel, was inspired by writer John Guldberg’s dream about a baker who was secretly an executioner. The lyrics include the phrase “Sagabona kunjani”, which Guldberg has described as a Swahili phrase meaning “Hello, how are you?”. Laid Back is a Danish electronic music duo from Copenhagen, formed in 1979 consisting of John Guldberg (vocals, guitar, bass) and Tim Stahl (vocals, keyboards, drums, bass).
secret agent	Baker Street	Gerry Rafferty	1978	“Baker Street” by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, released in 1978, is about a man who dreams of owning a house and living away from his nearest town. Rafferty wrote it while staying in a friend’s flat on Baker Street in London. The famous saxophone riff was performed by Raphael Ravenscroft. One of the most famous residents of Baker street is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. He lived at 221-B Baker Street.
secret agent	Something In The Air	Thunderclap Newman	1970	“Something in the Air” by Thunderclap Newman, released in 1969, captures the spirit of the late 1960s and the counterculture movement. It expresses a sense of optimism and change in the air.
secret agent	Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves	Cher	1971	“Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves” is one of Cher’s biggest solo hits released in 1971 and tells the story of a girl born into a family of marginalized individuals, exploring themes of judgment and prejudice.
secret agent	Police And Thieves	Junior Murvin	1976	“Police and Thieves” is a reggae song by Junior Murvin released in 1976, addressing social and political issues, specifically commenting on the conflict between law enforcement and the community.
secret agent	Give Up Your Guns	The Buoys	1971	“Give Up Your Guns” by American band The Buoys, released in 1971, advocates for peace and non-violence. It encourages individuals to let go of weapons and embrace a more harmonious approach to conflict.
for my lady	Ladies Night	Kool & The Gang	1979	In 1979, Kool & the Gang unveiled a smooth new sound with Ladies Night. It is a play on the popular use of “Ladies Nights” at bars and clubs that were meant to draw in more female patrons in order to draw in even more male clientele.
for my lady	Lady (Hear Me Tonight)	Modjo	2000	“Lady (Hear Me Tonight)” is a song by French house duo Modjo, written and performed by vocalist Yann Destagnol and features a guitar sample of the 1982 single “Soup for One” performed by Chic, as written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards.
for my lady	Sorry I’m A Lady	Baccara	1977	“Sorry, I’m a Lady” by Spanish duo Baccara, is a song co-written by Rolf Soja and Frank Dostal, released in 1977. Baccara was a Spanish group originally created by Mayte Mateos in partnership with María Mendiola.
for my lady	The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)	Jan & Dean	1964	“The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)” is a song written by Don Altfeld, Jan Berry and Roger Christian, and recorded by the American pop singers Jan and Dean in 1964 with the studio musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. “The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)” refers to actress Kathryn Minner appearing in a commercial as a white-haired elderly lady speeding down the street driving ‘a brand-new shiny red super-stocked Dodge’.
for my lady	Lady Willpower	Gary Puckett & The Union Gap	1968	“Lady Willpower” is a song written by Jerry Fuller and recorded by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, released in 1968. Morrissey recorded his version of the song and included it on his 2019 album, California Son.
for my lady	Lady In My Life	Michael Jackson	1982	“The Lady in My Life” is a song by Michael Jackson released in 1982 as the second track from the Thriller album. It is one of the only two non-single tracks on the album, written by Rodney Lynn Temperton.
for my lady	Foxey Lady	Jimi Hendrix	1967	“Foxey Lady” or “Foxy Lady” for the UK release by the Jimi Hendrix Experience is inspired by Lithofayne “Faye” Pridgon, Hendrix’s girlfriend in the mid-1960s. In 1964 Hendrix moved into the Hotel Theresa in Harlem, where he befriended Lithofayne Pridgon, known as “Faye”, who became his girlfriend. A Harlem native with connections throughout the area’s music scene, Pridgon provided him with shelter, support, and encouragement. Their relationship helped inspire Hendrix’s hit song “Foxey Lady.”
for my lady	You Could Have Been a Lady	April Wine	1972	“You Could Have Been a Lady”, written by Errol Brown and originally recorded by Hot Chocolate in 1971, was covered by April Wine, a young Canadian rock band, in 1972.
for my lady	Lady Laura	Roberto Carlos	1979	“Lady Laura” by Brazilian singer Roberto Carlos, written by Roberto Carlos and Erasmo Carlos, was released in 1978, initially in Portuguese.
for my lady	Dama, dama	Cecilia	1975	“Dama, dama” by Cecilia was released in 1975. Cecilia, (born Evangelina Sobredo Galanes in Madrid on October 11, 1948) was the daughter of Spanish diplomats, traveled through different countries during her childhood and was raised by an American nun. She took her stage name from the song “Cecilia” by Simon and Garfunkel.
for my lady	The Spanish Lady	Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill & Dónal Lunny	2000	“The Spanish Lady” is a traditional Irish folk song. Sisters Tríona and Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill from Kells, County Meath and Dónal Lunny are Irish traditional singers.
for my lady	Dame Uit Suriname	Cherry	1983	“Dame Uit Suriname” (Lady from Suriname) by husband-wife duo Cherry is a Dutch ironic protest song from 1983, written by Simon Been. Cherry Wijdenbosch and Simon Been are married and live in Utrecht. Cherry was born in Jakarta to an Indian mother and a Surinamese father.
for my lady	Three Times A Lady	Commodores	1978	“Three Times a Lady” by American soul group the Commodores, released in 1978, was written by Lionel Richie, dedicated to his wife Brenda, inspired by his father’s toast to his mother, Alberta, saying “She’s a great lady, she’s a great mother, and she’s a great friend.”
for my lady	Lady Love	Lou Rawls	1978	“Lady Love” by Lou Rawls, is written by Yvonne Gray (alias Vonghn Gray), playing keyboards on the track.
for my lady	Lady Lay	Pierre Groscolas	1973	“Lady Lay” by Pierre Groscolas was released in 1973. Pierre Robert Groscolas is a French singer born on October 29, 1946 in Algeria. The song was written by Groscolas and French songwriter Michel Jourdon. “Lady Lay” became the official theme of the Rio Carnival in 1975.
for my lady	Lay Lady Lay	Bob Dylan	1969	“Lay Lady Lay” by Bob Dylan might be a song about his dog (or cat). Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota, and grew up in the area’s Jewish community. Dylan once stated that he wrote “Lay Lady Lay” as a tune for Barbara Streisand to sing, not necessarily as an homage to her.
for my lady	River Lady	Roger Whittaker	1981	John Joyce, wrote the lyrics for “River Lady” (A Little Goodbye) with the melody composed by Roger Whittaker. The riverboat serves as a powerful symbol of the journey of life. Just like a river, life keeps flowing, taking us to different destinations and stages.
for my lady	She’s A Lady	Tom Jones	1971	“She’s a Lady” released in 1971 by Welsh singer Tom Jones, is a song written by Paul Anka and originally released on his album Paul Anka ’70s. The song was re-released in 2013 on Paul Anka’s ” Duets” CD with a new rendition featuring Tom Jones.
for my lady	Lady d’Arbanville	Cat Stevens	1970	“Lady d’Arbanville” written and performed by Cat Stevens in 1970 is about the actress Patti D’Arbanville, who he dated at the time. Cat Stevens recorded a black and white video featuring both him and the song’s muse in a Gothic English mansion.
for my lady	Lady Eleanor	Lindisfarne	1971	“Lady Eleanor” by English folk rock band Lindisfarne is a song written by band co-founder Alan Hull, released in 1971, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s 1839 short story “The Fall of the House of Usher”.
for my lady	For My Lady	Toots Thielemans	1991	Baron Toots Thielemans wrote “For My Lady” and recorded it with The Shirley Horn Trio in 1991. Toots Thielemans, born in Brussels as Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor Thielemans (29 April 1922 – 22 August 2016), was an influential Belgian harmonica player, whistler and guitarist. Considered the pre-eminent jazz harmonica player, he performed and recorded with some of the greats like Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Bill Evans, Fred Hersch, Dizzy Gillespie, Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius. He made a last stage appearance in August 2014, at the Jazz Middelheim Festival in Antwerp, the festival with which he was closely associated for decades. Two Hohner harmonica types are named to him: Toots Mellow Tone and Toots Hard Bopper.
for my lady	The Lady Is a Tramp	Frank Sinatra	1957	“The Lady Is a Tramp” is a show tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical “Babes in Arms”. The song was also used in the 1957 film version of Pal Joey starring Frank Sinatra and Rita Hayworth. It became Sinatra’s signature song in the sixties. The song is a spoof of New York high society and its strict etiquette (the first line of the verse is “I get too hungry for dinner at eight…”) and phony social pretensions.
for my lady	You’re a Lady	Peter Skellern	1972	“You’re a Lady” by British singer-songwriter Peter Skellern, released in 1972, features the Congregation, a choral pop ensemble.
for my lady	Lady of the Dawn	Mike Batt	1979	“The Lady of the Dawn” by Mike Batt, released in 1979 as part of his album “Tarot Suite”, was inspired by the concept of the tarot cards and their symbolism.
for my lady	Goodnight Ladies	Lou Reed	1972	“Goodnight Ladies” is Lou Reed’s final track on his 1972 album Transformer, produced by Mick Ronson & David Bowie. It paints a solitary Saturday night following an unsuccessful bid to bring a lady home from a bar.
name game	The Name Game	Shirley Ellis	1964	“The Name Game” is written by Shirley Ellis and Lincoln Chase and is a novelty song that creates variations of names through playful rhyming.
name game	That’s Not My Name	The Ting Tings	2008	“That’s Not My Name” is a song by The Ting Tings. The song addresses the frustration of being repeatedly misidentified.
name game	My Name Is Prince	Prince & The New Power Generation	1992	“My Name Is Prince” is a song by American musician Prince and his backing band the New Power Generation, released in 1992. The song is about Prince himself and his musical prowess. The rap sequence is performed by NPG member Tony M. The intro to the song features vocal samples from Prince’s earlier songs “I Wanna Be Your Lover”, “Partyup”, and “Controversy”. Prince used the alter ego of “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince” during this period.
name game	What’s My Name	Snoop Doggy Dogg	1993	“Who Am I? (What’s My Name?)” (commonly titled “What’s My Name?”) is the debut solo single by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg, released on 1993. Snoop Doggy Dogg was later known as Snoop Dogg.
name game	Say My Name	Cocoon	2012	“Say My Name”, was first released by Destiny’s Child in 1999 and covered by Cocoon on their 2011 album “Where the Oceans End”. It gained popularity for its inclusion in various TV shows and commercials. Cocoon is a French pop-folk band from Clermont-Ferrand (France) that sings in English, created in 2006 by Mark Daumail (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele, banjo; born December 6, 1984) and Morgane Imbeaud (harmony vocals, keyboards; April 14, 1987).
name game	Sign Your Name	Terence Trent D’Arby	1987	“Sign Your Name” is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Terence Trent D’Arby (now known as Sananda Maitreya), released in 1987.
name game	Float On	The Floaters	1977	“Float On” by The Floaters was written by James Mitchell, Arnold Ingram and Marvin Willis. The lyrics spotlight each member of the band, who introduced themselves with their name, astrological sign, and ideal type of romantic partner. The track became a source of parody.
name game	You Can Call Me Al	Paul Simon	1986	“You Can Call Me Al” is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon, released in 1986. The names in the song came from an incident at a party that Simon went to with his then-wife Peggy Harper. French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, who was attending the same party, mistakenly referred to Paul as “Al” and to Peggy as “Betty”, inspiring Simon to write a song.
name game	C’Est Moi	C Jerome	1974	“C’est moi” by C Jerome was written by Michel Jourdan, Lionel Florence and Serge Lebrail and released in 1974. C. Jérôme (born Claude Dhotel, 21 December 1946 in Paris, France; died 14 March 2000), was a French singer.
name game	Black Betty	Ram Jam	1989	“Black Betty” is a traditional song, initially recorded by folk singer Leadbelly in 1949 and covered in 1989 by one-hit wonder Ram Jam. Ram Jam were a short-lived band from New York City, and this was their only hit.
name game	Rosie	Joan Armatrading	1979	“Rosie” by Joan Armatrading, released in 1979 is about an attention-getting guy with lipstick, a red umbrella and his hair piled high.
name game	Arnold Layne	Pink Floyd	1967	“Arnold Layne” was Pink Floyd’s first single in 1967. Original member Syd Barrett wrote this about a cross-dresser named “Arnold Layne” who used to steal bras and panties from clotheslines in Cambridge, England. Barrett and Roger Waters’ mothers both lost underwear to Arnold Layne. Pink Floyd’s name originated from Syd Barrett, whose favourite blues artists were Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.
name game	Sunny	Boney M.	1976	“Sunny” by Boney M. is a cover of the Bobby Hebb classic in 1966. “Sunny” is very ambiguous – it could apply to a man, woman, parent, child, lover, friend or even God.
name game	Pretty Belinda	Chris Andrews	1972	“Pretty Belinda” is a song written and recorded by Chris Andrews, which he released as a single in July 1969.
name game	Manuela	Julio Iglesias	1974	“Manuela” by Julio Iglesias is written by husband-wife writers duo Manuel Alejandro (born Manuel Alvarez Beigbeder Perez) and Ana Magdalena (born Purificación Casas Romero). Julio Iglesias (Born September 23, 1943 in Madrid, Spain.) is a Spanish singer, songwriter, former professional footballer and record producer.
name game	Rosanna	TOTO	1982	“Rosanna” by TOTO, released in 1982 is written by co-founder David Paich and based on Rosanna Arquette, who was dating ToTO keyboard player Steve Porcaro at the time.
name game	Geno	Dexy’s Midnight Runners	1988	“Geno” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners released The song pays homage to Geno Washington, an American soul singer. Dexy’s Midnight Runners is an English pop rock group with soul influences founded in 1978. The song was written by band members Kevin Rowland and Kevin Archer. Archer was named “Al” by Kevin Rowland in their Dexys Midnight Runners times (1978-1981), supposedly because Rowland thought the band too small for two Kevins.
name game	Ben	Michael Jackson	1972	“Ben” (often referred to as “Ben’s Song”) by Michael Jackson, released in 1972, was written by Don Black and Walter Scharf for the 1972 film of the same name, performed by Lee Montgomery in the film and by Michael Jackson over the closing credits.
name game	Nikita	Elton John	1985	“Nikita” by Elton John, released in 1985 describes John’s crush on a a border guard during the Cold War era.Though the name Nikita can refer to women in other languages, it is a male name in Russian.
name game	Nathalie	Gilbert Bécaud	1964	“Nathalie” by Gilbert Bécaud, released in 1964, tell the story of a romantic encounter in Moscow with a beautiful Soviet tourist guide during the Cold War.
name game	Maria	Blondie	1999	“Maria” by Blondie, released in 1999, written by keyboard player Jimmy Destri, is about desire using the Ave Maria as a way of saying she’s on a pedestal, she’s almost holy. This was Blondie’s comeback song, while Debbie Harry had reached the age of 53.
name game	Gloria	Them	1964	“Gloria” by Northern Irish rock band Them, released in 1964, is written by singer-songwriter Van Morrison. The song is about a girl who comes by for (presumably) sexual encounters.
name game	Gloria	Umberto Tozzi	1979	“Gloria” is a 1979 love song, written and composed in Italian by Umberto Tozzi and Giancarlo Bigazzi, dreaming about an imaginary woman named Gloria. Jonathan King translated it into English-language and recorded it in November 1979.
Venus	Venus	Shocking Blue	1969	The Dutch band Shocking Blue with Mariska Veres released “Venus” in 1969, inspired by the goddess of love and beauty in Roman mythology. Robbie van Leeuwen, Shocking Blue’s guitarist, sitarist, and background vocalist wrote new lyrics set to music based on “The Banjo Song” by Tim Rose and the Big 3, which is in turn lyrically a modification of the 19th century song “Oh! Susanna” by Stephen Foster. Influences from other songs include the opening guitar riff that is similar to The Who’s “Pinball Wizard”
Venus	Witch Queen Of New Orleans	Redbone	1971	“The Witch Queen of New Orleans” by Redbone, released in 1971, is about a 19th-century practitioner of voodoo from New Orleans named Marie Laveau, referred to in the song lyrics as “Marie la Voodoo veau”. The song was written by the two Native American brothers of the group Redbone, Lolly Vegas and Pat Vegas. It shows influences from New Orleans R&B and swamp pop.
Venus	Witchy Woman	Eagles	1972	Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon and Don Henley wrote this about a number of women they had met. Don Henley’s date’s roommate in the early ’70s practiced “white witchcraft,” dabbling in the paranormal with good intentions. A few years later, Henley dated perhaps the most famous white witch of the era: Stevie Nicks.
Venus	Gypsy	Fleetwood Mac	1982	Fleetwood Mac’s “Gypsy”, released in 1982, is about the free and fearless side of one’s personality. Stevie Nicks wrote it and dedicated it to her friend Robin Anderson who died of leukemia.
Venus	Evil Ways	Santana	1969	This was originally recorded by Willie Bobo in 1965 and written by Sonny Henry, Bobo’s guitarist. Carlos Santana covered it in 1969, with lead vocals by Gregg Rolie.
Venus	Evil Woman	Electric Light Orchestra	1975	“Evil Woman” by Electric Light Orchestra, released in 1975, was recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany. Jeff Lynne wrote the song on a piano in the studio on the last days of recording, writing it very quickly. The line “There’s a hole in my head where the rain comes in,” was inspired by the Beatles song, “Fixing a Hole.”
Venus	Hoodoo Voodoo	Billy Bragg and Wilco	1998	“Hoodoo Voodoo” from Wilco’s 1998 collaboration with Billy Bragg, Mermaid Avenue, consists of previously unreleased lyrics by legendary American folk singer Woody Guthrie. Woody Guthrie, who wrote it for his children, instructs the listener to ‘dance a goofy dance’ among other silly suggestions.
Venus	(You’re The) Devil In Disguise	Elvis Presley	1963	“(You’re the) Devil in Disguise” by Elvis Presley was released in 1963 and written by Bill Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye, recorded at RCA Studios in Nashville, Tennessee.
Venus	That Ole Devil Called Love	Alison Moyet	1995	“That Ole Devil Called Love”, released in 1985 by Alison Moyet, is a song written in 1944 by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher and first recorded by Billie Holiday in 1945.
Venus	Devil Woman	Cliff Richard	1976	“Devil Woman” by British singer Cliff Richard, written by Terry Britten and Christine Authors, was released in 1976 and his biggest hit single in the US. The chorus vocal line was mimicked on Black Sabbath’s “Lady Evil”.
Venus	Gudbuy T’Jane	Slade	1972	“Gudbuy T’Jane” was Slade’s most successful single of the 1970s in the United States. Jane was the co-host of a TV chat show in San Francisco whom Slade met on their US tour.
Venus	Dyna-mite	Mud	1973	“Dyna-mite” is a 1973 single, written by the songwriting team of Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. It was originally written for the Sweet, who rejected it, and later inherited by the English glam rock band Mud. Chapman and Chinn produced the song as well.
Venus	Hell Raiser	Sweet	1973	“Hell Raiser” by The Sweet is written by the songwriting team of Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn and produced by Philip Neil Wainman, released in 1973. From mid 1973 to early 1974, Sweet were growing increasingly tired of the management team of Chinn and Chapman, who had written the group’s major hits and who had cultivated the band’s glam rock image, with Sweet rejecting the song Dyna-mite, which instead went on to become a hit for Mud. The Sweet in 1974 recorded the album Sweet Fanny Adams without the assistance of Chinn and Chapman.
Venus	Killer Queen	Queen	1974	“Killer Queen” by Queen, released in 1974, is written by Freddie Mercury, who stated: “It’s about a high class call girl. I’m trying to say that classy people can be whores as well. This was one of the first songs recorded at The Quadrangle, a studio opened at the Rockfield Studios complex in Wales in 1973.
Venus	Annie Get Your Gun	Squeeze	1982	“Annie Get Your Gun” by Squeeze, written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, released in 1982, borrows its title from a popular musical.
Venus	I Put a Spell On You	Jay Hawkins	1956	Screamin’ Jay Hawkins wrote the ballad “I Put a Spell On You”, lamenting the loss of a girlfriend he wanted back in 1956. It was covered by The Animals in 1966, Creedence Clearwater revival in 1968 and Nina Simone, who’s 1991 autobiography is titled I Put A Spell On You.
Venus	The Wizard	Black Sabbath	1970	“The Wizard” by the English heavy metal rock band Black Sabbath, released in 1970, inspired by the wizard Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings. Rumor had it this was an ode to the band’s drug dealer. It was their debut single in France but also the B-side to the 1970 single “Paranoid”. Ozzy Osbourne played the harmonica part.
Venus	Gypsy	Uriah Heep	1970	“Gypsy” the debut single by British progressive rock/hard rock band Uriah Heep, released in 1970, is about a young man who falls in love with a 1970 gypsy woman. To differentiate themselves from other Rock bands at the time, Heep replaced the almost obligatory guitar solo with a wild organ solo in this song. David Byron can be heard playing percussion on teacups is this song.
Venus	Gypsy Rhythm	Jocelyn Brown	1991	“Gypsy Rhythm” by Raúl Orellana featuring vocals by Arthur Skeet and Jocelyn Brown, was released in 1991. Raúl Orellana is a Spanish DJ and producer from Barcelona.
Venus	Long Time Woman	Pam Grier	1997	Pam Grier as Jackie Brown, features on the Quentin Tarantino movie Soundtrack with a cover of “Long Time Woman”, written by Lee Hazlewood. The soulful ballad symbolizes liberation for women of all backgrounds. Grier said she is of black, Hispanic, Chinese, Italian, Filipino, and Cheyenne heritage.
Venus	Gypsy	Shakira	2010	“Gypsy” or “Gitana” in the Spanish version, is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira. Written in a ballad-like form, the lyrics of the song describe life travelling on the road as a “gypsy”. Musically, “Gypsy” is heavily influenced by Indian bhangra music, and features instrumentation from the mandolin, banjo, sitar and tabla. The music video showed the chemistry between Shakira and Nadal, however, in 2011 Shakira entered a relationship with the Spanish football player Gerard Piqué, who is exactly ten years her junior, and Shakira met in spring 2010 after he appeared in the music video for Shakira’s song “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”, the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In GQ, and International Men’s magazine, Shakira directed a few words to Sarkozy, “We are all gypsies”.
Venus	Bitch	Meredith Brooks	1997	“Bitch” was Meredith Brooks’ debut single at age 38, released in 1997, claiming how one label cannot define her: a bitch, lover, child, mother, sinner, saint. This song played a part in re-claiming the word “bitch” as a term of endearment for women. Brooks did all the guitar work including glass slide, some e-bow and wah-wah.
Venus	Leave the light on	Beth Hart	2003	Beth Hart’s “I leave the light on”, released in 2003, refers to the struggle with her bipolar disorder (Bipolar 1 Rapid Cycling) since childhood. Being a devout Christian, she admitted her belief in God has been instrumental in her recovery from alcoholism and mood disorder.
Venus	Because of you	Kelly Clarkson	2005	Clarkson originally wrote “Because of You” when she was 16 years old to cope with the emotional distress caused by her parents’ divorce. “Because of You” explores the pain of Clarkson’s deteriorating relationship with her father.
Venus	Cry Baby	Full Tilt Boogie Band	1970	Written in 1963 for Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters, Janis Joplin put her own blues rock spin on ‘Cry Baby’ when she covered it in 1970. It’s the ultimate song of forgiveness. When Joplin’s management convinced her to discard Big Brother and the Holding Company as her backing band, her record label put together a new group: the Kozmic Blues Band, consisting of Canadian musician John Till and several other Full Tillt Boogie Band (the two “Ls” being a play on the spelling of Till’s last name) members. Till soon convinced Joplin to hire his Full Tillt Boogie band in its entirety, and he agreed to drop one of the “L’s” from its name, thus creating Joplin’s Full Tilt Boogie backing band.
Toilet Grooves	Against the Wind	Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band	1980	“Against the Wind” is a song by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, released in 1980. The song reflects on life’s challenges and the resilience required to overcome them. It explores themes of perseverance, nostalgia, and the passage of time. Against the Wind” won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1981.
Toilet Grooves	Many Shades of Black (ft. The Raconteurs)	ADELE	2008	“Many Shades of Black” was released by the Raconteurs but gained additional attention when it was performed with Adele and featured on the deluxe version of 19 in November 2008.
Toilet Grooves	Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic	The Police	1981	“Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” is a balad written by Sting and performed by The Police, released in 1981.
Toilet Grooves	Come As You Are	Nirvana	1992	“Come as You Are” is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by frontman and guitarist Kurt Cobain, released in 1992. Similarities of the guitar riff can be found with Bauhaus “hollow hills” (1981), The Damned “life goes on” (1982), Garden Of Delight “22 faces” (1984) and Killing Joke “eighties” (1985).
Toilet Grooves	Everytime You Go Away	Paul Young	1985	“Everytime You Go Away” is a song written and composed by Daryl Hall, first recorded in 1980 by the American duo Hall & Oates. A cover version of the song by Paul Young became an international hit in 1985.
Toilet Grooves	Gone	China Forbes	2008	“”Gone” is written and performed by China Forbes (born April 29, 1970), an American singer and songwriter who has been the lead singer of the band Pink Martini since 1995. In 2022 she was the Ella Fitzgerald award winner at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Infinitely Polar Bear is a Movie of Her Family, made by written and directed by her sister Maya Forbes.
Toilet Grooves	Big In Japan	Alphaville	1984	“Big in Japan” is the debut single of the German synth-pop band Alphaville released in 1984. The refrain “big in Japan”, inspired by the short lived British band Big in Japan of the late 1970s and influenced by “The Safety Dance” by Canadian band Men Without Hats, symbolises the idea of being successful in another world, a fantasy about being drug-free.
Toilet Grooves	The Safety Dance	Men Without Hats	1982	Men Without Hats’ breakout single “The Safety Dance” in 1982, written by Canadian founding member and lead singer Ivan Doroschuk was issued with a bewildering array of B-sides. Men Without Hats is a Canadian new wave group from Montréal, Québec, formed in 1980 and initially active until 1993. They reformed in 2010. In 1987 they released the title song of their album called “Pop Goes The World”.
Toilet Grooves	Pop Goes the World	Gossip	2009	‘Pop Goes The World’ by Gossip was released in 2009. Beth Ditto once stated: “There is another song called ‘Pop Goes The World’ (by Men Without Hats) – I always feel like I need to acknowledge that so they won’t be angry”. The use of the word “pop” in the song title conveys a sense of explosion and disruption, symbolizing the desire for change and the breaking of boundaries.
Toilet Grooves	Waiting On The World To Change	John Mayer	2006	“Waiting On The World To Change” written and performed by John Mayer, released in 2006, describes how most people deal with problems in the world. Mayer won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance with this song.
Toilet Grooves	(I Just) Died In Your Arms	Cutting Crew	1986	Cutting Crew lead singer Nick Van Eede, was inspired by the one night back together after a year apart with the mother of his daughter. Mika used a great deal of this song on his 2007 track “Relax (Take It Easy).
Toilet Grooves	Relax (Take It Easy)	Mika	2007	Mika wrote the song after being stuck in the London underground during the 7 July 2005 London bombings. It uses the melody from “(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight” by the Cutting Crew. It is in the same vein of hypnotic, danceable melancholy as the Scissor Sisters’ reworking of ‘Comfortably Numb’.
Toilet Grooves	Comfortably Numb	Scissor Sisters	2004	The music of “Comfortably Numb” was composed by the guitarist, David Gilmour, while the lyrics were written by the bassist, Roger Waters, who based them on his experience of being injected with tranquilisers before a performance in 1977. American pop rock band Scissor Sisters recorded a radically re-arranged disco-oriented version released in January 2004.
Toilet Grooves	The Architect	dEUS	2008	“The Architect” by Belgian band dEUS is about the architect and visionary Buckminster Fuller, more specifically about the experiment he embarked on after having tried to commit suicide: “An experiment, to find what a single individual can contribute to changing the world and benefiting all humanity.” The quotes, “Ah, never mind that outer space stuff, let’s get down to earth” and “I feel it’s touch and go” are excerpts from Fuller’s lectures.
Toilet Grooves	Fly Me To The Earth	Wallace Collection	1969	“Fly me to the earth” by Belgian band Wallace Collection was written by Belgian guitarist, flutist, singer, producer and songwriter Sylvain Vanholme and violin player Raymond Vincent.
Toilet Grooves	Waiting On The World To Change	John Mayer	2006	“Waiting On The World To Change” written and performed by John Mayer, released in 2006, describes how most people deal with problems in the world. Mayer won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance with this song.
Toilet Grooves	What Goes Around Comes Around	Lenny Kravitz	1991	“What Goes Around Comes Around” by Lenny Kravitz was released in 1991 featuring Karl Denson, aka “Diesel”, on saxophone.
Toilet Grooves	Who Can It Be Now?	Men At Work	1981	“Who Can It Be Now?” was Australian band’s ‘Men at Work’ first single, prior to the recording of their debut album Business as Usual. The song opens with a saxophone hook by Greg Ham.
Toilet Grooves	I Hear You Knocking	Dave Edmunds	1970	“I Hear You Knocking” written by Dave Bartholomew and guitarist Earl King, was first recorded in 1955 by Smiley Lewis, a New Orleans singer. Dave Edmunds brought this song back to the charts with a rocking guitar version released in 1970. In his version, he name checks some of his musical contemporaries, including Smiley Lewis, who originally recorded the song, Chuck Berry, Huey Smith,and Fats Domino, who also covered it.
Toilet Grooves	Fais comme l’oiseau	Michel Fugain	1972	“Fais comme l’oiseau” (Do like the bird) by Michel Fugain & Le Big Bazar is an ode to liberty and the joy of life. It is a cover of the original “Você Abusou” written and performed in 1971 by Brazilian duo Antonio Carlos & Jocafi.
Toilet Grooves	Rat In Mi Kitchen (ft. Herb Alpert)	UB40	1987	“Rat in Mi Kitchen” written and performed by British reggae group UB40, featuring Herb Alpert on trumpet, was released in 1987.
Toilet Grooves	Suspicious Minds	Elvis Presley	1969	“Suspicious Minds”, written by a Memphis singer Mark James, was Elvis’ big comeback song and his last #1 hit in his lifetime.
Toilet Grooves	Twist In My Sobriety	Tanita Tikaram	1988	“Twist In My Sobriety” by Tanita Tikaram was released in 1988. Tanita Tikaram, of Malaysian and Indo-Fijian ancenstry, was born in Münster, Germany, but since her early teens has lived in the UK. I remember listening to her debut CD album “Ancient Heart”, she released when she was just 19, on my flights to the US in the late eighties. “sobriety” in America has a very specific meaning about recovery… and alcohol while for the Tikaram the meaning is “just to be very serious and sober in your behavior”.
Toilet Grooves	Bad Day	Daniel Powter	2005	“Bad Day” by by Canadian (British Columbia) Daniel Powter was released in Europe, in 2005 and became a hit when Coca-Cola used it as the theme song for an advertising campaign on the continent.
moon	The Whole of the Moon	The Waterboys	1985	The song is about the awe-inspiring experience of witnessing someone who possesses great insight, vision, and understanding, symbolized by seeing the “whole of the moon.”
moon	Bad Moon Rising	Creedence Clearwater Revival	1969	The song’s lyrics suggest a sense of foreboding and impending doom, using the imagery of a “bad moon rising” to evoke a feeling of impending disaster or trouble.
moon	Dancing In The Moonlight	Toploader	2000	The song celebrates the joy and freedom of dancing outdoors under the moonlight, conveying a carefree and romantic atmosphere. The original is from the French-American band King Harvest in 1973.
moon	Moonage Daydream	David Bowie	1972	“Moonage Daydream” is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie. Bowie wrote “Moonage Daydream” specifically for fashion designer Fred Burrett. It was originally recorded in February 1971 at Radio Luxembourg’s studios in London and released as a single by his short-lived band Arnold Corns in May 1971 on B&C Records. Bowie subsequently re-recorded the song later that year with his backing band the Spiders from Mars (Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey) for release on his 1972 album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars”. The song explores themes of self-discovery, transformation, and the journey of personal reinvention, often interpreted as an allegory for Bowie’s own artistic evolution.
moon	Marquee Moon	Television	1977	Marquee Moon, the title track of Television’s debut album was released in February 1977, renown for the inventive interplay between guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd. The song was years in the making. The band started playing it in 1974 as an acoustic ballad Verlaine put together when they were regulars at the club CBGB in New York City. Early performances of this song usually lasted about five minutes, but it got longer as the years went by. After the song was released, the live renditions would typically surpass the 10-minute running time, sometimes stretching for 20 minutes. The single release was split into two parts because one side of a 45 could not contain the entire song. Part I runs 3:13, Part II is 6:45.
moon	Goodnight Moon	Shivaree	1999	The song “Goodnight Moon”, released in 1999, was featured in Seasons 3 and 6 of the television series Dawson’s Creek, in the 2012 American film Silver Linings Playbook, in the closing credits of the Quentin Tarantino 2004 film Kill Bill: Volume 2, in the closing scenes and end credits of the French comedy-drama film Ni reprise ni échangée (English title: Monique), and in a commercial for the Norwegian clothing shop Cubus. Additionally, their song, “Little Black Mess”, was featured in the Weeds tv series episode Only Judy Can Judge. Shivaree was an American alternative country band from United States founded in 1997, consisting of Ambrosia Parsley (vocals), Danny McGough (keyboard), and Duke McVinnie (guitar). Shivaree was a European and North American folk custom designed to shame a member of the community, in which the crowd aimed to make as much noise as possible by beating on pots and pans or anything that came to hand, hence the parades were often referred to as rough music.
moon	Spanish Moon	Little Feat	2003	“Spanish Moon” was written and sung with ‘vanilla grits’ by guitarist Lowell George, describing a night at a fictional place called the Spanish Moon. This recording is from the acclaimed album “Waiting For Columbus” one of the best live albums rock has ever heard, a live version recorded at The Rainbow in London, England, in 1977. It all began in 1969 when Frank Zappa was smart enough to fire Lowell George from the Mothers of Invention and tell him to go start a band of his own. The name was part of the legend: a member of the Mothers happened to mention Lowell’s small feet to him “with an expletive,” said Paul Barrere. “Lowell deleted the expletive, and the name was born with Feat instead of Feet, just like the Beatles.
moon	Killing Moon	Echo & The Bunnymen	1984	The song’s enigmatic lyrics convey a sense of mystery and existential longing, capturing the haunting allure of the night and the power of fate or destiny. Echo lead singer Ian McCulloch stated once it is about “to be or not to be moments.”
moon	Theme of Moonlighting	Al Jarreau	1987	The instrumental theme song for the TV show “Moonlighting” captures the playful and jazzy vibe of the series, reflecting its blend of comedy, romance, and detective drama. It’s the theme song to the comedy/mystery series Moonlighting, the show that made Bruce Willis a household name and gave Cybill Shepherd a career resurgence.
moon	Blue Moon	The Marcels	1961	The song describes the rarity and uniqueness of finding true love, symbolized by the rare occurrence of a “blue moon.” Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart began writing this for the 1933 movie musical Hollywood Party, but it was cut from the film. The following year, it was used in Manhattan Melodrama where it was performed by Shirley Ross in a nightclub scene. The song was originally called “The Bad in Every Man” The Marcels were a doo-wop group formed in 1959 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
moon	Under The Moon Of Love	Showaddywaddy	1976	This song was originally recorded by Curtis Lee and was co-written by Tommy Boyce. The song celebrates the joy and excitement of young love, capturing the nostalgic innocence of romantic courtship under the moonlight. The song conveys a man’s desire to express his love to a girl under the moonlight. Another UK rock and roll revival act, Mud, covered the song in 1975.
moon	Moonlight Shadow	Mike Oldfield	1983	“Moonlight Shadow” by Mike Oldfield, featuring Maggie Reilly, is inspired by the Tony Curtis movie Houdini and regarded to be a tribute to John Lennon, who was murdered prior to writing the song. The song’s lyrics convey a sense of loss, grief, and longing, inspired by the tragic death of a close friend and the haunting memories that linger in the aftermath.
moon	Moonshadow	Cat Stevens	1970	Like me, Cat Stevens in the seventies went on holiday to Spain where, on a beautiful night with the moon glowing, looked down and saw his shadow in the water, which inspired him to pen this “optimist’s anthem” about finding hope in any situation.
moon	Moonlighting	Leo Sayer	1975	“Moonlighting” is a song by Leo Sayer released in August 1975. It was inspired by a roadie with Sayer who fell in love with the daughter of a chief of police in the late 1960s. The chief of police was not pleased about this and would not agree for them to get married, so the couple decided to run off and elope to Gretna Green in Scotland, where this would be possible. However, they never made it to Gretna Green, as they were stopped by Carlisle police who had been made aware by Worthing police of the couple’s intentions. For the song, Sayer wanted the story to end happily, represented with the lyrics “we’re only ten miles to Gretna, they’re three hundred behind”.
moon	Everyone’s Gone to the Moon	Jonathan King	1965	The song’s surreal lyrics reflect on themes of conformity, alienation, and the search for individuality in a world where everyone seems to be following the same path.
moon	Moonlight Serenade	Glenn Miller	1939	The instrumental song evokes a sense of romance and nostalgia, capturing the mood of a moonlit evening and the timeless beauty of big band music.
moon	How High The Moon?	Ella Fitzgerald	1947	The song celebrates the boundless possibilities of love and the exhilarating feeling of being swept away by romance, conveyed through Ella Fitzgerald’s legendary vocal performance.
moon	What a Little Moonlight Can Do	Billie Holiday	1935	“What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” a song recorded at the beginning of her career, was written by Harry M. Woods. In 1934, Woods moved to London for three years where he worked for the British film studio Gaumont British, contributing material to several films, one of which was Road House (1934). The song was sung in the film by Violet Lorraine and included an introductory verse, not heard in the version later recorded by Billie Holiday, accompanied by Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra, on July 2, 1935.
moon	Moonlight In Vermont	Sarah Vaughan	1954	The song describes the serene beauty of a moonlit night in Vermont, capturing the peaceful and romantic atmosphere of the countryside.
moon	Moon River	Audrey Hepburn	1961	The iconic song reflects on the journey of life and the passage of time, using the metaphor of a “moon river” to symbolize the endless flow of memories and experiences.
moon	Fly Me To The Moon	Frank Sinatra	1964	The song expresses the desire for adventure and exploration, as the protagonist longs to be whisked away to distant places and new experiences. Original Artist: Kaye Ballard
moon	Sister Moon	Sting	1987	The song personifies the moon as a spiritual companion and confidante, exploring themes of faith, redemption, and the search for inner peace.
moon	Eclipse	Pink Floyd	1973	The song serves as the climactic conclusion to Pink Floyd’s album “The Dark Side of the Moon,” symbolizing the resolution of existential themes explored throughout the album.
star	Another Star	Stevie Wonder	1976	“Another Star” is the closing track on Stevie Wonder’s landmark double album Songs in the Key of Life, released in 1976. While Stevie Wonder plays most of the instruments himself, he is assisted by 10 different musicians, including Bobbi Humphrey, named Best Female Instrumentalist in 1976, playing the flute at the end, Dominican drummer and timbales player Hungría Carmelo Garcia, and George Benson, credited as guitar and background vocals, who takes over on the lead vocal scatting at about 6:37 for over a minute and half until the fade.
star	Shining Star	Earth, Wind & Fire	1975	“Shining Star” by Earth, Wind & Fire was written by band members “Reese” Maurice White and Philip Bailey and released in 1975.
star	Starz In Their Eyes	Just Jack	2007	“Starz In Their Eyes” by Just Jack (Jack Allsopp), was released in 2007. The song is about the celebrity machine.
star	Gonna Make You a Star	David Essex	1974	“Gonna Make You A Star” written and recorded by David Essex, was released in 1974 and produced by Jeff Wayne. Throughout his early teens David Essex was training at West Ham as a schoolboy player dreaming of becoming a footballer.
star	Emma (1993 Version)	Hot Chocolate	1974	“Emma” by British soul band Hot Chocolate, is a tear-jerker telling the story of an aspiring actress who commits suicide and tied to the death of frontman Errol Brown’s mother, aged 38.
star	Pearl’s a Singer	Elkie Brooks	1977	Elkie Brooks also known as frontwoman of the group Vinegar Joe, covered “Pearl’s a Singer”, written and initially recorded by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller as Dino & Sembello in 1974.
star	Candle In The Wind	Elton John	1973	This Sir Elton John’s tribute to Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jeane Mortenson), a famous actress and sex symbol who died of a drug overdose in 1962. The “candle in the wind” represents her short, but eventful life. In 1990 Elton John dedicated it to Ryan White, one of the first high-profile AIDS patients, who got the disease from a blood transfusion and died at age 18. Elton’s lyricist, Bernie Taupin, rewrote the lyrics from “Goodbye Norma Jeane” to “Goodbye England’s Rose,” after the 36-year-old princess Diana, was killed in a car accident in1997.
star	You’re Gorgeous	Babybird	1996	You’re Gorgeous is Babybird’s (aka Stephen Jones) biggest hit and the track that he is best known for. However the song, which many understood to be a besotted love song, is frequently misinterpreted. Jones told The Sheffield Telegraph November 5, 2009: “I can’t tell people how to interpret the song, but the song’s actually about male photographers who want to use women to sell things using sex.”
star	Star Star	The Rolling Stones	1973	The highly controversial song “Star Star” by The Rolling Stones, released in 1973, could be directed at groupies (a word coined by ‘Stones basist Bill Wyman) in general but could also be about Carly Simon, whom at the time of this song Mick Jagger had a relationship with 9 months before and she moved to Hollywood, which is mentioned in a line from this song.
star	Sky and Sand	Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner	2009	“Sky and Sand” is a song by German electronic music producers Paul Kalkbrenner and Fritz Kalkbrenner. The song was originally produced as the title song of the German movie Berlin Calling written and directed by Hannes Stöhr. It was first released on the Berlin Calling movie soundtrack album in October 2008 and in February 2009 as a single.
star	Castles in the Sky (feat. Marsha)	Ian Van Dahl	2000	Ian van Dahl is a music project of Christophe Chantzis and Erik Vanspauwen. ‘Castles in the Sky’, released in 2000, was co-written by Belgian singer-songwriter Martine D. J. Theeuwen, better known as Marsha. The name Ian van Dahl is derived from the names Jan Vandaal (Average Joe) and British author Roald Dahl.
star	Sky High	Jigsaw	1975	“Sky High” by British band Jigsaw, was composed by band members Clive Scott and Des Dyer. It was released as a single in 1975 and was the main title theme to the film The Man from Hong Kong (also known as The Dragon Flies), which is a martial arts espionage film that combined elements from James Bond and Bruce Lee movies.
star	Seven Horses in the Sky	The Pebbles	1968	“Seven Horses in the Sky” by The Pebbles was written by Fred Bekky and Bob Bobott, both the singers and guitarists of the band. The psychedelic lyrics describe seven purple horses racing in a green pouring sky. Originally called “The Fredstones”, they changed their name on advice of Norman Petty.
star	Iron Sky	Paolo Nutini	2014	“Iron Sky” by Paolo Nutini,released in 2014, urges politicians to turn modern fears “into freedom.” Nutini stated one of the inspirations came from movies by Fritz Lang, like Metropolis. The song features a sample from Charlie Chaplin’s speech in his Hitler–lampooning 1940s film, The Great Dictator (“You are not machines! You are not cattle!”). An enthusiastic Adele once tweeted after seeing Nutini’s performance at Abbey Road Studios: “This is one of the best things I’ve ever seen in my life, hands down.” (https://youtu.be/ELKbtFljucQ?feature=shared).
star	Skyfall	ADELE	2012	The track, recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London was the first Bond theme to win an Oscar.
star	Skybird	Neil Diamond	1973	“Skybird” by Neil Diamond features on the “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” Original Motion Picture Sound Track. It is a song that encapsulates the beauty of dreams, the courage to embark on a personal journey, and the power to inspire others.
star	star Wars’ Title Theme	Meco	1977	Meco, the man who took movie music to the dance floor, released in 1977 a medley of “Star Wars Theme” & “Cantina Band” composed by John Williams. Domenico Monardo’s parents were of Italian descent and all of his family called him by the common Italian nickname for Domenico – which is – Meco.
star	Starlight Dancer	Kayak	1977	“Starlight Dancer” by Dutch band Kayak was released in 1977. The lyrics are very adventurous and fit with a fighting spirit to achieve exceptional result.
star	Counting Stars	One Republic	2014	OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder started writing “Counting Stars” in New York but finished it on the Greek island of Santorini.
star	Drops of Jupiter	Train	2001	Train lead singer Pat Monahan revealed that the song is about the death of his mother, not about reincarnation as such, but about the idea that no one ever really leaves us.
star	Les etoiles	Melody Gardot	2009	The soulful jazz composition “Les Etoiles” by Melody Gardot was released in 2009. Gardot found solace in the beauty of the night sky with the stars or Les Etoiles. At the age of 19, Gardot was hit by an SUV and sustained head, spinal, and pelvic injuries. Confined to a hospital bed for a year, she needed to relearn simple tasks and was left oversensitive to light and sound. Music played a critical role in her recovery. She became an advocate of music therapy, She speaks fluent French in addition to her native English and considers herself a “citizen of the world”
star	Blue Spanish Sky	Chris Isaak	1989	“Blue Spanish Sky” is a romantic ballad by Chris Isaak, reminding him about the “deep blue ocean” and the “warm summer breeze”.
star	England Skies	Shake Shake Go	2015	Shake Shake Go is an indie-pop band formed in London by singer Poppy Jones, guitarist Virgile Rozand and drummer Kilian Saubusse.
broken	A Man And A Woman	U2	2004	“A Man And A Woman” by U2, was released in 2004. This song is about fidelity and how one would not jeopardize love for romance elsewhere.
broken	Psycho Girls & Psycow Boys (Haaksman & Haaksman remix)	$olal	2007	Psycho Girls & Psycow Boys, by $olal or French musician Philippe Cohen Solal, one of the founding members of the trio Gotan Project, with the voice of Melonie Cannon, was released in 2007.
broken	What We Talk About (When We Talk About Love)	dEUS	2006	“What We Talk About When We Talk About (Love)” by the Belgian band dEUS, written by frontman Tom Barman, was released in 2006. DEUS is an alternative rock band formed in 1991, based in Antwerp, Belgium.
broken	What’s a Girl to Do?	Bat for Lashes	2007	“What’s a Girl to Do?” by Bat For Lashes, was written about Natasha Khan’s break-up with her long-term boyfriend at the time. The song is written and produced by Natasha Khan, performing the vocals, keyboards, percussion and drums. Bat For Lashes is a solo project of Natasha Khan, born 25 October 1979, a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, currently based in Los Angeles.
broken	Am I the Same Girl	Barbara Acklin	1968	“Am I the Same Girl?”, written by Eugene Record and Sonny Sanders, was first recorded in 1968 by American soul singer Barbara Acklin. The song had its greatest impact as a 1968–69 instrumental hit single by Young-Holt Unlimited under the title “Soulful Strut”.
broken	The Sweet Escape	Gwen Stefani	2006	“The Sweet Escape” is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani in 2006, featuring hip-hop artist Akon. The song’s lyrics discuss an argument between spouses. She asks her lover for forgiveness, Stefani apologizes “for acting stank” to her lover and describes wanting to be a better wife.
broken	Across the Universe	The Beatles	2003	“Across the Universe” by The Beatles, got various releases. This version is based on the February 1968 master, remixed for Let It Be… Naked in 2003, at the correct speed but stripped of most of the instrumentation and digitally processed to correct tuning issues. John Lennon penned this song after an argument with his wife Cynthia, when he got angry and couldn’t fall asleep. Heavily influenced by Lennon’s and the Beatles’ interest in Transcendental Meditation in late 1967 – early 1968 he added the mantra “Jai guru deva om” (“Victory to God divine”) and a tambura.
broken	Say What You Want	Texas	1997	“Say What You Want” is a song by Scottish rock band Texas, written by band members Johnny McElhone and Sharleen Spiteri.
broken	Torn	Natalie Imbruglia	1997	The song was released in 1993 by the Danish singer Lis Sørensen as “Braendt,” with Danish lyrics written by Elisabeth Nielsen. The first English version was released 1995 by Ednaswap, the band of co-writers Preven and Cutler. Australian actress Natalie Imbruglia released it as her first single in 1997.
broken	You Oughta Know	Alanis Morissette	1995	“You Oughta Know” by Canadian Alanis Morissette, was released in 1995. This song is an angry message from a scorned ex-girlfriend directed at her former lover. Morissette stated once “it’s a great vehicle to channel through any rage or pent-up energy from that day”. Morissette claims she will never say who this is about, just as Carly Simon has done with “You’re So Vain.”
broken	You’re So Vain	Carly Simon	1972	“You’re So Vain” is a song written and performed by American singer and songwriter Carly Simon and released in November 1972. Simon stating that the song refers to three men, one of them being Warren Beatty. Mick Jagger, who contributed uncredited backing vocals to it, was not amongst them.
broken	White Wedding	Billy Idol	1982	“White Wedding” by Billy Idol, released in 1982, is about a woman he loves marrying someone else while he still loves her.
broken	My Girl	Madness	1979	“My Girl” by Madness, released in 1979, was written by keyboard player Mike Barson (on the back of a cigarette packet) and is semi-autobiographical.
broken	Little Things	Lily Allen	2006	“Little Things” by Lily Allen, released in 2006, is about having broken up with her boyfriend Seb.
broken	Foundations	Kate Nash	2007	“Foundations” by Kate Nash was released in 2007 as her first single from her album “Made of Bricks”
broken	I’ll Kill Her	SoKo	2007	SoKo (born Stéphanie Alexandra Mina Sokolinski on 26 October 1985), is a French singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer who released her debut single “I’ll Kill Her” in 2007. Meanwhile SoKo considers herself queer and has a gave birth to a son in 2018 whose godfather is Australian musician Nick Cave.
broken	It’s A Pity (Doctor’s Darling Riddim VL)	Tanya Stephens	2002	Tanya Stephens’ ‘It’s A Pity’ Was Written From Personal Experience. The “Doctors Darling Riddim” was released as part of the mythical Riddim Driven series in 2004. The “Doctors Darling” was inspired by Taxi‘s 1982 “Night Nurse Riddim”, which featured Gregory Isaac hit song of the same name. The term “riddim” is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word “rhythm”.
broken	Somebody Else’s Guy	Jocelyn Brown	1984	“Somebody Else’s Guy”, written and performed by Jocelyn Brown, was released in 1984. Former beauty queen and music singer CeCe Peniston, covered the song in 1996.
broken	Standing In The Shadows Of Love	Four Tops	1966	“Standing In The Shadows Of Love” by The Four Tops is another Motown creation of Holland-Dozier-Holland and released in 1966. “Standing In The Shadows Of Love” finds the singer heartbroken and despondent.
broken	No More I Love You’s	Annie Lennox	1995	“No More I Love You’s” written and first released in 1986 by a UK synth-pop duo called The Lover Speaks, was released by Annie Lennox in 1995. The original version of this song is sung by a man, David Freeman, with backing vocals by June Miles-Kingston, a singer who was dating the other member of The Lover Speaks, Joseph Hughes.
broken	Thin Line Between Love And Hate	The Pretenders	1984	“Thin Line Between Love And Hate”, written by the brothers Richard and Robert Poindexter, along with Robert’s wife, Jackie Members, was first released by New York group The Persuaders in 1977. The Pretenders recorded a popular version in 1984 where Chrissie Hynde sings from the perspective of the woman pushed over the line.
broken	Move Over	Janis Joplin	1971	“Move Over” by Janis Joplin is the first track on the fateful Pearl album of 1971. Joplin stated that the song was about men – specifically the guy who tells you your relationship is over but won’t move on, thus equating the way some guys hold on love to the way one would dangle a carrot in front of a mule.
broken	Love Is A Losing Game	Amy Winehouse	2006	“Love Is A Losing Game”, released in 2006, was written by Amy Winehouse when her boyfriend Blake Fielder-Civil had abandoned her to return to his previous girlfriend, leaving Amy devastated. Winehouse had her first TV appearance with her song “Stronger Than Me” at age 19 in November 2003 on Later Live with Jools Holland.
broken	Someone Like You	ADELE	2011	“Someone Like You” by Adele, released in 2011, is about getting over an ex, hoping to find another who can bring back those feelings that made it so special. Not long after she wrote the song, she found her next person in Simon Konecki with whom she had child in 2012. She wrote and recorded it at Harmony Studios in Los Angeles with Dan Wilson of the band Semisonic on piano. The demo they recorded at the end of their second day ended up being so good that Adele decided to use it as the actual recording. Adele premiered this song on November 16, 2010 on Later Live with Jools Holland.
broken	Je suis venu te dire que je m’en vais	Serge Gainsbourg	1973	“Je suis venu te dire que je m’en vais” (I came to tell you that I’m leaving) by Serge Gainsbourg was released in 1973 while he suffered a first heart attack, coming close to death. Hospitalized for a week, he was inspired by what was going to happen. The lyrics refer to Chanson d’Automne, a poem by Paul Verlaine, from which he quotes certain verses, while rearranging its order. While the song is actually addressed to Françoise-Antoinette Pancrazzi, his second wife and mother of his first two children it are Jane Birkin’s tears on the record, with whom he was in a relationship and had a little girl, Charlotte.
nightly	Give Me the Night	George Benson	1980	Give Me the Night by George Benson, released in 1980, written and composed by Rod Temperton, celebrates the vibrant energy and excitement of nightlife, with lyrics expressing a desire to let loose and have fun under the stars.
nightly	Reggae Night	Jimmy Cliff	1983	Reggae Night by Jimmy Cliff, written and composed by Amir Bayyan, LaToya Jackson, and Michael Jackson, was released in 1996 and captures the infectious rhythm and spirit of reggae music, inviting listeners to come together and dance the night away in celebration of Caribbean culture.
nightly	Summer Nights	John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John	1978	Summer Nights by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, written and composed by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey and released in 1978, reflects on the carefree joys and romantic adventures of summer love, with nostalgic lyrics recalling memorable moments shared during warm summer evenings.
nightly	All Night Long (All Night)	Lionel Richie	1983	All Night Long (All Night) written, composed and performed by Lionel Richie, released in 1983, is an upbeat celebration of life, love, and togetherness, with lyrics encouraging listeners to keep the party going and embrace the joy of dancing all night long.
nightly	Night Fever	Bee Gees	1977	Night Fever by Bee Gees, released in 1977, was written and composed by the brothers Gibb: Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb and captures the electrifying atmosphere of disco nightlife, with pulsating rhythms and falsetto vocals conveying the excitement and energy of dancing until dawn. “Night Fever” was initially released on 7th November 1977, but became popular after it was included in the “Saturday Night Fever” movie soundtrack, which was released a week later. The song was written while the Gibb Brothers were in France. They had the view of snow-capped mountains and wrote the song with a rhythm machine.
nightly	Get Down Tonight	KC And The Sunshine Band	1975	Get Down Tonight by KC And The Sunshine Band, released in 1975, was written and composed by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch, and is a funky anthem for letting loose and getting down on the dance floor, with infectious grooves and catchy hooks that invite listeners to boogie all night long.
nightly	Of The Night	Bastille	2014	Of The Night by British band Bastille, released in 2014, is a mash-up of two 1990s dance classics, “The Rhythm of the Night” by Corona (1993) and “Rhythm Is a Dancer” by Snap!, reimagined with Bastille’s signature indie-pop sound. Writing credits go to Benito Benites, John Virgo Garrett III, Thea Austin, Rami, and Henri Belolo.
nightly	In The Midnight Hour	Wilson Pickett	1965	In The Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett, released in 1965, was written and composed by Wilson Pickett and Steve Cropper, and expresses a longing for love and companionship, with lyrics describing a desire to be with someone special, especially during the late-night hours.
nightly	Midnight Man	Flash And The Pan	1985	Midnight Man by Flash And The Pan, written and composed by Harry Vanda and George Young, was released in 1985 and is a moody and atmospheric exploration of urban nightlife, with dark lyrics and synth-driven melodies evoking a sense of mystery and intrigue.
nightly	Nightclubbing	Grace Jones	1981	Nightclubbing, written and composed by David Bowie and Iggy Pop, was first released by Iggy Pop in 1977 and covered in 1981 by Grace Jones. It captures the decadent and hedonistic atmosphere of nightlife, with Grace Jones’s distinctive vocals and avant-garde style adding an element of sophistication and allure.
nightly	Tonight (ft. Tina Turner)	David Bowie	1984	Tonight by Tina Turner and David Bowie, released in 1985, written and composed by David Bowie and Iggy Pop, is a sultry and seductive invitation to indulge in passion and desire, with Tina Turner’s powerful vocals conveying a sense of intensity and sensuality.
nightly	La nuit n’en finit plus	Petula Clark	1970	“La nuit n’en finit plus” (The night never ends) by Petula Clark (born Sally Clark on 15 November 1932), is a 1970 cover of “Needles and Pins”, written and composed by Sonny Bono and Jack Nitzsche and first recorded in 1963 by Jackie DeShannon. It conveys a sense of restlessness and longing, with Petula Clark expressing a desire for the endless night to come to an end.
nightly	Because the Night	Patti Smith	1978	Because the Night by Patti Smith, released in 1978, written and composed by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith, explores themes of love, desire, and freedom, with Patti Smith’s passionate vocals and Bruce Springsteen’s poetic lyrics capturing the intensity of nighttime romance.
nightly	We Belong To The Night	Ellen Foley	1979	We Belong To The Night by Ellen Foley, released in 1979, written by Ellen Foley, Ian Hunter, and Mick Ronson, is about the city dwellers who toil away at their jobs in the daylight hours but come alive at night, enjoying what the city has to offer.
nightly	Take Back the Night	Justin Timberlake	2013	Take Back the Night by Justin Timberlake, released in 2013, is an anthem for reclaiming the night and celebrating the freedom to express oneself through music, dance, and shared experiences. It was written and composed by Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosley, Jerome Harmon, James Fauntleroy II, and J-Roc.
nightly	Night Birds	Shakatak	1982	Night Birds by Shakatak, released in 1982, is an instrumental track, composed by Bill Sharpe, Roger Odell, and Nigel Wright, capturing the smooth and soulful sounds of jazz-funk, with catchy melodies and infectious rhythms that evoke images of nightlife and urban landscapes.
nightly	Boogie Nights	Heatwave	1977	Boogie Nights by Heatwave, released in 1977, written and composed by Rod Temperton, is an energetic and infectious disco anthem, with lyrics encouraging listeners to hit the dance floor and boogie the night away in celebration of life and love. Harpist Carla Skanger (a pseudonym of Sheila Bromberg of the London Symphony Orchestra) played harp and American actor and singer Clarke Peters performed backing vocals on the recording.
nightly	Here Comes The Night	Them	1966	Here Comes The Night by Van Morrison and Them, released in 1965, written by Bert Berns, tells a tale of obsessive jealousy and approaching loneliness from the point of view of a rejected lover who voyeuristically watches the new couple.
nightly	Hey Tonight	Creedence Clearwater Revival	1971	Hey Tonight by Creedence Clearwater Revival, written and composed by John Fogerty, released 1971, is an upbeat and uplifting rock anthem, with lyrics encouraging listeners to forget their troubles and enjoy the present moment as they dance and sing along to the music.
nightly	One Night	Elvis Presley	1958	One Night by Elvis Presley, released in 1958, written and composed by Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King, is a classic rock ‘n’ roll ballad about a brief and passionate encounter between two lovers, with Elvis Presley’s smooth vocals conveying a sense of romance and desire.
nightly	Yes Tonight Joséphine	Johnnie Ray	1957	Yes Tonight Joséphine by Johnnie Ray, released in 1957, written and composed by Gerhard Winkler, René Rouzaud, and Leo Johns, tells the story of a romantic rendezvous between two lovers, with Johnnie Ray’s emotive vocals and catchy melody capturing the excitement and anticipation of the night ahead.
nightly	Dance The Night Away	The Mavericks	1998	“Dance the Night Away” is a song by American country band the Mavericks, written by the band’s lead vocalist, Raul Malo who wrote it in one afternoon and who began to arrange music more often after completing the demo recording.
Wake Up!	Morning Has Broken	Cat Stevens	1971	“Morning Has Broken” is Cat Stevens’ reworking of a 1931 children’s hymn by Eleanor Farjeon, who also wrote a lot of children’s poetry. The lyric is a reference to the book of Genesis in the Bible, where God creates Earth on the “first morning.” Rick Wakeman, who was a session musician at the time, played the piano on this track, marking the first time he appeared on a hit single. He joined Yes a short time later.
Wake Up!	Morning Light Forgives the Night (ft. Ane Brun)	Rebekka Karijord	2009	“Morning Light Forgives the Night” by Norwegian artist Rebekka Karijord, features the voice of Ane Brun. Karijord is a composer and musician originally from Sandnessjøen, just south of the arctic circle in Northern Norway. In 2020 she made the soundtrack for the Hulu documentary “I Am Greta” about the climate activist.
Wake Up!	Angel Of The Morning	Juice Newton	1981	Evie Sands originally recorded this song in 1967, written by Chip Taylor. It was a crossover hit for country singer Juice Newton in 1981.
Wake Up!	Sweet, Sweet Smile	The Carpenters	1977	“Sweet, Sweet Smile” by The Carpenters, released in 1977, was written by Juice Newton and her long-time musical partner Robert Otha Young.
Wake Up!	Jeans On	David Dundas	1976	“Jeans On” is British singer and actor David Dundas biggest hit, released in 1977. Dundas also recorded a French language version of the song, titled “Blue Jeans”
Wake Up!	Easy	Faith No More	1992	“Easy”, first released by the Commodores in 1977, written by lead singer Lionel Richie, is a slow ballad expressing a man’s relief as a relationship ends. Faith No More’s version of “Easy”, released in 1992, closely follows the original version, but omits the second verse of the Commodores recording and features a slightly more aggressive drum sound and guitar solo. The song was released under three titles: “I’m Easy”, “I’m Easy (Cooler Version)”, and “Easy”.
Wake Up!	Sunday Morning Sunrise	Kevin Coyne	1975	“Sunday Morning Sunrise” by Kevin Coyne features on his 1975 album “Matching Head And Feet”. Coyne’s first job was a social therapist at Whittingham Hospital, Lancashire (1965-1968). In late 1968 he moved to London, starting work for the Soho project as a counsellor for drug addicts in 1969. This work was a source for many of his early songs and remains a major influence today. Following a nervous breakdown and increasing difficulties with drinking, Coyne left the UK in 1985.
Wake Up!	Every Time the Sun Comes Up	Sharon Van Etten	2014	“Every Time the Sun Comes Up” written and performed by Sharon Van Etten was released in 2014. In the official music video an aging late-night horror TV host and an animated version of Sharon Van Etten summon both dark humour and real human sadness, beautifully sung. Sharon Van Etten is an American singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York City.
Wake Up!	Then Came the Morning	The Lone Bellow	2015	“Then Came the Morning” by The Lone Bellow was released in 2015. The Lone Bellow is an American band consisting of Zach Williams (guitar, lead vocals), Kanene Donehey Pipkin (mandolin, bass, keyboard, vocals) and Brian Elmquist (guitar, vocals). In the verses, the lyrics explore the aftermath of the breakup.
Wake Up!	Tears in the Morning	The Beach Boys	1970	“Tears in the Morning” is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released in 1970 and written by band member Bruce Johnston.
Wake Up!	In The Morning	Razorlight	2006	“In The Morning” by Razorlight, was released in 2006 and written by frontman Johnny Borrell. The song’s depicts a hangover after a big party,
Wake Up!	Good Morning Good Morning	The Beatles	1967	“Good Morning Good Morning” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. Inspiration for the song came to Lennon from a television commercial for Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.
Wake Up!	Get Up (ft. Ex-I, Lush One & Plex Rock)	Chinese Man	2011	“Get Up” by Chinese Man is a sample of “Get up, get out” by The Weavers in the fifties. Chinese Man is a collective French trip hop band created in 2004 and originally from Aix-en-Provence. The Weavers were an American folk music quartet based in the Greenwich Village area of New York City, founded in 1948, originally consisting of Lee Hays, Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman.
Wake Up!	Wake Up and Make Love With Me	Ian Dury & The Blockheads	1977	“Wake Up and Make Love With Me” by Ian Dury & The Blockheads was written by Ian Dury and Chaz Jankel and released in 1977.
Wake Up!	Woke Up This Morning (Chosen One Mix)	A3	1997	“Woke Up This Morning” is a song by British band Alabama 3. Alabama 3 frontman Rob Spragg wrote the song after hearing about the 1996 Sara Thornton murder case. Most famously used on the opening credits of the HBO television series “The Sopranos”. The song includes samples of “Tell Me” performed by Howlin’ Wolf, a sample from “Standing at the Burying Ground” by Mississippi Fred McDowell and a sample from “Mannish Boy” by Muddy Waters.
Wake Up!	Good Morning Judge	10cc	1977	“Good Morning Judge” is a song by English art rock band 10cc, released in 1977.
Wake Up!	Wake Up, Little Susie	The Everly Brothers	1957	“Wake Up, Little Susie” by the Everly Brothers is written in 1957 by American husband-and-wife country music and pop songwriting team Felice Bryant (born Matilda Genevieve Scaduto; August 7, 1925 – April 22, 2003) and Diadorius Boudleaux Bryant (February 13, 1920 – June 25, 1987).
Wake Up!	Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go	Wham!	1984	When Wham! Member Andrew Ridgeley lived at home with his parents he needed a wake-up call, so he left a note for him mum on his door. He wrote, “Wake me up up,” and realizing he duplicated a word, finished the sentence with “before you go go”. Fellow Wham! Member George Michael put together a song with the title “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” which became Wham’s first American hit. The song opens with four repetitions of the word “jitterbug,” with finger snaps in between. The jitterbug was a popular dance in the 1930s. the line “You make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day,” which refers to the singer-actress who was popular in the ’40s and ’50s.
Wake Up!	I Woke Up Today	Port O’Brien	2008	“I Woke Up Today” by Port O’Brien, released in 2008, is credited to an Unknown Composer and Van Pierszalowski. The song beautifully encapsulates the beauty of simplicity and the wisdom found in the natural world. Van William (also known as Van Pierszalowski) is an American musician who formed the band Waters, serving as a vocalist and guitarist, and was the frontman of the band Port O’Brien. He is currently a solo artist.
Wake Up!	7 heure du mat	Jacqueline Taïeb	2022	Jacqueline Taïeb released in 2022 a remixed version of her 1967 International hit “7 heures du matin”. Jacqueline Taïeb is a French singer and songwriter, born in 1948 in Tunis, Tunisia, celebrated in Japan as the “French Mademoiselle”. Different brands have been using her songs: perfume Lolita Lempicka, ‘Axe’ in the US, Bentley and the “Les 3 Suisses” stores.
Wake Up!	Goeienmorgend Goeiendag (Sikey remix)	Slongs Dievanongs	2015	Goeienmorgend Goeiendag (good morning, hello) by Slongs Dievanongs was released in 2015. Slongs Dievanongs (born Charissa Parassiadis) is a singer and rap-artist with Greek roots born on the 24th July 1978 in Antwerp, Belgium. Sikey (born Pieter Gulinck) is a Drum & Bass producer and Dj from Mechelen, Belgium.
Wake Up!	The Only Way Is Up	Yazz And The Plastic Population	1988	“The Only Way Is Up” is a song written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson and originally released in 1980 as a single by soul singer Otis Clay. In 1988, it became a chart-topping single in the United Kingdom for Yazz (born Yasmin Marie Evans) and the Plastic Population.
Wake Up!	Moving On Up	M People	1993	“Moving On Up” by British band M People, was released in 1993 and written by band members Mike Pickering and Paul Heard.
Wake Up!	Movin’ On Up	Primal Scream	1991	Despite never being released as a single, this track from Scottish rock band Primal Scream has gone on to become their signature song. It is the opening track on their now iconic third studio album Screamadelica (1991), which won the inaugural Mercury Prize in 1992.
nocturnal	Last Night A Dj Saved My Life	Indeep	1994	“Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life” is a song written by Michael Cleveland, sung by American group Indeep, and released as a single in 1982. It features vocals from Réjane “Reggie” Magloire and Rose Marie Ramsey. Réjane Magloire (1964-October 2023) was a Congolese–American singer, model, and actress who later joined the studio-based Belgian project Technotronic.
nocturnal	The Nightfly	Donald Fagen	1982	Steely Dan co-founder Donald Fagen, released his first solo album “The Nightfly” in 1982, containing all autobiographical songs. The title song is a jazz-influenced slice of pop/rock that finds him recalling his adolescent dream of being a late-night radio DJ.
nocturnal	Late In The Evening	Paul Simon	1980	Paul Simon wrote “Late in the evening” for the semi-autobiographical movie One-Trick Pony, he starred in. The song describes a dream sequence that Paul Simon had when he was a teenager of being a rock star (he’s “under age in this funky bar”). It’s late at night (evening) and he’s hearing the radio as he falls asleep and the next then he knows he’s dreaming about walking down the street and then playing lead guitar in a band.
nocturnal	Slapeloze nachten	The Opposites	2012	“Slapeloze nachten” (sleepless nights) by Dutch rap band The Opposites was released in 2012. The Opposites consists of rappers Willem de Bruin (Willy), short and a person of color, and Twan van Steenhoven (Big2), tall and white, hence the reference in the band name. The two started rapping when de Bruin had to write a rap for his teacher as a punishment.
nocturnal	In Dreams	Roy Orbison	1963	Roy Orbison wrote “In Dreams”, first released in 1963, after it came to him in a dream. Typical of many Orbison songs, it’s a heartbreaker: asleep at night is the only time he can be with the one he loves, as when he wakes up, she’s gone. This song is featured in a key scene in the 1986 film Blue Velvet.
nocturnal	Are You Lonesome Tonight?	Elvis Presley	1960	“Are You Lonesome Tonight?” was written in 1926 by the Tin Pan Alley songwriters Roy Turk and Lou Handman. Elvis Presley recorded it on request of his manager, Colonel Parker, because it was a favourite of Parker’s wife, Marie. Elvis recorded this song at the end of an all-night session at RCA Studio B in Nashville in the early morning of April 4, 1960. Tin Pan Alley, genre of American popular music that arose in the late 19th century from the American song-publishing industry centred in New York City.
nocturnal	Strangers In The Night	Frank Sinatra	1966	“Strangers in the night” was Frank Sinatra’s big comeback song in 1966, composed by Bert Kaempfert with English lyrics by Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder. One of the most memorable and recognizable features of the record is Sinatra’s scat improvisation of the melody (on take two) with the syllables “doo-be-doo-be-doo” as the song fades to the end. Sinatra despised the song and thought it was about two fags in a bar. Country star Glen Campbell, then a session musician for hire, played rhythm guitar on this track.
nocturnal	Southern Nights	Glen Campbell	1977	“Southern Nights” was written and originally recorded by Allen Toussaint, released in 1975, about the idyllic evenings growing up in Louisiana when he would travel into the country an visit with the older folks. Glen Campbell arranged and recorded the song in 1977 because it reminded him of his rural childhood in Arkansas.
nocturnal	I Want To Spend The Night	Bill Withers	1977	“I Want To Spend The Night”, having a distinct Latin feel, appeared on Bill Withers’ sixth studio album ‘Menagerie’, released on October 29, 1977, through the Columbia label.
nocturnal	Nightswimming	R.E.M.	1992	“Nightswimming” written by R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills, playing piano on the track, is a nostalgic song that revisits an idyllic childhood memory of the band when they used to sneak on a guy’s property in Athens, Georgia to go swimming in a water hole.
nocturnal	Spirits In The Night	Manfred Mann’s Earth Band	1975	The original version of “Spirit in the Night” was released in 1973 on Bruce Springsteen’s debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. British band Manfred Mann’s Earth Band covered the song in 1975 with the title “Spirits in the Night” as the European single release. Greasy Lake, where the action takes place is actually a composite of two locations that band members used to visit: man-made Lake Carasaljo and an unnamed swampy lake near Garden State Parkway.
nocturnal	One of These Nights	Eagles	1975	“One of These Nights”, written by Eagles band members Glenn Frey and Don Henley, refers to everyone’s ultimate dream, saving it for ‘someday’. Don Felder, who was the Eagles newest guitarist, came up with the opening bass line. It’s Glenn Frey’s favourite Eagles record.
nocturnal	Nightshift	Commodores	1984	“Nightshift” is the Commodores’ only big hit after Lionel Richie left the band in 1982 and is a tribute to singers Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson, who both died in 1984. Drummer Walter “Clyde” Orange sings lead on the track, with J.D. Nicholas taking the second verse. The title was inspired by the 1982 movie Night Shift.
nocturnal	Whatever Gets You thru the Night	John Lennon	1974	“Whatever Gets You thru the Night”, written and performed by John Lennon in 1974, featuring Elton John on harmony vocals and piano, came from his late-night television watching Reverend Ike, a famous black evangelist, saying, ‘Let me tell you guys, it doesn’t matter, it’s whatever gets you through the night’. The music was inspired by George McCrae’s “Rock Your Baby”.
nocturnal	Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting	Elton John	1973	“Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” by Elton John, released in 1973, is about writer Bernie Taupin’s teen years going to British dance clubs, where fights were common.
nocturnal	Another Saturday Night	Cat Stevens	1974	“Another Saturday Night”, was written by Sam Cooke when he was touring England in 1962 with Little Richard and recorded by Cat Stevens in 1974.
nocturnal	After Midnight	Eric Clapton	1970	“After Midnight”, written by Oklahoma guitarist J.J. Cale, was Eric Clapton’s first solo single, released in 1970, while he was still a member of Derek and the Dominos, who along with Stephen Stills, supported Clapton.
nocturnal	Saturday Night	Herman Brood & His Wild Romance	1979	“Saturday Night” by Dutch rocker Herman Brood and His Wild Romance, released in 1979 was co-written by Belgian musician Dany Lademacher.
nocturnal	Night Nurse (ft. Simply Red)	Sly & Robbie and All Stars	1997	“Night Nurse” originally released in 1982 by famous Jamaican “Lovers” Reggae Singer (AKA the Cool Ruler) Gregory Isaacs, was covered IN 1997 by Jamaican duo Sly and Robbie featuring English band Simply Red.
nocturnal	Tonight Tonight	Hot Chelle Rae	2011	“Tonight Tonight” is a song by American rock band Hot Chelle Rae (formerly known as Miracle Drug), released in 2011.
nocturnal	A Night Like This	Caro Emerald	2015	Dutch jazz singer Caro Emerald (born Caroline van der Leeuw on April 26, 1981 in Amsterdam), released her second single “A Night Like This” in 2009, which describes a whirlwind love affair, after being used in a Martini commercial.
nocturnal	Queen For Tonight	Helen Shapiro	1986	“Queen For Tonight” was released by Helen Shapiro in 1963 and a cover of “King For Tonight”, first recorded in May 1962 by Johnny Hallyday, who only released it more than ten years later, written by Arthur Wayne and Ben Wingate.
nocturnal	Love me tonight	Tom Jones	1969	“Love me tonight” by Welsh singer Tom Jones is a cover of “Alla fine della strada”, first recorded by, Italian beat singer from Bologna, Junior Magli in 1969.
nocturnal	Stay the Night	James Blunt	2010	“Stay the Night” by British former army officer James Blunt is a fun song about hanging out with friends in California and not wanting the night to end, co-written with his producer Steve Robson and Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic.
conflicts	Sunday Bloody Sunday	U2	1983	“Sunday Bloody Sunday” by Irish band U2, is about January 30, 1972, when British troops killed 13 Irish citizens at a civil rights protest in Derry, Northern Ireland which had a profound impact on U2 frontman Bono, who was 11 years old at the time. Bono was trying to contrast the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre with Easter Sunday, a peaceful day Protestants and Catholics both celebrate. He stated that all musical instruments are useful for love and exhortation but only one is essential for war: the drums.
conflicts	Zombie	The Cranberries	1994	“Zombie” by Irish band The Cranberries was inspired by the IRA (Irish Republican Army) bombing in Warrington, Cheshire, England on March 20, 1993, when two children were killed. Lead singer Dolores O’Riordan claimed that “Zombie” speaks about “the Irish fight for independence that seems to last forever.” Like U2, it is a song for peace among England and Ireland.
conflicts	War	Sinéad O’Connor	2005	Irish singer Sinead O’Connor covered Bob Marley’s “War” in 2005. The lyrics of “War” come from a speech given by Haile Selassie I on October 4, 1963, when he addressed the United Nations. Selassie, also known as Ras Tafari and considered to be God, or Jah, in Rastafarianism, was advocating for peace and calling for unity in the face of discrimination. Sinead O’Connor was drawn to this song after learning about how Jamaicans were historically oppressed by the British. Like many Irish citizens, she believed her country had also suffered under British rule.
conflicts	Get Up Stand Up	Bob Marley & The Wailers	1973	“Get Up, Stand Up” by Bob Marley & The Wailers, released in 1973 is about taking action to avoid oppression. Marley wrote it with Peter Tosh, and the song was influenced by their upbringing in Jamaica, where they had to fight for respect and acceptance for their Rastafarian religion. Marley had taken the motif from the band “War” song ‘Slippin’ Into Darkness’. It was Bob Marley’s last song performed live at a show in Pittsburgh on September 23, 1980.
conflicts	Aux armes et caetera	Serge Gainsbourg	1979	“Aux armes et cætera” by Serge Gainsbourg is an adaptation of the French national anthem ‘La Marseillaise’ written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, performed as the ‘empire singing back’. It was recorded in Kingston with legendary reggae musicians like Bob Marley’s female backing vocals I-Three, including Marley’s wife Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths.
conflicts	Food For Thought	UB40	1980	“Food For Thought” was the Birmingham band UB40’s first single. The song was inspired by the massacre of Kampuchea, which was a state existing from 1975 to 1979 in what is now Cambodia. It was run by the Khmer Rouge, a Communist group that controlled the state with an iron fist and murdered all who opposed it. The pre-Band-Aid song is a bitter meditation on third-world poverty, and an indictment of politicians putting politics before people, leaving them to rely on charitable institutions to relieve famine.”
conflicts	Stoned Love	The Supremes	1970	“Stoned Love” performed by The Supremes with lead vocals by Jean Terrell replacing Diana Ross alongside Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong is about the social issues of the time, including the Vietnam War, and the need for compassion.
conflicts	War	Edwin Starr	1970	This is a protest song about the Vietnam War, although it makes a broader statement of the need for harmony in our everyday lives.
conflicts	Born in the U.S.A.	Bruce Springsteen	1984	Because of the explicit chorus line this song is often perceived and used as a patriotic song. But Bruce Springsteen wrote it as a critic on how Vietnam veterans were treated when they returned to America. According to “The Boss”: “In my songs, the spiritual part, the hope part is in the choruses. The blues, and your daily realities are in the details of the verses. The spiritual comes out in the choruses, which I got from gospel music and the church.”
conflicts	Fortunate Son	Creedence Clearwater Revival	1969	“Fortunate Son” by CCR speaks more to the unfairness of class than war itself John Fogerty has stated. “It’s the old saying about rich men making war and poor men having to fight them.”
conflicts	Gimme Shelter	The Rolling Stones	1969	“Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones was written by Keith Richards and is about the political and social unrest at the time, like the war in Vietnam and the race riots. Merry Clayton, a gospel singer, is the female vocalist.
conflicts	1969	The Stooges	1969	“1969” by The Stooges with Iggy Pop was released in 1969 before punk had been invented. So they had nothing to do in that society. Producer John Cale, a former member of the Velvet Underground, has squeezed everything he could out of them.
conflicts	Welterusten, Mijnheer De President	Boudewijn de Groot	1966	“Good night, Mr. President” is a protest song by Boudewijn De Groot of 1966, written by Lennaert Nijgh, about the war in Vietnam and about the responsibilities of American President Lyndon B. Johnson.
conflicts	Dear Mr. President (ft. Indigo Girlz)	P!nk	2006	“Dear Mr. President” by P!nk from 2006 is an open letter to the President of the United States at the time, George W. Bush asking questions covering many controversial issues, including war, homosexuality, the homeless, abortion, and drug abuse.
conflicts	Goodnight Saigon	Billy Joel	1982	“Goodnight Saigon” by Billy Joel, released in 1982, refers to the city in Vietnam where major combat operations took place during the Vietnam War. Joel wrote the song as a tribute to many of his friends who had served in the war. In the song, Joel imagines what it must have been like deep in the combat-addled terrain.
conflicts	Lucky Man	Emerson, Lake & Palmer	1988	Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s best known song. While Greg Lake started writing this song when he was just 12 years old the lyrics never changed he said. Although it was connected in a way to an era when there was a lot of war and drama the lyrics really got interpreted in a way in which he had never intended them to be as a kid.
conflicts	Universal Soldier	Buffy Sainte-Marie	1964	Buffy Sainte-Marie wrote this song in the basement of The Purple Onion coffee house in Toronto in 1963 after witnessing wounded soldiers returning from Vietnam. British folk singer Donovan covered it in 1965. The song became an anthem of the Vietnam Peace movement.
conflicts	Sketches Of Spain	The Nits	1995	“Sketches of Spain” by Dutch band The Nits in 1994 is about the Spanish Civil War, written by Robert-Jan Stips & Henk Hofstede (The) Nits are a Dutch pop / new wave band, formed in 1974 in Amsterdam (Netherlands).
conflicts	If You Tolerate This Your Children will be next	Manic Street Preachers	1998	“If You Tolerate This Your Children will be next” by the Manic Street Preachers, released in 1998, is about the Spanish civil war. The title of the song comes from a republican propaganda poster of that time. It is about the idealism of people from around the world who volunteered to join the International Brigade. All 4 members were childhood friends from Wales and spent practically all spare moments with each other while growing up. The band is very left-wing political and quite socialist, a consequence of the socialism during the massive unemployment in Wales when they grew up during the Thatcher Regime. Fidel Castro himself invited the band to perform in Cuba and was in the audience when they became the first UK band to perform in Havana.
conflicts	On the Border	Al Stewart	1977	“On the Border” by Al Stewart was released in 1977. “On the Border” explores the theme of the impact of political borders and conflicts on the lives of individuals. The first verse is about the Basque Separatist movement. In Spanish history there was an instance when “from Africa the winds they talk of changes coming” when Franco’s troops made it to Spain. “The hand that sets the farms alight has spread the word to those who’re waiting on the border” is exactly what happened in 1936 when the Franco troops conquered most of southern Spain.
conflicts	Ride Like The Wind	Christopher Cross	1979	“Ride Like The Wind” by Christopher Cross with vocals by Michael McDonald, tells the story of a condemned man on the run to Mexico. Cross, who lived in San Antonio near Mexico, found inspiration for the composition from the 1973 Paul McCartney & Wings song “Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five.”
conflicts	Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five	Paul McCartney & Wings	1973	“Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five” by Paul McCartney & Wings, is the climactic track from the album Band on the Run, released in 1973. It continues the album’s theme of escape by describing the singer achieving artistic freedom through love. The album was recorded in Lagos, Nigeria by Paul McCartney and his wife Linda with ex-Moody Blues guitarist and pianist Denny Laine. In 1985 the United Kingdom and Spain agreed to reopen the border between Gibraltar and Spain. After sixteen years of being closed under the rule of Francisco Franco in 1969, the border between Gibraltar and Spain was officially reopened during February of 1985.
longevity	Because They Are Young	Duane Eddy	1960	“Because They Are Young” by Duane Eddy was the title song of the movie starring James Darren and Tuesday Weld.The Rebels, put in a cameo appearance in the movie to play the song. James Darren in 1960 and Helen Shapiro in 1962 released a vocal version of the song. In the 1960s, various rock radio channels used Because They’re Young as their theme music and since 1984 it is the official theme music of the Flemish musical nostalgia radio show ‘De Pré Historie’.
longevity	The Young Ones	Cliff Richard	1961	“The Young Ones” is a single by Cliff Richard and the Shadows. The song, written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett, is the title song to the 1961 film The Young Ones and its soundtrack album
longevity	Young Folks	Peter, Bjorn And John	2006	The feel-good song “Young Folks” is the first single from Swedish band Peter Bjorn and John with female vocals by Victoria Bergsman, released in 2006.
longevity	Alright	Supergrass	1995	This song embodies the spirit of youth, when we’re free to hang out, see the sights, and write goofy lines and uses audio samples from “Fresh-Garbage” by Spirit. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack of the 2003 film Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.
longevity	Feel Good Time	P!nk	2003	“Feel Good Time” is a song by American singer Pink, originally written by and recorded by Beck and William Orbit.
longevity	Glory Days	Bruce Springsteen	1984	“Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen is about the encounter with an old friend who was a star baseball player in high school.
longevity	You Get What You Give	New Radicals	1998	“You Get What You Give” by The New Radicals became an anthem for young dreamers ready to take on the world with music on their side. The title is kind of a mantra: you’ll get back in life what you give to others. The song also rails against big business and the forces of oppression, sounding at times like a Bernie Sanders rally as it rails against the health care and banking industries:
longevity	Have A Nice Day	Stereophonics	2001	“Have a nice day” by the Stereophonics, released in 2001, is based on a conversation the band had with a cab driver in San Francisco Bay when they were touring in the United States. At the end of the journey the driver ended the conversation with: “That’ll be seven bucks, have a nice day”.
longevity	What Is Life	George Harrison	1971	“What Is Life” by George Harrison, released in 1971, holds ambiguity in the lyrics and suggests a connection between spiritual and physical. It could be to Harrison’s wife at the time, Pattie Boyd or a devotional song like many of Harrison’s compositions. The spiritual guitar quest opens with Harrison playing the fuzztone guitar riff, which is then joined by Radle’s bass and “churning” rhythm guitar from Clapton.
longevity	I Wish	Stevie Wonder	1976	“I Wish” by Stevie Wonder, released in 1976 as the lead single from his eighteenth album, Songs in the Key of Life (1976) and deals with childhood and teenage experiences.
longevity	Once in a Lifetime	Talking Heads	1980	“Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads, released in 1980, was cowritten by Brian Eno through extensive jams, inspired by Afrobeat musicians such as Fela Kuti. The song is about the drudgery of living life according to social expectations, and pursuing commonly accepted trophies (a large automobile, beautiful house, beautiful wife)” and whether they are real and how people acquired them, a kind of existential crisis.
longevity	New Frontier	Donald Fagen	1982	“New Frontier” by Donald Fagen, released in 1982, is a satirical take on life in the early 1960s, particularly the fear of a nuclear war, which had been revived in the early 1980s. This was included on Fagen’s first solo album after Steely Dan called it quits in 1981. The song is about growing up in the suburbs in the late ’50s and early ’60s. Some of the cultural references include “pushing the button,” “Tuesday Weld” and “Dave Brubeck.” The title comes from President Kennedy’s political agenda for the country during his brief administration.
longevity	Millennium	Robbie Williams	1998	“Millennium” by Robbie Williams, released in 1998, with the chorus line “stars directing our fate” made it as the most popular song about the new millennium, which began on January 1, 2001, but was commonly celebrated a year earlier.
longevity	Forever Young	Alphaville	1984	“Forever Young” is a song by German synth-pop band Alphaville, released in 1984.
longevity	The Long and Winding Road	The Beatles	1970	“The Long and Winding Road” by the Beatles, released in 1970, is according writer Paul McCartney “all about the unattainable; the door you never quite reach … the road that you never get to the end of”
longevity	(Just Like) Starting Over	John Lennon	1980	John Lennon finished the song “(Just Like) Starting Over” while on holiday in Bermuda, and recorded it on 9 August 1980 at The Hit Factory, referring to it as the “Elvis/Orbison” track.
longevity	La robe & l’échelle (Single Version)	Francis Cabrel	2008	“La robe & l’échelle” (The Dress and the Ladder) by Francis Cabrel explores the transient nature of time and the importance of certain moments and memories in our lives.
longevity	Hier encore	Charles Aznavour	1964	“Hier encore” by Charles Aznavour, released in September 1964, reflects on his life, recalling how he had wasted his younger years on hedonistic pursuits, and now that he is older, he is unable to do everything that he had planned. American country musician Roy Clark had a hit with the English version of the song, titled “Yesterday When I Was Young”.
longevity	Old Man	Neil Young	1970	“Old Man” by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young, released in 1970, featuring James Taylor playing six-string banjo and Linda Ronstadt on backing vocals, compares a young man’s life to an old man’s and shows that the young man has, to some extent, the same needs as the old one.
longevity	Forever Young	Bob Dylan	1974	“Forever Young” by Bob Dylan, released in 1974, was written as a lullaby for his eldest son Jesse, born in 1966, relating a father’s hopes that his child will remain strong and happy.
longevity	Slip Slidin’ Away	Paul Simon	1977	“Slip Slidin’ Away” by Paul Simon, released in 1977, is a trilogy – man, woman, father who all “slip slide away” and a fourth verse which can be considered an overview, or critic by the one who knows it all.
longevity	Dust In The Wind	Kansas	1977	“Dust in the Wind” by American band Kansas, released in 1977 and written by band member Kerry Livgren, is a meditation on mortality and the inevitability of death. Resemblance can be found to the biblical passages Genesis 3:19 (“…for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”) and Ecclesiastes 3:20 (“All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.”) and the phrase “dust in the wind” occurs in Psalms 18:42 (“I ground [my enemies] like dust on the face of the wind…”).
longevity	All This Time	Sting	1990	“All This Time” by Sting, released in 1990, are a reference to the death of his father, symbolized by the image of a young boy, Billy, who, at the death of his father, wishes to bury him at sea instead of going through the Catholic rites.
eco	Supernature (feat. Beth Ditto) [Alan Braxe Mix]	Cerrone	2015	Supernature by (Marc) Cerrone was first released in 1977 with lyrics written by the British-American Lene Lovich. The song has an environmental theme, imagining a future in which the use of artificial chemicals in agriculture has caused “creatures down below” to emerge and “take their sweet revenge” against mankind. Alan Braxe (Alain Quême) brought new life to the track with American singer Beth Ditto in 2015.
eco	It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)	R.E.M.	1987	“It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M., released in 1987, was written by Michael Stipe who claims to have a lot of dreams about the end of the world, destroyed buildings and the like.
eco	Panic	The Smiths	1986	“Panic” is a song by The Smiths released in 1986, written by Johnny Marr and Steven Morrissey. Known for its catchy chorus, the song was inspired by the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, which not only resulted in a notable loss of human life but also stands, to this day, as the costliest man-made disaster in human history. Right after the BBC’s breaking news, a prominent English DJ (Steve Wright) followed the story up by playing Wham!’s “I’m Your Man” (1985), i.e. a frivolous pop song.
eco	Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)	Marvin Gaye	1971	Many years before global warming became a hot topic, Marvin Gaye wrote this song about the environment and how we have an obligation to care for the Earth. Motown’s Berry Gordy did not know what the word “ecology” meant when he heard this song. It had to be explained to him.
eco	Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?	Moby	1999	“Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?” Moby (Richard Melville Hall) an animal rights advocate who became a vegan in 1987. The song uses a sample of a 1963 recording of the gospel tune “He’ll Roll Your Burdens Away” by The Banks Brothers & The Back Home Choir. The music video highlights issues that have long been close to the artist’s heart: animal rights, environmental protection and climate change.
eco	Grafitti Man	John Trudell	1992	John Trudell & Jesse Ed Davis (Native Americans), John Trudell is a Native American songwriter/poet, and an outspoken activist for human rights and environmental issues. In the mid-80’s, Trudell came together with legendary Kiowa Indian guitarist Jesse Ed Davis and formed Grafitti Man; their first cassette, AKA GRAFITTI MAN, was produced in 1985. While the tape was sold only by mail order, a copy reached Bob Dylan, who called it “album of the year” and played it over the PA before concerts. Following Davis’ death, Trudell enlisted guitarist Mark Shark as the musical backbone of Grafitti Man; the band spent part of 1988 touring the US with Midnight Oil. The album features Trudell’s powerful personal and political statements
eco	History Repeating	Propellerheads	1997	“History Repeating” by Propellerheads, released in 1997, pursues their Bond obsession. Propellerhead Alex Gifford wrote the song with veteran Welsh singer Shirley Bassey in mind.
eco	Doctor My Eyes	Jackson Browne	1972	“Doctor My Eyes” was Jackson Browne’s first single at 23, asking if it was unwise to leave his eyes open for so long, as now he must contend with a “slow parade of fears”. Browne had never had his own band, so putting one together for the album was a challenge: he played the piano himself, the guitar solo was played by Jesse Ed Davis, a brilliant but troubled musician who performed on albums by Willie Nelson, Marvin Gaye and John Lennon, and bass player Lee Sklar and drummer Russ Kunkel, who where James Taylor’s rhythm section and much-admired session pros.
eco	Green River	Creedence Clearwater Revival	1969	“Green River” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, released in 1969, written by group leader John Fogerty, is about Putah Creek, near Winters, California where he used to go as a kid learned how to swim. The title Green River, he I got from a soda pop-syrup label.
eco	Laat Ons Een Bloem	Louis Neefs	1970	“Laat ons een bloem” by Belgian singer Louis Neefs is the Dutch cover of British singer Wally Whyton’s “Leave them a flower” in 1968.
eco	Calypso	John Denver	1975	“Calypso” by John Denver, released in 1975, is about a former British Royal Navy minesweeper converted into a research vessel for the oceanographic researcher Jacques Cousteau. Cousteau, was a French naval officer, oceanographer, filmmaker and author to do the first research on pollution and its effects on the sea.
eco	Greenfields	The Brothers Four	1960	“Greenfields” is a song written by Frank Miller, Richard Dehr, and Terry Gilkyson (The Easy Riders) and performed by the Brothers Four
eco	This Land Is Your Land	Trini Lopez	1960	American folk singer Woody Guthrie. (born Woodrow Wilson Guthrie on July 14, 1912 in Okemah, Oklahoma) inspired several generations both politically and musically with songs such as “This Land Is Your Land”, initially written in 1940 in critical response to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America”. The legendary Mexican performer and cultural groundbreaker Trini (Trinidad) Lopez covered the song in 1960.
eco	Is This the World We Created…?	Queen	1984	“Is This the World We Created…?” written and performed by Freddie Mercury and Brian May, released in 1984, is about third-world poverty and the huge imbalances between rich and poor.
eco	What The World Needs Now Is Love	Jackie DeShannon	1968	“What the World Needs Now Is Love” by Jackie DeShannon was written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach. Jackie DeShannon (Born Sharon Lee Meyers in Hazel, Kentucky on August 21, 1941) is best known as a pop singer who scored a handful of memorable pop hits in the 1960s, including 1965’s “What the World Needs Now Is Love”. She was also a gifted songwriter who wrote hits for the Byrds, the Searchers, Irma Thomas, and Kim Carnes, and collaborated with Randy Newman and Jimmy Page.
eco	Imagine One Day	Grace	2009	Grace & the Victory Riders combine world flavors and rhythms with pop songwriting and a message of social consciousness. Grace is a singer-songwriter who has been influenced by her travels all over the world; she has lived in Africa, India, Jamaica, North America, and Europe. Her journey eventually brought her to Paris, where she first gained a following.
eco	Help Is Coming	Ayo	2006	Ayọ states on her website about “Help is coming”: “While this song might seem sad, it is above all meant to inspire hope. It speaks to all those people who struggle with life and are even blamed for their troubles. I try to tell them to believe, in the face of all obstacles, because that s the only way to keep going&because I believe in the universe’s spiritual force.” Ayọ, meaning ‘joy’ in Yoruba, is an Afro-German singer-songwriter, born as Joy Olasunmibo Ogunmakin on 14 September 1980 in Frechen near Cologne, Germany, to a Nigerian father from Ando State and a Romani mother from Romania.
eco	Mother Nature’s Son	The Beatles	1968	“Mother Nature’s Son” by The Beatles, released in 1968, discusses the experiences of a “poor young country boy” enjoying his rural surroundings. Paul McCartney, who primarily wrote the song, drew on his own childhood explorations. He considers himself Mother Nature’s son as he “sits beside a mountain stream” singing a song.
eco	Love Song to the Earth	Paul McCartney	2015	The Love Song to the Earth project aims to bring climate change to the attention of a new audience and inspire people across the world to encourage their leaders to take action. Paul McCartney has teamed up with a host of famous musicians including Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, Sean Paul, Angelique Kidjo, Natasha Bedingfield, Fergie, Nicole Scherzinger, Leona Lewis and many others.
eco	After the Gold Rush (2015 Remaster)	Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris	2016	“After the Gold Rush”, written by Neil Young and initially released in 1970, is widely known as an environmentalism song, with its chorus, “Look at Mother Nature on the run in the 1970s”. Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt recorded it in 1999 for their collaboration Trio II.
eco	Where do the Children Play?	Cat Stevens	1970	In this anti-pollution song, Cat Stevens admits we’ve progressed a long way through technological advances, but in doing so, he protests that we have destroyed much of our environment by trucks “pumping petrol gas” and by building over and cementing our children’s play areas in cities.
eco	Green Garden	Laura Mvula	2013	“Green Garden” by Laura Mvula is an elegy to Mvula’s old home in Kings Heath, Birmingham, where she and her family moved to from Selly Park. The song is a celebration of the endless summer holidays when they spent most of the time in the garden, making up dance routines or having mammoth water fights. Classically trained Birmingham native Laura Mvula started writing songs on her laptop while working as a supply teacher in a secondary school.
eco	Sleeping Satellite	Tasmin Archer	1992	“Sleeping Satellite” by Tasmin Archer, an English singer of West Indian descent, released in 1992, is about how humans stopped going to the moon in 1972 after the novelty wore off. Global warming wasn’t much of a concern in 1992, but environmentalists warned that we would face consequences if we kept polluting our planet.
eco	Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile)	Santana	1977	“Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile)” is an instrumental from the Santana album Amigos, written by Carlos Santana and Tom Coster. The 16-bar chord progression follows the Circle of Fifths, similar to the jazz standard “Autumn Leaves”. In Greek mythology, Europa was a mortal who was loved by Zeus, who, in the form of a white bull carried her off to Crete.
eco	The Flat Earth	Thomas Dolby	1984	Thomas Dolby has been described as a guy ‘down to earth’ who put a warm blanket on a cold nigh with this song. “The Flat Earth,” is a wondrous R&B daydream of piano and Motown stabs of rhythm guitar. Thomas Morgan Robertson (born 14 October 1958), known by the stage name Thomas Dolby, is an English musician, producer, composer, entrepreneur and teacher.
eco	What a Wonderful World	Louis Armstrong	1967	“What a Wonderful World” written in the late 1960s by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss and performed by Louis Armstrong is about appreciating the beauty of our surroundings. The song was recorded in Las Vegas on April 16, 1967. George Weiss said he wrote the tune specifically for Armstrong, but it was first offered to Tony Bennett, who turned it down.
groovy mix	Into the Groove	Madonna	1985	“Into the Groove”, written and produced by Madonna and her then-boyfriend Stephen Bray, was inspired by Madonna’s affection for the dance floor, which she described as a “magical” place. The song featured on the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan.
groovy mix	Let’s Groove	Earth, Wind & Fire	1981	“Let’s Groove” by American band Earth, Wind & Fire was written by band members written by Maurice White and Wayne Vaughn.
groovy mix	Shake Your Groove Thing	Peaches & Herb	1978	“Shake Your Groove Thing” is a song by disco duo Peaches & Herb. The American vocal duo was created in 1966 with Herb Fame (born October 1, 1941) as a constant and seven different women filling the role of “Peaches”, most notably Francine Edna “Peaches” Hurd Barker (April 28, 1947 – August 13, 2005), the original “Peaches” who lent her nickname to the duo, and Linda Greene Tavani, the third “Peaches”, who appeared on the duo’s biggest hits “Shake Your Groove Thing” (1978)
groovy mix	Blame It On The Boogie	The Jacksons	1978	Michael George Jackson (born 2 November 1947) is an English singer-songwriter and the co-writer of “Blame It on the Boogie”. Mick Jackson recorded his version first in 1977 and The Jacksons’ management team picked up the song at Midem, the music industry trade fair in Cannes, France. ‘The Battle of the Boogie’ started when the press at the time enjoyed the similarity in the names (between Mick Jackson and Michael Jackson) and release coincidence (the two versions were released within weeks of each other).
groovy mix	Dr. Beat	Miami Sound Machine	1984	“Dr. Beat” by the American band Miami Sound Machine, led by Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan (born Fajardo), was written by the band’s drummer Enrique “Kiki” Garcia. Established in 1975 by Emilio Estefan Jr., the band was originally known as the Miami Latin Boys before becoming the Miami Sound Machine in 1977.
groovy mix	Don’t Stop The Music	Yarbrough & Peoples	1980	“Don’t Stop the Music” is Yarbrough and Peoples biggest-selling release from 1980. Cavin Leon Yarbrough (born January 22, 1954) and Alisa Delois Peoples (born June 29, 1957) both grew up in Dallas, married in 1987, and started their own music production company, Yarbrough & Peoples Productions.[
groovy mix	Do It Anyway You Wanna	People’s Choice	1975	“Do It Any Way You Wanna” by The People’s Choice is a 1975 crossover hit written and produced by Leon Huff, one of the godfathers of the Philadelphia soul or Philly soul music sound. The People’s Choice was an American funk band formed in 1971 in Philadelphia by Frank Brunson and David Thompson.
groovy mix	You Can Do It (12′)	Al Hudson And The Partners	1979	“You Can Do It” by Al Hudson & The Partners, released in 1979, was written by band members Alicia Myers and Kevin McCord. The US disco soul & funk band from Detroit, Michigan initially evolved from Soul Partners to Al Hudson & The Partners and eventually continued as One Way.
groovy mix	Get Down On It	Kool & The Gang	1981	“Get Down on It” by American band Kool & the Gang, released in 1981, was produced by Brazilian Eumir Deodato, who helped them move towards mainstream pop and dance-oriented music with greater emphasis on catchy hooks and chorus lines.
groovy mix	Baby Do You Wanna Bump	Boney M.	1975	“Baby Do You Wanna Bump” by Boney M., released in 1975, is a remake of Prince Buster’s 1960s song “Al Capone” written by German record producer Frank Farian, under the pseudonym Zambi. Boney M. was created by Farian and originally based in West Germany, including initial group members Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett from Jamaica, Maizie Williams from Montserrat, and Bobby Farrell from Aruba. The pseudonym he got from an Australian television detective series Boney.
groovy mix	Groove Me	Fern Kinney	1979	Firn Kinney worked in the early 1970s as a session musician and backing vocalist when she recorded King Floyd’s “Groove Me”. In 1979, having settled as a housewife, Kinney attempted a comeback and recorded her own version of “Groove Me”, changing the rhythm to turn it into a disco dance track.
groovy mix	Shame Shame Shame	Shirley & Company	1974	“Shame, Shame, Shame” by American disco band Shirley & Company, released in 1974, written by Sylvia Robinson, uses the Afro-Cuban clave rhythm, one of the most common bell patterns found in Afro-Cuban music, and also known in pop music as the Bo Diddley beat.
groovy mix	Shake Shake Shake (Your Booty)	KC And The Sunshine Band	1976	“(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty” by KC and the Sunshine Band, released in 1976, written by band members “KC” Harry Wayne Casey and bassist Richard Finch.
groovy mix	Get Up And Boogie (That’s Right)	Silver Convention	1976	“Get Up and Boogie” by German disco act Silver Convention, was released in 1976 and written and composed by Serbian Sylvester Levay and German Stephan Prager. Austrian Penny McLean, German Ramona Wulf and Linda G. Thompson became the public face of Silver Convention.
groovy mix	Let’s All Chant	Michael Zager Band	1977	“Let’s All Chant” by the Michael Zager Band, released in 1977, written by American record producer and composer Michael Zager and Alvin Fields, is a disco song driven by a repetitive bassline, handclaps, Afro-Cuban drums and numerous vocal hooks. The typical disco lyrics (such as “Ah-ah, eh-eh, let’s all chant” and “Your body, my body, everybody work your body”) are about dancing and working one’s body.
groovy mix	Forget Me Nots	Patrice Rushen	1982	“Forget Me Nots” by Patrice Rushen, released in 1982, was written by Patrice Rushen, Fred Washington & Terry McFadden. The 1982 Grammy nominated recording was sampled in “Men in Black”, which Will Smith recorded for the movie of the same name. George Michael also had a dance-hit version of “Forget Me Nots”.
groovy mix	Jump To The Beat	Stacy Lattisaw	1980	“Jump to the Beat” by American singer Stacy Lattisaw, released in 1980, is a song written by Narada Michael Walden and Lisa Walden. Stacy Lattisaw was only 13 years old when the song was released in May 1980.
groovy mix	Gimme The Funk (12′)	Charrade	1982	Gimme the Funk by Charrade, released in 1982, is known as a cool jam among music business insiders (rappers, producers, DJs, etc.) as evidenced by the intro rap: “do you swear to give me the funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk”. It was written by Golden Lotti Golden (born November 27, 1949) an American singer-songwriter, record producer, poet and artist.
groovy mix	And The Beat Goes On (12′)	The Whispers	1994	“And the Beat Goes On” is a 1979 single by the American music group The Whispers.
groovy mix	Dancer	Gino Soccio	1979	“Dancer” by Gino Soccio, was released in 1979. Gino Soccio (born September 9, 1955) is a Canadian disco record producer based in Montreal.
groove aficionados	Move	Jess & James	1967	Jess & James, a Belgian duo, released “Move” in 1967, a blend of soul, funk, and R&B influences.
groove aficionados	Hippy Hippy Shake	The Swinging Blue Jeans	1963	“Hippy Hippy Shake“ released in 1963 by The Swinging Blue Jeans was originally written and recorded by Chan Romero in 1959.
groove aficionados	Get Down And Get With It	Slade	1971	“Get Down And Get With It” is an energetic cover, released in 1971 by Slade of singer-songwriter Bobby Marchan’s 1967 song “Get Down with It”, of which American singer Little Richard would record his own version.
groove aficionados	Don’t Stop Moving	S Club 7	2001	“Don’t Stop Moving” by the British band S Club 7, was released in 2001. S Club 7 were formed by Simon Fuller, after he was fired as manager of the Spice Girls in November 1997.
groove aficionados	Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)	C+C Music Factory	2008	Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” by C+C Music Factory, originally released in 1990 and re-released in 2008, features powerful vocals by Martha Wash and raps by Freedom Williams. It is known for its iconic “Everybody Dance Now” refrain.
groove aficionados	I Gotta Feeling	Black Eyed Peas	2009	“I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas was released in 2009) and produced by French DJ David Guetta. Guetta was born and raised in Paris. Guetta’s father, Pierre, was a sociologist, born in a Moroccan Jewish family and his mother, Monique, was of Belgian descent.
groove aficionados	Saturday Night	Whigfield	2008	“Saturday Night” by Whigfield was originally released in 1994 and re-released in 2008. Whigfield is an Italian Eurodance project fronted by Danish-born Sannie Charlotte Carlson.
groove aficionados	Ritmo De La Noche	Mystic	1990	German house group Mystic covered “Ritmo de la noche”, written by AC Beat, Lagonda, Castioni, and Wycombe, and originally recorded by German house group Chocolate in 1990.
groove aficionados	Rhythm Is a Dancer	Snap!	1996	“Rhythm Is a Dancer” by Snap! was originally released in 1992 and re-released in 1996, featuring the powerful vocals of co-writer Thea Austin (born Thea Tereese Austin on June 10, 1960).
groove aficionados	Rhythm of the night	Corona	1993	“The Rhythm of the Night” is a song by Italian Eurodance group Corona, released in 1993, featuring vocals by Italian singer Giovanna Bersola (a.k.a. Jenny B).
groove aficionados	Bailando	Alaska	1982	“Bailando” is a song performed by the Spanish group Alaska y los Pegamoides and later performed by Alaska and Dinarama. The song was influenced by “Cuba” from the Gibson Brothers. Alaska y los Pegamoides was a Spanish band formed in 1979 in Madrid, made up of the singer Alaska (born Olvido Gara Jova) , Nacho Canut, Carlos Berlanga, Ana Curra and Eduardo Benavente.
groove aficionados	From Paris To Berlin (Infernal Club Mix)	Infernal	2004	“From Paris to Berlin” is a song by Danish dance-pop group Infernal, released in 2004. Infernal is a dance-pop group from Denmark, consisting of Lina Rafn (born Lina Rafn Sørensen) and Paw Lagermann.
groove aficionados	Paris Latino	Bandolero	1983	“Paris Latino” is the debut single by French band Bandolero, released in 1983. French band Bandolero was composed of the two brothers Carlos and José Perez and Jill Merme-Bourezak.
groove aficionados	Mambo Con Dancehall	Brooklyn Funk Essentials	2006	“Mambo Con Dancehall” by the Brooklyn Funk Essentials was released in 2000. Originally conceived during a string of studio jam sessions by producers Arthur Baker and Lati Kronlund, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, the all-star group of musicians, singers, DJs and poets hailing from different parts of the globe, soon became regulars of New York’s vibrant club scene, famously mixing their funk with jazz, hip-hop, latin, soul and dub – all rolled into one ferocious funk fest.
groove aficionados	Calypso Queen	Calypso Rose	2016	“Calypso Queen” by Calypso Rose was released in 2016. Calypso Rose (born Linda McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis) is considered the “mother of calypso” and was the first female calypso star.
groove aficionados	Mas Que Nada (ft. Black Eyed Peas)	Sergio Mendes	2006	Mas Que Nada (ft. Black Eyed Peas), released in 2006, is a collaboration between Brazilian artist Sergio Mendes and the Black Eyed Peas, featuring vocals by Mendes’ wife, Gracinha Leporace. “Mas que Nada” is a song written and originally recorded in 1963 by Jorge Ben (currently known as Jorge Ben Jor).
groove aficionados	Dance or Die	Janelle Monáe feat. Saul Williams	2010	“Dance or Die” by Janelle Monáe, released in 2010, was written by Charles Joseph II, Janelle Monáe Robinson, Nathaniel Irvin III and Saul Williams, whose vocals also feature on the song.
groove aficionados	I’m Always Dancin’ to the Music	Benny Golson	1978	“I’m Always Dancin’ to the Music”, released in 1978, is written and performed by Multitalented and internationally famous jazz legend, Benny Golson.
groove aficionados	Baila Morena (ft. Maná)	Zucchero	2001	“Baila Morena”, released in 2001 is a collaboration between Italian artist Zucchero and Mexican band Maná. The song was written by Italian composer Roberto Zanetti (a.k.a. Robyx) and Adelmo Fornaciari (a.k.a. Zucchero ‘sugar’ Fornaciari).
groove aficionados	Marcia Baila	Rita Mitsouko	1984	“Marcia Baila” by Rita Mistouko, released in 1984, was composed by both members of the group, Catherine Ringer and Fred Chichin. It is a tribute to Argentinian dancer and choreographer Marcia Moretto, who participated in the band’s tours before her death from breast cancer in 1983 at the age of 36.
groove aficionados	I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)	Whitney Houston	1987	“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston was released in 1987 and written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam.
groove aficionados	Rhythm of the Night	DeBarge	1985	“Rhythm of the Night”, released in 1985 by DeBarge, one of the most successful Motown acts of the 80’s, was written by American Diane Eve Warren.
Referral	Sweet Soul Music	Arthur Conley	1967	“Sweet Soul Music” by Arthur Conley was released in 1967 and recorded at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. This was originally written by Sam Cooke as “Yeah Man”. the opening riff is a quote from Elmer Bernstein’s score for the 1960 movie The Magnificent Seven. Arthur Conley and Otis Redding updated it as a tribute to various Soul singers, referring to the songs “Going to a Go-Go”, by the Miracles, although the group is not explicitly mentioned, “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing”, by Lou Rawls, “Hold On, I’m Comin'”, by Sam & Dave “Mustang Sally”, by Wilson Pickett, “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)”, by Otis Redding. James Brown is described as “the king of them all”.
Referral	Hold On! I’m Coming	Sam & Dave	1966	“Hold On! I’m Coming” by Sam & Dave was released in 1966. While the title is something often heard in the bedroom, the song lyrics are actually quite innocent, with the duo offering emotional support to help the lady through some tough times. The story goes that writer David Porter was in the toilet and responded “Hold on man, I’m coming.” when his songwriting partner Isaac Hayes yelled at him to hurry up, which inspired him for a great title for a song. The song was recorded at the Stax Studios, a converted movie theater, located at 926 E McLemore Ave in Memphis.
Referral	Mustang Sally	Wilson Pickett	1984	“Mustang Sally” by Wilson Picket, released in 1966, was written by Bonny Rice, also known as Sir Mack Rice and recorded at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Referral	Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)	Otis Redding	2012	Otis Redding wrote this with Steve Cropper, the guitar player for Stax Records, where Redding was signed. David Porter, a producer-songwriter at Stax, sang the harmony vocals with Redding.
Referral	Love is a Hurting Thing	Lou Rawls	1966	“Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing” by Lou Rawls, released in 1966, was written by Ben Raleigh & Dave Linden (pseudonym used by David J. Luff). Marcia Hines covered the song in 1977
Referral	Twistin’ the Night Away	Sam Cooke	1962	“Twistin’ The Night Away” by Sam Cooke, released in 1962, was written after seeing TV footage of wealthy old women dancing at the Peppermint Lounge, a New York City nightclub. The Twist was a huge dance craze in the late ’50s and early ’60s.
Referral	Peppermint Twist	Joey Dee & The Starliters	1961	Joey Dee & The Starliters recorded “Peppermint Twist” in 1961 live at the Peppermint Lounge. The group from New Jersey performed as the house band of the Peppermint Lounge, a New York City nightclub that received worldwide attention when celebrities were photographed doing the popular dance at the venue. It inspired Sam Cooke to write “Twistin’ The Night Away”.
Referral	The Twist	Chubby Checker	1960	“The Twist” by Chubby Checker, released in 1960, was written by Hank Ballard, who originally recorded it in 1959 with his group The Midnighters. The Twist (Chubby Checker explained it as “like putting out a cigarette with both feet and coming out of a shower and wiping your bottom with a towel to the beat”)
Referral	Let’s Dance	Chris Montez	1962	“Let’s Dance” by Mexican American singer Chris Montez, released in 1962, was written by Jim Lee and refers to dance steps that were popular with teenagers in the Sixties, such as The Twist, The Stomp, and the Mashed Potato.
Referral	The Loco-motion	Little Eva	1962	“The Loco-motion” by Little Eva, released in 1962, was written by husband-and-wife songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin. Little Eva (born Eva Boyd) was their daughter Louise’s nanny.
Referral	Hardrock Cafe	Carole King	1977	“Hardrock Cafe” by Carole King, released in 1977, is a shameless song-ad for the local Hard Rock Cafe in the US. In London, The Hard Rock Cafe was opened on June 14, 1971, by Americans Peter Morton and Isaac Tigrett.
Referral	La Grange	ZZ Top	1973	The Chicken Ranch, or Miss Edna’s Boarding House in La Grange, Texas
Referral	Sultans Of Swing	Dire Straits	1998	“Sultans Of Swing” by Dire Straits, released in 1998, was written by group leader Mark Knopfler who got the idea from watching a mediocre band closing out the night to an audience in a club in Ipswich on a rainy night. The “Guitar George” is George Young, AC/DC Angus Young’s older brother and “Harry” is Harry Vander, both were guitarists in the band The Easybeats.
Referral	All the young dudes	Mott The Hoople	1972	“All The Young Dudes” was written and produced by David Bowie. Besides producing the track, Bowie played guitar, sang backup, and clapped. Mott The Hoople had a cult following in the UK and Bowie was a big fan. The lyrics were inspired by Bowie’s vision of Mott the Hoople as a Clockwork Orange-style street gang. Even though the band was heterosexual, this became a gay anthem, at least in America, thanks to lyrics like “Lucy looks sweet ’cause he dresses like a queen.”
Referral	Ziggy Stardust	David Bowie	1972	“Ziggy Stardust” by David Bowie, released in 1972, is about the character Ziggy Stardust growing too conceited: “Making love with his ego, Ziggy sucked up into his mind.” Ziggy Stardust is a character Bowie created with the help of his then-wife, Angela. Iggy Pop (note the name: zIGGY), Lou Reed, Marc Bolan, Gene Vincent and Jimi Hendrix (“He played it left hand, but made it too far” – Hendrix was left-handed), were all likely influences on the character Ziggy Stardust, but the only musician Bowie admits was a direct influence is Vince Taylor, an English singer who took the “rock star” persona to the extreme, calling himself Mateus and declaring himself the son of God. Taylor was popular in France in the early ’60s, and Bowie met him in 1966, after his popularity had faded.
Referral	Sweet Gene Vincent	Ian Dury	1977	“Sweet Gene Vincent” by Ian Dury, released in 1977, is a tribute song to the American rock n’ roller Gene Vincent. Dury was a massive fan of Vincent with whom he shared a disability. Dury was crippled by childhood polio; Vincent smashed his left leg in a 1955 motor accident. Iggy Pop was diagnosed with scoliosis, with one leg being one and a half inches shorter than the other.
Referral	Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band	The Beatles	1967	Paul McCartney wrote this and sang lead. After recording it, he had the idea of doing the whole album as if Sgt. Pepper was a real band. It became the title track of what was considered a “concept” album, with the songs running seamlessly together on the record. The title is a parody of American bands who were choosing ridiculously long names for their groups.
Referral	Bennie And The Jets	Elton John	1973	“Bennie And The Jets”, released in 1973, by Elton John, is about a fictional band. The song was recorded in the studio, with live sound effects added in later like from a 1972 performance of Elton John in the Royal Festival Hall and a 1970 Jimi Hendrix concert at the Isle of Wight.
Referral	Down On The Corner	Creedence Clearwater Revival	1969	“Down on the corner”, released in 1969, by Creedence Clearwater Revival, is about a fictional band Willy and the Poor Boys, and how they play on street corners to cheer people up and ask for five-cent coins.
Referral	The Guitar Man	Bread	1972	“The Guitar Man”, released in 1972, by American band Bread, written by frontman David Gates, is a song about performers.
Referral	One Man Band	Leo Sayer	1974	“One Man Band” was first recorded by The Who’s frontman Roger Daltrey in 1973 and co-written by English-Australian singer Leo Sayer, who recorded it in 1974.
Referral	Jackie Wilson Said	Van Morrison	1972	“Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)”, released in 1972, written and performed by Van Morrison, was “particularly inspired” by a line in Jackie Wilson’s song “Reet Petite”.
Referral	Reet Petite	Jackie Wilson	1957	“Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl in Town)” (originally subtitled “The Finest Girl You Ever Want to Meet”), released in 1957 by Jackie Wilson, written by Berry Gordy, Gwen Gordy Fuqua, and Wilson’s cousin Roquel “Billy” Davis, its title was taken from the 1948 Louis Jordan song “Reet, Petite and Gone” (“reet” meaning in jazz lingo, “fantastic”).
Referral	Marvin Gaye (ft. Meghan Trainor)	Charlie Puth	2015	“Marvin Gaye”, released in 2015, by Charlie Puth, featuring his friend Meghan Trainor, uses ‘Marvin Gaye’ as a euphemism for sex.
Referral	D.A.N.C.E.	Justice	2007	“D.A.N.C.E.”, released in 2007, by French electronic music duo Justice, consisting of Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, is dedicated to Michael Jackson, of which the duo are huge fans. The song includes a number of references to Jackson’s songs like “Beat It”, “Black Or White,” “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”, “Workin’ Day and Night” as well as the Jackson 5 hit “ABC” and album Music and Me. Inspired by Larry Levan’s disco mix of “Stand on the Word,” a 1985 song by the Joubert Singers, the vocals were provided by the London-based Foundation for Young Musicians choir.
Referral	The Songs That We Sing	Charlotte Gainsbourg	2007	“The Songs That We Sing” by Charlotte Gainsbourg is written by Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon. Singer and actress Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg (born 21 July 1971) is the daughter of English actress Jane Birkin and French singer and songwriter Serge Gainsbourg.
Referral	This Is the Life	Amy MacDonald	2007	“This Is The Life”, released in 2007, written and performed by Amy MacDonald, is about how great it is to be a musician.
Referral	When We Was Fab	George Harrison	1987	“When We Was Fab”, released in 1987, by George Harrison, is about the days of Beatlemania, when the group was known as “The Fab 4”, featuring Ringo Starr as the drummer. George Harrison plays at the end a bit of sitar and his friend Gary Wright, whom he had in 1972 invited on a trip to India, plays piano on the track.
Rhythm Rebels	Can You Feel It	The Jacksons	2016	“Can You Feel It” by The Jacksons, released in 1980, was written by Michael and Jackie Jackson.
Rhythm Rebels	I Love Music	The O’Jays	1975	“I Love Music” by The O’Jays, released in 1975, was written by the legendary songwriting duo Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
Rhythm Rebels	Chihuahua	DJ BoBo	2005	“Chihuahua” by DJ BoBo, released in 2003, is based on the 1955 hit by Louis Oliveira and His Bandodalua Boys, written by Aloysio De Oliveira and Bob Russell, and was used in an advert for Coca-Cola on the European continent.
Rhythm Rebels	Double Dutch Bus	Frankie Smith	1994	“Double Dutch Bus” by Frankie Smith, released in 1981, celebrates the urban playground game Double Dutch.
Rhythm Rebels	(Are You Ready) Do the Bus Stop	Fatback Band	1995	“(Are You Ready) Do the Bus Stop” by the Fatback Band, released in 1975, encourages listeners to dance the “Bus Stop,” a popular line dance of the time.
Rhythm Rebels	Miss Broadway	Belle Epoque	1977	“Miss Broadway”, released in 1977, is a Euro disco hit by Belle Epoque, a female vocal trio that was based in Paris, France.
Rhythm Rebels	Hallelujah (Club mix)	Happy Mondays	2017	“Hallelujah (Club mix)” was released in 1990 by the Happy Mondays, formed out of the “madchester” musical and cultural scene of the late 1980s to mid-1990s in the English city of Manchester.
Rhythm Rebels	God is a DJ	Faithless	1998	“God is a DJ” by Faithless, released in 1998, was written by band leader Maxi Jazz and producing-duo Rollo & Sister Bliss.
Rhythm Rebels	Free	Ultra Nate	1997	“Free” was released in 1997 by Baltimore singer/songwriter/DJ/producer and music legend Ultra Naté. The song was written by John C. Ciafone, Lemuel Loring Springsteen and Ultra Naté Wyche.
Rhythm Rebels	Freed From Desire	Gala	1996	The Buddhist concept “Freed From Desire”, released in 1996, by the Italian singer Gala has become a stadium anthem for various sports teams. Gala Rizzatto is New York-based Italian singer-songwriter born in Milan on 6 september 1972.
Rhythm Rebels	Sing Hallelujah	Dr. Alban	1993	“Sing Hallelujah”, released in 1993, by Dr. Alban, was written by Swedish DJ Dag Krister Volle (a.k.a. Denniz PoP) and Nigerian born, Swedish musician and producer, Alban Uzoma Nwapa, owning a dentistry practice, hence the name Dr. Alban.
Rhythm Rebels	Gangnam Style	PSY	2012	“Gangnam Style”, released in 2012, by Korean K-pop artist PSY (born Park Jae-Sang), is a satirical take on the lavish lifestyle of Seoul’s Gangnam district.
Rhythm Rebels	Boom Shack-A-Lak – Edit	Apache Indian	1993	“Boom Shack-A-Lak” was released in 1993 by Apache Indian (born Steven Kapur), an early innovator in combining West Indian and Asian styles within the UK music scene, also known as Don Raja.
Rhythm Rebels	I Like To Move It	Reel 2 Real & Mad Stuntman	1993	“I Like To Move It”, released in 1993, by Reel 2 Real & Mad Stuntman, was written by Mark Quashie (a.k.a. Mad Stuntman) and Colombian-American DJ and house music producer Erick Morillo.
Rhythm Rebels	Mr. bombastic	Shaggy	1995	“Mr. bombastic” was released in 1995 by, Jamaican born, artist Shaggy (Orville Richard Burrell)
Rhythm Rebels	La Bomba	King Africa	2000	“La Bomba” was released in 2000 by Argentine project King Africa with Alan Duffy, an Argentine vocalist of British descent. The song was initially released in 1998 by Bolivian band Azul Azul and written by Fabio Zambrana.
Rhythm Rebels	Sweat (A La La La La Long)	Inner Circle	1992	“Sweat (A La La La La Long)” released in 1992, by Inner Circle, was written by founding members Ian and Robert Lewis and vocalised by a past member Calton Coffie.
Rhythm Rebels	Pass The Dutchie	Musical Youth	1982	“Pass The Dutchie”, released in 1982, by British-Jamaican band Musical Youth, combined two songs: “Gimme the Music” by U Brown, and “Pass the Kouchie” by Mighty Diamonds. Kouchie, being slang for a cannabis pipe was replaced by Dutchie a patois term for a cooking pot.
Rhythm Rebels	Here Comes The Hotstepper	Ini Kamoze	1994	“Here Comes the Hotstepper”, released in 1994, by Jamaican reggae artist Ini Kamoze (born Cecil Campbell; 9 October 1957) contains several samples, including vocals from “The Champ” by The Mohawks, “Hot Pants” by Bobby Byrd, and “La Di Da Di” by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick. The song’s instrumental samples the drums and bass from “Heartbeat” by Taana Gardner and guitar notes from “Hung Up on My Baby” by Isaac Hayes. The song uses the “na na na na na…” chorus from the Cannibal and the Headhunters version of “Land of a Thousand Dances,” and the verse vocal melody is reminiscent of The Beatles’ “Come Together”, which was inspired by Chuck Berry’s “You Can’t Catch Me”.
Rhythm Rebels	Groovin	Pato Banton	1996	“Groovin'” is a song written by the American singer songwriters Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati, initially recorded by their group the Young Rascals in 1967. Cavaliere once stated that the song is a reflection of the bliss he felt relaxing with his girlfriend Adrienne Buccheri on Sunday afternoons, watching the world go by”. London born reggae artist Pato Banton (born Patrick Murray; 28 January 1961) released in 1996 a cover version with the Reggae Revolution.
Rhythm Rebels	I Don’t Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head”)	The Gap Band	1979	“I Don’t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops!)”, re-titled “Oops Up Side Your Head” or “Oops Upside Your Head”, released in 1979, by the R&B group the Gap Band is full of nursery rhyme allusions, such as “Jack and Jill went up the hill to have a little fun/stupid Jill forgot her pill and now they’ve got a son.”, “Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall/Humpty Dumpty had a great fall… I say he cracked on the whack!” and Little Miss Muffet and Mary Had a Little Lamb.
Rhythm Rebels	Spank	Jimmy “Bo” Horne	1979	“Spank”, released in 1979, by Jimmy “Bo” Horne, is written by Ronald Louis Smith, the original kc and the sunshine band trumpet player, the leader of the horn section and choreographer.
Rhythm Rebels	Make My Day (Haunting)	Eyerer & Chopstick	2007	“Make My Day (Haunting)”, released in 2007, written and performed by Eyerer & Chopstick (i.e. Martin Eyerer & Chi-Thien Nguyen) features the vocals of French electronic producer, sound engineer, and studio owner Zdar (Philippe Cerboneschi)
family ties	Let Your Love Flow	The Bellamy Brothers	1976	“Let Your Love Flow” by The Bellamy Brothers, released in 1976, was written by Larry Williams, one of Neil Diamond’s roadies. Howard Bellamy and David Bellamy are brothers.
family ties	Nights on Broadway	Bee Gees	1975	“Nights on Broadway”, released in 1975, was written by Barry and Robin Gibb. Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb are brothers. Though it is widely believed that the Bee Gees first got their name from being the Brothers Gibb, this meaning did not come until a few years after their founding. When the brothers moved to Australia in 1958, they began playing on the radio with friends Bill Goode and Bill Gates. The groups name was originally The BG’s – contrived from the common initials between Barry Gibb, Bill Goode, and Bill Gates. The name then evolved from The BG’s to the Bee Gees which eventually came to mean the Brothers Gibb!
family ties	Stomp!	Brothers Johnson	1980	“Stomp!” is a song released in 1980 by the Brothers Johnson, a funk and R&B band consisting of the American brothers George (“Lightnin’ Licks”) and Louis E. Johnson (“Thunder Thumbs”).
family ties	Jump	The Pointer Sisters	1983	“Jump (For My Love)”, released in 1984 by The Pointer Sisters, features June Pointer as lead vocals with Ruth Pointer and Anita Pointer as the backing vocals. Louis Johnson from the Brothers Johnson plays bass.
family ties	Shake Your Body	The Jacksons	1978	“Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”, released in 1978, by the Jacksons, is written by Randy and Michael, and features Michael on lead vocals.
family ties	Everyday People	Sly & the Family Stone	1968	“Everyday People” is a 1968 song composed by Sly Stone and first recorded by his band, Sly and the Family Stone, consisting of Sly Stone (vocals), Rose Stone (vocals and piano) and Freddie Stone (vocals and guitar).
family ties	Behind a Painted Smile	The Isley Brothers	1967	“Behind a Painted Smile”, released in 1967, written by Ivy Jo Hunter and Beatrice Verdi, was recorded by The Isley Brothers. Formed in the mid-’50s as a teenage gospel quartet by the eldest four Isley Brothers (O’Kelly, Rudolph, Ronald and Vernon), the original configuration of the group quit performing when Vernon was tragically killed at age 13 when riding his bike. In 1957, at the urging of their parents, the remaining three brothers moved to New York City to make it as a rock ’n’ roll band, and the first song they wrote together was “Shout!”. In 1973, the younger brothers Ernie and Marvin joined the band alongside their brother in law, Chris Jasper.
family ties	Cathy’s Clown	The Everly Brothers	1960	“Cathy’s Clown”, released 1960 by The Everly Brothers, is written by Don Everly. It was recorded live in a single take, with Don and Phil sharing a microphone. The distinctive drum sound was achieved by recording them with a tape loop, making it sound as if there were two drummers.
family ties	Brother Jake	The Neville Brothers	1998	“Brother Jake” was released in 1990 by The Neville Brothers, an American funk group, formed in 1976 in New Orleans, consisting of Aaron Neville, Joel Neville, Cyril Neville, Art Neville and Charles Neville.
family ties	Good Texan	The Vaughan Brothers	1990	“Good Texan” by The Vaughan Brothers, released in 1990, features brothers Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan and was co-written and produced by Neil Rodgers.
family ties	Mujer contra mujer	Mecano	1988	“Mujer contra mujer” (in English “woman against woman” and released in France as “Une femme avec une femme”) is a 1990 song by Spanish pop band Mecano. Formed in 1981 and active until 1992, it became one of the most successful Spanish pop bands of all time, consisting of singer Ana Torroja and brothers Nacho and José María Cano.
family ties	Only When I Sleep	The Corrs	1997	“Only When I Sleep”, released in 1997, is a song by Irish folk rock band The Corrs. The group consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea (lead vocals, tin whistle, mandolin, ukulele), Sharon (violin, keyboards, vocals), Caroline (drums, percussion, piano, bodhrán, vocals) and Jim (guitar, piano, keyboards, vocals).
family ties	Let There Be Lonely	The Secret Sisters	2013	“”Let There Be Lonely” was released in 2013 by The Secret Sisters, the Alabama-bred siblings Laura and Lydia Rogers from Muscle Shoals.
family ties	Something Tells Me	BAILEN	2019	“Something Tells Me”, released in 2019 by BAILEN, explore the feelings of excitement and hesitation that come with falling in love. The Bailen siblings are comprised of fraternal twins Daniel and David and their younger sister Julia.
family ties	God Only Knows	The Beach Boys	1966	“God Only Knows”, released in 1966 by American rock band the Beach Boys, is written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher. Formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961, the group’s original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. On April 9, 1965, Bruce Johnston joined the band replacing Glen Campbell, who briefly filled in as a touring member for Brian Wilson, and had declined an offer to officially join the band.
family ties	Oh Lori	Alessi Brothers	1977	“Oh, Lori” was the biggest hit in 1977 for Alessi Brothers, identical twins Billy and Bobby Alessi, born on Long Island in 1954. Billy wrote it for his wife Lori at the time they were living in L.A.
family ties	We’ve Only Just Begun	The Carpenters	1970	“We’ve Only Just Begun” written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols, was initially for a bank commercial. The American siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter recorded it in 1970 and it became a popular wedding song. Songwriters Paul Williams and Roger Nichols were commissioned by an advertising agency to write it in 1968 for Crocker Bank, which was trying to attract young people and newlyweds to their institution. Playboy magazine’s readers voted Karen Carpenter as Best Rock Drummer of 1975. Karen died in 1983 from heart failure and complications of anorexia.
family ties	All Day and All of the Night	The Kinks	1964	“All Day and All of the Night”, released in 1964, was recorded by The Kinks, an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, in 1963 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies, Mick Avory and Pete Quaife. The guitar solo break by writer Dave Davies is truly inspired and difficult to copy, and deemed to be so excellent that for many years it was claimed that Jimmy Page played the break – however, it has been documented, and confirmed by Ray Davies, that Dave made up and played the solo himself, accidentally augmenting the unique riff by playing it through an amp with a hole in it.
family ties	Weather With You	Crowded House	1992	“Weather with You”, released in 1992, is a song by New Zealand-Australian rock band Crowded House consisting of Neil Finn (vocals, guitar, piano) and drummer Paul Hester and Neil Finn, the younger brother of Split Enz founding member Tim Finn. Liam Mullane Finn (born 24 September 1983), the son of musicians Sharon and Neil Finn, joined the band in 2020.
family ties	Wonderwall	Oasis	1995	“Wonderwall”, released in 1995, written by Noel Gallagher, was recorded by OASIS, an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991, initially consisting of Liam Gallagher (lead vocals, tambourine), Paul Arthurs (guitar), Paul McGuigan (bass guitar) and Tony McCarroll (drums), with Liam’s older brother Noel Gallagher (lead guitar, vocals) joining as a fifth member a few months after their formation. Liam and Noel Gallagher were unashamed about their sky scraping ambitions: they wanted to write better songs than anyone else, they wanted to sell more records than anyone else, they wanted to play bigger shows than anyone else.
family ties	Magic Man	Heart	1975	“Magic Man”, released in 1975, is a song by the American rock band Heart, written and composed by Ann and Nancy Wilson. The song is an autobiographical tale of the beginnings of Ann Wilson’s relationship with band manager Michael Fisher.
family ties	Want You Back	HAIM	2017	“Want You Back”, released in 2017, is recorded by American band HAIM. The band from San Fernando Valley, California, formed in 2007, consists of sisters Este, Danielle & Alana Haim.
family ties	Crazy Horses	The Osmonds	1972	“Crazy Horses”, released in 1972, is a song by The Osmonds. The song is the only hit record from the Osmonds to feature Jay Osmond as lead vocalist. Donny, the usual co-lead, had no vocal parts because his voice was changing, due to puberty. The Osmonds consisted of brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay, later joined by younger siblings Donny and Jimmy. Their only sister Marie, who rarely sang with her brothers at that time, launched a successful career in 1973, both as a solo artist and as Donny’s duet partner.
family ties	Jessica	The Allman Brothers Band	1973	“Jessica”, released in 1973, is an instrumental piece by American rock band the Allman Brothers Band (ABB), as the second single from the album, Brothers and Sisters, the record that made the ABB the kings of America. The song, written by guitarist Dickey Betts and named after his daughter Jessica Betts, is a tribute to gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, in that it was designed to be played using only two fingers on the left hand. It has been used as theme for the British TV series Top Gear.
Global Issues	Are you ready	Pacific Gas & Electric	1970	“Are You Ready?”, released in 1970, is a song written by Charlie Allen and John Hill and performed by American band Pacific Gas & Electric, featuring the back-up vocal group The Blackberries.
Global Issues	Where Is the Love?	The Black Eyed Peas	2003	The song was released during the Iraq war and was initially intended as a vessel to post-9/11 anxiety. Moreover, it discusses many issues including terrorism, US government hypocrisy, racism, gang crime, pollution, war, and intolerance, with the call for love in the chorus as the element tying these together.
Global Issues	I Love a Man in a Uniform (Yeah Yeah Yeahs remix)	Gang of Four	2005	“I Love a Man in a Uniform”, released in 2005, by English band Gang of Four, is full of the sarcasm, trashing the machismo that’s used as a marketing tool of the armed forces.
Global Issues	Please Don’t	David Byrne & Fatboy Slim	2010	“Please Don’t” by Scottish-American singer, songwriter, David Byrne & Fatboy Slim features Santi White (known professionally as Santigold). “Please Don’t” by former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne and English DJ Fatboy Slim is about the life of the ex First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos and her relationship with a servant from her childhood.
Global Issues	Let ’em In	Billy Paul	1977	“Let ‘em Im” was written by Paul McCartney, who released the original with his band Wings in 1976. Billy Paul covered the song in 1977, substituting a list of notable African-American figures such as Malcolm X and Louis Armstrong in lieu of the people named in the original.
Global Issues	Who Are These People?	Burt Bacharach	2005	“Who are these people?” by Burt Bacharach, features vocals by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, and is an anti-violence ode and attack on the George W Bush administration.
Global Issues	F*** You	Lily Allen	2009	“F*** You”, released in 2009, by Lily Allen is a hard-hitting attack on racism, US President George W. Bush and neo-Nazism.
Global Issues	Makes Me Wonder	Maroon 5	2007	“Makes Me Wonder”, released in 2007, by American band Maroon 5, contains political insinuations disguised as a love song and combines lyrics about being in a state of a failed relationship and the “failure to understand or trust” the leadership of their country.
Global Issues	People Have the Power	Patti Smith	1988	“People Have the Power”, released in 1988, is a rock song written by Patti Smith and her late husband Fred “Sonic” Smith, reminding the listener of their individual power but also of the collective power of the people, how we can do anything.
Global Issues	Tick Tock	The Vaughan Brothers	1990	“Tick Tock”, released in 1990, by The Vaughan Brothers, was written by Jerry Lynn Williams, Jimmie Vaughan and Neil Rodgers. Stevie Ray, Jimmy Vaughan’s younger brother, sings simple, yet heartfelt lyrics about time running out for the people of the world to come together in harmony. On August 27, 1990, Stevie Ray boarded a helicopter to fly to Chicago after finishing a gig with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray and Jimmie. The helicopter crashed in the dead of the night and Stevie Ray Vaughan died at age 35.
Global Issues	Make You Crazy	Brett Dennen & Femi Kuti	2008	“Make You Crazy”, released in 2008, by Brett Dennen & Femi Kuti, is a catchy song about all the injustice in the world.
Global Issues	Master Blaster (Jammin’)	Stevie Wonder	1980	“Master Blaster (Jammin’)”, released in 1980, by Stevie Wonder, envisions the people of the world coming together in peace and pays tribute to Bob Marley in this song, using a reggae rhythm and mentioning Marley in the line, “Marley’s hot on the box”. The title is a reference to the Bob Marley song “Jamming,” which appears on his 1977 album Exodus.
Global Issues	Jamming	Bob Marley & The Wailers	1977	“Jamming”, released in 1977, is a song by Bob Marley and the Wailers from their 1977 album Exodus. In Jamaican patois the word jamming refers to a getting together or celebration.
Global Issues	U’Huh	Sinkane	2017	Sinkane (born Ahmed Gallab), is a Sudanese-American musician, bringing a unique blend of indie rock, funk, and pop to his music. “U’Huh” tells about his personal experiences as an immigrant and a minority. Kulu shi tamaam is an Arabic phrase that means “Everything is going well”. The song encourages individuals to break free from societal constraints, embrace their true self, and overcome obstacles that come their way.
Global Issues	The Way It Is	Bruce Hornsby & the Range	1986	“The Way It Is”, released in 1986, by Bruce Hornsby & the Range deals with the need to resist complacency and never resign yourself to racial injustice as the status quo. The lyrics refer to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mentioning “The law passed in ’64”, supposed to prohibit discrimination in public places, the government and employment in the United States.
Global Issues	Amazing Grace	Judy Collins	1970	“Amazing Grace”, recording by Judy Collins in 1970, has been used as an anthem for many causes, from the U.S. Civil War to the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the anti-Vietnam war rallies of the late 60s and early 70s, and most recently by the pro-life side of the national debate over gun violence. It was initially written as a poem in 1772 by John Newton and composed with the melody of “New Britain” in 1835 by William Walker. Judith Marjorie Collins (1 May 1939 -) is an American singer and songwriter best known for her clear soprano voice and imaginative song interpretations and for her social activism, being active in politics, social issues and children’s issues as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.
Global Issues	Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen	Louis Armstrong	1958	Louis Armstrong recorded in 1958 his own cover of “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen”, an African-American spiritual song that originated during the period of slavery (but was not published until 1867), with The Sy Oliver Choir.
Global Issues	Another Day In Paradise	Phil Collins	1989	“Another Day In Paradise”, released in 1989, written and performed by Phil Collins, addresses the consequences of ignoring the needy and homeless.
Global Issues	Eleanor Rigby	The Beatles	1966	With “Eleanor Rigby”, released in 1966, The Beatles took a bleak message of depression and desolation with a sombre, almost funeral-like backing, to the number one spot of the pop charts, although none of the Beatles members played instruments on it (Lennon and Harrison did contribute harmony vocals).
Global Issues	Fast Car	Tracy Chapman	1988	“Fast Car”, released in 1988, written and performed by Tracy Chapman, is considered as an “optimistic folk-rock narrative” about characters living in a homeless shelter, including a working woman trying to escape the cycle of poverty. Or it could also be basically about a relationship that doesn’t work out because it’s starting from the wrong place?
Global Issues	Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out	Nina Simone	2010	“Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out”, released in 1960, by Nina Simone is a cover of a song written by Jimmy Cox in 1923, the decade when unprecedented prosperity in the US was just starting to roar, to warn that fortune, and the friendships gained from it, are fleeting. Bessie Smith’s release in September 1929 coincided with the start of the Wall Street Crash that initiated the Great Depression.
mind the gap	À caus’ des garçons	À Caus’ Des Garçons	1987	“À Caus’ Des Garçons” (because of the boys), was written by Pierre Grillet and Alain Chamfort, The song became an anthem of girl power in France and was later covered and remixed by several artists.
mind the gap	Les Brunes Ne Comptent Pas Pour Des Prunes	Lio	1986	“Les Brunes Ne Comptent Pas Pour Des Prunes”, by Belgian singer Lio, was written by Alain Chamfort, Jacques Duvall and translates to “Brunettes Don’t Count for Plums,” highlighting the appeal of brunettes in a playful manner, asserting that brunettes are just as valuable and attractive as blondes, challenging the stereotypes and clichés about hair colour.
mind the gap	Barbie Girl	Lady Aqua	1997	“Barbie Girl” by Danish–Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua, was released in May 1997 as a satirical pop song that comments on the superficial and materialistic aspects of modern culture, using the iconic Barbie doll as a metaphor. The satirical dance-pop song became a worldwide hit and sparked a lawsuit from Mattel, the makers of Barbie.
mind the gap	Stupid Girl	Garbage	1995	“Stupid Girl” by the American-Scottish alternative rock band Garbage criticizes superficiality and was inspired by lead singer Shirley Manson’s personal experiences.
mind the gap	Mädchen mit Plan	2raumwohnung	2002	“Mädchen mit Plan” by German pop duo 2raumwohnung, Inga Humpe and her partner Tommi Eckart, celebrates a girl with a plan, symbolizing confidence, ambition, and determination in navigating life.
mind the gap	All That She Wants	Ace of Base	2008	“All That She Wants” by Swedish pop group Ace of Base, written by Jonas Berggren, Ulf Ekberg, describes a carefree, independent woman who is not looking for a committed relationship, but rather enjoying life on her own terms.
mind the gap	I’m Not Your Regular Woman	Marta Ren & The Groovelvets	2015	“I’m Not Your Regular Woman” written and performed by Portuguese soul singer Marta Ren and her band The Groovelvets is about a woman asserting her individuality and refusing to conform to societal norms or expectations.
mind the gap	Think	Aretha Franklin	1968	“Think” written by Aretha Franklin and Ted White is an anthem for female empowerment and civil rights, urging people to think about respect, freedom, and equality in relationships and society.
mind the gap	Sweet About Me	Gabriella Cilmi	2008	“Sweet About Me”, performed by Australian singer Gabriella Cilmi, is about self-awareness and the complexity of one’s personality, acknowledging that appearances can be deceiving. The song was co-written by the then 16-year-old Cilmi together with Xenomania.
mind the gap	Express Yourself	Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band	1993	“Express Yourself” is the signature song of Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, about individuality and being true to yourself no matter what anyone else says.
mind the gap	In a Manner of Speaking	Tuxedomoon	1985	The song by Winston Tong explores themes of communication, misunderstanding, and the limitations of language in expressing complex emotions and experiences. Martin L. Gore (Depeche Mode) covered the song. Tuxedomoon was a group of musicians and performers formed in San Francisco in 1977 and whose main members included Blaine Reininger, Steven Brown, Peter Principle, Winston Tong, Luc van Lieshout and Bruce Geduldig. In 1981, they fled Ronald Reagan’s America and established themselves in Brussels where they created the score for a ballet by Maurice Bejart, released in 1982 as “Divine”. In 1985 the band had their largest success commercially with the international release of Holy Wars.
mind the gap	Strong	London Grammar	2013	“Strong” by London Grammar, released in 2013, reflects on vulnerability and the struggle to maintain strength in the face of emotional challenges, emphasizing resilience. London Grammar are an English indie pop band formed in Nottingham in 2009, consisting of Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman and Dominic “Dot” Major.
mind the gap	Adia	Sarah McLachlan	2011	“Adia”, released in 2011, by Sarah McLachlan is about her problems in dealing with feeling responsible for everyone else. In a radio interview, she stated that it was inspired by the way her father always felt responsible for making sure everyone was happy. In concert however she tells a story about falling in love with her best friend’s ex. Adia is a female name meaning “God’s Gift.” McLachlan chose it simply because she liked the sound of it.
mind the gap	Beautiful	Christina Aguilera	2002	“Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera, written by Linda Perry, is an empowering ballad that encourages self-acceptance and inner beauty, addressing issues of self-esteem and confidence.
mind the gap	I Am What I Am	Gloria Gaynor	1984	“I Am What I Am” by Gloria Gaynor, released in 1984, is a declaration of self-acceptance and individuality, often associated with LGBTQ+ pride and empowerment. “I Am What I Am” is a song composed by Jerry Herman for the Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles.
mind the gap	Pot Belly	Freshlyground	2014	“Pot Belly”, released in 2014, performed by South African band Freshlyground, humorously addresses societal standards of beauty and body image, promoting self-love and acceptance.
mind the gap	All the Girls Are Complicated	Laura Cantrell	2013	“All the Girls Are Complicated”, written and performed by American country singer Laura Cantrell, explores the complexities of women’s lives and emotions, highlighting the depth and intricacies of their experiences.
mind the gap	Mouthwash	Kate Nash	2007	“Mouthwash” by British singer-songwriter Kate Nash, is a quirky song about everyday insecurities and self-affirmation, promoting the idea of embracing one’s imperfections.
mind the gap	Use Me	Bill Withers	1972	“Use Me”, released in 1972 by Bill Withers, discusses the complexities of a relationship where one person feels used but continues to stay because of love and attachment. Withers was inspired by his employer while working as a mechanic making airplane parts making $3 an hour and wasn’t getting much attention from the ladies.
mind the gap	Do You Really Want to Hurt Me	Boy George & Culture Club	1982	“Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” was written by the four members of Culture Club: Boy George, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig, Jon Moss. A reggae-influenced song about vulnerability and the pain of emotional hurt in relationships, often seen as a reflection of Boy George’s personal experiences with Jon.
mind the gap	Trouble Me	10,000 Maniacs	1989	“Trouble Me” by 10,000 Maniacs, composed by Dennis Drew and lyrics by Natalie Merchant, was written for Merchant’s father, Anthony, who was hospitalized at the time, and features background vocals by Gospel singer Jevetta Steele.
mind the gap	Did Somebody (Make A Fool Out Of You)	Van Orly	2003	Did Somebody (Make A Fool Out Of You) by Van Orly (Saskia Lucia Bernardina van Oerle born in 1958), released in 2003, was originally written and performed by Tony Joe White. It addresses the feelings of betrayal and hurt when someone realizes they have been deceived or taken advantage of. During the Covid-outbreak she wrote her observations into a book “Machtmerries”.
mind the gap	Better Be Good To Me	Tina Turner	1984	“Better Be Good To Me” by Tina Turner, released in 1984, was written by Mike Chapman, (Nicky Chinn) and Holly Knight for her band Spider in 1981. It is an empowering rock anthem demanding respect and good treatment in a relationship, showcasing Turner’s powerful vocals and strength.
mind the gap	Til I’m Done	Paloma Faith	2017	“Til I’m Done”, released in 2017 by Paloma Faith, celebrates resilience and determination. Paloma Faith Blomfield is a British singer-songwriter and actress, born 21 July 1981 in Hackney, London from an English mother and Spanish father. She wrote a book “MILF or MOTHERHOOD IDENTITY LOVE F*CKERY” for adults and created “Paloma’s Bedtime” stories, sleep sounds, and soothing songs to help put your little ones to sleep.
mind-blown	I Feel Free	Cream	1966	“I Feel Free” by Cream, is written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown. It’s known for its a cappella introduction and energetic chorus, marking a shift towards psychedelic rock.
mind-blown	Spirit in the Sky	Norman Greenbaum	1970	“Spirit in the Sky” written and performed by Norman Greenbaum, whose from Jewish heritage, has a distinctly Christian theme. It became an iconic 1970s anthem known for its fuzz guitar and uplifting lyrics about the afterlife.
mind-blown	Out of time Man	Mano Negra	1991	“Out of Time Man” by French band Mano Negra, is written by frontman Manu Chao, combines Latin rhythms with a narrative about feeling disconnected from the modern world.
mind-blown	Out of Time	Chris Farlowe	1966	“Out of Time” written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, was released in 1966 by English rock, blues and soul singer Chris Farlowe (born John Henry Deighton, 13 October 1940).
mind-blown	Time Is On My Side	The Rolling Stones	1964	“Time Is On My Side” by The Rolling Stones, was written by Jerry Ragovoy (as Norman Meade). The song’s refrain became an iconic phrase representing the optimism of youth. The song was first recorded by jazz trombonist Kai Winding and his orchestra in 1963, it was covered (with additional lyrics by Jimmy Norman) by both soul singer Irma Thomas and then later the Rolling Stones in 1964.
mind-blown	The Days of Pearly Spencer	David McWilliams	2016	“The Days of Pearly Spencer” written and performed by David McWilliams, tells the story of a down-and-out man.
mind-blown	Feel the Need in Me	The Detroit Emeralds	1972	“Feel the Need in Me” is the 1973 transatlantic hit single by The Detroit Emeralds, written by Abrim Tilmon, characterized by its smooth vocal harmonies and catchy rhythm, making it a dance floor favourite.
mind-blown	Plastic Man	The Temptations	1973	“Plastic Man” by The Temptations, written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, is a funky song that critiques inauthenticity and materialism.
mind-blown	Perfect	The Lightning Seeds	1995	“Perfect” by The Lightning Seeds, written by Ian Broudie, helped define the band’s jangly Britpop sound with its catchy melody
mind-blown	To Make My Life Beautiful	Alex Harvey	1972	“To Make My Life Beautiful” written and performed by Alex Harvey, is a poignant ballad about the transformative power of love and beauty. Alex Harvey (Born: March 10, 1947 – Died: April 4, 2020) was an American country singer, songwriter, author, actor, and radio host.
mind-blown	Daydream	Wallace Collection	1969	“Daydream” by Belgian Wallace Collection, written and composed by Sylvain Vanholme, Raymond Vincent and David MacKay, is standing out for its lush orchestration and melancholic yet uplifting lyrics.
mind-blown	You Were On My Mind	Crispian St. Peters	1965	“You Were On My Mind” by Crispian St. Peters, written by Canadian folk country singer/songwriter Sylvia Tyson (born Sylvia Anne Fricker), was originally recorded by Ian & Sylvia.
mind-blown	If You Could Read My Mind	Gordon Lightfoot	1970	“If You Could Read My Mind” written and performed by Gordon Lightfoot was Inspired by Lightfoot’s divorce.
mind-blown	Strawberry Fields Forever	The Beatles	1967	“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles, written and composed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, was inspired by John Lennon’s childhood memories. It is celebrated for its innovative studio techniques and psychedelic sound.
mind-blown	Fields Of Joy	Lenny Kravitz	1991	“Fields Of Joy” by Lenny Kravitz, Michael Kamen, Hal David, featuring a guitar solo by Slash of Guns N’ Roses, is cover of the original by New York Rock and Roll Ensemble. The dreamy lyrics find Kravitz leaving all his troubles behind to wander through the fields with his lover, Cosby Show actress Lisa Bonet, he was married to at the time.
mind-blown	Hey You	Pink Floyd	1979	“Hey You” by Pink Floyd, written by Roger Waters for the concept album The Wall, explores themes of isolation and the desire for connection.
mind-blown	Rattlesnake	Rodolphe Burger	2008	“Rattlesnake” written and performed by French singer-songwriter Rodolphe Burger, is an experimental rock song with enigmatic lyrics, reflecting Burger’s avant-garde style.
mind-blown	Hide And Seek	Howard Jones	1984	“Hide And Seek”, written and performed by Howard Jones, addresses themes of spiritual searching and the quest for meaning, characteristic of Jones’ philosophical lyricism.
mind-blown	To The End (ft. Laetitia Sadier)	Blur	1994	“To The End” by Blur, featuring French Laetitia Sadier (born in Vincennes near Paris) of Stereolab, written by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree, blends Blur’s Britpop sound with French pop influences, creating a dreamy atmosphere.
mind-blown	Four Times More	Elisa Waut	1996	“Four Times More” by Belgian duo Elisa Waut, is written and performed by brother and sister Hans and Elsje Helewaut, The song features introspective lyrics and a mellow, ethereal sound.
mind-blown	My Heroics, Part One	Absynthe Minded	2005	“My Heroics, Part One” by Belgian band Absynthe Minded, was written by Bert Ostyn, exploring personal heroism and the complexity of human emotions. Absynthe Minded is a Belgian band formed in 2002 by songwriter Bert Ostyn and violinist Renaud Ghilbert, soon joined by Jan Duthoy (piano, Hammond) and Sergej Van Bouwel (double bass). Drummer Jakob Nachtergaele joined the band in 2003.
mind-blown	My Life Is Going On	Cecilia Krull	2017	“My Life Is Going On” by Cecilia Krull, written by Cecilia Krull and Manel Santisteban, was the theme song for the popular Spanish TV series “La Casa de Papel” (Money Heist). Spanish singer Cecilia Krull (born Cecilia Paula Krull López 29 June 1986) was born to a pianist father from France and a singer mother from Spain.
mind-blown	My Mind	Jimi Tenor	2000	“My Mind”, written and performed by Finnish musician Jimi Tenor, features a unique blend of jazz, electronic, and soul, showcasing his eclectic style and innovative approach to music. Jimi Tenor (born Lassi O. T. Lehto, 1965 in Lahti, Finland) took his artist name of the first name of his youth idol Jimmy Osmond and the tenor saxophone. Tenor has performed several times with the Belgian avant-garde big band Flat Earth Society.
odd ones	How Bizarre	OMC	1996	“How Bizarre” is OMC’s quirky 1996 hit, written by Pauly Fuemana and Alan Jansson, blends pop and Polynesian influences into an infectious concoction. OMC stands for Otara Millionaires Club after the neighbourhood in Auckland, New Zealand, a suburb of Otara, a ghetto/slum, where lead singer Pauly Fuemana grew up. Fuemana was a gang member in Auckland and received his musical training in a New Zealand juvenile prison.
odd ones	They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!	Napoleon XIV	1966	They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! is a 1966 novelty record written and performed by Jerry Samuels (billed as Napoleon XIV). A twist in the final verse reveals that the man is addressing a runaway dog.
odd ones	Mouldy Old Dough	Lieutenant Pigeon	1972	‘Mouldy Old Dough’, originally released in the UK on 18 February 1972, written and produced by Nigel Fletcher and Rob Woodward was recorded in the front room of Woodward’s semi-detached house in Coventry, and featured his mother Hilda Woodward, a music teacher, on piano. In Belgium the song became a hit after being used in a currents affair program. Sales of “Mouldy Old Dough” began to soar after the recording had been used every weekday evening to introduce a Belgian nationwide news and current affairs Television program since the spring of the year.
odd ones	Tchip Tchip	Cash & Carry	1973	‘Tchip tchip’ by Belgian band ‘Cash & Carry’ (pseudonym for Bobby Setter Band) was released in 1973. The Belgian music producer Louis van Rymenant heard the song, composed by the Swiss accordionist from Davos Werner Thomas in 1955. The song was initially called ’Der Ententanz’, later ’Der Vogeltanz’ and ‘Tchip tchip’. Van Rijmenant re-arranged the melody using a moog synthesizer together with the Bobby Setter Band (lead by Bob Verhelst, a.k.a. Bobby Setter). On some recordings “Thomas/Rendall/Hoes” are credited with Rendall refering to Van Rymenant’s pen name Terry Rendall and Hoes refering to the Dutch singer/producer Johnny Hoes, who re-arranged the song for the Electronicas recording.
odd ones	Killy Watch	The Cousins	1960	Kili Watch was written by Gus Dersé (born Gustave Dereze) in 1960. The Cousins were a Belgian rock band active during the sixties (1961-1967), most known for their song “Kili Watch” which was covered by Johnny Hallyday. The band name is taken from the Brussels club “Les Cousins” were they performed. They had huge success in Argentina where they were known as Los Primos (The Cousins in Spanish).
odd ones	The Yamasukis	The Yamasukis	1971	The Yamasukis by The Yamasukis, sounds like Japanese, but makes no sense for Japanese native speakers. It was written by Daniel Vangarde and Jean Kluger blended Japanese cultural elements with Western pop, resulting in a unique sound that was influential in both Europe and Japan. The Yamasukis was a fictional Japanese band created by French composer Daniel Vangarde (born Daniel Bangalter in 1947 and father of Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk) and Belgian producer Jean Kluger (born March 31st, 1937 in Antwerp, Belgium).
odd ones	Yummy, yummy, yummy	Ohio Express	1968	Ohio Express served as a brand name used by Jerry Kasenetz’s and Jeff Katz’s Super K Production to release music by several different musicians and acts, including their highest charting single, “Yummy Yummy Yummy”, the work of an assemblage of studio musicians working out of New York, including singer/songwriter Joey Levine.
odd ones	The lion sleeps tonight	The Tokens	1961	The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens, was initially written by South African musician Solomon Linda as “Mbube”, Zulu for “the lion”, performed by Solomon Linda’s Original Evening Birds in 1939 making him a South African star. A copy of the record made its way to New York City in the early 1950s, where it was saved from the slush pile at Decca Records by the legendary folklorist Alan Lomax who shared it with his friend Pete Seeger a famous folksinger at the time, who transcribed the central chant as “Wimoweh,” and that became the name of the song as recorded by the Weavers and released in early 1952. Eventually, Jay Siegel, the teenage lead singer of the Tokens, would hear and fall in love with “Wimoweh” through the Kingston Trio’s cover version of the Weavers’ song.
odd ones	Hooked on a Feeling	The Ooga Chakas	1974	Hooked on a Feeling by The Ooga Chakas, written by Mark James and originally performed by B. J. Thomas, got its “Ooga Chaka” chant added by British musician Jonathan King in 1971, when he recorded a cover version of the song. King described it as “a reggae rhythm by male voices”. That may have been because he cut the track on the same night as a novelty song called “Johnny Reggae”. Blue Swede, a band from Stockholm, Sweden, fronted by Björn Skifs, changed the original lyrics and eliminated any references or allusions to drug use when they covered the song in 1974.
odd ones	Zabadak	Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich	1967	Zabadak by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, written by Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley released in 1967 is a great example of the playful and experimental spirit of late 1960s pop music.
odd ones	Yakety Yak	The Coasters	1958	Yakety Yak by The Coasters, written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, released in 1958, “Yakety Yak” is a humorous rock and roll song that humorously depicts teenage rebellion and parental discipline. The Coasters were an American Doo Wop and early Rock & Roll group, formed in September 1955, in Los Angeles.
odd ones	Yummy, yummy, yummy	Ohio Express	1968	Ohio Express served as a brand name used by Jerry Kasenetz’s and Jeff Katz’s Super K Production to release music by several different musicians and acts, including their highest charting single, “Yummy Yummy Yummy”, the work of an assemblage of studio musicians working out of New York, including singer/songwriter Joey Levine.
odd ones	Cinderella Rockefella	Esther & Abi Ofarim	1968	Cinderella Rockefella by German-Israeli husband and wife Esther & Abi Ofarim, written by the comedy writers Mason Williams and Nancy Ames, released in 1968, blends folk music with humorous, playful lyrics, with a catchy melody and distinctive yodeling section.
odd ones	Johnny Reggae	The Piglets	1971	Johnny Reggae by The Piglets, released in 1971, was a studio project created by Jonathan King. The Piglets were a British female outfit, and one of the pseudonyms Jonathan King used in the 1970s to release some of his songs, including lead vocalist Barbara Kay.
odd ones	Egyptian Reggae	Jonathan Richman	1977	Egyptian Reggae, is an instrumental track written and performed by Jonathan Richman, released in 1977 by Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers, blending reggae rhythms with Middle Eastern musical influences.
odd ones	The Whistling Scout	Marc Winter Band	1976	The Whistling Scout by Marc Winter Band, written by Dutch musician Adriaan J. Kraamer (a.k.a. Marc Winter) is a whimsical instrumental track known for its catchy whistling melody.
odd ones	I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)	The Proclaimers	1988	I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by Scottish rock duo The Proclaimers, written by twins Charlie and Craig Reid, released in 1988, known for its infectious chorus and heartfelt lyrics, became their signature song.
odd ones	Speedy Gonzales	Pat Boone	1962	Speedy Gonzales, written by Buddy Kaye, Ethel Lee and David Hess, was a hit for Pat Boone (born Patrick Charles Eugene Boone) in 1962. The song is a humorous take on the popular Looney Tunes character, featuring fast-paced, Latin-inspired music and playful lyrics.
odd ones	J’aime regarder les filles	Patrick Coutin	1981	J’aime regarder les filles, which translates to “I Love Watching the Girls”, written and performed by Patrick Coutin, released in 1981, became a French rock anthem.
odd ones	Yellow Submarine	The Beatles	1966	Yellow Submarine by The Beatles, written by Lennon-McCartney, released in 1966, is a whimsical, childlike tune that features Ringo Starr’s lead vocals.
odd ones	Ça (Je t’aime, moi non plus)	Bourvil	1970	Ça (Je t’aime, moi non plus) by French comedian Bourvil and French theater actress Jacqueline Maillan, is a light-hearted parody of the controversial Serge Gainsbourg song “Je t’aime, moi non plus”.
odd ones	Just A Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody	Louis Prima	1957	Louis Prima’s medley of “Just A Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody”, written by Leonello Casucci and Irving Caesar (Just A Gigolo); Roger Graham and Spencer Williams (I Ain’t Got Nobody) became a massive hit in the 1950s.
odd ones	Cokane In My Brain	Dillinger	1977	Cokane In My Brain written and performed by Jamaican DJ Dillinger (born Lester Bullock), released in 1976, uses a sample of People’s Choice’s “Do It Any Way You Wanna” and describes the effects of cocaine in the “rude boy” reggae style,
odd ones	Because I Got High	Afroman	2001	Because I Got High written and performed by Afroman (Joseph Foreman) became a stoner anthem about the consequences of marijuana use.
odd ones	Bam Bam	Sister Nancy	1982	Bam Bam by Jamaican dancehall DJ Sister Nancy (born Ophlin Russell-Myers), written by Winston Riley and Sister Nancy, released in 1982, is one of the most iconic reggae tracks of all time. The melody and cadence of the “Bam Bam” refrain in the chorus of Sister Nancy’s version closely follows the original background melody of Toots and The Maytals’ “Bam Bam”.
odd ones	Sticks Man	Black Slate	1976	Sticks Man written and performed by Black Slate, released in 1976, is a reggae anthem discussing issues of racial discrimination and social injustice. Black Slate is a British reggae band formed in 1972 by musicians from England, Jamaica, and Anguilla.
odd ones	How Much Are They?	Jah Wobble, Holger Czukay & Jaki Liebezeit	1981	How Much Are They? Written and performed by Jah Wobble, Holger Czukay & Jaki Liebezeit, released in 1988, blends dub, krautrock, and electronic music. How Much Are They? is a dub track from Jah Wobble’s 1981 collaboration with Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit of the genius, German experimental rock group Can. John Wardle was a college friend of Sex Pistols’ Sid Vicious who gave him the nickname Jah Wobble. The female voice asking “How much are they?” throughout the track was one of the junkie girls who wandered into the studio during recording and asked where they were. That was her response when Wobble told them it was a microphone shop. Having caught this on tape, they decided to use it.
odd ones	Psyche Rock	Pierre Henry	1967	‘Psyché Rock’ comes from ‘La Messe pour le temps présent’ a dance suite written by Michel Colombier & Pierre Henry for the ballet of the twentieth century by Maurice Béjart and performed in 1967 at the Avignon festival. Fatboy Slim, who must have been four years old at the time, made a brilliant remake of it 33 years later. The song from 1967 still sounds futuristic. Pierre Henry was a pioneer of ‘musique concrète’, a form of sampling. He started doing it in the forties, long before samplers and synthesizers existed.
La Rentrée	Manic Monday	The Bangles	1986	Manic Monday by The Bangles, written by Prince (under the pseudonym Christopher) is about the stressful start of the workweek, capturing the universal dread of Monday mornings.
La Rentrée	Back on the Chain Gang	The Pretenders	1982	Back on the Chain Gang by The Pretenders, written by Chrissie Hynde in response to the death of the band’s guitarist, James Honeyman-Scott. The track reflects themes of loss and resilience and became one of The Pretenders’ signature songs.
La Rentrée	Rock ‘N’ Roll High School	The Ramones	1980	Rock ‘N’ Roll High School by The Ramones was written by Joey and Dee Dee Ramone for the 1979 film “Rock ‘N’ Roll High School”.
La Rentrée	Teenage Kicks	The Undertones	1978	Teenage Kicks by The Undertones, a Northern Irish punk band led by Feargal Sharkey, written by John O’Neill, is considered one of the greatest punk rock songs of all time, famously loved and praised by the late BBC DJ John Peel.
La Rentrée	Centerfold	J. Geils Band	1981	Centerfold by J. Geils Band, written by the band’s keyboard player Seth Justman, tells the story of a guy who is shocked to find a former crush in high school posing as the centerfold in a men’s magazine.
La Rentrée	Learnalilgivinanlovin	Gotye	2008	Learnalilgivinanlovin by Gotye, written by Belgian-Australian singer-songwriter Wally De Backer (Gotye), brings a positive message about love and generosity.
La Rentrée	Vencemeros-We Will Win	Working Week	1984	Vencemeros-We Will Win by Working Week, written by Simon Booth, Larry Stabbins and Julie Roberts, is an anthem of hope and solidarity, blending jazz and soul with a message of political activism.
La Rentrée	Don’t Stop Believin’	Journey	1981	Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey written by Steve Perry, Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain, is considered as one of the greatest rock anthems of all time.
La Rentrée	Flashdance… What A Feeling	Irene Cara	1983	Flashdance… What A Feeling by Irene Cara, written by Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey, Irene Cara, was the theme song for the 1983 film Flashdance
La Rentrée	Absolute Beginners (Live)	David Bowie	2000	Absolute Beginners (Live) was written by David Bowie for the 1986 film Absolute Beginners. The live version from ‘Bowie at the Beep’ captures the energy and artistry that made Bowie a legendary performer.
La Rentrée	Life In The Fast Lane	Eagles	1977	Life In The Fast Lane – Eagles, written by Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey and Don Henley, embodies the hedonistic lifestyle of the 1970s rock scene.
La Rentrée	The World Is Gonna End Tonight	School Is Cool	2011	The World Is Gonna End Tonight is written and performed by Belgian band School Is Cool, founded in September 2009 in Antwerp.
La Rentrée	The Logical Song	Supertramp	1979	The Logical Song by Supertramp, written by band leader Roger Hodgson, is a critique of the education system and the loss of innocence as one grows up.
La Rentrée	Kodachrome	Paul Simon	1973	Kodachrome written and performed by Paul Simon, was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama with the famous Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and is an appreciation of the things that colour our world, and a look at how our memories are framed to fit our worldviews.
La Rentrée	The Boxer	Simon & Garfunkel	1970	The Boxer by Simon & Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon, who found inspiration for this song in the Bible is about struggle and perseverance. The chorus vocals were recorded in St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University in New York.
La Rentrée	Working Class Hero	Marianne Faithfull	1979	Working Class Hero is Marianne Faithfull’s cover of John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero” reflecting the struggles and disillusionment of the working class.
La Rentrée	I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony)	The New Seekers	1972	I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) by The New Seekers was originally written as a Coca-Cola commercial jingle in 1971 as “I’d like to buy the world a Coke, and keep it company” by British songwriters Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway.
La Rentrée	Son-Of-A Preacher Man	Dusty Springfield	1968	Son-Of-A Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield, written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins, was one of her biggest hits and gained renewed popularity after being featured in the film Pulp Fiction. The song was originally offered to Aretha Franklin (who is a preacher’s daughter), but she turned it down because she thought it was disrespectful. The backup vocals were by a female group called the Sweet Inspirations, who were made up of Cissy Houston (Whitney’s mother), Sylvia Shemwell, Myrna Smith and Estelle Brown.
La Rentrée	Too Busy Thinking About My Baby	Marvin Gaye	1969	“Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” is a Motown song, written by Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, and Janie Bradford, first recorded by The Temptations in 1966 and covered three years later, Motown artist Marvin Gaye
La Rentrée	You Learn	Alanis Morissette	1995	You Learn by Alanis Morissette, is an anthem of the 1990s based on the saying “Live and Learn” to encourage embracing life’s experiences, both good and bad, and became
La Rentrée	Don’t Ask Me Questions	Graham Parker & The Rumour	1978	Don’t Ask Me Questions by Graham Parker & The Rumour was written by Graham Parker and became one of his most well-known songs. Don’t Ask Me Questions is also the title of Michael Gramaglia’s documentary of the band.
La Rentrée	Papa Don’t Take No Mess, Part 1	James Brown	1974	Papa Don’t Take No Mess, Part 1 by James Brown, was written by James Brown, Fred Wesley, Charles Bobbit and John Starks as a tribute to Brown’s father and became one of his longest songs, featuring extended instrumental grooves.
La Rentrée	Prendre Un Enfant Par La Main (À Martine)	Yves Duteil	1977	Prendre Un Enfant Par La Main is written and performed by French singer Yves Duteil, dedicated to his daughter Martine (born in 1975). It is considered one of the nicest french songs of the twentieth century.
woke	Revolution	The Beatles	2009	Revolution by The Beatles, written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, addresses the radical protest movements of the time, with a clear message of wanting change, but without endorsing violence.
woke	Seven Nation Army	The White Stripes	2003	Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, written by Jack White who as a kid misheard “Salvation Army” as “Seven Nation Army”, became with its iconic bass-like guitar riff a stadium anthem worldwide. According to White, the song is about gossip.
woke	Indian reservation	Raiders	1987	Indian Reservation by Paul Revere & the Raiders, written by John D. Loudermilk, highlight the plight of Native Americans, specifically the Cherokee, in the face of displacement and oppression.
woke	Buffalo Soldier	Bob Marley & The Wailers	1983	Buffalo Soldier by Bob Marley & The Wailers, written by Bob Marley and Noel “King Sporty” Williams, was released posthumously in 1983, reflects on the historical African-American soldiers who fought in the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars.
woke	Blackbird	The Beatles	2009	Blackbird by The Beatles, was written by Paul McCartney in response to the civil rights movement in the United States.
woke	For What It’s Worth	Buffalo Springfield	1966	For What It’s Worth by Buffalo Springfield, written by Stephen Stills, became an anthem for the 1960s counterculture. Originally written about the Sunset Strip curfew riots, the song’s message of social unrest and protest resonated with the broader movements of the decade.
woke	Almost Cut My Hair	Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young	1970	Almost Cut My Hair by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, written by David Crosby, describes a real-life dilemma faced by many hippies: whether to cut one’s hair to a more practical length, or leave it long as a symbol of rebellion. With long hair and a walrus moustache, Crosby was clearly part of the counterculture movement. Cutting his hair would represent an assimilation, giving in. This song deals with when he considered it.
woke	Standing In The Way Of Control	Gossip	2006	Standing In The Way Of Control by Gossip, written by Beth Ditto, Brace Paine and Hannah Blilie, became an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community and anyone feeling oppressed.
woke	Grace Kelly	Mika	2007	Grace Kelly by Mika, was written in response to pressures from music industry executives to change his style. The melody is based on Gioachino Rossini’s opera The Barber of Seville aria “Largo al Factotum”. Mika was born in Beirut, Lebanon and is London-based.
woke	We Will Rock You	Queen	1977	We Will Rock You by Queen, written by Brian May, is a stadium anthem recorded in an old, disused church in North London with no echo on it whatsoever. The lyrics may have reference to Sex Pistols’ bassist Sid Vicious, called Simon Ferocious by Freddy Mercury.
woke	Black Or White	Michael Jackson	1991	Black Or White by ‘The King of Pop’ Michael Jackson, written by Michael Jackson and producer Bill Bottrell, is a plea for racial tolerance. It is a powerful anthem against racial discrimination.
woke	Me Myself And I	De La Soul	1989	Me Myself And I by De La Soul, written by David Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason, Kelvin Mercer, Paul Huston, George Clinton and Garry Shider, samples Funkadelic’s “Not Just (Knee Deep)”.
woke	Jerk Out	Morris Day And The Time	1990	Jerk Out by Morris Day And The Time was written by Prince, who initially recorded it and reworked it twice in 1985 and 1989 before it became a major hit for Morris Day and The Time.
woke	Wisemen	James Blunt	2004	Wisemen by James Blunt, was written by James Blunt, Jimmy Hogarth and Sacha Skarbek, dealing with themes of wisdom, love, and loss.
woke	The Riddle	Nik Kershaw	1984	The Riddle written and performed by Nik Kershaw, is known for its enigmatic lyrics, which Kershaw later admitted were nonsensical placeholders.
woke	Karma	Lady	2013	Karma by the duo Lady (Terri Walker and Nicole Wray) is about the consequences of one’s actions, delivered with powerful, soulful vocals.
woke	Balance ton quoi	Angèle	2018	Balance ton quoi by Belgian singer-songwriter Angèle (born Angèle Van Laeken), references the #MeToo movement and became a feminist anthem in the French-speaking world.
woke	Each And Everyone	Everything But The Girl	1984	Each And Everyone by Everything But The Girl, written by Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt, are a response to the patronizing tone used by many male writers when covering Tracey Thorn’s earlier all-female band Marine Girls in the British music press.
woke	It’s a Sin	Pet Shop Boys	1987	It’s a Sin by Pet Shop Boys was inspired by Neil Tennant’s experiences in Catholic school. The song’s dramatic production and themes of guilt and religion made it one of the Pet Shop Boys’ biggest hits.
woke	Seal My Fate	Belly	1995	Seal My Fate by Belly, written by lead vocal Tanya Donnelly who describes it as her “first successful joyous love song”.
woke	A Real Mother for Ya	Johnny “Guitar” Watson	1977	A Real Mother for Ya is written and performed by Johnny “Guitar” Watson who probably only got away with the title because in 1977 most music pundits didn’t realize that “mother” was half a word.
woke	Un ptit coup de motherfuck	KAMINI	2007	Un ptit coup de motherfuck written and performed by French artist KAMINI (born Kamini Zantoko) is a humorous rap song mixing sharp social commentary with playful language. Kamini’s father, Seyolo Zantoko, and his family moved from Zaire to Marly-Gomont, France in 1975. They had difficulty assimilating as the first Black people in town.
woke	Jaded (Acoustic Version)	Gustaph	2011	The stripped-down arrangement of Jaded (Acoustic Version) written and performed by Belgian artist Gustaph (born Stef Caers) highlights the song’s emotional depth. He chose his stage name based on his father’s godfather’s name, Gustav.
woke	Love & Hate	Michael Kiwanuka	2016	Love & Hate by Michael Kiwanuka was written and composed by Michael Kiwanuka, Brian Burton (Danger Mouse) and Dean Josiah Cover and is a powerful exploration of personal and social struggles. The song “Cold Little Heart” is also known for being the opening theme of the HBO television series Big Little Lies.
woke	Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)	John Lennon, Yoko Ono & The Plastic Ono Band	1970	Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) by John Lennon, Yoko Ono & The Plastic Ono Band was one of the first solo singles written by John Lennon after The Beatles. The song’s urgent recording process (completed in a single day) and its message of immediate cosmic justice made it one of Lennon’s most memorable solo hits. The song was produced by Phil Spector and conceived, written, recorded, and released within a period of ten days, making it one of the fastest-released songs in pop music history.
no frills	Charlemagne	Blossoms	2016	Charlemagne by Blossoms, written by Tom Ogden and Charlie Salt, blending synth-pop with indie rock became a breakthrough hit for the band. Emperor Charlemagne united the majority of western and central Europe during the Early Middle Ages and engaged in a number of reforms in administration, law, education, military organization, and religion.
no frills	The Less I Know the Better	Tame Impala	2015	The Less I Know the Better by Tame Impala, written by Kevin Parker, with its funky bassline and psychedelic groove became a global hit and a staple of modern indie music.
no frills	What a Fool Believes	The Doobie Brothers	1978	What a Fool Believes by The Doobie Brothers, written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins, is a yacht rock classic that won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1980.
no frills	Footloose	Kenny Loggins	1984	“Footloose” is a song co-written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins as the title song of the 1984 American musical with Kevin Bacon, who hates to hear the song at weddings.
no frills	Love Song (Live at iTunes)	Sara Bareilles	2008	Love Song by written and performed by Sara Bareilles is in response to her record label’s pressure for a hit single. Ironically, it became her biggest hit, earning her Grammy nominations and widespread acclaim.
no frills	Favorite Waste of Time	Bette Midler	1983	Favorite Waste of Time by The Devine Miss M, Bette Midler, is a cover version of Marshall Crenshaw’s song.
no frills	Watching the Wheels	John Lennon	1981	Watching the Wheels written and performed by John Lennon, was released posthumously and reflects Lennon’s contentment with stepping back from the music industry to focus on family life. It’s one of his most introspective songs.
no frills	Lemon tree	Fool’s Garden	1996	Lemon Tree by Fool’s Garden, written by Peter Freudenthaler and Volker Hinkel, about boredom and longing became a massive hit across Europe and Asia.
no frills	C`est Ma Vie	Salvatore Adamo	1975	C’est Ma Vie (translated meaning ‘it’s my life’) written and performed by Salvatore Adamo, is a popular romantic ballad in French-speaking countries.
no frills	Make It Easy On Yourself	The Walker Brothers	1965	Make It Easy On Yourself by The Walker Brothers, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David is a cover version of the song originally performed by Jerry Butler in 1962. The Walker Brothers’ dramatic rendition became a hit, highlighting Scott Walker’s deep, emotive voice.
no frills	Don’t Ask Me Why	Billy Joel	1980	Don’t Ask Me Why written and performed by Billy Joel, inspired by his time he had spent in Madrid with its witty lyrics and catchy tune made it a radio favorite.
no frills	Foule sentimentale	Alain Souchon	1993	Foule Sentimentale by Alain Souchon, written by Alain Souchon and Laurent Voulzy, is a critique of consumer society.
no frills	Loaded	Primal Scream	1991	Loaded by Primal Scream, written by Bobby Gillespie and Andrew Innes is a groundbreaking blend of rock, house, and acid music. Late DJ and producer Andy Weatherall remixed their song “I’m Losing More Than I’ll Ever Have” at the beginning of 1990. The sample is taken from a 1966 biker movie, The Wild Angels with the voice of actor Peter Fonda. British band Primal Scream was formed in Glasgow in 1984 by Bobby Gillespie (vocals), the only constant member of the band.
no frills	Fairground	Simply Red	1995	Fairground by Simply Red, written by Mick Hucknall and Jean Dalmassy, samples The Goodmen’s “Give It Up”.
no frills	The Things That Dreams Are Made Of (2002 Mix)	The Human League	1981	The Things That Dreams Are Made Of (2002 Mix) by The Human League , written by Philip Oakey and Philip Adrian Wright, is a synth-pop classic first released in 1981 and remixed in 2002, revitalizing its popularity and introducing it to a new generation of fans.
no frills	Complainte pour Ste Catherine	Kate & Anna McGarrigle	1975	Complainte pour Ste Catherine by Kate & Anna McGarrigle, written by Canadians Philippe Tatartcheff and Anna McGarrigle, is whimsical politically jokey French-language song that, is sung in the persona of a poor girl hanging around Sainte-Catherine street in Montreal, the primary commercial artery of Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where in winter she and her buddies take advantage of the rising heat from the metro tunnel outlets, and in summer they continue the endless battle against mosquitoes.
no frills	Let’s Not Fall Apart	The Broken Glass Heroes	2010	Let’s Not Fall Apart by Belgian band The Broken Glass Heroes, Tim Vanhamel and Pascal Deweze, that captures the retro vibe with its jangly guitars and harmonious vocals, reminiscent of the 60s pop sound.
no frills	Built to Last	Mêlée	2007	Built to Last by Mêlée, written by Chris Cron, Ricky Sans, Ryan Malloy and Derek Lee Rock, reminds us with its piano-driven melody of the power of love and its ability to withstand the test of time.
no frills	Hey There Delilah	Plain White T’s	2007	Hey There Delilah by Plain White T’s, written by Tom Higgenson, is an acoustic ballad inspired by Delilah DiCrescenzo, an American steeplechase runner. Plain White T’s lead singer Tom Higgenson met through a friend, whom he admired from afar. Tim Hawkins made a parody based on Hey There Delilah.
no frills	Lowdown	Boz Scaggs	1976	Lowdown by Boz Scaggs, which he wrote with Toto keyboard player David Paich. The word “Lowdown” was popular slang meaning a summary of what’s going on for real. Along with David Paich, two other future Toto members also played on this track: drummer Jeff Porcaro and bass player David Hungate.
no frills	Simple Things	Minnie Riperton	1975	Simple Things was written by Minnie Riperton and Richard Rudolph and released posthumously on her final album.
no frills	Black Eyed Boy	Texas	1997	Black Eyed Boy by Texas was written by Scottish guitarist Johnny McElhone and frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri, blending Motown influences with a modern pop-rock sound.
no frills	New Sensation	INXS	1987	New Sensation by INXS, written by Australian instrumentalist Andrew Farriss and frontman Michael Hutchence, is a high-energy anthem about about a partying lifestyle.
no frills	It’s a miracle	Boy George & Culture Club	1983	It’s a Miracle by Boy George & Culture Club, written by Roy Hay, Boy George, Mikey Craig and Jon Moss, captures the essence of Culture Club’s vibrant 80s pop sound with its catchy chorus and upbeat tempo.
no frills	Simple Song	Lyle Lovett	1987	Simple Song written and performed by Lyle Lovett, showcases his wit and unique blend of country, jazz, and folk influences.
bottom line	Girls Girls Girls	Sailor	1975	written by Georg Kajanus – The group’s work included Kajanus’s invention of a special nickelodeon made of pianos, synthesizers and glockenspiels that allowed the four-piece band to reproduce on stage the acoustic arrangements that they had done in the recording studio.
bottom line	Girls	Moments and Whatnauts	1974	written by Harry Ray, Al Goodman, Walter Morris A jam with cunning lyrics from 1974 in which The Moments and The Whatnauts overtly profess their love not for one particular girl, neither for one particular kind of girls, but for all kinds of girls. They like them fat, they like them tall, they like them skinny, they like them small.
bottom line	And God Created Woman	Prince & The New Power Generation	1992	written by Prince as part of the Love Symbol Album, where Prince famously changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol. Prince puts biblical references and adds a layer of spirituality in his song “And God Created Woman” (creation of a woman from a man’s rib).
bottom line	Jam For The Ladies (ft. MC Lyte & Angie Stone)	Moby	2002	Written and performed by Moby, the song is a collaboration with American rapper Princess Superstar and features guest vocals from rapper MC Lyte and R&B singer Angie Stone. It incorporates a vocal sample from “Wherever You Are” by Mic Geronimo.
bottom line	Fat Bottomed Girls	Queen	1978	written by Brian May “Bicycle Race” the song humorously celebrates women with curvier figures. It became a staple of Queen’s live performances. Queen’s song “Bicycle Race” lyrics include “Fat bottomed girls, they’ll be riding today, so look out for those beauties, oh yeah”. In “Fat Bottomed Girls” the closing call shouts “get on your bikes and ride!,” linking the two songs together.
bottom line	Big Girl [You Are Beautiful]	Mika	2007	an anthem written by Mika for embracing body diversity, inspired by The Butterfly Lounge, an American club for larger women to hang out in.
bottom line	Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others	The Smiths	1986	Written by Morrissey (lyrics) and Johnny Marr (music) where Morrissey’s characteristic irony playfully explores the theme of physical attraction. The curious fade at the beginning of the song may be a ‘spoiled’ mix which was left due to the delayed production and the label Rough Trade Records was in a hurry to get the album The Queen Is Dead out.
bottom line	Lady Bump	Penny McLean	1975	written by Sylvester Levay and Stephan Prager – Penny McLean was also a member of Silver Convention, known for the hit “Fly, Robin, Fly.” The former show star now focuses on raising awareness. Her books are among the most widely read in the genre throughout Europe. At the end of the 1980s she published a trilogy about guardian spirits and spiritual laws.
bottom line	Bad Girls	Donna Summer	1979	Written by Donna Summer in collaboration with Brooklyn Dreams, which was comprised of Eddie Hokenson, Joe Esposito, and Summer’s future husband, Bruce Sudano. Inspired by an incident where Summer’s assistant was mistaken for a sex worker. The famous “toot-toot” and “beep-beep” were made up by Donna Summer to simulate the sounds of the car horns calling for the attention of the prostitutes.
bottom line	China Girl	David Bowie	1983	David Bowie’s 1983 version is a cover of a song he co-wrote with Iggy Pop who originally released it in 1977 on his album The Idiot. Originally written by Bowie and Iggy Pop during their Berlin years, Bowie’s 1983 version was a global hit. The music video was controversial for its portrayal of interracial relationships.
bottom line	Woman From Tokio	Deep Purple	1973	Written by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice. This song was Deep Purple’s tribute to Japan, a country where they had a huge fanbase.
bottom line	Black Magic Woman	Fleetwood Mac	1968	Peter Green, who was a founding member of Fleetwood Mac, wrote the lyrics. The song became more famous as a cover by Santana, whose version added a Latin rock flavor and became a huge hit in 1970.
bottom line	Oh Pretty Woman	Roy Orbison	1964	Written by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees, inspired by Orbison’s wife, Claudette, became one of his most iconic hits. It was later used as the theme song for the 1990 film Pretty Woman.
bottom line	About A Girl	Nirvana	1994	Kurt Cobain wrote this song for his muse and ‘best girlfriend in the world’ Tracy Marander. It gained more attention after being included on MTV Unplugged in New York. Kurt Cobain had in Tracy Marander a friend, a girlfriend, and sometimes a mother, and often praised her as ‘the best girlfriend in the world.’
bottom line	Self-Esteem	The Offspring	1994	Written by Dexter Holland, this deals with themes of self-doubt and a dysfunctional relationship. It’s a semi-true story based on Holland’s own experiences and that of his friends. Kurt Cobain was found dead on April 8, 1994, the same day their third studio album Smash was released.
bottom line	Fuck U	Archive	2004	Written by Darius Keeler, Danny Griffiths and Craig Walker is often interpreted as a critique of war and political hypocrisy. Archive was formed in 1994 as a trip-hop band.
bottom line	Advice For Young Mothers To Be	The Veils	2006	written by band leader Finn Andrews exploring themes of motherhood and societal expectations.
bottom line	A Girl Like You	Edwyn Collins	1994	Written and performed by Scottish musician Edwyn Collins is about a “mystical girl”. The drum track is sampled from Len Barry’s 1965 hit “1-2-3” and the vibraphone is played by drummer of the Sex Pistols, Paul Cook.
bottom line	Coconut Woman	Harry Belafonte	1966	Written by Harry Belafonte, Irving Burgie, reflecting Belafonte’s Caribbean roots, was a hit during the calypso craze of the 1950s.
bottom line	Georgy Girl	The Seekers	1967	The song by Australian pop/folk music group the Seekers, is written by Tom Springfield (music), Jim Dale (lyrics) for the British film Georgy Girl and became a massive hit in both the UK and the US, symbolizing the Swinging Sixties. The Seekers – Judith Durham, Keith Potger, Bruce Woodley & Athol Guy The film tells the story of a virginal young woman in 1960s Swinging London, who is faced with a dilemma when she is pursued by her father’s older employer and the young lover of her promiscuous, pregnant flatmate.
bottom line	City Girls	J.J. Cale	1982	Written and performed by J.J. Cale, one of the originators of the Tulsa sound, a loose genre drawing on blues, rockabilly, country, and jazz. His album Grasshopper was recorded in studios in Nashville and North Hollywood, and while a more polished production, it continued Cale’s exploration into a variety of musical styles that would become known as Americana.
bottom line	Femme Libérée	Cookie Dingler	1984	Strasburg born Joëlle Kopf wrote “Femme libérée” for her neighbour Christian ‘Cookie’ Dingler in 1984. This anthem of female emancipation in France during the 1980s received criticism for its somewhat stereotypical portrayal of liberated women.
bottom line	M’envoyer des fleurs	Sandrine Kiberlain	2005	The lyrics of “M’Envoyer Des Fleurs” are written by French actress Sandrine Kiberlain and the music is composed by Pierre Souchon, the son of the French singer Alain Souchon.
bottom line	Housewife	Daan	2004	written and performed by Belgian Daniël Stuyven, its ironic lyrics of The Conversation version and catchy tune, became a cult hit in Belgium became a cult hit in Belgium.
called by name	Josephine	Chris Rea	1983	Chris Rea’s wrote this song for his first daughter, Josephine (Josie), born in 1983) on the third floor of the Intercontinental Hotel in Dusseldorf in Germany, while it was raining outside.
called by name	Joanna	Kool & the Gang	1983	The song was introduced by guitarist Claydes Charles Smith as “Dear Mom” and altered by Ronald Bell. The song title change to “Joanna” capitalised on the “name” song trend, like Toto’s hit “Rosanna” the year before.
called by name	Gwendolyne	Julio Iglesias	1970	Gwendolyne performed and written by Julio Iglesias, is a romantic ballad where the singer longs for a woman named Gwendolyne. This song helped launch Julio Iglesias’ career after he performed it at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970.
called by name	Christine	Garland Jeffreys	1980	Christine written and performed by Garland Jeffreys is about a woman named Christine, exploring complex emotions and memories. Garland Jeffreys is known for his genre-blending style, combining rock, reggae, and soul.
called by name	Bernardine	Pat Boone	1958	Bernardine by Pat Boone, written by Johnny Mercer, is a lighthearted song about an idealized girl named Bernardine, from the movie Bernardine (1957), where Boone also starred.
called by name	Peggy Sue	Buddy Holly	1957	Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly, written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty, celebrates a girl named Peggy Sue, expressing admiration for her beauty and personality. Originally titled “Cindy Lou,” it was renamed after the girlfriend (and later wife) of drummer Jerry Allison.
called by name	Rosetta	Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames	2006	Rosetta by Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, originally recorded by Earl Hines and Henri Woode, is a lively track with blues and jazz influences, celebrating a woman named Rosetta.
called by name	Long Tall Sally	Little Richard	1957	Long Tall Sally by Little Richard, written by Enotris Johnson, Robert Blackwell, and Little Richard, is an energetic song about a woman named Sally, filled with lively rock and roll lyrics. One of Little Richard’s most famous songs; it was famously covered by The Beatles and became a rock and roll standard.
called by name	Angeline (M’n Blonde Sexmachine)	Peter Koelewijn	1973	Angeline performed and written by Peter Koelewijn, tells about a man’s fascination with Angeline he dated in Benidorm, Spain. Known for its playful and cheeky tone, Koelewijn is a Dutch rock pioneer, and this song became popular in the Netherlands and Belgium.
called by name	Caroline	Status Quo	1973	Caroline by Status Quo, written by Francis Rossi and Bob Young, is a song about longing to be with a woman named Caroline, despite various obstacles. This track became a fan favourite and is known for its classic Status Quo rock rhythm.
called by name	Aline	Christophe	1965	Aline performed and written by Christophe is about a lost love, where the singer yearns for Aline to return. Christophe wrote this song in 1965, and it became a big hit in France. It has been covered by various artists.
called by name	Alison	Elvis Costello & The Attractions	1977	Alison performed and written by Elvis Costello, depict a mix of affection and frustration, directed at a woman named Alison. Costello has said that “Alison” is about being disillusioned by a former lover’s choices. It’s one of his most iconic songs.
called by name	Diana	Paul Anka	1962	Diana written and performed by Paul Anka is about a young man’s intense admiration and love for an older girl named Diana. Written by Anka when he was only 15, this song became a worldwide hit and is one of his signature songs.
called by name	Oh Carol	Neil Sedaka	1959	Oh Carol by Neil Sedaka, written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, is a playful song where the singer addresses his heartbreak over Carol. Sedaka wrote this for his high school sweetheart, Carole King. She later responded with her own song, “Oh Neil.”
called by name	Marina	Rocco Granata	1959	Marina” is a 1959 Italian song by Italian-Belgian singer-songwriter Rocco Granata, originally released in 1959 as the B-side of “Manuela”; By 30 January “Marina” interrupted “Oh! Carol” by Neil Sedaka for one week at the No.1 spot of Hitkrant’s List of European number-one hits of 1960. The song “Marina” was so popular in Belgium and the Netherlands that many parents named their baby daughters Marina.
called by name	Sally	Carmel	2009	Sally written and performed by Carmel, express complex emotions regarding a relationship with Sally. Carmel was known for her unique voice and jazz-influenced style.
called by name	Ruby Lee	Bill Withers	2008	Ruby Lee written and performed by Bill Withers, is a soulful ode to a woman named Ruby Lee, expressing gratitude for her presence in his life. Withers’ smooth vocals and emotional depth made this song a standout in his discography.
called by name	Lovely Rita	The Beatles	1967	Lovely Rita by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, is about a meter maid named Rita, mixing flirtation with humour. Inspired by a real parking ticket issued to McCartney, this track from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is a fan favourite.
called by name	Hélène	Julien Clerc	1994	Hélène by Julien Clerc, written by Julien Clerc and Étienne Roda-Gil, is a romantic song that captures the bittersweet feelings of love and separation. “Hélène” became a big hit in France, showcasing Clerc’s poetic lyrics and passionate delivery.
called by name	All For Leyna	Billy Joel	1980	All For Leyna written and performed by Billy Joel, is about obsession and unrequited love, where the singer is unable to move on from Leyna. Known for its intense lyrics, this song has a new wave influence that stands out in Joel’s discography.
called by name	Désirée	Gilbert Bécaud	1968	Desiree is a timeless French classic by Gilbert Bécaud, released in 1968, where Gilbert Bécaud tells the poignant tale of a young woman named Désirée who is trapped in an unhappy marriage.
called by name	Lovely Rita	The Beatles	1967	Paul McCartney wrote this as if he fell for a parking-meter women, in America called meter maids, while she was taking his plate number. Beatles producer George Martin played the honky-tonk style piano in the middle.
called by name	Sara	Bob Dylan	1976	Sara, written and performed by Bob Dylan, is a deeply personal song directed at Dylan’s then-wife Sara, expressing regret and memories of their relationship. “Sara” is one of Dylan’s most revealing songs, written during a tumultuous time in his marriage.
called by name	Rhiannon	Fleetwood Mac	1975	Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac, written by Stevie Nicks, is inspired by Welsh mythology, the song describes a mystical woman with an ethereal presence. Nicks wrote “Rhiannon” after reading a novel about a Welsh witch, and it became one of her signature songs with Fleetwood Mac.
called by name	Carrie	Europe	1986	Carrie by Europe, written by Joey Tempest and Mic Michaeli, revolve around lost love and the lingering feelings for Carrie. A big hit for Europe, showcasing a softer side of the band known for their hard rock sound.
called by name	Angie	The Rolling Stones	1973	Angie by The Rolling Stones, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, is a melancholic song that reflects on a bittersweet relationship ending with a woman named Angie. Rumours circulated that it was about David Bowie’s wife, Angela; however, Richards has said it was inspired by his daughter, Angela.
commute	The Road To Hell (Part 2)	Chris Rea	1989	Chris Rea, who wrote and performed the song, got the idea when he was stuck in traffic on the M4 motorway in England.
commute	Highway To Hell	AC/DC	1979	Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott wrote this rebellious anthem about living life dangerously and fearlessly, with references to hellish experiences on the road. This song is onsidered one of AC/DC’s signature songs and an anthem of rock.
commute	Roadhouse Blues	The Doors	1970	Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore wrote this carefree song about living a wild life, with themes of freedom and hedonism. This song is one of The Doors’ most iconic songs, it often opened their concerts.
commute	Let It Roll	Little Feat	1994	Paul Barrère, Bill Payne wrote this road-trip song reflecting the desire for freedom and movement. This song is a fan favourite of Little Feat, especially known for its live performances.
commute	Crossroads	Cream	1968	This is a cover, originally written and performed by Robert Johnson about dealing with life’s hardships, based on a man selling his soul to the devil at a crossroads. Cream’s version became more popular than Robert Johnson’s original.
commute	Farther on Up the Road	Freddie King	1977	Joe Medwick Veasey, Don Robey wrote this song which initially was performed by Bobby “Blue” Bland. This blues song is about karma and retribution, warning that what goes around comes around. Freddie King’s version became a blues standard, often covered by other artists.
commute	Back On The Road	Joe Egan	1979	Joe Egan wrote and performed this reflective song about restarting life after hitting a low point. Joe Egan was a member of Stealers Wheel, best known for “Stuck in the Middle With You”.
commute	Drive	Joe Bonamassa	2016	Joe Bonamassa A contemplative and introspective song about love and life’s journeys. Joe Bonamassa wrote this song while on tour, reflecting his experiences.
commute	Night Train	Steve Winwood	1980	Steve Winwood and Will Jennings wrote this soulful song that reflects on personal growth and exploration. This song is a lesser-known track from Steve Winwood’s solo work, featuring jazzy influences.
commute	Cruisin’	Sioen	2003	Belgian artist Frederik Sioen wrote and performed this feel-good song about cruising and enjoying life’s simple pleasures.
commute	Roadrunner	The Modern Lovers	2003	Jonathan Richman wrote and performed this proto-punk song celebrating the excitement of driving fast and exploring new places. The Modern Lovers’ “Roadrunner” became a punk rock staple, with its minimalist style.
commute	Autobahn	Kraftwerk	1974	Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider wrote this minimalistic song celebrating the experience of driving on the German autobahn. Kraftwerk’s “Autobahn” was a pioneering electronic track and influenced modern electronic music.
commute	Cars	Gary Numan	1979	Gary Numan wrote and performed this song about detachment and disconnection, using the metaphor of cars and machines. Gary Numan’s “Cars” is considered a synth-pop classic.
commute	I’m in Love With My Car	Queen	1975	Queen’s drummer Roger Taylor wrote this quirky song as a tribute to his love for cars. The revving sounds at the conclusion of the song were a recording of Taylor’s then current car, an Alfa Romeo. The lyrics were inspired by one of the band’s roadies, Johnathan Harris, whose Triumph TR4 was evidently the “love of his life”.
commute	Taxi Driver	Zoowax	2014	Zoowax wrote this funky song about cruising in a taxi and living in the moment. Rising star and daughter of funk legend Sly Stone, Novena Carmel joins forces with Parisian-born and Los Angeles-based producer Art Bleek and his long-term collaborator vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Charlie Sputnik to introduce their new project Zoowax.
commute	Let Me Drive	Bette Midler	1983	Bette Midler wrote and performed this song about finding independence and exploring life’s journeys. Bette Midler recorded this song as part of her “No Frills” album.
commute	Blues Del Autobús	Ana Belén & Víctor Manuel	1994	Ana Belén and Víctor Manuel wrote this metaphorical song about life as a journey on a bus, touching on existential themes. Ana Belén and Víctor Manuel are iconic Spanish artists, often performing together.
commute	Baby Driver	Simon & Garfunkel	1966	Paul Simon wrote and performed this playful, fast-paced song about driving fast and living life on the edge, which featured in the 1970s film “The Graduate”.
commute	Take Me Home, Country Roads	John Denver	1971	John Denver, Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert wrote this nostalgic and heartfelt song about longing for the simplicity of home and nature. This song is one of John Denver’s signature songs and a global hit, celebrating rural America.
called by name	Denis	Blondie	1978	“Denise” by Blondie is an adaptation of the original by Randy & The Rainbows, written by Neil Levenson, a lighthearted love song expressing adoration for a crush named Denis/Denise.
called by name	Buddy Joe	Golden Earring	1972	“Buddy Joe”, written by George Kooyman and Rinus Gerritsen, is the tale of a rebellious outlaw who faces trouble for his dangerous lifestyle.
called by name	Little Willy	Sweet	1972	Written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapmann in the UK, who became known as the “Chinnichap” sound, the song didn’t tell any kind of story – just that Willy won’t go home. “Little Willy”, a non-album single, was Sweet’s biggest US hit and went gold in the US and UK.
called by name	Ordinary Joe	Terry Callier	1972	Terry Callier wrote this reflective piece about the complexities of life, choices, and staying grounded despite ambitions.
called by name	Ode to Billie Joe	Bobbie Gentry	1967	Bobbie Gentry wrote and performed this haunting Southern Gothic tale of mystery and tragedy revolving around an unspoken event at the Tallahatchie Bridge.
called by name	Big Bad John	Jimmy Dean	1986	Jimmy Dean and Roy Acuff tell the story of a heroic miner who sacrifices his life to save his coworkers during a mine collapse. Jimmy Dean, a country star and sausage entrepreneur, earned a Grammy for this song in 1961.
called by name	Johnny, tu n’es pas un ange	Édith Piaf	1953	Raymond Asso and Paul Misraki wrote this bittersweet song where Édith Piaf sings about loving Johnny despite his flaws, as he is not exactly an angel.
called by name	La chanson de Jacky	Jacques Brel	2003	Jacques Brel wrote and performed this satirical song imagining a man’s many wild fantasies and absurd dreams of fame and fortune. Known for its biting humour and dramatic flair, it has become one of Brel’s signature works, covered by Scott Walker (“Jackie”), Marc Almond
called by name	Bad, Bad Leroy Brown	Jim Croce	2013	Jim Croce wrote and performed this humorous story-song about a brash, overconfident man who eventually faces a downfall, inspired by someone Croce met in the Army.
called by name	Frankie	Sister Sledge	1985	Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards wrote this nostalgic song reminiscing about a past love named Frankie.
called by name	Nathan Jones	The Supremes	1971	Leonard Caston and Kathy Wakefield wrote this soulful track about heartache and moving on after a man named Nathan Jones leaves. All three Supremes’ members of the group (Jean Terrell, Mary Wilson, and Cindy Birdsong) sing the song’s lead vocal in unison. during their post-Diana Ross era, showcasing their versatility.
called by name	Hey Eugene!	Pink Martini	2007	Written by China Forbes and Thomas Lauderdale this playful recounting of a brief romantic encounter at a party and the frustration of being ignored afterward is inspired by a real-life experience of vocalist China Forbes at a party.
called by name	Jefke	Della Bossiers	1973	Della Bossiers wrote and performed this Flemish song about a man named Jefke (little Joe) reflecting on themes of identity and life.
called by name	Michael	The Highwaymen	1961	Traditional (adapted by The Highwaymen) spiritual folk song about perseverance, freedom, and hope. Also known as “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore,” it became a key anthem of the Civil Rights Movement.
called by name	Paco Paco Paco	Encarnita Polo	1969	Encarnita Polo wrote and performed this lively and humorous Spanish song celebrating a man named Paco, a Spanish nickname for Fransisco, and his antics.
called by name	Fernando	ABBA	1976	Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson wrote this nostalgic ballad about two comrades reflecting on their youthful fight for freedom. The song originally had different lyrics before being reworked for the group.
called by name	Sebastian	Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel	1973	Steve Harley wrote this dramatic and poetic song filled with enigmatic imagery about a mysterious figure named Sebastian.
called by name	Luka	Suzanne Vega	1987	Suzanne Vega wrote and performed this poignant song addressing domestic abuse from the perspective of a child named Luka. This is Vega’s most famous song, praised for tackling a difficult subject with sensitivity.
called by name	Daniel	Elton John	1973	Elton John with Bernie Taupin wrote this tender ballad about the narrator’s admiration and love for his older brother, Daniel, a Vietnam War veteran. Often misunderstood as a love song, it’s actually about sibling relationships and loss.
called by name	Making Plans for Nigel	XTC	1979	English rock band XTC’s bass player Colin Moulding wrote this critique of societal pressures and the expectations placed on young people.
called by name	Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!	Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds	2008	Nick Cave wrote and performed a modern, irreverent reimagining of the biblical story of Lazarus, blending dark humour and social commentary. One of Nick Cave’s most lyrically dense songs, drawing on themes of resurrection and celebrity culture.
called by name	Valentino	Diane Birch	2009	Diane Birch wrote and performed this whimsical track about the charm and allure of a character named Valentino.
called by name	Alfie	Cilla Black	1966	Burt Bacharach and Hal David reflects on the meaning of life, relationships, and morality, as posed to a man named Alfie. Originally written for the 1966 film Alfie, it became one of Bacharach’s most famous compositions.
called by name	Hey Jude	The Beatles	1968	Paul McCartney wrote this ballad, initially called “Hey Jules”, to comfort John Lennon’s young son Julian, after Lennon had left his wife for the Japanese artist Yoko Ono. The lyrics espouse a positive outlook on a sad situation, while also encouraging “Jude” to pursue his opportunities to find love.
called by name	C’mon Billy	PJ Harvey	1995	Polly Jean Harvey wrote and performed this song talking about a woman begging for ‘Billy’ to come home and meet his son.
called by name	Jesse	Roberta Flack	1973	Roberta Flack covered Janis Ian’s poignant ballad reflecting on longing and unfulfilled love. Roberta Flack’s version brought the song widespread acclaim for its emotional delivery.
music masters	The Free Electric Band	Albert Hammond	1973	This song is written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood as a critique of societal norms; often seen as autobiographical.
music masters	Give Life Back to Music	Daft Punk	2013	“Give Life Back to Music”, features guitar by Nile Rodgers and Paul Jackson, Jr., keyboards by Chilly Gonzales, drums by John “J.R.” Robinson, and vocals performed by Daft Punk using vocoders. The song, written by Daft Punk and Nile Rodgers, reflects Daft Punk’s goal to create a light yet polished and elegant record
music masters	It’s A Long Way To The Top (If you want to rock ‘n roll)	AC/DC	1975	Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott, this song is famous for its use of bagpipes, representing Bon Scott’s Scottish heritage.
music masters	Rock and roll music	Chuck Berry	1957	Written and performed by Chuck Berry, this rock anthem, later famously covered by The Beatles and The Beach Boys. Blues legend Willie Dixon played bass on this track.
music masters	Old Time Rock and Roll	Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band	1979	Bob Seger recorded this song, written by George Jackson, and Thomas E. Jones III, after The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, who often backed Seger in his studio recordings, sent him a demo of the song during the recording of Stranger in Town. It is featured in the Risky Business film; a celebration of classic rock.
music masters	Rock the Casbah	The Clash	1982	Written by Joe Strummer, Mick Jones and Topper Headon, this song is inspired by bans on Western music in Iran; features a memorable piano riff.
music masters	Dreiklangsdimensionen	Rheingold	1980	A Neue Deutsche Welle (German New Wave) hit blending synths with existential lyrics, written by Rheingold band members Lothar Manteuffel and Bodo Staiger
music masters	It Ain’t What You Do It’s the Way That You Do It (ft. Bananarama)	Fun Boy Three	1982	Ska-pop cover of a 1939 Ella Fitzgerald song, adding a playful twist, written by Sy Oliver and Trummy Young. written by jazz musicians Melvin “Sy” Oliver and James “Trummy” Young. It was first recorded in 1939 by Jimmie Lunceford, Harry James, and Ella Fitzgerald and again the same year by Nat Gonella and His Georgians.
music masters	Sugar Man	Rodriguez	1970	Gained posthumous fame in South Africa, inspiring the documentary Searching for Sugar Man a 2012 documentary film about a South African cultural phenomenon, written and directed by Malik Bendjelloul, which details the efforts in the late 1990s of two Cape Town fans, Stephen “Sugar” Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom, to find out whether the rumoured death of American musician Sixto Rodriguez was true and, if not, to discover what had become of him.
music masters	La Boîte de jazz	Michel Jonasz	1985	Written and performed by Michel Jonasz celebrating the culture and nostalgia of jazz clubs.
music masters	The Joker	The Steve Miller Band	1973	Steve Miller wrote this song, famous for its “pompatus of love” lyric, which became a stoner anthem. The first line of the lyrics is a reference to the song “Space Cowboy” from Miller’s Brave New World album. The following lines refer to two other songs: “Gangster of Love” from Sailor and “Enter Maurice” from Recall the Beginning…A Journey from Eden.
music masters	Pop Muzik	M	1979	M, British musician Robin Scott, wrote, produced and sung from the perspective of a disc jockey spinning records at a dance club. Quirky synth-pop hit exploring consumer culture and the music industry.
music masters	Music	Madonna	2000	A global hit blending dance-pop and electronic styles. Inspired by a Sting concert Madonna attended, it was written and produced by her with Mirwais Ahmadzaï.
music masters	Moog Island	Bristol	1994	Pioneering trip-hop track with Moog synthesizer sounds, originally performed by Morcheeba and written by Skye/Goodfrey/Goodfrey. Bristol is the project of Marc Collin, dedicated to the trip hop songs.
music masters	Googa Mama	The Bongolian	2016	“That is sheer musicality”, a Latin-flavoured jazz-funk odyssey with vocals by Louisa Hygate. The Bongolian is the alter ego of multi-instrumentalist Nasser Bouzida.
music masters	While My Guitar Gently Weeps	The Beatles	1968	This song, written by George Harrison, features Eric Clapton on guitar and reflects on personal and universal sorrow.
music masters	L’aventura	Stone & Charden	1971	A playful French duet with theatrical flair. Stone et Charden was a famous French musical duo made up of Éric Charden and his then-wife Annie Gautrat known as Stone, that became hugely popular with “L’Aventura”.
music masters	Jive To The Beat	Arno	1981	Belgian rock artist Arno wrote and performed this song, blending humor and funk.
music masters	My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)	Neil Young & Crazy Horse	1979	Canadian musician Neil Young wrote this song addressing the cyclical nature of fame and rock culture. Its hard rock counterpart is called “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)”. The line, “it’s better to burn out than to fade away” was taken from one of the songs of Young’s bandmate in the short-lived supergroup The Ducks, Jeff Blackburn.
music masters	John Lee hooker	Johnny Rivers	1966	Johnny Rivers (born John Henry Ramistella on November 7, 1942, in New York City) “Ode To John Lee (John Lee Hooker)” wrote and performed this tribute to the blues legend, mixing rock and blues influences.
music masters	Woodstock	Matthews’ Southern Comfort	1970	Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock” is a song inspired by the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival, which she did not attend. She wrote it after hearing about the festival from her then-boyfriend Graham Nash and watching it on television, capturing the spirit of the event through her lyrics. Matthews Southern Comfort (MSC) is a British country rock/folk rock band, formed in 1970 by former Fairport Convention singer Ian (later Iain) Matthews.
music masters	The Show Must Go On	Queen	1991	Freddie Mercury’s powerful farewell anthem, recorded while he was gravely ill, written by Queen’s guitarist Brian May.
retro	Yesterday Once More	The Carpenters	1987	Written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis, this nostalgic track reflects on the joy of listening to old songs and reliving cherished memories. Trivia: The Carpenters turned it into an anthem for soft rock fans in the 1970s.
retro	Those Were The Days	Mary Hopkins	1968	Adapted by Gene Raskin from a Russian folk tune, this wistful song is about youth, dreams, and lost opportunities. Trivia: Produced by Paul McCartney for Apple Records, it became a worldwide hit for Mary Hopkin.
retro	La Maison où j’ai grandi	Françoise Hardy	1966	Originally written by Eddy Marnay and Adriano Celentano (“Il ragazzo della via Gluck”), this reflective song is about revisiting one’s childhood home and confronting the passage of time. Trivia: Françoise Hardy’s heartfelt delivery solidified its place in French pop history.
retro	Il Etait Une Fois Nous Deux	Joe Dassin	1976	Written by Jean-Michel Rivat and Frank Thomas, this romantic ballad recounts the bittersweet memories of a shared love story. Trivia: Joe Dassin’s tender vocals helped make this a beloved classic in the French-speaking world.
retro	N’oubliez Jamais	Joe Cocker	1997	Written by Chris Stainton and Jim Cregan, this reflective track explores generational differences and the importance of not forgetting one’s roots. Trivia: Joe Cocker’s powerful, raspy vocals added emotional depth to the song.
retro	Old Souls	Jessica Harper	1974	Written by Paul Williams, this haunting ballad speaks of timeless love, reincarnation, and the eternal nature of souls. Trivia: Featured in Phantom of the Paradise, Jessica Harper’s ethereal performance elevated it to cult status.
retro	Yesterday Man	Chris Andrews	1965	Written and performed by Chris Andrews, this upbeat track tells the tale of a man left behind after a relationship ends. Trivia: The catchy melody made it a massive hit across Europe in the mid-60s.
retro	Yester Me Yester You Yesterday	Stevie Wonder	1969	Written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells, this soulful tune laments lost love and fond memories of better days. Trivia: Stevie Wonder’s emotional delivery turned it into a timeless Motown classic.
retro	(There’s) Always Something There To Remind Me	Sandie Shaw	1964	Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, this song describes how reminders of a lost relationship linger everywhere. Trivia: Though first recorded by Dionne Warwick, Sandie Shaw’s version became the definitive hit in 1964.
retro	No Regrets	The Walker Brothers	1975	Written by Tom Rush, this soulful farewell to a relationship conveys acceptance and closure. Trivia: The Walker Brothers’ rendition added an orchestral arrangement, giving it a grand, timeless feel.
retro	The way it used to be	Engelbert Humperdinck	1969	Written by Roger Greenaway, Roger Cook, and Geoff Stephens, this sentimental ballad reflects on love and memories of a past relationship. Trivia: Engelbert Humperdinck’s velvety vocals made it a popular choice for romantics.
retro	You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’	The Righteous Brothers	1964	Written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil, this dramatic ballad pleads to rekindle a fading love. Trivia: Known as one of the most-played songs in radio history, the Righteous Brothers made it an enduring classic.
retro	Yesterday	The Beatles	1965	Written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon–McCartney), this melancholic track reflects on lost love and regret. Trivia: Yesterday is recognized as one of the most-covered songs of all time.
retro	I Should Have Known Better	Jim Diamond	1984	Written and performed by Jim Diamond, this song reflects on recognizing mistakes after the end of a relationship. Trivia: It became one of Diamond’s biggest UK hits, praised for its heartfelt sincerity.
retro	1941	Pandemonium	1984	Written by Harry Nilsson, this poignant song reflects on generational struggles, family, and loss. Trivia: Though originally Nilsson’s, Pandemonium brought new life to it with their version.
retro	The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down	The Band	1969	Written by Robbie Robertson of The Band, this historical ballad tells of the fall of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Trivia: The song became one of The Band’s most celebrated works for its powerful storytelling.
retro	Born On The Bayou	Creedence Clearwater Revival	1969	Written by John Fogerty, this swamp rock anthem evokes images of childhood and Southern Americana. Trivia: Credence Clearwater Revival’s gritty sound made this a cornerstone of classic rock.
retro	Helpless	Neil Young	1970	Written by Neil Young, this ballad captures feelings of longing and a deep yearning for home. Trivia: Performed with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, its emotional weight resonates deeply with fans.
retro	1973	James Blunt	2007	Written by James Blunt and Mark Batson, this nostalgic track reminisces about a fleeting summer romance. Trivia: Blunt drew inspiration from his time in Ibiza, particularly a club where he spent memorable nights.
retro	74-75	The Connells	1993	Written by Mike Connell, this bittersweet track reflects on aging, lost youth, and the passage of time. Trivia: The Connells’ heartfelt delivery made it a major hit across Europe.
retro	Missing	Everything But The Girl	1994	Written by Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn, this song captures the ache of absence after someone is gone. Trivia: The Todd Terry dance remix became a global sensation and turned it into a 90s anthem.
retro	Pictures of You	The Cure	1989	Written by Robert Smith, this emotional track reflects on memories captured in old photos after a breakup. Trivia: The Cure’s blend of melancholy and melody made it a standout in alternative rock.
retro	Alone Again (Naturally)	Gilbert O’Sullivan	1972	Written by Gilbert O’Sullivan, this witty yet melancholic song reflects on loneliness, loss, and abandonment. Trivia: Its clever lyrics and timeless melody turned it into one of the most iconic songs of the 1970s.
retro	It Was a Very Good Year	Frank Sinatra	1965	Written by Ervin Drake, this reflective song recounts romances at various ages in a man’s life. Trivia: Frank Sinatra’s version transformed it into a standard and became synonymous with his career.
retro	El Baúl de los Recuerdos	Karina	1971	Written by Juan Carlos Calderón, this lively Spanish pop song celebrates the joy of cherishing old memories. Trivia: Performed by Karina, it became a classic hit in Latin pop music, beloved for its nostalgic energy.
divorce	All Cried Out	Alison Moyet	1984	Written by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, this heartbreak ballad describes the aftermath of a failed relationship and emotional exhaustion.
divorce	This Love	Maroon 5	2004	Written by Adam Levine and James Valentine, the song describes a toxic yet passionate love affair.
divorce	It’s a Heartache	Bonnie Tyler	1977	Written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, the song expresses the pain of unrequited love and betrayal.
divorce	The First Cut Is the Deepest	Rod Stewart	1977	Written by Cat Stevens, this song describes the difficulty of healing after a first heartbreak. Originally recorded by P.P. Arnold, Rod Stewart’s version brought it to mainstream rock audiences.
divorce	Stand by Your Man	Tammy Wynette	1968	Written by Tammy Wynette and Billy Sherrill, this country classic encourages loyalty and understanding in relationships, despite hardships.
divorce	I Understand Just How You Feel	Freddie & The Dreamers	1964	Originally by The G-Clefs, the song reflects on love, understanding, and reconciliation in relationships. Freddie & The Dreamers’ upbeat rendition popularized it during the British Invasion era.
divorce	Don’t Give Up On Us	David Soul	1976	Written by Tony Macaulay, this ballad conveys a plea to salvage a failing relationship. David Soul, an actor turned singer, achieved a global hit with this emotional track.
divorce	Ruler of My Heart (ft. Norah Jones & Robert Randolph)	Dirty Dozen Brass Band	2006	Written by Allen Toussaint, the soulful song tells of heartbreak and devotion. This version, featuring Norah Jones, combines brass band sounds with tender vocals.
divorce	Hurt So Bad	Linda Ronstadt	1980	Written by Bobby Hart, Teddy Randazzo, and Bobby Wilding, the song expresses the anguish of seeing an ex with someone new. Linda Ronstadt’s powerful vocals redefined the song originally popularized by Little Anthony & The Imperials.
divorce	It’s Too Late	Carole King	1971	Written by Carole King and Toni Stern, it’s about recognizing when a relationship is beyond repair.
divorce	All Alone Am I	Brenda Lee	1962	Adapted from a Greek song by Manos Hadjidakis, with English lyrics by Arthur Altman, this mournful tune reflects deep loneliness.
divorce	Hurt	Timi Yuro	1961	Written by Jimmie Crane and Al Jacobs, this ballad expresses emotional pain from heartbreak.
divorce	Love Hurts	Nazareth	1974	Written by Boudleaux Bryant, the song reflects on the anguish and disappointments of love. Nazareth’s rock-infused cover became the most popular version, solidifying it as a classic breakup anthem.
divorce	Will You	Hazel O’Connor	1980	Written by Hazel O’Connor, the song captures the nervous excitement and heartbreak of a budding relationship. The emotional saxophone solo by Wesley Magoogan became a standout feature of the song.
divorce	Torn Between Two Lovers	Mary Macgregor	1976	Written by Peter Yarrow and Phil Jarrell, this ballad describes a woman’s emotional conflict of loving two people simultaneously.
divorce	I’m Leaving It (All) Up to You (Re-Recorded)	Dale & Grace	1963	Written by Don Harris and Dewey Terry, the song tells of two lovers leaving their fate to one another. Dale & Grace’s version became a major hit, reaching No. 1 in the US charts.
divorce	One Of Us	ABBA	1980	Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the song reflects on loneliness and self-reflection after a breakup.
divorce	Miss You	The Rolling Stones	1978	Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, this track blends rock with disco influences, focusing on longing and romantic separation.
divorce	Les divorcés	Michel Delpech	1973	Written and performed by Michel Delpech, this song describes the melancholy reality of divorce and its impact on love and families.
divorce	Comment te dire adieu	Françoise Hardy	1968	Adapted by Serge Gainsbourg, the lyrics convey a graceful farewell after a breakup.
divorce	Tu Recuerdo (ft. La Mari De Chambao, Tommy Torres)	Ricky Martin	2006	Written by Tommy Torres, this song explores the lingering memories of a past love. Featuring La Mari and Torres, Ricky Martin’s emotive performance helped popularize Latin ballads.
divorce	Don’t Speak	No Doubt	1996	Written by Gwen Stefani and Eric Stefani, the song reflects on a painful breakup and the difficulty of communication.
divorce	Tired of Being Alone	Al Green	1971	Written by Al Green, the song expresses longing and loneliness while yearning for romantic connection.
divorce	Breaking Up Is Hard To Do	Neil Sedaka	1962	Written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, this song humorously yet poignantly portrays the challenges of ending a relationship.
divorce	Lover Lover Lover	Leonard Cohen	1974	Written by Leonard Cohen, this introspective song explores themes of love, redemption, and personal reflection. Cohen wrote it while living in a monastery, blending spiritual themes with romantic ones.
divorce	The End of the World	Skeeter Davis	1962	Written by Arthur Kent and Sylvia Dee, this melancholy track describes the devastation of lost love. Skeeter Davis’ mournful yet sweet voice made it one of the most enduring heartbreak songs of all time.
divorce	Where Is The Love (ft. Donny Hathaway)	Roberta Flack	1972	Written by Ralph MacDonald and William Salter, the song questions the lack of love and connection in relationships. Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway’s duet remains one of the most celebrated soul collaborations.
divorce	I’m Gonna Leave You	Melanie De Biasio	2013	Written and performed by Melanie De Biasio, the song conveys themes of emotional detachment and independence in an ethereal jazz style.
Phone	Hung Up	Madonna	2005	Written by Madonna and Stuart Price, the song samples ABBA’s Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) and reflects the frustration of waiting for love. ABBA gave rare permission to Madonna to use their sample, contributing to the song’s success.
Phone	Electrico Romantico (ft. Robbie Williams)	Bob Sinclar	2019	Written by Bob Sinclar and Robbie Williams, this funky dance track blends romance and disco nostalgia.
Phone	I Like It Like That (ft. New Boyz)	Hot Chelle Rae	2011	Written by Hot Chelle Rae and New Boyz, the upbeat track celebrates partying and carefree fun.
Phone	Call Me Maybe	Carly Rae Jepsen	2012	Written by Carly Rae Jepsen, Tavish Crowe, and Josh Ramsay, the song tells of a lighthearted crush and a playful hope for reciprocation. The catchy hook turned it into a viral hit, boosted by Justin Bieber’s endorsement.
Phone	Drop the phone	Shy Child	2007	Written by Shy Child, the track highlights the chaos and overstimulation of modern technology.
Phone	Cellphone’s Dead	Beck	2006	Written by Beck, this experimental track critiques the dependence on technology and phones in modern life.
Phone	Telephone Line	Electric Light Orchestra	1976	Written by Jeff Lynne of ELO, the song tells of a desperate attempt to reach someone through a telephone, symbolizing lost love. ELO used a “telephone effect” intro to mimic an actual phone call.
Phone	Hello	Lionel Richie	1984	Written by Lionel Richie, the song explores longing and unspoken love, famously paired with its romantic video.
Phone	Hello Again	Neil Diamond	1980	Written by Neil Diamond and Alan Lindgren, the song is about longing to reconnect with a past love.
Phone	Wichita Lineman	Glen Campbell	1968	Written by Jimmy Webb, this melancholic song portrays the loneliness of a working lineman and his thoughts of love and connection. Glen Campbell’s version was praised for its orchestral arrangement and poetic lyrics.
Phone	Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)	Jim Croce	1972	Written by Jim Croce, the song tells of a man calling an operator to reach his ex-lover, reflecting heartache and longing.
Phone	Draai 79.72.04	Will Tura	1972	Written by Will Tura, the Belgian song uses a phone number as a motif to explore themes of reaching out for lost connections. Will Tura is a legendary Belgian artist known for his heartfelt songs and timeless melodies.
Phone	634-5789	Wilson Pickett	1966	Written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper, this R&B classic is about giving a lover a direct “hotline” to reach out. Wilson Pickett’s version became a soul classic and showcased Memphis-style grooves.
Phone	Pennsylvania 6-5000	Glenn Miller	1940	Written by Jerry Gray and Carl Sigman, this Glenn Miller hit uses the famous phone number of a New York hotel to reference a bygone era.
Phone	Hallelujah I Love Her So	Ray Charles	1956	Written by Ray Charles, the song celebrates the joy and devotion found in a relationship.
Phone	I Just Called to Say I Love You	Stevie Wonder	1984	Written by Stevie Wonder, the song conveys a simple and heartfelt message of love, delivered through a phone call.
Phone	Hanging On the Telephone	Blondie	1978	Written by Jack Lee, this punk-infused track reflects impatience and desperation when waiting for a lover’s call. Blondie’s energetic cover popularized the song, originally by The Nerves.
Phone	Le Téléfon	Nino Ferrer	1967	Written and performed by Nino Ferrer, the song humorously explores communication struggles through playful lyrics about the telephone.
Phone	She Called Up	Crowded House	2007	Written by Neil Finn of Crowded House, the song uses a phone call as a plot device to convey sudden, life-changing news.
Phone	Don’t Call Us (We’ll Call You) (Original Hit Single Version)	Sugarloaf	1975	Written by Jerry Corbetta and John Carter, the song satirizes rejection in the music industry and show business. Sugarloaf included phone sound effects to highlight the theme of being dismissed.
Phone	Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)	De La Soul	1991	Written by De La Soul and Prince Paul, this hip-hop track humorously critiques pushy fans and phone call overload. The song samples Curiosity Killed the Cat’s Name and Number.
Phone	Ring, Ring, Ring	Aaron Soul	2002	Written by Aaron Soul, the track narrates a story of heartbreak and longing, expressed through repeated unanswered calls.
Phone	Call On Me	Morley	2010	Written and performed by Morley, the song centers on themes of emotional support and human connection during tough times.
Phone	Call Me	Eliane Elias	2004	Written and performed by Eliane Elias, the jazz-infused song captures the intimate longing and anticipation of reconnecting with a loved one.
Phone	Un autre monde	Téléphone	1984	Written by Jean-Louis Aubert and performed by the French band Téléphone, the song imagines a better, idealized world filled with hope and unity.
slipstream	Sing it back	Moloko	1999	Written by Róisín Murphy and Mark Brydon (Moloko), this dance hit is about reconnecting with oneself and rediscovering joy. Moloko’s track was remixed by DJ Boris Dlugosch, turning it into a club anthem.
slipstream	Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love) (ft. Sophie Ellis-Bextor)	Spiller	2000	Written by Cristiano Spiller, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Rob Davis, the song captures the allure of a fleeting romantic connection.
slipstream	O Sarracino (ft. Buscemi)	Rocco Granata	1958	Written and originally performed by Renato Carosone, O Sarracino celebrates the charm of a young man. Carosone’s original was a hit in Italy; Granata and Buscemi revived it with a dance twist, combining vintage vibes with modern beats.
slipstream	Max	Paolo Conte	1987	Written and performed by Paolo Conte, the jazzy song reflects nostalgia, likely about the passing of a beloved dog or friend named “Max.”
slipstream	Cannonball	Supertramp	1979	Written by Rick Davies and performed by Supertramp, the song captures a rhythmic, funky mood with cryptic lyrics about romantic tension.
slipstream	Hold On Tight	Electric Light Orchestra	1981	Written by Jeff Lynne of ELO, the upbeat track encourages perseverance in the face of adversity. The song features a rare mix of English and French lyrics.
slipstream	Slipping Away	Dave Edmunds	1983	Written by Phil Everly and performed by Dave Edmunds, the track laments a relationship slowly fading away.
slipstream	Take On Me	a-ha	1985	Written by Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket, and Pål Waaktaar of a-ha, the song explores romantic longing and hope.
slipstream	Uncertain Smile	The The	1983	Written by Matt Johnson of The The, the song blends melancholy lyrics with a piano-driven melody, exploring heartbreak and uncertainty. The extended version features a jazz piano solo by Jools Holland.
slipstream	MMM, MMM, MMM, MMM	Crash Test Dummies	1993	Written by Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies, the song tells surreal, melancholic stories of childhood struggles and societal outcasts.
slipstream	Jet	Paul McCartney & Wings	1974	Written by Paul McCartney and performed by Wings, the song was inspired by McCartney’s black Labrador puppy named Jet.
slipstream	The Love Shack	The B-52’s	1989	Written by The B-52’s (Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland, and Kate Pierson), the song celebrates a fun, carefree party atmosphere.
slipstream	Freeway Of Love	Aretha Franklin	1985	Written by Jeffrey Cohen and Narada Michael Walden, performed by Aretha Franklin, the song uses a car as a metaphor for romance and freedom.
slipstream	Locked Out Of Heaven	Bruno Mars	2012	Written by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, and Ari Levine, the song uses religious imagery to describe the intoxicating feeling of love. Mars drew inspiration from The Police’s reggae-rock sound for this track.
slipstream	Wicked Soul	Kubb	2005	Written by Harry Collier of Kubb, the song reflects themes of love and emotional struggle, wrapped in melodic rock.
slipstream	Ain’t Nobody (ft. Chaka Khan)	Rufus	1983	Written by David “Hawk” Wolinski and performed by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, the song celebrates deep, passionate love.
slipstream	Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds	Elton John	1974	Written by John Lennon and originally performed by The Beatles, Elton John’s version reimagines the surreal, dreamlike song with a grander arrangement. Elton’s cover reached No. 1, with backing vocals by Lennon (credited as Dr. Winston O’Boogie).
slipstream	Judy In Disguise	John Fred & His Playboy Band	1967	Written by John Fred and Andrew Bernard, the track satirizes The Beatles’ Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds while telling a playful story of infatuation. The title was inspired by a misheard lyric from Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
slipstream	Penny Lane	The Beatles	1967	Written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, the song nostalgically describes life in a Liverpool suburb through vivid imagery and joyful melodies. The song was named after a real street in Liverpool where McCartney grew up.
slipstream	Golden Brown	The Stranglers	1981	Written by The Stranglers (Hugh Cornwell, Jean-Jacques Burnel, Dave Greenfield, and Jet Black), the song poetically refers to both a romantic partner and heroin addiction. The track’s unusual 6/8 time signature and harpsichord melody set it apart.
beats without borders	Living Darfur	By Mattafix; written by Marlon Roudette & Preetesh Hirji.	2007	A song highlighting the crisis in Darfur, focusing on human suffering and the need for global attention.
beats without borders	Asimbonanga (Mandela)	By Johnny Clegg & Savuka; written by Johnny Clegg.	1987	Tribute to Nelson Mandela, calling for his release during apartheid and remembering other freedom fighters. Clegg performed it live with Mandela on stage after his release.
beats without borders	There Will Be Time	By Mumford & Sons with Baaba Maal; written by Marcus Mumford and Baaba Maal.	2016	A fusion of Western folk and African influences, the song speaks about love, life, and the passing of time. The song was recorded in South Africa and fuses folk rock with African rhythms.
beats without borders	Ventania	By Bixiga 70; instrumental.	2015	Instrumental track inspired by Afrobeat rhythms, blending Brazilian and African influences. Bixiga 70 is known for their energetic live performances, drawing from Fela Kuti-inspired Afrobeat.
beats without borders	Bofou Safou	By Amadou & Mariam; written by Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia.	2017	A playful song about lazy men who avoid responsibilities, contrasting their lifestyle with those who work hard. The term “Bofou Safou” refers to a man who is carefree and irresponsible, common in Malian slang.
beats without borders	Boat To Nowhere	Remix by Matt Robertson; originally by Anoushka Shankar.	2016	The song deals with the refugee crisis and feelings of displacement. Anoushka Shankar’s album Land of Goldwas created in response to the refugee crisis.
beats without borders	Sadagora Hot Dub	By Amsterdam Klezmer Band; remix by Shantel.	2006	A fusion of traditional klezmer music with modern electronic beats. Klezmer is a traditional Jewish music genre, and this track blends old-world sounds with contemporary production.
beats without borders	A Voce Rivolta	By I Muvrini; traditional Corsican polyphonic song.	2003	A song about defiance and resilience, symbolizing resistance in Corsican culture. I Muvrini are known for preserving and promoting Corsican musical traditions.
beats without borders	One Voice	By The Wailin’ Jennys; written by Ruth Moody.	2004	A harmonious folk song about unity, peace, and the power of collective action. “One Voice” has become an anthem for peace movements and has been covered by various choirs.
beats without borders	Sous Le Charme	By Khadja Nin; written by Khadja Nin.	1998	A sensual love song reflecting emotional vulnerability and enchantment in relationships. Khadja Nin is known for blending traditional Burundian sounds with European pop.
beats without borders	Aiysha	By Khaled; written by Jean-Jacques Goldman.	1996	A love song with a feminist twist, where Aïcha desires love and respect, not material possessions.
beats without borders	I’m on My Way	Traditional; performed by Kristin Asbjørnsen.	2005	A spiritual journey toward freedom and peace, reflecting the themes of traditional African-American spirituals. Kristin Asbjørnsen’s interpretation mixes gospel, jazz, and folk elements.
beats without borders	River	By Ibeyi; written by Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz.	2015	Symbolic of emotional and spiritual cleansing, with references to the Yoruba deity Oshun, who is associated with water and healing. The song draws from the duo’s Afro-Cuban roots and Yoruba traditions.
beats without borders	Baobab	By Guem; instrumental.	1982	Instrumental track evoking the spirit of African rhythms and the significance of the baobab tree as a cultural symbol. Guem was a master percussionist, celebrated for his innovative drum compositions.
beats without borders	Jin ma jin ma	By Orchestra Baobab.	1989	A lively Afro-Cuban fusion song, drawing from the rich musical exchange between West Africa and the Caribbean. Orchestra Baobab is one of Senegal’s most influential bands, blending traditional Wolof music with Cuban influences.
beats without borders	Baba (ft. The Garifuna Collective)	Andy Palacio	2007	A song honoring Garifuna elders and cultural heritage. Andy Palacio was a major figure in promoting Garifuna music and culture worldwide.
beats without borders	Speaking In Tongues II	By Sheila Chandra.	1992	Vocal experimentation, using syllables instead of lyrics, creating a meditative and trance-like soundscape. Chandra is known for her innovative use of voice as an instrument, drawing from Indian classical traditions.
beats without borders	Fade Away	By Yungchen Lhamo.	1998	A contemplative song about impermanence and loss, drawing from Lhamo’s Tibetan Buddhist beliefs. Tibetan ‘Goddess of Melody,’Yungchen Lhamo’s music is deeply spiritual, reflecting her journey from Tibet to becoming an internationally acclaimed artist.
beats without borders	Doum Doum Doum	By Awa Ly.	2016	A rhythm-driven track about resilience and connection, with “doum doum” mimicking a drumbeat, symbolizing life’s rhythm. Awa Ly is known for blending Afrobeat, folk, and jazz, creating a unique sound that spans cultures.
beats without borders	Cousins	By Ali Farka Touré.	2006	A reflective track that connects African and American blues traditions, celebrating the “cousin” relationship between the two genres. Ali Farka Touré was known for blending Malian music with American blues, often referred to as the “John Lee Hooker of Africa.”
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Theme from ‘The Apartment’	Tito Rodríguez	1960	Composed by Charles Williams, this instrumental piece gained popularity through the 1960 film The Apartment. Tito Rodríguez adapted it into his version, adding a Latin flair to the classic tune.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Casino Royale	Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass	1967	Composed by Burt Bacharach for the 1967 Casino Royale film, this track showcases Bacharach’s jazzy style with Alpert’s signature trumpet sound. Fun, groovy, and cinematic.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Brasil	Ray Conniff	1958	Brazil, written by Ary Barroso, became famous after it featured in Walt Disney’s 1942 animated film Saludos Amigos. Barroso wrote “Aquarela do Brasil” (in English: ‘Watercolor of Brazil’) in early 1939, when he was prevented from leaving his home one rainy night due to a heavy storm. Ray Conniff’s vibrant orchestral adaptation adds big-band energy and smooth arrangements.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	The Peanut Vendor	Stan Kenton Orchestra	1947	“El manisero”, known in English as “The Peanut Vendor”, is a Cuban son-pregón composed by Moisés Simons. Stan Kenton gave a second life to the Cuban classic “El manisero” or “The Peanut Vendor” when he recorded with his big band this energetic jazz version for Capitol Records, in 1947.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Só Danço Samba	Antônio Carlos Jobim	1963	“Só Danço Samba” (aka “Jazz ‘n’ Samba”) is a gentle bossa nova track, written by Antônio Carlos Jobim & Vinícius de Moraes, celebrating the joy of dancing samba. Jobim’s smooth melody and lyrical simplicity embody Brazilian music. Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim (25 January 1927 – 8 December 1994), also known as Tom Jobim one of the great exponents of Brazilian music, Jobim merged samba with cool jazz in the 1960s to create bossa nova,
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	My Little Suede Shoes	Charlie Parker	1951	Charlie Parker picked up in Paris a French Caribbean tune called “Mes Souliers De Daim” that he translated to “My Little Suede shoes”. This Latin-inspired instrumental jazz track is a departure from Charlie Parker’s bebop style and highlights his versatility and love of Afro-Cuban rhythms.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Unsquare Dance	Dave Brubeck	1961	“Unsquare Dance” is Dave Brubeck’s challenge to the foot-tappers, finger-snappers and hand-clappers. Brubeck, known for its 7/4 time signature, wrote this playful jazz piece, breaking conventional rhythm rules and showcasing his innovative approach to jazz. The laugh you hear at the end is jazz drummer Joe Morello’s guffaw of surprise and relief that they had managed to get through the difficult last chorus.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Oye La Rumba	Machito & His Salsa Big Band	1982	Machito arranged this high-energy salsa classic, written by Marcelino Guerra, that celebrates Afro-Cuban rhythms and dance culture. Machito was pivotal in popularizing mambo and Latin jazz.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Lo Que Va A Pasar (a.k.a. El Volcán Del Caribe)	Irakere	1987	Chucho Valdés, Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger, wrote this fiery Afro-Cuban jazz piece blending traditional Cuban rhythms with jazz improvisation. Chucho is the founder of the landmark ensemble in Cuban music Irakere (1973-2005). Not well known outside Cuba, Irakere was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie, who was visiting Havana on a jazz cruise, in 1977. Irakere brought international attention to Cuban jazz innovation. This recording is from 1987, live at the legendary London Ronnie Scott’s jazz club, open daily from 8:30pm to 3:00am.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Mzala	The Havana Swingsters	1956	Eric Nomvete turned Mzala (in English ‘cousin’), a South African Traditional, into a vibrant, jazzy track influenced by South African swing traditions, blending global jazz styles with African rhythms. This track appeared on “Jazz From the Township” (1956) as well as on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of “Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom” (2013).
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Nightwalk	Joe Torres	1966	Latin jazz/boogaloo percussionist (timbales), songwriter and orchestra leader Joe Torres grew up in Spanish Harlem, began as timbalero in his 10 and moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1950s, where he recorded his only album “Latino Con Soul” in 1966. Trumpeter Steve Huffsteter wrote this song, featuring vocals by Ric DeSilva and the trumpet by Gary Barone, New York had been brewing its own Latin fusion for several years, and by 1966 this novel melange was making its way into the mainstream. The style and also the dance style were called boogaloo, following Mambo (the fifties) and evolving further into Salsa in the seventies.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Aquarian Moon	Osunlade	2014	Osunlade (born Christian Carlos Warren) is a DJ, musician and producer from St. Louis, Missouri. “Aquarian Moon” is from an album where he tells of his love affair with the beautiful Greek Island of Santorini, where he recorded live over a 12 day period while he was a resident (on the third day of the aquarian moon i found my soul..drenched in loves bliss and touched by the glow of caldera’s view..i too overflow in the sunset and the glow of aquarian’s moon wanting, needing, feeling to simply be…)
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Mr DG	Colman Brothers	2011	From Bristol, UK, The Colman Brothers (Andrew (Andy) and Matt Colman) pay a tribute to jazz greats with this swing-infused contemporary jazz track which highlights their modern take on classic jazz.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Maria Moita	Rosalia De Souza	2002	“Maria Moita” was initially composed by Carlos Lyra with lyrics by Vinícius de Moraes. This version by Brazilian bossa nova singer Rosalia De Souza, produced by Italian Latin-jazz artist Nicola Conte, honours the 1960s original, exploring themes of feminine power and resilience through rhythmic elegance. Rosalia De Souza was born in Rio de Janeiro, in the Nilopolis district famous for its samba Beija-Flor. The great passion for music was cultivated by her father. In 1989 she arrived in Italy where she started studying at the “Scuola Popolare di Testaccio” in Rome, taking classes in musical theory, Cuban percussions, jazz and jazz history. In 1994 she met DJ and Producer Nicola Conte.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	It Might As Well Be Spring	Astrud Gilberto ft. Stan Getz	1964	This song was first recorded and released in July 1945 by Dick Haymes with Victor Young and His Orchestra. Written by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein for the 1945 movie State Fair, it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. This dreamy jazz bossa nova interpretation with Gilberto’s soft vocals and Getz’s saxophone create a serene atmosphere.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Tú Serás (ft. Aja Monet)	Danay Suárez	2017	Danay Suárez Fernandez is a Cuban singer and rapper born 1985 in La Havana, Cuba. Aja Monet is an American surrealist blues poet. This blend of Afro-Cuban jazz and spoken word explores themes of love, identity, and self-reflection, merging contemporary poetry with traditional rhythms.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	All Love	Patrick Saussois & Alma Sinti	2003	Patrick Saussois was a French left-handed playing jazz guitarist and member of Alma Sinti, a French gypsy jazz group, formed in 1996. French jazz guitarist Jean-Jacques “Babik” Reinhardt (younger son of Django Reinhardt) wrote this heartfelt gypsy jazz piece celebrating love through soft melodies and intricate guitar work, inspired by Django Reinhardt’s style. His 1973 album, “Sinti Houn Brazil”, included three lengthy original compositions, in more of a bossa nova style.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Malecón Avenue	Marc Berthoumieux	2004	Marc Berthoumieux is a French accordion player and composer, born 1960, created this lively instrumental, evoking the vibrancy of Havana’s famed Malecón. It combines jazz with world music influences for a rich sonic landscape. In 1999, he was nominated for the Django d’Or for his first album Les Couleurs d’ici.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	La Questa (ft. Steve Howe)	Martin Taylor	2002	Martin Taylor and Steve Howe are British guitarists. This track combines the fusion of jazz and progressive guitar by Steve Howe with the intricate improvisation and sophisticated jazz arrangements by Martin Taylor.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	No Se Puede Querer	Jose Luis Rodriguez	1965	This song is written by Pepé Delgado, a Cuban pianist, lyricist, and composer and performed by Venezuelan singer and actor, Jose Luis Rodriguez, also known as “El Puma”.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	No Seras Mio	Machito & His Salsa Big Band	1982	Puerto Rican poet, lyricist, composer Sylvia Rexach wrote this song, performed by Machito & His Salsa Big Band, an Afro Cuban jazz / salsa orchestra formed from Machito And His Orchestra, created in New York in the mid-1940s, in a shorter format for a European tour in the early 1980s, without Mario Bauzá and Graciela Pérez who left the band. Machito’s daughter Paula Grillo carried female lead vocals, stepping into Graciela’s (Machito’s younger foster sister) shoes. When Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, somewhat short in stature, married Puerto Rican Hilda Torres in 1940, he changed his nickname from “Macho” to “Machito”. In 1984 he suffered a stroke before a concert, collapsing while waiting to go on stage at Ronnie Scott’s club and died four days later on April 19, 1984, at University College Hospital in London.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Lamento (No Morro) – ft. Maogani Quartet	Sergio Mendes	2006	This song was initially composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim with lyrics from Vinicius de Moraes. Sergio Mendes created a touching bossa nova track blending traditional Brazilian guitar arrangements with his unique modern flair. Quarteto Maogani is a Brazilian acoustic guitar quartet, born in 1994 at UFRJ School of Music from four students: Carlos Chaves, Marcos Alves, Paulo Aragão and Sergio Valdeos
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	Manha de Carnaval (Eurydice)	Elizeth Cardoso	1958	This song, written by Luiz Bonfa and Antonio Maria, and performed by Brazilian singer Elizette Moreira Cardoso, is a beautiful bossa nova classic from the film Black Orpheus. It symbolizes love, longing, and fleeting happiness.
Latin Rhythms (para R&D)	The Lonely Bull	Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass	1962	Herb Alpert’s first hit single ‘The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro)’, written by American composer Solomon Lachoff, blending mariachi influences with a pop-jazz sound, helped him achieve international fame.
compass	Radar Love	Golden Earring	1973	Written by Barry Hay and George Kooymans, the song narrates a driver’s telepathic connection with a lover, symbolizing the power of love and intuition during long journeys.
compass	From New York To L.A.	Patsy Gallant	1976	Written by Dennys Lannoy, Philippe Leduc, and Michel Jourdan, it captures the contrasting emotions of a performer’s glamorous yet isolating life between two iconic cities. Patsy Gallant’s disco version turned it into an international hit.
compass	American Boy (feat. Kanye West)	Estelle	2008	Written by Estelle, Kanye West, Will.i.am, and others, the song is a playful and romantic homage to American culture from a British perspective. Estelle was inspired by her experiences traveling in the U.S.
compass	Englishman in New York	Sting	1987	Written by Sting, the song portrays the eccentricities of being a foreigner in New York City, inspired by author and activist Quentin Crisp. Its iconic saxophone riff was played by Branford Marsalis.
compass	America	Simon & Garfunkel	1968	Written by Paul Simon, this Simon & Garfunkel song reflects the optimism and disillusionment of two young lovers traveling across America in search of meaning. It became an anthem of the 1960s counterculture movement.
compass	America	Neil Diamond	1980	Written by Neil Diamond, the song celebrates immigration and the pursuit of the American Dream.
compass	Don’t Go Back To Rockville	R.E.M.	1984	Written by Mike Mills, this R.E.M. track is a plea to a friend not to leave Athens, Georgia, for the monotony of Rockville, Maryland. It was initially written as a lighthearted joke about a former girlfriend.
compass	Every Road Leads Back to You	Bette Midler	1991	Written by Marc Shaiman and performed by Bette Midler, this ballad reflects on the emotional journey of life and love, ultimately finding solace in connection.
compass	Leaving Las Vegas	Sheryl Crow	1993	Written by Sheryl Crow and collaborators, this song explores themes of disillusionment and escape, drawing inspiration from John O’Brien’s novel.
compass	Massachusetts	Bee Gees	1967	Written by Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, the Bee Gees reflect on longing for simplicity and home, contrasting with the hippie movement’s westward focus. The Bee Gees had never visited Massachusetts before writing this song.
compass	Budapest	George Ezra	2014	Written by George Ezra and Joel Pott, the song humorously lists things Ezra would sacrifice for love, despite never visiting Budapest.
compass	Via Con Me	Paolo Conte	1981	Written by Paolo Conte, this jazzy, multilingual track invites listeners to leave everything behind and embrace life’s joys.
compass	Walking To New Orleans	Fats Domino	1960	Written by Bobby Charles, the song is Fats Domino’s heartfelt declaration to return to his roots after heartbreak.
compass	Stop That Train	Clint Eastwood & General Saint	1983	Written by Clint Eastwood and General Saint, the reggae track humorously portrays the desire to escape emotional turmoil.
compass	Exodus	Bob Marley & The Wailers	1977	Written by Bob Marley, the song represents liberation and the spiritual journey to freedom, resonating with Rastafarian ideals.
compass	Let’s Go To San Francisco	The Flowerpot Men	1967	Written by John Carter and Ken Lewis, the track celebrates the hippie culture of the 1960s, particularly the San Francisco scene. Despite its success, The Flowerpot Men were a studio band created solely for this track.
compass	Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa	Gene Pitney	1963	Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the song narrates a man’s temptation by love while on a road trip, leading him away from his intended destination.
compass	Do You Know The Way To San Jose	Dionne Warwick	1968	Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the song highlights the struggles of making it in Hollywood and yearning for a simpler life in San Jose.
compass	Lost In France	Bonnie Tyler	1976	Written by Steve Wolfe and Ronnie Scott, the song captures the enchanting and romantic atmosphere of France, evoking a dreamy, nostalgic mood. Soon after the song’s release, Tyler underwent an operation to remove nodules from her vocal cords. She failed to follow the six-week rest period instructed by her doctor and was left with a permanent, distinct raspy quality.
compass	Je reviendrai a Montréal	Robert Charlebois	1976	Written and performed by Robert Charlebois, the song nostalgically reflects on returning to one’s roots in Montreal, Canada. An enduring anthem in Quebecois music, cherished by expatriates.
compass	Sail On	Commodores	1979	Lionel Richie wrote a sparkling ballad and soulful breakup song that conveys resilience and hope in moving on from a failed relationship.
compass	Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)	Enya	1988	“Orinoco Flow”, also released as “Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)”, is a song written by Irish singer-songwriter Enya, Roma Ryan, and Nicky Ryan. This ethereal track invites listeners to escape to peaceful, exotic destinations. Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin (born 17 May 1961 anglicised as Enya Patricia Brennan) is known mononymously as Enya.
compass	I’ll Find My Way Home	Jon & Vangelis	1981	Written by Jon Anderson and Vangelis, the song reflects on spiritual awakening and the journey to self-discovery.
resiliency	I’m Still Standing	Elton John	1983	Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, this defiant anthem of resilience became iconic with its colorful Cannes-shot music video.
resiliency	A Little Less Conversation (ft. JXL)	Elvis Presley	1968	Written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange, originally for an Elvis movie. The 2002 JXL remix became a global hit thanks to its use in Nike ads. Junkie XL (a.k.a. JXL), born Tom Holkenborg (on 8 December 1967) is a Dutch composer, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, producer, and engineer.
resiliency	Never Gonna Give You Up	Rick Astley	1987	Written by Stock, Aitken, and Waterman, this dance-pop classic became a meme phenomenon as the ultimate Rickrolling anthem.
resiliency	Believe	Cher	1998	Written by Brian Higgins, Paul Barry, and Matt Gray, this Auto-Tune pioneer is a powerful anthem about moving on after heartbreak.
resiliency	Young Hearts Run Free	Candi Staton	1976	Written by David Crawford, this disco classic explores escaping toxic relationships, inspired by Candi Staton’s real struggles.
resiliency	Never My Love	The Association	1967	Written by Don and Dick Addrisi, “Never My Love” is a perfect wedding song, as it is about unrelenting devotion.
resiliency	Marlene on the Wall	Suzanne Vega	1985	Written by Suzanne Vega, this folk-pop song uses Marlene Dietrich as a symbolic figure in a tale of loneliness and self-reflection. Vega really did have a poster of Dietrich on her wall. Marlene Dietrich was a German actress who became an international film star in the 1930s. During World War II, she put her movie career on hold in order to entertain US troops, a move that won her the Medal of Freedom, the highest military award a civilian can receive. Dietrich was 90 years old when she died in 1992.
resiliency	Alone Again Or	Love	1967	Written by Bryan MacLean, this baroque pop/folk masterpiece captures longing and love with intricate orchestration. Love guitarist Bryan MacLean wrote this as a tribute to his mother, who was a flamenco dancer. The group was led by Arthur Lee who was sentenced to 12 years in jail in 1995 for shooting at a neighbour who’d protested at the noise from Lee’s stereo. Writer MacLean left the band to join a Christian ministry.
resiliency	The son of Hickory Holler’s tramp	O.C. Smith	1968	Written by Dallas Frazier, this poignant story-song highlights a woman’s strength in raising her family despite societal judgment. Ocie Lee Smith (June 21, 1932 – November 23, 2001), known professionally as O. C. Smith, was an American singer.
resiliency	Somebody To Love	Queen	1976	Written by Freddie Mercury, this gospel-inspired rock anthem explores the longing for companionship and emotional connection.
resiliency	Something Got Me Started	Simply Red	1991	Written by Mick Hucknall and Fritz McIntyre, this soulful dance hit depicts the struggle of letting go after a breakup.
resiliency	Can’t Stop	Red Hot Chili Peppers	2002	Written by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, this funky rock anthem celebrates creativity and perseverance with poetic lyrics. Lead singer Anthony Kiedis wrote the lyrics around the music encouraging the listener to live with passion and individuality.
resiliency	Another Way to Die	Jack White & Alicia Keys	2008	Written by Jack White, this Bond theme for Quantum of Solace is gritty and dramatic, mirroring the movie’s intense tone.
resiliency	Cold Little Heart	Michael Kiwanuka	2016	Written by Michael Kiwanuka, this atmospheric track explores love, betrayal, and regret, featured in Big Little Lies.
resiliency	Wild Horses	The Rolling Stones	1971	Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, this tender ballad captures love, regret, and yearning, a classic Rolling Stones hit.
resiliency	Stand on the Word	Joubert Singers	1985	Written by Phyliss McKoy Joubert, while she was working as the Minister of Music at the First Baptist Church in Crown Heights, New York. The original version was recorded in 1982, credited to The Celestial Choir. In 1985, Joubert and George Rodriguez of the Garden State Record Pool approached Eddie O’Loughlin, the owner of Next Plateau Records, and the pair, along with Humphries, mixed new versions of “Stand On The Word” under the name the Joubert Singers.
resiliency	In the Winter	Janis Ian	1975	Written by Janis Ian, this melancholic ballad about loneliness and heartbreak showcases Ian’s introspective songwriting.
resiliency	White Winter Hymnal	Fleet Foxes	2008	Written by Robin Pecknold, this poetic indie-folk track features vivid imagery and rich harmonies, adding to its mysterious allure. It is a gently uplifting song to be like “Whistle While You Work” from Snow White. Lead singer and songwriter Robin Pecknold told the band’s name is totally random and liked the alliteration.
resiliency	Wrecking Ball	Miley Cyrus	2013	Written by Maureen McDonald, Lukasz Gottwald, et al., this pop ballad delves into heartbreak and vulnerability with an iconic video. Miley Ray Cyrus, born Destiny Hope Cyrus on November 23, 1992, is an American singer, songwriter, actress and daughter of singer Billy Ray Cyrus. Her parents nicknamed her “Smiley”, which they later shortened to “Miley”,
resiliency	Solsbury Hill	Peter Gabriel	1977	Written by Peter Gabriel, this metaphorical tale of life-changing decisions was inspired by Gabriel’s departure from Genesis.
resiliency	Buddy Holly	Weezer	1994	The song, written by lead singer Rivers Cuomo, is about defending a platonic female friend The single was released to radio on September 7, 1994, which would have been Buddy Holly’s 58th birthday.
resiliency	Let’s Stay Together	Al Green	1972	Written by Al Green, Willie Mitchell, and Al Jackson Jr., this soulful anthem celebrates devotion and enduring love.
personal development	You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet	Bachman-Turner Overdrive	1974	Written as a joke for Randy’s brother with a stammer, it became a surprise hit, showcasing catchy rock riffs and playful lyrics.
personal development	Fire	The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown	1968	Written by Arthur Brown and Vincent Crane, Known for its dramatic vocals and theatrical style, it is often seen as a precursor to glam and heavy metal genres.
personal development	Never Be Clever	Herman Brood & His Wild Romance	1980	A witty and rebellious tune reflecting Herman Brood’s rock-and-roll lifestyle and critique of societal norms.
personal development	Laugh & Walk Away	The Shirts	1978	A melodic rock track capturing themes of heartbreak, resilience, and moving on.
personal development	Poupée de cire, poupée son	France Gall	1965	A Eurovision-winning French pop song that metaphorically explores the superficiality of fame and being a “doll” in the music industry. In English: “Wax doll, rag doll” represented Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 1965 held in Naples, winning the contest. Its melody was inspired by the 4th movement (Prestissimo in F minor) from Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 1.
personal development	Bouncing Off Clouds	Tori Amos	2007	Tori Amos’ dreamy, poetic exploration of relationships, hope, and navigating life’s uncertainties.
personal development	Rehab	Amy Winehouse	2006	An autobiographical hit detailing Amy Winehouse’s struggles with addiction, delivered with sharp wit and a retro-soul vibe. Written by Amy Winehouse with Mark Ronson.
personal development	Chasing Pavements	ADELE	2008	Adele and Eg White wrote this heartfelt ballad about unrequited love and finding closure, inspired by Adele’s personal heartbreak.
personal development	The Alternative Way	Anita Meyer	1976	A timeless Dutch pop track about choosing a different path and embracing individuality, written by Anita Meyer and Hans Vermeulen
personal development	Perfect	Fairground Attraction	1988	Guitarist Mark E. Nevin wrote this breezy acoustic hit celebrating love and life’s simple joys with upbeat charm.
personal development	Osez Joséphine	Alain Bashung	1991	Alain Bashung wrote this blend of rock and blues, exploring themes of freedom and escapism with poetic lyrics.
personal development	Little Jackie Wants To Be A Star	Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam	1985	A vibrant, 80s dance-pop track about chasing fame and dealing with its challenges. The song is written by Full Force, an American music group of hip hop and R&B singers and producers from Brooklyn, New York.
personal development	The World Should Revolve Around Me	Little Jackie	2008	Little Jackie frontwoman Imani Coppola co-wrote this sassy pop tune about self-confidence and navigating toxic relationships with humour.
personal development	Spotlight	Jennifer Hudson	2008	An empowering R&B anthem about rediscovering self-worth and stepping into the limelight. The song is written and produced by Ne-Yo and Norwegian production duo Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel S. Eriksen.
personal development	Bensonhurst Blues	Oscar Benton	1973	A soulful ballad depicting nostalgia and the complexities of identity and belonging. Oscar Benton (born Ferdinand van Eis; 3 February 1949 – 8 November 2020) was a Dutch vocalist.
personal development	Don’t Answer Me	The Alan Parsons Project	1984	A hauntingly melodic track about heartbreak and the emotional toll of rejection, written by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson.
personal development	Come My Way	Delv!s	2018	Delv!s, born Niels Delvaux, wrote and performed this soulful tune combining retro vibes with themes of longing and self-discovery.
personal development	My Suitor	Bernthöler	1983	A minimalist synth-pop song about romantic yearning and vulnerability, written by Drita Kotaji and Simon Rigot. The Belgian band Bernthøler got its name from a single with Vera Lindt who picks up the phone and says “Hello Bernthøler”. Vocal lead Drita Kotaji is from Albanian origin.
personal development	Salt	Ava Max	2019	A dance-pop track about empowerment, overcoming heartbreak, and reclaiming independence. Amanda Ava Koci (born Amanda Koçi; February 16, 1994), is known professionally as Ava Max and her parents are from Albania.
personal development	Fools (ft. Lolita Moon & Neneh Cherry)	CirKus	2005	A dark, experimental tune exploring human flaws and the complexity of relationships. CirKus is a project by UK producer Cameron McVey, who has produced the work of Massive Attack, Tricky and Portishead, as well as that of his wife trip-hopper Neneh Cherry, formed back in 2006 with DJ Matt Karmil. It includes wife Neneh Cherry and daughter Lolita Moon.
personal development	You Don’t Fool Me	Queen	1995	A sultry rock track about betrayal and deception, with Freddie Mercury’s haunting vocals posthumously featured.
personal development	O.K. Fred	Errol Dunkley	1970	A reggae classic, celebrating the carefree and upbeat spirit of life. Errol Dunkley and writer John Kenneth Holt are Jamaican reggae musicians, born in Kingston, Jamaica. .
personal development	Jai Ho!	Allah Rakkha Rahman	2008	A Bollywood hit symbolizing triumph, joy, and destiny, gaining global fame through its inclusion in Slumdog Millionaire. A. S. Dileep Kumar converted from Hinduism to Islam in 1989 and changed his name to Allah Rakha Rahman;
personal development	Nothing from Nothing	Billy Preston	1974	A funky, optimistic tune about self-worth and building a meaningful life from scratch.
introspection	Demasiado Corazon	Mink DeVille	1983	A passionate Latin-inspired rock song, written by Willy DeVille, about longing and heartbreak. Known for its energetic rhythm and emotive delivery.
introspection	About You	Johnny and Kooks	2015	A gentle and introspective track reflecting on love and relationships written and performed by Johnny Flynn. Features poetic lyrics and a tender melody.
introspection	Everybody’s Changing	Keane	2003	Tom Chaplin, Tim Rice-Oxley, Richard Hughes wrote this melancholic reflection on change and the feeling of being left behind, set to a powerful piano-driven melody.
introspection	The Message Is Love	Arthur Baker And The Backbeat Disciples	1989	Arthur Baker and Lenny Zakatek wrote this soulful anthem promoting love and unity, featuring uplifting lyrics and a groovy beat.
introspection	The Closest Thing To Crazy	Katie Melua	2003	This haunting ballad about the emotions of unrequited love and self-doubt, written by Mike Batt, is delivered with Katie Melua’s poignant voice.
introspection	Fool (If You Think It’s Over)	Chris Rea	1978	Chris Rea wrote this soulful pop ballad about heartbreak and resilience, often praised for its smooth melody and emotive lyrics. The inspiration was the experience Rea’s younger sister Paula had encountered some years previously of being devastated at losing her first boyfriend.
introspection	Where Is My Mind?	Pixies	1988	Pixies frontman Black Francis wrote this surreal and introspective alternative rock track inspired by a scuba diving experience. Became iconic after its use in Fight Club.
introspection	First Day of My Life	Bright Eyes	2005	Frontman Conor Oberst wrote this tender acoustic ballad about newfound love and the emotional rebirth it brings. Often celebrated for its heartfelt simplicity. Bright Eyes is an American indie rock band founded by singer-songwriter and guitarist Conor Oberst.
introspection	I’ve Never Been to Me (Single Version)	Charlene	1977	Ron Miller and Kenneth Hirsch wrote this narrative song about introspection and the realization of personal sacrifices, often seen as a critique of materialism.
introspection	Hold That Moment (Radio Version)	Lutricia McNeal	1999	Lutricia McNeal wrote and performed this soulful and uplifting track about cherishing the fleeting moments of love and happiness.
introspection	Hearts a Mess	Gotye	2006	Gotye wrote and performed this hauntingly atmospheric track exploring themes of vulnerability, love, and emotional pain. Gotye, born Wouter André “Wally” De Backer on 21 May 1980 is a Belgian-born Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His mother nicknamed him “Gotye”, based on “Gauthier”, the French equivalent of his Flemish first name.
introspection	Windmills of Your Mind (Remastered Album Version)	Noel Harrison	1968	Michel Legrand, Alan and Marilyn Bergman wrote this poetic song filled with circular imagery, symbolizing thoughts and memories spiraling endlessly. “The Windmills of Your Mind” was the theme tune from the film The Thomas Crown Affair, recorded by English actor Noel Harrison in 1968
introspection	Something In The Way	Nirvana	1991	Kurt Cobain wrote this dark and minimalist Nirvana track reflecting his struggles and feelings of alienation.
introspection	How You Remind Me (video)	Nickelback	2001	Chad Kroeger, lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Nickelback, wrote this rock anthem about self-reflection and regret in a troubled relationship, widely recognized as Nickelback’s breakthrough hit.
introspection	You Got the Love (feat. Candi Staton) [Now Voyager Radio Mix]	The Source	1986	Anthony B. Stephens, Arnecia Michelle Harris and John Bellamy wrote this disco-soul anthem about perseverance and faith, originally performed by Candi Staton and later remixed for modern audiences. The Source wrote the 1986 single release “You Got the Love”, which featured Candi Staton on vocals
introspection	Love Can Build A Bridge	The Judds	1990	Naomi Judd, Paul Overstreet and John Barlow Jarvis wrote this powerful country ballad about unity, compassion, and love as a transformative force.
introspection	Tu Te Reconnaitras	Anne-Marie David	1973	Vline Buggy and Claude Morgan wrote this Eurovision-winning song “You’ll Recognise Yourself”), about personal identity and self-recognition, delivered with dramatic flair.
introspection	Skinny Love	Birdy	2011	Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) wrote in 2007 this heart-wrenching song about a failing relationship, brought to wider audiences through Birdy’s 2011 piano-driven cover.
introspection	Ho Hey	The Lumineers	2012	Founding band members Wesley Schultz and Jeremy Fraites wrote this catchy folk-pop anthem about love and belonging, combining heartfelt lyrics with an infectious “ho hey” chant.
introspection	Faithfulness	Skin	1999	A powerful track about trust, devotion, and vulnerability in relationships, delivered with Skin’s signature vocal intensity. Deborah Ann Dyer, known mononymously by the stage name Skin, was born on 3 August 1967 in Brixton, London, to Jamaican parents.
introspection	Honesty	Billy Joel	1979	Billy Joel wrote this piano ballad about the rarity and value of honesty in relationships, showcasing his introspective lyricism.
introspection	Sympathy	Rare Bird	1969	Lead singer and bassist Steve Gould and organist Graham Stansfield (a.k.a. Graham Field) wrote this haunting rock ballad about empathy and the shared struggles of humanity, with melancholic lyrics and a memorable melody.
introspection	This strange effect	Dave Berry	1965	Ray Davies wrote this hypnotic and romantic track about the mysterious and irresistible power of love. Originally performed by Dave Berry.
introspection	I’ve Been Thinking	Handsome Boy Modeling School featuring Cat Power	1999	Dan Nakamura (a.k.a. Dan the Automator) and Paul Edward Huston (a.k.a. Prince Paul) wrote this soulful and experimental track blending Cat Power’s haunting vocals with reflective lyrics.
introspection	Thank You	Dido	1998	Dido Armstrong and Paul Herman wrote this heartfelt song about gratitude and finding strength in love during difficult times. Dido wrote the song about the down times of depression and about how she lost her house. It became widely popular after being sampled in Eminem’s Stan. Dido was born Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O’Malley Armstrong.
nostalgic energy	Little Green Bag	George Baker Selection	1969	Written by Jan Visser and George Baker, “Little Green Bag” was originally misheard as “Little Greenback,” symbolizing cash. Its groovy bassline and swagger made it a cult classic, particularly after it was featured in Reservoir Dogs.
nostalgic energy	Hi Hi Hi	Paul McCartney	1972	Penned by Paul McCartney and his wife Linda, “Hi Hi Hi” is an upbeat rocker banned by the BBC for its cheeky lyrics, though McCartney insists it’s all about good vibes and energy.
nostalgic energy	Rubber Bullets	10cc	1973	Created by the quirky 10cc quartet—Lol Creme, Kevin Godley, Graham Gouldman, and Eric Stewart—”Rubber Bullets” is a satirical jab at authority, wrapped in the band’s trademark humor and musical ingenuity.
nostalgic energy	Just Like Heaven	The Cure	1987	Written by The Cure’s Robert Smith and the band, “Just Like Heaven” is a lush love song inspired by Smith’s romance with his future wife. Its dreamy guitars and heartfelt lyrics have made it one of their most beloved tracks.
nostalgic energy	Hey, St Peter	Flash And The Pan	1976	Australian duo Harry Vanda and George Young crafted “Hey, St. Peter,” a tongue-in-cheek tale of a man reckoning with his sins at heaven’s gates, set to a funky, new wave beat.
nostalgic energy	There Will Be No Next Time	The Kids	1981	Written by Belgian punk band The Kids, “There Will Be No Next Time” is a rebellious anthem with raw, garage-style energy, reflecting the spirit of youth disillusionment.
nostalgic energy	I Was Made for Lovin’ You	KISS	1979	Written by Paul Stanley, Desmond Child, and Vini Poncia, “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” combined KISS’s rock roots with disco flair, sparking debates but becoming an undeniable hit.
nostalgic energy	Layla	Eric Clapton	1970	“Layla” was a song Clapton wrote, with Dominos drummer Jim Gordon, about his forbidden love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his close friend George Harrison (she eventually became Clapton’s wife). The song was inspired by Clapton’s reading of the classic Persian unrequited love story, the epic poem Layla and Manjun. Its iconic riff and piano coda solidify it as a rock masterpiece.
nostalgic energy	You Really Got Me	The Kinks	1964	Ray Davies of The Kinks wrote “You Really Got Me,” one of the earliest hard rock songs. Its aggressive guitar riff and raw energy shaped the future of rock and metal. The influential distortion sound of the guitar track was created after guitarist Dave Davies sliced the speaker cone of his guitar amplifier with a razor blade and poked it with a pin.[15] The amplifier was affectionately called “little green”, after the name of the amplifier made by the Elpico company, and purchased in Davies’ neighbourhood music shop, linked to a Vox AC-30
nostalgic energy	Let’s Spend The Night Together	The Rolling Stones	1967	Mick Jagger and Keith Richards co-wrote “Let’s Spend The Night Together,” a provocative track for its time. Though censored by some, it became a defining song for The Rolling Stones. Andrew Loog Oldham took truncheons, from two policemen that showed up, into the studio to record the claves-like sound that can be heard during the quiet break at one minute 40 seconds into the song.
nostalgic energy	Skweeze Me Pleez Me	Slade	1973	Noddy Holder and Jim Lea from Slade wrote “Skweeze Me Pleez Me,” a glam rock stomper that embodied the band’s energetic and theatrical style.
nostalgic energy	Uptight (Everything’s Alright)	Stevie Wonder	1965	Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy, and Henry Cosby teamed up to write “Uptight (Everything’s Alright),” a Motown hit that showcased Wonder’s youthful exuberance and soulful energy.
nostalgic energy	Uptown Girl	Billy Joel	1983	Written by Billy Joel, “Uptown Girl” is a catchy homage to doo-wop and inspired by Joel’s muse, supermodel Christie Brinkley, whom he later married. The song was inspired by the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
nostalgic energy	Finally	Ce Ce Peniston	1991	Written by Felipe Delgado, Rodney Jackson, and Joe Shivers, “Finally” became a house music anthem celebrated for its infectious beats and empowering lyrics. Cecilia Veronica “CeCe” Peniston (born September 6, 1969) is an American singer and former beauty queen. Peniston has performed at private engagements for Aretha Franklin’s private birthday party, Pope John Paul II in Rome at the Vatican (as a member of the gospel band Sisters of Glory) and the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, during both of his inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C. She was the first foreign female entertainer to perform in post-apartheid South Africa
nostalgic energy	Thunder In My Heart	Leo Sayer	1977	Leo Sayer collaborated with Tom Snow to write “Thunder In My Heart,” a disco-driven track expressing the thrill and agony of romantic desire. Snow plays the piano, with drums and congas performed by Jeff Porcaro and Lenny Castro respectively. Fred Tackett and Lee Ritenour uses the guitars, as Bobbye Hall utilises a tambourine and Abraham Laboriel on the bass guitar.
nostalgic energy	Poison Arrow	ABC	1982	Martin Fry and Mark White of ABC wrote “Poison Arrow,” a heartbreak anthem full of wit and sophisticated pop stylings, blending emotion with style.
nostalgic energy	Hot Stuff	Donna Summer	1979	Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff,” co-written by Pete Bellotte, Harold Faltermeyer, and Keith Forsey, fused disco with rock, delivering an irresistible groove and sultry lyrics.
nostalgic energy	Abracadabra	The Steve Miller Band	1982	Written by Steve Miller, “Abracadabra” drew inspiration from magic and desire, with a playful rhythm and a synth-heavy ’80s vibe. The lyrics were inspired by Diana Ross and the Supremes.
nostalgic energy	Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)	ABBA	1979	Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA wrote “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight),” a dancefloor favorite with its unforgettable synth riff, later sampled by Madonna.
nostalgic energy	Breathless	The Corrs	2000	Written by The Corrs, “Breathless” captures the heady rush of falling in love, blending Celtic-inspired pop with a sultry, modern sound. The Corrs are a family group formed in Dundalk, Ireland in 1990 by Andrea (lead vocals), Sharon (violin), Caroline (drums)and Jim Corr (guitar/keyboards). It’s about tempting someone to make the first move.
nostalgic energy	That Don’t Impress Me Much	Shania Twain	1997	This sassy single was written by Shania Twain and her producer/husband Robert John “Mutt” Lange. “That Don’t Impress Me Much” humorously pokes fun at overconfidence, set to a catchy country-pop beat.
nostalgic energy	I’ve Been Thinking About You	London Beat	1990	Jimmy Helms, Jimmy Chambers, and George Chandler wrote “I’ve Been Thinking About You,” a funky, soulful track with the band’s characteristic massed gospel vocal style, reflecting obsessive love, which became Londonbeat’s signature hit.
nostalgic energy	Everlasting Love	The Love Affair	1967	“Everlasting Love” is a song written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden. This timeless anthem about enduring romance remains one of the most covered songs in pop history. The original version of “Everlasting Love” was recorded at the Fred Foster Sound Studio in Nashville by Robert Knight.
emo complexity	What Can I Say	Boz Scaggs	1976	Written by Boz Scaggs and David Paich, this smooth blend of soft rock and soul reflects on love’s complexities with a silky groove that became a defining track of Boz Scaggs’ Silk Degrees album.
emo complexity	Jealousy	Michael Franks	1983	Written by Michael Franks, this jazzy, wry exploration of envy in relationships is delivered with Franks’ trademark poetic lyrics and mellow vocal style.
emo complexity	Mystify	INXS	1987	Written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence, this sensual INXS anthem celebrates passion and allure, with hypnotic melodies and Hutchence’s magnetic voice.
emo complexity	Owner of a Lonely Heart	Yes	1983	Written by Trevor Rabin, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, and Trevor Horn, this is Yes’ biggest commercial hit, blending progressive rock with pop and featuring an iconic guitar riff about breaking free from isolation.
emo complexity	The Promise You Made	Cock Robin	1985	Written by Peter Kingsbery, this romantic synth-pop ballad features earnest vocals and soaring melodies, capturing the tension between love and commitment.
emo complexity	Shewolf	Intergalactic Lovers	2011	Written by Intergalactic Lovers, this modern indie-rock track features haunting lyrics and an ethereal vocal delivery, exploring themes of vulnerability and strength.
emo complexity	Anger Never Dies – Orchestra Version	Hooverphonic	2011	Written by Alex Callier and Raymond Geerts, this cinematic reimagining of Hooverphonic’s hit uses lush orchestration to underscore themes of unresolved emotions.
emo complexity	So You Win Again	Hot Chocolate	1977	Written by Russ Ballard, this bittersweet love song delivered with Hot Chocolate’s signature funky groove became one of their biggest hits.
emo complexity	Now Is The Time	Jimmy James	1976	Written by Jimmy James, this soulful disco anthem has uplifting lyrics encouraging listeners to seize the moment and embrace life.
emo complexity	Easier Said Than Done	Shakatak	1981	Written by Bill Sharpe and Roger Odell, this jazzy, smooth tune by Shakatak combines intricate keyboard solos with lyrics about the struggles of making decisions in love.
emo complexity	Baby Don’t Change Your Mind	Gladys Knight & The Pips	1977	Written by Van McCoy, this soulful disco tune features Gladys Knight & The Pips’ heartfelt plea to stay true in love, from the famed disco hitmaker Van McCoy.
emo complexity	It’s Not Unusual	Tom Jones	1965	Written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills, Tom Jones’ breakthrough hit blends pop and swing, with humorous lyrics about love’s ironies and a catchy brass riff.
emo complexity	Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) [feat. Caron Wheeler]	Soul II Soul	1989	Written by Jazzie B, Caron Wheeler, and Nellee Hooper, this genre-defining soul and R&B anthem fuses UK club culture with global appeal, exploring themes of self-discovery.
emo complexity	You’ve Got Your Troubles	The Fortunes	1965	Written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook, this melancholic pop hit by The Fortunes reflects on heartbreak and the universal nature of romantic struggles. The Fortunes come from Birmingham, England, and thus form part of the “brum beat” genre. They are also known for the Coca-Cola jingle “It’s The Real Thing?” and the even-earlier one “Things Go Better With Coke?”. The British pirate radio station Radio City (“your tower of power” around the Thames Estuary) would play this song as a kind of distress signal to associates, indicating that the station needed assistance.
emo complexity	Give In to Love	birdpaula	2012	Written by birdpaula, this tender indie ballad celebrates surrendering to the transformative power of love, featuring birdpaula’s emotive voice. With give in to love birdpaula recomposes the puzzle of her singular and fertile life with an ever-varied musical score always attuned to the expression of her true and profound identity: that of a multi-faceted artist in love with freedom. birdpaula – aka paula moore – is an american singer/songwriter and visual artist living in Paris.
emo complexity	La maladie d’amour	Michel Sardou	1973	Written by Michel Sardou, this poetic chanson reflects on love’s timeless and often tragic nature, with Sardou’s rich voice carrying deep emotional resonance. This song is about love and its effects, both positive and negative and how love can affect people of all ages, from children to adults.
emo complexity	Mona Lisa	Nat King Cole	1950	Written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, this classic crooner tune, immortalized by Nat King Cole, celebrates beauty and mystery, famously featured in the film Captain Carey, U.S.A.
emo complexity	Donner pour donner	France Gall and Elton John	1980	Written by Michel Berger and Bernie Taupin, this bilingual duet celebrates generosity in love, blending French and English lyrics with France Gall’s soft vocals.
emo complexity	Just The Way You Are	Billy Joel	1977	Written by Billy Joel, this timeless ballad about unconditional love remains a classic wedding favourite and earned Grammy wins for Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
emo complexity	Both Sides Now	Judy Collins	1967	Written by Joni Mitchell, this reflective folk song contemplates life and love through dual perspectives, showcasing Mitchell’s lyrical depth.
emo complexity	River	Joni Mitchell	1971	Written by Joni Mitchell, this melancholy holiday-season song blends introspective lyrics with a nod to “Jingle Bells,” exploring themes of heartbreak.
emo complexity	I’ll Play The Fool	Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band	1976	Written by Stony Browder Jr., this playful and funky tune by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band blends retro big-band sounds with disco influences. Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band was a big band- and swing-influenced disco band that was formed in the Bronx, New York and started in 1974 with singer Cory Daye (born April 25, 1952).
emo complexity	Come All Ye Fair & Tender Ladies	Red Tail Ring	2016	This haunting Appalachian folk ballad, often performed in harmony, reflects the bittersweetness of love and cautions against deceitful lovers. Laurel Premo and Michael Beauchamp-Cohen of Red Tail Ring create lush, intricate arrangements of original folk music and traditional ballads with banjo, fiddle, guitar, and close harmonies.
emo complexity	The Name Of The Game	ABBA	1977	Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson, this reflective ABBA hit explores vulnerability and emotional honesty with a mix of disco and pop.
emo complexity	Hide And Seek	Imogen Heap	2005	Heap wrote this song about the separation of her parents when she was 12 and her father finding a new wife. This is an a cappella song that Imogen Jennifer Heap came up with after her computer died on her.
reflections	The Day Before You Came	ABBA	1982	Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and performed by ABBA, this was the group’s last single before their hiatus. It features a melancholy narrative about monotony and longing. Its open-ended lyrics allow interpretations of nostalgia or regret.
reflections	Gelukkig zijn	Ann Christy	1975	“Gelukkig zijn” (“Could It Be Happiness”) is written by Johan Verminnen and Ann Christy, performed by Ann Christy. This beloved Flemish song captures the simple joys and struggles of finding happiness in everyday life. Ann Christy (born Christianne Leenaerts, 22 September 1945 in Antwerp – 7 August 1984 in Meise) was a Belgian singer best known internationally for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest on 22 March 1975 in Stockholm.
reflections	Another Day	Buckshot LeFonque	1997	Written by Branford Marsalis and DJ Premier, performed by Buckshot LeFonque. This jazz-hip-hop fusion delivers a message about perseverance amidst life’s struggles. It combines grooves with meaningful social commentary. The group was a project by saxophonist Branford Marsalis, combining jazz with rock, pop, R&B and hip-hop influences. The vocalist on this song was Frank McComb, who also plays keyboards. Buckshot La Funke was the pseudonym used by saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (1928-1975) when he played on the album Here Comes Louis Smith (1958) by trumpeter Louis Smith (1931-2016). The pseudonym was necessary because of contractual obligations Adderley had with Mercury Records at the time, while the album was released by the Blue Note label.
reflections	The Emperor’s New Clothes	Sinéad O’Connor	1990	Written and performed by Sinéad O’Connor, this raw and unapologetic song critiques societal hypocrisy while advocating for self-expression and authenticity. In this song, she works out the frustrations that come with being an unmarried young mother in an Irish Catholic family with a conflicted boyfriend and a burgeoning music career. O’Connor was 20 years old when she released her first single (“Troy”) and had a son with her drummer, John Reynolds. Blessed with tremendous talent and a rebellious streak, she was offered lots of advice, which she often ignored.
reflections	Ain’t No Way	Aretha Franklin	1968	“Ain’t No Way” is a song written by singer-songwriter Carolyn Franklin and sung by her elder sister Aretha Franklin. This soulful ballad showcases Aretha’s powerful voice. It’s a heartfelt plea for understanding and love in a complex relationship.
reflections	True Colors	Cindy Lauper	1986	Written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, performed by Cyndi Lauper. Inspired by Steinberg’s mother, it became an anthem of empowerment and self-acceptance, celebrating inner beauty and authenticity. In the UK, this was released as “True Colours.” It gave the title a little more British flavour.
reflections	Give A Little Bit	Supertramp	1977	Written by Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies, performed by Supertramp. Inspired by Hodgson’s admiration for The Beatles, this feel-good anthem promotes kindness, generosity, and human connection.
reflections	Nowhere Man	The Beatles	1965	Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, performed by The Beatles. One of their first songs not about romance, it reflects on feeling lost and disconnected in a fast-paced, modern world.
reflections	Walking Away	Craig David	2000	Written by Craig David and Mark Hill, performed by Craig David. This breakout R&B hit explores the decision to leave a toxic relationship to find inner peace and clarity.
reflections	Don’t Dream It’s Over	Crowded House	1986	Written by New Zealand frontman Neil Finn and performed by Crowded House. Known for its iconic organ riff, the song carries a message of hope and perseverance in the face of challenges, making it a timeless classic.
reflections	Like a Rolling Stone	Bob Dylan	1965	Written and performed by Bob Dylan. This groundbreaking song revolutionized rock music with its poetic lyrics and social commentary, exploring themes of loss, freedom, and self-discovery.
reflections	You Can’t Always Get What You Want	The Rolling Stones	1969	Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, performed by The Rolling Stones. Featuring the London Bach Choir, it mixes rock and gospel influences while addressing life’s disappointments and the search for contentment. The chorus of children 60 voices were double-tracked to make it sound like there were even more of them.
reflections	Time To Pretend	MGMT	2008	Written by Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, performed by MGMT. A satirical indie anthem about the contradictions of youthful dreams and the harsh realities of adulthood. MGMT were formed in 2002, during Ben Goldwasser and Andrew Van Wyngarden’s freshman year as art students at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.
reflections	More Than A Feeling	Boston	1976	Written by Tom Scholz, performed by Boston. This rock anthem took five years to write and is renowned for its soaring guitar riff. It reflects on nostalgia and the emotional power of music. The dream girl in this song, Marianne, was group leader Tom Scholz’ older first cousin, who I had a crush on when he was 10.
reflections	Sister Golden Hair	America	1975	Written by Gerry Beckley and performed by America. Inspired by Jackson Browne’s music, this soft rock classic reflects on love, hesitation, and commitment.
reflections	Take It Easy	Jackson Browne	1973	Jackson Browne started writing “Take It Easy” for his first album, but he didn’t know how to finish it and turned the song over to his upstairs neighbour Glenn Frey, who finished writing it and recorded it with the Eagles. According to Glenn Frey, the message of this song is, “You shouldn’t get too big too fast.” Browne’s road trip in a 1953 Willys Jeep to Utah from Southern California via Arizona, which took him through Winslow on Route 40, inspired him to write this song.
reflections	Mystery Light	Alice on the roof	2018	Written and performed by Alice on the Roof. This dreamy, ethereal pop song explores themes of introspection and existential curiosity, capturing a sense of wonder and self-reflection. Alice Dutoit known professionally as Alice on the Roof (born 23 January 1995 in Soignies, Hainaut) is a Belgian singer.
reflections	C’est comme ça	Rita Mitsouko	1986	Written by Catherine Ringer and Fred Chichin, performed by Les Rita Mitsouko. This quirky French new wave track celebrates life’s randomness and absurdity with an avant-garde style. The duet has stated that the name “Rita Mitsouko” originated from the combination of Catherine Ringer’s childhood friend and the name of a meal they enjoyed in a local Japanese restaurant soon after they met. The group originally went by the name “Rita Mitsouko” but in 1985 “Les” was added when they realized that many people believed the name of the group was that of the singer.
reflections	Forever Lost	The Magic Numbers	2005	Written and performed by Romeo Stodart of The Magic Numbers. This harmony-driven debut single reflects on the search for purpose and connection in life. The Magic Numbers consists of Romeo Stodart (lead guitar, vocals), his sister Michele Stodart (bass guitar, vocals, glockenspiel), Angela Gannon (melodica, percussion, keyboard, vocals) and her brother Sean Gannon (drums).
reflections	Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John	Belle and Sebastian	2010	Written by Stuart Murdoch, performed by Belle and Sebastian, featuring Norah Jones. This introspective track explores complex relationships and unspoken emotions. Belle and Sebastian are a Scottish indie pop band formed in Glasgow in 1996, that took their name from the 1965 television series Belle and Sebastian (a French TV children’s serial which was adapted in the 1966 novel Belle et Sébastien by Cécile Aubry).
reflections	Et pourtant	Charles Aznavour	1963	Written and performed by Charles Aznavour. A classic French chanson, it reflects on regret and unrequited love with Aznavour’s poetic storytelling. The phrase “Et pourtant” (meaning “And yet” or “Nevertheless”) emphasizes the contradiction between the desire to move on and the undeniable love that still resides within their heart.
reflections	My Way	Frank Sinatra	1969	Adapted by Paul Anka from Claude François’s “Comme d’habitude,” performed by Frank Sinatra. This iconic song declares individuality and reflects on living life according to one’s own terms.
expressions	The Look of Love	ABC	1982	Written by Martin Fry, Mark White, and Stephen Singleton, the song was inspired by Martin Fry’s heartbreak from a failed relationship. A key hit from The Lexicon of Love, it reflects longing and heartbreak with a dramatic flair.
expressions	Total Eclipse Of The Heart	Bonnie Tyler	1983	Written by Jim Steinman, inspired by Gothic themes and vampire romance, imagining a love so intense it eclipses all else. Tyler’s signature powerhouse voice amplifies the dramatic plea of love and loss. The song is a duet with Canadian rock vocalist Rory Dodd (the “Turn around…” refrain).
expressions	Unbreak My Heart	Toni Braxton	1996	Written by Diane Warren, inspired by universal feelings of heartbreak and loss, this ballad is a desperate plea to undo the emotional devastation caused by a breakup.
expressions	You Give Me Something	James Morrison	2006	Written by James Morrison and Eg White, the song is about the fragility of budding relationships and emotional vulnerability. It reflects Morrison’s hesitation and hope in a love that might be too good to be true.
expressions	Right Back Where We Started From	Maxine Nightingale	1975	Written by J. Vincent Edwards and Pierre Tubbs, this upbeat anthem inspired by the disco era celebrates rekindled love and rediscovering joy in reconnecting with someone special.
expressions	Summer Son	Texas	1999	Written by Sharleen Spiteri, Johnny McElhone, and Eddie Campbell, the song is about the fiery intensity of a summer romance. It portrays passion, heartbreak, and fleeting emotions tied to the heat of the season.
expressions	Achy Breaky Heart	Billy Ray Cyrus	1992	Written by Don Von Tress, originally as a humorous take on melodramatic heartbreak. Cyrus turned it into a catchy anthem, blending humor and lament over a lost love.
expressions	All Around My Hat	Steeleye Span	1975	Traditional, arranged by Steeleye Span, the song is about loyalty during separation. It’s a story of undying love and faithfulness, set against a rich folk backdrop. The song “All Around my Hat” is of nineteenth-century English origin. Steeleye Span began in late 1969, when London-born bass player Ashley Hutchings left Fairport Convention, the band he had co-founded in 1967.
expressions	Blurred Lines (ft. T.I. & Pharrell)	Robin Thicke	2013	Written by Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and Clifford Harris Jr., it was inspired by Marvin Gaye’s Got to Give It Up. While exploring seduction and flirtation, the song sparked controversy and lawsuits.
expressions	Ain’t No Mountain High Enough	Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell	1967	This song was written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson prior to joining Motown. British soul singer Dusty Springfield wanted to record the song but the duo declined, hoping it would give them access to the Detroit-based label. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell recorded “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” in December 1966. The song celebrates the lengths one would go for love. Gaye and Terrell’s duet brought this timeless devotion anthem to life.
expressions	I Get the Sweetest Feeling	Jackie Wilson	1968	Written by Van McCoy and Alicia Evelyn, this soulful celebration of love’s euphoric highs is a timeless track that captures the pure joy and magic of romantic connection. Jack Leroy Wilson Jr. was born on June 9, 1934 in Highland Park, Michigan and nicknamed “Mr. Excitement”.
expressions	She’s Like the Wind (ft. Wendy Fraser)	Patrick Swayze	1987	Written by Patrick Swayze and Stacy Widelitz, it was inspired by Swayze’s love for his wife, Lisa Niemi. Initially rejected for another project, it became iconic in Dirty Dancing, expressing longing and ethereal love. At age 14, at the Houston Ballet Dance Company, Niemi met the owner and director’s son, Patrick Swayze; the two eventually got married when she was 19 years old.
expressions	Lucky (ft. Colbie Caillat)	Jason Mraz	2009	Written by Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat, and Timothy Fagan, this playful duet celebrates the joy of falling in love with one’s best friend. It’s a lighthearted testament to love blossoming in unexpected places.
expressions	The Soul of a Man	Fontella Bass	1965	Written by W.C. Handy in the gospel tradition, the track showcases Bass’s raw emotional power and faith, reflecting on inner strength and resilience through soulful storytelling.
expressions	I’ll Be Waiting	Lenny Kravitz	2008	Written by Lenny Kravitz, this ballad highlights his longing for authentic love and emotional connection. It’s a personal reflection on waiting for the right person.
expressions	Someone Saved My Life Tonight	Elton John	1975	Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, the lyrics are based on Elton’s escape from a toxic engagement and near-suicide. This autobiographical track celebrates liberation, salvation, and renewed hope. Taupin’s lyric refers to a time in 1968, before John was popular as a musician, when John was engaged to be married to girlfriend Linda Woodrow. He took refuge in his friends, especially Long John Baldry, who convinced John to abandon his plans to marry, in order to salvage and maintain his musical career.
expressions	She Makes My Day	Robert Palmer	1988	Written by Robert Palmer, Dennis Nelson, and Robert Bethel, the track expresses admiration for someone special who brings joy to everyday life. It’s a tender declaration of gratitude and love.
expressions	Gabriel	Lamb	2001	Lamb is an English electronic music duo consisting of producer Andy Barlow and singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes from Manchester but more commonly associated with the Bristol-based trip hop sound that was popular during the 1990s. Written by Andy Barlow and Lou Rhodes, this song reflects Rhodes’s personal experiences with love and spirituality. It’s a lush trip-hop track exploring devotion, guidance, and transcendent connection.
expressions	You Are My Sunshine	Johnny Cash	2003	Written by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell, Cash’s version adds melancholy to the contrast between love’s joy and the fear of losing it.
expressions	Please Forgive Me	Bryan Adams	1993	Written by Bryan Adams and Robert Lange, this ballad is a heartfelt plea for forgiveness and reconciliation in love, capturing the intensity of passion and regret.
expressions	I Don’t Wanna Lose You	Tina Turner	1989	Written by Albert Hammond and Graham Lyle, the song draws on American-Swiss singer Tina Turner’s own vulnerability and resilience in relationships. It’s a powerful reflection on the fear of losing deep emotional connections.
expressions	Fais-Moi Une Place	Julien Clerc	1990	Written by Julien Clerc and Françoise Hardy, this poetic ballad expresses longing and vulnerability, as Clerc pleads for a special place in someone’s heart.
expressions	Don’t Leave Me This Way	Thelma Houston	1976	Written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, and Cary Gilbert, this was initially a soulful lament but became an empowering disco anthem with Houston’s rendition, mixing heartbreak with danceable energy
bittersweet	Love Letters	Frankie Miller	1977	A cover of the 1945 song written by Victor Young and Edward Heyman. The song expresses longing and devotion through love letters, capturing the depth of emotional connection through written words.
bittersweet	Chuck E.’s In Love	Rickie Lee Jones	1979	Inspired by Jones’ friend Chuck E. Weiss, who moved to Denver after falling in love. The song playfully tells the story of an unexpected romance, delivered in a conversational, jazzy style.
bittersweet	Nick Of Time	Bonnie Raitt	1989	A deeply personal song about aging, self-reflection, and finding love later in life. Raitt wrote it while going through personal struggles and newfound hope in relationships.
bittersweet	Rikki Don’t Lose That Number	Steely Dan	1974	Allegedly inspired by a real-life woman, Rikki Ducornet (born Erica DeGre; April 19, 1943) an American writer, poet, and artist, whom Donald Fagen met. The song’s meaning remains ambiguous, blending themes of longing and missed connections.
bittersweet	Je veux tes yeux	Angèle	2018	A song about intense attraction and infatuation, reflecting the desire to truly see and understand a lover. It combines poetic lyrics with modern pop production.
bittersweet	You Don’t Know	Milow	2007	A melancholic song about unspoken feelings and the difficulty of expressing emotions in a relationship, emphasizing emotional distance and vulnerability.
bittersweet	Just Be A Woman	Lenny Kravitz	2014	A song encouraging emotional openness and honesty in a relationship, emphasizing love and acceptance over societal expectations.
bittersweet	No Woman No Cry (Live)	Bob Marley & The Wailers	1975	Written by Vincent Ford and Bob Marley, the song is a nostalgic and comforting reflection on hardship, community, and resilience in Jamaica. The lyrics encourage hope despite struggles. Wailers bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett explained: “The song is about the strength in the mama of course, strength in the ladies. And we love a woman with a backbone.”. The song mentions Trenchtown, which, according to Guyana Chronicle, is a Kingston slum in which Bob Marley spent much of his life. Vincent “Tata” Ford ran a soup kitchen in Trenchtown for decades. Keen to see that Ford, who was himself ill with diabetes and had had two legs amputated, had money to continue his soup kitchen, Marley credited him with writing “No Woman No Cry” and other songs.
bittersweet	Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?	Paula Cole	1997	A satirical take on traditional gender roles, lamenting the disappearance of strong, dependable men in modern relationships, while also critiquing outdated expectations of women.
bittersweet	What If I’m Right	Sandi Thom	2006	A song about self-belief and standing strong despite doubt. It explores themes of conviction, perseverance, and the struggle against societal expectations.
bittersweet	Sweet Talking Woman	Electric Light Orchestra	1978	A song about chasing after an elusive lover who keeps slipping away, mixing heartbreak with ELO’s signature upbeat orchestral rock sound.
bittersweet	Bitter Sweet Symphony	The Verve	1997	The song explores the repetitive, mundane struggles of life and the search for meaning within it. “Bitter Sweet Symphony” is based on a sample of a 1965 orchestral version of the Rolling Stones song “The Last Time” by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra.
bittersweet	Fish In The Sea	Frootful	2011	Fish In The Sea by Frootful (guitarist Nick Radford) features Angeline Morrison (The Ambassadors of Sorrow) on vocals. A jazz-infused track that metaphorically compares relationships to the vastness of the ocean, suggesting the idea of endless possibilities in love.
bittersweet	Sea of Love	The Honeydrippers	1984	A cover of the 1959 song by Phil Phillips, this version carries a dreamy, nostalgic quality, reflecting deep, unwavering love and devotion, featuring Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.
bittersweet	Island Of Lost Souls	Blondie	1982	Inspired by the 1932 horror film of the same name, the song uses island imagery to depict escapism and disillusionment with modern life.
bittersweet	Break My Stride	Matthew Wilder	1983	Inspired by Wilder’s struggles in the music industry, the song is about perseverance and determination, with an upbeat, motivational tone. The inspiration was the frustrating relationship with Clive Davis, the head of Arista Records at the time.
bittersweet	For Your Babies	Simply Red	1991	A heartfelt song about parenthood, love, and devotion, emphasizing the deep emotional bond between parents and their children.
bittersweet	It’s A Shame	The Spinners	1970	A song about heartbreak and disappointment in love, originally written by Stevie Wonder. It expresses frustration over a partner’s unfaithfulness. Motown’s house band, The Funk Brothers, played on this track. The guitarists playing the distinctive intro were Dennis Coffey and Eddie Willis.
bittersweet	Don’t Mess With My Man	Lucy Pearl	2000	A confident, assertive anthem warning others to stay away from one’s partner, blending R&B with funk influences.
bittersweet	Solitaire	Neil Sedaka	1972	A melancholic ballad about loneliness and lost love, metaphorically comparing heartbreak to a solitary game. Neil Sedaka wrote this song with Philip Cody Neil Sedaka recorded this song in 1974, but it was the Carpenters who had the big hit with their 1975 recording, thanks to a mighty vocal performance by Karen Carpenter.
bittersweet	Everything I Own	Bread	1972	Written by David Gates as a tribute to his late father, the song expresses deep love and gratitude for someone who played an irreplaceable role in life.
bittersweet	In Our Lifetime	Texas	1999	“In Our Lifetime” is a song by Scottish pop rock band Texas. The lyrics, penned by Johnny McElhone and Sharleen Spiteri, provide a glimpse into the complexities of love and the challenges of communication.
bittersweet	Give Me An Inch	Robert Palmer	1975	“Give Me an Inch” (or “Give Me an Inch Girl” on some releases) is a song written and performed by English singer Robert Palmer. A sensual song about desire and temptation, capturing the tension in a passionate relationship.
bittersweet	When Will I See You Again	The Three Degrees	1974	A soulful ballad about the uncertainty and anticipation of seeing a loved one again, filled with longing and emotional depth. The song was written and produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Sheila Ferguson sang the lead, accompanied by Fayette Pinkney and Valerie Holiday.
journeys	Spanish Stroll	Mink DeVille	1977	Inspired by frontman Willy DeVille’s love for Latin culture and street life, the song paints a cinematic picture of a charismatic yet dangerous character navigating the city’s nightlife.
journeys	A Thousand Miles	Vanessa Carlton	2002	A song about longing and unfulfilled love. Carlton has said it was written about a real person, but she has kept their identity a mystery.
journeys	The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)	Simon & Garfunkel	1966	A carefree, optimistic song inspired by the simple joy of walking across the Queensboro Bridge in New York City. Encourages slowing down and appreciating life.
journeys	Show Me The Way	Peter Frampton	1975	A song about searching for direction and meaning in life, written at a time when Frampton was dealing with fame and personal struggles. Peter Frampton and David Bowie, who was three years older, were pupils at Bromley Technical School, where Frampton’s father was Bowie’s art teacher.
journeys	All Over The World (From Xanadu)	Electric Light Orchestra	1980	Written for the Xanadu soundtrack, this upbeat track celebrates travel, adventure, and the joy of experiencing different cultures. One section of the lyrics lists a number of famous cities; London, Hamburg, Paris, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York City, Amsterdam and Monte Carlo. The last place named in the list is Shard End, the suburb of Birmingham, England where Jeff Lynne was born.
journeys	America	Razorlight	2006	A critique of the American Dream, exploring the contrast between the idealized version of the U.S. and its reality, particularly in terms of materialism and disillusionment. Razorlight are an English indie rock band, formed in 2002 in London by lead singer and guitarist Johnny Borrell.
journeys	This Is Not America	David Bowie	1985	Written for the film The Falcon and the Snowman, the song reflects on political corruption and disillusionment with American ideals.
journeys	Wonders Never Cease	Morcheeba	2005	A song about resilience and the unexpected twists in life, reminding listeners that hope and surprises can emerge even in difficult times. Morcheeba are an English electronic band formed in the mid-1990s with founding members vocalist Skye Edwards and the brothers Paul and Ross Godfrey. he name “Morcheeba” comes from the initials “MOR” (indicating Middle of the Road) as a joke and needing more “cheeba”, a slang term used by Paul’s hero Sckoolly D for cannabis.
journeys	Bury Me Deep in Love	The Triffids	1987	A poetic song about love, loss, and eternity, using burial as a metaphor for surrendering to love’s power and permanence. The Triffids were an Australian alternative rock and pop band, formed in Perth in Western Australia in May 1978 with David McComb as singer-songwriter, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboardist
journeys	Walking On The Moon	The Police	1979	Sting wrote the song about the feeling of being in love, likening it to floating weightlessly. It also carries a sense of escapism and freedom.
journeys	Take The Long Way Home	Supertramp	1979	A song about mid-life crisis and self-reflection, questioning one’s choices and wondering if they’ve truly found happiness. Explores themes of fame and isolation.
journeys	Juke Box Baby	Alan Vega	1981	A rockabilly-inspired track about youthful rebellion and the energy of rock ‘n’ roll culture, delivered with Vega’s signature edgy style.
journeys	Runaway Boys	Stray Cats	1981	A rockabilly anthem about teenage rebellion and the thrill of running away from home, capturing both freedom and recklessness.
journeys	Birds And Ships (ft. Natalie Merchant)	Billy Bragg and Wilco	1998	Based on unpublished lyrics by Woody Guthrie, the song is a melancholic reflection on longing and lost love.
journeys	We Shall Overcome	Pete Seeger	1947	People’s Songs director Pete Seeger performed this folk anthem of the civil rights movement, adapted from an earlier gospel song. It became a symbol of resistance and unity in the fight for social justice. It was thought to have descended from “I’ll Overcome Some Day,” a hymn by Charles Albert Tindley, while the modern version of the song was first said to have been sung by tobacco workers led by Lucille Simmons during the 1945–1946 Charleston Cigar Factory strike in Charleston, South Carolina.
journeys	My Bonnie (ft. The Beatles)	Tony Sheridan	1961	A traditional Scottish folk song about longing for a loved one to return home. The Beatles played as the backing band for this early rock version.
journeys	Something Happened On The Way To Heaven	Phil Collins	1989	Written after a difficult breakup, the song expresses regret and frustration over a failed relationship, set to an energetic, horn-driven melody.
journeys	Runaway Train	Soul Asylum	1992	A song about depression and feeling lost, which became associated with missing children after its music video featured real cases.
journeys	It’s a Long Way There	Little River Band	1976	A song about perseverance and life’s long journey, emphasizing the struggles and triumphs along the way. Written by band founding member Graeham Goble in 1972, the song was inspired by his regular trips from Melbourne to visit his family in Adelaide
journeys	Fly Like an Eagle	The Steve Miller Band	1976	A song about time slipping away and the desire to improve the world, inspired by themes of freedom and social consciousness. The message of freedom through revolution is one Steve Miller picked up when he formed his Steve Miller band in San Francisco in 1966, a time and place that centred him in the counterculture as America was ramping up the Vietnam War. The Hammond B3 organ was played by an outside musician, Joachim Young.
journeys	Les Grands Voyageurs	Alain Bashung	2008	A poetic reflection on travelers, time, and fleeting human connections, filled with Bashung’s signature enigmatic lyrics. In a very short time, everything is said about what great travelers leave behind: memories, broken hearts, the brief but intense encounters that one can have on the road, pressed by and the desire to get back on track. But what also shines through is the loneliness of the traveler.
journeys	Find My Way Back Home	Priscilla Ahn	2008	A song about searching for identity and a sense of belonging, blending folk elements with introspective lyrics. Ursula Knudsen plays the Idiophone [Musical Saw]. Priscilla Ahn (born Priscilla Natalie Hartranft; March 9, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who took her Korean mother’s maiden name as her stage name.
journeys	Il mondo	Jimmy Fontana	1965	A romantic song about the beauty and vastness of the world, emphasizing love’s power to make everything else seem insignificant.
journeys	Snowbird	Anne Murray	1970	A metaphorical song about seeking freedom and escape from heartache, comparing the desire to move on to a bird flying south for the winter. Anne Murray was the first Canadian female solo singer to reach No. 1 on the U.S. charts, was the first to earn a Gold record for one of her signature songs, “Snowbird” (1970) and was the first woman to win “Album of the Year” at the Country Music Awards in Nashville for her certified Gold album, “A Little Good News”.
journeys	Up Up and Away	The Johnny Mann Singers	1967	Originally recorded by The 5th Dimension, this song celebrates escapism and adventure, using a hot air balloon as a metaphor for limitless possibilities.
jukebox gems	Rock Around the Clock	Bill Haley And The Comets	1954	Written by Max C. Freedman & James E. Myers, this song captured the excitement of dance halls and became a rock and roll anthem. Initially a B-side, it gained massive popularity after being featured in the 1955 film Blackboard Jungle, becoming the first rock song to top the Billboard charts. It remains a symbol of early rock and roll culture.
jukebox gems	Tutti frutti	Little Richard	1955	Written by Little Richard and Dorothy LaBostrie, this song was originally much racier before being rewritten for radio. Its nonsense lyrics and explosive energy made it one of the most influential rock songs of all time. The famous intro, “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom!”, was inspired by drum sounds and became a signature of Little Richard’s style.
jukebox gems	Be-Bop-A-Lula	The Everly Brothers	1956	Originally by Gene Vincent and Donald Graves, this rockabilly love song is filled with swagger and bluesy energy. It was one of the earliest rock hits, influencing Elvis Presley and many early rockers. The Everly Brothers’ version brought a smoother, harmony-driven take on the song.
jukebox gems	Don’t Be Cruel	Elvis Presley	1956	Written by Otis Blackwell, this song became one of Elvis Presley’s biggest hits. The upbeat melody contrasts with its lyrics about pleading for love and devotion. It was originally the A-side of “Hound Dog” and became one of the best-selling singles of the 1950s.
jukebox gems	I Walk The Line	Johnny Cash	1956	Written by Johnny Cash, this song was a pledge of loyalty to his first wife while he was on the road. The steady rhythm and Cash’s distinctive humming before each verse were designed to help him stay in key. It became one of his signature songs and a defining track of country music.
jukebox gems	At the Hop	Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids	1957	Originally written by Artie Singer, John Medora, and David White for Danny & The Juniors, this song was a tribute to “The Hop,” a popular 1950s dance event. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1958 and was later covered by Flash Cadillac for American Graffiti (1973). The song remains a staple of 1950s nostalgia.
jukebox gems	Chantilly Lace	The Big Bopper	1958	Written by J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), this playful rockabilly hit is framed as a phone conversation with a flirtatious girl. The Big Bopper’s humorous and exaggerated vocal style made it a novelty hit. Sadly, he died in the same 1959 plane crash that took Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
jukebox gems	Summertime Blues	Eddie Cochran	1958	Co-written by Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart, this song humorously expresses teenage frustration with work, authority, and responsibilities. Its raw rockabilly energy and innovative bass vocal lines made it an early rock classic, later covered by artists like The Who and Blue Cheer.
jukebox gems	Well…All Right	Buddy Holly	1958	Written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, Joe B. Mauldin, and Norman Petty, this song showcased a more subdued, introspective side of Holly’s songwriting. It reflects youthful defiance and romantic commitment. Though not a major hit at the time, it later influenced folk-rock artists like The Beatles and Blind Faith.
jukebox gems	Memphis Tennesee	Chuck Berry	1959	Written by Chuck Berry, this song initially seems like a plea to reconnect with a lost love but delivers a twist ending—Marie is actually the singer’s daughter. The song’s storytelling quality made it one of Berry’s most compelling compositions, and it was later covered by artists like Johnny Rivers and The Beatles.
jukebox gems	Love Potion No. 9	The Clovers	1959	Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, this song tells a playful story about a man seeking help from a gypsy to find love, only to end up kissing everything in sight after drinking the “love potion.” Originally recorded by The Clovers, it later gained popularity with The Searchers’ 1964 version. The song remains a classic of doo-wop and R&B.
jukebox gems	Shakin’ All Over	Johnny Kidd & The Pirates	1960	Written by Johnny Kidd, this British rock classic was one of the first songs to capture the raw energy of rock and roll in the UK. Its suggestive lyrics and guitar riffs made it a hit, later covered by The Guess Who and The Who.
jukebox gems	Only The Lonely	Roy Orbison	1960	Written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson, this song was originally intended for Elvis Presley or The Everly Brothers but became Orbison’s breakthrough hit. Its operatic vocals and dramatic lyrics about heartbreak set the stage for his signature style.
jukebox gems	Crazy (ft. The Jordanaires)	Patsy Cline	1961	Written by Willie Nelson, this song became one of Patsy Cline’s most iconic tracks. The melancholic lyrics and jazz-influenced arrangement made it a country-pop crossover hit. It remains one of the most-covered songs in country music history. Roy Orbison and Patsy Cline were good friends. They had much in common. They toured together. They launched Willie Nelson’s career (“Pretty Paper” by Roy and “Crazy” by Patsy).
jukebox gems	The Wanderer	Dion	1961	Written by Ernie Maresca, this song tells the story of a carefree, womanizing drifter. Dion’s swaggering vocal style made it one of the biggest rock hits of the early ’60s. Dion Francis DiMucci (born July 18, 1939), better known mononymously as Dion, is an American singer and songwriter. The song was recorded with an uncredited background vocal group, the Del-Satins, ed by Stan Ziska (later known as Stan Sommers).
jukebox gems	Boom Boom (ft. Jimmie Vaughn)	John Lee Hooker	1962	Written by John Lee Hooker, this blues standard is based on a riff-driven groove and playful, boastful lyrics. Covered by The Animals and later reinterpreted with Jimmie Vaughan, it remains one of Hooker’s most recognizable songs.
jukebox gems	Sherry	The Four Seasons	1962	Written by Bob Gaudio, this song was inspired by a girl he knew and was originally titled “Jackie Baby.” Featuring Frankie Valli’s signature falsetto, it became The Four Seasons’ first No. 1 hit, defining their doo-wop sound.
jukebox gems	Runaway	Del Shannon	1962	Written by Del Shannon (born Charles Weedon Westover) and keyboardist Max Crook, Crook, who had invented his own clavioline-based electric keyboard called a Musitron. This is about a guy whose girl leaves him, and he is left to wonder what went wrong. A lot of Shannon’s songs were about broken relationships. He once said he wrote the words to this about himself because he was forever running away from relationships.
jukebox gems	Surf City	Jan & Dean	1963	“Surf City” by American music duo Jan and Dean is about a fictitious surf spot where there are “two girls for every boy”, written by Brian Wilson and Jan Berry. It was the first surf song to become a national number-one hit. The recording included Hal Blaine, Glen Campbell, Earl Palmer, Bill Pitman, Ray Pohlman, Billy Strange, as well as Brian Wilson. In 1991, after moving to Huntington Beach, California, In 2006, the official trademark of “Surf City USA” was registered to Huntington Beach with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Jan & Dean were ambassadors of the California culture in the mid-60s, scoring 11 Top-40 hits from 1963-1965, mostly dealing with surfing, girls and cars.
jukebox gems	How Do You Do It	Gerry & The Pacemakers	1963	Written by Mitch Murray, this song was originally intended for The Beatles, who rejected it. Gerry & The Pacemakers turned it into their first UK No. 1 hit. The song’s cheerful melody and Merseybeat style captured the upbeat spirit of early British Invasion music.
jukebox gems	Louie Louie	The Kingsmen	1963	Written by Richard Berry in 1955, this song became legendary for its unintelligible lyrics and garage rock energy. The Kingsmen’s version was investigated by the FBI for alleged obscenity, but no clear lyrics were found. It remains one of the most covered songs in rock history.
jukebox gems	Do Wah Diddy Diddy	Manfred Mann	1964	Originally recorded by The Exciters, this song was written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. Manfred Mann’s version turned it into a worldwide hit, reaching No. 1 in both the US and UK. The upbeat lyrics describe a joyful love-at-first-sight moment and have made the song a favorite for singalongs and sporting events.
jukebox gems	Wooly Bully	Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs	1965	Written by Domingo Samudio (Sam the Sham), this novelty rock song mixes Tex-Mex rhythms with playful lyrics about a cat named Wooly Bully. Its danceable beat made it a massive hit, even without a clear storyline.
jukebox gems	Chica Ye Ye	Conchita Velasco	1965	A Spanish pop hit, this song became an anthem of the “Ye-Yé” movement, which embraced youthful, carefree pop music inspired by The Beatles and French pop. Conchita Velasco’s performance helped make it an iconic Spanish pop song. In the 1965 Spanish comedy film Television Stories (1965) Conchita Velasco performed the song “Chica ye ye” composed by Augusto Algueró with lyrics by Antonio Guijarro. Television Stories (Spanish:Historias de la televisión) is a
jukebox gems	Satisfaction	The Rolling Stones	1965	Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, this song captures frustration with commercialism and sexual tension. Featuring one of the most famous guitar riffs in rock history, it became The Rolling Stones’ first US No. 1 hit and a defining song of the 1960s.
jukebox gems	Cara Mia	Jay & The Americans	1965	Originally written by Mantovani and Tulio Trapani, this operatic pop ballad became a huge hit for Jay & The Americans. Its dramatic vocal delivery and sweeping orchestration made it one of their signature songs. The title means “my beloved” in Italian.
jukebox gems	Friday On My Mind	The Easy Beats	1966	“Friday on My Mind” is a 1966 song by Australian rock group the Easybeats. written by band members George Young and Harry Vanda. It captures the excitement of looking forward to the weekend after a long workweek. The track became one of the first international rock hits from an Australian band, reaching the UK and US charts. Its infectious melody and rebellious energy made it a garage rock anthem. Though the song has long been termed a “working class anthem”, George Young maintained it had “more to do with their outlook on the world than any class statement”
jukebox gems	Wouldn’t It Be Nice	The Beach Boys	1966	Written by Brian Wilson, Tony Asher, and Mike Love, this song expresses youthful longing for a future where young love can flourish without restrictions. Its lush harmonies and orchestration made it one of Pet Sounds’ standout tracks. It remains one of The Beach Boys’ most beloved songs. Mike Love sang the bridge; Brian Wilson did the verses. Brian Wilson’s autobiography is titled Wouldn’t It Be Nice.
jukebox gems	With A Girl Like You	The Troggs	1966	Written by Reg Presley, this song is a simple yet catchy love song featuring The Troggs’ signature garage rock sound. It became a hit in the UK and the US, cementing their place in the British Invasion movement. Presley stated: “I liked the way The Beach Boys were going ‘Ba-ba-ba-Barbara Ann’ and it was lovely to do something like that in With A Girl Like You.”
jukebox gems	Here Comes My Baby	The Tremeloes	1967	Written by Cat Stevens, this song tells the bittersweet story of watching an ex-lover move on. While Stevens initially recorded his own version, The Tremeloes made it a hit with their lively and jangly sound. The song blends heartache with an infectious melody, making it a classic of the 1960s pop era. The song’s success helped establish Cat Stevens as a songwriter and he included it on his first album Matthew And Son. The Tremeloes’ version leaves out the final verse from Cat Stevens’ original.
jukebox gems	Jackson	Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood	1967	Written by Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber, this song is a playful duet about a couple reigniting their relationship by heading to “Jackson”. Before this became a famous duet between Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, it was recorded in 1963 by the Kingston Trio, Wheeler, and Flatt and Scruggs. Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood’s version became the most famous, capturing a mix of country and pop sassiness.
jukebox gems	Light My Fire	The Doors	1967	Written primarily by Robby Krieger, with contributions from Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore, this song became The Doors’ breakthrough hit. Featuring poetic lyrics and an extended instrumental solo, it helped define psychedelic rock. José Feliciano’s acoustic cover later won a Grammy. The Doors didn’t have a bass player, but there is some bass on this song by session musician Carol Kaye, who was not formally credited at the time. Carol Kaye was born in Everett, Washington to musician parents, Clyde and Dot Smith, both professionals. She was the sole regular female member of the Wrecking Crew, a collective of studio musicians who played on a large number of hit records from Los Angeles in the 1960s. Beginning in 1969, Kaye wrote her first of many bass tutoring books, “How To Play The Electric Bass” effectively changing the name of Fender Bass to Electric Bass and began teaching 100s of Electric Bass students, many of them now famous themselves. This was the last song Jim Morrison performed live at the Doors concert at The Warehouse in New Orleans on December 12, 1970.
jukebox gems	Happy Together	The Turtles	1967	Written by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon, this song was originally passed over by multiple bands before The Turtles made it a hit. Its upbeat melody contrasts with its simple but effective lyrics about the joy of being in love. It remains a staple of 1960s sunshine pop. The Turtles were formed by Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan. They were saxophone players who did whatever was trendy in order to make a living as musicians.
jukebox gems	All You Need Is Love	The Beatles	1967	Written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon-McCartney), this song was composed for the first-ever live global television broadcast. The song was released in the middle of the Summer of Love (1967) and conveys a universal message of peace and love, making it one of the defining songs of the counterculture movement. “All You Need Is Love” was a popular saying in the ’60s anti-war movement. The song begins with a clip from the French national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” written and composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in Strasbourg on April 25, 1792. Its original name was “Chant de guerre de l’Armee du Rhin” (“Marching Song of the Rhine Army”) and it was dedicated to Marshal Nicolas Luckner, a Bavarian-born French officer from Cham. It became the rallying call of the French Revolution and got its name because it was first sung on the streets by troops from Marseille upon their arrival in Paris. In the orchestral ending, you can hear pieces of both “Greensleeves,” a Bach two-part invention (by George Martin) and Glenn Miller’s “In The Mood.”
jukebox gems	Mony Mony	Tommy James & The Shondells	1968	Co-written by Tommy James, Ritchie Cordell, Bobby Bloom, and Bo Gentry, the song was named after the Mutual of New York (MONY) insurance building. It became a high-energy party anthem, later made even more famous by Billy Idol’s 1981 cover. Known for its catchy chorus, it remains a favorite for crowd singalongs.
jukebox gems	Lazy Sunday	Small Faces	1968	Written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, this whimsical song was inspired by Marriott’s real-life disputes with his neighbours Combining cockney humour with a psychedelic pop sound, it became a surprise hit despite the band intending it as a joke. The song is a fun, theatrical take on British working-class life. Much of the song is in a greatly exaggerated cockney accent and features various sound effects including crowd shouts, chirping birds, surf, and church bells. If you listen closely, you can hear a loo being flushed just after Marriott sings, “while you flush out the moon.”
jukebox gems	Pictures Of Matchstick Men	Status Quo	1968	Written by Francis Rossi, this psychedelic rock song features a distinctive guitar riff and surreal lyrics. It became Status Quo’s only major US hit before they shifted toward a boogie rock style. “‘Matchstick Men’ was basically about Rossi’s ex-wife. He got just married and thought, it was a mistake. He wrote three-quarters of this song on the toilet, where he’d fled to escape his wife and mother-in-law. The remainder he finished off in the lounge. The song was inspired by the matchstick men paintings of English painter L.S. Lowry (1887-1976).
wandering souls	Blue Monday	New Order	1983	One of the most iconic electronic tracks ever, this song was inspired by the band’s experiments with drum machines and synthesizers. Its lyrics suggest themes of detachment, regret, and emotional distance, though the band has kept their exact meaning ambiguous. The synth bassline was performed on a Moog Source and sequenced on a sequencer built by the singer, Bernard Sumner and an Oberheim DMX drum machine was used for rhythm. New Order was formed in 1980 by the former members of Joy Division, which split after the death of their singer, Ian Curtis.
wandering souls	Dancing in the Dark	Bruce Springsteen	1984	Written out of frustration with pressure to write a hit, the song expresses feelings of self-doubt and yearning for change, despite its upbeat, danceable sound.
wandering souls	Take a Run at the Sun	Dinosaur Jr	1997	A dreamy, optimistic track encouraging breaking free from routine and embracing life’s possibilities. Written for the film SubUrbia, it carries themes of hope and new beginnings. Dinosaur Jr. is an American rock band founded in 1984 by J Mascis (guitar, vocals, primary songwriter), Lou Barlow (bass, vocals), and Murph (drums).
wandering souls	This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)	Talking Heads	1983	A rare Talking Heads love song, this track expresses the comfort of finding “home” in another person. The “naïve melody” refers to its simple, repetitive chord progression.
wandering souls	Home Is Not Home	Novastar	2014	A melancholic song reflecting on feelings of displacement and the struggle of finding a true sense of belonging. Novastar is a Belgian rock band led by Dutch-born singer-songwriter, guitarist-pianist Joost Zweegers.
wandering souls	Fly	Machiavel	1977	A progressive rock ballad that uses poetic imagery to explore themes of freedom, transcendence, and escape from the mundane. Machiavel were founded in 1974 by Roland De Greef (bass) and Marc Ysaÿe (drums and vocals), Jack Roskam (guitar) and Albert Letecheur (keyboard).
wandering souls	Who’ll Stop The Rain	Heaven 17	1983	This song, written by Glenn Peter Gregory, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, is a commentary on the state of the world and the chaos and destruction that occur when people lose control. The chorus of the song repeats the question, “Who’ll stop the rain/Who’ll stop the action” which reflects the desperation and hopelessness people feel in the face of overwhelming societal problems. Heaven 17 are an English synth-pop band formed in Sheffield in 1980.
wandering souls	Change (feat. Wale)	Daniel Merriweather	2009	“Change” by Australian singer/songwriter Daniel Merriweather featuring a rap verse from American rapper Wale is a soulful critique of social injustice and inequality, encouraging self-empowerment and challenging the status quo.
wandering souls	It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way	The Blow Monkeys	1987	A song about heartbreak and regret, reflecting on lost love and the realization that things could have gone differently. The Blow Monkeys formed in 1981 when lead singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist, and piano player Dr. Robert (born Bruce Robert Howard, 2 May 1961, Haddington, Scotland) returned to the United Kingdom after having spent five years in Australia. Dr. Robert is named after the Beatles song Doctor Robert. The other band members are Mick Anker on bass guitar, Neville Henry on saxophone and Tony Kiley or Crispin Taylor on drums.
wandering souls	Solitary Man	Neil Diamond	1966	A song about loneliness and failed relationships, with the protagonist lamenting his inability to find lasting love.
wandering souls	Il est trop tard	Georges Moustaki	1971	A poetic and melancholic song about regret, time slipping away, and the realization that certain opportunities are lost forever. Georges Moustaki, born Giuseppe Mustacchi in Alexandria, Egypt, on 3 May 1934, wrote about 300 songs for some of the most popular singers in France, including Édith Piaf, Dalida, Françoise Hardy, Yves Montand, France Gall, Juliette Gréco, Tino Rossi as well as for himself.
wandering souls	Living In A Ghost Town	The Rolling Stones	2020	Written during the COVID-19 pandemic, the song captures the eerie emptiness of lockdowns, isolation, and the sense of a world brought to a standstill.
wandering souls	Ghost Town	The Specials	1981	A politically charged song about urban decay, unemployment, and social unrest in the UK, particularly in Thatcher-era Britain. The Specials, also known as The Special AKA, was formed in 1977 in Coventry, by songwriter/keyboardist Dammers, vocalist Tim Strickland, guitarist/vocalist Lynval Golding, drummer Silverton Hutchinson and bassist Horace Panter (Sir Horace Gentleman).
wandering souls	New Kid In Town	Eagles	1976	A song about fleeting fame and the inevitable rise and fall of popularity, using a small-town love story as a metaphor for broader themes of change and replacement.
wandering souls	Heaven Can Wait	Charlotte Gainsbourg	2009	A surreal and dreamlike song about love, desire, and existential musings, co-written with Beck. It is a duet between Charlotte, the daughter of British actress and singer Jane Birkin and French singer Serge Gainsbourg, and the American alternative rock singer-songwriter.
wandering souls	Where Do You Go To My Lovely	Peter Sarstedt	1969	A satirical yet poignant song about a woman who rises to high society but remains emotionally unfulfilled. Inspired by European jet-set culture.
wandering souls	Ramblin’ Rose	Nat King Cole	1962	A song about a free-spirited woman who can’t be tied down, using the metaphor of a wandering rose to describe her fleeting presence in people’s lives.
wandering souls	Border Song	Elton John	1970	A song about unity and overcoming divisions, with religious undertones promoting peace and understanding across cultural and racial boundaries.
wandering souls	Babacar	France Gall	1987	Inspired by Gall’s encounter with a young Senegalese boy named Babacar, the song reflects on cultural differences and human connection.
wandering souls	Radio Africa	Latin Quarter	1985	A politically charged song about the struggles and conflicts in Africa during the 1980s, addressing colonialism, economic disparity, and social injustice. Latin Quarter is a British band formed in 1983 by Steve Skaith, Steve Jeffries, Mike Jones, guitarist Richard Wright together with drummer Richie Stevens.
wandering souls	Liberian Girl	Michael Jackson	1989	A love song dedicated to a mysterious woman, with African influences in its melody. Jackson’s admiration for African culture plays a key role in the song’s theme.
wandering souls	Troy	Sinéad O’Connor	1987	Inspired by O’Connor’s troubled childhood, the song is an intense, emotional piece that references Greek mythology and personal trauma.
fame & fortune	Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da	The Beatles	1968	Written by Paul McCartney, this upbeat song was inspired by a phrase used by Nigerian musician Jimmy Scott, meaning “life goes on.” It tells the lighthearted story of Desmond and Molly and their happy life together.
fame & fortune	Israelites	Desmond Dekker	1968	Written by Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong, this was the first reggae song to reach international success. Originally issued in Jamaica as “Poor Me Israelites”, it reflects on the struggles of working-class Jamaicans, using biblical imagery to highlight hardship and resilience.
fame & fortune	De Do Do Do De Da Da Da	The Police	1980	Written by Sting, this song critiques how words can be manipulated by politicians and the media, with a deliberately nonsensical chorus to emphasize its point.
fame & fortune	Higher Love	Steve Winwood	1986	Written by Steve Winwood and Will Jennings, this song explores the need for a deeper, spiritual connection in life, beyond material success and temporary happiness.
fame & fortune	Wouldn’t It Be Good	Nik Kershaw	1984	Written by Nik Kershaw, this song expresses feelings of frustration and longing, reflecting on how life always seems easier from the outside.
fame & fortune	Like a Stone	Audioslave	2002	Written by Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk, this song deals with themes of mortality and longing for an afterlife, inspired by reflections on life’s impermanence.
fame & fortune	Who Are You	The Who	1978	Written by Pete Townshend, this song was inspired by a drunken night out and deeper existential questions about identity and purpose.
fame & fortune	Power In The Darkness	Tom Robinson Band	1978	Written by Tom Robinson, this politically charged song critiques oppression, racism, and government control, promoting unity and resistance.
fame & fortune	Devil Inside	INXS	1987	Written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence, this song explores the darker, more primal side of human nature and temptation.
fame & fortune	Broken English	Marianne Faithfull	1979	Written by Marianne Faithfull, Barry Reynolds, Joe Mavety, Steve York, and Terry Stannard, this song was inspired by political unrest and her own struggles with addiction, creating a raw, defiant anthem.
fame & fortune	In Private	Dusty Springfield	1989	Written by Pet Shop Boys (Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe), this song is about a secret, forbidden love affair and the emotional turmoil that comes with it.
fame & fortune	You Wear It Well	Rod Stewart	1972	Written by Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton, this song is a heartfelt message to an old flame, reminiscing about a past relationship with both fondness and regret.
fame & fortune	Bette Davis Eyes	Kim Carnes	1981	Originally written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974, this version became a huge hit. It describes a dangerously captivating woman, comparing her allure to the enigmatic actress Bette Davis.
fame & fortune	Clint Eastwood	Gorillaz	2001	Written by Damon Albarn and Del the Funky Homosapien, this song blends hip-hop and electronic influences while using the metaphor of Clint Eastwood’s stoic, tough persona to describe detachment and confidence.
fame & fortune	Dear God	XTC	1986	Written by Andy Partridge, this controversial song challenges religious beliefs, questioning why suffering exists if a benevolent God is real. “Dear God” is about a struggling agnostic who writes a letter to God while challenging his existence. Producer Todd Rundgren brought in eight-year-old Jasmine Veillette, the daughter of a friend to sing the first verse and closing line.
fame & fortune	Dominique	Soeur Marie	1963	Written by Jeanine Deckers (Soeur Sourire, “The Singing Nun”), this song tells the story of Saint Dominic and his missionary work, becoming an unlikely pop hit. Jeanne-Paule Marie “Jeannine” Deckers (born in Laeken, Brussels on 17 October 1933 and died in Wavre, Brabant, Belgium on 29 March 1985), better known as Sœur Sourire (French for ‘Sister Smile’) was a Belgian Catholic singer-songwriter and former member of the Dominican Order as Sister Luc Gabriel.
fame & fortune	Hall Of Fame (ft. Will.I.Am)	The Script	2012	“Hall of Fame” is a song by Irish pop rock band the Script featuring American rapper will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. The lyrics, written by O’Donoghue, focus on perseverance and making a difference.
fame & fortune	Smooth Operator	Sade	1984	Written by Sade Adu and Ray St. John, this song tells the story of a suave, emotionally detached man who moves effortlessly through relationships without forming real connections.
fame & fortune	Yeh-Yeh!	Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames	1965	“Yeh, Yeh” is a Latin soul song originally written as an instrumental by Rodgers Grant and Pat Patrick, and first recorded by Mongo Santamaría. Jon Hendricks put lyrics to it and recorded it live at The Newport Jazz Festival. Clive Powell had his name changed in 1960 by his manager Larry Parnes to Georgie Fame, and was then put in charge of Billy Fury’s backing band, the Famous Flames.
fame & fortune	Fame	David Bowie	1971	Written by David Bowie together with Carlos Alomar and John Lennon, this song is about what it is like to be famous. John Lennon who helped write this song came up with the title and also sang the background “Fame” parts in the high voice. Bowie’s guitarist Carlos Alomar came up with the guitar riff. The end of the song is accented by the rattle of a vibraslap, a percussion instrument consisting of a stiff wire connecting a wooden ball to a hollow box full of metal teeth.
parting ways	Maybe Tomorrow Maybe Tonight	Earth And Fire	1973	Written by Chris Koerts and Gerard Koerts, this song reflects on uncertainty in love and life, blending symphonic rock with a sense of anticipation and longing. The Pop band Earth And Fire from Voorschoten / Voorburg, Netherlands featured female vocalist Jerney Kaagman, twin brothers Chris and Gerard Koerts (Chris handled the guitars and Gerard handled the keyboards), bassist Hans Ziech, and drummer Ton v.d. Kleij.
parting ways	Don’t Bring Me Down	Electric Light Orchestra	1979	Written by Jeff Lynne, this song was originally about frustration with a woman but later became a broader anthem about resisting negativity. The famous “Grroosss” lyric was a made-up placeholder that stuck.
parting ways	Out of Touch	Hall & Oates	1984	Written by Daryl Hall and John Oates, this song critiques materialism and emotional detachment, warning about the dangers of losing connection with reality.
parting ways	Can’t Stand Losing You	The Police	1978	Written by Sting, this song is about obsessive love and the despair of heartbreak, controversially using extreme imagery to depict emotional turmoil.
parting ways	I’ll Meet You At Midnight	Smokie	1976	Written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, this song tells a romantic tale of two lovers meeting in Paris, capturing nostalgia and lost love.
parting ways	Will You Love Me Tomorrow	The Shirelles	1960	Written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, this song was groundbreaking for addressing female vulnerability and uncertainty in relationships, questioning whether love will last beyond one night. The Shirelles, an American girl group formed in New Jersey in 1958, was the first to have a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100. The members of the quartet were Shirley Owens, Doris Coley, Beverly Lee, and Addie Harris.
parting ways	This Time Baby	The O’Jays	1978	Written by James Dean and Jack Conrad, this disco classic tells the story of someone determined to move on from heartbreak and find lasting love.
parting ways	This Is the Last Time	Keane	2004	Written by Tim Rice-Oxley, Tom Chaplin, and Richard Hughes, this song expresses the pain of knowing a relationship is ending but struggling to let go.
parting ways	Love On The Rocks	Neil Diamond	1980	Written by Neil Diamond and Gilbert Bécaud, this song captures the bitterness of a failed relationship, with lyrics full of regret and disappointment.
parting ways	Nothing Compares 2 U	Sinéad O’Connor	1990	Written by Prince, this song is a heartbreaking reflection on lost love and longing, with O’Connor’s raw delivery making it an emotional classic.
parting ways	Lonely Days	Bee Gees	1970	Written by Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, this song mixes melancholic lyrics about loneliness with an upbeat arrangement, symbolizing the emotional highs and lows of love.
parting ways	Streets Of Philadelphia	Bruce Springsteen	1993	Written by Bruce Springsteen, this song deals with themes of isolation and loss, particularly in relation to the AIDS crisis. The song was used as the theme tune for the 1993 TriStar Pictures film, Philadelphia.
parting ways	Crying	Roy Orbison	1961	Written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson, this song portrays overwhelming heartbreak, with Orbison’s soaring vocals emphasizing deep emotional pain.
parting ways	Happy Now	Jon Allen	2009	Written by Jon Allen, this song explores the aftermath of a relationship, questioning whether a former partner has truly moved on. Jonathon Allen is a British singer-songwriter, born May 12, 1977 in Winchester, England.
parting ways	Adieu Jolie Candy	Jean Francois Michael	1969	Written by Michel Berger, this French ballad tells the sad story of a lost love, saying a final farewell to a lover who has left. Besides the main French-language version, Jean-François Michael (born Yves Roze) released alternative language versions under various titles as “Adiós, linda Candy” in Spanish, “Adios querida luna” also in Spanish, “Fiori bianchi per te” in Italian and “Adieu süsse Candy” in German.
parting ways	She Moves In Her Own Way	The Kooks	2006	Written by Luke Pritchard, this song is about admiring someone who doesn’t conform to expectations, celebrating individuality in relationships.
parting ways	Jack And Jill	Raydio	1978	Written by Ray Parker Jr., this song modernizes the classic nursery rhyme into a cautionary tale about relationships and independence. Funk and R&B band Raydio was formed in 1977 in Detroit, Michigan by composer/guitarist/vocalist Ray Erskine Parker Jr., vocalist/bassist Jerry Ernest Knight, pianist/guitarist/drummer Vincent Bohnam, and lead vocalist/Guitarist/lyricist Arnell Derek Carmichael.
parting ways	Cold	James Blunt	2019	Written by James Blunt, this song expresses longing and regret for a lost love, with themes of emotional distance and yearning.
parting ways	Baby Come Back	Player	1977	Written by Peter Beckett and J.C. Crowley, this song is a desperate plea for a second chance in love, expressing deep regret and sorrow.
parting ways	On And On	Stephen Bishop	1976	Written by Stephen Bishop, this song captures the feeling of loneliness and the ups and downs of love and heartbreak.
parting ways	Avant de nous dire adieu	Jeane Manson	1976	Written by Jean Albertini and Didier Barbelivien, this song is about saying a final goodbye to a lover, filled with sorrow and farewell emotions. Jeane Manson (born Jean Ann Manson on October 1, 1950) is an American model, singer, and actor, born in Cleveland, Ohio. Her first name was changed from “Jean” (‘John’ in French) to “Jeane” to avoid confusion. Jeane performs in French, English, Spanish, with a repertoire in Pop, Country, Gospel, Latin, Classical Opera, & Jazz.
parting ways	Mad About You	Hooverphonic	2000	Written by Alex Callier, this song is about an all-consuming, obsessive love that borders on dangerous passion. Since their formation, Hooverphonic’s lineup consisted of bassist Alex Callier, guitarist Raymond Geerts, and various lead singers, such as Geike Arnaert, is a Belgian singer, lead vocalist of the band from 1997 until 2008.
parting ways	White Flag	Dido	2003	Written by Dido (born Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O’Malley Armstrong), Rollo Armstrong (her brother), and Rick Nowels, this song is about refusing to give up on love, even after a breakup.
parting ways	Death Is Not the End	Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds	1996	Originally written by Bob Dylan in 1988, this song reassures that suffering is temporary and there is hope beyond life’s struggles. Nick Cave Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds covered “Death Is Not The End” in 1996 adding a haunting, gothic atmosphere. It features his former girlfriend and early collaborator Anita Lane, Kylie Minogue, PJ Harvey, Bad Seeds members Thomas Wydler and Blixa Bargeld as well as Shane MacGowan (lead vocalist and primary lyricist of Celtic punk band the Pogues).
parting ways	We’ll Meet Again	Vera Lynn	1939	Written by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles, this wartime classic offered comfort to soldiers and families separated by war, becoming an anthem of hope and reunion. Dame Vera Lynn, (born Vera Margaret Welch, March 20, 1917 in London, England, U.K – died June 18, 2020, Ditchling, East Sussex, U.K.), was an English singer whose career flourished during World War II. Nicknamed “The Forces’ Sweetheart”, she was most associated with the songs “We’ll Meet Again” and “The White Cliffs Of Dover”.
urban	Where The Streets Have No Name	U2	1987	Written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., this song was inspired by the idea that in Belfast, a person’s street can reveal their religion and economic status. It envisions a utopian place where such divisions don’t exist. He contrasted this with the anonymity he felt when visiting Ethiopia.Bono wrote the lyrics while on a humanitarian visit to Ethiopia with his wife, Ali Hewson; he first wrote them down on an airsickness bag while staying in a village.
urban	Sign O’ The Times	Prince	1987	Written by Prince, this socially conscious song reflects on the struggles of the late ‘80s, addressing AIDS, drug abuse, and political unrest with a minimalist funk groove.
urban	Connected	Stereo MC’s	1992	Written by Rob Birch and Nick Hallam, this song explores themes of unity, technology, and interconnectedness, blending hip-hop and electronic beats. Birch looped a tiny sample of a bass drum beat and snare beat from Jimmy “Bo” Horne’s 1978 tune “Let Me (Let Me Be Your Lover).” and created the bass groove that holds “Connected” together.
urban	Come Together	Primal Scream	1990	Written by Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes, and Robert Young, this psychedelic dance anthem promotes peace, love, and collective unity, heavily influenced by the rave scene. The song samples some dialogue performed by Nastassja Kinski from Wim Wenders’ movie Paris, Texas. The guitar riff was lifted from Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds.”
urban	Cleaning Windows	Van Morrison	1982	Written by Van Morrison, this autobiographical song reminisces about his days as a window cleaner, symbolizing a simpler time filled with dreams and music.
urban	My Hometown	Bruce Springsteen	1984	Written by Bruce Springsteen, this song reflects on economic decline, racial tensions, and changing times in American small towns, using personal memories as a backdrop.
urban	Birmingham	Randy Newman	1974	Written by Randy Newman, this satirical song paints an ironic portrait of Birmingham, Alabama, as an industrial city full of charm despite its flaws.
urban	Grey in L.A.	Loudon Wainwright III	2007	Written by Loudon Wainwright III, this song humorously complains about the rare overcast days in Los Angeles, contrasting the city’s usual sunny image. Loudon is the brother of singer Sloan Wainwright and has four children, including musicians Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, and Lucy Wainwright Roche.
urban	Going To A Town	Rufus Wainwright	2007	Written by Rufus Wainwright, this song is a melancholic critique of American politics and culture, expressing disappointment while still holding love for the country. Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright is a New York-born, Montreal-raised singer-songwriter, son of folk singers Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III.
urban	Our House	Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young	1970	Written by Graham Nash, this song was inspired by his domestic life with Joni Mitchell, capturing the warmth of a loving home.
urban	These Streets	Paolo Nutini	2006	Written by Paolo Nutini and Ken Nelson, this song is a nostalgic reflection on growing up in Scotland, capturing the feeling of home and youthful memories. Paolo Giovanni Nutini was born on 9 January 1987[1] in Paisley, Scotland.
urban	My Little Town	Paul Simon	1975	Written by Paul Simon, this song was written for Simon & Garfunkel’s reunion and depicts a bleak, claustrophobic view of small-town life. Simon has stated that the song is not autobiographical and it is about “someone who hates the town he grew up in and happy to get out.”
urban	Down In The Boondocks	Billy Joe Royal	1965	Written by Joe South, this song tells the story of a poor young man in love with a girl from a wealthy family, reflecting on class divisions in romance. The song is sung from the perspective of a self-proclaimed “boy from down in the boondocks.” The people who live or are born in the boondocks are suggested to be a lower class than those in the city. Billy Joe Royal was an American country soul singer.
urban	Jackson Avenue	Stephanie McKay	2003	Written by Stephanie McKay, this song is a soulful tribute to working-class struggles in the Bronx, highlighting resilience and hope. Stephanie McKay is a New York-based R&B vocalist, originally part of The Brooklyn Funk Essentials.
urban	Take Back The City	Snow Patrol	2008	Written by Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly, Tom Simpson, Paul Wilson, and Jonny Quinn, this anthem is about rediscovering and embracing a city’s beauty despite its flaws, inspired by Belfast.
urban	Pied Piper	Crispian St. Peters	1966	Written by Steve Duboff and Artie Kornfeld, this song uses the Pied Piper as a metaphor for freedom, urging listeners to follow their own path in love and life.The song’s title refers to a fairy tale from German folklore, the titular character of which is The Pied Piper of Hamelin.
urban	Traffic Jam	Sailor	1974	Written by Georg Kajanus, this quirky song humorously describes the frustrations of city traffic while incorporating a bouncy, cabaret-style arrangement.
urban	Les Champs-Elysées	Joe Dassin	1969	Written by Mike Deighan and Michael Wilshaw, this song (originally in English) was adapted into French to celebrate the magic and romance of Paris’ most famous avenue. Joe Dassin was a French-American singer-songwriter and former doctor in Ethnology,
urban	Vilvoorde City	Kris De Bruyne	1975	Written by Kris De Bruyne, this Belgian song critiques industrialization and the fading charm of Vilvoorde, a city near Brussels. Vilvoorde became one of the largest industrial areas around Brussels, however the economic crises hit the city hard, especially when the French car maker Renault closed its doors in 1997. Kris De Bruyne was a Belgian folk, rock and “kleinkunst” singer-songwriter, born in Antwerp, Belgium.
urban	Kansas City(Cover)	Wilbert Harrison	1959	Originally written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, this song celebrates the lively nightlife and excitement of Kansas City. Harrison’s version became the most famous.
urban	Suffragette City	David Bowie	1972	Written by David Bowie, this glam rock anthem is full of fast-paced energy and sexual innuendo, originally intended for Mott the Hoople before Bowie recorded it himself. The hook “wham bam, thank you, ma’am!” previously appeared as the title of a song on jazz bassist Charles Mingus’s 1961 album Oh Yeah, as well as a 1967 song by the Small Faces. The lyric “Ah droogie, don’t crash here” is a direct reference to the Anthony Burgess’ novel A Clockwork Orange (1962).
urban	Brussels by Night	Raymond van het Groenewoud	1979	Written by Raymond van het Groenewoud, this atmospheric song captures the loneliness and mystery of wandering through Brussels at night. Raymond van het Groenewoud (born in Schaarbeek, 14 februari 1950) is one of the most popular Belgian music artists. He is the son of Joseph van het Groenewoud, better known as Nico Gomez, Belgian orchestraleader with Dutch roots (born in 1925 in Amsterdam, came to Belgium in 1947).
Jazz Voices	(If You Can’t Sing It) You’ll Have To Swing It [Aka ‘Mr. Paganini’]	Ella Fitzgerald	1936	Written by Sam Coslow, this playful jazz tune pays tribute to violinist Niccolò Paganini, humorously suggesting that if you can’t sing it perfectly, you better swing it! Ella Fitzgerald, known as the “First Lady of Song,” was a jazz legend celebrated for her pitch-perfect voice, scat singing, and groundbreaking career spanning six decades.
Jazz Voices	Mairzy Doats	The Pied Pipers	1943	A quirky wartime novelty song using wordplay to turn “Mares eat oats” into a nonsense rhyme. The Pied Pipers were a popular vocal group in the 1940s, known for their work with Tommy Dorsey and their close harmonies.
Jazz Voices	(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66	Oscar Peterson	1946	Written by Bobby Troup, this song celebrates America’s most famous highway, symbolizing freedom and adventure. Oscar Peterson, a virtuoso pianist, was one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, known for his dazzling technique and improvisation.
Jazz Voices	Let There Be Love (ft. George Shearing)	Nat King Cole	1961	A romantic jazz standard listing all the simple joys that make love perfect. Nat King Cole, a pioneering jazz pianist and vocalist, was known for his velvety smooth voice and timeless classics like “Unforgettable.” Sir George Albert Shearing was a British jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group.
Jazz Voices	Lullaby Of Birdland	Sarah Vaughan	1952	A tribute to New York’s Birdland jazz club, capturing the excitement of jazz nightlife. Sarah Vaughan, nicknamed “Sassy” and “The Divine One,” possessed one of the richest, most expressive voices in jazz history.
Jazz Voices	Ain’t Nobody’s Business	Jay McShann	1922	A defiant blues anthem about personal independence. Jay McShann, a Kansas City jazz and blues pianist, was a key figure in shaping the jump blues and swing sound.
Jazz Voices	Cou Cou (ft. Quintette du Hot Club de France)	Django Reinhardt	1937	A lively gypsy jazz instrumental showcasing Reinhardt’s signature fast-picking guitar style. Django Reinhardt, despite losing the use of two fingers, revolutionized jazz guitar and created the “Hot Club” sound. The Quintette du Hot Club de France (“The Quintet of the Hot Club of France”), often abbreviated “QdHCdF” or “QHCF”, was a jazz group founded in France in 1934 by guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stéphane Grappelli.
Jazz Voices	Boum	Charles Trénet	1938	Written and performed by Charles Trénet, one of France’s most beloved chanson singers, this playful song celebrates the joy of life with a catchy melody. Trenet wrote the song for the film La Route enchantée, for which he also wrote the screenplay and played the leading role.
Jazz Voices	As Time Goes By	Dooley Wilson	1942	Made famous by Casablanca, this song symbolizes enduring love. Dooley Wilson, originally a drummer, became immortalized as “Sam” in the classic film, though he wasn’t actually playing the piano! The leading role in the movie Casablanca was for Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart with Dooley Wilson playing at Rick’s Café Américain.
Jazz Voices	Lucky Day	Judy Garland	1926	A lively, optimistic tune celebrating a streak of good fortune. Judy Garland, best known for “Over the Rainbow,” was one of Hollywood’s greatest musical stars with a powerhouse voice and legendary career.
Jazz Voices	S’Wonderful	Diana Krall	1927	A lighthearted tune marveling at love’s joys. Diana Krall, a contemporary jazz singer and pianist, brought a sultry, sophisticated style that revived classic jazz in the modern era.
Jazz Voices	Cry Me a River	Julie London	1955	A torch song about getting revenge on an ex who wants to come back. Julie London, with her smoky, intimate vocals, was a film actress-turned-jazz singer known for her minimalist, emotional delivery.
Jazz Voices	Round Midnight	June Christy	1944	This jazz standard was composed by Thelonious Monk in the 1940s. June Christy’s rendition is a testament to her cool jazz style. Christy had her final performance on the stage with American musician Chet Baker who did a lot of his recordings at that time in Europe.
Jazz Voices	My Funny Valentine	Chet Baker	1937	A love song celebrating someone’s unique charm. Chet Baker, the “Prince of Cool,” was a jazz trumpeter and singer known for his smooth, melancholic style.
Jazz Voices	When Morning Comes	Sofie	2016	This song was written by Sofie herself, a contemporary jazz artist showcasing her singer-songwriter style with introspective lyrics. Antwerp born Sofie Verbruggen recorded “When Morning Comes” in good company of jazzpianist Jack Van Poll, Phlip Catherine and Bert Joris.
Jazz Voices	At Last(Cover)	Diane Schuur & B.B. King	1960	A timeless love song originally made famous by Etta James. Diane Schuur, a blind jazz pianist and singer, possesses a powerful voice, while B.B. King was a legendary blues guitarist.
Jazz Voices	What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry	Monica Zetterlund	1926	A regretful plea for forgiveness. Monica Zetterlund, Sweden’s most famous jazz singer, brought a cool, Scandinavian elegance to American jazz.
Jazz Voices	Comes Love	Toni Price	1939	A sultry song about love’s unstoppable force. Toni Price, blending blues and jazz, is known for her soulful, raspy voice and storytelling lyrics.
Jazz Voices	Que Feras-Tu De Ta Vie ?(Cover)	Stacey Kent	1973	A French jazz ballad originally written by Michel Legrand, reflecting on love and life. Stacey Kent, an American jazz singer fluent in multiple languages, is celebrated for her smooth, intimate vocal style.
Jazz Voices	All of Me(Cover)	Helen Merrill	1931	A classic about giving oneself entirely to love. Helen Merrill, a jazz vocalist with a haunting, airy tone, was known for her emotionally rich interpretations.
Jazz Voices	What a Diff’rence a Day Makes(Cover)	Dinah Washington	1934	Originally a Spanish song, later adapted into English. Dinah Washington, the “Queen of the Blues,” had a commanding voice that seamlessly blended jazz, blues, and pop.
Jazz Voices	Here’s To Life	Shirley Horn	1992	A reflection on life’s ups and downs. Shirley Horn, a pianist and vocalist, was known for her intimate, slow-burning jazz ballads.
Jazz Voices	I Wish You Love(Cover)	Harry Connick, Jr.	1942	Originally written as Que reste-t-il de nos amours? by Charles Trenet, this song is about bittersweet goodbyes. Harry Connick Jr., a jazz pianist and crooner, brought New Orleans jazz into the modern era.
Jazz Voices	Stardust(Cover)	Michael Bublé (with Naturally 7)	1927	A dreamy ballad about reminiscing on lost love. Michael Bublé, a modern-day jazz-pop star, revived the classic crooner style for new generations.
Jazz Voices	The Party’s Over	Blossom Dearie	1956	A song about realizing when it’s time to move on. Blossom Dearie, known for her light, almost whispery voice, was a unique presence in jazz with her playful yet sophisticated style.
urban	Beautiful Noise	Neil Diamond	1976	Neil Diamond wrote this after spending time on the fourth floor of a New York hotel on Fifth Avenue with his daughters when a Puerto Rican parade passed by. Musicians on the record include Toto’s David Paich (piano), Dr. John, The Band’s Garth Hudson (organ), Wrecking Crew’s Larry Knechtel (piano), Fourplay’s Bob James, Jim Keltner (drums), Derek and The Domino’s Jim Gordon (drums) and Jim Gilstrap on backing vocals.
Jazz Voices II	It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)	Ella Fitzgerald	1931	Written by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills, this jazz classic celebrates the power of swing. Ella Fitzgerald, the “First Lady of Song,” was famous for her impeccable scat singing and smooth delivery.
Jazz Voices II	Sweet Georgia Brown	Ben Bernie, Kenneth Casey & Maceo Pinkard	1925	“Sweet Georgia Brown” is a jazz standard composed in 1925 by Ben Bernie and Maceo Pinkard, with lyrics by Kenneth Casey. It is a playful tune about a charming woman, later adopted by the Harlem Globetrotters. Ben Bernie was a jazz violinist and early radio star known for blending music with humour. The tune was first recorded on March 19, 1925, by bandleader Bernie, resulting in five weeks at number one for Ben Bernie and his Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra
Jazz Voices II	Perdido	Sarah Vaughan	1941	Originally composed by Juan Tizol for Duke Ellington’s band, this jazz standard describes a wandering soul searching for direction. Sarah Vaughan, “The Divine One,” was known for her operatic vocal range and deep emotional expression.
Jazz Voices II	My Shining Hour	Chris Connor	1943	A wartime morale booster about hope and resilience. Chris Connor was a pioneering female jazz vocalist who helped define the cool jazz vocal style.
Jazz Voices II	I’m Tired of Crying Over You	Buddy Johnson & Ella Johnson	1945	A blues-infused track about heartbreak. Buddy Johnson, a big-band leader, and his sister Ella Johnson brought a mix of swing and blues to the jazz world.
Jazz Voices II	Armstrong	Claude Nougaro	1969	A tribute to Louis Armstrong, celebrating his impact on jazz and culture. Nougaro was a French singer-songwriter known for blending jazz, poetry, and chanson.
Jazz Voices II	When The Saints Go Marching In (Traditional, Jazz Standard)	Louis Armstrong	1938	A gospel hymn turned jazz classic, symbolizing hope and redemption. Louis Armstrong, the father of jazz, transformed many traditional songs into lively swing versions.
Jazz Voices II	Minnie the Moocher	Cab Calloway	1931	A swing classic about a woman caught up in jazz nightlife. Cab Calloway was a flamboyant bandleader known for his energetic performances and the famous “hi-de-ho” call-and-response.
Jazz Voices II	Have You Met Miss Jones?	Robbie Williams	1937	Originally written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, this song humorously describes a chance meeting that sparks love. Robbie Williams, known for pop, explored jazz and swing in his career, influenced by legends like Sinatra.
Jazz Voices II	I Get a Kick Out of You	Frank Sinatra	1934	Originally written by Cole Porter, this witty song contrasts the thrill of love with other “kicks” like champagne and airplanes. Sinatra’s version is one of the most famous, showcasing his effortless phrasing.
Jazz Voices II	You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You	Sammy Davis Jr. & Count Basie	1944	Originally recorded by Russ Morgan, this song emphasizes that true success means nothing without love. Sammy Davis Jr., a multitalented performer, and Count Basie, a jazz giant, brought swing and soul to the track.
Jazz Voices II	More	Bobby Darin	1956	Originally written by Riz Ortolani and Nino Oliviero as the theme for Mondo Cane, this song expresses an intense, endless love. Darin’s version added a jazz-pop sensibility that made it a standout hit.
Jazz Voices II	Call Me Irresponsible	Michael Bublé	1962	Originally written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, this song playfully embraces being a flawed but passionate lover. Bublé modernized classic jazz and big band sounds, keeping the Sinatra-style crooning alive.
Jazz Voices II	These Are The Days	Jamie Cullum	2003	A reflection on youth and nostalgia. Jamie Cullum is a jazz-pop pianist and singer known for blending jazz improvisation with contemporary pop.
Jazz Voices II	Bluesette	Sofie	2014	Bluesette is the sound of a Belgian Legend, composed and first recorded by Toots Thielemans in 1962, with lyrics added by Norman Gimbel. Sofie is a Belgian singer, born in Antwerp (born Sofie Thérèse Verbruggen May 8, 1956) as the granddaughter of opera singer Mina Bollotine. She got into singing at an early age and has been performing both as a solo artist and together with her band Sofie & So Four ever since.
Jazz Voices II	Between The Devil And The Deep Blue See (ft. Madeleine Peyroux)	Toots Thielemans	2006	Originally written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler, this song describes being trapped between two difficult choices. Jazz icon Toots Thielemans (Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans, born in Brussels on 29 april 1922 and died in Eigenbrakel on 22 augustus 2016), the ‘ketje’ from the Marollen district of Brussels, was an excellent guitarist and whistler, who ultimately became one of the best harmonica players who ever lived. Toots filled concert halls all over the world with his virtuosic playing, but he always remained a Belgian at heart. Madeleine Peyroux (born 1974) is an American jazz singer and songwriter, often compared to Billie Holiday. After her parents’ divorce she moved with her mother to Paris, France where she began her career as a teenager on the streets of the Latin Quarter.
Jazz Voices II	You Don’t Know Me	Ray Charles with Diana Krall	1955	Originally written by Cindy Walker and Eddy Arnold, this song tells the story of unspoken love. Ray Charles transformed the country ballad into a soulful jazz masterpiece, and Diana Krall added elegance.
Jazz Voices II	Sweet Potato Pie	Ray Charles with James Taylor	1998	Written by James Taylor and Robert McDill, this song uses sweet potato pie as a metaphor for warmth, comfort, and home.
Jazz Voices II	Space Captain (ft. Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi)	Herbie Hancock	1970	Originally written by Matthew Moore, this song tells a surreal, hopeful story of a space traveler bringing wisdom back to Earth. Herbie Hancock, a jazz-fusion pioneer, constantly reinvented the genre. Susan Tedeschi’s voice has been described as a blend of Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin, both of whom she claims as influences.Tedeschi is a member of the Tedeschi Trucks Band, a conglomeration of her band, her husband Derek Trucks’ band, and other musicians. They have two children: Charles Kahlil Trucks (March 2002) named for saxophonist Charlie Parker, guitarist Charlie Christian, and author Kahlil Gibran; and Sophia Naima Trucks (2004), who takes her middle name from the ballad composed by John Coltrane, in honor of his first wife.
Jazz Voices II	My Favorite Things (ft. Anita Baker)	Cyrus Chestnut	1959	Originally written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for The Sound of Music, this song finds joy in life’s little pleasures. Chestnut’s version merges gospel, swing, and blues with Baker’s soulful vocals. Anita Denise Baker (Born January 26, 1958 in Toledo, Ohio, USA.) is an American Eight-time Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum R&B/Soul Singer and Songwriter, renowned for her soaring alto vocal range.
Jazz Voices II	Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise	Dianne Reeves	1928	Originally composed by Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II, this song compares love’s awakening to a sunrise. Dianne Reeves, a Grammy-winning jazz vocalist, infused it with powerful improvisation. Dianne Reeves uncle is bassist Charles Burrell, and her cousin is George Duke.
Jazz Voices II	On the Sunny Side of the Street	Roberta Gambarini	2006	“On the Sunny Side of the Street” is a 1930 jazz standard composed by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, encouraging optimism. Roberta Gambarini (born Turin, Italy), an Italian technically brilliant modern jazz singer based in the USA, brought a fresh elegance to this classic.
Jazz Voices II	Stormy Blues (ft. B.B. King)	Billie Holiday	1954	Originally written by Billie Holiday, this slow blues lament describes enduring emotional pain after a love affair ends. B.B. King’s guitar work added extra depth to this version.
Jazz Voices II	The Good Life	Shirley Horn	1962	Originally written by Sacha Distel and Jack Reardon, this song suggests that wealth and luxury are meaningless without love. Shirley Horn’s version is one of the most intimate interpretations of the song. Shirley Valerie Horn was an American jazz singer and pianist (born May 1, 1934, Washington, D.C.)
Jazz Voices II	Fever	Peggy Lee	1956	Originally written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, Peggy Lee’s sultry version added new lyrics and a minimalist arrangement, turning it into a jazz classic about passion and desire. Peggy Lee, born Norma Deloris Egstrom on May 26, 1920 in Jamestown, North DakotaIn 1986, became the first female recipient of the Songwriters Guild of America’s Aggie and President Awards, the former honoring Lee for her composing skills, the latter for her support of young, emerging songwriters. ASCAP’s Pied Piper Award followed in 1990, and her induction into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame came in 1999.
temptation	Mamma Mia	ABBA	1975	Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson, this song captures the push-and-pull of a troubled relationship, with the singer repeatedly taking back their lover. The title was inspired by an Italian expression of exasperation. ABBA, one of the best-selling groups of all time, defined ’70s pop with their signature harmonies and catchy melodies.
temptation	Uptown Funk (ft. Bruno Mars)	Mark Ronson	2014	“Uptown Funk” is a song by British record producer Mark Ronson featuring American singer Bruno Mars (born Peter Gene Hernandez on October 8, 1985 in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.). A modern funk anthem inspired by the sounds of Prince, The Gap Band, and James Brown. Written by Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars, Jeff Bhasker, and others, it celebrates confidence, swag, and the high-energy life of the city. Mark Ronson is a Grammy-winning producer known for his retro-modern sound, while Bruno Mars blends R&B, funk, and pop with show-stopping performances.
temptation	That Girl (ft. Shaggy)	Maxi Priest	1996	“That Girl” is a song by English reggae singer Maxi Priest featuring Jamaican reggae musician Shaggy. This reggae-infused love song, written by Maxi Priest, Shaggy, and Robert Livingston, describes an irresistible woman who leaves a lasting impression. Maxi Priest is a British reggae singer known for his smooth “lover’s rock” style, and Shaggy is a dancehall icon famous for his playful delivery and crossover hits. The song samples the 1962 instrumental “Green Onions” by Booker T. & the M.G.’s.
temptation	Girlie Girlie	Sophia George	1985	Written by Sangie Davis, this reggae classic humorously calls out a woman juggling multiple boyfriends. Sophia George, a Jamaican singer, became a one-hit wonder with this track, which remains a dancehall favorite.
temptation	C’Est la Vie Lily	Joe Dassin	1970	This is the French adaptation, by Pierre Delanoë, of the song “Marie” originally recorded by Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys, written by Bob Smith and Charlie Chin. This French chanson is reflecting on life’s unpredictability. Dassin, an American-born French singer, was famous for his rich baritone and poetic, storytelling lyrics.
temptation	That Girl	Stevie Wonder	1981	Written by Stevie Wonder, this smooth R&B track tells the story of longing for someone who belongs to another. Wonder, a musical genius, redefined R&B, funk, and soul with his visionary songwriting and innovative use of synthesizers.
temptation	Girl You Know It’s True	Milli Vanilli	1988	Originally recorded by Numarx, this song became a massive hit with Milli Vanilli’s version—before they were exposed for lip-syncing. Milli Vanilli, a German-French duo, became infamous for one of the biggest scandals in pop history.
temptation	A Love Bizarre (Part I)	Sheila E.	1985	Written by Prince and Sheila E., this funk song describes a unique, unpredictable romance. Sheila E., a world-class percussionist, was mentored by Prince and became one of the most respected female drummers in music history.
temptation	I Kissed A Girl	Katy Perry	2008	Written by Katy Perry, Max Martin, Lukasz Gottwald (Dr. Luke), and others, this song playfully explores the thrill of stepping outside relationship norms, sparking both controversy and praise. Perry (born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson on October 25, 1984) skyrocketed to fame with her quirky style, powerful vocals, and chart-topping pop anthems. The song was partially inspired by Scarlett Johansson.
temptation	Funhouse	P!nk	2009	A metaphor for a once-exciting relationship turning toxic, written by P!nk, Tony Kanal, and Jimmy Harry. P!nk (born Alecia Beth Moore on September 8, 1979 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA) is known for her powerhouse vocals, rebellious attitude, and fearless performances.
temptation	House of Fun	Madness	1982	A comedic coming-of-age song about an awkward teenager trying to buy condoms, written by Mike Barson and Lee Thompson. Madness, pioneers of the ska revival, mixed humor and social commentary into their music.
temptation	Let Me Entertain You	Robbie Williams	1997	Inspired by rock ‘n’ roll excess, this song was written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambersto serve as an electrifying opening anthem for his concerts. Williams, a former boy-band star turned solo icon, is known for his charismatic stage presence and cheeky personality.
temptation	Blinded by the Light	Manfred Mann’s Earth Band	1976	Originally written by Bruce Springsteen, this song is filled with surreal imagery and poetic storytelling. Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, a British progressive rock group, made it a huge hit with their spacey, synth-driven arrangement.
temptation	My Coo Ca Choo	Alvin Stardust	1973	A rockabilly-style track about a mysterious woman, written by Peter Shelley. Alvin Stardust (born Bernard William Jewry on 27 September 1942 London, United Kingdom and died on 23 October 2014 in Ifold, West Sussex, UK) was a glam rock artist known for his leather-clad, brooding persona.
temptation	Let’s Go To Bed	The Cure	1982	A tongue-in-cheek anti-love song that marked The Cure’s shift toward pop, written by Robert Smith and Lol Tolhurst. The Cure, pioneers of post-punk and goth rock, became one of the most influential alternative bands.
temptation	Love Is The Drug	Roxy Music	1975	Written by Bryan Ferry and Andy Mackay, this song compares the rush of love to an addiction. Roxy Music, led by Ferry’s suave vocals, helped define art-rock and glam rock. Nile Rodgers of Chic has stated that the John Gustafson’s bassline, praised as a “memorable groove”, was a major influence on his band Chic’s song, “Good Times”.
temptation	Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)	Christopher Cross	1981	Written for the film Arthur, this song captures the unpredictable magic of love, written by Christopher Cross, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen. Cross, known for his smooth voice and yacht rock sound, won five Grammys for his debut album.
temptation	Girl	The Beatles	1965	Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, this introspective ballad explores the complexities of love and attraction. The Beatles, the most influential band in history, revolutionized music with their innovative songwriting and cultural impact.
temptation	The Girl From Ipanema	João Gilberto	1964	Originally written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, this bossa nova classic describes an unattainable beauty. João Gilberto, the father of bossa nova, introduced Brazilian jazz to the world. The vocals are from Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto (born Astrud Evangelina Weinert born on March 30, 1940, in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil and died on June 5, 2023 in Philadelphia, USA) performing alongside Stan Getz and João Gilberto (whom she was married to at that time).
temptation	Into Temptation	Crowded House	1988	Written by Neil Finn, this haunting song explores the allure of infidelity. Crowded House, a New Zealand-Australian band, is known for their melancholic, beautifully crafted pop songs. Crowded House are a rock band formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1985 but based in Auckland, New Zealand, since 1988. Originally active from 1985 to 1996. The founding members were New Zealander Neil Finn (vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter) and Australians Paul Hester (drums) and Nick Seymour (bass). Later band members included Neil Finn’s brother Tim Finn, Peter Jones and Americans Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod.
temptation	Message To My Girl	Split Enz	1983	A heartfelt declaration of love, written by Neil Finn. Split Enz, a New Zealand band blending art rock and new wave, helped launch Finn’s successful career. They were founded in late 1972 as “Split Ends” by Tim Finn and Phil Judd and changed the band name to Split Enz at the beginning of 1974.
temptation	Young Girl	Gary Puckett & The Union Gap	1968	Written by Jerry Fuller, this song tells the story of a man realizing too late that he has fallen for someone too young, leading to an internal moral conflict. Puckett’s deep, dramatic voice made him a standout in ‘60s pop. Gary Puckett & The Union Gap was an American Pop Band, formed 1967 in San Diego, California.
temptation	I Can’t Let Maggie Go	Honeybus	1968	Written by Pete Dello, this song’s dreamy, baroque-pop sound contrasts its theme of struggling to move on from lost love. Honeybus was a short-lived but influential band from London, UK, founded in 1967 and disbanded in 1973, known for their melodic, orchestral approach to pop.
Jazz II	The Cat (From “Joy House”)	Jimmy Smith	1964	Written by Lalo Schifrin as part of the score for the French film Joy House, this track blends jazz and cinematic drama, driven by Smith’s iconic Hammond B-3 organ. Jimmy Smith revolutionized jazz organ, blending blues, bebop, and funk into an electrifying sound.
Jazz II	For Dancers Only	The Clark Terry Spacement	1958	Originally written for Jimmie Lunceford’s Orchestra, this swinging dance tune was revived by Clark Terry, known for his playful, energetic trumpet style. Clark Terry, a legendary trumpeter and mentor to countless musicians, was a pioneer of jazz education and a key figure in both swing and bebop.
Jazz II	In Crowd	The Ramsey Lewis Trio	1965	A jazz interpretation of Dobie Gray’s hit, this song became an anthem for stylish socialites. Ramsey Lewis, a three-time Grammy-winning pianist, blended jazz, R&B, and pop, bringing instrumental music into the mainstream. Ramsey Lewis has been an iconic leader in the contemporary jazz movement for over 50 years with an unforgettable sound and outgoing personality that has allowed him to crossover to the pop and R&B charts.
Jazz II	Tic Toc Pollywoc	Pérez Prado	1957	A high-energy mambo piece showcasing Prado’s signature “dilo” (grunting) vocals and explosive brass. Pérez Prado, the “King of Mambo,” popularized the Latin dance craze in the 1950s with his rhythmic, big-band arrangements.
Jazz II	Frasquita Serenade	Don Byron	1996	A modern jazz take on Franz Lehár’s operetta melody, blending classical influences with swing. Don Byron, a genre-blurring clarinetist and composer, is known for reinterpreting classical, jazz, and klezmer music.
Jazz II	Alexander’s Ragtime Band	Irving Berlin	1911	Written by Irving Berlin, this song celebrates the lively energy of ragtime music. Berlin, one of America’s greatest songwriters, wrote over 1,500 songs, including “White Christmas” and “God Bless America.”
Jazz II	Undecided	Bobby Hackett & Vic Dickenson	1938	A swinging jazz standard about love’s uncertainty, originally recorded by John Kirby’s Sextet. Bobby Hackett, a lyrical cornetist, and Vic Dickenson, a soulful trombonist, were masters of the classic jazz sound.
Jazz II	Buddy Bolden Stomp (ft. Olivier Franc)	Daniel-Sidney Bechet Quintet	1996	A tribute to Buddy Bolden, the early jazz pioneer, featuring traditional New Orleans-style improvisation. Daniel-Sidney Bechet, the son of legendary saxophonist Sidney Bechet, continued his father’s legacy in jazz. Olivier Franc is a French soprano sax player.
Jazz II	Wade in the Water	Ramsey Lewis Trio	1966	A jazz adaptation of a traditional gospel song, infused with bluesy grooves. Ramsey Lewis’s version became a hit, bridging jazz and spiritual music.
Jazz II	Midnight In Moscow	Kenny Ball	1961	Originally a Russian folk song, this version turned it into a Dixieland jazz hit. Kenny Ball, a British trumpeter, helped lead the UK’s traditional jazz revival in the 1960s.
Jazz II	Opus One (ft. Gene Krupa)	Anita O’Day	1959	Originally composed by Sy Oliver for the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, this song became a big-band favorite. Anita O’Day, known as the “Jezebel of Jazz,” was a bold and innovative vocalist who brought swing to new heights.
Jazz II	Sent For You Yesterday	Big Al Dupree	1988	A bluesy jazz classic first popularized by Count Basie, featuring a laid-back yet swinging feel. Big Al Dupree, a Texas-based blues and jazz pianist, kept the Basie sound alive.
Jazz II	Jumpin’ at the Woodside	Count Basie	1938	A fast-paced swing classic named after the Woodside Hotel in Harlem, where many jazz musicians stayed. Basie, . Count Basie (born Aug. 21, 1904, Red Bank, NJ, USA – died Apr. 26, 1984, Hollywood, FL, USA), he king of swing piano, was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer, who led one of the greatest big bands of all time.
Jazz II	Filthy McNasty	Horace Silver Quintet	1961	Written by Horace Silver, this funky, hard bop tune reflects his bluesy, playful piano style. Silver, a key architect of soul jazz, brought humour and groove to the jazz scene. Horace Silver was an American jazz pianist, composer and bandleader (born September 2, 1928, in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA; died June 18, 2014 (age 85), in New Rochelle, New York, USA) and son of John Tavares Silver (Silva), of Portuguese descent, born in the Cape Verde Islands, and Gertrude Silver, of New Canaan, Connecticut.
Jazz II	Blue Monk	Thelonious Monk	1954	A bluesy composition featuring Monk’s signature angular, offbeat phrasing. Thelonious Sphere Monk (born on 10 October 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA and died on 17 February 1982 in Weehawken, New Jersey, USA) was an American jazz pianist and composer and a bebop pioneer, known for his eccentric personality and genius-level piano playing.
Jazz II	Scrapple From The Apple	Dancing Mood	1947	A bebop masterpiece written by Charlie Parker, blending the chord changes of “Honeysuckle Rose” and “I Got Rhythm.” Dancing Mood, a Latin jazz group, infused it with new energy.
Jazz II	Willow Weep For Me	Dexter Gordon	1962	A melancholic ballad about lost love, originally written by Ann Ronell in 1932. Dexter Gordon ((1923-1990)), a towering figure in jazz saxophone, was known for his smooth, expressive sound. He is widely regarded as the first musician to translate the language of mid-20th century modern jazz – a.k.a. “bebop” to the tenor saxophone.
Jazz II	Thanks for the Misery	Coleman Hawkins	1945	A bluesy tune reflecting on life’s ups and downs. Coleman Hawkins, “The Father of the Tenor Saxophone in Jazz” transformed the instrument into a serious jazz voice. Also known as Bean or Hawk, Coleman Hawkins started piano lessons when he was five. He switched to the cello at the age of seven and two years later Coleman began to work on the tenor saxophone, turning professional by the age of 12. In August 1923, he began to record with Fletcher Henderson, whose orchestra also featured Louis Armstrong at this time.
Jazz II	Remember	Hank Mobley	1960	A hard bop reimagining of Irving Berlin’s melody, showcasing Mobley’s warm tenor sax tone. Mobley, one of the most lyrical saxophonists in jazz, played a key role in Blue Note Records’ golden era.
Jazz II	Milestones	Miles Davis	1958	A landmark modal jazz composition, shifting jazz harmony away from chord changes. Miles Davis (born on 26 May 1926 in Alton, Illinois, USA and died on 28 September 1991 in Santa Monica, California, USA), one of jazz’s greatest innovators, constantly reinvented the genre. Trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and one of the most important figures in jazz music history, and music history in general, Davis adopted a variety of musical directions in a five-decade career that kept him at the forefront of many major stylistic developments in jazz.
Jazz II	Nica’s Tempo	Art Blakey	1956	A tribute to Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, a jazz patron who supported many bebop musicians. Blakey, the ultimate hard bop drummer, mentored generations of jazz greats. Arthur Blakey (Abdullah Ibn Buhaina) (born October 11, 1919, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and died October 16, 1990, New York City, New York, USA) was an American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, best remembered as founder and leader for 35 year of The Jazz Messengers.
Jazz II	Tea for Two (ft. Gene Krupa and His Orchestra)	Anita O’Day	1958	A playful swing rendition of Vincent Youmans’s 1924 composition. Anita O’Day, famous for her rhythmic phrasing, transformed jazz singing into a more instrumental-like art form.
Jazz II	Go Chango (Les Baxter & His Orchestra)	Les Baxter	1959	A wild, percussion-heavy track from Baxter’s “exotica” period, inspired by Afro-Cuban rhythms. Les Baxter, a pioneer of “exotica” music, brought world influences into jazz and lounge music. As American composer and conductor (born March 14, 1922, Mexia, Texas and died January 15, 1996, Newport Beach, California) he wrote over 150 film soundtracks.
Jazz	In The Mood	Glenn Miller	1939	Originally composed by Joe Garland, this swing classic became a WWII anthem of joy and escape under Glenn Miller’s arrangement. Its infectious melody made it a dance floor staple. Glenn Miller, a big band leader and trombonist, defined the swing era before his mysterious disappearance in 1944. His orchestra remains one of the most famous in jazz history.
Jazz	Moanin’ (ft. The Jazz Messengers)	Art Blakey	1958	Written by Bobby Timmons, this soulful hard-bop tune captures the bluesy call-and-response feel, becoming a signature for Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Art Blakey was a powerhouse drummer and bandleader who mentored countless jazz greats through his Jazz Messengers, shaping modern jazz.
Jazz	Cute	Count Basie	1958	Neal Hefti composed this light, playful swing piece, which showcased Count Basie’s tight, sophisticated orchestra. Count Basie was a jazz pianist and bandleader known for his minimalist playing style and the swinging sound of his legendary big band.
Jazz	Petite fleur (feat. Olivier Franc)	Daniel-Sidney Bechet Quintet	1952	Written by Sidney Bechet, this beautiful clarinet melody became a jazz standard, evoking nostalgia and romance. Daniel-Sidney Bechet is the son of jazz pioneer Sidney Bechet, keeping his father’s legacy alive through traditional jazz performances.
Jazz	Comin’ Home Baby	Herbie Mann	1961	A groove-heavy jazz piece that found success in both jazz and R&B circles, highlighting Herbie Mann’s smooth flute playing. Herbie Mann was a pioneering jazz flutist known for fusing jazz with world music, especially Latin and funk influences.
Jazz	Sack O’ Woe	The Cannonball Adderley Quintet	1961	A funky, blues-infused tune by Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, reflecting the soul-jazz movement of the ’60s. Cannonball Adderley was a master of the alto saxophone, blending bebop with soul to create an accessible and vibrant jazz style.
Jazz	Compared to What (Live At Montreux Jazz Festival, June 21 or 22, 1969)	Eddie Harris & Les McCann	1969	Les McCann and Eddie Harris turned this into a politically charged jazz-funk anthem, reflecting the social unrest of the late ’60s. Pianist Les McCann and saxophonist Eddie Harris were known for their genre-blurring jazz, often incorporating funk and R&B.
Jazz	On The Sunny Side Of The Street	Dizzy Gillespie	1930s	A hopeful jazz standard about finding joy, no matter the circumstances, famously performed by many jazz legends. Dizzy Gillespie, a trumpet virtuoso, was a key figure in bebop, known for his lightning-fast playing and signature bent trumpet.
Jazz	Mohawk – Take 6 (Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie Quintet)	Charlie Parker	1950	This bebop tune features dazzling interplay between Parker and Gillespie, two of bebop’s greatest innovators. Charlie Parker revolutionized jazz with bebop, while Dizzy Gillespie added his own energetic, Latin-tinged style to the mix.
Jazz	Les oignons	Sidney Bechet	1949	A lively New Orleans jazz piece, originally by Sidney Bechet, showcasing joyful, danceable rhythms. Sidney Bechet was one of the first great jazz soloists, known for his expressive clarinet and soprano saxophone playing.
Jazz	Take the “A” Train	The Dave Brubeck Quartet	1941	Written by Billy Strayhorn, this swinging ode to Harlem became Duke Ellington’s signature tune. Dave Brubeck, though known for cool jazz, gave this big band standard his own sophisticated spin.
Jazz	Bags Groove (ft. Milt Jackson)	Oscar Peterson	1954	A bluesy number by vibraphonist Milt Jackson, later transformed into a cool jazz classic by Oscar Peterson. Oscar Peterson was a virtuosic jazz pianist, known for his flawless technique and deep swing feel.
Jazz	Dedication To Bessie Smith’s Blues	Archie Shepp – Chet Baker Quintet	1980s	A tribute to legendary blues singer Bessie Smith, blending blues with avant-garde jazz. Archie Shepp was a saxophonist and activist, known for his politically charged jazz and collaborations with free jazz legends.
Jazz	The Sidewinder	Lee Morgan	1964	A funky, blues-driven jazz tune that became a crossover hit, blending soul and hard bop. Lee Morgan was a brilliant trumpet player whose fiery solos helped define hard bop.
Jazz	Seven Steps to Heaven	Miles Davis	1963	A post-bop classic showcasing Davis’ transition to a new, younger quintet and an evolving sound. Miles Davis was a jazz chameleon, constantly reinventing his sound and pushing boundaries across multiple eras.
Jazz	Round Midnight	Thelonious Monk	1944	Thelonious Monk’s melancholic ballad is one of jazz’s most haunting and beloved standards. Monk was a unique jazz pianist and composer, famous for his angular playing and quirky, innovative compositions.
Jazz	Willow Weep For Me	Art Tatum	1941	A melancholic ballad about lost love, turned into a jazz classic by numerous artists. Art Tatum was a nearly blind pianist with an unmatched technique, dazzling audiences with his complex, rapid-fire playing.
Jazz	I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter	Jay McShann	1935	A lighthearted song about writing a love letter to oneself to ease heartbreak. Jay McShann was a bluesy jazz pianist and bandleader, helping to launch the career of Charlie Parker.
Jazz	Cousin Mary	John Coltrane	1960	A soulful blues composition by John Coltrane, dedicated to his cousin. John Coltrane was a pioneering saxophonist, known for his spiritual and deeply innovative approach to jazz.
Jazz	Bird of Paradise	Charlie Parker	1947	Inspired by “All the Things You Are,” this tune highlights Parker’s bebop mastery. Charlie Parker, aka “Bird,” was one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, a pioneer of bebop.
Jazz	This I Dig Of You	Hank Mobley	1960	A lively hard-bop piece that showcases Mobley’s smooth and swinging tenor sax. Hank Mobley was a tenor saxophonist known for his elegant phrasing and warm tone in the hard bop scene.
Jazz	Early Morning Mood	Chet Baker	1960s	A moody, introspective piece that showcases Chet Baker’s signature cool-jazz trumpet sound. Chet Baker was a jazz trumpeter and vocalist known for his laid-back, melodic style and tragic life story.
dancefloor chronicles	Get The Party Started	P!nk	2001	Written by Linda Perry, this energetic anthem was meant to capture the excitement of getting ready for a night out, filled with confidence and attitude.
dancefloor chronicles	The Ballroom Blitz	Sweet	1973	Written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, this glam rock hit was inspired by a chaotic gig where the band was bombarded with bottles on stage. It’s all about wild energy and rebellious fun.
dancefloor chronicles	Let’s Go Dancin’ (Ooh La, La, La)	Kool & The Gang	1982	Written by Ronald Bell and Kool & The Gang, this song celebrates the joy of dancing, particularly drawing on Caribbean influences to create a feel-good party atmosphere.
dancefloor chronicles	Let’s Dance	Chris Rea	1987	Written by Chris Rea, this song is a romantic invitation to escape worries and simply enjoy the moment through dance.
dancefloor chronicles	Twist & Shout	The Isley Brothers	1962	The Top Notes, an American R&B vocal group, recorded “Twist and Shout” at the Atlantic Studios on February 23, 1961. The song written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns (later credited as “Bert Russell”). became a hit when it was reworked by the Isley Brothers for their album Twist & Shout in 1962.
dancefloor chronicles	Dance Little Sister	Terence Trent D’Arby	1987	Written by Terence Trent D’Arby, this song is a call to let loose and embrace the rhythm of life, encouraging uninhibited self-expression.
dancefloor chronicles	Swinging On a Star(Cover)	Big Dee Irwin & Little Eva	1963	Originally written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke, this song humorously suggests that hard work is better than laziness, using animals as metaphors for bad behavior. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1944 film Going My Way. DiFosco “Dee” T. Ervin Jr. (July 6, 1932 – August 27, 1995), better known as Big Dee Irwin, was an American R&B singer and songwriter. Eva Narcissus Boyd (June 29, 1943 – April 10, 2003), known by the stage name of Little Eva, was an American singer, well known for her 1962 hit “The Loco-Motion”.
dancefloor chronicles	Swing Your Daddy	Jim Gilstrap	1975	Written by Kenny Nolan, this funky disco track is about getting into the groove and enjoying life through dance.
dancefloor chronicles	Get Dancin’	Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes	1974	“Get Dancin'” is a song written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan and performed by Disco-Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes, led by Monti Rock III ((born Joseph Montanez, Jr. May 29, 1942 in The Bronx, New York City).
dancefloor chronicles	Jumpin’ Jack Flash	The Rolling Stones	1968	Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, this song represents overcoming adversity, with the title inspired by Richards’ gardener, Jack Dyer, whose heavy footsteps were compared to “Jumpin’ Jack.”
dancefloor chronicles	Cum On Feel The Noize	Slade	1973	Written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, this rock anthem was inspired by the energy of Slade’s live audiences, celebrating the power of music and wild crowds.
dancefloor chronicles	Dancing In the City	Marshall Hain	1978	Written by Julian Marshall and Kit Hain, this song captures the magical feeling of summer nights, music, and dancing under the stars. Marshall Hain were a British pop-rock duo comprised keyboard player Julian Marshall and vocalist and bass player Kit Hain (Kit Hain (born Keturah V Hain, 15 December 1952).
dancefloor chronicles	I Don’t Wanna Dance	Eddy Grant	1982	Written by Eddy Grant, this song, despite its upbeat reggae melody, is about avoiding painful reminders of lost love.
dancefloor chronicles	I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’	Scissor Sisters	2006	Written by Jake Shears, Babydaddy, and Elton John, this song is about resisting the pressure to party when you’re just not in the mood.
dancefloor chronicles	Love Me Baby	Sheila & The Black Devotion	1977	“Love Me Baby” was released anonymously in May 1977 in France. Sheila and B. Devotion (also credited as “Sheila B. Devotion”, “Sheila and the Black Devotion” or “S.B. Devotion”) was a disco group fronted by French singer Sheila (born Annie Chancel) between 1977 and 1980.
dancefloor chronicles	Lady (Hear Me Tonight)	Modjo	2000	Written by Romain Tranchart and Yann Destagnol, this house classic tells a story of romantic obsession and longing. It features a guitar sample of the 1982 single “Soup for One” performed by Chic, as written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards.
dancefloor chronicles	Relight My Fire	Dan Hartman	1979	Written by Dan Hartman, this disco anthem is about reigniting passion, whether in love or life.
dancefloor chronicles	I Love You	Yello	1983	Written by Dieter Meier and Boris Blank, this song blends electronic beats with surreal lyrics about obsession and devotion. Yello is a Swiss electronic music band, which formed in Zürich in 1979.
dancefloor chronicles	Your Love (Remix)	Lime	1981	“Your Love” is a song by the Canadian, Montreal-based vocal group Lime, written by Denis and Denyse LePage. The song is a high-energy synth-driven track about passionate, intense love.
dancefloor chronicles	Voulez-Vous	ABBA	1979	Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, this song captures the excitement and uncertainty of romantic encounters on a night out.
dancefloor chronicles	D.I.S.C.O.	Ottawan	1979	Written by Daniel Vangarde and Jean Kluger, this disco track playfully spells out words describing an irresistible woman. Ottawan first members were male singer Patrick Jean-Baptiste, who was originally from Guadeloupe, and female singer Annette Eltice.
dancefloor chronicles	That’s The Way (I Like It)	KC And The Sunshine Band	1975	“That’s the Way (I Like It)” is a song by American disco and funk band KC and the Sunshine Band, written by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch. It is a cheeky, upbeat celebration of love, passion, and attraction.
dancefloor chronicles	Wish I Didn’t Miss You (Dance Remix)	Angie Stone	2002	Written by Angie Stone, Andrea Martin, and Ivan Matias, this song is about lingering feelings after a breakup, with the dance remix adding an upbeat twist to the emotional lyrics. Angela Laverne Stone (née Brown; December 18, 1961 – March 1, 2025) was an American singer-songwriter, rapper, actress, and record producer. Stone was killed in a car accident, at the age of 63, on March 1, 2025, returning from a Mardi Gras concert in Mobile, Alabama.
school days	(Remember the Days of) The Old School Yard	Cat Stevens	1977	Cat Stevens (later known as Yusuf Islam) wrote this nostalgic track about childhood memories, youthful innocence, and the simple joys of school days. A folk-rock icon of the ’70s, Stevens is known for introspective songwriting and hits like Wild World and Father and Son. This song captures the bittersweet feeling of growing up and looking back at carefree schoolyard days.
school days	The Way Young Lovers Do	Van Morrison	1968	Van Morrison, the legendary Northern Irish singer-songwriter, crafted this jazzy tune about the intensity and excitement of young love. Known for his soulful voice and poetic lyrics (Moondance, Brown Eyed Girl), Morrison brings a fast-paced, stream-of-consciousness style to this song, capturing the whirlwind emotions of romance in youth.
school days	Getting Better	The Beatles	1967	Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote this upbeat track about personal growth and overcoming past struggles. Featured on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, it reflects McCartney’s optimism and Lennon’s more cynical take on life. The Beatles, of course, are one of the most influential bands in history, and this song embodies their signature blend of wit, melody, and introspection.
school days	Do You Wanna Touch Me	Gary Glitter	1973	Written by glam rock artist Gary Glitter and his producer Mike Leander, this song is about desire and physical attraction, typical of the high-energy rock anthems of the ’70s. Glitter was a prominent figure in glam rock, though his legacy is overshadowed by later controversies. The song remains a catchy, rebellious anthem despite its associations.
school days	Whatever You Want	Status Quo	1979	Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt of Status Quo crafted this hard-rocking tune about chasing dreams and getting what you want—though at what cost? The British boogie rock legends became famous for their driving riffs and infectious energy, making this one of their most recognizable anthems.
school days	I Want You To Want Me (Live)	Cheap Trick	1979	Originally a studio track, I Want You To Want Me became a massive hit thanks to Cheap Trick’s live version on At Budokan. This power-pop classic expresses the universal longing for reciprocated love. The Illinois-based band mastered the art of mixing pop hooks with rock energy, earning them a devoted fan base.
school days	Rock You Like A Hurricane	Scorpions	1984	This iconic ’80s rock anthem from German metal band Scorpions is about passion, desire, and explosive energy. With its electrifying guitar riffs, the song became a defining track of hard rock and heavy metal, showcasing the band’s signature sound. Scorpions are a German hard rock band formed in Hanover in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker.[3] The longest-running and most successful line-up of the band included Schenker, Klaus Meine (vocals), Matthias Jabs (lead guitar), Francis Buchholz (bass), and Herman Rarebell (drums), and lasted from 1978 to 1992.
school days	Sweet Child O’ Mine	Guns n’ Roses	1987	Written by Axl Rose about his then-girlfriend Erin Everly (daughter of Don Everly, of the Everly Brothers, and Venetia Stevenson), this song became one of the most famous rock ballads ever. Rose declared that Lynyrd Skynyrd served as an inspiration “to make sure that we’d got that heartfelt feeling.” With Slash’s legendary guitar riff and Axl’s soaring vocals, it captures the deep emotions of love, nostalgia, and devotion. Guns N’ Roses ruled the late ’80s and early ’90s rock scene with their raw energy and attitude.
school days	Fight for Your Right	The Beastie Boys	1986	Originally meant as a parody of party anthems, this track ironically became one of the biggest party anthems ever. Beastie Boys, pioneers of hip-hop-meets-punk energy, crafted this rebellious ode to teenage defiance, complete with raucous guitars and anthemic chants. The Beastie Boys were an American hip hop and rap rock group formed in New York City in 1979. They were composed of Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz (vocals, guitar), Adam “MCA” Yauch (vocals, bass), and Michael “Mike D” Diamond (vocals, drums).
school days	School’s Out	Alice Cooper	1972	Alice Cooper wrote this rock classic as the ultimate celebration of the last day of school. With its rebellious attitude and dramatic flair, it became the ultimate teen anthem. Cooper, the “Godfather of Shock Rock,” is known for his theatrical performances and dark, twisted humour. Some radio stations banned the song from their airwaves, stating that the song gave the students an impression of rebelliousness against childhood education.
school days	Girls Talk	Dave Edmunds	1979	Written by Elvis Costello and performed by Welsh musician Dave Edmunds, this song is a witty take on gossip and how people’s words can shape reputations. Edmunds, known for his rockabilly-influenced style, gives the song a classic rock edge.
school days	Sunday Girl	Blondie	1978	Inspired by the heartbreak of a lost love, this song from Blondie’s Parallel Lines album is an upbeat yet melancholic pop tune. Blondie, fronted by the charismatic Debbie Harry, blended rock, punk, and new wave into a distinctive sound that helped define the late ’70s and early ’80s. “Sunday Girl” was written solely by Blondie guitarist Chris Stein for Harry’s cat, who was named Sunday Man and had ran away.
school days	Kids in America	Kim Wilde	1981	A new wave anthem about youth, energy, and city life, this track propelled Kim Wilde to international fame in the early ’80s. The song, written by her father and brother, perfectly captures the restless spirit of young people eager for adventure.
school days	Don’t Stand So Close To Me	The Police	1980	Written by Sting, this song explores the tension of a student-teacher relationship. With a mix of reggae-infused rock and haunting lyrics, The Police, one of the most successful bands of the late ’70s and early ’80s, turn an uncomfortable subject into a chart-topping hit. Before joining the Police, Sting had worked as an English teacher.
school days	School	Supertramp	1974	A deep-cut classic from Supertramp, this song critiques the education system and how it stifles creativity. The British progressive rock band became known for their thought-provoking lyrics and intricate arrangements.
school days	Highschool Lover	Air	1999	French electronic duo Air composed this dreamy track for the Virgin Suicides soundtrack. Known for their ethereal and cinematic sound, Air perfectly captures the hazy nostalgia of young romance. Air is a French music duo from Versailles, consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel.
school days	Comfortably Numb	Pink Floyd	1979	One of Pink Floyd’s most iconic songs, this track from The Wall depicts themes of isolation and emotional numbness. With David Gilmour’s legendary guitar solo and Roger Waters’ introspective lyrics, it remains a masterpiece of progressive rock. The music was composed by the band’s guitarist, David Gilmour while the lyrics were written by the bassist, Roger Waters, who recalled his experience of being injected with tranquillisers before a performance in 1977.
school days	We’re Going To Be Friends	The White Stripes	2002	A sweet and simple acoustic tune, this song nostalgically recalls childhood friendships and innocence. The White Stripes, led by Jack White, revitalized garage rock in the early 2000s with their raw, minimalist sound. Suzy Lee”, who is mentioned in the song, makes recurring appearances in White Stripes’ discography, including in their eponymous album, which includes the song “Suzy Lee”, as well as on Get Behind Me Satan,which is dedicated to Suzy Lee, “Wherever she may be…”
school days	Mijn schoolgaande jeugd	Raymond van het Groenewoud	1975	A reflective track about school days, Belgian singer-songwriter Raymond van het Groenewoud blends humor and nostalgia in his music. Known for his poetic lyrics and versatility, he remains a respected figure in Dutch-language pop music. Raymond van het Groenewoud was born in Schaerbeek on 14 February 1950 of Dutch descent. He is the son of Joseph van het Groenewoud (better known as Belgian orchestra leader Nico Gomez).
school days	Only Yesterday	The Carpenters	1975	Written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis, this song is about longing and hope after heartbreak. The Carpenters, led by Karen Carpenter’s warm, melancholic voice, became one of the most successful soft rock duos of all time. Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of sister Karen, and brother Richard Carpenter.
school days	Como Dos Niños	Collage	1984	This Latin pop ballad expresses the innocence and purity of young love. Collage, known for their romantic and melodic style, captures a timeless sentiment of love and nostalgia. Como Dos Niños is the Spanish version of their Italian song Due Ragazzi Nel Sole. Collage (also spelled as I Collage) are an Italian pop music group formed in 1971 in Olbia, Sardinia, as the result of the merging of two previous groups, MAL P2 and The Angels. The line-up was composed of Line-up: Davide Moscatiello, Mario Chessa, Nicolino D’Alessio, Piero Fazzi and Salvatore Fazzi.
school days	The Day Brings	Brad	1997	A soulful track about new beginnings, The Day Brings showcases Brad’s alternative rock style. Led by Shawn Smith, the band gained a cult following for their heartfelt and introspective songwriting. Brad was an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1992. The line-up was composed of vocalist Shawn Smith, guitarist Stone Gossard, bassist Jeremy Toback, and drummer Regan Hagar.
school days	With A Little Help From My Friends	Joe Cocker	1969	A bluesy, soulful cover of The Beatles’ classic, Joe Cocker’s version became legendary thanks to his passionate vocal delivery. Cocker was known for his raw, emotional interpretations of songs, making this version one of the greatest covers of all time. The recording features lead guitar from Jimmy Page, drumming by B. J. Wilson, backing vocals from British vocal sisters duo Sue and Sunny, and Tommy Eyre on organ.
school days	High School	Tiga	2006	This electronic track captures the youthful, rebellious energy of high school days. Tiga (Tiga James Sontag), a Canadian DJ and producer based in Montreal, is known for his innovative and stylish take on electronic dance music.
mistaken	Nada Fue Un Error (con Paulina Rubio Y Julieta Venegas)	Coti	2005	Nada Fue Un Error (Nothing was a mistake) was written by Coti Sorokin. Inspired by embracing love’s chaos, it reframes past relationships as meaningful, not mistakes. Coti is an Argentine singer-songwriter known for crafting Latin pop hits with emotional depth. Paulina Rubio is a Mexican singer, songwriter and television personality. Julieta Venegas is a Mexican singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer who specializes in pop-rock-indie music in Spanish. Time described her as “the Frida Kahlo of rock ‘n’ roll.”
mistaken	No dudaría	Antonio Flores	1988	No dudaría (I would not hesitate) was written by Antonio Flores. A confession of past violence and a wish for peace and redemption. Flores, a talented but troubled Spanish singer, blended rock and flamenco with poetic sensitivity.
mistaken	Bendita Tu Luz	Maná	2006	Bendita Tu Luz (Blessed is your light) was written by Fher Olvera. A romantic ballad that expresses gratitude for love at first sight. Maná, a Mexican rock band, is known for mixing pop-rock with Latin roots and social themes.
mistaken	Me Olvidé De Vivir	Julio Iglesias	1978	Me Olvidé De Vivir (I forgot to live) was written by Pierre Billon & Jacques Revaux (Spanish lyrics by Iglesias). A melancholic reflection on missing out on life while chasing fame. Julio Iglesias is a global pop icon, known for suave delivery and emotional ballads.
mistaken	Electric Feel	MGMT	2007	Written by Andrew VanWyngarden & Ben Goldwasser. A psychedelic electro-pop celebration of sensuality and energy. MGMT is a New York-based duo blending indie pop, synth, and surreal lyrics.
mistaken	There Is A Light That Never Goes Out	The Smiths	1986	Written by Morrissey & Johnny Marr. A romantic and fatalistic anthem about love and the desire to escape. The Smiths were indie icons whose lyrical wit and jangly guitars shaped alternative rock.
mistaken	It’s a Mistake	Men at Work	1983	Written by Colin Hay. A Cold War-era satire warning of accidental military conflict. Men at Work brought Australian rock to global audiences with humor and catchy hooks.
mistaken	Ironic	Alanis Morissette	1995	Written by Alanis Morissette & Glen Ballard. A clever take on life’s strange twists (not always ironic, but definitely relatable). Alanis became the voice of 1990s angst with raw emotion and sharp lyrics.
mistaken	Ain’t Talkin’	Bob Dylan	2006	Written by Bob Dylan. A dark, wandering monologue about moral struggle, revenge, and the soul’s journey. Dylan, a Nobel laureate, shaped modern songwriting with poetic, often cryptic lyrics.
mistaken	Some Misunderstanding	Soulsavers	2012	Written by Gene Clark (original, covered by Soulsavers). A slow-burning spiritual plea for grace and connection. Soulsavers are a UK production duo who blend gospel, rock, and electronica with brooding depth.
mistaken	My Mistakes Were Made for You	The Last Shadow Puppets	2008	Written by Alex Turner & Miles Kane. A noir-pop ballad full of romantic regret and grand orchestration. The Last Shadow Puppets are a moody side project of Turner (Arctic Monkeys) and Kane.
mistaken	Things That I Should Have Done	Jasper Steverlinck	2018	Written by Jasper Steverlinck. A vulnerable confession of emotional neglect and regret. Steverlinck is a Belgian singer with an ethereal voice and intimate songwriting style.
mistaken	Lie to Me	Chris Isaak	1989	Written by Chris Isaak. A bittersweet plea to be comforted by lies after heartbreak. Isaak blends rockabilly and crooner pop with a cinematic, vintage style.
mistaken	Unfaithful	Rihanna	2006	Written by Shaffer “Ne-Yo” Smith. A rare pop song sung from the perspective of the guilty cheater. Rihanna, a Barbadian superstar, mixes vulnerability with edgy confidence across genres.
mistaken	Just Give Me a Reason ( ft. Nate Ruess)	P!nk	2013	Written by P!nk, Nate Ruess & Jeff Bhasker. A duet exploring whether love is truly broken or just misunderstood. P!nk (born Alecia Moore) is known for blending raw emotional power with powerhouse vocals. The song features Nate Ruess from the American band Fun.
mistaken	I’m Not So Tough	Ilse DeLange	1998	Written by Jess Leary & Connie Harrington. A ballad about letting your guard down in love. Ilse is a Dutch artist blending American country and pop with heartfelt vulnerability.
mistaken	Look Wot You Dun	Slade	1972	Written by Noddy Holder & Jim Lea. A glam rock anthem about emotional messes in a relationship. Slade were glittery UK rockers known for loud outfits and even louder choruses.
mistaken	I Changed My Mind	Quannum	1999	Written by Lyrics Born & Chief Xcel. A funky reinvention of a breakup track, turning heartache into groove. Quannum Projects is a hip-hop collective known for intelligent, genre-blending innovation. This version is a Rattlesnake Mix featuring Lyrics Born & Poets of Rhythm.
mistaken	Am I Wrong (ft. ScHoolboy Q)	Anderson .Paak	2016	Written by Anderson .Paak & ScHoolboy Q. A funky party track questioning emotional expectations. Paak fuses soul, funk, and hip-hop with irresistible charisma.
mistaken	Mama Told Me Not To Come	Three Dog Night	1970	Written by Randy Newman. A comical take on a young man overwhelmed by wild parties. Three Dog Night brought Newman’s satirical writing to life with bold harmonies and rock flair.
mistaken	Spirits in the Material World	The Police	1981	Written by Sting. A philosophical rock-reggae critique of politics and materialism. The Police, led by Sting, blended new wave, punk, and reggae into slick, cerebral hits.
misfits	Rebel Rebel	David Bowie	1974	Written by David Bowie. A glam rock anthem about gender fluidity and teenage rebellion. Bowie wrote it as a farewell to the glam era and a nod to fans embracing non-conformity. David Bowie was a groundbreaking British artist known for constant reinvention, blending rock, pop, and theatre with provocative style and substance.
misfits	Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood	Santa Esmeralda	1977	Written by Bennie Benjamin, Horace Ott and Sol Marcus for American singer-songwriter and pianist Nina Simone, who recorded the first version in 1964. Composer and arranger Horace Ott came up with the melody and chorus lyrics after a temporary falling out with his girlfriend (and wife-to-be), Gloria Caldwell. In 1977 the disco group Santa EsmeraldaSanta Esmeralda turned it into a dramatic flamenco-disco hit. Santa Esmeralda was a French-American group known for combining disco with flamenco and Latin styles, gaining fame in the late ’70s.
misfits	S.O.B.	Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats	2015	Written by Nathaniel Rateliff during his recovery from alcoholism, it ironically turns withdrawal symptoms into a hand-clapping, gospel-style party song. Rateliff leads a soul revivalist band with blues, R&B, and Americana influences. Their music often touches on struggle and redemption.
misfits	Blue Room	Kirlian Camera	1999	Written by Angelo Bergamini and Simona Buja, this song is a nostalgic nod to 1980s flexi-disc culture and synth-pop minimalism. Kirlian Camera is an Italian band blending darkwave, synth-pop, and avant-garde electronic music with a cinematic feel. Lead and backing Vocals are by Simona Buja.
misfits	The Bitch Is Back	Elton John	1974	Written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin. This cheeky, defiant anthem of self-empowerment was inspired by Taupin’s description of Elton’s moods. Elton John is a flamboyant British pop icon known for his piano-driven hits, theatrical style, and long collaboration with lyricist Bernie Taupin.
misfits	Enola Gay	Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark	1980	Written by Andy McCluskey. A synth-pop protest song about the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, referencing the plane ‘Enola Gay’. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (commonly known as OMD) is an English electronic band formed in Wirral, Merseyside, in 1978 with Paul Humphreys (synthesizers) and Andy McCluskey (vocals and bass guitar). OMD are pioneers of synth-pop, combining catchy melodies with thoughtful political and historical themes.
misfits	I Could Be Happy	Altered Images	1981	Written by Clare Grogan and bandmates. A bright new wave track about escapism and dreaming of a better life. Altered Images were a Scottish band led by Clare Grogan, known for their quirky charm and post-punk pop sound.
misfits	Hurricane	Bob Dylan	1975	Written by Bob Dylan, Jacques Levy. Written in protest of boxer Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter’s wrongful conviction, it’s a powerful call for justice. Bob Dylan is an iconic American songwriter and Nobel Laureate known for his poetic lyrics and protest anthems.
misfits	I Shot The Sheriff	Bob Marley & The Wailers	1973	Written by Bob Marley. A metaphorical song about justice, oppression, and standing up to authority. Bob Marley was a Jamaican singer and global icon who brought reggae to the world with his messages of peace and resistance.
misfits	Hero	Michael Kiwanuka	2019	Written by Michael Kiwanuka, Inflo. A soulful tribute to civil rights figures and personal resilience. Michael Kiwanuka is a British soul artist known for blending retro sounds with modern themes of identity and struggle.
misfits	Chacun fait (C’qui lui plaît)	Chagrin d’amour	1981	Written by Gérard Presgurvic, Alain Wisniak, this song is a fun, sarcastic view of nightlife and modern freedom, done in early French rap style. Chagrin d’amour pioneered French-speaking hip-hop with this playful hit. Chagrin d’amour was a French pop duo formed 1981 in Paris.
misfits	Allo maman bobo	Alain Souchon	1977	Written by Alain Souchon and composed by Laurent Voulzy, this poetic song is about adult emotional pain with a childlike phrase: “Mom, it hurts.” Souchon is known for bittersweet lyrics wrapped in soft melodies.
misfits	Frankly, Mr. Shankly	The Smiths	1986	Written by Morrissey, Johnny Marr. A satirical resignation letter aimed at dull jobs and mediocrity. The Smiths were indie legends, with sharp wit and jangly guitar melodies.
misfits	Short People	Randy Newman	1977	Written by Randy Newman. A satirical jab at prejudice that many misunderstood as literal. Newman’s trademark is dark humour and social commentary through piano-pop.
misfits	We Can Work It Out	The Beatles	1965	Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Balancing hope and tension, this track navigates relationship compromise with pop perfection. Paul McCartney wrote the song about his girlfriend, an actress named Jane Asher.
misfits	The Diary of Horace Wimp	Electric Light Orchestra	1979	Jeff Lynne wrote this humorous story about a man’s transformation over a week, who has trouble finding a wife because he is shy and always late. Eventually he finds a girl and marries her. ELO combined classical grandeur with rock ‘n’ roll theatrics.
misfits	Mighty Quinn	Manfred Mann’s Earth Band	1968	Written by Bob Dylan. A surreal anthem about a mythical figure who brings change. Manfred Mann turned Dylan’s folk quirk into radio-friendly rock. It was rare for Dylan to let anyone record one of his songs before he did, but “Quinn The Eskimo” was an exception. Dylan might have been inspired by the movie The Savage Innocents where Anthony Quinn plays an Eskimo named Inuk. Manfred Mann is a British group named after their keyboard player.
misfits	Mendocino	Sir Douglas Quintet	1969	Written by Doug Sahm, this groovy, rootsy track praising California freedom and easy love. Sahm’s band fused Tex-Mex, rock, and psychedelia in rebellious spirit. Mendocino is a small vacation town on the coast of California. The Sir Douglas Quintet came on the scene in 1965 and were from Texas, but tried to pass off as Brits to tie in with the British Invasion bands that were huge at the time (thus the band name).
misfits	Wasted Days and Wasted Nights	Freddy Fender	1975	Freddy Fender first recorded “Wasted Days And Wasted Nights” (originally co-written with Wayne Duncan) in 1959, but due to legal troubles and a brief stint in jail, it wasn’t until 1975 that he re-recorded and truly found success with the song. A regretful ballad about love lost and wasted time. Fender mixed Tejano, rock, and soul into heartfelt crossover hits.
misfits	Cortez the Killer	Neil Young	1975	Written by Neil Young, this song is about Hernán Cortez, the Spanish conqueror of the Aztec Empire. A haunting ballad about colonialism and indigenous pain. Young’s work spans folk, grunge, and protest rock with gritty beauty.
misfits	Use Somebody	Kings of Leon	2008	Frontman Caleb Followill wrote this song about being far from home. He came up with the tune by speeding up Joe Cocker’s Oscar-winning theme song “Up Where We Belong.”
misfits	Cool Cat	Queen	1982	Written by Freddie Mercury and John Deacon, this laid-back funk track is about a slick, mellow character. The song originally featured David Bowie on backing vocals and a few lines of spoken word to a rhythm during the middle eight. However, Bowie was unhappy with the results and requested that his vocals be removed days before its parent album was slated to be released. With the exception of the electric piano (which was played by Mercury), all the instruments are played by Deacon, including guitars, synths and a drum machine.
misfits	Hit the Road Jack	Ray Charles	1961	Ray Charles’ good friend Percy Mayfield wrote this bold, rhythmic kiss-off to a no-good lover. The solo backing vocals are by Margie Hendricks, who was one of Ray’s backup singers, The Raelettes. Ray Charles fused gospel, jazz, and R&B into timeless soul and reshaped American music.
misfits	Cracking Up	Nick Lowe	1979	Written by Nick Lowe, this dryly humorous song is about emotional collapse. Nicholas Drain Lowe (born 24 March 1949) is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer, known for pub rock and power pop, delivers clever lyrics with an affable touch.
prerogative	Somethin’ Stupid	Frank Sinatra with Nancy Sinatra	1967	Originally written by C. Carson Parks, this romantic duet about fearing rejection was first recorded by Parks and his wife. Frank Sinatra, a legendary crooner known for his smooth vocals and classic hits, recorded it with his daughter Nancy Sinatra.
prerogative	I Say A Little Prayer	Dionne Warwick	1967	Written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, this song was meant as a love letter but later became an anthem of longing and devotion. Dionne Warwick, a powerhouse of soul and pop, was a frequent collaborator of Bacharach & David, delivering some of the most memorable hits of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
prerogative	L’appuntamento	Ornella Vanoni	1970	Based on Sentado à Beira do Caminho by Erasmo Carlos, this Italian classic is about waiting for a love that never returns. Ornella Vanoni (born in Milan on 22 September 1934), one of Italy’s most distinguished and longest-standing singers, is known for her sultry, jazzy vocal style and her contributions to Italian chanson.
prerogative	Si Tu No Estás	Rosana	1996	A poignant ballad about the pain of being apart, written and performed by Spanish singer-songwriter Rosana, known for her poetic lyrics and folk-pop style. Rosana was born on October 24 in Arrecife, a municipality on the island of Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands (Spain).
prerogative	That’s Not How Dreams Are Made	Jasper Steverlinck	2018	A melancholic song about lost love and shattered expectations by Belgian singer Jasper Steverlinck, whose powerful voice blends rock and classical influences.
prerogative	Torneró	I Santo California	1975	Torneró (I’ll be back) is an emotional Italian love song about longing and the promise of return, written and performed by I Santo California, an Italian pop group famous for their dramatic ballads. Santo California are an Italian musical group founded in 1974.
prerogative	Solo Tu	Matia Bazar	1977	A passionate love song blending pop with symphonic elements, performed by Matia Bazar, an Italian band known for their mix of electronic, classical, and progressive rock influences. Matia Bazar is an Italian Pop/Rock band formed in 1975 by founding member Piero Cassano (keyboards), Aldo Stellita (bass), Carlo Marrale (guitar, vocals), Giancarlo Golzi (drums) and Antonella Ruggiero (vocals). The band was named after Ruggiero’s nickname Matia (“little crazy”).
prerogative	Forever Blue	Swing Out Sister	1997	A jazzy, melancholic ballad about enduring sadness, written and performed by Swing Out Sister, a British sophisti-pop band famous for their smooth, jazz-infused sound. Swing Out Sister began as a trio formed by Andy Connell (keyboards) and Martin Jackson (drums), later joined by Corinne Drewery (vocals), a fashion designer and model.
prerogative	Magnolia	Lee Fields	2019	A soul ballad about love and nostalgia by Lee Fields, a veteran American soul singer with a career spanning five decades, known for his raw and emotional delivery.
prerogative	Corazón Partío	Alejandro Sanz	1997	A flamenco-infused Latin pop hit about heartbreak and unreciprocated love, written and performed by Alejandro Sanz (born Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro in Madrid), one of Spain’s most successful singer-songwriters.
prerogative	I’ll Make Love to You	Boyz II Men	1994	Written by Babyface, this sensual R&B ballad became a signature song for Boyz II Men. Boyz II Men is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1988, one of the most successful R&B vocal groups of all time, known for their smooth harmonies and emotional ballads.
prerogative	Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart	Marc Almond & Gene Pitney	1989	Originally written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook for Gene Pitney in 1967, this dramatic love song was later re-recorded as a duet with Marc Almond, a theatrical pop artist best known for Tainted Love. Gene Francis Alan Pitney is an American singer/songwriter, musician and engineer (born February 17, 1940 in Hartford, Connecticut) who died in a hotel after a gig on April 5, 2006 in Cardiff, Wales, UK.
prerogative	Sobran las Palabras	Braulio	1975	A heartfelt Spanish ballad about love so deep that words become unnecessary, performed by Braulio (born Braulio Antonio García Bautista in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria), a Spanish singer-songwriter known for his romantic and poetic lyrics.
prerogative	Words	The Christians	1989	“Words” is a song by English band the Christians, a musical ensemble from Liverpool, England. The group adapted a famous refrain of Irish folk heritage, known as “Mná na hÉireann”, written by Seán Ó Riada, which translates as “Women of Ireland”. The name of the band refers to the surname of the three brothers that were originally in the line-up: Garry Christian, Roger Christian and Russell Christian, and is also coincidentally guitarist Henry Christian Priestman’s middle name.
prerogative	Lost Without Your Love	Bread	1977	A melancholic breakup song by David Gates of Bread, a soft rock band famous for their smooth harmonies and emotional ballads. Bread is a band from Los Angeles, California.
prerogative	(They Long to Be) Close to You	The Carpenters	1970	Written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, this dreamy love song about admiration and devotion became a hit for The Carpenters, a sibling duo famous for their lush harmonies and Karen Carpenter’s warm, emotive voice.
prerogative	Longfellow Serenade	Neil Diamond	1974	Written and performed by Neil Diamond, this poetic love song references Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s romantic imagery. Diamond is a legendary singer-songwriter known for his deep voice, emotional ballads, and arena anthems.
prerogative	Love Shine A Light	Katrina & The Waves	1997	Written by Kimberley Rew, this uplifting anthem about unity and hope was performed by Katrina & The Waves, a British rock band formed in Cambridge in 1981 that represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 held in Dublin, resulting in the country’s fifth and most recent win at the contest.
prerogative	Chanson D’amour	The Manhattan Transfer	1976	Originally written by Wayne Shanklin in 1958, this playful, jazzy love song was popularized by The Manhattan Transfer, a vocal jazz group known for their impeccable harmonies and blend of swing, pop, and R&B.
prerogative	You Make Me Feel Brand New	The Stylistics	1974	A heartfelt love song about gratitude and devotion, written by Thom Bell & Linda Creed and performed by The Stylistics, a Philadelphia soul group known for their smooth falsetto vocals and lush, romantic ballads.
prerogative	Find Me an Angel	Ben’s Brother	2007	A melancholic ballad about searching for love and guidance by Ben’s Brother, a British pop-rock band known for their emotional, piano-driven ballads.
prerogative	Ancora	Eduardo De Crescenzo	1981	A passionate Italian ballad about love and regret, performed by Eduardo De Crescenzo, an Italian singer-songwriter known for his expressive voice.
prerogative	Here With Me	Dido	1999	A haunting love song about longing and devotion, written and performed by Dido, a British singer-songwriter known for her ethereal voice and introspective lyrics, blending pop with electronic influences.
wysiwyg	Ding-a-Dong	Teach In	1975	Written by Dick Bakker, Will Luikinga, Eddy Ouwens. A cheerful Eurovision-winning track about staying upbeat after heartbreak. Teach-In were a Dutch pop group known for bright, catchy tunes and colorful performances.
wysiwyg	Fuck You	Cee Lo Green	2010	Fuck You” (stylised as “Fuck You!” or “F**k You!”), known as “Forget You” or “FU” for the clean versions, was written by Cee Lo Green, Bruno Mars and Philip Lawrence. CeeLo Green has stated that, in addition to being about a heartbreak, the song was also about the music industry itself. Cee Lo Green (born Thomas DeCarlo Callaway on May 30, 1975, in Atlanta, Georgia.) is a soul singer known for his retro flair and bold style.
wysiwyg	A Forest	The Cure	1980	Written by Robert Smith and band members, this song is a dark, poetic track about emotional distance and existential longing. The Cure bassist Simon Gallup was inspired for the tune by The Stranglers’ bassist, JJ Burnel. The Cure are UK post-punk pioneers blending goth, pop, and melancholy.
wysiwyg	Monkey See Monkey Do	New Swing Sextet	1967	Written by George Rodríguez. A Latin jazz tune using mimicry as a social metaphor. New Swing Sextet is a salsa-jazz band from New York blending boogaloo and Afro-Caribbean sounds.
wysiwyg	Een Echte Man	Wigbert	1994	Written by Wigbert Van Lierde. A satirical pop song challenging traditional gender roles. Wigbert is a Belgian singer-songwriter with a knack for witty lyrics and storytelling.
wysiwyg	Handy Man	Jimmy Jones	1960	Written by Jimmy Jones and Otis Blackwell. A playful R&B hit where the singer offers himself as a ‘repairman’ for broken hearts. Jimmy “Handyman” Jones (born in Birmingham, Alabama) was an afro-american soul singer and songwriter known for his high tenor and doo-wop roots.
wysiwyg	I Can Help	Billy Swan	1974	Written by Billy Swan. He wrote this feel-good country-pop song on a little RMI organ he had received from Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge as a wedding present. Swan, from the USA, is a one-hit-wonder known for his relaxed vocals and friendly tone.
wysiwyg	Man of Action	Les Reed Orchestra	1970	Written by Les Reed. A brassy instrumental theme known for radio use. Les Reed was a prolific UK composer known for orchestral pop and easy listening anthems.
wysiwyg	Help Yourself	Tom Jones	1968	Written by Carlo Donida and Jack Fishman. An upbeat tune about taking love without hesitation. Tom Jones, from Wales, is a powerhouse vocalist with a long career in pop and soul.
wysiwyg	Stir It Up	Bob Marley & The Wailers	1973	A love song written by Bob Marley about stirring up desire that he wrote for his wife, Rita. Marley was a Jamaican icon whose music mixed romance, politics, and Rastafarian spirituality. Texas-born singer-songwriter Johnny Nash released “Stir It Up,” which became his final US hit. Nash’s version would become Marley’s first hit outside of Jamaica, originally recorded with his own group, The Wailers.
wysiwyg	One Draw	Rita Marley	1981	Written by Rita Marley. A humorous, laid-back reggae track advocating marijuana use. Rita, from Jamaica, is Bob Marley’s widow and an influential reggae artist and activist in her own right.
wysiwyg	Someone Loves You Honey	June Lodge	1982	“Someone Loves You Honey” is a tender reggae love song about fidelity and affection written by Don Devaney, was originally released by American country music singer Johnny Rodriguez in 1974. British singer June Lodge covered the song in 1982, featured by Jamaican DJ Prince Mohammed (born George Knooks).
wysiwyg	(A Message to You) Rudie	Grant Phabao, Carlton Livingston & The Lone Ranger	2004	“A Message To You Rudy” was originally recorded by the reggae artist Dandy Livingstone in 1967. His original recording was a portrait of social unrest amongst the youth in Kingston, Jamaica. This modern revival combines Jamaican vocalists with French producer Grant Phabao’s dub sound. “Rudy” (or Rudi, Rude boy) is a Jamaican term for criminal juveniles
wysiwyg	Young Gifted and Black	Bob & Marcia	1970	Written by Nina Simone and Weldon Irvine. A powerful anthem celebrating Black identity and talent. Bob & Marcia were a Jamaican duo who brought this soulful message to the UK reggae scene. Bob and Marcia were a Jamaican vocal duo, that consisted of Bob Andy and Marcia Griffiths.
wysiwyg	Love and Affection	Joan Armatrading	1976	Written by Joan Armatrading. A vulnerable yet confident song about the complexities of love. Armatrading, born in Saint Kitts and raised in the UK, was a pioneering Black female singer-songwriter blending folk, pop, and blues.
wysiwyg	He’s Misstra Know-It-All	Stevie Wonder	1973	Written by Stevie Wonder. A funky, veiled critique of political dishonesty, possibly Nixon. Wonder, from Michigan, USA, is a blind multi-instrumentalist whose songs span love, justice, and joy.
wysiwyg	What’d I Say, Pts. I & II	Ray Charles	1959	Written by Ray Charles. A spontaneous, electric song that blended gospel, blues, and sensuality. Charles, from Georgia, USA, is considered one of the founding fathers of soul music.
wysiwyg	Muscles	Diana Ross	1982	Written by Michael Jackson as a way of thanking Diana Ross for her support and friendship over the years. A tongue-in-cheek song about physical desire and fantasy. Diana Ross, from Detroit, USA, rose to fame with The Supremes and became a defining voice of Motown and beyond.
wysiwyg	Brick House	Commodores	1977	Written by the Commodores. Guitar and trumpet player William King’s wife Shirley Hanna-King wrote the initial words. This disco classic is about a woman with a great body, “Built like a Brick House”. The woman is 36-24-36, measurements they took out of Jet magazine of a model that was modeling swimwear. The Commodores, from Alabama, USA, combined soul, funk, and Lionel Richie’s songwriting prowess.
wysiwyg	Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?	Bryan Adams	1995	This heartfelt ballad exploring deep emotional intimacy was written by Bryan Adams, Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange and Michael Kamen. This song was featured in the movie Don Juan DeMarco, starring Johnny Depp. Paco De Lucia played the Flamenco guitar. Adams, from Canada, is known for his gravelly voice and powerful rock ballads.
wysiwyg	You´re In My Heart	Rod Stewart	1977	Rod Stewart wrote this love song when he was dating the Swedish actress Britt Ekland from 1975-1977. The lines, “You’re Celtic, United, but baby I’ve decided, you’re the best team I’ve ever seen” are a reference to two Scottish soccer teams, Dundee United and Celtic F.C. Stewart is an avid supporter of Celtic.
wysiwyg	Song For Whoever	The Beautiful South	1989	Written by Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray. A sarcastic tune from the perspective of a songwriter exploiting love for hits. The Beautiful South, from the UK, were known for darkly comic lyrics wrapped in cheerful pop.
wysiwyg	Tuxedos	Cold War Kids	2014	Written by Cold War Kids. A cool indie rock song about nightlife, relationships, and appearances. Cold War Kids, from California, USA, are known for gritty vocals and soulful indie rock.
wysiwyg	Just a Song Before I Go	Crosby, Stills & Nash	1977	Graham Nash wrote this song on a bet with the guy taking him to the airport and composed it on the spot. A short, poignant farewell song reportedly written on a dare. Crosby, Stills & Nash, from the USA and UK, were famous for their harmonies and thoughtful songwriting in folk rock.
digestive	Sugar Baby Love	The Rubettes	1974	Written by Wayne Bickerton & Tony Waddington. A doo-wop-style ode to innocent heartbreak. The Rubettes were a glam pop band from the UK known for retro harmonies and white suits.
digestive	Sugar, Sugar	The Archies	1969	Written by Jeff Barry & Andy Kim. A cartoon classic about love as candy. The Archies were a fictional American band from the “Archie” comics—yet their hit was very real.
digestive	Sugar Me	Lynsey de Paul	1972	Written by Lynsey de Paul & Barry Green. A playful, sultry song wrapped in sweet innuendo. Lynsey de Paul was a pioneering singer-songwriter from England, one of the first women to produce her own music.
digestive	I Want Candy	Bow Wow Wow	1982	Written by Feldman/Goldstein/Gottehrer/Ross. A wild rework of a 1965 tune. Bow Wow Wowwas a provocative new wave band from the UK, known for tribal beats and teenage rebellion.
digestive	Candy (ft. Kate Pierson)	Iggy Pop	1990	Written by Iggy Pop. A bittersweet duet of lost love. Iggy Pop, from the USA, is the godfather of punk. Kate Pierson, also American, is from The B-52s.
digestive	Candy	Paolo Nutini	2009	Written by Paolo Nutini. A soulful apology wrapped in romantic sweetness. Nutini is a Scottish singer-songwriter from Paisley known for his gritty voice and emotional depth.
digestive	Le Petit Pain au Chocolat	Joe Dassin	1968	Written by Claude Lemesle & Pierre Delanoë. A charming tale of bakery love. Dassinwas a French-American singer who became a French pop icon.
digestive	A Taste of Honey	The Beatles	1963	Written by Bobby Scott & Ric Marlow. A melancholic cover from a musical. The Beatleswere a revolutionary band from Liverpool, England.
digestive	Just Like Honey	The Jesus & Mary Chain	1985	Written by William & Jim Reid. A fuzzy love song buried in distortion. The Jesus & Mary Chain are noise-pop pioneers from East Kilbride, Scotland.
digestive	Milk (Siren Mix)	Garbage	1996	Written by Garbage. A moody love song about obsession. Garbage is a rock band from Madison, Wisconsin (USA) fronted by Shirley Manson of Scotland. “¡la leche!” (the milk) in Spanish can have a quite different meaning similar to saying “Wow!” or “great or amazing!”.
digestive	Sugar	Lenny Kravitz	2001	Written by Lenny Kravitz. A funky metaphor for sensual love. Kravitz is a genre-blending musician from New York City, USA.
digestive	Cherry Pie	Sade	1984	Written by Sade. A rare, jazzy metaphor for temptation. Sade (pronounced “Shar-day”) is a soul singer born in Nigeria, raised in England.
digestive	Lollipop	The Chordettes	1958	Written by Beverly Ross & Julius Dixon. A sweet and innocent 1950s bop. The Chordetteswere a female vocal quartet from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA.
digestive	Sweets for My Sweet	C.J. Lewis	1994	Written by Pomus & Shuman. A reggae-pop love song. C.J. Lewis is a reggae artist from the UK who brought old hits into the ‘90s dancehall scene.
digestive	Les Tomates	Jack Ary	1955	Written by Henri Salvador & Boris Vian. A novelty song blending food and flirtation. Ary was a French actor and comedic singer.
digestive	Peaches	The Stranglers	1977	Written by The Stranglers. A sarcastic summer song with biting lyrics. The Stranglers were a punk-adjacent band from Guildford, England.
digestive	Ice Cream Man	Tom Waits	1973	Written by Tom Waits. A jazzy, seductive metaphor-heavy tune. Waits, from California, USA, is known for his gravel voice and cabaret-style songs.
digestive	Homemade Ice Cream	Tony Joe White	1973	Written by Tony Joe White. A Southern blues-rock take on love and comfort. White was a Louisiana-born singer famous for his swamp rock style.
digestive	Little Green Apples	O.C. Smith	1968	Written by Bobby Russell. A sentimental tune about everyday love. Smith was a soulful crooner from Louisiana, USA.
digestive	Hungry Like the Wolf	Duran Duran	1982	Written by Duran Duran. A synth-driven song about romantic pursuit. Duran Duran are a stylish new wave band from Birmingham, England.
digestive	There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop	Kirsty MacColl	1981	Written by Kirsty MacColl & Philip Rambow. A witty twist on small-town romance. MacColl was a sharp-tongued singer-songwriter from London, UK.
digestive	Ene me hesp	Big Bill	1995	The lyrics to “Ene mee hesp” (a ham sandwich), a classical Chuck Berry adaptation by Big Bill Krakkebaas depict the experience of encountering a vendor selling snacks on the street. The backing group of Big Bill consisted of Jean-Marie Aerts, Stoy Stoffelen, Mich Verbelen and Jean Blaute. Big Bill (born Armand Hombroeckx) is undoubtedly one of the godfathers of modern Belgian music, who started playing music at a young age in Leuven, together with his brother Bert as “Bert & Skifflegroup”, early 1966.
digestive	Room Service	Fischer-Z	1980	Written by John Watts. A post-punk critique of loneliness and consumerism. Fischer-Z is a new wave band from England with socially conscious lyrics.
digestive	Table for One	Courtney Marie Andrews	2018	Written by Courtney Marie Andrews. A country-folk song about eating alone and healing. Andrews is an Americana artist from Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
digestive	Popcorn	Hot Butter	1972	Written by Gershon Kingsley. An instrumental Moog synth hit—bouncy and iconic. Hot Butter was a studio band from New York, USA, known for this one bubbly hit.
helter-skelter	I’m A Believer	Smash Mouth	2001	Originally written by Neil Diamond for The Monkees in 1966. A pop-rock anthem about love unexpectedly proving itself real. Smash Mouth, from California, are known for fun, upbeat alt-rock with a retro twist.
helter-skelter	I Should Have Known Better	The Beatles	1964	Written by John Lennon. A harmonica-laced song about realizing the power of love. The Beatles, from Liverpool, revolutionized modern music across genres and generations.
helter-skelter	Fools Together	Maggie MacNeal	1980	Written by Bolland & Bolland. A dramatic duet about two people knowingly continuing a doomed romance. MacNeal is a Dutch singer famous for her work in Mouth & MacNeal and solo pop hits.
helter-skelter	Sweet Disposition	The Temper Trap	2008	Written by Dougy Mandagi and the band. An uplifting indie rock track capturing fleeting youth and emotion. The Temper Trap are an Australian band known for atmospheric and emotive music.
helter-skelter	Modern Love	David Bowie	1983	Written by David Bowie. Explores the tension between romantic ideals and religious devotion. Bowie, from the UK, was a visionary artist who reshaped pop culture and music.
helter-skelter	Gimme Some Lovin’	Spencer Davis Group	1966	Written by Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis, Muff Winwood. A punchy R&B track fueled by urgent longing. The UK-based group helped launch Steve Winwood’s long career.
helter-skelter	High Steppin’ Hip Dressin’ Fella	Love Unlimited	1973	Written by Barry White. A funky warning about smooth-talking players. Love Unlimited was a female vocal trio from the USA, best known for their lush soul arrangements.
helter-skelter	The Shoop Shoop Song	Cher	1990	“It’s in His Kiss” was written and composed by Rudy Clark and first released as a single in 1963 by Merry Clayton. Cher’s cover “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)” was for the soundtrack of her 1990 film Mermaids. Cher, from the USA, is a pop icon and Oscar-winning actress with a decades-long career.
helter-skelter	P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)	Michael Jackson	1983	Written by Quincy Jones & James Ingram. A flirtatious funk-pop jam. Jackson, from Indiana, was the “King of Pop” and one of the most influential entertainers of all time.
helter-skelter	Love Resurrection	Alison Moyet	1984	Written by Steve Jolley & Tony Swain. A plea for emotional and sensual rebirth. Moyet, from the UK, is known for her deep, soulful voice and synth-pop roots.
helter-skelter	Ti Sento	Matia Bazar	1985	“Ti sento” (Italian for ‘I feel you’), a dramatic Italian synth-pop ballad about love and longing, was written by the band members, Carlo Marrale, Aldo Stellita and Sergio Cossu. Matia Bazar is an Italian Pop/Rock band formed in 1975 by founding member Piero Cassano (keyboards), Aldo Stellita (bass), Carlo Marrale (guitar, vocals), Giancarlo Golzi (drums) and Antonella Ruggiero (vocals).
helter-skelter	Move Over Darling (Extended Version)	Tracey Ullman	1983	“Move Over Darling” is a song from the 1963 movie, originally recorded by Doris Day, In 1983, Tracey Ullman released a version of the song as a single and on the album You Broke My Heart in 17 Places. Ullman, from the UK, is a comedian and singer who had a brief but lively pop career.
helter-skelter	You Better Move On	Mink DeVille	1981	“You Better Move On” is a 1961 rhythm and blues song by Arthur Alexander, inspired by Alexander’s real life situation, in which his girlfriend and future wife already had a boyfriend. Mink DeVille, fronted by Willy DeVille, blended rock, soul, and Latin influences in NYC’s punk scene.
helter-skelter	Samson and Delilah	Middle Of The Road	1972	Traditional song adapted with a pop flair. Tells the Biblical tale of betrayal and strength. Middle of the Road, a Scottish band, were famous for their catchy Euro-pop hits.
helter-skelter	Working My Way Back to You	The Spinners	1979 (cover/medley)	Originally by The Four Seasons (1966). A disco-infused plea for redemption in love. The Spinners, from Detroit, USA, were soul legends known for rich harmonies and smooth grooves.
helter-skelter	Fire	Beth Ditto	2017	Written by Ditto and collaborators. A fiery, Southern-rock track about personal power and passion. Ditto, from Arkansas, USA, is known for her bold vocals and fronting the punk band Gossip.
helter-skelter	Fire	Ohio Players	1974	The band members wrote this funk classic with blazing horns and sensual energy. The Ohio Players, from the USA, were pioneers of funk and soul in the ’70s. The composer of Wild Cherry’s hit song “Play That Funky Music” has indicated that “Fire” was the inspiration.
helter-skelter	Eternal Flame	The Bangles	1989	Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs wrote “Eternal Flame” with songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. The Eternal Flame at the gravesite of Elvis Presley in Memphis inspired this song, a tender ballad about devotion and vulnerability. The Bangles, from LA, mixed ‘60s jangle pop with strong female harmonies.
helter-skelter	Dreams	Fleetwood Mac	1977	Written by Stevie Nicks. A bittersweet breakup anthem wrapped in soft rock. Fleetwood Mac, a British-American band, were known for drama-fueled classics and tight songwriting.
helter-skelter	Louise	The Human League	1984	Written by Oakey/Callis/Burden. A melancholic synth-pop ballad about reconnecting with a lost love. The Human League, from the UK, were pioneers in electronic pop.
helter-skelter	It’s My Life	No Doubt	2003 (cover)	Originally by Talk Talk (1984), Gwen Stefani’s group No Doubt introduced this song to a new generation when they covered it in 2003. An assertive anthem about living life on your terms. No Doubt, from California, brought ska-pop into the mainstream with Gwen Stefani’s vocals.
helter-skelter	Crystal Ball	Keane	2006	Written by Tim Rice-Oxley. A piano rock track questioning identity and fate. Keane, from England, are known for emotional, anthemic songs driven by keys rather than guitars.
helter-skelter	Sweet Little Mystery	Wet Wet Wet	1988	The band wrote this smooth pop-soul song about love’s contradictions. Wet Wet Wet, from Scotland, gained fame for melodic ballads and a Motown influence. Lead singer Marti Pellow stated they used two lines from “A Sense of Wonder” “to pay homage to Van Morrison and the band also shared co-writing credit for “Sweet Little Mystery” with British singer John Martyn, as their choruses share similarities.
helter-skelter	Livin’ Thing	Electric Light Orchestra	1976	Written by Jeff Lynne. A vibrant orchestral rock track reflecting on lost love as a living force. The song features uncredited vocals by Patti Quatro (sister of Suzi Quatro), Brie Brandt, and Addie Lee, who were all one time members of the female rock group Fanny, singing the “higher and higher” parts. ELO, from the UK, mixed classical strings with rock in spacey, symphonic pop.
mixed emotions	Sad Sweet Dreamer	Sweet Sensation	1974	Written by David Parton. A soulful ballad about longing and heartbreak. Sweet Sensation were a UK soul group from Manchester known for smooth harmonies.
mixed emotions	Heartache Avenue	The Maisonettes	1982	Written by Lol Mason. Reflects on lost love in a rough city. The Maisonettes were a short-lived British pop group from Birmingham with a retro soul sound.
mixed emotions	Desiree	Neil Diamond	1977	Written by Neil Diamond. A sentimental reflection on youthful love. Diamond, from the USA, is a legendary singer-songwriter and pop icon.
mixed emotions	Ooh Baby	Gilbert O’Sullivan	1973	Written by Gilbert O’Sullivan. A wistful love song. O’Sullivan, born in Ireland, is known for quirky pop songs with charm and depth. Pop trio Los Mismos released a Spanish version of the song in 1974.
mixed emotions	The Love Cats	The Cure	1983	Written by frontman Robert Smith. A jazzy, surreal ode to love and chaos. The Cure, from the UK, pioneered goth and post-punk music.
mixed emotions	Rythm	Anna Domino	1984	Written by Anna Domino. A minimalist new wave meditation on life’s repetition. Domino, born in Japan, emerged in Belgium’s alt-pop scene.
mixed emotions	That’s The Way Love Goes	Janet Jackson	1993	Written by Janet Jackson Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, this sultry R&B track is about love’s rhythm. It samples James Brown’s hit “Papa Don’t Take No Mess”, “Impeach The President” by The Honey Drippers, “If It Don’t Turn You on (You Oughta Leave It Alone)” by B.T. Express (1974) and “Georgy Porgy” by Toto. While it may sound like men are chanting the title lyrics on this song, Jimmy Jam electronically manipulated Janet’s vocals to give them a masculine sound. Janet, from the USA, is a pop icon with bold and sensual hits.
mixed emotions	Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)	Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel	1975	Written by within days the original lineup of Cockney Rebel walked out on Steve Harley. Harley, from the UK, wrote this glam rock track dripping in sarcasm, as a dig at his ex-bandmates. The acoustic, flamenco-styled guitar solo was originally a soundcheck warm-up that was captured on tape and later used when it was realised it added to the song.
mixed emotions	(I’m Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear	Blondie	1978	This song was written by Blondie’s former bass player, Gary Valentine, for his then girlfriend Lisa Jane Persky before he departed the band. The song was about the telepathic connection they had between them. Blondie is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1974 by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the American new wave genre and scene of the mid-1970s.
mixed emotions	Country House	Blur	1995	Frontman Damon Albarn wrote this Britpop satire about upper-class escapism. The song is about a wealthy man who lives a boring life in a mansion in the countryside. The line, “He’s got morning glory, and life’s a different story” is often believed to be directed to Oasis, but the song was recorded before Oasis finished, let alone released their album. Blur, from the UK, were leaders of the 90s Britpop wave.
mixed emotions	Wig Wam Bam	Sweet	1972	Written by Chinn & Chapman. A glam rock stomp about love and legends. The song’s lyrics are inspired by Henry Longfellow’s poem from 1855 telling the legend of a Native American warrior Hiawatha and his lover Minnehaha and refer to Running Bear and his lover Little White Dove, two characters from the 1959 song “Running Bear” written by Jiles Perry Richardson. Sweet were UK glam stars known for catchy, flamboyant tunes.
mixed emotions	Honky Cat	Elton John	1972	Written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin, this funky tale of rural vs. city life, was recorded at the Château d’Hérouville, northwest of Paris where Frédéric Chopin was believed to have conducted his affair with the novelist George Sand. Elton John, from England, is one of the most celebrated pop artists in history.
mixed emotions	Break on Through (to the Other Side)	The Doors	1967	Written by The Doors, this psychedelic anthem is about freedom and experience. Jim Morrison got some of the lyrics from John Rechy’s 1963 book City of Night. Robby Krieger’s guitar melody was inspired by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band of “Shake Your Money Maker”. The Doors, from the USA, were known for poetic rock and Jim Morrison’s mystique.
mixed emotions	If Paradise Is Half As Nice	Amen Corner	1969	Written by Lucio Battisti. A playful love song preferring real love over paradise. Amen Corner, from Wales, were a UK pop-soul group.
mixed emotions	Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy	Kid Creole & The Coconuts	1982	This funky satire about mistaken identity was written by August Darnell (Kid Creole’s real name). “Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy” has a similar theme to “Billie Jean,” and was released about the same time. Kid Creole, from the USA, combined Latin and disco into theatrical pop.
mixed emotions	Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing	Stevie Wonder	1973	This joyful, Latin-flavored reassurance anthem was written by Stevie Wonder. The Spanish lyric was inspired by a Puerto Rican woman that he met in a record store. Wonder, from Michigan, is a legendary Motown musician.
mixed emotions	MMMBop	Hanson	1997	Written by the Hanson brothers. A teen pop anthem with deeper meaning about life’s fleeting moments. Hanson, a band of three brothers from Tulsa, Oklahoma, were teen idols with real talent.
mixed emotions	Too Much, Too Little, Too Late	Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams	1978	Written by Kipner & Vallins. A soul duet about love that’s run its course. Mathis & Williams were American vocal powerhouses.
mixed emotions	Les Cactus	Jacques Dutronc	1966	Written by Dutronc & Lanzmann. A witty protest song full of “prickly” metaphors. Dutronc, from France, mixed pop, satire, and suave style.
mixed emotions	Supreme	Robbie Williams	2000	This dramatic pop hit with irony and swagger is written by Williams & Chambers. It samples the strings from Gloria Gaynor’s 1978 hit “I Will Survive”. The former Take That member Robbie Williams, from the UK, mixes charm and cheek in catchy hits.
mixed emotions	World Where You Live	Crowded House	1986	This is a melodic reflection on relationship gaps, written by lead singer Neil Finn. It was the first single released worldwide by Crowded House, who were formed by former Split Enz members Neil Finn, his brother Tim Finn, and Paul Hester.
mixed emotions	Little Things	Dave Berry	1965	“Little Things” is a song written and sung by Bobby Goldsboro, released in January 1965. English singer Dave Berry released a cover of the song in March 1965. A gentle ‘60s pop song about meaningful small moments. Berry, from Sheffield, UK, was known for emotional delivery.
mixed emotions	I Like It	Gerry & The Pacemakers	1963	Written by Mitch Murray. A jolly pop tune celebrating love. Gerry & The Pacemakers, from Liverpool, were Merseybeat contemporaries of The Beatles.
mixed emotions	Coz I Love You	Slade	1971	Written by Noddy Holder & Jim Lea. A glam rock love song with a violin twist. This was the first of many Slade song titles that had unique spelling. Slade, from the UK, were a loud, proud hit machine.
mixed emotions	Hit ‘Em Up Style	Carolina Chocolate Drops	2010	Originally written by Dallas Austin, an Atlanta-based hitmaker for artists like Madonna, TLC and Gwen Stefani. The musical inspiration came from a 1936 Merrie Melodies cartoon. A bluegrass cover of Blu Cantrell’s (born Tiffany Cobb) revenge anthem. CCD, from North Carolina, revived old-time Black string band music.
mixed emotions	Isn’t It Time	The Babys	1977	This soulful ballad about love’s uncertainties, known for its strong backup vocals performed by The Babettes (Lisa Freeman Roberts, Pat Henderson, Myrna Matthews, and Marti McCall) was written by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy. The Babys, were a British rock group fronted by John Waite, including Wally Stocker, Tony Brock, and Mike Corby.
red cherries	La revolución sexual	La Casa Azul	2007	Written by Guille Milkyway. Inspired by themes of emotional freedom and queer identity. La Casa Azul is a Spanish synth-pop project blending retro sounds and LGBTQ+ empowerment. The song celebrates liberation and self-expression.
red cherries	Sexual Revolution	Macy Gray	2001	Written by Macy Gray. Inspired by social and sexual freedom. Gray, a Grammy-winning singer from Ohio, USA, mixes soul, funk, and quirky pop. The song promotes authenticity and sensual liberation.
red cherries	Don’t Talk Just Kiss	Jocelyn Brown	1991	Written by the Fairbrass brothers and Rob Manzoli. Brown, an American soul singer, joined Right Said Fred for this cheeky club hit. The track is a humorous, flirty dance tune about skipping formalities in romance.
red cherries	Do Ya Think I’m Sexy (feat. Little Trouble Kids)	Triggerfinger	2014	Originally written by Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice, and Duane Hitchings. Triggerfinger, a Belgian rock trio, reimagined it in gritty, alternative style. Little Trouble Kids = noisepop for neurotic lovers. Stewart admitted to “unconscious plagiarism” of Brazilian musician Jorge Ben Jor’s song “Taj Mahal” and that he had consciously lifted the song’s signature synthesiser riff from the string arrangement on Bobby Womack’s “(If You Want My Love) Put Something Down On It”. Ian McLagan, who played electric piano on “Miss You” by The Rolling Stones and has also played with Stewart, claimed that “It’s a rip-off of ‘Miss You'”.
red cherries	Love To Love You Baby	Donna Summer	1975	Written by Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, and Pete Bellotte. A disco classic fueled by sensual liberation. Summer, the “Queen of Disco” from Boston, revolutionized club music with seductive vocals and pioneering production.
red cherries	Get Sexy	Kelly Paul	2010	Written by Kelly Paul. A self-empowerment club track about confidence and body positivity. Paul is a lesser-known UK pop act focusing on upbeat, empowering anthems. The song encourages embracing your sexy side.
red cherries	Bob’s Yer Uncle	Happy Mondays	1990	Written by Shaun Ryder. Inspired by Mancunian slang and surreal humor. The Happy Mondays were key players in the UK’s Madchester scene, fusing indie rock and dance. Lyrics are tongue-in-cheek with strong innuendo.
red cherries	Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)	Rod Stewart	1976	Written by Rod Stewart. A soft ballad about first-time intimacy. Stewart, a British rock legend, is known for his raspy voice and romantic themes. The lyrics gently encourage a lover to surrender to the moment.
red cherries	Teach Me Tiger	April Stevens	1959	“Teach Me Tiger”, a daring pop song for its time using feline metaphors, written by April Stevens’ younger brother Nino Tempo, caused a minor uproar for its sexual suggestiveness and consequently did not receive airplay on many radio stations. Stevens, from New York, was known for sultry delivery and vintage glamour.
red cherries	Underwear	Pulp	1995	Written by Jarvis Cocker, the founder and frontman of Pulp, a Britpop band from Sheffield, known for social commentary wrapped in irony. Jarvis introducing Underwear at Aston Villa Leisure Centre in October ’94: “This is about going home with someone, which seems like a good thing to do when you decide to do it. But when you get to the actual nitty-gritty, when you are actually standing in your underwear you think I can’t good through with this, but how do you get out of that situation?”
red cherries	Night Moves	Bob Seger	1976	Written by Bob Seger. A nostalgic coming-of-age song about teen love and awakening. Seger, from Michigan, is a heartland rock hero whose lyrics often centre on memory and longing.
red cherries	Adolescent Sex	Japan	1978	Written by David Sylvian. A glam rock commentary on teenage rebellion and sexual identity. Japan were a British band who evolved into pioneers of synth-pop and art-rock. Lyrics are provocative, pushing against norms.
red cherries	Butterfly	Jason Mraz	2008	Written by Jason Mraz. Inspired by physical attraction and playful intimacy. Mraz, from Virginia, USA, is known for soulful, witty, acoustic-pop songs. This one uses natural metaphors for seduction.
red cherries	Cherry Oh Baby	UB40	1983	Originally written by Eric Donaldson. UB40’s reggae-pop cover celebrates affectionate devotion. The band, from Birmingham, UK, blended pop, reggae, and political themes. Lyrics are simple and loving.
red cherries	So Lucky in Bed	Annabel Lamb	1983	This track explores intimacy with dark humour, written by Annabel Lamb, an English new wave singer-songwriter born in 1955 in Surrey, United Kingdom, known for introspective, synth-driven music.
red cherries	The Bed’s Too Big Without You	Sheila Hylton	1981	Sheila Hylton (born 1956) is a British reggae singer who spent most of her childhood in Kingston, Jamaica, known for soulful reggae and lover’s rock. The song, originally by The Police, was inspired by an incident in which Sting’s first girlfriend, after being heartbroken upon their break-up, committed suicide.
red cherries	Temperature	Sean Paul	2005	Written by Sean Paul. A high-energy dancehall track about attraction and heat. Paul, from Jamaica, gained global fame with club bangers and Caribbean flavour Lyrics focus on chemistry and steamy nightlife.
red cherries	Hey Sexy Wow	Lord Kossity (ft. Chico)	2005	Written by Lord Kossity. Combines reggaeton and dancehall with flirtatious swagger. Kossity, a French artist with Caribbean roots, is known for club hits and bilingual lyrics. A playful ode to sensual appeal.
red cherries	Belly Dancer (Bananza)	Akon	2005	Written by Akon. A fusion of hip-hop and worldbeat celebrating seductive dance. Akon, a Senegalese-American singer, is known for blending African and Western styles. Lyrics are cheeky and exoticized.
red cherries	Macarena	Los del Río	1993	Written by Romero and Ruiz. A global dance hit with humorous lyrics about a carefree woman. Los del Río, a Spanish duo, created an unexpected phenomenon that ruled ’90s weddings.
red cherries	Sea, Sex and Sun	Serge Gainsbourg	1978	Written by Serge Gainsbourg. A playful, risqué tune mixing beach culture with sexual innuendo. Gainsbourg, a French icon, was known for his controversial, poetic, and provocative lyrics.
red cherries	Do That To Me One More Time	Captain & Tennille	1979	Written by Toni Tennille. A soft rock ballad about emotional and sensual closeness. The duo, from California, were a married couple known for romantic pop in the ’70s.
red cherries	Feel Like Makin’ Love	Roberta Flack	1974	Originally written by Eugene McDaniels. A jazz-soul ballad celebrating romantic desire. Flack, from North Carolina, is known for her smooth voice and timeless love songs.
throwback vibes	Tiger Feet	Mud	1974	Written by Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman. Inspired by glam rock energy and youthful bravado. Mud, a British glam band, brought humor and danceable swagger to the charts. The song is pure dancefloor fun.
throwback vibes	Get Down	Gilbert O’Sullivan	1973	Written by Gilbert O’Sullivan. A tongue-in-cheek plea to a clingy lover (disguised as a dog metaphor). O’Sullivan, an Irish-English singer, was known for clever lyrics and melodic charm.
throwback vibes	When	Showaddywaddy	1977	Originally by Kal Mann & Paul Evans (1958). A nostalgic, doo-wop revival. Showaddywaddy, from Leicester, UK, were known for retro rock’n’roll covers with bold suits and quiffs.
throwback vibes	When Will I Be Loved	Linda Ronstadt	1974	Written by Phil Everly. A heartfelt lament about failed love. Ronstadt, a powerhouse from Arizona, USA, was the queen of country-rock with genre-spanning vocal strength.
throwback vibes	You Were on My Mind	Sylvia Tyson	1962	Written by Sylvia Tyson. Inspired by a personal emotional awakening. Canadian folk artist Tyson was part of the iconic duo Ian & Sylvia. The lyrics speak to lingering thoughts and inner restlessness.
throwback vibes	Gentle On My Mind	Glen Campbell	1967	Written by John Hartford. Reflects on freedom and love with poetic imagery. Campbell, from Arkansas, was a country-pop crossover star and guitar virtuoso.
throwback vibes	Some Kind of Wonderful	Grand Funk Railroad	1974	Originally by John Ellison. Celebrates true, soul-deep love. Grand Funk Railroad, a hard rock band from Michigan, gave it their powerful stadium-rock twist.
throwback vibes	Never Let Her Slip Away	Andrew Gold	1978	Written by Andrew Gold. A smooth, heartfelt ballad inspired by his real-life romance. Gold, from California, was a talented multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.
throwback vibes	All The Way From America	Joan Armatrading	1980	Written by Joan Armatrading. Inspired by disillusionment in love and distance. Armatrading, from the UK, is known for her distinctive voice and introspective songwriting.
throwback vibes	Maybe	Janis Joplin	1969 (cover)	Originally by Allan Roberts & Paul Denniker. A powerful plea for a second chance. Joplin, from Texas, was a blues-rock icon with raw, emotional delivery.
throwback vibes	Cose Della Vita (Duetto con Tina Turner)	Eros Ramazzotti	1997	Written by Ramazzotti & Piero Cassano. A duet reflecting on life’s contradictions. Ramazzotti, from Italy, is famous for emotive power ballads; Tina Turner adds dramatic English vocals.
throwback vibes	These Are the Days of Our Lives	Queen	1991	Written by Roger Taylor. A reflective look at life’s fleeting moments, recorded as Freddie Mercury’s health declined. Queen, from the UK, blended rock, opera, and legend.
throwback vibes	Bamboleo	Gipsy Kings	1987	Written by Gipsy Kings. Inspired by Spanish flamenco and the ups and downs of love. The French-Spanish group redefined rumba flamenca with global hits.
throwback vibes	Bella Maria De Mi Alma	Los Lobos	1992	Bella María de mi alma (Beautiful Maria of my Soul), written and composed by Arne Glimcher and Robert Kraft, is a song prominently featured in the 1992 motion picture The Mambo Kings. While it is performed in Spanish by Antonio Banderas in the movie, it appears on the soundtrack album in an English version by Los Lobos, a Chicano rock band from LA, fused Latin roots with rock.
throwback vibes	You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine	Lou Rawls	1976	Written by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff. A soul classic about appreciating true love. Rawls, from Chicago, had a velvet baritone and deep roots in jazz and soul.
throwback vibes	Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours	Stevie Wonder	1970	Written by Stevie Wonder and others. A declaration of commitment and redemption. Wonder, from Michigan, is a multi-instrumental genius and Motown legend.
throwback vibes	Get Ready	The Temptations	1966	Written by Smokey Robinson. Encourages preparation for love and change. The Temptations, from Detroit, were soul titans known for harmonies and style.
throwback vibes	A Groovy Kind of Love	The Mindbenders	1965	This charming love song using hip ’60s slang, was written by Toni Wine and Carole Bayer Sager based on a melody by the classical composer Muzio Clementi. The title was an early use of the slang word “groovy”. The melody is from the Rondo from Muzio Clementi’s Sonatina, Opus 36, No. 5. Clementi made in 1807 an agreement with Ludwig van Beethoven (one of his greatest admirers), which gave him full publishing rights to all of Beethoven’s music in England. The Mindbenders were a British beat group with catchy melodies.
throwback vibes	A Fifth of Beethoven	Walter Murphy	1976	“A Fifth of Beethoven” is a disco instrumental recorded by Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band, adapted from the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Murphy was a studio whiz who brought classical flair to the dance floor. Murphy, from NYC, in college, was particularly interested in rock music that was adapted from classical music.
throwback vibes	Roll Over Beethoven	Electric Light Orchestra	1973	This rock’n’roll rebellion anthem, is originally by Chuck Berry (1956). ELO, led by Jeff Lynne, fused classical orchestration with rock power. In addition to the classical composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the lyrics mention or allude to several popular artists: “Early in the Mornin'” by Louis Jordan; “Blue Suede Shoes” by Carl Perkins; and “hey diddle diddle”, from the nursery rhyme “The Cat and the Fiddle”, is an indirect reference to Bo Diddley, an accomplished violin player.
throwback vibes	Roll Over Lay Down	Status Quo	1975	Status Quo’s co-founder, lead singer, lead guitarist and writer, Francis Rossi’s wife at the time used to sleep on his side of the bed and the ‘drink cool from the fridge’ was a bottle of milk she’d left on the table that had gone warm. The track was recorded live, taken from concerts at The Kursaal, Southend on 1 March 1975 and Trentham Gardens in Stoke the following night. Status Quo, from the UK, were denim-clad masters of boogie rock.
throwback vibes	Me Gustas Tú	Manu Chao	2001	Manu Chao wrote “Me Gustas Tú” (literally, “You are pleasing to me”), a global-flavoured song listing quirky things he loves. A text is taken from Radio Reloj (Spanish for Radio Clock), a government-owned Spanish-language radio station in Cuba. Chao, is a French-Spanish activist musician, mixes folk, reggae, and politics.
throwback vibes	Amigo	Black Slate	1980	Written by the band. A reggae celebration of friendship and unity. Black Slate, a UK-based reggae band, promoted social harmony through conscious lyrics.
throwback vibes	Is This Love	Bob Marley & The Wailers	1978	“Is This Love” by Bob Marley and the Wailers became one of Marley’s best-known songs he wrote. It is a soulful expression of steady, faithful love. Marley, from Jamaica, remains the most iconic figure in reggae and global peace music.
throwback vibes	Bye Bye Love	David Lindley	1981	The husband-and-wife songwriting team of Boudleaux and Felice Bryant wrote this song for the Everly Brothers. This song was a favourite of Simon & Garfunkel. The rockabilly tune was reinterpreted with quirky, tropical flair by David Lindley, an American genre-hopping guitar wizard known for his work with Jackson Browne.
rhythm-remedy	Help!	The Beatles	1965	Written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon–McCartney). Inspired by Lennon’s personal anxiety and disillusionment with fame. The Beatles, legendary from Liverpool, transformed pop music forever. The lyrics are a disguised cry for help behind upbeat pop.
rhythm-remedy	S.O.S,	ABBA	1975	Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson. Inspired by a failing relationship. ABBA, the Swedish pop sensation, became icons of melodic, emotionally rich pop. Lyrics plead for a lost lover to return.
rhythm-remedy	Come to My Aid	Simply Red	1985	Written by Mick Hucknall and Neil Moss. Inspired by struggles with fame and identity. Simply Red, a British soul-pop band, fused smooth vocals with social commentary. The lyrics are a cry for emotional support.
rhythm-remedy	Rescue Me (Re-Recorded)	Fontella Bass	1965	Written by Raynard Miner and Carl Smith. Inspired by the need for love and salvation. Bass, a soul singer from St. Louis, blended gospel power and pop appeal. A timeless call for rescue through love.
rhythm-remedy	Emotional Rescue	The Rolling Stones	1980	Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Inspired by the idea of romantic salvation. The Stones, rock icons from the UK, injected dance rhythms into their gritty rock. Lyrics describe someone offering love as a cure.
rhythm-remedy	Psycho Killer	Talking Heads	1977	Written by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, and Tina Weymouth. Inspired by Byrne’s interest in characters with disturbed minds. Talking Heads, an art-rock band from NYC, blurred the line between punk and funk. Lyrics portray a psychotic inner monologue.
rhythm-remedy	Hey! Joe	Willy DeVille	1992	Originally written by Billy Roberts. This version adds Latin soul to a tale of crime and escape. DeVille, an American artist known for his bluesy romanticism, gave this classic outlaw story a smoldering twist.
rhythm-remedy	The Healer (ft. Carlos Santana)	John Lee Hooker	1989	Written by Hooker and Roy Rogers. Inspired by music’s power to soothe pain. Hooker, a Mississippi-born blues legend, teamed with Santana to deliver this hypnotic affirmation of music as medicine.
rhythm-remedy	Let The Healing Begin	Tony Joe White	1991	Written by White. A Southern soul anthem about emotional rebirth. Known for his ‘swamp rock’ sound, White’s gravelly voice brings truth to pain and recovery.
rhythm-remedy	Happy Pills	Norah Jones	2012	Written by Jones, Brian Burton (Danger Mouse), and others. Inspired by the relief of escaping a toxic relationship. Jones, an American jazz-pop singer, blends sultry cool with heartfelt honesty.
rhythm-remedy	White Rabbit	Jefferson Airplane	1967	Miles Davis’s Sketches Of Spain and scenes from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland inspired frontwoman Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane to write White Rabbit.
rhythm-remedy	Medicine Weasel [Bonus]	The John Dummer Blues Band	1970	Written by Dummer. A blues-rock instrumental with tribal overtones. This UK band blended gritty blues with experimental flourishes, evoking a psychedelic sense of ritual.
rhythm-remedy	I Want to Break Free	Queen	1984	Written by John Deacon. Inspired by the desire for emotional independence. Queen, a British rock titan, paired the song with a famously cheeky video. Lyrics are a liberation anthem.
rhythm-remedy	Hand in My Pocket	Alanis Morissette	1995	Written by Morissette and Glen Ballard. A declaration of contradiction and self-acceptance. Morissette, a Canadian singer-songwriter, became a voice of ’90s angst with a raw, relatable edge.
rhythm-remedy	Lovesick	Lindstrøm & Christabelle	2012	Written by Hans-Peter Lindstrøm and Christabelle. Inspired by obsession and longing on the dance floor. This Norwegian duo creates lush disco-infused electronic music. Lyrics convey emotional dizziness.
rhythm-remedy	I Believe I Can Fly	R. Kelly	1996	Written by R. Kelly. A gospel-tinged ballad of hope and aspiration. Known for his R&B hits, Kelly crafted this motivational anthem for the film Space Jam.
rhythm-remedy	No More Fear Of Flying	Gary Brooker	1979	Written by Brooker and Keith Reid. Inspired by overcoming fear and embracing new journeys. Brooker, from Procol Harum, brought a classical touch to rock ballads.
rhythm-remedy	C’est La Ouate	Caroline Loeb	1986	Written by Loeb and Philippe Chany. A playful jab at superficiality. Loeb, a French actress-singer, turned irony into synth-pop with this fluffy, satirical hit.
rhythm-remedy	When The Heartache Is Over	Tina Turner	1999	Written by Graham Stack and John Reid. Inspired by empowerment post-breakup. Turner, the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll, delivered a triumphant anthem about moving on.
rhythm-remedy	Good Morning Heartache (ft. Chris Botti)	Jill Scott	2007	Originally by Irene Higginbotham. A jazz standard about grief. Scott, a neo-soul poet from Philadelphia, interprets the pain with smoky elegance alongside Botti’s trumpet.
rhythm-remedy	Je suis malade	Serge Lama	1973	Written by Lama and Alice Dona. Inspired by an extramarital affair for two years Serge Lama had with Michèle Potier, who he met in 1969 in Chamonix.
rhythm-remedy	Piensa En Mi	Luz Casal	1991	Originally by Agustín Lara. A bolero soaked in longing. Casal, a Spanish rock and ballad singer, revived this classic for High Heels by Pedro Almodóvar.
sonic diary	It Started With A Kiss	Hot Chocolate	1982	Written by Errol Brown. A reflection on love lost and nostalgia. Hot Chocolate, a British soul-pop band, was known for their emotional lyrics and smooth delivery. The song recalls a first kiss that never led to lasting love.
sonic diary	Sealed With A Kiss	Brian Hyland	1962	Written by Peter Udell and Gary Geld. Inspired by summer separation. Hyland, a New York-born teen idol, captured youthful longing in this sweet, melancholic tune. Geld stated it was “based on, but not totally based on, a Bach finger exercise.”
sonic diary	Love Letters In The Sand	Pat Boone	1957	Written by J. Fred Coots, Nick Kenny & Charles Kenny. Inspired by fleeting love. Boone, a clean-cut pop crooner from Florida, brought wholesome charm to this melancholy classic.
sonic diary	P.S. I Love You	Bette Midler	1990	Written by Johnny Mercer and Gordon Jenkins. A lyrical love letter. Midler, a dramatic vocalist and performer from Hawaii, added new life to this vintage romantic standard.
sonic diary	Return To Sender	Elvis Presley	1962	Written by Otis Blackwell and Winfield Scott. A year after the release, postal “Zones” were replaced by Zip Codes, making the line, “No such number, no such zone” outdated. On January 8 1993, the US postal service released a stamp commemorating The King’s 58th birthday. Enterprising stamp collectors put Elvis stamps on letters that day and mailed them off with false addresses so they would be sent back marked “Return To Sender” and become collector’s items.
sonic diary	Tous les garçons et les filles	Françoise Hardy	1962	Written by Françoise Hardy. Inspired by youthful loneliness. Hardy, a French icon of yé-yé pop, voiced the quiet heartbreak of being left out of love. On April 25, 1962, Françoise Hardy, at 18, recorded this first 45 rpm in just three hours. As she did not read music, the song was declared to SACEM by the conductor Roger Samyn. The music video, shot by Claude Lelouch, caused a scandal due to the wind blowing up the skirts of young girls on swings at the Foire du Trône.
sonic diary	Somos Novios	Lolita	1991	“Somos novios” is a bolero classic about blossoming love, written and performed by Mexican singer-songwriter Armando Manzanero in the early 1960s and recorded by him in 1968. It was translated into English by Sid Wayne and recorded in English by Perry Como in 1970 under the title “It’s Impossible”. Lolita, a flamenco-rooted Spanish artist, gave this romantic standard emotional depth.
sonic diary	Por El Amor De Una Mujer	Danny Daniel	1974	The music was written by Danny Daniel with lyrics by Cholo Baltasar. A romantic tribute to the sacrifices made for love. Daniel, a Spanish singer-songwriter, is known for heartfelt ballads.
sonic diary	Honey	Bobby Goldsboro	1968	Written by Bobby Russell. Inspired by the death of a young wife. Goldsboro, an American pop and country singer, became known for sentimental hits. The song narrates grief through everyday memories.
sonic diary	Up Where We Belong	Joe Cocker (ft. Jennifer Warnes)	1982	Written by Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Will Jennings. A love anthem about rising together through hardship. Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes brought soulful grit and grace to this movie ballad, originally recorded for the film “An Officer and a Gentleman”
sonic diary	Un homme, une femme	Nicole Croisille (ft. Pierre Barouh)	1966	Written by Francis Lai and Pierre Barouh. inspired by the film’s romantic melancholy. The song “Un homme et une femme”, the soundtrack to the film of the same name from Claude Lelouch and Pierre Uytterhoeven, is inseparable from the famous “chabadabada chabadabada” sung by Nicole Croisille, a French singer, and Pierre Barouh, a lyricist/actor, delivered a timeless chanson of connection.
sonic diary	Needles And Pins	The Searchers	1964	Written by Sonny Bono and Jack Nitzsche. Triggered by heartbreak and lost love. The Searchers, part of the British Invasion, gave jangly pop-rock charm to emotional ache. American singer Jackie DeShannon (born Sharon Lee Myers; August 21, 1941) recorded it first in 1963 and Petula Clark released in 1963 a French cover of the song called “La Nuit N’en Finit Plus”.
sonic diary	A World Without Love	Peter & Gordon	1964	Written by Paul McCartney. A teenage heartbreak anthem. Peter & Gordon, a UK duo, soared with McCartney’s melancholy lyrics about isolation without love.
sonic diary	Paperback Writer	The Beatles	1966	Written by Lennon–McCartney. Inspired by Paul’s fascination with authorship and storytelling. A satire on fame and ambition from the world’s most famous band.
sonic diary	Everyday I Write A Book	Elvis Costello & The Attractions	1983	Written by Elvis Costello. A clever metaphor for romantic progress and revision. Costello, a sharp-tongued British songwriter, delivers literary love with groove. He claimed it was written in ten minutes and stated “‘Everyday I Write the Book’ is a knockoff of Nick Lowe’s ‘When I Write the Book’ with a little Rodgers and Hart thrown in.'”
sonic diary	I Wrote the Book	Beth Ditto	2011	Written by Beth Ditto. Inspired by reclaiming narrative after heartbreak. Ditto, former frontwoman of Gossip, delivers disco-tinged empowerment with swagger.
sonic diary	Broken Wings	Mr. Mister	1985	Written by Richard Page, Steve George, and John Lang. Mr. Mister blended philosophy with synth-pop drama, inspired by a book the lyricist John Lang read called The Broken Wings, which was written by the Lebanese poet-philosopher Kahlil Gibran.
sonic diary	Pour que tu m’aimes encore	Céline Dion	1995	“Pour Que Tu M’aimes Encore”, a plea to recapture lost love, was written by French singer-songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman. French-Canadian songbird Celine Dion, a vocal powerhouse pours heartbreak into every note. In France, it topped the charts for a staggering 12 weeks and went platinum.
sonic diary	Without You	Nilsson	1971	Badfinger members Peter Ham and Tom Evans wrote it. Badfinger was signed to The Beatles’ label Apple Records. Nilsson also had a Beatles connection: He and Lennon enjoyed a destructive time together from 1973-1975 that became known as the “lost weekend.” The Badfinger original wasn’t released as a single, so most people weren’t familiar with it. Nilsson’s version, laced with lush orchestration, became a huge hit,
sonic diary	I Want To Know What Love Is	Foreigner	1984	Written by Mick Jones. Inspired by longing for emotional truth. Foreigner, a British-American rock band, created an enduring power ballad with gospel undertones. The New Jersey Mass Choir was brought in to sing the backing vocals, becoming the first gospel choir to appear on a #1 pop hit. R&B singer Jennifer Holliday sang backup.
sonic diary	Sometimes When We Touch	Dan Hill	1977	Written by Dan Hill and Barry Mann. Hill penned one of the most dramatic love songs of the ’70s, a confession of emotional vulnerability. After the 19-year-old Dan Hill failed to win the heart of the 22-year-old object of his affection with this song, the Canadian balladeer took it to his music publisher, who had him work with the songwriting legend Barry Mann.
sonic diary	How Am I Supposed To Live Without You	Michael Bolton	1989	Written by Bolton and Doug James. Inspired by heartbreak and unrequited love, “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” was supposed to be recorded by Australian duo Air Supply, the track was originally recorded by Laura Branigan in 1983,
sonic diary	Wooden Heart	Joe Dowell	1961	Joe Dowell topped the pop chart in 1961 with his recording of “Wooden Heart” from the Elvis Presley movie G.I. Blues, written by Fred Wise, Ben Weisman, Kay Twomey and German bandleader Bert Kaempfert. It was based on the German folk song, “Muss Ich denn”, originating from the Rems Valley in Württemberg, south-west Germany, and arranged by Friedrich Silcher. Marlene Dietrich recorded it in the original German version, as a B-side on her 1959 version of her single “Lili Marlene”,
sonic diary	Lili Marlene	Marlene Dietrich	1945	The words of “Lili Marleen” (also spelled “Lili Marlen'”, “Lilli Marlene”, “Lily Marlene”, “Lili Marlène”) were written in 1915 as a poem of three verses by Hans Leip (1893–1983), a school teacher from Hamburg and it was set to music by Norbert Schultze in 1938 and recorded by the Swedish singer Lale Andersen for the first time in 1939 as “Das Mädchen unter der Laterne” (“The Girl under the Lantern”). Marie Magdalene “Marlene” Dietrich was a German and American actress and singer.
sonic diary	Je T’attends	Axelle Red	1994	“Je T’attends” is written by French brothers Daniel (lyrics) and Richard (music) Seff. Red haired Belgian singer Axelle Red (born Fabienne Demal on February 15, 1968 in Hasselt), observing people around her in the city and wondering where they are going and what they see at the end of their journey, is inspired by longing and unfulfilled love.
sonic diary	Éblouie par la nuit	Zaz	2010	Raphaël Haroche wrote this poetic tale of wonder and emotional blindness. French singer Zaz (born Isabelle Geffroy on 1 May 1980 in Chambray-lès-Tours) blends gypsy jazz and chanson with her signature raw vocal style.
sonic diary	Send One Your Love	Stevie Wonder	1979	“Send One Your Love” by American and Motown musician and singer Stevie Wonder is a 1979 oldfashioned love song straight from the heart, with an unusual sound that gets better each time you hear it .
Bangers & mash	Making Your Mind Up	Bucks Fizz	1981	Written by Andy Hill and John Danter. Bucks Fizz, a British pop group formed for Eurovision, represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1981, held in Dublin, winning the contest. The became known for their catchy pop and choreography.
Bangers & mash	Save Your Kisses for Me	Brotherhood Of Man	1977	This song recorded by British group Brotherhood of Man, created by the writing team Tony Hiller with band members Lee Sheriden and Martin Lee, represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976 held in The Hague, winning the contest.
Bangers & mash	Claire	Gilbert O’Sullivan	1972	Written by O’Sullivan himself and inspired by the daughter of his manager. Gilbert is an Irish-English singer-songwriter known for his quirky and heartfelt lyrics. The lyrics reflect a sweet, platonic affection for a child.
Bangers & mash	You’re Sixteen (You’re Beautiful and You’re Mine)	Ringo Starr	1973	Originally written by the Sherman Brothers (Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman), it was first performed by American rockabilly singer Johnny Burnette, in 1960. Ringo’s version brought a rock ‘n’ roll flair. Former Beatles drummer Ringo had a successful solo career. The lyrics praise youthful beauty and infatuation.
Bangers & mash	Living Doll	Cliff Richard	1959	This song, written by Lionel Bart, was originally intended for the singer Duffy Power before it was used for the soundtrack to the film Serious Charge, which was Cliff Richard’s movie debut. In 1986 Cliff did a humorous, anarchic re-recording of this song for BBC’s charity appeal Comic Relief, featuring the cast of BBC’s comedy Young Ones series.
Bangers & mash	You’re My Best Friend	Queen	1976	Written by bassist John Deacon about his wife. Queen was a British rock band blending glam, opera, and hard rock. Deacon played an electric piano on this track. The lyrics express deep gratitude and love toward a life partner.
Bangers & mash	See Emily Play	Pink Floyd	1967	Written by Syd Barrett, one of Pink Floyd’s original members. Allegedly inspired by a dream and a girl named Emily. The original title was “Games For May”. Pink Floyd pioneered psychedelic and progressive rock. The song delves into the surreal and whimsical world of the mind.
Bangers & mash	Blackberry Way	The Move	1968	Written by guitarist/vocalist Roy Wood. The Move vocalist Carl Wayne refused to sing on the song, so Wood handled the lead vocal. Richard Tandy, who later played keyboards with Wood’s next band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), played harpsichord. The Move were a British rock band known for orchestral experimentation. The lyrics mourn lost innocence and nostalgia, a reaction to the growing pessimism in 60s society.
Bangers & mash	She’s Not There	The Zombies	1964	Written by keyboard player Rod Argent featuring the breathy vocals of lead singer Colin Blunstone. Some of the chord changes Rod Argent used were inspired by Brian Hyland’s 1962 song “Sealed With A Kiss”. The Zombies were a British invasion band with a jazz-infused sound. The song tells of a mysterious woman who disappears from the narrator’s life.
Bangers & mash	Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’	Gerry & The Pacemakers	1964	Written by the band members, it meant to comfort someone experiencing heartbreak. Gerry & The Pacemakers were a Liverpool band and contemporaries of The Beatles. They were part of the Merseybeat sound emanating from Liverpool, England. The song was produced by Beatles producer George Martin.
Bangers & mash	Release Me	Engelbert Humperdinck	1967	Plea for freedom from a failing relationship written by Eddie Miller, Dub Williams, and Robert Yount, inspired by traditional country ballads. Engelbert Humperdinck (born Arnold George Dorsey, 2 May 1936) is a British pop singer known for smooth baritone voice and romantic ballads, described by AllMusic as “one of the finest middle-of-the-road balladeers around”. When Dorsey teamed up with Gordon Mills, his former roommate In 1965, who had become a music impresario and the manager of Tom Jones, he changed his name to Engelbert Humperdinck, borrowed from the 19th-century German composer of operas such as Hansel and Gretel.
Bangers & mash	What’s New Pussycat	Tom Jones	1965	Written by Burt Bacharach for the move of the same name. The lyrics, written by Hal David, are a cheeky serenade to a lover. Sir Thomas Jones Woodward (born 7 June 1940), known as Tom Jones is a Welsh powerhouse singer famous for his full-throated, robust baritone voice and charisma.
Bangers & mash	Love Is All Around	Wet Wet Wet	1994	Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish soft rock band formed in 1982 that covered the Troggs’ 1960s hit “Love Is All Around” for the 1994 film “Four Weddings and a Funeral. Reg Presley, lead singer of the Troggs, wrote “Love Is All Around” in about ten minutes, inspired by a TV broadcast of the Salvation Army band Joystrings performing an evangelical song titled “Love That’s All Around”
Bangers & mash	Love Is All	Roger Glover	1974	“Love Is All” is written by Eddie Hardin based on a song featured in ‘The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper’s Feast’ named ‘Love’s all you need’, which was inspired by The Beatles’ song ‘All You Need Is Love’ (1967). The song was sung by American heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio. Roger Glover, a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer, is credited with developing the title for the Deep Purple’s iconic song “Smoke on the Water” Roger Glover left Deep Purple in June 1973, because Ritchie Blackmore insisted on his dismissal simultaneous to the departure of Ian Gillan.
Bangers & mash	Smoke On The Water	Deep Purple	1972	“Smoke on the Water” by English rock band Deep Purple, was based on true events, chronicling the 1971 fire at Montreux Casino in Switzerland. It is considered the band’s signature song and its guitar riff, played by Ritchie Blackmore on a Fender Stratocaster, is considered to be one of the most iconic in rock history. Blackmore later claimed that the main riff is an interpretation of inversion of Symphony No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Bangers & mash	Can’t Get It Out Of My Head	Electric Light Orchestra	1974	“Can’t Get It Out of My Head” is a song written by Electric Light Orchestra (also known as ELO) frontman Jeff Lynne, partially in response to his father’s criticism that the previous songs he wrote didn’t have any tune, wanting to show that he could write a song with a beautiful melody.
Bangers & mash	Go Now!	The Moody Blues	1964	Composed by Bessie Banks’ husband, Larry Banks and Milton Bennett, “Go Now!” (adding an exclamation mark) was made popular internationally in 1964 when the Moody Blues, an English beat group from Birmingham, recorded it, with Denny Laine on guitar and lead vocals.
Bangers & mash	She Came In Through The Bathroom Window	Joe Cocker	1969	Written by Paul McCartney, inspired by fan intrusion. The Beatles gave this to Joe Cocker, who released it in 1969 a few months after The Beatles released theirs. Moody Blues keyboard player Mike Pinder stated in a documentary that the inspiration for the song actually rests with an incident that happened to them. He claimed that a groupie climbed through an open bathroom window and spent the night with Moody Blues band member Ray Thomas. Pinder and Thomas are said to have told McCartney about the incident the next day, who began strumming on a guitar and improvised the opening line.
Bangers & mash	Something	The Beatles	1969	Written by George Harrison; inspired by his wife Pattie Boyd. Harrison gave the song to Joe Cocker, who released it late in 1969 on his second album, Joe Cocker! which came out about a month after The Beatles issued it on Abbey Road.
Bangers & mash	Brown Sugar	The Rolling Stones	1971	Mick Jagger wrote this song inspired by themes of race and sexuality and initially titled it “Black Pussy”. Black backup singer Claudia Lennear, one of Ike Turner’s Ikettes and American-born singer Marsha Hunt, a member of the the musical ‘Hair’ cast in London and mother of Karis Jagger, have been cited as the inspiration for the song. The Rolling Stones recorded it at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, which had opened in May 1969. Jimmy Johnson, a guitar player for the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (also known as “The Swampers”), engineered the sessions.
Bangers & mash	Dedicated Follower Of Fashion	The Kinks	1966	Ray Davies wrote this satire on the British fashion scene, as a tribute to Carnaby Street and its ethos, linked forever to the fashion explosion that happened particularly in Britain during the so-called Swinging ’60s.
Bangers & mash	Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum	Middle of the Road	1971	“Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum” is a song by Scottish band Middle of the Road. The song was written by British singer-songwriter Lally Stott and Italian brothers Giosy and Mario Capuano. It was first released as a single in Italy in March 1971 and used in a short film by car manufacturer Fiat to promote the launch of the Fiat 127. Middle of the Road also recorded and released a version in Spanish. The song is about a rivalry between the MacDougall Highland Scottish clan and the MacGregors, known to have been among the first families of Scotland to begin playing the bagpipes in the early 17th century.
Bangers & mash	Callow La Vita	Raymond Froggatt	1968	Written and originally recorded by English country-influenced singer-songwriter Raymond Froggatt. The song became a success in the UK after being recorded by the Dave Clark Five, retitled as “The Red Balloon”.
Bangers & mash	My Friend Stan	Slade	1973	This song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It was Slade’s first release following drummer Don Powell’s near fatal car crash in July 1973.
Bangers & mash	Blockbuster!	Sweet	1973	“Blockbuster!” (also sometimes listed as “Block Buster!”) was written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. This glam rock style song with its Muddy Waters-inspired blues riff, markedly similar to that featured on David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie”, was the Sweet’s sole UK No. 1 hit.
Bangers & mash	Whole Lotta Love	Led Zeppelin	1969	The song is an adaptation of an early blues song “You Need Love” of 1962 by Muddy Waters written by Willie Dixon. Jimmy Page’s riff from this song is considered as one of the greatest of all time. The part running from 2:22 to 2:39 is popularly called the “freakout”, where engineer Eddie Kramer and Jimmy Page were “twiddling every knob known to man”.
Bangers & mash	Rockin’ All Over The World	Status Quo	1977	This song was written and originally recorded by John Fogerty. Status Quo recorded their own, heavier arrangement of Fogerty’s song for their 1977 album ‘Rockin’ All Over the World’. In July 1985, Status Quo opened Live Aid at Wembley Stadium with “Rockin’ All Over the World”.
Bangers & mash	Rock and Roll Part 2	Gary Glitter	1972	Written by Gary Glitter (born Paul Gadd) and Mike Leander, improvised from a beat from a song called “Shag Rag, That’s My Bag”. There is a “Rock And Roll Part 1,” with lyrics that repeat “Rock And Roll” instead of “Hey”. Metal band Iron Maiden’s first single, “Running Free,” was based on this song’s beat.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Parler d’amour (ft. Ute Lemper)	Art Mengo	1993	Parler d’amour (in English ‘talking about love’) was written for Ute Lemper by Art Mengo and his brother-in-law Patrice Guirao. Michel Armengot (born in Toulouse on 16 September 1962), more commonly known as Art Mengo, is a French singer and songwriter of Spanish descent. Ute Gertrud Lemper (born in Münster, West Germany on 4 July 1963) a German singer and actress who recorded numerous pop albums, variously in English, French, and German.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Du	Peter Maffay	1970	“Du” (You) by Peter Maffay was written by Michael Kunze and Peter Orloff. Peter Alexander Makkay (born 30 August 1949), known as Peter Maffay, is a Romanian-born German musician, singer, and composer, who established a ranch on the Spanish island of Mallorca where traumatised children from all over the world can have a free two-week holiday to help them cope with their problems.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Can’t Help Falling In Love	Elvis Presley	1961	“Can’t Help Falling In Love”, featured in the 1961 Elvis movie Blue Hawaii, was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. The melody is based on a French song called “Plaisir D’Amour,” which was penned in 1784 by a German Jean-Paul Egide-Martini.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	I Think I Love You	The Partridge Family	1970	The Partridge Family was a TV series that ran from 1970-1974 about a musical family that travelled in a very colourful tour bus. Two of the lead actors, David Cassidy (son of the actor Jack Cassidy), who quickly became a teen idol, and his real-life stepmother Shirley Jones, were real singers. “I Think I Love You”, written by Tony Romeo, was released in August 1970, about a month before the show debuted on September 25, 1970.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	You’re Beautiful	James Blunt	2005	Written by James Blunt and Amanda Ghost. Inspired by a real-life moment when Blunt saw his ex, casting director Dixie Chassay, with another man. Blunt stated that the concealed real song meaning is about a guy who’s high as a kite stalking someone else’s girlfriend and should be locked up and put in prison.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Kiss Of Life	Sade	1992	“Kiss of Life” by English Sade was written by Sade Adu, Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale and Paul S. Denman and describes the rejuvenating power of love and how it brings someone back to life emotionally.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Woman	John Lennon	1980	Written by John Lennon. A love letter and apology to Yoko Ono, expressing vulnerability and commitment after past mistakes. Lennon referred to the time with his assistant May Pang as his “Lost Weekend”, which lasted about 18 months. He considered this song as a grown-up version of “Girl” by The Beatles. “Woman” was the first single released after John Lennon’s death.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Sensualité	Axelle Red	1993	Lyrics were written and the music composed by Albert Hammond, Shelly Peiken and Axelle Red. The original title was “Sexualité” (“Sexuality” in English), but was renamed as it could have been perceived too provocative. Axelle Red (born Fabienne Demal on 15 February 1968 in Hasselt, Flanders, Belgium) is a Belgian singer-songwriter from Flemish origin, who decided to focus on a French-language career. She holds several International honours and awards, including Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2006) and Commandeur in the Belgian Order of the Crown (2007).
Love, Longing & Letting Go	She	Charles Aznavour	1974	Written by Charles Aznavour and Herbert Kretzmer. It was the theme from the UK TV series The Seven Faces of Women. Aznavour recorded the song in several different languages aside from English, including Spanish, German Italian and his native French. Elvis Costello revived this in 1999 for the soundtrack of the film Notting Hill.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Tout	Lara Fabian	1996	Written by Lara Fabian and her partner Rick Allison. Lara Fabian (born Lara Sophie Katy Crokaert on 9 January 1970 in Etterbeek, Brussels) is a Belgian-born Canadian singer and songwriter. Born in Belgium to a Belgian (Flemish) father and an Italian (Sicilian) mother, she moved to Quebec in 1991 and, since 1995, has held Canadian citizenship alongside her Belgian one. Rick Allison (born Éric Vleminckx on 17 July 1964 in Brussels) is a Belgian-born Canadian singer, author and record producer.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	(Everything I Do) I Do It for You	Bryan Adams	1991	“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” is a song by Bryan Adams (born Bryan Guy Adams on November 5, 1959) a British and Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and photographer. Written by Adams, Michael Kamen, and Robert John “Mutt” Lange, the power ballad was the lead single for both the soundtrack album from the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The song was based on the film’s love theme by Kamen, “Maid Marian”.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)	Michael McDonald	1982	Written by Michael McDonald and Ed Sanford. Describes the emotional pull of a broken relationship. Michael McDonald recorded it with his sister Maureen McDonald providing backing vocals. Michael H. McDonald (born February 12, 1952) is an American singer, songwriter and keyboardist, known for his distinctive, soulful voice, backing vocalist for Steely Dan and lead vocalist of the Doobie Brothers.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Drive	The Cars	1984	Written by Cars frontman Ric Ocasek with lead vocal by their bass player Ben Orr. Often seen as a breakup song, about emotional withdrawal and silent suffering. UK radio station XFM banned the song after the death of Princess Diana, not to upset people.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Promise me	Beverley Craven	1990	“Promise Me” is a song by British singer-songwriter Beverley Craven. Rosa López released a Spanish version titled “Júrame” in 2008 as well as Mexican actress Chantal Andere in 1992, titled “Entre tú y yo”. The song explores themes of longing, distance, and commitment.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	With Or Without You	U2	1987	Written by U2. A conflicted expression of love’s intensity and its pain — needing someone and yet struggling to stay. Harry Nilsson’s 1972 weeper “Without You” was an influence on this song. The title is a more sincere variation of the “can’t live with them, can’t live without them” idiom.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Crazy On You	Heart	1975	Written by Ann and Nancy Wilson; inspired by a chaotic world, it channels desire and escapism through passionate love in the arms of Ann’s boyfriend, Heart guitarist Mike Fisher. The song opens with the 45 seconds acoustic guitar stylings of Nancy Wilson, Ann’s sister and bandmate, before Roger Fisher’s (Mike’s brother) electric guitar blasts in.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	I’ll Never Find Another You	The Seekers	1964	This was written by Tom Springfield, Dusty Springfield’s brother and band mate of the English folk group The Springfields, who wrote most of the Seekers’ identifiable material during the ’60s. The Seekers where the first Australian group ever to reach No. 1 in UK with their first three singles including this debut record. Judith Durham, Athol Guy, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley are joint ‘Australians Of The Year 1967’
Love, Longing & Letting Go	I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself	Dusty Springfield	1964	Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Classic portrayal of post-breakup disorientation and grief. After The Springfields disbanded, Dusty began a successful career in Pop and Soul music, while her brotherTom began a career as a songwriter.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Never Never Never	Shirley Bassey	1973	“Never Never Never”, with lyrics by Norman Newell, is the English version of Mina’s (born Mina Anna Mazzini) 1972 Italian hit “Grande, grande, grande”, written and composed by Alberto Testa and Tony Renis.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Woman In Love	Barbra Streisand	1980	“Woman in Love”, written by Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, is a song performed by Barbra Streisand and taken from her 1980 album Guilty, Streisand had asked Barry Gibb to write for her. It is a dramatic expression of surrender and emotional dependence in love.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	When A Man Loves A Woman	Percy Sledge	1966	Written by Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright, the song is inspired by Lizz King, Sledge’s girlfriend of three years who left him for a modelling job in Los Angeles. It is the first #1 Hot 100 hit recorded in the FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Trained musicians can tell that the horns on this song are out of tune. Procol Harum used the unusual chord progression as the basis for their song “A Whiter Shade Of Pale.”
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Somebody To Love	Jefferson Airplane	1967	Written by Grace Slick’s brother-in-law, Darby Slick, The Great Society, which also included her husband Jerry Slick, released the song as a single in late 1965. Darby Slick saw the downside of free love in the mid-’60s and wrote this song that champions loyalty and monogamy. Jefferson Airplane’s version was one of the first big hits to come out of the US West Coast counterculture scene. Over the next few years, musicians flocked to the San Francisco Bay area to be part of this scene.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	You’ve Made Me So Very Happy	Blood, Sweat & Tears	1969	Originally a hit for Motown artist Brenda Holloway in 1967, who shared writing credit on the song with Berry Gordy, Frank Wilson and Patrice Holloway. It’s about gratitude and joy for a transformative love. Blood, Sweat & Tears founder and keyboard player Al Kooper came up with the idea to cover this song, but he left the group before they recorded it. His replacement, David Clayton-Thomas, took over and sang lead on this track.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Baby, Now That I’ve Found You	Alison Krauss	1995	Written by Tony Macaulay and John Macleod and performed by the Foundations in 1967, it was the first song by a multiracial band to top the UK singles chart. In 1995, American bluegrass-country singer Alison Krauss released the song as a single from her compilation album Now That I’ve Found You: A Collection.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Always and Forever	Heatwave	1976	This smooth and sincere promise of lifelong devotion was written by Heatwave’s keyboard player Rod Temperton. Heatwave derived their name from the group’s early days, when they were made up of members of the American army who were stationed in West Germany. They used to rehearse in an old run-down building with a radiator that that kept oozing heat even in the summer.
rain	So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)	R.E.M.	1984	Written by R.E.M., American alternative rock band known for poetic lyrics and jangly guitars and inspired by themes of miscommunication and emotional distance. It expresses regret and longing for reconciliation.
rain	Why Does It Always Rain On Me	Travis	1999	Written by Fran Healy, this song explores themes of depression and feeling cursed, inspired by bad luck during a trip to Israel. Travis is a Scottish rock band with melodic, melancholic sound.
rain	Only Happy When It Rains	Garbage	1995	Written by Garbage as a satirical take on angst-filled alt-rock. The song embraces emotional complexity and irony. Garbage is an American-Scottish rock band known for dark, layered production.
rain	Standing In The Rain	John Paul Young	1977	Written by Australians Harry Vanda and George Young. The song is about resilience and devotion despite adversity. “Standing in the Rain” was initially the B-side of “Keep on Smilin'” in 1977 which German disc jockeys preferred and flipped the single. John Paul Young (born John Inglis Young in Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland) emigrated with his parents to Australia.
rain	Walking In The Rain	Flash And The Pan	1978	Written by Harry Vanda and George Young; inspired by romantic melancholy. Flash And The Pan is an Australian new wave group formed by ex-Easybeats members. The song is a moody, narrative walk through lost love.
rain	Rhythm Of The Rain	The Cascades	1962	The song, written by John Claude Gummoe after a breakup, uses rain as a metaphor for heartbreak. The Cascades was an American vocal group from San Diego.
rain	Rain	José Feliciano	1969	Written by Puerto Rican guitarist and singer known for virtuosic guitar skills, José Feliciano and influenced by folk and Latin roots, Rain is a symbol of sorrow and reflection.
rain	Rainy Night In Georgia	Tony Joe White	1969	Written by White about loneliness and the American South. Tony Joe White, nicknamed the Swamp Fox, was an American singer-songwriter of swamp rock and southern soul.
rain	Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head	B.J. Thomas	1969	“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”, about staying optimistic despite life’s troubles, was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Billy Joe Thomas was an American pop/country singer with crossover appeal, widely known for his country, contemporary Christian, and pop hits of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
rain	Laughter In The Rain	Neil Sedaka	1974	“Laughter in the Rain” is a song composed and recorded by Neil Sedaka, with lyrics by Phil Cody. It includes a 20-second saxophone solo by Jim Horn. The opening chord of the chorus, described as “drop-dead chord” by Sedaka, was based on that used by John in “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”.
rain	Walking In The Rain	Love Unlimited	1974	Walkin’ in the Rain with the One I Love was an R&B single in 1972 for the soul trio Love Unlimited, a studio group created by singer/producer Barry White. The main female singers were, his future wife, Glodean James, , her sister, Linda James, and their cousin Diane Taylor.
rain	Rain On Your Parade	Duffy	2008	This post-breakup tone song was co-written by Duffy, about empowerment after betrayal. Aimée Anne Duffy (born 23 June 1984), known mononymously as Duffy, is a Welsh singer and actress.
rain	Rain	Terence Trent D’Arby	1987	This spiritually influenced song about emotional cleansing was written by the soulful pop American artist Terence Trent D’Arby (born Terence Trent Howard on March 15, 1962).
rain	Rainy Dayz (ft. Ja Rule)	Mary J. Blige	2002	“Rainy Dayz” is a song by American Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige featuring additional vocals from rapper Ja Rule who wrote “Rainy Dayz” in response to the September 11 attacks in his home city of New York.
rain	Here Comes the Rain	Ida Sand	2007	Ida Sand is aSwedish jazz/soul singer. The song is a cover of The Eurythmics (named after a mime performed by Emile Jacques-Dalcrose), written by the duo Annie Lennox and David Allan Stewart.
rain	I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today	Neil Diamond	1971	“I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today”) is a bleak view of human nature American singer-songwriter Randy Newman wrote the song around 1963 or 1964. While it is one of his most covered songs, Newman stated that he had signed away the publishing rights on his first album and as a result, does not see any money from people doing covers of it. Neil Diamond covered it on his 1971 album Stones.
rain	Crying In The Rain	The Everly Brothers	1962	“Crying in the Rain” is a song by the Everly Brothers, released in December 1961 composed by Carole King and Howard Greenfield, marking a notable collaboration between the two songwriters. On a whim, two Aldon songwriting partnerships decided to switch partners for a day; King’s regular lyricist and then-husband Gerry Goffin partnered with Greenfield’s frequent collaborator Jack Keller, leaving King and Greenfield to pair up.
rain	Rain And Tears	Aphrodite’s Child	1968	This song is an adaptation of “Canon & Gigue in D” by Johann Pachelbel, arranged by Vangelis with lyrics by Boris Bergman, first performed by Aphrodite’s Child
rain	I Can’t Stand The Rain	Tina Turner	1984	“I Can’t Stand the Rain” written by Peebles, Don Bryant, and Bernard “Bernie” Miller, is a song originally recorded by Ann Peebles in 1973. The “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, Tina Turner covered the song in 1984.
rain	Come Rain Or Come Shine	Sofie	1989	Written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, this pledge of romantic devotion made its debut as a duet in the 1946 stage musical St. Louis Woman, where it was introduced by Ruby Hill and Harold Nicholas. Belgian singer Sofie (born Sofie Verbruggen on May 8, 1956 in Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium) covered it in 1989 on her album ‘When Morning Comes’.
rain	Stormy Weather (ft. Oleta Adams)	Toots Thielemans	1998	This pop standard was written in 1933 by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Ted Koehler. It was first sung by Ethel Waters under the title of “Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin’ All The Time)” at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Belgian jazz harmonica legend Toots Thielemans, with the voice of American singer Oleta Adams, covered it in 2006 on his album ‘One More For The Road’
rain	It’s Raining Outside	The Platters	1961	This song by pioneering doo-wop group The Platters was written by American songwriter Buck Ram and Brazilian singer and composer Tito Maddi known as “the king of the samba-canção” style.
rain	I Wish It Would Rain	The Temptations	1967	Penned by Motown staff writer Roger Penzabene who had learnt that his wife was cheating on him. Tragically the distraught Penzabene committed suicide barely a week after the single’s release.
rain	Set Fire to the Rain	Adele	2011	This song about turbulent love was co-written by Adele. British soul singer Adele got the idea when she was trying to light a cigarette in the rain outside a restaurant..
V.I.P.	V.I.P.	Françoise Hardy	1967	Written by Françoise Hardy herself, inspired by her observations of celebrity culture and the emptiness behind glamour. Hardy, a French singer-songwriter and 60s style icon, blended chanson, folk, and pop. The song critiques fame’s superficiality while maintaining a cool, detached tone.
V.I.P.	You To Me Are Everything	The Real Thing	1976	Written by Ken Gold and Michael Denne, inspired by Motown-style soul ballads. The Real Thing, from Liverpool, were the UK’s most successful Black soul group of the 70s. Lyrics are a heartfelt declaration that love is the most valuable thing in life.
V.I.P.	Superstar	Jamelia	2003	Originally by Danish singer Christine Milton, adapted for UK audiences. Jamelia, a British R&B artist, injects sass and confidence. The song celebrates self-worth, independence, and enjoying life in the spotlight.
V.I.P.	Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out (Radio Mix)	Freak Power	1993	Written by Ashley Slater, Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), and Jesse Graham. Inspired by 60s counterculture slogans. Freak Power fused acid jazz, funk, and soul. Lyrics mix groovy escapism with ironic commentary. Freak Power was a band founded by bassist Norman Cook (later known as Fatboy Slim), Ashley Slater (vocalist and trombonist), and backing vocalist Jesse Graham.
V.I.P.	Ain’t No Time To Play	Guru (ft. Ronny Jordan & D.C. Lee)	1993	Written by Guru (Keith Elam) for his Jazzmatazz project, blending jazz and hip-hop. Guru, an American rapper, worked with UK acid jazz guitarist Ronny Jordan and vocalist D.C. Lee. The track urges focus on meaningful goals rather than wasting time.
V.I.P.	Nothing Has Been Proved	Dusty Springfield	1989	Written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of Pet Shop Boys for the Scandal film. The lyrics of the song, like the film itself, address the sex scandal that is known in Great Britain as The Profumo Affair. Dusty Springfield, one of Britain’s greatest soul voices, delivers a moody narrative on political and sexual intrigue. Lyrics suggest a cover-up of wrongdoing.
V.I.P.	Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)	Elton John & Dua Lipa	2021	Mashup remix by PNAU, blending Elton’s classics with Dua Lipa’s vocals. Elton, a British rock-pop icon, and Dua, a modern pop star, bridge generations. Lyrics explore complicated, cooling relationships. Pnau, formed in Sydney, New South Wales by Littlemore and Mayes is an Australian dance music trio, including Sam Littlemore since 2016.
V.I.P.	Lido Shuffle	Boz Scaggs	1976	Written by Boz Scaggs and David Paich, inspired by nightlife escapades. Scaggs, an American singer-songwriter, mixed rock, blues, and R&B. The song tells of a fast-living drifter on the move.
V.I.P.	Mirror Man	The Human League	1982	Written by Philip Oakey, Ian Burden, and Jo Callis, inspired by Oakey’s view of pop stardom’s narcissism. The Human League, pioneers of synth-pop, crafted it as a homage to Motown with an ironic edge.
V.I.P.	The Glamorous Life	Sheila E.	1984	Written by Prince, inspired by the allure and emptiness of wealth. Sheila E., a percussionist and singer, became one of Prince’s protégés. Lyrics contrast material success with emotional loneliness.
V.I.P.	Just An Illusion	Imagination	1982	Written by the band with Steve Jolley and Tony Swain. Imagination, a UK funk-soul trio, used dreamy synths to underscore themes of fantasy vs. reality in love.
V.I.P.	Manchild	Neneh Cherry	1989	Written by Cherry and Cameron McVey, inspired by relationships with emotionally immature partners. Neneh, a Swedish singer blending hip-hop, jazz, and pop, delivers a feminist critique in smooth beats.
V.I.P.	I Maschi	Gianna Nannini	1987	“I maschi” (Italian for “the males”) was written by Gianna Nannini and Rosario Di Bella. Nannini, an Italian rocker known for raspy vocals, explores male-female dynamics in love and attraction. Lyrics mix admiration with playful challenge.
V.I.P.	Ça Plane Pour Moi	Plastic Bertrand	1977	“Ca Plane Pour Moi”, written by Lou Deprijck, roughly translates as “it’s going well for me”. A Belgian punk-pop anthem full of nonsensical French lyrics, performed with manic energy by Bertrand. It’s a parody of punk’s attitude. Plastic Bertrand is a Belgian recording artist and television presenter whose real name is Roger Jouret. He also takes part in Scrabble tournaments at international level.
V.I.P.	Easy Livin’	Uriah Heep	1972	Written by Ken Hensley. Uriah Heep, a British hard rock band, celebrate freedom and rock’n’roll life. Lyrics are about embracing a carefree, adventurous existence.
V.I.P.	Walk of Life	Dire Straits	1985	Written by Mark Knopfler. Inspired by buskers and street performers. Dire Straits’ frontman Knopfler mixes rock with storytelling. Lyrics celebrate a musician’s simple joy in playing.
V.I.P.	Andy, You’re a Star	The Killers	2004	Written by Brandon Flowers, inspired by his memories of a high school rival. The Killers, a Las Vegas rock band, mix admiration with resentment. Lyrics address small-town celebrity and ego.
V.I.P.	Matthew & Son	Cat Stevens	1967	Written by Cat Stevens (later Yusuf Islam), inspired by overworked office staff. Stevens, a British folk-pop singer-songwriter, critiques the monotony of 9-to-5 life.
V.I.P.	Spirits in the Material World	The Police	1981	Written by Sting, inspired by the philosopher Arthur Koestler. The Police, blending rock, reggae, and pop, ponder spiritual existence in a world dominated by materialism.
V.I.P.	Sweetheart	Marianne Faithfull	1974	Written by Faithfull. A British singer with a husky, lived-in voice, Faithfull’s lyrics mix tenderness with melancholy in an intimate love song.
V.I.P.	Hasta Siempre Comandante	Los Trinitarios	1965	Written by Carlos Puebla as a tribute to Che Guevara. Los Trinitarios deliver a folk-protest version. Lyrics praise revolutionary ideals.
V.I.P.	In the Army Now	Status Quo	1986	This song was written and originally recorded by the Dutch brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland in 1981. Status Quo’s version keeps the anti-war message intact. Lyrics depict the harsh realities of military service.
V.I.P.	Effigy (ft. Yungchen Lhamo)	Natalie Merchant	2003	Written by Merchant. Inspired by social justice and protest imagery. Merchant, an American folk-rock singer, collaborates with Tibetan vocalist Yungchen Lhamo to lament oppression and violence. Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter who joined the band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and was lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the group.
Lounge Break	Café de Flore (Charles Webster’s Latin Lovers mix)	Doctor Rockit (Matthew Herbert)	2001	Written and produced by Matthew Herbert, a British electronic composer known for his experimental sound design. Inspired by the famous Parisian café, it evokes cosmopolitan romance and nostalgia. This Latin-infused remix by Charles Webster adds warm, lounge-like textures, painting a picture of love and conversation over coffee.
Lounge Break	Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre) [Tom Middleton Cosmos Mix]	Gotan Project	2001	Written by Philippe Cohen Solal, Eduardo Makaroff, and Christoph H. Müller. Gotan Project, a French-Argentine collective, pioneered “electrotango.” Inspired by Buenos Aires’ tango heritage, this remix adds cosmic, house-inflected grooves, reimagining the tango for modern dance floors.
Lounge Break	Crystal Frontier (Buscemi instrumental mix)	Calexico	2000	Written by Joey Burns and John Convertino. Calexico, from Tucson, Arizona, blend indie rock with Latin and Southwestern influences. Inspired by the US–Mexico borderlands, the instrumental remix by Belgian DJ Buscemi keeps its desert-mariachi feel while adding downtempo beats.
Lounge Break	Citymotion	Peter Bento & Jeff	2004	Written by Peter Bento and Jeff, blending smooth jazz and electronica. Little-documented duo known for sleek, urban soundscapes. Inspired by city nightlife, the track flows like a soundtrack for evening drives and neon-lit streets.
Lounge Break	Music Is My Husband	Marc Moulin	2004	Written by Marc Moulin, a Belgian jazz keyboardist, producer, and member of pioneering electro-jazz groups Placebo and Telex. Inspired by his lifelong relationship with music, the track fuses downtempo beats with jazz samples, portraying music as a constant companion.
Lounge Break	So Flute	St. Germain (Ludovic Navarre)	2000	Written by Ludovic Navarre, a French house producer. Inspired by jazz improvisation, especially flautist samples from Eddie Harris. The track is a masterclass in French touch, blending deep house with live instrumentation for a hypnotic, breezy groove.
Lounge Break	Twilight	Maze & Frankie Beverly	1985	Written by Frankie Beverly. Maze, an American soul and R&B band, were known for smooth, uplifting grooves. Inspired by the serene time between day and night, the lyrics (in vocal versions) speak to reflection and calm—here presented as a soulful instrumental.
Lounge Break	Sonnentanz	Klangkarussell	2012	Written by Tobias Rieser and Adrian Held, Austrian producers blending deep house and jazz-inflected electronica. Inspired by carefree summer days (“Sonnentanz” = “Sun Dance”), the track became a festival anthem with its mellow brass and minimal beats.
Lounge Break	Into The Dark	Marc Moulin	2004	Written by Marc Moulin, continuing his signature electro-jazz style. Inspired by noir atmospheres and late-night city moods, the track blends subtle beats with moody keyboard harmonies.
Lounge Break	We Are The Music Makers	Aphex Twin (Richard D. James)	1992	Written and produced by Richard D. James, a pioneering British electronic artist. Inspired by the spirit of creativity, sampling Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. The track celebrates the joy of making music in the ambient techno realm.
Lounge Break	Bakara	Chris Joss	2004	Written by French multi-instrumentalist Chris Joss. Inspired by 60s spy-funk, Afrobeat, and cinematic grooves, “Bakara” feels like the score to an imaginary heist movie, mixing exotic percussion with funky basslines.
Lounge Break	Deep In It	St. Germain (Ludovic Navarre)	2000	Written by Ludovic Navarre. A deep house track blending Chicago house rhythms with bluesy guitar licks. Inspired by immersive club experiences, it’s about getting lost in the music.
Lounge Break	Perfume (Calvi & Neill Bouquet Remix)	Bajofondo Tango Club	2002	Written by Gustavo Santaolalla and Juan Campodónico. Bajofondo, an Argentine-Uruguayan collective, modernized tango with electronica. This remix heightens its sensuality, inspired by the lingering trace of a lover’s scent.
Lounge Break	Queremos Paz	Gotan Project	2001	Written by Philippe Cohen Solal, Eduardo Makaroff, and Christoph H. Müller. Inspired by a call for peace (“Queremos Paz” = “We Want Peace”) in Latin America. Combines tango with electronic beats to create an atmospheric plea for unity.
Lounge Break	Amerimacka (ft. Notch)	Thievery Corporation	2002	Written by Rob Garza, Eric Hilton, and Norman Howell (Notch). The Washington, D.C. duo are known for blending dub, reggae, and world music. Inspired by cultural fusion and the Americas’ shared heritage, the lyrics blend English and Spanish in a call for unity.
whimsy	What Becomes of the Brokenhearted (ft. Joan Osborne)	The Funk Brothers	2002	Originally written by William Weatherspoon, Paul Riser & James Dean in 1966, this Motown classic reflects on heartbreak and resilience. Joan Osborne covers it with soul, featuring in the documentary “Standing in the Shadows of Motown”. She’s known for “One of Us” and her powerful, emotive voice rooted in blues and rock.
whimsy	You Don’t Love Me	Dawn Penn	1994	A reggae staple originally by Bo Diddley, with Penn’s 1967 version becoming iconic in 1994. It’s a haunting cry about unreciprocated love. Penn, a Jamaican singer, became a one-hit wonder icon with this moody groove. Dawn Penn first recorded this song in 1967. It was based on a track of the same title recorded by American blues musician Willie Cobbs in 1960, which itself was derived from Bo Diddley’s 1955 recording “She’s Fine, She’s Mine.”
whimsy	It Takes a Muscle [To Fall In Love]	Spectral Display	1982	Written by Michel Mulders and Henri Overduin, this 1982 synth-pop oddity became a cult favorite. It’s about emotional strength in vulnerability. Spectral Display was a Dutch band dabbling in early electronic pop.
whimsy	Don’t Wanna Fight	Alabama Shakes	2015	Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard wrote this funky soul cut that channels frustration with interpersonal conflict and fatigue. Alabama Shakes fused Southern rock with soul, fronted by powerhouse vocalist Howard. Alabama Shakes are an American rock band formed in Athens, Alabama, in 2009.
whimsy	Strictly Reserved for You (ft. Menahan Street Band)	Charles Bradley	2013	A soulful, heartfelt ballad about exclusive devotion. Charles Bradley, once a James Brown impersonator, found late-life fame as a raw, retro-soul singer known for emotional vulnerability. Menahan Street Band is an American, Brooklyn, New York–based instrumental band, founded in 2007 by Thomas Brenneck while living in an apartment on Menahan Street in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick.
whimsy	Another Love	Tom Odell	2012	Penned by Odell himself, inspired by the struggle to move on from past heartbreak. A Brit Award-winning singer-songwriter, Odell’s piano-driven ballads are filled with emotion and introspection. The song about fighting for someone you love became a symbol of Ukraine’s resilience against the 2022 Russian invasion.
whimsy	How Long Will I Love You	Ellie Goulding	2013	Originally by The Waterboys (Mike Scott), Ellie’s cover adds tenderness. It’s about enduring love. Goulding, known for ethereal electro-pop, brought this to wider attention via the “About Time” soundtrack. The song was released as the official 2013 Children in Need single.
whimsy	It’s Not That Easy	Lemar	2006	A modern R&B tune about the complications of letting go. Lemar, a UK singer from Fame Academy fame, became known for smooth ballads and neo-soul hits in the early 2000s. “It’s not that easy” was first released in Norwegian with the title “Eventyrlandet” (Fairytale land) that Fredrik Friis composed for the child artist Eivind Løberg in the 1970s.
whimsy	It’s Not You It’s Me	The Little Willies	2005	A tongue-in-cheek, classic-country-style breakup song written by Ashlee Monroe and Richard Julian. The Little Willies are a side project of Norah Jones formed in 2003, comprised of Lee Alexander (bass), Norah Jones (piano/vocals), Richard Julian (guitar/vocals), Dan Rieser (drums), and Jim Campilongo (guitar), mixing humor, heartbreak and Americana.
whimsy	Tell me your plans	The Shirts	1978	A new wave band from late-70s New York. This song, written by Artie La Monica, is about romantic transparency or lack thereof. The Shirts, starring actress, singer and composer Annie Golden, blended punk energy with melodic pop and CBGB street cred.
whimsy	Down Down	Status Quo	1975	A gritty boogie rock track about emotional lows and relationship frustration. Written by Francis Rossi and Bob Young. Status Quo became legends of the UK rock scene with a no-nonsense boogie style.
whimsy	Don’t Let Me Down	The Beatles	1969	This soulful Beatles B-side of “Get Back”, written by John Lennon is about his deep love for Yoko Ono, whom he married on March 20, 1969. raw and pleading. Billy Preston, who The Beatles met when he was on tour with Little Richard in 1962, played keyboards on this track.
whimsy	Showdown	Electric Light Orchestra	1973	This song about a relationship facing a dramatic turning point was written by group leader Jeff Lynne, who is a huge Beatles fan. John Lennon called them ‘Son of Beatles’ and described the song as a beautiful combination of ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ by Marvin Gaye and ‘Lightnin’ Strikes’ by Lou Christie with a little ‘I Am The Walrus’ underneath. Marc Bolan, Jeff’s friend lent Jeff his 1953 Gibson Firebird for Showdown’s guitar solo. ELO mixed classical elements with rock grandeur, and Lynne’s writing often drew on 60s pop with a futuristic sheen.
whimsy	I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It	Stevie Wonder	1980	A funk-infused track where Stevie channels Southern soul. It’s about losing patience in love. Wonder, a musical genius, needs little intro, blending social messages with chart-topping pop for decades. The song is famous for Wonder’s imitation of a seasoned country-and-western crooner and his inspiring drumming. In 2001 Eric Clapton released a cover of this song, but it didn’t reach the charts in US or UK.
whimsy	Senorita (ft. Pharell Williams)	Justin Timberlake	2002	This slick R&B track about playful flirtation was co-written by Justin Timberlake, and The Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. Timberlake revealed that the song was influenced by singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder.
whimsy	Beast Of Burden	The Rolling Stones	1978	A rare Stones song from the ’70s that treats women as equals, written by Jagger/Richards, it’s a groovy plea for emotional support, mixing swagger and vulnerability. A beast of burden is an animal that labours for the benefit of man, like an ox or a pack mule. It was written by Richards as a kind of homage to Jagger for having to carry the band while Richards was strung out on heroin.
whimsy	No More Tears (ft. Donna Summer)	Barbra Streisand	1979	A disco-power-ballad anthem of female empowerment, written by Paul Jabara and Bruce Roberts, performed by two iconic divas at the height of their vocal powers. The backing vocals were performed by Julia Waters, Maxine Waters and Luther Waters, a legendary vocal group part of iconic records, such Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
whimsy	Girl Is Mine (ft. Paul McCartney)	Michael Jackson	1982	Michael Jackson wrote this playful love-triangle duet by two pop titans. Jackson and McCartney recorded the song together in April 1982 at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, which was home base for the Thriller sessions. This was the first single released off the Thriller album. Toto band members David Paich (piano), Steve Lukather (guitar), Jeff Porcaro (drums) and Steve Porcaro (synthesizer programming) contributed to this track.
whimsy	My Forbidden Lover	Chic	1979	A disco banger about dangerous love constructed by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, the two guitarists that founded Chic. Chic were pioneers of funk, disco, and post-disco grooves.
whimsy	Upside Down	Diana Ross	1980	Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, the duo behind the disco group Chic, wrote and produced “Upside Down”. Ross met the production duo backstage at a Chic concert in Santa Monica, California and told them she wanted her record to sound like that. Several Chic band members contributed to the track: Edwards on bass, Rodgers on guitar, Tony Thompson on drums, Raymond Jones and Andy Schwartz on keyboards, Alfa Anderson and Luci Martin on backing vocals and the signature Chic Strings from Karen Milne, Valerie Heywood, and Cheryl Hong.
whimsy	Love Really Hurts Without You	Billy Ocean	1976	A Motown-inspired track about romantic anguish. Billy Ocean (born Les Charles in 1950 in Trinidad) a UK-based singer and a huge Motown fan, became a hitmaker in soul and pop during the 70s and 80s.
whimsy	Que dolor	Raffaella Carrà	1982	Italian disco diva Carrà sings about the pain of love with flair and sass. A European pop icon, she mixed camp, glam, and sex appeal into pop anthems. The song was written by Danilo Vaona, Gianni Gastaldo and Ignacio Ballesteros Diaz.
whimsy	Livin’ Without You	Patricia Paay	1977	Patricia Anglaia Margareth Paaij (born on 7 April 1949 in Rotterdam, Netherlands) is a Dutch singer, radio host, glamour model and television personality. In 1984, Paay was the first glamour model in the Dutch edition of Playboy. In 2009, at age 60, she posed for the third time.
whimsy	Ave María	David Bisbal	2002	“Ave Maria’ is a Latin pop anthem filled with yearning. David Bisbal (born June 5, 1979 in Almeria, Andalusia, Spain), a Spanish pop singer, rose to fame from Operación Triunfo and became a major Latin music star.
whimsy	Elle Danse Seule	Axelle Red	1994	A melancholic chanson-pop track about solitude and womanhood written by French Richard Seff. Axelle is a Belgian singer-songwriter known for blending pop, soul, and feminist themes.
pram jam	The Muppet Show Theme	The Muppets & Joanna Newsom	1976	Written by Jim Henson and Sam Pottle for The Muppet Show. Inspired by vaudeville-style TV variety intros. The Muppets are a beloved puppet troupe created by Henson, and Joanna Newsom is an American harpist known for her whimsical voice. The lyrics set a playful, self-referential tone, celebrating entertainment itself.
pram jam	Hooray! Hooray! It’s A Holi-Holiday	Boney M.	1979	Written by Frank Farian and Fred Jay, inspired by the folk tune “Polly Wolly Doodle.” Boney M., a disco group created by Farian, mixed Caribbean and Euro-pop influences. The song is a carefree ode to festive vacations and letting go.
pram jam	Help, Get Me Some Help	Tony Ronald	1971	Written by Dutch singer-songwriter Siegfried Andre den Boer Kramer (aka Tony Ronald). Inspired by lighthearted pop with a dash of soul. Ronald was a Dutch singer active in Spain, famous for upbeat hits. The song humorously pleads for assistance in love troubles.
pram jam	Happy Feet	Paolo Conte	1999	Written by Italian singer-songwriter Paolo Conte, known for jazz-infused chansons. Inspired by the joy of dancing and swing-era nostalgia. The lyrics playfully capture the unstoppable urge to move when the rhythm hits.
pram jam	Live Is Life	Opus	1984	Written by Austrian rock band Opus as a celebratory anthem for their 11th anniversary concert. Inspired by live performance energy. The lyrics are a chant about unity, joy, and living in the moment. Diego Maradona turned ‘Live Is Life’ into a timeless hit in 1989, during his warming up with Italian football club Napoli for a game against Bayern Munich.
pram jam	C’est bon pour le moral	La Compagnie Créole	1983	Written by French Daniel Vangarde and Belgian producer Jean Kluger. The French Caribbean band is known for upbeat, tropical-infused pop. Inspired by the idea that music and dance are good for your spirits. The lyrics encourage joy and togetherness.
pram jam	Taka Takata	Paco Paco	1972	The song is originally recorded by Paco Paco (born Francisco Ropero Gómez on 27 May 1945, in Ourense, Galicia, Spain). It was written by Paco Paco and his Belgian father-in-law Al Verlane (born Alfons Maria G. Verlackt), drummer, vocalist, orchestra leader, owner of a dancing in Kontich (near Antwerp) named Villa Montebello and grand uncle of Bert, Pieter and Tine Embrechts.
pram jam	Eviva Espana	Samantha	1971	“Eviva España” (alternatively “Y Viva España” or “Que Viva España” or “Viva España”) is a 1971 Dutch language pop song from Belgium, originally written by composer Leo Caerts and lyricist Leo Rozenstraten, first recorded and performed by the Belgian singer Samantha ( (born Christiane Bervoets, on May 10, 1948 in Borgerhout, Antwerp, Belgium). The song became so ubiquitous in Latin America, and especially Spain, that it is now considered part of both cultures’ musical heritage.
pram jam	Qué Familia Más Original	Mágicos 60	1990	Adaptation of a Spanish novelty pop song celebrating quirky families. Mágicos 60 are a retro revival act specializing in Spanish-language hits. Lyrics humorously portray eccentric relatives in a lighthearted, singalong style.
pram jam	Un Rayo De Sol	Los Diablos	1970	Written by Rafael Trabucchelli, Giancarlo Bigazzi, and Enrico Polito. Los Diablos, a Spanish pop group, brought Mediterranean sunshine to their hits. Inspired by summer love, the song’s lyrics are a euphoric celebration of romance.
pram jam	Hot, Hot, Hot	Arrow	1983	Written by Alphonsus ‘Phonsie’ Cassell (Arrow) (Born Alphonsus Celestine Edmund Cassell on November 16, 1949, Monserrat, West Indies). Inspired by Caribbean soca party culture. The lyrics invite everyone to dance, sweat, and celebrate life. Arrow’s “Hot Hot Hot” was one of a few songs from the soca scene to break into the international pop and dance charts (albeit modestly) and become an instant classic. The song became even more popular when it was covered by Buster Poindexter in 1987.
pram jam	Swimming In The Pool	Radios	1991	Belgian pop-rock band The Radios wrote this playful track about the joys and awkwardness of summer swimming. Inspired by sunny escapism and pop harmonies.
pram jam	Empeta	Ragga Dee	2017	Afrobeat-inspired dance track blending traditional rhythms with modern club production. Ragga Dee, born Daniel Kazibwe, is a Ugandan musician and politician, an inspiration to all new era of Ugandan ragga dancehall musicians, ever creative with lyrics from right left and centre. The song is about two lovers vowing to wed each other surprisingly.
pram jam	Tout Le Monde Debout !	Neg’Marrons Feat. Mr Vegas	2003	Neg’Marrons is a French reggae/ragga/dancehall band from Garges-les-Gonesses, Val D’Oise (95) since 1995. Celebrating African Carribean pride and resilency with every drop. Mr. Vegas (Clifford Ray Smith) is a reggae vocalist born in Kingston, Jamaica, 29 September 1974. The song is written by Ben-J (Fabien Loubayi), Clifford Smith and Jacky Teixeira
pram jam	Vade Retro	Joe Dassin	1974	Written by Pierre Delanoë and Claude Lemesle. French-American singer-songwriter Joe Dassin (born Nov. 5, 1938 – died Aug. 20, 1980), a former doctor in Ethnology, was the first French-singing artist signed by CBS and released several hits during the 70’s. Inspired by playful storytelling, the lyrics are a humorous, pseudo-biblical warning about temptation.
pram jam	The Coffee Song	Osibisa	1976	Originally by Bob Hilliard and Dick Miles in 1946, inspired by Brazil’s coffee culture. Osibisa, a British Afro-pop band, founded in London in 1969 by four expatriate African and three Caribbean musicians, infused it with highlife and funk, turning it into a joyous celebration of abundance.
pram jam	Je vais à Rio (Remix)	Claude François	1977	Written by Claude Lemesle and Frank Thomas. Inspired by Brazilian carnival spirit. François, a major French pop star, sings of escaping to Rio for sun, dance, and happiness.
pram jam	Dag Zuster Ursula	Rob De Nijs	1974	Dutch singer Rob De Nijs (born December 26, 1942 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands), known for narrative pop, sings humorously about a sister named Ursula, inspired by light satire and playful storytelling. The text (“de vlinders achterna” in English “chasing the butterflies” and “naar Amerika” in English “to America”) comes from the letter that Mr. Prikkebeen wrote to his sister at the beginning of the comic strip of the same name. The song was written by Boudewijn de Groot and Lennaert Nijgh.
pram jam	Meester Prikkebeen (ft. Elly Nieman)	Boudewijn de Groot	1968	Written by Boudewijn de Groot and Lennaert Nijgh. De Groot, a leading Dutch protest singer, blends folk with literary lyricism. Inspired by the first Dutch comic strip “Reizen en avonturen van Mijnheer Prikkebeen” (Travels and adventures of Mr. Prikkebeen), released in 1858. Elly Zuiderveld-Nieman (born in Hilversum, 7 April 1946) is a Dutch singer, television presenter and actress.
pram jam	Mirza	Nino Ferrer	1965	Written by Nino Ferrer, inspired by a wandering dog, the lyrics humorously plead for Mirza to come back. Nino Ferrer (born Agostino Ferrari) was a French-Italian singer blending soul, jazz, and pop. In the summer of 1965, Nino performed with his band in nightclubs across the South-East, including La Playa, a club-restaurant in Fréjus-Plage. Between sets, La la la la la by Little Stevie Wonder was played. At that moment, an old lady rallied the audience to find her lost dog, named Mirza, which inspired Nino Ferrer to write the song. Hergé’s The Adventures of Tintin, features several times the disappearance of a dog named Mirza.
pram jam	I Wan’na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)	Louis Prima, Phil Harris & Bruce Reitherman	1967	Written by the Sherman Brothers for Disney’s The Jungle Book. Inspired by jazz and swing to match King Louie’s character. Lyrics humorously express a monkey’s wish to be human. It was performed by singer and musician Louis Prima as King Louie, with Phil Harris providing additional vocals as Baloo the bear and Bruce Reitherman voicing Mowgli.
pram jam	Hakuna Matata	Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, Joseph Williams & Nathan Lane	1994	Inspired by the Swahili phrase meaning “no worries”, this playful life philosophy song from the 1994 Disney classic The Lion King, written by Elton John and Tim Rice, Timon the meerkat (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa the warthog (Ernie Sabella) share their worry-free philosophy with Simba (Matthew Broderick), a lion cub who is grieving over the death of his father.
pram jam	Saddle Up	David Christie	1982	This playful cowboy-themed dance hit was written by David Christie and Jack Robinson, inspired by disco’s last wave. David Christie (born Jacques Pepino on 1 January 1948 in Tarare, Rhône in eastern France) was a French singer-songwriter who died by suicide in 1997 in Capbreton, following the accidental death of his 11-year-old daughter Julia, he had with the singer Nina Morato.
pram jam	Enfants De Tous Pays	Enrico Macias	1962	“Enfants De Tous Pays” (in English ‘Children of all countries’) was written and performed by Enrico Macias (born Gaston Ghrenassia to a Sephardic Jewish family), Roving Ambassador for Peace and the Defence of Children. The lyrics, inspired by peace and multiculturalism, are a plea for unity among children worldwide.
pram jam	Boum	Charles Trénet	1938	Written by Charles Trénet (born in Avenue Charles Trenet, Narbonne, Occitanie, France) inspired by the sound of the heart (“boum”) when in love. A whimsical chanson classic from France’s “Le Fou chantant” (The Singing Fool). It was one of several songs that Trenet wrote for the film La Route enchantée, for which he also wrote the screenplay and played the leading role.
pram jam	Oh Boy (The Mood I’m In)	Brotherhood Of Man	1977	The song is written by Tony Romeo, inspired by 60s bubblegum pop, initially recorded by Australian singer Diana Trask in 1974. Lyrics express bubbly infatuation.
pram jam	Theme of The Nanny	Ann Hampton Callaway	1993	“The Nanny Named Fran” was written by Ann Hampton Callaway and performed by her and her sister Liz Callaway. The Nanny is an American sitcom, starring Fran Drescher as Fran Fine, a Jewish fashionista from Flushing, Queens, who becomes the nanny of three children from an Anglo-American upper-class family in New York City. Ann Hampton Callaway (born May 30, 1958) is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and actress.
smooth jazz (part one)	Go Away Little Girl	Richard “Groove” Holmes	1966	“Go Away Little Girl” was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King in 1962 and the first hit by Steve Lawrence. Richard Holmes reinterpreted it as a soul-jazz organ instrumental. A bittersweet tune about resisting temptation.
smooth jazz (part one)	I Got So Much Trouble	Charles Kynard	1971	This Soul-jazz groove with gospel and funk influences, from the album Wa-Tu-Wa-Zui (Beautiful People), showcases Kynard’s organ-driven funk-jazz style.
smooth jazz (part one)	Gone With the Wind	Tal Farlow	1956	The Jazz standard “Gone with the Wind” was written by Allie Wrubel with lyrics by Herb Magidson and published in 1937. It is a wistful song about love lost; Tal Farlow’s (born Talmage Holt Farlow and nicknamed “Octopus” because of how his large, quick hands spread over the fretboard) guitar version emphasises harmonic sophistication.
smooth jazz (part one)	Shout It Right	Raf D Backer	2007	This song is written and performed by Raphaël Debacker. Raf D Backer is a young Belgian contemporary jazz piano player who binds tradition and contemporary elements in a very natural, elegant and sophisticated manner.
smooth jazz (part one)	Miccettina	Stefano Di Battista	2007	Italian saxophonist Di Battista’s composition, from the album Trouble Shootin’, blends modern jazz with Mediterranean lyricism. Born February 14, 1969 in Rome, Stefano Di Battista was encouraged to go to Paris by the pianist Jean-Pierre Como who heard him during the summer of 1992 at the Festival of Calvi. The saxophone was designed around 1840 by Adolphe Sax, a Belgian instrument maker born in Dinant who moved to Paris in 1842 to establish his musical instrument business.
smooth jazz (part one)	Spend A Little Time	Rohn Lawrence	1998	Written by Andrew Sherman and performed by US smooth jazz guitar player Rohn Lawrence from his 1998 album ‘See Ya Around’.
smooth jazz (part one)	Bright Lights	Spyro Gyra	1979	This Jazz fusion instrumental, evoking city nightlife energy, was written by Dave Samuels and features Jay Beckenstein, saxophonist and founder of the fusion band Spyro Gyra, formed in the mid-1970s in Buffalo, New York.
smooth jazz (part one)	Montreux (ft. Toots Thielemans)	Sofie	1999	This song was written by Hervé Martens and Sofie (born Sofie Verbruggen on May 8, 1956 in Antwerp). This smooth-jazz track honoring the Montreux Jazz Festival, features harmonica legend Toots Thielemans.
smooth jazz (part one)	It Might Be You (Theme from Tootsie)	Stephen Bishop	1982	A tender ballad about waiting for love, written for the film Tootsie by husband and wife songwriting team Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It is one of Stephen Bishop’s best-known songs.
smooth jazz (part one)	Walkin’	Herbie Mann Afro-Jazz Sextet	1961	Herbie Mann’s sextet gave this jazz standard, written by Richard Carpenter and Jimmy Mundy in 1954, a Latin/Afro-jazz flavour.
smooth jazz (part one)	Lily’s Lounge	Bert Joris	2006	Bert Joris is a Belgian trumpeter, born 18 January 1957 in Antwerp, Belgium. Joris wrote ‘Lily’s Lounge’, an atmospheric modern jazz piece, blending lyricism with contemporary big-band textures.
smooth jazz (part one)	A Swingin’ Safari	Bert Kaempfert	1962	Bert Kaempfert modeled this music on the sound produced by blowing penny whistles (brass flutes) in the same particular way as in South African Kwela music. The trumpet solo is performed by German Manfred “Fred” Moch. This light, playful instrumental became famous as the theme for TV’s Match Game. The son of a painter and decorator, Berthold Heinrich Kaempfert (nicknamed “Fips”) was born on 16 October 1923 in Barmbek, Hamburg.
smooth jazz (part one)	Minor Swing	Martin Taylor	1997	Cover of Django Reinhardt’s 1937 gypsy-jazz classic. “Minor Swing” is a gypsy jazz tune composed by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, first recorded by their group The Quintet of the Hot Club of France in 1937. A joyful swing instrumental with improvisational guitar solos. Taylor’s version showcases virtuoso solo jazz guitar.
smooth jazz (part one)	Drive Time	Chris Botti	2001	Chris Botti (born Christopher Stephen Botti on October 12, 1962 in Portland, Oregon) wrote this smooth jazz trumpet piece with contemporary groove. The title, which suggests late-night cruising, comes from his Night Sessions album.
smooth jazz (part one)	Creepin’	The Crusaders	1974	The Crusaders is an American jazz group formed in Los Angeles in 1960. “Creepin’” was written by Joseph Leslie “Joe” Sample (February 1, 1939 – September 12, 2014) an American pianist, keyboard player, and composer born and based in Houston, Texas. He was one of the founding members of the Jazz Crusaders, the band which became simply The Crusaders in 1971, and remained a part of the group until its final album in 1991 (not including the 2003 reunion album Rural Renewal).
smooth jazz (part one)	Skyscrapers	Eumir Deodato	1973	This funk-jazz instrumental with big arrangements is written by Eumir Deodato and appears on his album ‘Deodato 2’. Deodato (born Eumir Deodato De Almeida) is a Brazilian musician, composer, arranger, producer, and artist, known for fusing Brazilian rhythms with electric jazz.
smooth jazz (part one)	This Is What You Are	Mario Biondi	2006	“This Is What You Are” is undoubtedly Mario Biondi’s most celebrated work. Smooth, retro-styled jazz-soul ballad about love and admiration. Italian singer Biondi is praised for his deep, Barry White-like voice. This version features The High Five Quintet: Lorenzo Tucci-drums, Fabrizio Bosso-trumpet, Daniele Scannapieco -sax, Luca Mannutza-piano and Pietro Ciancaglini-bass.
smooth jazz (part one)	I’m Ready for Your Love	Earl Klugh	1980	Earl Wilbert Klugh Jr., born on September 16, 1953 in Detroit, Michigan, is known for melodic, crossover-friendly jazz. He wrote this smooth jazz guitar piece with romantic tone from his album “Dream Come True”.
smooth jazz (part one)	Breezin’	George Benson	1976	This song is a cover of the original by Bobby Womack in 1971. George Benson’s instrumental guitar version became a huge crossover hit, defining smooth jazz. The title reflects a laid-back, carefree vibe. George Benson (born on 22 March 1943 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) is an American guitarist, vocalist, composer.
smooth jazz (part two)	Strut	Jimmy Smith	1980	A funk-jazz organ track from the album 80’s, showing Smith adapting to disco/fusion grooves. Mostly instrumental, intended as danceable Hammond B3 funk. Jimmy Smith (James Oscar Smith) was an American jazz musician who helped popularise the Hammond B-3 organ, creating a link between jazz and 1960s soul music. In 2005,
smooth jazz (part two)	Acid Rock	The Funkees	1971	The Funkees were a Nigerian afro-rock group formed in the late 1960s that moved to London in 1973 and quickly gained prominence in the expatriate West African and West Indian music scene. This Nigerian Afro-rock track blending funk, psychedelic rock, and highlife rhythms represents the Nigerian post-war “Afrobeat-funk” explosion.
smooth jazz (part two)	Joe, The Farmer	Raf D Backer	2007	Belgian contemporary jazz piano player’s modern fusion piece. Title likely pays tribute to an everyman character; instrumental with groove-driven improvisation.
smooth jazz (part two)	Dorian 0437	Jack Sels	1961	Jean Jacques Sels (born on 29 January 1922 in Berchem, Belgium and died 21 March 1970 in Antwerp, Belgium) was a Belgian tenor saxophone player. Jack Sels, a prominent figure in the Belgian jazz scene, began his journey in music by collecting jazz records as a teenager while growing up in Antwerp. He was one of the legends of Belgian Jazz and a highly influential figure on the post-war Belgian Jazz scene. The “Dorian” suggests use of the Dorian mode; atmospheric, exploratory instrumental.
smooth jazz (part two)	Sneakin’ Up Behind You	The Brecker Brothers	1975	The Brecker Brothers was the musical duo of Michael (saxophone and EWI) and Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn), who recorded commercially successful jazz fusion albums together in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. This funk-fusion instrumental with horn-driven riffs, from their self-titled debut album, became a fusion standard that showcased the brothers’ NY session energy. The song is written by Don Grolnick, Will Lee, Dave Sanborn, Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker.
smooth jazz (part two)	Room 3	Johnny Coles Quartet	1961	Trumpeter Johnny Coles’ bop piece from the album ‘The Warm Sound’ is a complex hard-bop with lyrical trumpet.
smooth jazz (part two)	Come On, Come Over	Jaco Pastorius	1975	John Francis Anthony Pastorius III, also known as Jaco Pastorius (born December 1, 1951 and died September 21, 1987) was an American jazz bassist, composer, and producer. He was member of the jazz fusion group Weather Report from 1976 to 1981. Bob Herzog and Jaco Pastorius wrote this funk-fusion song. It comes from Jaco’s self-titled debut album, featuring Sam & Dave on vocals, Alto Saxophone, Soloist – David Sanborn, Baritone Saxophone – Howard Johnson, Bass Trombone – Peter Graves, Congas – Don Alias, Drums – Narada Michael Walden, Keyboards – Herbie Hancock, Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker, Trumpet – Randy Brecker and Ron Tooley.
smooth jazz (part two)	Red Baron	Billy Cobham	1973	This funk-jazz fusion tune from the album ‘Spectrum’ is a laid-back groove with Billy Cobham’s powerful drumming that became one of his signature pieces. Billy Cobham (born William Emanuel Cobham on May 16, 1944 in Panama) is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader. He is the brother of multi instrumentalist Wayne Cobham. Billy Cobham is a Swiss resident since the 1980s and lives in Schüpfen, canton Bern.
smooth jazz (part two)	Incidental Affair	Chris Joss	2014	This French producer’s acid-jazz/funk instrumental is a cinematic, retro-funk vibe, drawing on 70s blaxploitation soundtracks. Playing all instruments including drums, bass, guitar and keyboards Chris Joss produces, mixes and masters all his recordings making sound production an integral part of his compositions. Chris is no longer playing live due to severe tinnitus and hyperacusis making performing in loud environments impossible.
smooth jazz (part two)	Lily Was Here (ft. Candy Dulfer)	Dave Stewart	1989	“Lily Was Here” is a single released in November 1989 from the Dutch movie “De Kassière”. The smooth jazz/pop instrumental with saxophonist Candy Dulfer, daughter of Dutch sax legend Hans Dulfer. Guitar is by David A. Stewart and drums by Swedish producer & percussionist Olle Romo (formerly Eurythmics drummer mid-to-late 80’s).
smooth jazz (part two)	Celestial Blues	Deep Jazz	2007	Cover of Andy Bey’s 1974 spiritual-jazz vocal. Lyrics describe cosmic peace and transcendence. Deep Jazz’s version brings modern groove. Andy Bey (born on October 28, 1939 in Newark, New Jersey and died April 26, 2025, Englewood, New Jersey, USA) was a jazz and soul pianist and baritone singer. According to Savoyjazz.com, he was John Coltrane’s favourite singer.
smooth jazz (part two)	Mustang	Donald Byrd	1966	This hard-bop album title track with soul-jazz influences was written by Sylvester Kyner Jr. (a.k.a. Sonny Red). It features Byrd’s lyrical trumpet and Horace Silver’s influence. Donald Byrd (born Donaldson Toussaint L’Ouverture Byrd II on December 9, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, USA and died February 4, 2013 in Dover, Delaware, USA) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, bandleader and educator.
smooth jazz (part two)	Black & Bitter (ft. James Copley)	Electro Deluxe	2007	This funk-jazz-soul track with gritty vocals was written by Electro Deluxe, James Copley and Thomas Faure. Electro Deluxe is a French nu-jazz group, formed in 2001, mixing modern groove with retro soul energy. James Copley is an American singer from Cincinnati.
smooth jazz (part two)	Un Été à Paris	DJ Cam	1996	This downtempo trip-hop/jazz fusion track called “Un Été À Paris” or “Summer In Paris” evokes atmospheric, cinematic Parisian moods. DJ Cam (real name Laurent Daumail) is a French DJ/producer, born on the 29th of March 1973 in Paris.
smooth jazz (part two)	Cheeka’s Dance	Richard “Groove” Holmes	1971	Richard Holmes (Richard Arnold Jackson), renowned for his Hammond B3 grooves, wrote this soul-jazz organ tune blending blues and funk.
smooth jazz (part two)	Listen Here	Gene Harris	1989	A cover of American jazz and funk saxophonist, pianist, vocalist and composer Eddie Harris’ 1966 soul-jazz tune. . American jazz pianist and keyboard player Gene Harris gives this funky, riff-driven instrumental, a gospel-jazz edge.
smooth jazz (part two)	Memphis Underground	Herbie Mann	1969	Herbie Mann (real name Herbert Jay Solomon, a.k.a. Herbert Solomon) is an American jazz flutist, tenor saxophonist, clarinetist & bass clarinetist who branched out to latin jazz, reggae and disco, to name some of the styles he explored. This jazz-funk instrumental with flute, guitar, and groove comes from his landmark Memphis Underground album, a cornerstone of jazz fusion.
smooth jazz (part two)	Vista	Yaron Herman	2015	Yaron Herman is an Israeli jazz and experimental pianist, born 12 July 1981 in Tel-Aviv, Israel, now living in Paris, France. This modern jazz piano piece comes from his 2015 album ‘Everyday’ and holds European contemporary jazz influences.
smooth jazz (part two)	Suite Sioux	Freddie Hubbard	1973	Freddie Hubbard was born on April 7, 1938, In Indianapolis, Indiana and moved in 1958 to New York where he quickly established himself as one of the bright young trumpeters on the scene. He achieved his greatest popular success with his early ‘70s jazz albums Red Clay (1970), Straight Life (1970) and First Light (1971). This modal/fusion jazz composition from the album ‘Red Clay’ is spiritual-jazz inspired, with tribal rhythmic undertones. The recording features Freddie Hubbard — trumpet, Joe Henderson – tenor sax, Herbie Hancock — piano, Ron Carter – bass and Lennie White — drums.
smooth jazz (part two)	The Gypsy	Martin Taylor	1992	Dr. Martin Taylor (born on 20 October 1956 in Harlow, Essex, England) is a virtuoso guitarist, composer, educator and musical innovator. This is a cover of the 1945 pop ballad by English orchestra leader and songwriter Billy Reid (1902-1975). The lyrics (by vocalist Dorothy Squires) tell of a fortune teller foretelling lasting love. Taylor’s solo guitar version is lyrical and introspective.
smooth jazz (part three)	Organ Grinder’s Swing	Jimmy Smith	1965	“Organ Grinder’s Swing” is a song composed by Will Hudson, with lyrics credited to Mitchell Parish and Irving Mills, published in 1936. It became associated with the Jimmie Lunceford orchestra. Hudson based the “Organ Grinder’s Swing” on the nursery rhyme “I Love Coffee, I Love Tea”. The title’ refers to a street organist and evokes playful swing. The organ-led swing-jazz version by Jimmy Smith featured on his Organ Grinder Swing’ album.
smooth jazz (part three)	Book’s Bossa	Donald Byrd	1964	The song was written by Cedar Walton and Walter Booker. This bossa-nova influenced jazz piece from the album ‘Up With Donald Byrd’ combines Latin rhythms with Byrd’s lyrical trumpet. The title refers to Byrd’s sideman Duke Pearson (“Book”).
smooth jazz (part three)	Trio Blues	John Scofield	1980	John Scofield (born December 26, 1951, Dayton, Ohio), often referred to as “Sco”, is an American jazz-rock guitarist and composer. A bluesy jazz guitar trio track from Bar Talk. Showcases Scofield’s early style: funky lines and sharp phrasing. Instrumental mood: relaxed, playful blues.
smooth jazz (part three)	Wesley Street	Alvin Dyers	2000	Guitarist, Alvin Dyers, has a signature sound that blends elements of Latin, Cape Goema, African and Jazz. In 2000 he released his debut album, ‘Wesley Street’, named after a Cape Town location.
smooth jazz (part three)	Slo Booze	Richard “Groove” Holmes	1961	In this slow, bluesy organ shuffle Holmes’ Hammond B3 sound defines the tune of the instrumental mood: smoky, late-night blues. Richard Arnold “Groove” Holmes (born Richard Arnold Jackson in Camden, New Jersey on May 2, 1931 and died St. Louis, Missouri on June 29, 1991) was an American jazz organist who performed in the hard bop and soul jazz genre and is considered a precursor of acid jazz, influenced by sax players, like a lot of organ players.
smooth jazz (part three)	Red Black and Green	Roy Ayers	1973	This Afrocentric funk-jazz anthem reflecting on Black pride and cultural identity come from the Roy Ayers Ubiquity’s album ‘Red Black & Green’. The lyrics are a celebration of Black consciousness in the 70s. Roy Ayers (born Roy Edward Ayers, Jr. on September 10, 1940 in Los Angeles, California and died March 4, 2025 in New York) was an American funk, soul and jazz vibraphone player, composer and producer.
smooth jazz (part three)	Captain Bacardi	Harry Allen	2015	This is a cover of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s 1967 bossa nova tune, a lighthearted Brazilian samba dedicated to Jobim’s pilot friend. Allen gives it a warm tenor sax treatment. Harry Allen (born in Washington D.C. in 1966), is an American tenor saxophonist, composer, recording artist, arranger and producer.
smooth jazz (part three)	Nothin’ but Love	Boney James	1997	A smooth jazz saxophone track from the album ‘Sweet Thing’, an instrumental mood: sensual and upbeat. Boney James (born James Oppenheim on September 01, 1961 in Lowell, Massachusetts) is an American jazz saxophonist (tenor and soprano) and producer.
smooth jazz (part three)	Brooklyn Breeze	Will Downing	2002	Will Downing (born on 29.11.1963 in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, New York), known as The Prince of Sophisticated Soul, is one of the most versatile and loved voices of our time. This smooth-jazz/R&B vocal track celebrating New York romance comes from Downing’s 2002 album ‘Sensual Journey’.
smooth jazz (part three)	Harlem Swing	Gus & Gus	1942	Gus & Gus where Gus Viseur (born Gustave-Joseph Viseur in Lessines, Belgium on 15 May 1915 and died in Paris, France on 25 August 1974), a leading musette, swing and jazz-manouche (gypsy jazz) accordionist of the 1930s-1950s and Gus Deloof (born August Deloof on September 26, 1909 in Brussels, Belgium where he died on January 18, 1976), a Belgian jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader. This track was written by Gus Deloof and features on accordion – G. Viseur, bass – J. Petitsigne, clarinet – J. Lowens, guitar – Joseph Reinhardt (nicknamed Nin-Nin, brother of Django Reinhardt) and R. Chaput and trombone – G. Deloof.
smooth jazz (part three)	Thanks For The Memory	Stan Getz	1953	This jazz standard from 1938 composed by Ralph Rainger, including lyrics by Leo Robin, is a nostalgic ballad about bittersweet memories of love. Stan Getz’s tenor sax version is cool, lyrical and understated. This track appeared on his 1953 album ‘The Artistry Of Stan Getz’. Stan Getz (real name Stanley Gayetzsky) was born at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Feb. 2, 1927. His parents had come from the Kiev area in Ukraine in 1903.
smooth jazz (part three)	Peter’s Waltz	The Sahib Shihab Quintet	1968	A lyrical 3/4-time waltz composed by saxophonist Sahib Shihab during his European period. Sahib Shihab (born Edmund Gregory on June 23, 1925 in Savannah, Georgia and died on October 24, 1989 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American jazz baritone saxophonist, also flutist and alto saxophonist. He changed his name on conversion to Islam in 1947.
smooth jazz (part three)	In Full Swing	Ronny Jordan	1999	Original. Acid-jazz guitar track from A Brighter Day. Blends funk, hip-hop groove, and jazz improvisation. Instrumental mood: energetic, urban jazz.
smooth jazz (part three)	Brand New Thing (ft. Steve Williamson)	Us3	1993	This acid-jazz/hip-hop fusion track, from the 1993 album ‘The Jazz Mixes’, celebrates jazz’s innovation and reinvention, featuring English saxophonist and composer Steve Williamson (born 28 June 1964 in London). Us3 is a jazz-rap group founded in London in 1992. Their name was inspired by a Horace Parlan recording produced by Alfred Lion, the founder of Blue Note Records.
smooth jazz (part three)	Pick Up the Pieces (New Jazz Mix)	Average White Band	2005	In spite of their name, AWB was that rarest of musical species: a band out of Scotland that specialised in R&B funk. This high-spirited instrumental (the only lyrics being the occasional chanting of the song’s title) was their signature tune.
smooth jazz (part three)	Mr. Walker	Wes Montgomery	1960	This blues tune from Wes Montgomery (born John Leslie Montgomery on 6 March 1923 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA and died on 15 June 1968 (sudden heart attack) in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA) comes from his 1960 album ‘The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery’. Known for his thumb-picking and the use of octaves, Montgomery plays his original “Mr. Walker” with the dynamic Philadelphia rhythm section of brothers Percy Heath on bass and drummer Albert Heath.
smooth jazz (part three)	Things We Said Today	Larry Carlton	1993	This is a cover of The Beatles’ 1964 ballad by Larry Carlton featuring Michele Pillar. Carlton reimagined it as a smooth jazz guitar instrumental. Michele Pillar Carlton (born Michele Diane Pillar on July 26, 1955), Larry Carlton’s wife, is a contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter and occasional actress. Larry Carlton (born March 2, 1948) was shot in the neck during a random gang related shooting. Larry struggled through physical and emotional recovery and Michele stood by his side, supporting his children and his efforts through every step.
smooth jazz (part three)	Thelonious	Thelonious Monk	1947	Thelonious Monk is one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time and one of first creators of modern jazz. Born on October 10 1917, in North Carolina, the young Thelonious Monk found himself aged 5 moving to Manhattan and what would soon become the heart of the jazz world. This is one of Monk’s signature compositions; quirky, angular bebop tune that represents Monk’s unique harmonic sense and humour. The tune was first recorded on October 15, 1947, for the Genius of Modern Music sessions.
smooth jazz (part three)	Blue Mance	Junior Mance	1964	This soulful bluesy piano composition ‘Blue Mance’ was a music composition of the famous 20th century Human jazz musician Junior Mance. Julian Clifford Mance, Jr. (October 10, 1928 – January 17, 2021), known as Junior Mance, was an American jazz pianist and composer.
smooth jazz (part three)	Can’t Get Satisfied	Brother Jack McDuff	1967	A funky instrumental groove with gospel influences written by Brother Jack McDuff. Jack McDuff (born Eugene McDuffy on 17 September 1926, Champaign, Illinois, U.S.A. and died 23 January 2001, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A.) was a talented bandleader and organist with the Hammond B-3 who started his career in the 50s as a pianist and bass player.
a blast from the past	Hot Shot	Karen Young	1978	This disco anthem about passion and attraction on the dance floor, written by Andrew Kahn & Kurt Borusiewicz, became a club classic, with extended versions popular in 70s discos. The song was a featured sample in Daft Punk’s song “Indo Silver Club” on their album Homework.
a blast from the past	I Love Your Smile (Hakeem’s mix)	Shanice	1992	Joyful R&B/pop song expressing happiness in love, written by Shanice Wilson, Narada Michael Walden, and Jarvis Baker in 1991. The 1992 Hakeem remix extended its chart life. Grammy-nominated. It features a saxophone solo by Branford Marsalis as well as laughter from Janet Jackson.
a blast from the past	Daydream Believer	The Monkees	1967	“Daydream Believer” is a song composed by American songwriter John Stewart shortly before he left the Kingston Trio. It was recorded by the Monkees, with Davy Jones singing the lead. The Monkees were originally a fictional band created for the NBC television sitcom The Monkees.
a blast from the past	Jimmy (De Eenzame Fietser)	Boudewijn de Groot	1973	Original performer. Dutch folk-rock ballad about loneliness and social outcasts (“the lonely cyclist”). Lyrics by Lennaert Nijgh. Became a Dutch classic.
a blast from the past	Who Loves You	The Four Seasons	1975	Original performer. Disco-flavored comeback hit, lyrics offering encouragement after heartbreak. Revived the group’s career in the 70s. Written by Bob Gaudio & Judy Parker.
a blast from the past	Knowing Me, Knowing You	ABBA	1977	Original performer. Breakup ballad about the sadness of separation. Later seen as prophetic of group turmoil. Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus & Stig Anderson.
a blast from the past	Wuthering Heights	Kate Bush	1978	This song, written by Kate Bush when she was 18, retells Emily Brontë’s novel about two young people, Catherine and Heathcliff, from Catherine’s ghostly perspective. Bush’s debut single was the first UK #1 by a woman with a self-written song.
a blast from the past	Judy Teen	Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel	1974	Original performer. Glam-rock track with surreal, playful lyrics about a fantasy girl. Helped establish Harley’s eccentric style. Written by Steve Harley.
a blast from the past	Last of the English Roses (Radio Edit)	Peter Doherty	2009	Written by Peter Doherty, this nostalgic ballad romanticising lost English charm and personal memories was his debut solo single. The mention of specific brands (‘Kappas from her Reebok’) and slang (‘tit from her tat’) serves as more than mere placeholders for Britain’s 90s youth culture, as these are cultural anchors, the fabric in which a generation was clothed, both literally and figuratively.
a blast from the past	Good Year for the Roses	Elvis Costello & The Attractions	1981	Originally recorded by George Jones (1970), written by Jerry Chesnut. When Chesnut bought a home on Old Hickory Lake in Tennessee, he planted Hybrid Tea Roses along the walk and lovingly nurtured them until they were killed by an unseasonably wet spring. He was told, “It’s just not been a good year for roses”. Elvis Costello’s cover brought country melancholy into new wave.
a blast from the past	Crimson and Clover	Tommy James & the Shondells	1968	Tommy James constructed this slice of psychedelia from his favorite color and his favorite flower. Psychedelic ballad inspired by two words James liked the sound of with a dreamy guitar and vocal effects. Written by Tommy James and drummer Peter Lucia and widely covered later (Joan Jett, etc.).
a blast from the past	The Captain of Her Heart	Double	1985	Double was the Swiss duo of Zurich natives Kurt Maloo (vocals, guitar) and Felix Haug (drums, keyboard) who joined forces in 1981 and wrote this smooth jazz-pop ballad about emotional distance in love.
a blast from the past	Heartbreaker	Dionne Warwick	1982	Ballad about the pain of loving someone who is emotionally unavailable. Written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb (Bee Gees) who later recorded their own version.
a blast from the past	We Don’t Need Another Hero	Tina Turner	1985	“We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” is a song written by Graham Lyle and Terry Britten for the soundtrack album to the 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Tina Turner was backed by a choral group from King’s House School in Richmond, London.
a blast from the past	Tonight (ft. Tina Turner)	David Bowie	1984	Originally written and recorded by David Bowie & Iggy Pop on Lust for Life (1977). David Bowie covered the song with guest singer Tina Turner in 1984, featuring a repeated sample from Aretha Franklin’s version of “Spanish Harlem”. It is about offering comfort in the face of death.
a blast from the past	Could You Be Loved	Bob Marley & The Wailers	1980	This uplifting reggae anthem, written by Bob Marley, about resilience, unity, and love may have something to do with Brazil. The Brazilian instrument in the intro is a cuica or “friction drum”. Toward the end of the song, the backup singers the I-Threes sing lines from Marley’s first single, “Judge Not,” a Ska tune about morality released in 1962: “The road of life is rocky, and you may stumble too. So while you point a finger, someone else is judging you.”
a blast from the past	Mary Jane Shoes (ft. Rita Marley & The I-Threes)	Fergie	2006	Mary Jane Shoes, from Fergie’s debut solo album The Dutchess, is one of the few Fergie tracks where she blended pop with reggae, bringing in Rita Marley & The I-Threes (Bob Marley’s backing vocalists) as a tribute to Marley’s legacy. The lyrics are a playful celebration of dancing, joy, and fashionable shoes — with “Mary Jane” referencing both the shoe style and possibly a wink to cannabis slang (Mary Jane = Marijuana). Written by Fergie (Stacy Ferguson), Sean Garrett, will.i.am, Rita Marley, and others.
a blast from the past	Blue Suede Shoes	Elvis Presley	1956	Blue Suede Shoes is one of the foundational rock ’n’ roll songs, with both Perkins and Presley’s versions shaping its history. The song is original written and first recorded by Carl Perkins (1955). This rockabilly anthem warning others not to step on the singer’s prized blue suede shoes was inspired when Perkins heard a soldier telling his date “don’t step on my blue suede shoes” at a dance. Perkins’ version hit #1 on the country chart, but Presley’s 1956 cover became the iconic rock ‘n’ roll version, cementing the song as a standard.
a blast from the past	New Shoes	Paolo Nutini	2006	This soul-pop track using “new shoes” as a metaphor for fresh starts was the breakthrough single for Nutini. It was written by Paolo Nutini, Jim Duguid & Matty Benbrook. Paolo Nutini (born Paolo Giovanni Nutini on January 9, 1987) is a Scottish singer-songwriter from Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
a blast from the past	Wake Me Up When September Ends	Green Day	2005	Emotional ballad inspired by Billie Joe Armstrong’s father’s death in September 1982. Later tied to 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina memorials. Written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool.
reverie	Écoute ce disque	Sheila	1964	Écoute ce disque (in English ‘Listen to this record’ is a French yé-yé pop tune urging the listener to play a record to feel love’s emotions. Sheila was one of France’s biggest 60s teen idols. Written by Claude Carrère.
reverie	A Song for You	Donny Hathaway	1971	Originally written & recorded by Leon Russell (1970). Hathaway’s soulful version is considered definitive, about a man confessing love and regret, offering a song as his truest expression.
reverie	Play Me	Neil Diamond	1972	Written by Neil Diamond this romantic ballad is portraying love as a song, with lyrics of devotion and longing. It became a Diamond concert staple.
reverie	Hallelujah	Leonard Cohen	1984	Written by Leonard Cohen, the lyrics mix biblical imagery (David, Samson) with themes of broken love and redemption. Initially overlooked, later immortalised through Jeff Buckley’s 1994 cover.
reverie	To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before	Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson	1984	Originally written by Albert Hammond & Hal David as a tribute to past loves who shaped one’s life. While first recorded by Albert Hammond (1975), the Iglesias/Nelson duet made it an international hit.
reverie	The Most Beautiful Girl	Charlie Rich	1973	This song is written by Billy Sherrill, Norro Wilson & Rory Bourke. First cut by Wilson (1972) The first recording and first release was titled ‘Hey Mister’ by Norro Wilson (August 7, 1968 / December 1968). The first recording and first release titled ‘The Most Beautiful Girl’ was by Joe Stampley (November 1972 / February 1973). Charlie Rich’s version was the crossover smash.
reverie	L’amour en héritage	Nana Mouskouri	1985	For Nana Mouskouri (born Joanna Petsilas in Greece on 13 October 1934), the white rose of Athens, love is a legacy passed through generations. This song was composed by Vladimir Cosma (music) with lyrics by Pierre Delanoë.
reverie	C’est la Vie	Sarah Vaughan	1955	This popular 1940 standard was written by Eddie White & Maxwell A. Wolfson. Sarah Vaughan, with the orchestra conducted by Hugo Peretti, gave it a jazz interpretation, adding her signature phrasing.
reverie	That’s Life	Frank Sinatra	1966	Cover version. Written by Dean Kay & Kelly Gordon; first recorded by Marion Montgomery (1963). Lyrics: resilience in the face of setbacks. Sinatra’s version became definitive.
reverie	La mia storia tra le dita	Gianluca Grignani	1994	La Mia Storia Tra Le Dita’ (in English ‘My Story Between My Fingers’) is an Italian pop-rock ballad about heartbreak and longing written by Gianluca Grignani. Sergio Dalma covered this breakout hit as “Tu historia entre mis dedos” in 2004.
reverie	Que reste-t-il de nos amours ?	Stacey Kent	1997	American Jazz artist Stacey Kent covered this song ‘Que reste-t-il de nos amours ?’ (in English ‘What remains of our love?’), originally by Charles Trenet (lyrics & music) & Léo Chauliac (music) in 1942. Among French, Italian and German, Stacey also speaks Portuguese. Her British husband Jim Tomlinson plays the saxophone.
reverie	Still Crazy After All These Years	Paul Simon	1975	Original performer. Reflection on time, aging, and past encounters. Title track of Grammy Album of the Year. Written by Paul Simon. The saxophone solo is by Mike Brecker.
reverie	Mía	Armando Manzanero	1967	The Romantic bolero claiming a lover as “Mía” (“Mine”) is a song by Mexican songwriter Armando Manzanero. On March 20, 2001 a new version of the song was recorded as a duet with Spanish singer Miguel Bosé and was included on Manzanero’s album Duetos.
reverie	Il ne pense qu’à toi	Nicole Croisille	1976	French chanson ‘Il ne pense qu’à toi’ (“He can only think of you”) about obsessive love written by Hubert Giraud and Jean-Pierre Lang was first released by French singer and actress Nicole Croisille (born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France on 9 October 1936 and died from liver cancer in Saint-Cloud, on 4 June 2025). She lived with Ménière’s disease, a disease of the inner ear that is characterised by potentially severe and incapacitating episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. The song was re-titled “Il ne pense qu’à toi” on the album release.
reverie	Madame	Claude Barzotti	1979	A song about painful, unrequited love written by Claude Barzotti and Harry Frékin (Henri Léon Van Cole). Claude Barzotti (born 23 July 1953 as Francesco Barzotti & died 24 June 2023) is a Belgian singer of Italian origin of the 1980s.
reverie	You Send Me	Sam Cooke	1957	This romantic soul ballad was Sam Cooke’s debut single. The song launched Sam Cooke’s solo pop career after his gospel years with The Soul Stirrers, and it helped define the smoother, melodic sound that became central to soul music’s mainstream success. While Sam Cooke is widely acknowledged as the song’s author and original performer, the original single’s publishing credit was given to L.C. Cook (L.C. Cooke) — Sam’s younger brother, who was also a singer. This crediting was used to navigate Sam Cooke’s complicated contractual and publishing arrangements at the time, so L.C. Cook received the official songwriter/publishing credit on early paperwork even though Sam is generally recognised as the creative force behind the song.
reverie	Twilight Time	The Platters	1958	This song is written with music by Artie Dunn, Al Nevins & Morty Nevins (1944) and lyrics added by Buck Ram (1946). The Platters’ doo-wop rendition became the classic. The Platters were one of the first African-American groups to be accepted as a major chart group and were, for a period of time, the most successful vocal group in the world.
reverie	Why Do Fools Fall in Love	Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers	1956	Teenage anthem about love’s irrational power written by Frankie Lymon & Herman Santiago (disputed credits later gave George Goldner claim). Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers were an American pioneering doo-wop group, formed in 1954 in Harlem, New York, renowned for their youthful lineup and the distinctive voice of 13-year-old lead singer Frankie Lymon.
reverie	Lemon Tree	Peter, Paul & Mary	1962	This song was originally written & recorded by Will Holt (1955) and compared love’s beauty and bitterness to a lemon tree. Peter, Paul & Mary were an American folk-singing trio formed in 1961.
reverie	Quand on n’a que l’amour	Jacques Brel	1956	Anthemic song about love as the only true wealth. This song talks about helplessness in the face of war in the context of the Algerian War. Written by Jacques Brel, Belgian singer, songwriter, actor and film director born April 8,1929 in Schaarbeek, Brussels, Belgium and died October 9, 1978 in Bobigny, France.
reverie	Perhaps Love	Plácido Domingo & John Denver	1981	This folk-pop and opera duet with Spanish opera singer Placido Domingo about love as shelter, storm, promise was written by John Denver. It was addressed to his wife Annie Martell (the eponym of his #1 hit “Annie’s Song”) while they were separated and moving towards a divorce. John Denver, born Henry John Deutschendorf, was a member of the Chad Mitchell Trio from 1964 to 1969, becoming the group’s lead singer.
reverie	Bright Eyes	Art Garfunkel	1979	“Bright Eyes,” written by British singer and songwriter Mike Batt for the movie ‘Watership Down’ based on the 1972 novel by Richard Adams and sung by Art Garfunkel. Arthur Ira Garfunkel was born on November 5, 1941, in Forest Hills, New York. He is the son of Rose and Jack Garfunkel and grew up with his two brothers, Jules (older) and Jerôme (younger), in a Jewish family with Moldavian roots.
reverie	You’ve Got a Friend	Carole King	1971	Written by Carole King for her album Tapestry. Carole King’s good friend James Taylor played acoustic guitar and recorded his own version of the song. Roberta Flack and Donnie Hathaway recorded the song as a duet and released it around the same time as Taylor.
reverie	Little Man	Sonny & Cher	1966	“Little Man” is a hit single by the pop duo Sonny and Cher released in 1966. It is written by Sonny Bono with Greek and gypsy overtones.
reverie	The Old Fashioned Way	Charles Aznavour	1973	“The Old Fashioned Way” is the English version of Charles Aznavour’s 1972 ‘Les plaisirs démodés’ song. The song was written by Charles Aznavour, Joel Hirschhorn, Al Kasha and Georges Garvarentz (music).
reverie	The Last Waltz	Engelbert Humperdinck	1967	This romantic ballad, comparing love’s end to a last dance, was one of ‘The King of Romance’ Engelbert Humperdinck’s biggest hits, written by Les Reed (music) & Barry Mason (lyrics).
time flies	Any Time At All	The Beatles	1964	Written mainly by John Lennon for A Hard Day’s Night, similar in feel to “It Won’t Be Long”. Lennon left two extra verses off because he felt they didn’t really advance the story in the song, the last of which started, “I’ll be waiting here all alone/Just like I’ve always done.” Lennon’s handwritten lyrics were auctioned for £6000 in 1988.
time flies	The Longest Time	Billy Joel	1983	A nostalgic doo-wop love song about rediscovering romance after loneliness. Inspired by Joel’s love of 1950s vocal groups; almost entirely a cappella. This is reminiscent of the 1963 doo-wop classic “So Much In Love” by The Tymes.
time flies	Half A Minute	Matt Bianco	1984	This Latin-jazz pop song reflecting on fleeting romantic passion was written by Kito Poncioni and became one of their signature hits. Matt Bianco is a UK group formed in 1982 by Mark Reilly (vocals), Danny White (keyboards) and the late Kito Poncioni (bass) , all originally members of the band Blue Rondo A La Turk. Matt Bianco is a fictitious character they invented from the spy, secret agent world that laid the concept for their music and imagery. Matt Bianco was formed in 1983 by Mark Reilly (vocals), Danny White (keyboard), Kito Poncioni (bass), all of whom had just left art pop group Blue Rondo à la Turk and Polish vocalist Basia Trzetrzelewska.
time flies	Just in Time	Corey Harris	2005	Corey Harris (born February 21, 1969, in Denver, Colorado, United States) is a roots, blues and world musician, currently residing in Charlottesville, Virginia. Along with Keb’ Mo’ and Alvin Youngblood Hart, he raised the flag of acoustic guitar blues in the mid-1990s. This song, from his 2005 album ‘Daily Bread’, was written by Harry M. Dennis Jr.
time flies	Longtime	Gappy Ranks	2010	Jacob Lee Williams (born c.1983), nicknamed “Gappy” due to the gap between his front teeth, initially worked under the name “Daddy Gappy”, before opting for the Cutty Ranks-influenced “Gappy Ranks”. Born in Harlesden to a Jamaican father and Dominican mother, he dealt with numerous problems; including homelessness after leaving school. This song is from his 2010 album ‘Thanks & Praise’, written by Thomas Join Lambert, Joseph Broussard and Jacob Lee Williams.
time flies	Timeless (ft. India Arie)	Sergio Mendes	2008	Sérgio Santos Mendes (born on February 11, 1941 in Niteròi, Rio de Janeiro and died September 5, 2024 in Los Angeles), was a Brazilian pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader. India.Arie (born India Arie Simpson on October 3, 1976 in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.) is an American singer/songwriter and wellness practitioner, who went from Woke Girl to Soul Sister to Earth Mother.
time flies	Time (ft. Boy George)	Culture Club	1982	This song, better known as Time (Clock of the Heart), was written collectively by Boy George, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig, and Jon Moss. It was Culture Club themselves who first released it, singing about the way time can heal broken hearts.
time flies	This Is the Right Time	Lisa Stansfield	1989	Written by Lisa Stansfield together with her longtime collaborators Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, the song was created as her international breakthrough single. She was the first to perform it, a joyful call to seize love in the present moment. Released on 31 July 1989 in the UK, “This Is the Right Time” was the first solo single from Lisa Stansfield’s debut album Affection. Her vibrant calling card to the world, combining dance-pop, house, and soul, was sleek, radiant, and full of optimism. Lisa Jane Stansfield was born at the Crumpshall Hospital in Manchester, England, on 11th April 1966.
time flies	All the Times I Cried	Sharleen Spiteri	2008	Written by Spiteri with Bernard Butler and Johnny McElhone. Spiteri herself introduced the song, which balances heartbreak with self-reliance. This ballad of heartbreak, sadness, and resilience, in Dusty Springfield-style, was Sharleen Spiteri’s first solo single after twenty years of fronting Texas. Sharleen Eugene Spiteri, of Maltese descent, was born on November 7, 1967 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Before forming Texas with Johnny McElhone, she was a hairdresser and continued hairdressing for 18 months after the formation of Texas because she needed the money. In 1998 she co-founded Glasgow based radio station, “Beat 106” with footballer Ally McCoist and TV presenter Carol Smillie, which they sold 8 months later to the Capital Radio Group for 32 million £.
time flies	Everytime I Think of You	The Babys	1979	Penned by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, the song was given to The Babys to perform first. Their version turned it into a soaring power ballad of longing and obsession. The band had some distinctive sounds in their DNA: from Tony Brock’s heavy drums, to Wally Stocker’s signature vibrato.
time flies	A Little Time	The Beautiful South	1990	Written by Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray, this duet was crafted specifically for The Beautiful South, with Dave Hemingway and Briana Corrigan trading lines. They introduced it themselves, making it their only UK #1 single.
time flies	Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye	Simply Red	1987	This classic torch song was originally written in 1944 by Cole Porter, first performed in revue settings of the time. Simply Red later revived it with their own soulful interpretation, keeping its bittersweet theme of lovers parting.
time flies	We Don’t Have That Much Time Together	Terence Trent D’Arby	1995	Written and first performed by Terence Trent D’Arby (later Sananda Maitreya), the song was crafted as a soulful meditation on enjoying love while it lasts.
time flies	Time’s Ticking	Isbells	2009	This reflective indie-folk piece was written and introduced by Gaëtan Vandewoude, frontman of Belgian band Isbells. He and the group were the first to perform it, reflecting on how fragile and short life can be. With Chantal Acda, Christophe Vandewoude, Gianni Marzo and Gerd Van Mulders Vandewoude gathered a strong group of musicians around him to shape his beautiful and fragile songs.
time flies	Let’s Waste Some Time	Molly Johnson	2008	Canadian jazz-soul singer Molly Johnson wrote and first performed this laidback, romantic song herself. It invites listeners to stop rushing and simply spend time together.
time flies	We Have All the Time in the World	Louis Armstrong	1969	Written by film composer John Barry with lyrics by Hal David for the James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the song was given to Louis Armstrong to record. It would be one of his final performances, filled with poignancy about eternal love. The song title is taken from James Bond (George Lazenby)’s final words in both the novel and the film, spoken after the death of Tracy Bond (Diana Rigg), his wife.
time flies	If I Only Had Time	John Rowles	1968	The song began as a French hit called ‘Je n’aurai pas le temps’, composed by Michel Fugain with lyrics by Pierre Delanoë in 1967. The following year new lyrics in English were written by journalist, writer and songwriter Jack Fishman and New Zealander John Rowles turned it into an international ballad of life’s brevity.
time flies	Todo el Tiempo del Mundo	Manolo Otero	1973	Manuel “Manolo” Otero Aparicio (born in Madrid on 25 June 1942 and died in Sao Paulo on 1st of June 2011) was the son of the opera and zarzuela baritone, Manuel Otero and the actress Amelia Aparicio. Manolo Otero had a degree in Philosophy and Literature and rose to fame in 1974 with his first album, “Todo el tiempo del mundo” (All the Time in the World). Ray Girado’s personal adaptation of the classic “Soleado”, an instrumental composed by Italian Ciro Dammicco under the pseudonym Zacar, somewhat imitating Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin’s “Je t’aime, moi non plus,” reached number one on the charts through Otero’s words and earned him the title of pioneer of sensual Spanish pop and spoken-word songs.
time flies	Time	Ben’s Brother	2007	Written and introduced by Jamie Hartman with his band Ben’s Brother, the song reflects on mortality and the need to live with urgency. The band themselves were the first to release it. The band was named after Jamie’s big brother Ben, whose shadow he lived in as a teenager.
time flies	Cherish	Kool & The Gang	1985	Written within the group by Robert Bell, Ronald Bell, James Taylor, and other members, Cherish, recorded in the Bahamas, was crafted as a gentle anthem of gratitude for love. Kool & The Gang themselves introduced it as one of their signature ballads.
time flies	Next Time	The Tibbs	2016	This soulful track was written and performed by Dutch retro-soul group The Tibbs, featuring the voice of Elsa Birgitta Bekman is a Dutch singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. They were the first to present it, weaving a lesson in heartbreak and hope for the future.
time flies	Bad Time	The Jayhawks	1995	Originally written and performed by Mark Farner for Grand Funk Railroad in 1975, Bad Time was a rock ballad about poorly timed love. Two decades later, The Jayhawks, an American alternative country and rock band formed in February 1985, at Minneapolis, Minnesota, gave it an alt-country reimagining.
time flies	Need a Little Time	Courtney Barnett	2018	Written and introduced by Courtney Barnett herself, the track reflects on self-doubt and the pressures of fame. Courtney Barnett (born Courtney Melba Barnett in Sydney on 3 November 1987) is an anti-influencer who is a powerful voice for our times, a recluse acclaimed by audiences the world over and a strong female artist in conflict with herself.
time flies	Let the Good Times Be Never Ending	The Charlatans	2015	This song was written and performed by The Charlatans themselves, with Tim Burgess leading. Their own recording was the first, a poignant plea to hold onto joy in the face of grief. Long-standing UK indie rock band, founded in 1988 in the West Midlands by bassist Martin Blunt. Marketed in North America as The Charlatans UK due to copyright issues with the ’60s San Francisco psych rock group with the same name.
baffled beats	Flashback	2 Fabiola	1995	Belgian Eurodance act 2 Fabiola introduced this track during the golden age of ‘90s club music. It’s about reliving euphoric memories through dance. Written by the group’s core producers Patrick Claesen and Zohra.
baffled beats	One More Day (Stay with Me)	Example	2014	British singer-rapper Example (Elliot Gleave) co-wrote and first performed this EDM-pop song. It pleads for just “one more day” together before a breakup.
baffled beats	In My Soul (Deep Mix)	Le Visiteur	2015	House/Nu Disco DJ, producer, promoter and blogger Le Visiteur (born John Hutchison, based in Edinburgh) created this as a deep house track; he himself introduced it. It’s built on hypnotic repetition, evoking introspection and soulful late-night moods.
baffled beats	Hot Right Now (ft. Rita Ora)	DJ Fresh	2012	“Hot Right Now” is a single by English drum and bass producer DJ Fresh featuring English singer Rita Ora, released on 13 February 2012 Produced by DJ Fresh (born Daniel Stein on 11 April 1977), this was one of the first drum-and-bass singles to reach #1 in the UK. It celebrates living fully “right now.” Rita Ora (born Rita Sahatçiu Ora on 26 November 1990 in Pristina, SFR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo)), is a British singer, songwriter and actress of Kosovar Albanian descent.
baffled beats	Limits	Calvin Harris	2009	One of Calvin Harris’s early tracks, written and recorded by him alone. As with much of his work, it mixes electronic funk with lyrics about the boundaries of love and patience. Calvin Harris (born Adam Richard Wiles on January 17, 1984 in Dumfries, Scotland) worked as a grocery store shelf-stacker at Marks & Spencer in Dumfries before becoming a DJ. The additional female voice is from Ayah Marar (born Laura Ayah Marar), a Jordanian singer, songwriter, performer, radio show host and label owner based full-time in the UK.
baffled beats	Uptight Downtown (Just Kiddin Remix)	La Roux	2014	Originally written and performed by La Roux, a British electro-pop act, initially started as a duo, consisting of vocalist Elly Jackson (born on 12 March 1988 in London, England) and producer Ben Langmaid, as an indie-disco anthem about London’s changing nightlife. Just Kiddin, the duo Laurie Revell and Lewis Thompson from Leicester (UK), remixed it, giving it a deeper house edge. .
baffled beats	Open Your Eyes	At The Villa People	1997	A Belgian club collective (Bruno Quartier and Etienne Vandewiele) created this track during the late ‘90s house boom. Jean Vanloo, a visionary producer from Mouscron, crafted legendary hits like “Born to be Alive” and collaborated with icons like Jimi Hendrix and Madonna. His daughter, Laurence Vanloo, founder of At The Villa (located in Kooiegem near Kortrijk, Belgium), transformed Belgium’s techno scene over nearly 37 years, with iconic events across ten venues. Working alongside her father she launched hits through the At The Villa label and drove the success of the H20 Club as creative director, leaving a lasting impact on European club culture.
baffled beats	Speechless (ft. Lois)	Mish Mash	2005	A Scottish electronic duo, Mish Mash wrote and recorded this house track with vocalist Lois. Lyrics describe the disarming, speechless effect of love. Mish Mash is the brainchild of Oscar Fullone, creator and resident dj of the Mish Mash parties in London and Glasgow. Mish Mash are Oscar Fullone, Kasper Winding and Louise Norby (aka Lois). Danish singer Louise Norby is the daughter of modern classical composer Erik Norby and opera singer Solveig Lumholt and sister of jazz singer Cæcilie Norby.
baffled beats	Jealousy	Martin Solveig	2005	French DJ-producer Martin Solveig both wrote and first performed this house anthem. The lyrics deal with playful romantic rivalry on the dance floor. The artist surname, Solveig, is a tribute to French actress Solveig Dommartin.
baffled beats	Give & Take	Netsky	2012	Belgian drum-and-bass producer Netsky (born Boris Daenen on 22 March 1989, from Edegem, Province of Antwerp, Belgium) introduced this instrumental/vocal hybrid himself. It’s about reciprocity in relationships, layered with high-energy beats.
baffled beats	Thoughts in Retrospect (L-Wiz Picnic Remix)	Beezy ft. e.sharp	2008	Originally performed by UK MC Beezy (Reese Smith) with Atlanta based producer e.sharp (CEO of” Hear Forever Entertainment”). Swedish dubstep duo L-Wiz reworked it, deepening the reflective lyrics about life’s struggles and self-reflection. L-Wiz is a duo consisting of Claes Rosén and Ola Näslund from Nynäshamn Sweden (Stockholm).
baffled beats	Wildfire (ft. Little Dragon)	SBTRKT	2011	Written and performed by producer Aaron Jerome, known professionally as SBTRKT (disemvowelment of “subtract”), is an English musician, who described his racial and ethnic background as “mixed-race” South Asian (Kenyan Goan and Scottish heritage). The vocals are by Swedish singer and songwriter Yukimi Nagano (born Yukimi Eleanora Nagano on 31 January 1982), sometimes known mononymously as Yukimi and is the vocalist for the Swedish electronic group Little Dragon.
baffled beats	Rip It Up	Orange Juice	1983	Written and performed by Scottish indie pop band Orange Juice, led by Edwyn Collins. It’s about breaking free from past mistakes — one of the first UK hits to blend indie pop with funk and early electronic production.
baffled beats	It Doesn’t Matter (Club Version)	Nicoletta	2011	French singer Nicoletta recorded this disco-flavored club version of a ballad that explores resignation in love. Nicoletta herself introduced the version to dance audiences. Nicole Fernande Grisoni-Chappuis (born on 11 April 1944 in Vongy, France) is known for her distinctive voice and charismatic stage presence. Hot-tempered Nicoletta started in the early 1960s as a DJ in the most trendy clubs of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris.
baffled beats	Damage (ft. Tracey Thorn)	Tiefschwarz	2005	German house duo Tiefschwarz produced this track, inviting Tracey Thorn (Everything But the Girl) to provide haunting vocals. It’s about the scars and “damage” left by relationships. Tiefschwarz (German pronunciation) are a German house group consisting of brothers, Alexander “Ali” (June 7, 1967) and Sebastian “Basti” (December 28, 1969) Schwarz, which formed in Stuttgart in 1996.
baffled beats	One More Time	Daft Punk	2000	Written and performed by Daft Punk (Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo) with vocals by Romanthony. It’s an anthem of dance-floor euphoria, urging listeners to celebrate “one more time”. Romanthony (born Anthony Wayne Moore in Long Branch, New Jersey on September 5, 1967 and died in Austin, Texas on May 7, 2013), co-wrote and performed the vocals is a house producer from New Jersey renowned for his resemblance, vocally, to Prince.
baffled beats	Stylo (ft. Mos Def & Bobby Womack)	Gorillaz	2010	Written by Damon Albarn for Gorillaz with vocals by Bobby Womack (soulful cries) and Mos Def (rap). The lyrics suggest escape and survival in a dystopian world. Gorillaz is a virtual band founded in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett.
baffled beats	Hot & Sweaty	Stijn	2004	Belgian musician, performer and broadcaster, based in Vilvoorde near Brussels, Stijn wrote and recorded this electro-funk single himself, with cheeky lyrics about heat, sensuality, and nightlife. Stijn Vandeputte was born in Roeselare on November 25, 1976.
baffled beats	Dreams to Remember	Milli Vanilli	1988	The title echoes Otis Redding’s famous I’ve Got Dreams to Remember (1968), written by Redding with Joe Rock. Milli Vanilli recorded their own pop/R&B adaptation, reinterpreting the theme of longing through glossy production. Milli Vanilli was a German pop/R&B band, formed in 1988 in Munich, Bavaria. The ‘face’ of the band was composed of models Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, who producer Frank Farian had chosen because he felt the real singers (Brad Howell and John Davis) were unmarketable. Twin sisters Jodie Rocco and Linda Rocco (USA-born, Germany-based singers of mixed Italian/Lebanese descent born in Cleveland, Ohio on the 19th June 1959) comprised the female vocals of the group. The duo only appeared on the album cover, and lip-synched to pre-recorded professional singers in music videos and in concert.
baffled beats	Drinking in L.A.	Bran Van 3000	1997	Written and performed by the Montreal collective led by James Di Salvio. Lyrics are ironic and playful, inspired by the band’s real trip to Los Angeles (West Holywood) where they ended up hungover and broke. “With My Mind On My Money And My Money On My Beer, Beer!” is an allusion to Snoop Dogg’s “Gin And Juice” with the line “With My Mind On My Money And My Money On My Mind”. Vocals are by Stéphane Moraille (born on August 13, 1970, Port-au-Prince, Haiti) a Haitian-born singer-songwriter and lawyer from Quebec. She is the granddaughter of the first female lawyer of Haiti, Me Georgette Justin, 1933. Moraille stood for the Bar in 2001 and is specialised in media law. Stéphane Moraille began her musical career in 1993 under the pseudonym Shauna Davis. At the time the song was recorded, she was a part-time singer who was also teaching aerobics and going to law school.
baffled beats	All Our Yesterdays	Sikey	2017	‘All Our Yesterdays’ by Sikey is inspired by the Star Trek Season 3, Episode 23 with the same name. Sikey (Pieter Gulinck) is a Drum & Bass producer and Dj from Mechelen, Belgium. Drum and Bass (also written as ‘Drum&Bass’) is a genre of electronic music that emerged in the early 1990s in UK, heavily influenced by Jazz, Dub, Funk and Hip-Hop.
baffled beats	Nevermind (Wankelmut Remix)	Dennis Lloyd	2017	Israeli singer-songwriter Dennis Lloyd (born Nir Tibor on June 18, 1993 in Tel Aviv, Israel) wrote and performed Nevermind, about toxic relationships. German producer Wankelmut remixed it into a club-ready house version. Jacob Dilssner, better known as Wankelmut, originated from East Germany, is one of Berlin’s most thrilling DJs.
rain	Rider In The Rain	Randy Newman	1977	The desolate cowboy reflection ‘Rider in the Rain’ is a lovely little country and western ditty by Randy Newman with backing vocals by Eagles band members Don Henley, Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther.
Hymn	All You Need Is Love	The Beatles	1967	Written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon–McCartney) as a simple, universal message of peace and unity during the Summer of Love. Premiered live on the BBC’s Our World broadcast, it became a countercultural anthem. 100% original and quintessentially “Beatles.”
Hymn	Put Your Hand In the Hand (Remix 2006)	Ocean	1971	Originally written by Gene MacLellan and first recorded by Anne Murray. Ocean’s gospel-infused 1971 version turned it into a pop hit about faith, compassion, and trust. The 2006 remix revived its uplifting spirit with a modern beat. Toronto, Canada’s quintet Ocean featured singer Janice Morgan, singer-keyboardist Greg Brown, bassist Jeff Jones, guitarist Dave Tamblyn and drummer Charles Slater.
Hymn	La fête	Michel Fugain	1972	Written and first performed by Michel Fugain with Le Big Bazar. A joyful French pop anthem celebrating community, life, and togetherness — a musical invitation to dance and forget worries. Entirely original and emblematic of early ’70s French optimism.
Hymn	Wonderful World	Sam Cooke	1960	Written by Sam Cooke, Lou Adler, and Herb Alpert, this charming soul tune humorously contrasts poor academic knowledge with deep emotional wisdom (“Don’t know much about history…”). It’s both romantic and lighthearted — and an original Cooke classic. “Wonderful World” was originally written by music legends Lou Alder and Herb Alpert, but Cooke added the finishing lyrical touches, and the trio used the songwriting pseudonym “Barbara Campbell,” the name of Cooke’s high school sweetheart.
Hymn	Makin’ Whoopee (ft. Rickie Lee Jones)	Dr. John	1989	The song was originally written by Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn in 1928 as a humorous warning about marriage and its consequences. Dr. John and Rickie Lee Jones’ Grammy-winning version updates it with sultry jazz and sly humor.
Hymn	I Got A Woman (Live)	Ray Charles	1954	Written by Ray Charles and his bandleader Renald Richard, it’s considered one of the first soul songs — blending gospel with rhythm & blues. Inspired by the gospel tune It Must Be Jesus, Charles reworked it into a secular, passionate love declaration.
Hymn	Love And Marriage	Frank Sinatra	1955	Written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen for the TV musical Our Town. Sinatra’s version humorously insists that “you can’t have one without the other.” Later became famous as the Married… with Children theme.
Hymn	So This Is Love	Selah Sue	2010	Belgian artist Selah Sue (Sanne Putseys) performed this Disney cover by written by Mack David, Al Hoffman & Jerry Livingston on the second Jazz Loves Disney album. It’s an introspective soul-pop piece about vulnerability and the messiness of love — both tender and questioning in tone. Entirely original.
Hymn	La chanson des vieux amants	Jacques Brel	1967	Written by Jacques Brel and Gérard Jouannest, this poetic masterpiece tells the story of two lifelong lovers weathering decades of infidelity, forgiveness, and devotion. Deeply autobiographical, it’s one of Brel’s most profound chansons.
Hymn	Saved By The Bell	Robin Gibb	1969	Written and performed by Robin Gibb shortly after temporarily leaving the Bee Gees. A melancholic ballad about lost love and regret, notable for its rich orchestration. Entirely original and reflective of Gibb’s solo artistry.
Hymn	Bailar pegados	Sergio Dalma	1991	Written by Luis Gómez Escolar and Pablo Pinilla, and performed by Dalma at the Eurovision Song Contest 1991 selection for Spain. A slow ballad about the intimacy of dancing close — symbolic of emotional closeness and real connection.
Hymn	Sincerità	Riccardo Cocciante	1983	Written and first performed by Riccardo Cocciante, this Italian ballad celebrates emotional honesty in relationships. A piano-led meditation on truth and vulnerability — quintessential Cocciante, both grand and intimate. Riccardo Cocciante , (born 20 February 1946), is an Italian singer, composer, theatre man and musician. born in Saigon, French Indochina, now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to an Italian father and a French mother.
Hymn	Todos los Besos (ft. El Reino de la Playa) [Comparsa de Tarifa]	Los Rebujitos	2011	Spanish pop duo Los Rebujitos blend flamenco rhythms with contemporary pop. This track, whose title means “All the Kisses,” celebrates passion and Andalusian spirit. Entirely original, full of youthful romanticism and Mediterranean flair.
Hymn	Volví a nacer	Carlos Vives	2013	Written by Carlos Vives and produced by Andrés Castro, this Colombian pop vallenato hit is about emotional rebirth after finding love. The title means “I was born again,” reflecting renewal and gratitude. Original and one of Vives’ most defining modern hits. Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo was born on 7 August 1961 in Santa Marta, Colombia.
Hymn	Silly Love Songs	Wings	1976	Written by Paul McCartney, partly as a response to critics who accused him of writing trivial love songs. It humorously defends love as a timeless theme — catchy, self-aware, and quintessential McCartney irony. Linda McCartney is credited as a co-writer on this track and was a member of Wings.
Hymn	Ms. Grace	The Tymes	1974	Written by John Hall of the band Orleans, with lyrics by his wife Johanna. This smooth soul tune celebrates a woman’s poise and charm. The Tymes’ version became a UK chart favourite, combining romance with silky Philadelphia soul.
Hymn	Ain’t No Other Man	Christina Aguilera	2006	Written by Christina Aguilera, DJ Premier, and others, this retro-soul anthem celebrates finding a partner who stands out from the rest. Inspired by Aguilera’s marriage to Jordan Bratman. 100% original and Grammy-winning.
Hymn	On The Radio	Donna Summer	1979	Written by Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder for Adrian Lyne’s 1980 teen drama Foxes, starring Jodie Foster, Scott Baio and Runaways singer Cherie Currie. The song is about hearing a painful breakup story on the radio, then realising it’s your own. A disco-pop confessional, both glamorous and vulnerable. Entirely original.
Hymn	Paradise	Sade	1988	Written by Sade Adu, Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale, and Paul S. Denman, this song radiates calm joy and romantic serenity. A slow groove celebrating peace and fulfilment in love. Original and signature Sade sophistication.
Hymn	Joy To The World	June Lodge	1982	Joy to the World was written in 1719 and based on Psalm 98, by Isaac Watts (1674-1748), author of around 750 songs, commonly called “The Father of Hymns” due to his popularity as the first English hymn writer. June Lodge transforms it into a laid-back Caribbean groove — less about biblical joy, more about carefree celebration. A cover with tropical flair.
Hymn	Now That We’ve Found Love	Third World	1978	Originally written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, first recorded by The O’Jays (1973). Third World reinterpreted it as a reggae-disco crossover about universal love and unity. Became a global hit.
Hymn	One Love / People Get Ready	Bob Marley & The Wailers	1977	Combines Bob Marley’s One Love (1965) with Curtis Mayfield’s People Get Ready (1964). Marley fused the two as a message of unity, faith, and redemption. Became one of reggae’s most enduring anthems.
Hymn	Ain’t No Sunshine	Bill Withers	1971	Written and performed by Bill Withers, inspired by the film Days of Wine and Roses. While it was first released as the B-side to another song called “Harlem”, Disc jockeys played this as the single instead and it became a hit. All the instruments on this track are acoustic and played by Withers: guitar, vocal, Booker T. Jones: keyboards, Stephen Stills: guitar, Jim Keltner: drums and Bobbye Hall: percussion.
Hymn	Have I Told You Lately	Van Morrison	1989	Written and first performed by Van Morrison, this song is a gentle prayer of gratitude and love. Often interpreted as a spiritual message as much as a romantic one. Later covered famously by Rod Stewart.
Hymn	Always There	Jocelyn Brown	1991	Originally an instrumental by Ronnie Laws (1975), later adapted by Side Effect (1976). Jocelyn Brown’s 1984 version adds powerful vocals, transforming it into a soulful anthem about faith, resilience, and presence.
witlof from Belgium	The Revelation	Lalalover	2006	Written and performed by Belgian singer Tom Kestens, formerly of Das Pop. “The Revelation” reflects his transition from band life to solo artistry, an introspective, soulful pop song about rediscovering purpose and emotional truth. Entirely original, it captures Kestens’ signature blend of melodic warmth and thoughtful lyrics. Backing vocals are from Stef Caers, known professionally as Gustaph (stylised as GVSTΛPH), at the time a band member.
witlof from Belgium	Le Monde Tourne Mal	Axelle Red	2006	Written by Belgian singer Axelle Red (Fabienne Demal, born on February 15, 1968 in Hasselt) with her long-time collaborators. The title means “The world goes wrong.” It’s a social commentary disguised as pop, a lament about injustice, apathy, and the decline of empathy. 100% original, and quintessentially Axelle Red: warm vocals with conscience-driven lyrics. Axelle received the highest artistic honour, becoming Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Commandeur in the Belgian Order of the Crown for her social commitment.
witlof from Belgium	Envoi	Absynthe Minded	2007	Inspired by Hugo Claus’s poem, the song’s title ‘Envoi’ (in English “Dispatch” or “Message”) evokes farewell and introspection. Written by Bert Ostyn, it blends poetic lyrics with jazzy rock textures. Original and one of the band’s signature tracks.
witlof from Belgium	Raggamuffin	Selah Sue	2010	Written by Belgian singer Selah Sue (Sanne Putseys) as a declaration of self-confidence and resilience. The term “raggamuffin” refers to someone scrappy but authentic. It’s a hybrid of reggae, soul, and funk — her breakout single and a defining anthem of empowerment.
witlof from Belgium	Bandy Bandy (ft. Erykah Badu)	Zap Mama	2004	Created by Belgian singer Marie Daulne (Zap Mama) and featuring American R&B/Soul singer, Erykah Badu, this cross-Atlantic collaboration mixes African vocal polyphony with neo-soul. The song’s title refers to the Bandy-bandy snake — symbolising transformation and feminine power. Entirely original, from Ancestry in Progress. An active humanitarian, Daulne devotes much of her time working to protect human rights and fight global poverty with organisations such as Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, CARE, and the United Nations.
witlof from Belgium	Ghost In Your Heads	Sweet Coffee	2004	Written and performed by Belgian duo Patrick Bruyndonx and Ruben Vermeulen, this soulful downtempo track uses ghost imagery to symbolise lingering emotions. Entirely original, part of the early-2000s Belgian lounge wave featuring the vocals of Bibi Diabokua, a purser at Brussels Airlines and M.I.S.T.A. (René C. Phillips).
witlof from Belgium	Estupendo	Arsenal	2005	Belgian electronic band Arsenal wrote and performed this track, which blends Latin grooves with trip-hop textures. The Spanish word “estupendo” (“wonderful”) frames lyrics about fleeting happiness and sun-drenched escapism. Original and typical of the band’s global fusion style.
witlof from Belgium	Trippin’	Wizards of Ooze	1994	Belgian cult funk-jazz band Wizards of Ooze (Bart Maris, Stef Kamil Carlens, et al.) released this psychedelic funk track full of tongue-in-cheek weirdness. The lyrics riff on sensory overload and playful disorientation — original and proudly eccentric.
witlof from Belgium	The Flow	Melanie De Biasio	2013	Written and performed by Belgian jazz vocalist Melanie De Biasio. A hypnotic, meditative song about surrender and creative fluidity, “the flow” as a state of emotional truth. Original; often compared to Billie Holiday and Portishead’s minimalism. In 2014, De Biasio was born in Charleroi (12 July 1978), to a Belgian mother and an Italian father. Melanie De Biasio became the second Belgian artist to play on Later… with Jools Holland, after Zap Mama almost 20 years earlier.
witlof from Belgium	Blissful Sigh	Pia Salvia	2020	Belgian harpist and composer Pia Salvia merges jazz, pop, and world influences in this ethereal piece about peace and release. Award-winning Belgian harpist and vocalist Pia Salvia is a unique artist in the world of modern harp. She composes, arranges and performs original compositions that feature the harp in different settings and styles of music. She recently moved to Los Angeles where she performs with her music.
witlof from Belgium	I Love You	Sofie	2008	Belgian singer-songwriter Sofie (Sofie Verbruggen, born in Antwerpen, 8 mei 1956) performs this tender jazz-soul track. A minimalist love declaration with bittersweet undertones, built around smoky vocals and sparse arrangements. When Sofie decided to launch a solo career in 1981, she represented Belgium at the Korean Song Festival and received an award for the best performance of the song “He Loves Me”.
witlof from Belgium	Ready for Your Love (High)	Sioen	2007	Written and performed by Frederik Sioen, a Ghent-based songwriter blending pop and folk. In South Korea Sioen became a star (Breaking New Artist) when his song ‘Cruisin’ was used for a commercial with American actress Gwyneth Paltrow. In 2018 Sioen was chosen ‘Ambassador of Team Belgium’ at the Winter Olympics in South Korea.
witlof from Belgium	As Long As It Takes	Isbells	2009	Written by Gaëtan Vandewoude, the founder of Belgian band Isbells. A warm, introspective folk song about patience, time, and quiet devotion. Original and emblematic of the Belgian indie-folk wave.
witlof from Belgium	Hot Hotter Hottest	Zita Swoon	2001	Written by Stef Kamil Carlens, this playful funk track explores desire, intensity, and emotional temperature. Original and a fan favourite for its sly, sensual groove. This song appeared on their 2009 album ‘A BAND IN A BOX’. Zita Swoon is the continuation of the bands A Beatband and Moondog Jr.. Moondog Jr. had to change their name after the US artist Louis T. Hardin (Moondog) had filed a lawsuit against the so-called use of this name. Moondog Jr. became then Zita Swoon.
witlof from Belgium	Gloria (ft. The Gospel Queens)	Black Box Revelation	2010	Written and performed by Jan Paternoster and Dries Van Dijck with powerful backing from The Gospel Queens of Brooklyn. A raw blues-rock track celebrating rebellion and salvation through music. Original.
witlof from Belgium	Two Tides of Ice	The Van Jets	2007	Written by Pieter Van Dessel and bandmates, this song merges glam rock with melancholic introspection — a metaphor for emotional distance (“two tides”) within relationships. Entirely original and one of their early signature songs.
witlof from Belgium	Wrong Faces	Balthazar	2010	Written by Maarten Devoldere and Jinte Deprez, this moody indie track explores themes of identity and facade, “wearing the wrong faces” in social and romantic situations. Balthazar is a Belgian indie pop/rock group that consists of Maarten Devoldere, Jinte Deprez, Simon Casier, Michiel Balcaen, and Tijs Delbeke, who all come from the areas of Kortrijk and Ghent (Flanders).
witlof from Belgium	Instant Street	dEUS	1999	Written by Tom Barman, this track is a commentary on instant gratification and urban chaos. It evolves from an acoustic start to a chaotic crescendo, a masterclass in tension and release. Entirely original; a Belgian alt-rock milestone. Tom Barman, together with Stef Kamil Carlens formed the alternative rock band dEUS in 1991, based in Antwerp, Belgium.
witlof from Belgium	Wrong	Novastar	2004	Written by Joost Zweegers, this melancholic pop ballad deals with love’s contradictions and self-blame (“I was wrong to let you go”). Entirely original, with soaring vocals and cinematic arrangement.
witlof from Belgium	Hissing O’ the Heath	Roland Van Campenhout	1995	Belgian blues icon Roland fuses folk and mysticism in this original composition. The song title evokes eerie natural imagery, the “heath” as a space between worlds. Original, rooted in Roland’s storytelling tradition. Roland Van Campenhout is Belgian blues guitarist born in Boom on 25 July 1944 but living in Ghent since the late sixties.
witlof from Belgium	Ring Ring I’ve Got To Sing	Ferre Grignard	1966	Written and performed by Ferre Grignard, Antwerp’s legendary bohemian folk-bluesman. A spontaneous, gravelly anthem to freedom and music itself, recorded live in one take. Belgian singer and guitar player Ferre Grignard was born on 13 march 1939 in Antwerp where he died on 8 august 1982.
witlof from Belgium	Ik Wil Deze Nacht In De Straten Verdwalen	Wannes Van De Velde	1970	Written and sung by Wannes Van De Velde, this Antwerp chanson-poem (“I want to lose myself in the streets tonight”) celebrates nocturnal wandering and urban melancholy. Entirely original and deeply poetic. Wannes Van de Velde was a Belgian chanson singer and flamenco guitar player, born on April 29, 1937 in Antwerp, where he died on November 10, 2008.
witlof from Belgium	Ik Hou Van U / Je T’aime Tu Sais	Monza	1995	“Ik hou van u / Je t’aime, tu sais” is a song by Belgian rock band Noordkaap, composed for the film Manneken Pis in 1995. For the celebrations of Belgium’s 175th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of Belgian federalism, the song was covered in a bilingual Dutch-French version, performed by Stijn Meuris (Noordkaap/Monza) and Marie Daulne (Zap Mama). The two young Belgian choreographers Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Damien Jalet created a choreography to this music which highlights several traits of Belgium, and according to the concept of the modern ball, the playful learning of dance was offered under the name Belgium dances on July 20, 2005 so that that same evening at 10 p.m., in 12 cities of the country (Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Dinant, Eupen, Ghent, Hasselt, La Roche, Leuven, Liège, Wavre, Ypres) thousands of people could gather and have fun together.
witlof from Belgium	Le Plat Pays	Jacques Brel	1962	Written and performed by Jacques Brel. A heartfelt ode to his native Belgium, its flat landscapes, and stoic people. Melancholic yet proud, it’s one of Brel’s defining chansons and entirely original. “Le Plat Pays” (Translation: ‘The Flat Country’) is a French-language song by Belgian singer Jacques Brel about his home country. Brel also performed it in the Dutch-language version as “Mijn vlakke land” (‘My Flat Country’), with lyrics by Ernst Rudolf van Altena a Dutch poet, writer and translator.
royals	God Save The Queen	The Sex Pistols	1977	Written by the Sex Pistols’ John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) and Steve Jones, this anthem was a rebellious critique of the British monarchy and the establishment. It became the band’s most iconic and controversial song, famously banned by the BBC.
royals	The Queen is Dead	The Smiths	1986	Written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr, this song critiques English society with sardonic humour The title is a metaphor for the death of old traditions and ideals, often interpreted as both a literal and metaphorical gesture of disillusionment. The song opens with a sample of Bryan Forbes’ 1962 British film The L-Shaped Room that features music hall veteran Cicely Courtneidge singing the World War I standard “Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty”. “Blighty” is a slang term for Britain.
royals	Her Majesty	The Beatles	1969	Written by Paul McCartney, this cheeky 23-second acoustic ditty was originally part of the Abbey Road medley. It’s a wry love song to a queen, equal parts satire and whimsy, symbolising both romantic admiration and British irony. Accidentally tacked onto the end of the album after a mixing mishap, it became one of the first “hidden tracks” in rock history.
royals	Royals	Lorde	2013	Written by Ella Yelich-O’Connor, a New Zealand singer-songwriter (a.k.a. Lorde), and Joel Little, inspired by Lorde’s teenage observations of pop culture excess. The title came after she saw a National Geographic photo of baseball player George Brett in a Kansas City Royals jersey. It’s an anti-materialist anthem celebrating ordinary life over celebrity fantasy. Entirely original and the song that made Lorde a global star at 16. Inspired by her love for such royals as Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI of France, and the last Tsar, Nicholas II of Russia, she adopted the moniker of Lorde (The ‘e’ is pronounced silently).
royals	Queen of Hearts	Dave Edmunds	1979	Written by Hank DeVito, this rockabilly-style song was made famous by Dave Edmunds. It is about a seductive and unpredictable lover, the “Queen of Hearts,” who plays games with the heart of the singer.
royals	OH! What Can I Do	Queen Ida	1993	Queen Ida (Ida Lewis) wrote this blues-infused track, which deals with feelings of despair and confusion in the face of a bad situation. It showcases her unique blend of zydeco and blues. Ida Lee Lewis Guillory, Louisiana Creole accordionist, born January 15, 1929 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA, was the sister of Al Lewis and Wilbert Lewis. She was the first female accordion player to lead a zydeco band.
royals	Caribbean Queen	Billy Ocean	1984	Written by Billy Ocean, this upbeat hit tells the story of a romantic encounter with a woman from the Caribbean. Ocean describes her allure and the passion they shared, blending Caribbean rhythms with pop and R&B. Billy Ocean (born Leslie Sebastian Charles in Trinidad on January 21, 1950), was one of the first Caribbean singers, alongside Grace Jones, to be embraced by MTV, resulting in a string of Top Ten hits during the mid-1980s.
royals	The Kings Of Clubs	Chocolat’s	1976	Written by J. Donder (Jean Vanloo) and Jean-Luc Drion (a.k.a. Gil De Saint Amour). Chocolat’s were a musical group of tropical and Caribbean genres formed by French and Belgians, active in the period between about 1975 and 1985, and since 2014. The group was created by the record producer Marcel De Keukeleire with Salvatore Acquaviva and Dominique Knaepen, who were local singers from Roubaix (France) to commercialise their success Brasilia Carnaval, recorded and mixed with their artistic ensemble. This piece was a worldwide hit and became the theme song of a popular French television program conducted by Guy Lux, Ring Parade. The album sold 6,830,000 copies.
royals	Rocket Queen	Guns N’ Roses	1987	Written by Axl Rose (born William Bruce Rose, Jr.) this track blends hard rock with elements of glam and balladry. The song is rumoured to be about Axl’s relationship with several women at the time, with the “Rocket Queen”, a woman named Barbi Von Greif, being a combination of multiple influences. The moaning and other sex sounds that appear in the middle of the song were recorded while Axl Rose was having sex with a woman in the recording studio, Adriana Smith, drummer Steven Adler’s (born Michael Coletti) girlfriend.
royals	Volare (Nel blu, dipinto di blu)	Gipsy Kings	1989	The Gipsy Kings’ flamenco-pop version of the 1958 Italian classic by Domenico Modugno and Franco Migliacci. The lyrics describe the dreamlike sensation of flying (“In the blue, painted blue”), a metaphor for freedom and imagination. The Gipsy Kings are a group of flamenco, salsa and pop musicians from Arles and Montpellier in the south of France. Their parents were mostly gitanos, Spanish Romani who fled Spain during the 1930s Spanish Civil War.
royals	The King of Rock ’n’ Roll	Prefab Sprout	1988	Written by Paddy McAloon, this ironic synth-pop gem tells the story of a washed-up ‘50s pop star forever haunted by his novelty hit (“Hot dog, jumping frog, Albuquerque”). It’s a bittersweet satire about fame, identity, and the absurdity of pop nostalgia. Prefab Sprout was an English pop band from Witton Gilbert, County Durham, who rose to fame during the 1980s.
royals	From a Jack to a King	Ned Miller	1957	Written and originally performed by American singer and country music artist Ned Miller. This country song uses a poker metaphor, turning “a jack to a king”, to describe finding true love. A tale of transformation and luck, it was re-released in 1962 to major success and later covered by artists like Elvis Presley and Ricky Van Shelton. A heartfelt original turned timeless classic.
royals	Fascination	Nat King Cole	1957	A cover of Maurice Yvain’s 1932 melody with English lyrics by Dick Manning. Cole’s velvety version turned the romantic waltz into an elegant American standard. The lyrics describe the intoxicating pull of falling in love, simple, classic, and endlessly smooth. A graceful cover with royal charm befitting Nat King Cole’s musical “majesty.” Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor, who formed in the late 1930s the King Cole Trio.
royals	King of Comedy	R.E.M.	1994	Written by Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry. A sardonic look at fame, media, and image manipulation — Stipe’s “king” here is the shallow TV celebrity. Entirely original, the song’s funky irony fit perfectly into the band’s Monster era of distorted glamour and self-aware satire.
royals	Princesa	Joaquín Sabina	1985	“Princesa” is a powerful metaphor for the human struggle against societal expectations and the pursuit of true happiness and fulfilment. The song is inspired by Sabina’s real experiences, reflecting the story of a woman trapped in the world of drugs and the Madrid nightlife. The “princess” is a character who embodies the beauty and danger of those environments, and the lyrics serve as a testament to helplessness and affection in the face of self-destruction. Joaquín Sabina always closes his concerts with Princesa, which appeared on his album ‘Juez y Parte’ with Viceversa, originally founded as his backing band. The first person to record it was Juan Antonio Muriel, in 1982. In 1981, Muriel and Sabina, who had already written the lyrics, composed the song together during a trip to Malaga. At first, Sabina titled the song ‘Muñeca’ (in English doll) but Muriel came with the idea to name it ‘Princesa’.
royals	Queen of the Supermarket	Bruce Springsteen	2009	Featured on his Working on a Dream album, this track is about longing, fantasy, and the escapism of ordinary life. Written by Bruce Springsteen, it evokes a vivid picture of a supermarket encounter with a woman, symbolising fleeting moments of attraction and desire. Springsteen wrote the song after the opening of a big supermarket near where he and Patti Scialfa lived.
royals	Queen of the Slipstream	Van Morrison	1989	This reflective ballad features Van Morrison’s signature blend of folk, jazz, and soul. The lyrics quote two of Morrison’s songs from his early career; “the slipstream” derives from “Astral Weeks” and the lines “I see you slipping and sliding in the snow … you come running to me, you’ll come running to me” were used in “Come Running”.[5] “Slipping and a sliding” was also mentioned in his song Brown Eyed Girl.
royals	King of Pain	The Police	1983	Written by Sting, inspired by his crumbling marriage and a moment of literal symbolism. His future wife Trudie Styler inspired the song’s title by calling Gordon “Sting” Sumner “the king of pain”, after he saw a black spot on the sun and had said: ‘That’s my soul up there’.
royals	King of Sorrow (Fun Lovin’ Criminals Remix)	Sade	2001	Originally written by Sade Adu and Andrew Hale, this melancholy soul track depicts the quiet grief of a woman holding it all together. The Fun Lovin’ Criminals remix adds a laid-back groove, but the heartache remains regal and restrained. Entirely original to Sade, remixed with respectful swagger.
royals	Make It Wit Chu	Queens of the Stone Age	2007	Written by Josh Homme, this track blends rock, blues, and desert vibes. It tells the story of lust, desire, and connection, showcasing Homme’s knack for melodic storytelling. Queens of the Stone Age is an alternative Rock/Stoner band formed in 1997 in Palm Desert, California, United States.
royals	Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)	Queen	1976	Written by Brian May as a love letter to Queen’s Japanese fans. The song’s refrain alternates between English and Japanese, expressing unity and enduring friendship. A soaring, emotional anthem that closes A Day at the Races — entirely original and among the band’s most heartfelt gestures of cultural connection.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Part-Time Lover	Stevie Wonder	1985	A playful but morally tangled tale of two people cheating on their partners while keeping up the façade of normal life. Stevie Wonder was inspired by the Motown/1960s pop sound, giving it a deceptively upbeat groove despite the subject. The song features Luther Vandross and Syreeta Wright on vocals.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Part-Time Love	Elton John	1978	“Part-Time Love” is a song written by British musician Elton John with lyrics by Gary Osborne. A sharper take on uncommitted romance or emotional laziness. Despite the breezy melody, the lyric is cynical and sparked minor controversy for its frankness.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Lost In Love	Air Supply	1980	This soft-rock plea of devotion was written by Graham Russell in 15 minutes. It reflects overwhelming romantic vulnerability. Originally released in Australia in 1979, then worldwide in 1980 and became a massive adult-contemporary hit.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	I and Love and You	The Avett Brothers	2009	A song about vulnerability, emotional honesty, and starting over. Written by Scott Avett during a period of reflection about forgiveness and change. Produced by Rick Rubin, which helped bring the band to a wider audience.
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Una Storia D’Amore (By Tita)	Jovanotti	1988	This romantic dance-pop song by an early-career Jovanotti is playful and youthful. The “Tita” persona refers to a light-hearted style Jovanotti used early on. Lyrics describe a sweet but naïve love story. It reflects the era’s Italian pop/rap crossover style. Lorenzo Cherubini initially chose “Joe Vanotti” as his stage name, but a promotional poster for a night club incorrectly billed him as “Jovanotti” and the name stuck. Jovanotti derives from giovanotti, the plural form of the Italian word giovanotto (“young man”).
Love, Longing & Letting Go	Lost & Blown Away	Novastar	2004	Novastar frontman Joost Zweegers wrote this haunting portrait of emotional collapse after heartbreak, sung with his characteristic fragility. The track is from the album Another Lonely Soul, largely written in isolation in the U.S. The song blends melancholy with soaring melodic lines, becoming a fan favourite.
frisson	Freeze-Frame	J. Geils Band	1981	Written by Seth Justman and Peter Wolf, the song captures the giddy rush of infatuation, like love caught mid-flashbulb. It’s pure early-’80s pop-rock energy, loaded with synth hooks and camera metaphors. A freeze frame is a still image taken from a piece of moving video.
frisson	Chelsea Dagger	The Fratellis	2006	A swaggering pub-rock anthem named after frontman Jon Fratelli’s (born John Lawler) wife’s (Heather) burlesque stage name. She performed at the Glasgow venue Club Noir, which according to Guinness World Records is the largest burlesque club in the world. This infectious, tongue-in-cheek rock ‘n’ roll hit, lyrically playful and full of football-chant energy, became a stadium staple.
frisson	Do You Want To	Franz Ferdinand	2005	A danceable indie-rock flirtation about the messy charm of afterparties and seduction. Written by Alex Kapranos, as somewhat of a joke. This knowingly cheeky, art school meets disco track is influenced by Talking Heads and post-punk groove.
frisson	Men’s Needs	The Cribs	2007	Written by the Jarman brothers and produced by Alex Kapranos. It’s a biting, ironic take on male ego, relationships, and self-awareness, “men’s needs” being more emotional than they’ll admit. Original composition.
frisson	Ain’t No Party	Orson	2006	A Californian pop-rock track drenched in mid-2000s optimism and swagger. The lyrics twist the “life of the party” trope into something a little more self-aware. Written by Jason Pebworth, Julian Gallagher, Chad Rachild, Chris Cano, George Astasio, John Bentjen and Kevin Roentgen.
frisson	My Favourite Game	The Cardigans	1998	Nina Persson’s lyrics blend obsession, risk, and emotional danger, love as a high-speed crash. Written by Persson and Peter Svensson; inspired by self-destructive passion. The iconic music video with Nina Persson driving a 1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, was banned for (too many) car wrecks.
frisson	Ruby	Kaiser Chiefs	2007	A driving indie-rock anthem about a mysterious, possibly unattainable woman. Ricky Wilson has said it’s more of a character study than a real person. According to former Kaiser Chiefs drummer and songwriter Nick Hodgson, a dog was the original inspiration behind “Ruby.” He was writing on the keyboard at home when the family’s black Labrador named Ruby walked in, prompting him to sing “Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby…”
frisson	Fluorescent Adolescent	Arctic Monkeys	2007	Co-written by Alex Turner and his then-girlfriend Johanna Bennett. During a Mediterranean holiday Turner and Bennett were reminiscing about characters they knew at school. The song laments fading youth and dull adulthood.
frisson	Ever Present	Admiral Freebee	2003	Belgian singer-songwriter Tom Van Laere’s introspective rock ballad about persistence and emotional honesty. The title suggests being constant in a world of change. Backing vocals are performed by Nathalie Delcroix.
frisson	Lonely Boy	The Black Keys	2011	A raw, blues-rock explosion about desire and devotion with a a foundation of live drums and guitar together in the room. It’s guitar bleeding into the drum mics. Written by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney. Its viral one-take dancing video became a cult hit, featuring Derrick T. Tuggle dancing to the song in the lobby of a motel.
frisson	My Sharona	The Knack	1979	Written by Doug Fieger and Berton Averre about Fieger’s teenage crush Sharona Alperin. Alperin ended up with Sharona, a Hebrew name, as her parents sent her to Hebrew school. It’s also the name of a small area in Israel. The song was produced by Mike Chapman and recorded at MCA Whitney Recording Studios in Glendale, California. The album version runs 4:52, but the single version was edited down to 3:58 with Knack guitarist Berton Averre’s solo chopped. Run-D.M.C. used the guitar riff for their 1986 song “It’s Tricky”.
frisson	Glastonbury Song	The Waterboys	1993	Written by Mike Scott, this is both a spiritual anthem and a love letter to the English countryside. “I just found God where He always was” encapsulates its mystical optimism. Entirely original and quintessentially Waterboys: folk, rock, and faith intertwined.
Heartfelt Harmonies	Parler d’amour (ft. Ute Lemper)	Art Mengo	1993	Parler d’amour (in English ‘talking about love’) was written for Ute Lemper by Art Mengo and his brother-in-law Patrice Guirao. Michel Armengot (born in Toulouse on 16 September 1962), more commonly known as Art Mengo, is a French singer and songwriter of Spanish descent. Ute Gertrud Lemper (born in Münster, West Germany on 4 July 1963) a German singer and actress who recorded numerous pop albums, variously in English, French, and German.
Heartfelt Harmonies	Du	Peter Maffay	1970	“Du” (You) by Peter Maffay was written by Michael Kunze and Peter Orloff. Peter Alexander Makkay (born 30 August 1949), known as Peter Maffay, is a Romanian-born German musician, singer, and composer, who established a ranch on the Spanish island of Mallorca where traumatised children from all over the world can have a free two-week holiday to help them cope with their problems.
Heartfelt Harmonies	Can’t Help Falling In Love	Elvis Presley	1961	“Can’t Help Falling In Love”, featured in the 1961 Elvis movie Blue Hawaii, was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. The melody is based on a French song called “Plaisir D’Amour,” which was penned in 1784 by a German Jean-Paul Egide-Martini.
Heartfelt Harmonies	I Think I Love You	The Partridge Family	1970	The Partridge Family was a TV series that ran from 1970-1974 about a musical family that travelled in a very colourful tour bus. Two of the lead actors, David Cassidy (son of the actor Jack Cassidy), who quickly became a teen idol, and his real-life stepmother Shirley Jones, were real singers. “I Think I Love You”, written by Tony Romeo, was released in August 1970, about a month before the show debuted on September 25, 1970.
Heartfelt Harmonies	You’re Beautiful	James Blunt	2005	Written by James Blunt and Amanda Ghost. Inspired by a real-life moment when Blunt saw his ex, casting director Dixie Chassay, with another man. Blunt stated that the concealed real song meaning is about a guy who’s high as a kite stalking someone else’s girlfriend and should be locked up and put in prison.
Heartfelt Harmonies	You Are So Beautiful	Joe Cocker	1974	“You Are So Beautiful” was written by Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher, originally released in 1974 on Preston’s album “The Kids & Me”. English singer Joe Cocker released a slower version of the song the same year, turning it into a major hit. Billy Preston wrote it as a tribute to his mother. Joe Cocker sang this song at Billy Preston’s funeral in 2006.
Heartfelt Harmonies	Kiss Of Life	Sade	1992	“Kiss of Life” by English Sade was written by Sade Adu, Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale and Paul S. Denman and describes the rejuvenating power of love and how it brings someone back to life emotionally.
Heartfelt Harmonies	Woman	John Lennon	1980	Written by John Lennon. A love letter and apology to Yoko Ono, expressing vulnerability and commitment after past mistakes. Lennon referred to the time with his assistant May Pang as his “Lost Weekend”, which lasted about 18 months. He considered this song as a grown-up version of “Girl” by The Beatles. “Woman” was the first single released after John Lennon’s death.
Heartfelt Harmonies	Sensualité	Axelle Red	1993	Lyrics were written and the music composed by Albert Hammond, Shelly Peiken and Axelle Red. The original title was “Sexualité” (“Sexuality” in English), but was renamed as it could have been perceived too provocative. Axelle Red (born Fabienne Demal on 15 February 1968 in Hasselt, Flanders, Belgium) is a Belgian singer-songwriter from Flemish origin, who decided to focus on a French-language career. She holds several International honours and awards, including Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2006) and Commandeur in the Belgian Order of the Crown (2007).
Heartfelt Harmonies	She	Charles Aznavour	1974	Written by Charles Aznavour and Herbert Kretzmer. It was the theme from the UK TV series The Seven Faces of Women. Aznavour recorded the song in several different languages aside from English, including Spanish, German Italian and his native French. Elvis Costello revived this in 1999 for the soundtrack of the film Notting Hill.
Heartfelt Harmonies	When A Man Loves A Woman	Percy Sledge	1966	Written by Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright, the song is inspired by Lizz King, Sledge’s girlfriend of three years who left him for a modelling job in Los Angeles. It is the first #1 Hot 100 hit recorded in the FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Trained musicians can tell that the horns on this song are out of tune. Procol Harum used the unusual chord progression as the basis for their song “A Whiter Shade Of Pale.”
Heartfelt Harmonies	Woman In Love	Barbra Streisand	1980	“Woman in Love”, written by Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, is a song performed by Barbra Streisand and taken from her 1980 album Guilty, Streisand had asked Barry Gibb to write for her. It is a dramatic expression of surrender and emotional dependence in love.
Heartfelt Harmonies	My Love	Wings	1973	My Love” is a song by the British–American band Paul McCartney and Wings, written by Paul McCartney as a love song to his wife and Wings bandmate Linda. The single marked the first time that McCartney’s name appeared in the artist credit for a Wings record, after their previous releases had been credited to Wings alone. This track was recorded live with an orchestra where McCartney allowed guitarist Henry McCullough to improvise his solo in the final take.
Echoes of Change	Radio Free Europe	R.E.M.	1981	The title references Radio Free Europe, an American state-funded media organisation broadcasting news and analyses in 27 languages to 23 countries across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. The song uses abstract, fragmented lyrics reflecting youthful confusion, media saturation, and Cold War unease. It is one of R.E.M.’s earliest songs, it helped define American alternative rock and their cryptic lyrical style.
Echoes of Change	In a Big Country	Big Country	1983	Inspired by Scottish landscapes and cultural pride, this song expresses longing for identity and freedom. The band’s use of guitar effects to emulate bagpipes gave the song a distinctive national character and helped it stand out in 1980s rock radio. This song’s working title was “Stay Alive”. The album version is almost one minute longer than the single, adding an extended drum intro.
Echoes of Change	Peace, Love and Happiness	G. Love & Special Sauce	2008	This song is a reminder to be good to yourself and others and gets political in the last verse, wondering why governments are spending money on bombs instead of food for the hungry. G. Love gave his buddy Allen Jasper Thomas a writing credit on this song because Thomas had a song with the same title from years earlier.
Echoes of Change	Blowin’ in the Wind	Bob Dylan	1963	This song is built around a series of rhetorical questions addressing war, freedom, and civil rights. Dylan claimed he wrote it one afternoon in about 10 minutes and put words to the melody of an old slave song called “No More Auction Block,” which he might have learned from Carter family records. It became a defining anthem of the 1960s protest movement and one of the most widely covered folk songs ever written. Bob Dylan recorded “Blowin’ In The Wind” on July 9, 1962. While he published it on July 30, it was until May 27, 1963, when he included it on his album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.
Echoes of Change	Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution	The Black Crowes	2008	Founded by brothers Chris and Rich Robinson, The Black Crowes make music for the mavericks, playing rock ‘n’ roll that’s hip-swinging and heavy, dirty and debonaire, bluesy and ballsy, ecstatic and electrifying, and soulful and soaring. According to vocalist Chris Robinson: “It’s about freedom, and what revolution used to stand for, how you’ve got to make one of your own and make it last… The whole idea is the paranoid utopian blues’”.
Echoes of Change	Live and Let Die	Paul McCartney & Wings	1973	Written as the theme for the James Bond film of the same name, the song mirrors the film’s tension through dramatic shifts in mood and tempo. It marked a departure from traditional orchestral Bond themes by incorporating rock elements and later became a concert staple for McCartney.
Echoes of Change	Brave New World	Richard Ashcroft	2000	Richard Ashcroft’s song ‘Brave New World’ delves into the themes of change, uncertainty, and the quest for stability in a rapidly evolving world. The phrase ‘brave new world’ itself is a nod to Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel, suggesting a world that is both exciting and daunting in its newness and unpredictability.
Echoes of Change	Bring It On Home to Me (ft. Lou Rawls)	Sam Cooke	1962	Sam Cooke wrote this heartfelt plea for forgiveness and reconciliation, blending his gospel roots with secular soul music. Lou Rawls provided background vocals early in his career, doing the call-and-response with Cooke. The song later became a soul standard covered by numerous artists.
Echoes of Change	This World	Selah Sue	2011	Explores emotional vulnerability and inner struggle, influenced by Selah Sue’s personal experiences and her fusion of soul, reggae, and pop. The song exemplifies her introspective songwriting style and contributed to her international breakthrough.
Echoes of Change	My Day Will Come	Dinky Toys	1997	A song of optimism and perseverance, reflecting the late-1990s European pop-rock emphasis on personal confidence and resilience. While not widely known outside Europe, it became a recognisable track in Belgium and neighbouring countries.
Echoes of Change	Give Peace a Chance	The Plastic Ono Band	1969	This direct and repetitive call for peace was written and recorded during John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Montreal Bed-In for Peace. Captured in a hotel room (Queen Elizabeth’s Hotel in Montreal) on May 31, 1969, with a group of supporters (including Tommy Smothers, Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg, and Petula Clark), it quickly became a global anti-war anthem.
kind of classic	Rope Trick	Liz Story	1987	Liz Story is an American pianist associated with the Windham Hill movement, blending jazz harmony and impressionistic classical textures. Rope Trick is an original solo piano piece inspired by imagery of balance and movement rather than narrative, evoking quiet tension and grace. It became emblematic of refined late-80s “new age” piano that avoided sentimentality.
kind of classic	River Flows in You	Yiruma	2001	Yiruma, a South Korean pianist educated in London, is known for emotionally direct neoclassical music. This original composition reflects emotional flow, love, and impermanence, written with intentional simplicity. It later became globally famous through media and weddings, often (incorrectly) associated with the Twilight films.
kind of classic	The Journey of Water	Pia Maya	2010	Pia Maya is a contemporary composer working in ambient and modern classical styles. Inspired by water as a metaphor for movement and change, this original piece focuses on atmosphere and emotional continuity rather than melody-driven storytelling. Frequently used in mindfulness and cinematic playlists.
kind of classic	Spiegel im Spiegel	Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà	1978	Composed by Arvo Pärt, pioneer of sacred minimalism, this work reflects stillness, spirituality, and inner balance. Angèle Dubeau, a Canadian violinist, performs it with her all-female ensemble La Pietà. One of the most performed contemporary classical works worldwide.
kind of classic	On the Nature of Daylight	Louisa Fuller, Natalia Bonner, John Metcalfe, Philip Sheppard & Chris Worsey	2004	Originally composed by Max Richter as a meditation on grief and vulnerability. This chamber ensemble version preserves its slow, aching harmonic progression. The piece gained iconic status through films such as Arrival and Shutter Island.
kind of classic	Thaïs: Méditation	Gordon Back & Min Kym	1894	Composed by Jules Massenet as an orchestral interlude in the opera Thaïs, symbolising spiritual awakening. This violin-and-piano arrangement by Min Kym and Gordon Back translates the operatic emotion into an intimate chamber setting. A cornerstone of Romantic violin repertoire.
kind of classic	A Game of Croquet	Jóhann Jóhannsson	2010	Jóhann Jóhannsson was an Icelandic composer blending minimalism, electronics, and cinematic atmosphere. This original piece uses restrained motifs to suggest playful order masking emotional unease. The title reflects his interest in conceptual imagery rather than narrative explanation.
kind of classic	Sanvean	Lisa Gerrard	1995	Australian Lisa Gerrard, known for her work with Dead Can Dance, uses an invented language to bypass literal meaning. Sanvean is a wordless lament expressing longing, grief, and transcendence. The song has been widely used in film and television for its spiritual intensity.
kind of classic	Se l’aura spira	Girolamo Frescobaldi (modern performance)	1630	Frescobaldi was a key early-Baroque composer who shaped Italian vocal and keyboard music. This sensual aria describes love carried on the breeze, blending sacred and secular expression. Originally for voice and continuo, it is frequently reinterpreted in modern performances.
kind of classic	Zion hört die Wächter singen (BWV 140)	Alessio Bax	1731	Originally composed by J.S. Bach as part of the cantata Wachet auf, symbolising spiritual awakening. Pianist Alessio Bax presents a transcription that transforms the chorale into a contemplative solo piano meditation.
kind of classic	A Song for Amy	Aitor Sorozabal	2010	Aitor Sorozabal is a Spanish composer known for melodic, cinematic modern classical music. This original piece is a personal dedication, expressing tenderness and remembrance, inspired by real-life emotional bonds rather than abstract concepts. Amy was Sorozabal’s neighbour while he was living in Brussels.
kind of classic	Close Cover	Wim Mertens	1986	Close Cover, still one of his classics, features Wim Mertens on piano, voice and synthesizer with Pieter Vereertbrugghen on Bass Synthesizer. Wim Mertens is a Belgian composer, countertenor vocalist, pianist, guitarist and musicologist (born in Neerpelt, Belgium, May 14, 1953). In 1998, Mertens became the Cultural Ambassador of Flanders.
hidden verses	Earth Intruders (Extended Mark Spike Stent Mix)	Björk	2007	Written by Björk with Timbaland (Timothy Zachery Mosley) and Danja (Floyd Nathaniel Hills), inspired by a dream during a cross-Atlantic flight to New York. The song uses volcanic, tribal imagery to portray humanity as an invasive force overwhelming the planet. Inspired by natural disasters and geopolitical conflict, Björk’s confrontational vocal style and percussive production marked a radical sonic shift in her work, emphasising rhythm, urgency, and environmental anxiety. Björk Guðmundsdóttir (born November 21, 1965, Reykjavík, Iceland) known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress.
hidden verses	Chocolate	The 1975	2013	Written by Matty Healy, the song masks anxiety, youth culture, and fear of authority behind upbeat melodies and deliberately buried lyrics. Healy developed a story which details smoking marijuana with friends, resulting in encounters with the governing authorities in his small town. “Chocolate”, is used as a euphemism for the drug. The lyrics may also be a reference to the ‘Rebecca Riots’, the unrest in South and Mid Wales between 1839 and 1843 as an uprising against the poverty and oppressive taxation imposed on Welsh rural folk at that time. The band’s name was inspired by a page of scribblings found in Healy’s preowned copy of On the Road by Jack Kerouac which was dated “1 June, The 1975”.
hidden verses	1984	David Bowie	1974	Written by David Bowie as part of his abandoned 1984 musical project, the song reflects themes of surveillance, control, and political oppression inspired by George Orwell’s novel. Its funk-driven sound and urgent tone reflect Bowie’s growing fascination with soul music while reinforcing his role as a socially perceptive cultural commentator.
hidden verses	Killing an Arab	The Cure	1978	Written by Robert Smith and inspired directly by Albert Camus’ Nobel Prize winning novel The Stranger. The title “Killing An Arab” was taken from a passage where the main character thinks about the emptiness of life after killing a man on a beach for reasons he can’t explain. Early controversy stemmed from misinterpretation of the title, leading the band to clarify its literary origins and occasionally change lyrics during live performances. This song came at a time when the National Front, a group whose rallying cry was “Keep England White,” was on the rise.
hidden verses	Spanish Bombs	The Clash	1979	Written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, the song references the Spanish Civil War and George Orwell’s Homage To Catalonia and draws parallels to contemporary political unrest and personal disillusionment. Strummer had some prior knowledge of the contemporary situation in Spain from his ex-girlfriend Paloma Romano, better known in the music world as ‘Palmolive’.
hidden verses	The Envoy	Warren Zevon	1982	Written by Zevon as a response to Cold War geopolitics and Middle East conflict, the song portrays diplomacy as tragic and fragile. Zevon’s literate, cynical songwriting and restrained performance underscore his reputation for addressing global issues with dark wit and emotional weight. The title track was inspired by veteran American diplomat Philip Habib’s shuttle diplomacy during the 1982 Lebanon War.
hidden verses	Gotta Serve Somebody	Bob Dylan	1979	Written during Bob Dylan’s gospel period, when he was a born-again Christian, hence the song’s religious message. The song asserts that everyone ultimately serves a higher power or moral force. Its blunt, sermon-like structure divided fans but earned Dylan a Grammy, reflecting his willingness to follow spiritual conviction over audience expectation. Mark Knopfler plays guitar while backing vocals are performed by Dylan’s second wife, Carolyn Dennis and Helena Lisandrello, (a.k.a. Helena Springs), first a backup vocalist for Bob Dylan, starting in 1978 aged 17, and who co-wrote 19 songs with him, more than any of his other collaborators.
hidden verses	Preacherman	Melody Gardot	2015	Written by Melody Gardot, ‘Preacherman’ is a poignant and powerful song that delves into themes of racial injustice, loss, and the longing for a world where everyone belongs. The chorus reflects Gardot’s belief in a world where unity and belonging are possible, contrasting sharply with the reality of the tragic loss of potential and goodness due to societal injustices. She challenges the notion of racial differences by recalling that the Lord never distinguished between black and white, emphasising the fundamental equality of all people. Melody Gardot (born February 2, 1985 in New Jersey, US) is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and musician, widely considered as one of the best contemporary jazz vocalists of her generation.
hidden verses	Heaven Help Us All	Ray Charles with Gladys Knight	1971	Written by Ron Miller and originally recorded in 1970 by Stevie Wonder, the song is a plea for compassion and unity amid social injustice. Ray Charles and Gladys Knight’s gospel-infused interpretation adds gravitas and communal power, emphasising the song’s roots in civil rights–era soul.
hidden verses	I Cover the Waterfront (ft. Van Morrison)	John Lee Hooker	1989	A jazz standard written by Johnny Green and Edward Heyman, inspired by Max Miller’s 1932 best-selling novel, I Cover the Waterfront. The song is transformed through Hooker’s deep blues phrasing and Van Morrison’s soulful accompaniment. The collaboration bridges generations of American music, blending blues tradition with poetic introspection.
hidden verses	Le Dernier Qui A Parlé	Amina	1991	“Le Dernier qui a parlé…” (“The last to have spoken…”) is a song recorded by singer-songwriter Amina Annabi, with music composed by Wasis Diop and lyrics by Amina herself. It represented France in the Eurovision Song Contest 1991, performed as “C’est le dernier qui a parlé qui a raison” (“It’s the last to have spoken who is right”). The song blends French chanson with North African and Middle Eastern influences. Its themes of voice, silence, and identity reflect Amina’s multicultural background.
Kind of Latin Rhythm	Kind of Latin Rhythm	The Juju Orchestra	2007	A modern nu-jazz track blending Latin percussion, funk, and 1960s jazz stylings. The German collective nods to Blue Note-era sophistication with a dance floor twist, the title cheekily riffing on Kind of Blue. It’s an original piece inspired by the global groove revival of the 2000s.
Kind of Latin Rhythm	Glow Worm Cha-Cha-Cha	Jackie Davis	1959	A humorous organ-driven cha-cha take on the 1902 tune The Glow-Worm. Davis transforms it into a lounge-jazz delight, one of the earliest examples of Hammond organ crossover into Latin dance. Technically a cover, but heavily reinterpreted. Jackie Davis was the first musician to popularise jazz on the Hammond organ, years before Jimmy Smith’s name became synonymous with organ jazz.
Kind of Latin Rhythm	Sofrito	Mongo Santamaría	1976	“Sofrito” (a cooking base in Latin cuisine) symbolises musical flavor and fusion. Santamaría, a Cuban percussion legend, merges funk, soul, and Latin rhythm, an original piece from his fusion era, later inspiring the London collective Sofrito.
Kind of Latin Rhythm	Sambalero (ft. Luiz Bonfa)	Stan Getz	1963	Written by Luiz Bonfá (Luiz Floriano Bonfá, born October 17, 1922 and died January 12, 2001 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil), this elegant bossa nova standard celebrates the dance of samba. Getz’s version brings a silky saxophone tone over Bonfá’s guitar, pure transatlantic cool. Not a cover, but a collaboration between originators. The vocals are from Brazilian singer Maria Helena de Toledo Chermont, wife of Luiz Bonfá. Stan Getz (born Stanley Gayetzsky) was the pioneer of cool, bossa nova and modern jazz and won 5 Grammy Awards.
Kind of Latin Rhythm	Once Again (Outra Vez) (ft. Laurindo Almeida)	Stan Getz	1963	A collaboration between Getz and guitarist Laurindo Almeida. The song, composed by Jobim, reflects longing and the bittersweet return of love, one of the gems of the bossa nova movement. Laurindo Almeida was an acoustic guitarist from Brazil (born 2 September 1917 in Prainha, São Paulo, Brazil, died 26 July 1995 in Van Nuys, California, USA) and commanded many styles, including those of his native Brazil. Winner of five Grammy awards, he was the first to win in both jazz and classical categories.
Kind of Latin Rhythm	Nos Dois	Astrud Gilberto	1983	Nos Dois (The Two of Us, is a tender bossa nova reflecting intimacy and shared solitude, written by Astrud Gilberto and composed by Shigeharu Mukai, a Japanese jazz trombonist, born 21 January 1949 in Nagoya, Japan. Astrud Evangelina Weinert was a Brazilian singer (born March 30, 1940, in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil and died June 5, 2023 in Philadelphia, USA) who performed in the early sixties alongside Stan Getz and João Gilberto (whom she was married to at that time). In 1964, recently-separated, she began an affair with the married Getz while on tour together.
Kind of Latin Rhythm	So Nice (Summer Samba Remix)	Bebel Gilberto	2000	A modern reimagining of Marcos Valle’s 1964 Samba de Verão. Bebel Gilberto infuses electronic lounge and smooth sensuality, bridging classic bossa nova and chillout culture. “Summer Samba” (also known as “So Nice” or its original Portuguese title, “Samba de Verão”) is a 1964 bossa nova and jazz standard song by Brazilian composer Marcos Valle with lyrics by his brother Paulo Sérgio Valle. The English lyrics are by Norman Gimbel. Isabel Gilberto de Oliveira is the daughter of João Gilberto and Miucha (born Heloísa Maria Buarque de Hollanda in Rio de Janeiro.), born in New York City, where her parents were living at the time.
Kind of Latin Rhythm	Barrio Alto	The Lou Bennett Quartet	1993	Lou Bennet (born Jean-Louis Benoît, May 18, 1926 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA and died February 10, 1997 in Paris, France) was an American jazz organist. Bennett first played bebop on piano, but started playing organ in 1956 after hearing Jimmy Smith. He moved to Paris in 1960 where he recorded with Philip Catherine, Shirley Bunnie Foy and Franco Manzecchi. This track comes from his 1993 album “Now Hear My Meaning”. .
Kind of Latin Rhythm	Almendra	Rubén González	1997	A Cuban danzón classic that became a cornerstone of Latin jazz composed by Abelardo Valdés, ‘Almendra’ is lush and romantic, symbolising Havana’s golden age. Cuban musician (contrabass), composer and conductor of the Orquesta Almendra, Ernesto Abelardo Valdés was one of the most important danzoneros in Cuban musical history. Rubén González (born May 26, 1919, Santa Clara, Cuba – died December 8, 2003, Havana, Cuba) was a Cuban pianist. He was a legend in Cuban music and counted as one of the most influential pianists of the music style Son.
Kind of Latin Rhythm	Limón De Nata (Rumba)	Vicente Amigo	1995	Spanish flamenco guitar piece blending rumba rhythm and Mediterranean warmth. The title (“Creamy Lemon”) evokes sensuality and brightness. Original composition by Amigo, featuring the Brazilian trumpet player Irapoãn Freire. Vicente Amigo Girol was born in Guadalcanal, province of Seville in 1967, but grew up in Córdoba, where at the age of eight he was given his first Spanish guitar.
Soul Serenade	Top Of The World	The Carpenters	1972	A bright, grateful celebration of feeling uplifted by love and life. Richard Carpenter wrote the melody while in an unusually buoyant mood during a period of massive Carpenters success, and John Bettis added lyrics reflecting pure gratitude. Originally an album track, Lynn Anderson released a country cover before the Carpenters finally issued their own hit single. One of their most cheerful, enduring classics.
Soul Serenade	Pour Un Flirt Avec Toi	Michel Delpech	1971	A playful ode to flirtation and romantic teasing. Michel Delpech wrote it to capture the breezy, carefree spirit of early 70s French youth culture. Released in 1971, it quickly became one of his most famous songs, still beloved for its infectious whistling hook and sunny charm.
Soul Serenade	Somebody To Love	Jefferson Airplane	1967	Grace Slick brought it into Jefferson Airplane after leaving The Great Society, who recorded the original version in 1966. The Airplane’s explosive cover turned it into a counterculture anthem. Written by Grace Slick’s brother-in-law, Darby Slick, The Great Society, which also included her husband Jerry Slick, released the song as a single in late 1965. Darby Slick saw the downside of free love in the mid-’60s and wrote this song that champions loyalty and monogamy. Jefferson Airplane’s version was one of the first big hits to come out of the US West Coast counterculture scene. Over the next few years, musicians flocked to the San Francisco Bay area to be part of this scene.
Soul Serenade	Crazy Stupid Love (ft. Tinie Tempah)	Cheryl Cole	2014	Written by Wayne Wilkins and collaborators to channel the rush of infatuation in a radio-friendly, club-ready sound. Cheryl Cole, born Cheryl Ann Tweedy on June 30, 1983, is an English singer and television personality known for her work as a member of the girl group Girls Aloud and her successful solo career. Tinie Tempah was born as Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu on 7 November 1988 in London, the son of Igbo parents from Nigeria, Patrick Okogwu, Sr. and Rosemary Opiah. His middle name, Chukwuemeka, means “God has done more” in the Igbo language.
Soul Serenade	I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) (radio edit)	Meat Loaf	1993	A melodramatic confession of total devotion—but with personal boundaries (“that” refers to actions that would betray love or integrity). Written by Jim Steinman as rock-opera storytelling and performed by American rock singer Meat Loaf with additional vocals by Lorraine Crosby and wordless background vocals by Todd Rundgren, Rory Dodd and Kasim Sulton. The full version runs 12 minutes and became Meat Loaf’s biggest global hit.
Soul Serenade	Crazy On You	Heart	1976	Ann and Nancy Wilson wrote this passionate escape from real-world chaos through love and desire (for Ann’s boyfriend, Heart guitarist Mike Fisher), amid political tension and personal stress, channeling anxiety into a defiant, fiery romantic anthem. The song opens with the 45 seconds acoustic guitar stylings of Nancy Wilson, Ann’s sister and bandmate, before Roger Fisher’s (Mike’s brother) electric guitar blasts in.
Soul Serenade	(Sending Out An) S.O.S.	Retta Young	1975	A disco-era “emotional distress call” for lost love written within the lush Philly soul tradition by Allan Landon and Douglas Lenier, the song expresses desperation after heartbreak. An original track that became a club favourite, especially in Europe and later in the Northern Soul revival. Retta Young (a.k.a. Reeta Young, Rhetta Young) was born in 1949, South Carolina, U.S.A. and the wife of Al Goodman of the group The Moments.
Soul Serenade	I’ll Never Find Another You	The Seekers	1964	This was written by Tom Springfield, Dusty Springfield’s brother and band mate of the English folk group The Springfields, who wrote most of the Seekers’ identifiable material during the ’60s. The Seekers where the first Australian group ever to reach No. 1 in UK with their first three singles including this debut record. Judith Durham, Athol Guy, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley are joint ‘Australians Of The Year 1967’
Soul Serenade	You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me	Dusty Springfield	1966	When Dusty Springfield heard the Italian song composed by Pino Donnagio at the San Remo festival she asked her friend Vicki Wickham, who produced the British TV show Ready Steady Go, to write some English lyrics for it. Wickham wrote this first pop lyric in 1966 with the help of Yardbirds manager Simon Napier-Bell.
Soul Serenade	You’ve Made Me So Very Happy	Blood, Sweat & Tears	1969	Originally a hit for Motown artist Brenda Holloway in 1967, who shared writing credit on the song with Berry Gordy, Frank Wilson and Patrice Holloway. It’s about gratitude and joy for a transformative love. Blood, Sweat & Tears founder and keyboard player Al Kooper came up with the idea to cover this song, but he left the group before they recorded it. His replacement, David Clayton-Thomas, took over and sang lead on this track.
Soul Serenade	Only You	Alison Moyet	1995	A soulful, slowed-down reinterpretation of the Yazoo classic about longing for a past lover whose absence still lingers. Vince Clarke originally wrote it in 1982 after leaving Depeche Mode, inspired by feelings of uncertainty and emotional transition. Moyet’s later solo version is technically a cover of herself, more intimate and reflective.
Soul Serenade	Your Love Is King	Sade	1984	A serene, sensual meditation on emotional trust and romantic surrender. Sade Adu and Stuart Matthewman wrote it while forging their minimalist jazz-soul sound, inspired by warmth, elegance, and intimacy rather than pop drama. This 1984 song became Sade’s breakout hit and a defining quiet-storm classic.
Hymn To Love	Where Do I Begin (Love Theme from “Love Story”)	Andy Williams	1971	Originally an instrumental theme composed by Francis Lai for the 1970 film Love Story, lyricist Carl Sigman added words reflecting tender devotion and tragic romance. Andy Williams’ (born Howard Andrew Williams on December 3, 1927 in Wall Lake, Iowa, US) smooth, orchestral vocal style turned it into a defining early-1970s ballad, reinforcing his reputation as a master of romantic pop.
Hymn To Love	I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song	Jim Croce	1974	Written by Jim Croce for his wife Ingrid after he struggled to express affection in conversation, the song reflects simple, direct love. Croce’s warm folk-pop style and storytelling gift made it one of his most enduring tracks, released posthumously after his tragic death in 1973.
Hymn To Love	True Companion	Marc Cohn	1991	Written by Marc Cohn as a wedding song, it expresses steady, enduring partnership rather than dramatic passion. Marc Craig Cohn (born July 5, 1959 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American singer-songwriter, also known for the song “Walking in Memphis”. Cohn has been married three times: designer Jennifer George, ABC News journalist Elizabeth Vargas and Lisa Cohn.
Hymn To Love	Una lacrima sul viso	Bobby Solo	1964	Written by Lunero (Giulio Rapetti Mogol), the song tells of heartbreak symbolized by a single tear. Bobby Solo’s Elvis-inspired vocal style and dramatic delivery made it a landmark of Italian pop in the 1960s, launching him to national fame.
Hymn To Love	Waar en wanneer	Bob Benny	1963	A romantic chanson-style song about longing and destiny. Bob Benny (born Emilius Wagemans), known for representing Belgium at Eurovision in 1959 and 1961, embodied the classic European crooner tradition of the early 1960s. He became a musical theatre performer and played in many long-running shows in Belgium and Germany. The melody is based on the chorus of ‘Als flotter Geist’ from the operetta Der Zigeunerbaron by Johann Strauss Jr.
Hymn To Love	Et Si Tu N’Existais Pas	Joe Dassin	1975	“Et si tu n’existais pas” (in English ‘And if you did not exist’), a poetic meditation on existential love, imagining life without the beloved is a French adaptation of the Italian song by Toto Cutugno & Pasquale Losito. Joe Dassin’s warm, narrative vocal style made him one of France’s most beloved chanson-pop figures, and this remains one of his signature songs.
Hymn To Love	Ti Amo	Umberto Tozzi	1977	Written by Umberto Tozzi and Giancarlo Bigazzi, the song expresses passionate yet conflicted love. Its soaring melody and dramatic structure made it an international hit, later adapted into multiple languages and cementing Tozzi’s status in Italian pop history.
Hymn To Love	Colgando en Tus Manos (ft. Marta Sánchez)	Carlos Baute	2008	Written by Carlos Baute, the duet portrays vulnerability and emotional dependence in love. The conversational interplay between Baute and Sánchez helped make it one of the most successful Spanish-language ballads of the 2000s. Carlos Roberto Baute Jiménez (born March 8, 1974, in Caracas, Venezuela), is a Venezuelan singer-songwriter and television host. Baute’s surname is of Guanches origin, the indigenous Berber peoples of the Canary Islands in Spain. His father was born in Tenerife, Spain. Marta Sánchez López (born May 8, 1966 in Madrid, Spain) is the daughter of Antonio Sánchez Camporro, an Asturian opera singer.
Hymn To Love	Cuando Me Enamoro (ft. Juan Luis Guerra)	Enrique Iglesias	2010	Written by Enrique Iglesias and Descemer Bueno, the song describes the emotional unpredictability of falling in love. Blending Latin pop with Juan Luis Guerra’s tropical sensibility, it became a major Latin chart success. Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler (born May 8, 1975 in Madrid, Spain) is the third and youngest child of Spanish singer Julio Iglesias and Spanish-Filipina socialite and magazine journalist Isabel Preysler. Juan Luis Guerra Seijas (born 7 June 1957 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a Dominican musician, singer, composer, and record producer.
Hymn To Love	Je l’aime à mourir	Francis Cabrel	1979	“Je l’aime à mourir” (in English ‘I love her to death’) written by Francis Cabrel as a poetic declaration of devotion, the song emphasises enduring love through lyrical metaphor. Shakira’s version, both sung in French and Spanish (“La quiero a morir”), became a major hit single. Francis Cabrel was born in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, France, into a modest family of Venetian Veneto descent.
Hymn To Love	Ik ga dood aan jou	Bart Herman	1993	“Ik ga dood aan jou” (in English ‘I’m dying because of you’) is a Dutch-language ballad about overwhelming love and emotional surrender. Bart Herman (born Bartje Pol Frans Herman in Wevelgem on February 14, 1959), a Belgian singer-songwriter rooted in folk and cabaret traditions, is known for heartfelt storytelling and intimate performance style.
Hymn To Love	The Power of Love	Jennifer Rush	1984	A soaring ballad about emotional strength and devotion, originally performed by Jennifer Rush (born Heidi Stern), the daughter of opera singer Maurice Stern, in 1984. She wrote the lyric about her boyfriend, the Harvard graduate Steven Engebretson. Rush worked with the poet/lyricist Mary Susan Applegate, who got a songwriting credit on the track along with the producers Gunther Mende and Candy DeRouge (real name: Wolfgang Detmann). This version runs 6 minutes on the album but was cut down to 4:20 for the single. Céline Dion’s 1993 cover clocks in at 4:46.
Hymn To Love	Waiting for a Girl Like You	Foreigner	1981	Written by Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones with lead singer Lou Gramm, the song reflects longing for a transformative love. Its polished production and romantic sincerity marked Foreigner’s move toward arena ballads in the early 1980s. Thomas Dolby played the synthesiser intro. Foreigner is a British–American rock band formed in New York City in 1976.
Hymn To Love	Annie’s Song	John Denver	1974	John Denver wrote “Annie’s Song” for his then-wife, Ann Martell, after their first separation and near breakup of their marriage in 1974. Written in minutes while riding a ski lift in Aspen, Colorado, Denver composed as an expression of overwhelming love inspired by nature.
Hymn To Love	Il cielo in una stanza	Gino Paoli	1960	“Il cielo in una stanza” (in English ‘Heaven in a Room’) is a song written by Gino Paoli, inspired by an one-night relationship with a prostitute, and originally recorded by Italian singer Mina. The song was entirely written by Gino Paoli, at the time he was not registered to the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers, hence it was initially credited to Toang (Renato Angiolini) and Mogol (Giulio Rapetti).
Hymn To Love	L’Amour est bleu	Vicky Leandros	1967	“L’amour est bleu”, composed by André Popp with French lyrics by Pierre Cour, describes the pleasure and pain of love in terms of colours (blue and grey) and elements (water and wind). The song was recorded by Greek singer Vicky Leandros representing Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 1967 held in Vienna. French conductor and arranger Paul Mauriat recorded in late 1967 an instrumental version which became the first number-one by a French lead artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
comfort of noise	Rock Me Amadeus	Falco	1985	Written by Falco with Rob and Ferdi Bolland after he saw the film Amadeus, the song draws ironic parallels between Mozart’s scandalous celebrity life and Falco’s own experience with fame. Falco’s sharp delivery, streetwise persona, and multilingual swagger turned the track into a commentary on excess and artistic notoriety, making it the first German-language song to top the US Billboard Hot 100. Johann “Hans” Hölzel (19 February 1957 – 6 February 1998), better known by his stage name Falco (from Falko Weißpflog, an East German ski jumper who competed from 1977 to 1980), was an Austrian musician.
comfort of noise	Nut Rocker	B. Bumble and the Stingers	1962	A high-energy rock adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, arranged as a novelty instrumental. It is a version of the march from Tchaikovsky’s 1892 ballet The Nutcracker. Its driving piano riff exemplifies early rock’s playful irreverence and later made the track a staple at sporting events, particularly in the UK. B. Bumble and the Stingers was an American instrumental ensemble in the early 1960s, specialising in rock and roll arrangements of classical melodies.
comfort of noise	Les Comédiens	Charles Aznavour	1962	Written by Aznavour with Jacques Plante, the song uses theatrical imagery to suggest that life itself is a series of roles and emotional masks. Aznavour’s expressive, dramatic delivery reflects his roots in theatre and his philosophical approach to chanson, making it one of his most enduring works.
comfort of noise	Entrer dans la lumière	Patricia Kaas	1993	Written by Jean-Jacques Goldman, the song centres on emotional rebirth and emerging from darkness. The lyrics are both romantic and powerful at the same time, showcasing the artist’s passion for music and her love for the fans that come to see her. Overall, the song is about the joy and freedom of performing and creating music, as well as the impact it can have on both the performer and the audience. Patricia Noëlle Kaas was born on 5 December 1966 in Forbach, Lorraine, France, near the German border.
comfort of noise	Slave to the Rhythm	Grace Jones	1985	Written by Bruce Woolley, Simon Darlow, Stephen Lipson, and Trevor Horn, the song explores discipline, control, and identity through rhythm as metaphor. Grace Jones was born in Jamaica before relocating to Syracuse, New York with her family. She embarked on a successful career as a model in New York City and Paris. Often seen at New York City’s famed nightclub Studio 54, Jones also became a muse to Andy Warhol who photographed her extensively and created a series of iconic portraits of her. On Jones’ seventh album, Slave to the Rhythm (1985), this track is titled “Ladies and Gentlemen: Miss Grace Jones”, featuring a spoken voice-over from British actor Ian McShane.
comfort of noise	Bullet with Butterfly Wings	The Smashing Pumpkins	1995	Written by Billy Corgan during a period of exhaustion and emotional turmoil, the song channels frustration with fame, powerlessness, and modern life. Corgan’s snarling vocal delivery and the band’s quiet-loud dynamics turned it into a defining anthem of 1990s alternative rock, anchored by the line “Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage”. The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago in 1988 by frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist D’arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.
comfort of noise	Crucify	Tori Amos	1992	Written and performed by Amos, the song confronts self-blame, religious guilt, and societal pressure, particularly toward women. Her stark piano arrangement and emotionally exposed performance established Amos as a fearless confessional songwriter and marked her artistic breakthrough. Amos, the daughter of a Methodist minister, offended some religious circles with her “blasphemous” lyrics.
comfort of noise	Californication	Red Hot Chili Peppers	1999	Written by Anthony Kiedis with Flea, John Frusciante, and Chad Smith, the song critiques Hollywood excess, artificial beauty, and the global export of California ideals. Performed with unusual restraint for the band, it reflects their ambivalence toward fame and Los Angeles culture, with the title blending “California” and “fornication.” The Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in Los Angeles in 1982 as Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem by singer Anthony Kiedis, guitarist Hillel Slovak, bassist Flea, and drummer Jack Irons, classmates at Fairfax High School.
comfort of noise	L.A. Song	Beth Hart	1999	Written as an autobiographical confession, the song reflects Hart’s struggles with addiction, loneliness, and disillusionment in Los Angeles. Her raw vocal performance blurs the line between life and art, helping establish her reputation for emotional honesty and vulnerability. Beth Hart is an American musician born on January 24, 1972 in Los Angeles, California, US.
comfort of noise	It’s Only Rock ’n Roll (But I Like It)	The Rolling Stones	1974	Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as a wry response to critics and media expectations, the song reaffirms the band’s devotion to rock’s simplicity over artistic pretension. Its relaxed swagger underscores the Stones’ long-standing defiance of critical pressure.
comfort of noise	Jailhouse Rock	Elvis Presley	1957	Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for the film Jailhouse Rock, the song became iconic through Presley’s electrifying performance. His provocative dance moves and charisma transformed a narrative novelty song into a cultural flashpoint that redefined rock-and-roll performance.
comfort of noise	When the Curtain Falls	Greta Van Fleet	2018	Written by Josh Kiszka with his bandmates, the song reflects themes of legacy, rebellion, and stepping into one’s own identity. Greta Van Fleet’s classic-rock-inspired performance style reinforces the message, acknowledging comparisons to past icons while asserting independence. The band was formed in 2012 in Frankenmuth, Michigan by twin brothers Josh and Jake Kiszka, their younger brother Sam, and Kyle Hauck. The band name was created when Hauck heard a relative mention Gretna Van Fleet, a resident of Frankenmuth; their use of the variation on her name was done with her (subsequent) blessing. Hauck was replaced by the brothers’ good friend Danny Wagner in 2013.
friendship fragments	Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?	Bill Withers	1972	Written by Bill Withers, a former aircraft mechanic turned soul songwriter, the song captures quiet jealousy and emotional restraint rather than confrontation. Withers’ plainspoken style and understated delivery reflect his broader career ethos: expressing vulnerability with dignity, minimalism, and everyday realism rather than theatrical drama.
friendship fragments	My Friend	Groove Armada	2001	Written by Andy Cato and Tom Findlay, the song explores nostalgia and emotional reliance. Groove Armada emerged from the UK electronic scene with a human, soulful approach to dance music, often blurring the line between club culture and intimate listening, with friendship and memory as recurring themes.
friendship fragments	Step On	Happy Mondays	1990	This is a barely recognisable cover of a 1971 song by John Kongos (a South African singer and songwriter of Greek ancestry) called “He’s Gonna Step On You Again”. John Kongos wrote this as a protest song against white man’s appropriation of native territory in Africa, built around a riff lifted from an African tribal dance recorded in a jungle. It is cited by the Guinness Book of Records as the first ever sample used on a record. Shaun Ryder heard the line “You’re twistin’ my melon man” in a 1990 documentary called The Steve McQueen: Man on the Edge
friendship fragments	Unfinished Sympathy	Massive Attack	1991	Written by Grant Marshall and Andrew Vowles, the song emphasises emotional openness and vulnerability, featuring the soaring voice of singer Shara Nelson (born Sharon Rose Nelson in 1965 in London, England). The rhythm track is based on the bells found in the 1975 song “Take Me To The Mardi Gras” by jazz composer Bob James. The original version of “Unfinished Sympathy” is sampling/scratching the chorus in introduction and at circa 0:50” of the track “Planetary Citizen”, originally performed in 1976 by John McLaughlin (a fusion guitarist) and his Mahavishnu Orchestra, on the album “Inner Worlds”. Massive Attack is a collaborative British music production group from Bristol, England. The group name is taken from the slogan sprayed underneath a ‘piece’ in Bristol in 1985 by New York graffiti artist ‘Brim’. During the 1991 Gulf War the group name was shown on this release as ‘Massive’ in order to maintain airplay after pressure from the media and radio stations.
friendship fragments	Waiting On a Friend	The Rolling Stones	1981	Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards during a period of internal strain, the song reflects patience, maturity, and enduring companionship. As one of rock’s longest-lasting bands, the Stones here present a rare moment of quiet reflection, reinforced by jazz legend Sonny Rollins’ restrained saxophone. This also features Nicky Hopkins on piano, Jimmy Miller on percussion and Danish session drummer Kasper Winding on tambourine. Mick Taylor contributed on guitar.
friendship fragments	Seven Days	Joe Cocker	1994	Written by Bob Dylan, the song captures romantic anticipation and emotional restraint. It might indicate a young man anticipating a reunion with his mother, who abandoned him during his childhood. Joe Cocker, known for his gravelly voice and deeply emotional interpretations, was celebrated for transforming songs written by others into soulful, lived-in experiences, making this version feel intimate and world-weary.
friendship fragments	Steady, as She Goes	The Raconteurs	2006	Written by Jack White and Brendan Benson, frontman Jack White sings about nurturing a stable home life by marrying someone who will support you. The inspiration of the song led to the creation of the band The Raconteurs (also known as The Saboteurs) with the addition of Jack Lawrence (bass guitar), and Patrick Keeler (drums). Jack (Gillis) White first got married in 1996 to Meg White, with whom he formed The White Stripes a year later but their marriage didn’t survive the band. In 2005, he married English model, singer, and songwriter Karen Jill Elson and Meg was the “best woman”. In 2022 he got married again to the American singer, songwriter, and musician Olivia Jean Markel.
friendship fragments	Bad Blood	Bastille	2013	Written by Dan Smith, the song examines resentment and emotional fallout with cinematic intensity. Bastille emerged as a band focused on introspection and narrative drama, often disguising darker emotional themes beneath polished pop production and anthemic hooks. Bastille (stylised as BΔSTILLE) are a band from South London, England, formed in 2010, started out as a solo project by singer-songwriter Dan Smith, who later decided to form a band.
friendship fragments	Where the Wild Roses Grow (ft. Kylie Minogue)	Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds	1996	Written by Nick Cave, inspired by the traditional song “Down in the Willow Garden”, a tale of a man courting a woman and killing her while they are out together down by a river. Cave’s restrained storytelling contrasts sharply with Kylie Minogue’s then-wholesome pop image, heightening the song’s emotional and moral unease. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1983 by lead vocalist Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey and German guitarist-vocalist Blixa Bargeld. Kylie Ann Minogue (a.k.a. “Princess of Pop”) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress, born (28 May 1968) and raised in Melbourne.
friendship fragments	Diane	Therapy?	1994	A vocals-and-cellos version of “Diane”, originally dropped by American punk band Hüsker Dü (meaning “do you remember?” in Danish and Norwegian). The song was written by drummer Grant Hart, and concerns the murder of nineteen year old West St. Paul waitress Diane Edwards by Joseph Ture Jr. in 1980. The Northern Irish band Therapy? strips the song to a haunting, whispered confession. Martin McCarrick is the English cellist, best known for being a member of Siouxsie and the Banshees from 1987 until 1995 until he joined the band Therapy? In 1996. “Diane” is reminiscent of the more-popular 1991 Nirvana song “Polly” in that the vocalist takes on the role of a real-life kidnapper/killer, in this case Joseph Ture, himself.
friendship fragments	Polly	Nirvana	1991	Written by Kurt Cobain this song is about the actual kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl. In 1987, she was returning from a concert in Tacoma, Washington when she was abducted by a man named Gerald Friend. He took her back to his mobile home and raped her. In the case of “Polly”, Nirvana was actually speaking out against the abuse of women. The drummer on this song is not Dave Grohl, but Chad Channing, who was with the band from 1988-1990.
hashtag	Salvation	The Cranberries	1996	Written by lead singer and guitarist Dolores O’Riordan, the song is a blunt, fast-paced anti-drug statement inspired by her personal views on addiction and its destructiveness. The Cranberries were an Irish rock band formed in Limerick in 1989, composed of lead vocalist/guitarist Niall Quinn, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan (Noel’s brother) and drummer Fergal Lawler. Dolores O’Riordan replaced founding member Niall Quinn in 1990. Throughout her life, O’Riordan suffered from depression and the pressure of her own success; she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2015 and died from drowning due to alcohol intoxication in January 2018 at the age of 46.
hashtag	Remedy	The Black Crowes	1992	Written by Chris Robinson and Rich Robinson, the song celebrates music, community, and emotional release as a cure-all for life’s struggles. The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1984. The pro-marijuana stance the band espouses in this song is something they played up around this time. To help promote the album, they appeared on the cover of High Times magazine, played the Atlanta Pot Festival, and had signage at their concerts with marijuana leaves.
hashtag	Got to Get You Into My Life	The Beatles	1966	Written primarily by Paul McCartney, the song uses romantic language as a metaphor for marijuana. Its horn-driven arrangement marked a stylistic shift for the band, and McCartney later confirmed the lyrics were not about a particular person, but his desire to smoke pot. It was the first time horns were used in a Beatles song played by session musicians.
hashtag	Not an Addict	K’s Choice	1995	Written by Sarah Bettens, the song is about drugs and addiction sung in the first person with a voice of desperation and denial. Bettens’ restrained vocal delivery reinforces the song’s quiet tension, helping it become the band’s international breakthrough. K’s Choice is a Belgian rock band from Antwerp, formed in 1994, with core members Sam, formerly Sarah (lead vocals, guitar) and her brother Gert Bettens (guitar, keyboard, vocals).
hashtag	Snow (Hey Oh)	Red Hot Chili Peppers	2006	This song is about cocaine and China White heroin, two of lead singer Anthony Kiedis’ drugs of choice. John Frusciante’s intricate, flowing guitar riff contrasts with introspective lyrics written by Anthony Kiedis. The song reflects recovery, renewal, and perseverance following addiction. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982.
hashtag	Bug Powder Dust (Kruder & Dorfmeister Session)	Bomb the Bass & Justin Warfield	1994	The song lyrics include various literary and cultural allusions to famous writers like William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, as well as nods to pop culture icons like Men at Work and Jeff Spicoli. The song’s title “Bug Powder Dust” and “mugwump jism” are references to Burroughs’ ‘Naked Lunch’ novel, where the term “bug powder” is slang for a hallucinogenic drug, and Mugwump is the novel’s mysterious and influential political party. Bomb The Bass is English musician and producer of electronic music Tim Simenon. Vocalist is Justin Warfield (born 20 April 1973), a musician and hip hop emcee of African-American and Jewish Russian-Romanian maternal parentage.
hashtag	Bush Doctor	Peter Tosh	1978	The song ‘Bush Doctor’ by Peter Tosh can be interpreted as a call for the legalisation of marijuana, particularly in Jamaica, with an emphasis on the potential medical benefits it offers. The rhythm section featured drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare while Keith Richards played guitar. Peter Tosh is a Jamaican singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, (born Winston Hubert McIntosh on October 19, 1944 in Grange Hill, Jamaica and died September 11, 1987 in Kingston, Jamaica).
hashtag	Let Me Roll It	Paul McCartney & Wings	1973	Written by Paul McCartney as a playful, affectionate response to John Lennon, the song blends love-song imagery with musical nods to Lennon’s solo style. McCartney explained this was more of a drugs song, about rolling a joint. Paul McCartney and Wings, (a.k.a. Wings), were a British rock band formed in 1971 in London by Paul McCartney, formerly of the Beatles, on vocals and bass, his wife Linda McCartney on keyboards, Denny Laine, formerly of the Moody Blues, on guitar and vocals, and Denny Seiwell on drums.
hashtag	Brown Sugar	D’Angelo	1995	Brown Sugar, written by Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad and Michael D’angelo Archera, is a love song to marijuana. A clue to the song’s subject matter is the line, “Even got a big sister by the name of Chocolate Thai,” a reference to a strain of marijuana. In 2005 he was arrested on a DUI (driving under influence) charge and also for possession of cocaine and marijuana. D’Angelo (born Michael Eugene Archer in the Southside area of Richmond, Virginia, on February 11, 1974) died from pancreatic cancer in New York City, on the morning of October 14, 2025.
hashtag	Sister Morphine	The Rolling Stones	1971	The Rolling Stones recorded “Sister Morphine” in 1968, but didn’t release it until 1971. Marianne Faithfull wrote the lyrics, at the time she was Mick Jagger’s girlfriend, and released the song first, inspired by Anita Pallenberg. Pallenberg was an Italian actress, model and girlfriend of the band’s tragic and tempestuous founder Brian Jones and later the partner of Keith Richards, with whom she had three children. Like Anita and Keith, Marianne became a heroin addict. When Anita became pregnant of her first child, she switched to morphine. Ry Cooder played the bottleneck guitar, filling in for the drug-addled Brian Jones, who died before this song was released.
hashtag	Hymn	Barclay James Harvest	1971	Written by lead guitarist John Lees in 1971, its original title “Hymn For A White Lady” is “primarily about the dangers of drug abuse” comparing it with the spiritual high of religion. John Lees dedicated it to rock stars who had fallen victim to drugs, saying “let’s hear it for Jimi Hendrix… Paul Kossoff… Janis Joplin…” Barclay James Harvest, founded in Oldham, England, in September 1966 by bassist/vocalist Les Holroyd (born 1948), guitarist/vocalist John Lees (born 1947), drummer/percussionist Mel Pritchard (1948–2004), and keyboardist/vocalist Stuart “Woolly” Wolstenholme (1947–2010), splintered into two separate bands in 1998. Since the untimely deaths of Mel Pritchard and Woolly Wolstenholme, each band now has one original member of BJH, fronting John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest and Barclay James Harvest Featuring Les Holroyd.
jazzba	See See Rider	Kenny Burrell	1961	“See See Rider”, also known as “C.C. Rider”, “See See Rider Blues” or “Easy Rider”, is a classic blues song dating back to the 1920s, first recorded by Gertrude “Ma” Rainey on October 16, 1924. Guitarist Kenny Burrell, born in Detroit, Michigan (USA), reinterpreted it in a sophisticated jazz guitar style. Burrell is widely respected for bridging blues and modern jazz guitar, and his recordings helped shape the warm, melodic tone associated with West Coast jazz guitar.
jazzba	Surfing	Ernest Ranglin	1996	Ernest Ranglin, from Kingston, Jamaica, is one of the pioneers of Jamaican jazz guitar and an early architect of ska and reggae. “Surfing” reflects his ability to fuse Caribbean rhythms with jazz improvisation, creating a relaxed coastal atmosphere that mirrors the island environment that shaped his music.
jazzba	Sea	Duke Jordan	1974	Irving Sidney “Duke” Jordan (April 1, 1922 – August 8, 2006) was an American bebop pianist, born in New York and raised in Brooklyn, who played with Charlie Parker in the 1940s. In 1978 he relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark, where he composed reflective pieces like “Sea”, written by drummer Al Foster and featuring Sam Jones on bass, which evoke calm, open spaces and contemplative moods characteristic of his later European recordings.
jazzba	Stranger on the Shore	Acker Bilk	1961	Written by British clarinetist Acker Bilk (born Bernard Stanley Bilk) from Pensford, Somerset (UK), the piece was inspired by his daughter Jenny and originally titled “Jenny”. Its wistful melody captured a sense of solitude and nostalgia, making it one of the most successful instrumental singles in British chart history.
jazzba	Linden Street	Bert Joris	1997	Bert Joris, a Belgian jazz trumpeter, born in Antwerp in 1957, is known for lyrical compositions influenced by both American jazz traditions and European classical sensibilities. “Linden Street” reflects his melodic approach and interest in evocative, place-inspired compositions.
jazzba	Wavy Gravy	Kenny Burrell	1969	Named after counterculture figure Wavy Gravy, the track captures the relaxed, groove-based jazz style Burrell explored in the late 1960s. Burrell’s smooth guitar tone and blues roots helped him become one of the most recorded jazz guitarists of his era. Wavy Gravy (born Hugh Nanton Romney), is an American entertainer and activist for peace, best known for his hippie appearance, has been Master of Ceremonies at all three Woodstock Festivals.
jazzba	Night Cruise	The Billy Bauer Quartet	1957	Billy Bauer, (born William Henry Bauer in Bronx, New York City), was an innovative jazz guitarist associated with Lennie Tristano’s school of cool jazz. “Night Cruise” reflects the sophisticated, understated improvisational style that characterised much of 1950s modern jazz.
jazzba	Fletcher’s Song in Club	Justin Hurwitz	2014	Written by composer Justin Hurwitz, from Los Angeles, California (USA), for the film Whiplash. The piece underscores the intense, competitive jazz environment portrayed in the movie. Hurwitz later became widely known for composing the Oscar-winning score for La La Land.
jazzba	Song for Darius	Russell Malone	2004	Russell Malone (born in Albany, Georgia on 8 November 1963; died 23 August 2024) was a highly respected jazz guitarist remembered for his work with Jimmy Smith in 1988 and subsequently his work with Harry Connick Jr. and Diana Krall throughout the 1990s. This piece is a warm tribute to his son Darius. The composition is reflecting Malone’s elegant phrasing and deep roots in traditional jazz guitar.
jazzba	Expansions	Lonnie Liston Smith	1975	Lonnie Liston Smith, born in Richmond, Virginia (USA), blended jazz, funk, and spiritual themes in the 1970s. “Expansions” became a classic of jazz-funk and spiritual jazz, reflecting his philosophy of music as a vehicle for consciousness and emotional exploration. Lonnie Liston Smith Jr. played with jazz artists as Pharoah Sanders and Miles Davis before forming Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes.
riddance	The Art of Walking	Blockhead	2005	Created by Tony Simon, known as Blockhead, an American producer from Manhattan, New York City (USA). Associated with the underground hip-hop label Definitive Jux, he is known for cinematic, sample-driven instrumentals. This track reflects his wandering, introspective production style—music that suggests movement and inner monologue without lyrics.
riddance	A Walk in the Park	Nick Straker Band	1979	Formed in London, England (UK), the Nick Straker Band blended British pop writing with American disco grooves. The song pairs dance-floor energy with subtle romantic uncertainty, capturing the late-1970s crossover between London’s club culture and transatlantic disco trends.
riddance	Ticket to Ride	The Beatles	1965	Written primarily by John Lennon of Liverpool, England (UK), during the band’s transition from pop idols to studio innovators. The heavier rhythm and more ambiguous emotional tone marked a turning point, when The Beatles would go on to redefine modern songwriting and recording techniques globally. Ringo came up with a distinctive staccato drum pattern. The brief but recognisable guitar solo was played by Paul McCartney, who was The Beatles bass player. Americans concluded the “ticket” was from British Railways, and “ride” was the town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight, where Paul’s cousin ran a bar which he had visited with John.
riddance	Road Trippin’	Red Hot Chili Peppers	2000	Written by members of the Los Angeles, California (USA) band, inspired by a literal coastal road trip after personal turmoil. Known for blending funk, punk, and alternative rock, the band showed unusual acoustic restraint here, emphasising reconciliation and friendship over intensity.
riddance	Blue Hotel	Chris Isaak	1987	Chris Isaak, born in Stockton, California (USA), channels 1950s rockabilly and Roy Orbison-inspired melodrama. The song’s cinematic loneliness reflects his signature retro-Americana aesthetic, which helped him build an international reputation for moody, romantic ballads.
riddance	Tempted (’94)	Squeeze	1994	Squeeze formed in London, England (UK), with songwriters Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook known for literate, character-driven British pop. “Tempted”, was written in 1981 by Chris Difford in a cab on the way to Heathrow. He wrote down what he saw and how he felt as they wormed their way through the traffic. The band recorded a new version for the soundtrack of the 1994 movie Reality Bites with Paul Carrack singing lead and replacing Jools Holland on keyboards. Elvis Costello, who produced this track, is singing on the second verse.
riddance	Good Riddance (ft. Jonathan Jeremiah)	Aeroplane	2010	Aeroplane is the project of Vito De Luca from Brussels, Belgium (born in Belgium to Italian parents). A key figure in the European nu-disco revival, he blends 1970s-inspired production with modern polish. Featuring Jonathan Jeremiah (born in London to an Anglo-Indian father and Irish Catholic mother), the song merges continental electronic nostalgia with soulful British vocals.
riddance	Head Over Heels	JD McPherson	2017	JD McPherson, from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (USA), is known for meticulously reviving vintage rock ’n’ roll aesthetics. His analog production style and energetic delivery reflect deep roots in early American rock traditions while addressing contemporary emotional themes.
riddance	Oh My God (feat. Lily Allen)	Mark Ronson	2007	The original was written and performed in 2005 by the Kaiser Chiefs. Mark Ronson, born in London (UK) and raised between London and New York City (USA), transformed the indie-rock original into a brass-driven pop reinterpretation, featuring London-born Lily Allen, similar to the 1968 track ‘We Are The Moles’ by The Moles (alias Simon Dupree And The Big Sound).
riddance	Excerpt from a Teenage Opera	Keith West	1967	Keith West, from Dagenham, East London, England (UK), recorded this baroque-pop single written by producer Mark Wirtz. Conceived as part of an ambitious but unfinished rock opera, the song reflects the orchestral experimentation of 1960s British studio culture.
riddance	No Going Back	Yuno	2018	Yuno, an American indie-pop artist from Jacksonville, Florida (USA), represents the bedroom-pop generation. Self-producing much of his music, he blends dreamy synth textures with introspective themes, reflecting the digital-era DIY approach to artistry.
riddance	Come Home	Amatorski	2010	Amatorski are an indie-folk band from Ghent, Belgium. Known for minimalist arrangements and atmospheric restraint, they emerged from Europe’s art-pop scene emphasizing subtle emotion and quiet storytelling over dramatic expression.
riddance	Fly Robin Fly	Silver Convention	1975	Silver Convention was formed in Munich, Germany, by producers Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay. One of the first German disco acts to top the US Billboard charts, the group exemplified producer-driven Euro-disco with hypnotic repetition and minimal lyrics.
Edge & Attitude	I Wanna Be Your Dog	The Stooges	1969	Written by Iggy Pop (born in Muskegon, Michigan, USA) with The Stooges, the song expresses raw submission, desire, and primal energy. A cornerstone of proto-punk, its repetitive riff and confrontational lyrics helped lay the groundwork for punk rock’s stripped-down aggression. The three-chord riff was played by Velvet Underground founding member John Cale, who also produced the track.
Edge & Attitude	Undercover of the Night	The Rolling Stones	1983	Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (London, England, UK), the song addresses political violence and unrest in Latin America and the political corruption in Central America. The song was heavily influenced by William Burroughs’ Cities Of The Red Night, a free-wheeling novel about political and sexual repression. Its aggressive rhythm and explicit lyrics marked one of the band’s most overtly political tracks during their later career. Chuck Leavell, formerly of the Allman Brothers Band, played keyboards.
Edge & Attitude	Lawyers, Guns and Money	Warren Zevon	1978	Written by Warren Zevon, from Chicago, Illinois (USA), the song humorously portrays a man in increasingly absurd trouble across international settings. Known for dark wit and storytelling, Zevon sings about a troubled youth visiting Cuba who writes home to his father for help. The reference to “I’m hiding in Honduras” may refer to the short exile of famous American short story writer O. Henry (Will Porter). Zevon blends satire with rock energy, making this one of his signature songs.
Edge & Attitude	Rumble in the Jungle	Fugees ft. A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes & Forte	1996	Created by members of influential hip-hop collectives from New York City (USA), including Fugees members Wyclef Jean, Pras, and Lauryn Hill along with guest vocalists Busta Rhymes, John Forté, and A Tribe Called Quest members Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. It reflects the collaborative, competitive spirit of 1990s hip-hop culture. The song is recorded for the 1996 documentary film When We Were Kings, depicting the 1974 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The song’s bassline is taken from “The Name of the Game” (1977) by Swedish pop group ABBA. One of Hill’s verses is also based on “Angel of the Morning”, penned by Chip Taylor in 1967.
Edge & Attitude	Freaky Hijiki	Beastie Boys	1989	The Beastie Boys, from New York City (USA), were known for blending hip-hop with punk attitude and humour. This track reflects their experimental, irreverent style during the Paul’s Boutique era, marked by dense sampling and playful lyricism.
Edge & Attitude	Wire to Wire	Razorlight	2008	Written by frontman and songwriter Johnny Borrell, from London, England (UK), the song reflects emotional vulnerability and strained relationships. It was all live recorded on an old tape machine, in a tiny studio called the Fish Market in Willesden, all in one take. Razorlight emerged from the UK indie rock scene of the 2000s, combining melodic songwriting with raw, personal lyrics.
Edge & Attitude	Ain’t That a Bitch	Johnny “Guitar” Watson	1976	Johnny “Guitar” Watson (born John Jacob Watson), from Houston, Texas (USA), blends funk, blues, and humour in this track about betrayal and financial hardship. Known for his flamboyant style and influence on funk and hip-hop, Watson uses wit and groove to address serious themes. Watson learned the rudiments of music on the piano as a child. He took up the guitar on the agreement with his preacher grandfather that he would not use it to ‘play the blues’.
Edge & Attitude	Dance with the Devil	Cozy Powell	1973	Cozy Powell, from Cirencester, England (UK), was a renowned rock drummer. This instrumental track, built around a driving rhythm and classical-inspired motif, became one of his most recognisable works and a staple of 1970s rock instrumentals. It is said to be based loosely on the Hendrix track “Third Stone From The Sun,” in spite of the obvious tempo difference.
Edge & Attitude	Ramble On	Led Zeppelin	1969	Written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant (London, England, UK), the song blends folk and rock with lyrical references to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Led Zeppelin, formed in London, were pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal, known for combining mythological imagery with musical innovation. John Bonham may have played a plastic garbage pail or a guitar case as percussion to supplement his drums.
Edge & Attitude	Jeremy	Pearl Jam	1991	Written by Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament, from Seattle, Washington (USA), the song is based on a real-life story of a troubled student, Jeremy Delle, a 15-year-old sophomore who killed himself in front of his English class at Richardson High School in Richardson, Texas, on January 8, 1991. It addresses themes of isolation, bullying, and mental health, becoming one of the defining songs of the grunge era.
Edge & Attitude	If	Pink Floyd	1970	Written and sung by Roger Waters, this song is about self-analysis. Roger Waters, from Cambridge, England (UK), reflects on introspection, self-doubt, and emotional vulnerability. Pink Floyd, known for conceptual and progressive rock, often explored psychological themes, and this track represents their quieter, reflective side.
Midnight City Soul	Keep On Movin’	Soul II Soul	1989	Written by Londoner Jazzie B (real name: Beresford Romeo) while running a nightclub in London that the police were trying to shut down. The song promotes resilience, positivity, and forward movement. The track is built on a sample of a drum break from the 1975 Graham Central Station song “The Jam”. The vocals were supplied by Caron Wheeler, a second generation Caribbean woman living in Britain. The fiddles were courtesy of the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra, a reggae group formed by Steel Pulse member Mykaell Riley. Soul II Soul, formed in London, England (UK), were pioneers of a smooth blend of soul, R&B, and dance music known as “sound system culture”.
Midnight City Soul	The Hustle	Van McCoy	1975	Written by Van McCoy, a Washington, D.C. (USA) producer and songwriter, inspired by the original Latin hustle, which was developed by Puerto Rican teenagers in the Bronx and made its way into the popular nightclubs. Its instantly recognisable flute melody made it one of the signature instrumentals of the disco era and a global dance-floor hit.
Midnight City Soul	Da Funk	Daft Punk	1995	Written by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, the track is built around a distorted bass groove and minimalist structure. Thomas Bangalter revealed that “Da Funk” was made after listening to Westcoast G-Funk for weeks around the time Warren G.’s “Regulate” was released. Daft Punk, from Paris, France, became pioneers of French house music, and this track helped establish their raw, loop-driven early sound. He was born in Paris, France, to French songwriter and musician Daniel Vangarde and Therese Thoreux. Guy-Manuel De Homem Christo was born in the Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine and is of Portuguese aristocratic descent: his great-grandfather was the writer and fascism advocate Homem Cristo Filho, whose father was the military figure Francisco Manuel Homem Cristo. Daft Punk, was named after a negative review of Darlin’, their former indie rock band at the Melody Maker.
Midnight City Soul	Porcelain	Moby	1999	Written by Moby (Richard Melville Hall), from New York City (USA), the song reflects fragile emotional connection and personal introspection. Inspired by an ill-fated romance, its delicate piano and ambient textures became a defining sound of late-1990s downtempo electronica. The track features Moby’s vocals backed by a sample of vocalist Pilar Basso.
Midnight City Soul	Sour Times	Portishead	1994	Written by Geoff Barrow, Beth Gibbons, and Adrian Utley, the song expresses paranoia, heartbreak, and emotional tension. The eerie percussion and guitar were sampled from Lalo Schifrin’s “Danube Incident,” music composed by the Argentine composer for an episode of Mission Impossible. Portishead, from Bristol, England (UK), were key architects of trip-hop, blending hip-hop beats with cinematic, noir-like atmospheres.
Midnight City Soul	Children	Robert Miles	1995	Written by Italian producer Robert Miles (born in Switzerland, raised in Italy), the track was inspired by images of children affected by war in former Yugoslavia, taken by his father. In addition, the DJ was disturbed by the large number of deaths in car accidents within the Italian rave community, specifically among younger participants. Its melodic piano line became iconic in the dream house genre and was credited with calming late-night club atmospheres.
Midnight City Soul	In My Secret Life	Leonard Cohen	2001	Written by Leonard Cohen, from Montreal, Canada, the song reflects hidden desires, contradictions, and the duality of public versus private identity: you buy what you’re told. Known for his poetic lyricism and philosophical depth, Cohen explores quiet emotional truths with understated delivery. Sharon Robinson and her vocals complimented Cohen’s flawlessly.
Midnight City Soul	One Day	The Verve	1997	Written by Richard Ashcroft, from Wigan, England (UK), the song reflects longing, hope, and emotional searching. The Verve (originally Verve) was an English alternative rock band formed in 1989 at Winstanley College, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, by vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones and drummer Peter Salisbury. They became known for blending Britpop with expansive, introspective songwriting, often exploring existential themes.
Midnight City Soul	Everything I Am Is Yours	Villagers	2015	Written by Conor O’Brien, from Dublin, Ireland, the song expresses vulnerability, surrender, and emotional openness. Villagers are known for blending indie folk with poetic introspection, often focusing on identity and connection.
Midnight City Soul	Fallin’	Alicia Keys	2001	Written by Alicia Keys (born Alicia Augello-Cook, but took the stage name Keys because of the piano imagery), from New York City (USA), the song explores the ups and downs of a turbulent relationship. According to Keys, her mother, who raised her on her own, helped inspire this song. Her mom could drive Alicia crazy at times, but her love for her was unwavering. The song opens with a bit of classical music by Chopin. Its blend of classical piano influence and soul vocals helped establish Keys as a major figure in early-2000s R&B.
Global Roots	Buk-In-Hamm Palace	Peter Tosh	1979	Written by Peter Tosh, from Grange Hill, Jamaica, the song is a sharp reggae critique of colonialism and British monarchy, metaphorically referencing Buckingham Palace. Tosh, a founding member of The Wailers alongside Bob Marley, was known for his militant stance on justice, pan-Africanism, and political resistance.
Global Roots	Congo (Pt. 1)	The Twistin’ Kings	1960	A rhythm-driven instrumental reflecting early 1960s dance culture, blending African-inspired percussion with Western pop sensibilities. The Twistin’ Kings were one of the many aliases of the Motown house band, the Funk Brothers. In late 1961, Motown president Berry Gordy wanted to capitalise on the Twist dance craze sweeping America, and marketed an LP of Twist tunes called Twistin’ the World Around, credited to the Twistin’ Kings.
Global Roots	Udakwa Njalo	Mafikizolo	1997	Mafikizolo, from Johannesburg, South Africa, are pioneers of kwaito, a genre blending house, hip-hop, and traditional African sounds. The band is made up of lead singer/composer Nhlanhla Sibongile Mafu Nciza and songwriter/composer/singer Theo Kgosinkwe. The song reflects township life and celebration, with rhythmic repetition and call-and-response vocals rooted in local musical traditions.
Global Roots	Serenata Ritmica	Noro Morales	1950	Norberto “Noro” Morales, from Puerta de Tierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico, was a leading figure in Latin jazz and mambo. In 1939, he and brothers Humberto and Ismael “Esy” put together the Brothers Morales Orchestra and in 1942 he released the tune “Serenata Ritmica”, an instrumental that blends Caribbean rhythms with big-band jazz arrangements, reflecting the vibrant New York Latin music scene of the mid-20th century.
Global Roots	Buscando La Melodía	Machito & His Salsa Big Band	1980s (approx.)	Machito, born in Havana, Cuba, was a pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz who later worked extensively in New York City (USA). The track reflects a search for musical expression through layered rhythms and brass arrangements, embodying the fusion of Cuban traditions with jazz improvisation.
Global Roots	Ritual	Nico Gomez & His Afro Percussion Inc.	1970	Nico Gomez, (born Joseph van het Groenewoud and father of singer Raymond van het Groenewoud) was a Belgian orchestra leader with Dutch roots. Nico Gomez and His Afro Percussion Inc. was a musical group known for blending Latin, funk, and Afro-Bop styles. “Ritual” emphasises percussion and trance-like repetition, reflecting ceremonial and communal aspects of rhythm.
Global Roots	Rasanble	Beethova Obas	1990	Beethova Obas, from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, blends traditional Haitian rhythms with folk and world music influences. “Rasanble” (meaning “gather”) reflects themes of unity, cultural identity, and social cohesion, often tied to Haiti’s political and social struggles. Beethova’s father, Charles Obas, a painter as well as a music lover, named Beethova after Beethoven.
Global Roots	Umuntu Ngumuntu	Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens	1980	Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens was a South African mbaqanga supergroup formed in 1964, comprising the basso profundo “groaner” Simon “Mahlathini” Nkabinde, the female vocal harmony ensemble the Mahotella Queens, and instrumental backing from the Makgona Tsohle Band. The group, from Johannesburg, South Africa, were central to the mbaqanga genre, combining Zulu vocal traditions with upbeat rhythms. The title reflects the philosophy of ubuntu (“a person is a person through others”), emphasising community, humanity, and shared identity.
Global Roots	Ne Me Jugez Pas	Sawt el Atlas	1990	Sawt el Atlas (Arabic for ‘Voice of the Atlas’), a multicultural French-Moroccan ten-piece band based in Paris, France. The group features two sets of three brothers: the Mirghani and El Habchi brothers. With North African roots, they blend Moroccan, Algerian, and Western influences. The song’s title (“Don’t Judge Me”) reflects themes of identity and cultural expression, while the remix adds electronic elements to traditional melodies.
morning clarity	October Road	James Taylor	2002	Written by James Taylor, from Boston, Massachusetts (USA), the song reflects nostalgia, memory, and returning to one’s roots. Known for introspective folk songwriting, Taylor uses the imagery of a familiar road as a metaphor for personal history and emotional grounding.
morning clarity	Travelling Light	Vaya Con Dios	1992	Written by Dani Klein and bandmates, the song expresses emotional release and freedom from burdens. Vaya Con Dios, formed in Brussels, Belgium, blends blues, jazz, and pop influences, with Klein’s smoky voice shaping their distinctive, laid-back European sound.
morning clarity	Walk Between the Raindrops	Donald Fagen	1982	Written by Fagen, from Passaic, New Jersey (USA), the song reflects urban romance and fleeting escape. As half of Steely Dan, Fagen is known for sophisticated jazz-rock compositions; this track continues his signature blend of irony, smooth grooves, and lyrical detail. The metaphorical power of being able to “walk between raindrops” is immense, it speaks to a quiet, assured optimism, a belief that skill, fate, or perhaps a higher power will allow one to glide through the inevitable storms of life without being drenched in sorrow.
morning clarity	Have a Good Time	Paul Simon	1975	Written by Simon, from Newark, New Jersey (USA), the song playfully contrasts upbeat rhythm with reflective undertones about aging and living in the moment. Simon’s work often blends folk storytelling with global musical influences and subtle lyrical irony.
morning clarity	Seabird	Alessi Brothers	1976	Written by the identical twin brothers duo, Billy and Bobby Alessi (born July 12, 1953, West Hempstead, New York), the song uses imagery of flight and escape to convey longing and emotional distance. Known for soft rock harmonies, the brothers created a timeless, dreamy atmosphere with this track.
morning clarity	Never Give It Up	John Milk	2010s (approx.)	John Milk, a French soul artist from Paris, blends vintage soul influences with modern production. The song promotes resilience and perseverance, reflecting his dedication to reviving classic soul traditions with contemporary authenticity. John Milk was born in 1985 and grew up in the Paris suburb where music at that time was all about Hip Hop. Listening to all the Wu Tang productions based on analog samples of 60 Rhythm and Blues, he decided at the age of 18 to build his own studio with analog gears: Real to Real tape recorder, 70’s microphones, live recording.
morning clarity	Sweet Baby (ft. Erykah Badu)	Macy Gray	2001	Written by Macy Gray, from Canton, Ohio (USA), the song expresses tenderness and emotional connection in relationships. Gray, known for her distinctive raspy voice and neo-soul style, collaborates here with Erykah Badu, adding warmth and depth to the track. John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers provides the song’s guitars while R&B musician Billy Preston plays the organ.
morning clarity	Window Seat	Erykah Badu	2010	Written by Grammy Award-winning American R&B/Soul singer, songwriter and actress Erykah Badu (born Erica Abi Wright in Dallas, Texas (USA) on February 26, 1971). She is known as the first lady of Neo-Soul and also DJs under the name “Lo Down Loretta Brown”. Badu blends introspection with social commentary; the song reflects the desire for freedom, solitude, and escape from societal pressures. It gained additional attention from its controversial music video. The song features Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson of The Roots on drums.
morning clarity	Stay	Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories	1994	Written by Lisa Loeb, from Bethesda, Maryland (USA), the song captures vulnerability and emotional confusion in relationships. It became the first song by an unsigned artist to top the Billboard Hot 100, highlighting Loeb’s direct, conversational songwriting style. Daryl Hall, who was looking for songs, was the inspiration for her big hit. The music video (a one continuous camera shot in a vacant loft) marks her neighbour’s, actor Ethan Hawke, directorial debut and Loeb’s first time on camera.
morning clarity	Everything’s Gonna Be Alright	Laurence Jones	2015	Laurence Jones, a classically trained guitarist, is a master of blues-rock from Liverpool, England (UK), who delivers an optimistic message of reassurance and perseverance. Known for modernising British blues, Jones combines classic influences with youthful energy.
morning clarity	Send a Little Love My Way (Like Always)	Stephen Bishop	1970	Stephen Bishop, from San Diego, California (USA), is known for soft rock songwriting focused on romance and sincerity. This song reflects gentle affection and emotional reassurance, typical of his melodic, understated style.
morning clarity	Warm and Sunny Days	The Dears	2003	The Dears, formed in Montreal, Canada, blend indie rock with orchestral influences. The members are: Natalia Yanchak (keyboards, vocals); Jeff Luciani (drums); Murray A. Lightburn (composer, vocals, keyboards, guitars); Steve Raegele (guitar); Remi-Jean LeBlanc (bass). The song reflects hope and emotional contrast, pairing uplifting imagery with introspective undertones, characteristic of frontman Murray Lightburn’s expressive songwriting.
morning clarity	Never Back Down	Novastar	2004	Novastar, the project of Joost Zweegers from Hasselt, Belgium, is known for emotional, piano-driven pop. The song emphasises resilience and quiet determination, reflecting Zweegers’ introspective and melodic songwriting style. The song is co-written by Piet Goddaer (a.k.a. Ozark Henry) who also performs the backing vocals.
Tone Thoughts	Beatles and Stones	The House of Love	1988	Written by Guy Chadwick, the song reflects youthful idealism, nostalgia, and the longing for emotional certainty, using classic bands as symbols of purity and belief rather than literal references. The House of Love are an English alternative rock band, formed in London in 1986 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Guy Chadwick (born 21 March 1956, Hanover, Germany) and co-founder and lead guitarist Terry Bickers (born 6 September 1965 in Fulham, London, England, UK).
Tone Thoughts	A&E	Goldfrapp	2008	Written by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, the song is a surreal reflection on mortality and rebirth, inspired by a near-death medical experience Alison Goldfrapp alluded to indirectly. Goldfrapp is an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, consisting of Alison Goldfrapp (vocals, synthesiser) and Will Gregory (synthesiser). A&E stands for “Accident and Emergency,” referring to a medical treatment facility specialising in emergency care.
Tone Thoughts	In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida	Iron Butterfly	1968	The song’s title famously derives from a drunken (Red Mountain wine) slurring of “In the Garden of Eden”, written by Doug Ingle, (born September 9, 1945, in Omaha, Nebraska and died May 24, 2024), original primary composer, lead vocalist and organ player for Iron Butterfly (1966-1971), an American psychedelic rock band, formed in San Diego in 1966. The song contains a musical quotation of the Christmas hymn “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”, included by Ingle because he “wanted to touch the spiritual”. The song’s structure and drum solo refer to the Congolese Christian Missa Luba, which Erik Brann introduced to the group. The song is known for its 17-minute album version, featuring a notable drum solo by Ron Bushy. Also a 2-minute-52-second 45-rpm version was edited. An U.S. mono album version was produced exclusively for promotional copies and also in select international markets with exotic mastering.
Tone Thoughts	Ramada Inn	Neil Young & Crazy Horse	2012	“Ramada Inn” is a song by Neil Young and Crazy Horse from their album “Psychedelic Pill,” released on October 30, 2012. The song, which is nearly 17 minutes long, is a heartbreaking yet beautifully written piece about a long-term marriage that has fallen into routine, and the struggles the couple face as they try to reconnect. The blend of emotional lyrics and expansive guitar work, typical of Young’s style, is very personal to him and his wife Pegi and came with a video that combined home-movie-style footage and psychedelic imagery, looking backward through a haze. Crazy Horse is an American rock band best known for their association with Neil Young. On this track they are composed of Billy Talbot (bass, vocals), Ralph Molina (drums, vocals) and Frank “Poncho” Sampedro (guitar, vocals).
Tone Thoughts	I Don’t Want to Talk About It	Rod Stewart	1975	“I Don’t Want to Talk About It” is a song written by American guitarist Danny Whitten and first recorded by his rock band Crazy Horse in 1971. British singer Rod Stewart recorded the song at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama for his 1975 album Atlantic Crossing. In the United Kingdom it was released as a double A-side single with “The First Cut Is the Deepest”.
Tone Thoughts	Fade Into You	Mazzy Star	1993	Written by Hope Sandoval and David Roback, the song expresses longing, surrender, and emotional closeness without clarity or resolution. Sandoval’s hushed, detached vocal and the band’s dreamlike production made it a defining track of 1990s alternative music, often associated with introspection and quiet late-night listening. Mazzy Star was an American alternative rock band formed in Santa Monica, California, in 1990 by David Roback (guitar) and Hope Sandoval (vocals).
Tone Thoughts	Something Tells Me	BAILEN	2019	Written by the Bailen siblings, the song reflects intuition, emotional risk, and trust in inner signals when certainty is unavailable. BAILEN is a band formed in 2014, consisting of twin brothers Daniel (vocals/bass/synth/guitar) and David Bailen (vocals/drums), as well as younger sister Julia Bailen (vocals/guitar) plus a friend, born and raised in NYC.
Tone Thoughts	Gila	Beach House	2008	Written by Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally, the song explores emotional distance, memory, and dreamlike connection. Beach House is a dream pop duo from Baltimore, Maryland (USA), formed in 2004. Beach House consists of French-born Victoria Legrand (Victoria Garance Alixe Legrand), who’s the niece of famous French soundtrack composer Michel Legrand, Baltimore native Alex Scally plus, first appearing in 2017, James Barone on drums.
rpm	How Do I Live	LeAnn Rimes	1997	Written by Diane Warren for the film Con Air, the song expresses overwhelming devotion and emotional dependence. LeAnn Rimes, born in Jackson, Mississippi and raised in Garland, Texas (USA), was only 14 when she recorded it, showcasing her powerful country-pop vocal style. The song famously competed with another version released by Trisha Yearwood the same year.
rpm	If Tomorrow Never Comes	Ronan Keating	2002	Originally written by Garth Brooks and Kent Blazy in 1989, the song reflects on expressing love before it’s too late. Ronan Keating (born Ronan Patrick John Keating on March 3rd 1977 in Dublin, Ireland) first rose to fame, at the age of 16, as a member of Boyzone before establishing a solo career in pop ballads.
rpm	Bless You	John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Nuclear Band	1974	Written during John Lennon’s “lost weekend” period, the song expresses lingering affection despite emotional distance. The creation of the Plastic Ono Band, which began in 1967 with Yoko Ono’s (born Ono Yōko on February 18, 1933 in Tokyo, Japan) idea for an art exhibition in Berlin, allowed Lennon to separate his artistic output from that of the Beatles. Yoko Ono was John Lennon’s wife from 1969 until his death in 1980.
rpm	A Different Corner	George Michael	1986	Written by George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on 25 June 1963, East Finchley, London, England and died 25 December 2016, Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England) during the final period of Wham! The song expresses guilt and regret over a failed relationship and was the first British #1 hit that featured an artist writing, singing, arranging, producing, and playing all the instruments on the song.
rpm	Stay With Me	Sam Smith	2014	The song was written by Sam Smith, James Napier, and William Phillips, with Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne later receiving co-writer credits due to the song’s noted melodic similarity to Petty’s single “I Won’t Back Down”. Sam Smith (born Samuel Frederick Smith on 19 May 1992, Bishop’s Stortford, UK), became known for their soulful vocal delivery and confessional songwriting style, drawing inspiration from classic gospel and soul traditions. The song is sampled in the track “Freak” from Avicii’s posthumous album Tim.
rpm	Fistful of Love	Antony and the Johnsons	2005	Written by Antony Hegarty (now Anohni), the song explores complex emotional dynamics between love, power, and vulnerability. The project emerged in New York City (USA) and became known for orchestral arrangements and deeply expressive vocals exploring identity and emotional intensity.
rpm	I Keep a Close Watch	John Cale	1975	Written by Welsh musician John Cale during his solo career following The Velvet Underground. The song reflects obsessive love and emotional dependency. Cale, born in Garnant, Wales (UK), is known for avant-garde experimentation and his influence on art rock and alternative music.
rpm	For Your Precious Love	Jerry Butler & The Impressions	1958	Written by Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, and Arthur Brooks, the song expresses devotion and emotional sacrifice. Butler, from Chicago, Illinois (USA), was an early voice of soul music, while Curtis Mayfield later became one of the most influential songwriters of socially conscious soul.
rpm	Arms of a Woman	Amos Lee	2006	Written by Amos Lee, the song reflects comfort, healing, and emotional refuge in love. Lee, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA), blends folk, soul, and jazz influences, often emphasise intimate storytelling and understated arrangements.
rpm	She Is So Beautiful	Mike Scott	1995	Written by Mike Scott of The Waterboys, the song expresses spiritual admiration and romantic devotion. Scott, from Edinburgh, Scotland (UK), is known for poetic songwriting and blending folk, rock, and Celtic influences within his work.
rpm	If I Needed You	The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band	2012	Originally written by Townes Van Zandt in 1972, the song expresses unconditional love and mutual support. The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band, from Ghent, Belgium, recorded it for the soundtrack of the Oscar-nominated film The Broken Circle Breakdown, bringing renewed attention to the classic folk composition.
rpm	Until I Find You	Tim Vanhamel	2007	Tim Vanhamel (born Tim Wessel Vanhamel in Zonhoven, 11 December 1977) is a Belgian guitarist, singer and producer, worked with dEUS guitarist Mauro Pawlowski in the band Evil Superstars as well as the band he formed on his own, Millionaire, before he chose to go down the solo path. “Until I Find You” by Tim Van Hamel is a haunting portrait of longing and persistence—searching for a lost person or part of the self, driven by regret but sustained by stubborn hope.
beats	Push the Button	Sugababes	2005	Written by Dallas Austin with members of the group, the song addresses emotional hesitation and the frustration of waiting for someone to act on romantic feelings. Sugababes, formed in London, England (UK), were known for sophisticated pop production and shifting lineups, becoming one of the UK’s most successful girl groups of the 2000s.
beats	With Every Heartbeat	Robyn with Kleerup	2007	Written by Robyn and producer Kleerup, the song explores emotional surrender and vulnerability in love. Robyn, from Stockholm, Sweden, reinvented herself from teen pop singer into an influential independent pop artist, while Kleerup brought a minimalist electronic production style that helped shape Scandinavian synth-pop in the late 2000s.
beats	Lay All Your Love on Me	ABBA	1980	Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the song reflects intense romantic devotion and vulnerability. ABBA, formed in Stockholm, Sweden, originally not intended to release the song as a single (off “Super Trouper”) until 1981, but only on 12″ and in limited territories. No video was shot for the track either (the official video reuses previously shot footage).
beats	Heart of Glass	Blondie	1979	The first version of this song was written in early 1974 by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, shortly after they first met and where a couple, referred to as “The Disco Song”. Debbie Harry explained it was about a stalker who was pursuing her and Chris Stein saved her from him. The sound of the CR-78 drum machine was merged with that of drummer Clem Burke’s real drums, who took his inspiration from the groove of “Stayin Alive” by The Bee Gees, one of his favourite songs. Blondie, formed in New York City (USA), were pioneers of blending punk, disco, and pop.
beats	Doo Wop (That Thing)	Lauryn Hill	1998	Written and produced by Lauryn Hill, the song blends hip-hop with classic soul influences to critique superficiality, relationship manipulation, and social pressures. Hill, from East Orange, New Jersey (USA), rose to fame with The Fugees before launching a groundbreaking solo career with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The song’s title references 1950s doo-wop vocal traditions while its lyrics speak directly to modern gender dynamics.
beats	Chameleon (ft. Herbie Hancock & Muckhead)	Urbanator	1994	Based on Herbie Hancock’s 1973 jazz-funk classic “Chameleon,” the Urbanator version reinterprets the iconic bass groove in an electronic dance context. Herbie Hancock, from Chicago, Illinois (USA), is a pioneering jazz pianist who helped bridge jazz, funk, and electronic music. Urbanator is an experimental jazz/hip hop (Hip Bop) band with Michał Urbaniak (Violin, Saxophone), Lenny White (Drums, Percussion), Al McDowell (Bass) and Jon Dryden (Keyboards).
beats	Teardrops	Womack & Womack	1988	The track, composed by Cecil Womack and Linda Womack under the pseudonym Dr. Rue & the Gypsy Wave Banner, was issued on August 5, 1988 and explores themes of heartbreak and regret through poignant lyrics. The duo, based between Chicago, Illinois (USA) and London (UK), were part of a legendary soul music family. Womack & Womack were an American husband-and-wife duo consisting of Cecil Womack, the younger brother of soul singer Bobby Womack, and Linda Womack, the daughter of legendary soul artist Sam Cooke.
beats	Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around (ft. Stevie Nicks)	Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers	1981	Written by Tom Petty and guitarist Mike Campbell, inspired by Tom Petty’s divorce from his wife Jane, after she had taken him to court. Petty, from Gainesville, Florida (USA), was one of America’s most respected rock songwriters. Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks was in relationship with Jimmy Iovine, while producing her first solo album Bella Donna, who also produced Tom Petty. The collaboration helped launch her solo career.
beats	Hey Mister Heartache	Kim Wilde	1988	Written by Kim Wilde with her then guitarist Steve Byrd. Kim Wilde, from Chiswick, London (UK), became a prominent figure in 1980s pop after her breakthrough hit “Kids in America.” The song’s polished synth-pop style reflects the high-energy production formula dominating UK charts at the time.
beats	Every Beat of My Heart	Gladys Knight & The Pips	1961	This song was originally recorded by Johnny Otis in 1952. Gladys Knight, from Atlanta, Georgia (USA), became known as the “Empress of Soul”. Her mother Elizabeth Knight created the group consisting of Gladys, her brother Bubba, her sister Brenda and her cousins William and Eleanor Guest, called The Pips in honour of their cousin/manager, James Pip Woods. In 1959, Brenda and Eleanor left the group, replaced by cousin Edward Patten and friend Langston George. The group was renamed Gladys Knight & The Pips, and following George’s departure in 1962, the classic line-up was in place.
beats	I Need Somebody to Love Tonight	Sylvester	1979	Written by disco icon Sylvester (born Sylvester James, Jr. on 6 September 1947 in Watts, Los Angeles, California and died on 16 December 1988 in San Francisco, California, USA). Known for his powerful falsetto and flamboyant stage presence, Sylvester became a defining voice of disco and LGBTQ+ club culture. He is considered one of the first Hi-NRG artists and the first “male diva” of disco. He died in 1988 from complications due to HIV/AIDS.
banana peel	Sunset Star (Daytoner Remix)	The Brand New Heavies	2013	The Brand New Heavies, formed in Ealing, London (UK), helped pioneer the acid-jazz movement by blending funk, soul, and jazz. “Sunset Star” captures themes of aspiration, warmth, and optimism, while the Daytoner remix adds a contemporary nu-disco sheen, extending the band’s influence into modern dance culture.
banana peel	Release (Attaboy Vocal Mix)	Arsenal	1999	Arsenal is a Belgian electronic collective from Antwerp, Belgium, known for blending world music, soul, and dance influences. “Release” reflects themes of liberation and emotional surrender, while the Attaboy remix enhances its club-oriented energy without losing its melodic warmth.
banana peel	The Feeling	OXY	1992	OXY was associated with the European house and dance scene, where emotional immediacy often mattered more than lyrical complexity. The track focuses on instinct, attraction, and the power of music to communicate emotion beyond words, a recurring theme in house music culture. “The Feeling” samples Eurythmics – Here Comes The Rain Again.
banana peel	Kalimba de Luna	Boney M.	1984	Originally written and recorded by Italian singer Tony Esposito, the song celebrates rhythm, moonlight, and African-inspired musical imagery. Boney M., created by German producer Frank Farian and based in West Germany, transformed it into a global Euro-pop hit with their trademark harmonies and danceable production.
banana peel	Não Falo Português (ft. Fay Lovsky)	Buscemi	2006	Dirk Swartenbroekx, known as Buscemi, is a Belgian producer from Leuven who mixes Latin, lounge, jazz, and electronic influences. The song playfully explores cross-cultural communication and travel, featuring Dutch singer Fay Lovsky. It exemplifies Buscemi’s cosmopolitan, genre-crossing approach.
banana peel	My Love (ft. Jess Glynne)	Route 94	2014	Route 94, the project of London producer Rowan Jones (UK), created one of the defining deep-house hits of the decade. Featuring English singer Jess Glynne’s soulful vocals, the song explores devotion and emotional certainty while helping bring underground house sounds into mainstream pop.
banana peel	I’m Free	The Soup Dragons	1990	Originally recorded by The Rolling Stones in 1965, this version transformed the rock original into a baggy-era dance anthem. The Soup Dragons, formed in Bellshill, Scotland (UK), became associated with the late-1980s Madchester scene, blending indie rock with rave culture.
banana peel	Call Up to Heaven (Smooth Remix)	Kraak & Smaak	2010s	Kraak & Smaak, a Dutch trio from Leiden, Netherlands, are known for combining funk, disco, soul, and house music. The song conveys hope, yearning, and connection, while the remix enhances its laid-back groove and dancefloor accessibility.
banana peel	Jerusalema (ft. Nomcebo Zikode)	Master KG	2019	Written by South African producer Master KG from Calais village, Limpopo, South Africa, and sung by Nomcebo Zikode from Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal. The lyrics reference a spiritual longing for a better home or place of peace. The song became a worldwide phenomenon through the viral “Jerusalema Challenge.”
banana peel	Happy Song	Boney M.	1984	Produced by Frank Farian in Germany, the song is an unabashed celebration of positivity and joy. Boney M.’s multicultural lineup and infectious Euro-disco style helped make them one of the most successful international pop acts of the late 1970s and 1980s.
banana peel	Proper Education	Eric Prydz	2006	Swedish producer Eric Prydz, from Täby near Stockholm, reworked Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” into a progressive house anthem. The track juxtaposes themes of personal freedom and social conformity while bridging classic rock and modern electronic music.
banana peel	Changes	Faul & Wad Ad vs. Pnau	2013	French producers Faul & Wad, from Paris, built the track around a sample from Pnau’s “Baby.” The result is a sunny, uplifting deep-house hit celebrating transformation and positivity. It became a major European summer anthem.
banana peel	Pulsewidth	Aphex Twin	1992	Richard D. James, known as Aphex Twin, was born in Limerick, Ireland, and raised in Cornwall, England (UK). A pioneering electronic composer, he created “Pulsewidth” as an exploration of melody and texture within early ambient techno, demonstrating that electronic music could be both experimental and emotionally engaging.
banana peel	Air	Sweet Coffee	2007	Sweet Coffee is a Belgian electronic duo from Leuven, known for combining lounge, downtempo, and nu-jazz influences. “Air” evokes openness, calm, and movement, reflecting the sophisticated European chill-out scene that flourished in the early 2000s.
banana peel Volume 2	Muscles	Diana Ross	1982	Written and produced by Michael Jackson, the song playfully celebrates physical attraction and romantic fantasy. Diana Ross, from Detroit, Michigan (USA), rose to fame as the lead singer of The Supremes before becoming one of the most successful solo artists in pop and soul history. Jackson’s backing vocals can be heard on the track, adding to its star power.
banana peel Volume 2	Overpowered	Róisín Murphy	2007	Written by Murphy and Seiji, the song describes being overwhelmed by love, chemistry, and emotion. Murphy, from Arklow, County Wicklow, Ireland, first gained fame with electronic duo Moloko before becoming a celebrated solo artist known for avant-garde pop, fashion-forward performances, and witty lyricism.
banana peel Volume 2	Running (ft. Gustaph) [Kraak & Smaak Remix]	Blende	2014	Blende is a Scandinavian nu-disco producer associated with the modern European dance scene. The song explores momentum, perseverance, and emotional escape. The Dutch trio Kraak & Smaak from Leiden, Netherlands, add their signature blend of disco, funk, and house, while Belgian vocalist Gustaph contributes soulful energy.
banana peel Volume 2	Survivor	Destiny’s Child	2001	Written primarily by Beyoncé Knowles after media speculation about lineup changes in the group. The song became an anthem of resilience, independence, and self-confidence. Destiny’s Child, formed in Houston, Texas (USA), became one of the best-selling girl groups of all time and launched Beyoncé’s extraordinary solo career.
banana peel Volume 2	A Kind of Magic	Queen	1986	Written by drummer Roger Taylor and inspired by the film Highlander. Queen, formed in London, England (UK), were masters of theatrical rock and genre-blending innovation. The song celebrates wonder, possibility, and the extraordinary moments that make life feel magical.
banana peel Volume 2	Physical	Olivia Newton-John	1981	Written by Steve Kipner and Terry Shaddick, the song was originally offered to several artists before Newton-John recorded it. Born in Cambridge, England (UK), and raised in Melbourne, Australia, she became one of the defining pop stars of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The fitness-themed video helped make it a cultural phenomenon.
banana peel Volume 2	Cream	Prince & The New Power Generation	1991	Written by Prince, from Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA), the song is a confident celebration of self-belief, charisma, and sensuality. Inspired partly by classic funk and blues traditions, it became one of Prince’s final US number-one hits and exemplifies his effortless fusion of sexuality, humour, and empowerment.
banana peel Volume 2	Some Like It Hot	The Power Station	1985	Written by members of the supergroup featuring Robert Palmer and musicians from Duran Duran. Formed in London, England (UK), The Power Station blended rock, funk, and dance music. The song’s title references the classic Marilyn Monroe film while celebrating energy, attraction, and excitement.
banana peel Volume 2	Jump to the Beat	Stacy Lattisaw	1980	Written by Narada Michael Walden, the song encourages listeners to surrender to rhythm and joy. Stacy Lattisaw, from Washington, D.C. (USA), was only thirteen when she became an R&B star. The track remains a classic example of early-1980s dance-floor optimism.
banana peel Volume 2	Staying Alive (Seguimos Vivas)	Las Seventies	2020s	A contemporary reinterpretation of the Bee Gees’ disco classic. Las Seventies, a Spanish female collective, reframed the song as a message of empowerment, resilience, and collective strength. The updated lyrics and context celebrate survival and solidarity from a modern perspective.
banana peel Volume 2	Yes Sir, I Can Boogie	Baccara	1977	Written by Frank Dostal and Rolf Soja, the song became one of the best-selling singles by a female duo. Baccara, formed by Spanish singers Mayte Mateos and María Mendiola in Madrid, Spain, brought theatrical glamour and disco sophistication to European pop culture.
banana peel Volume 2	Voel de Vibe	Brainpower	2002	Brainpower (Gertjan Mulder), from Antwerp, Belgium, and raised in Amsterdam, Netherlands, became one of the most influential Dutch-language hip-hop artists. The song, featuring Dutch singer Trijntje Oosterhuis, celebrates positivity, self-expression, and enjoying life’s energy, reflecting his skill at combining thoughtful lyrics with accessible beats.
banana peel Volume 2	This Is Your Night	Heavy D & The Boyz	1994	Heavy D, born in Mandeville, Jamaica, and raised in Mount Vernon, New York (USA), was known for bringing warmth, positivity, and charisma to hip-hop. The song encourages celebration, confidence, and making the most of the moment, embodying his uplifting style.
banana peel Volume 2	It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over	Lenny Kravitz	1991	Written during a difficult period in Kravitz’s marriage to actress Lisa Bonet, the song reflects hope, reconciliation, and persistence in love. Born in New York City (USA), Kravitz became known for reviving classic soul, rock, and funk influences while maintaining a contemporary sound. Its Motown-inspired arrangement surprised listeners expecting harder rock from him.
banana peel Volume 3	Everyday (ft. Jomar)	She S. Sunshine	2005	She S. Sunshine (i.e. Sona Presicce) emerged from the European house and lounge scene, where uplifting vocals and feel-good grooves are central. The song, featuring Jomar (Giancarlo Martinuzzi) celebrates everyday joys, connection, and positivity. Like much vocal house music, its message is less about storytelling and more about creating a mood of optimism and movement.
banana peel Volume 3	Day ‘n’ Nite (Crookers Remix)	Kid Cudi	2008	Written by Kid Cudi (born Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi), from Cleveland, Ohio (USA), the original song explored loneliness, insomnia, and emotional isolation. The Italian duo Crookers transformed it into a global electro-house anthem, proving that even introspective lyrics can thrive on the dance floor.
banana peel Volume 3	Push Up	Freestylers	2004	The Freestylers, formed in London, England (UK), became known for blending breakbeat, hip-hop, and electronic dance music. “Push Up” was designed for maximum club energy, emphasising rhythm, momentum, and physical movement rather than lyrical narrative.
banana peel Volume 3	Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem)	Marshall Jefferson & On the House	1986	Marshall Jefferson, from Chicago, Illinois (USA), wrote one of the defining records of house music. Inspired by the communal energy of Chicago clubs, the song’s piano riff and uplifting spirit helped establish house music as a global cultural movement.
banana peel Volume 3	An Apple a Day	Le Hammond Inferno	2001	The German electronic duo (Holger Beier and Marcus Liesenfeld) from Munich, Germany, specialised in quirky, sample-rich house music. The track reflects their playful approach to dance culture, blending irony, funk, and electronic grooves into a lighthearted club experience.
banana peel Volume 3	Clap Your Hands (ft. Jessica Darling)	The Herbaliser	2008	The Herbaliser, from London, England (UK), were central figures in the Ninja Tune scene, mixing jazz, funk, hip-hop, and electronic music. The song, featuring British Angela Darling (i.e. Jessica Greenfield) encourages participation and celebration, reflecting the duo’s love of groove-driven live instrumentation.
banana peel Volume 3	Bang Bang	David Sanborn	1982	David Sanborn (born David William Sanborn), from Tampa, Florida (USA), became one of the most recognisable alto saxophonists in contemporary jazz. His version transforms the familiar melody into a sophisticated jazz-funk vehicle, showcasing his expressive tone and crossover appeal.
banana peel Volume 3	How I Feel	Flo Rida	2013	Flo Rida (born Tramar Lacel Dillard), from Miami Gardens, Florida (USA), built his career on high-energy club hits. This song combines personal confidence with dance floor optimism, drawing heavily from electronic dance music trends that dominated early-2010s pop.
banana peel Volume 3	Do Your Thing	6ix Toys	2010	6ix Toys, from Liverpool, UK, associated with the European electronic and lounge scene, created groove-oriented tracks emphasising individuality and self-expression. The title itself captures a recurring dance music theme: freedom through movement and personal style.
banana peel Volume 3	Things That Make You Go Hmmmm… (The Clivillés/Cole Deep House Mix)	C+C Music Factory	1991	Created by New York producers David Cole and Robert Clivillés (USA), the song humorously reflects on life’s mysteries and contradictions. The deep house remix emphasises groove while preserving the playful curiosity that made the original a club classic, featuring Freedom Williams (born Frederick Brandon Williams ) with backing vocals by Deborah Cooper and Liberian Zelma Davis. The most popular incarnation of the Clivillés & Cole collaboration was C+C Music Factory.
banana peel Volume 3	Close to Modern (Mobileglobal Dub)	French Kicks	2002	French Kicks, formed in New York City (USA), were known for indie-rock melodies and post-punk influences. This dub remix transforms the original into a more spacious, rhythm-focused electronic track, illustrating the crossover between indie and dance music.
banana peel Volume 3	Make My Day	Waldeck	2006	Klaus Waldeck, from Vienna, Austria, blends trip-hop, lounge, jazz, and downtempo influences. The song reflects his cinematic approach to music-making, creating a sophisticated atmosphere that evokes optimism, elegance, and relaxed confidence. The song features the voice of British co-writer Joy Malcolm and the trumpet is played by Austrian Thomas Berghammer.
banana peel Volume 3	Olas De Sal	Zuell	2003	Spanish electronic formation Zuell is associated with contemporary chill-out and Balearic electronic music, often drawing inspiration from coastal landscapes and Mediterranean culture. “Olas De Sal” (“Waves of Salt”) evokes freedom, travel, sunshine, and the restorative power of the sea.
banana peel Volume 4	Dice (ft. Beth Orton) – Layo & Bushwacka Mix	Finley Quaye & William Orbit	2003	Written by Scottish singer-songwriter Finley Quaye and English producer William Orbit, the song reflects chance, destiny, and emotional uncertainty. Quaye, born in Edinburgh, Scotland (UK), became known for blending reggae, folk, and soul influences. Orbit, from Shoreditch, London (UK), is one of electronic music’s most respected producers. English singer Beth Orton’s distinctive vocal helped make the track a downtempo classic, while the remix brought it to dance audiences. The duo of Layo Paskin and Matthew “Bushwacka” B. are better known as co-owner and resident DJ, respectively, at the End, the tech-house club founded by the Shamen’s Mr. C.
banana peel Volume 4	My Love (ft. Jess Glynne)	Route 94	2014	Produced by Route 94 (Rowan Jones) from London, England (UK), the song combines deep-house rhythms with, London born singer, Jess Glynne’s soulful vocals. The lyrics express devotion and emotional certainty, while the minimalist production helped revive underground house influences within mainstream pop.
banana peel Volume 4	A Sky Full of Stars (Robin Schulz Remix)	Coldplay	2015	Written by Chris Martin and Coldplay, with production support from Avicii, the song celebrates admiration, hope, and emotional uplift. Coldplay, formed in London (UK), became one of the world’s most successful bands through their blend of melodic rock and emotional accessibility. German DJ Robin Schulz, born and raised in Seelen-stadt in northwest Germany, added a deeper dance floor groove to the already electronic-influenced original.
banana peel Volume 4	No Can Do	James Hardway	1997	James Hardway was the project of British producer James Hardway (born David Harrow) from Birmingham, England (UK). Known for combining jazz, breakbeats, and funk, his work reflected the flourishing acid-jazz and trip-hop scene of the 1990s. The track emphasises groove, confidence, and rhythmic sophistication over lyrical narrative.
banana peel Volume 4	The Traveller (Part 2)	Haggis Horns	2006	The Haggis Horns, formed in Leeds, England (UK), are one of the leading contemporary funk ensembles. Influenced by the classic sounds of Stax, Motown, and James Brown, the piece evokes movement, exploration, and adventure through dynamic horn arrangements and deep funk grooves.
banana peel Volume 4	Incapable	Róisín Murphy	2020	Written by Murphy and producer Richard Barratt (DJ Parrot), the song examines emotional limitations and self-awareness within relationships. Róisín Marie Murphy, from Arklow, County Wicklow, Ireland, is renowned for combining experimental pop, disco, fashion, and performance art. The track became a club favourite for its sophisticated house production and witty lyricism.
banana peel Volume 4	Promise of a Brand New Day	The Diplomats of Solid Sound	2010	The Diplomats of Solid Sound, originally from Iowa City Iowa, specialise in retro-inspired funk and soul. The song, written by band members Katherine Ruestow and Sarah Cram, channels classic 1960s and 1970s optimism, promoting renewal, resilience, and fresh beginnings through energetic grooves and vintage instrumentation.
banana peel Volume 4	So Tired of Waiting	Bah Samba	1998	Bah Samba, a London-based collective (UK), became known for blending house music with Brazilian, Latin, and jazz influences. The song expresses longing and impatience in love, but wraps these emotions in uplifting rhythms that transform frustration into celebration. In early 1996 Julian Bendall, Kevin Alexander and Geoff Holroyd (the surnames of which make up the Bah) formed a loose group. The song features British soul singer Alice Russell, born in 1975, daughter of an organist, who grew up in Framlingham in Suffolk.
banana peel Volume 4	Something Beautiful (ft. Lenny Kravitz)	Trombone Shorty	2010	Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews), from New Orleans, Louisiana (USA), grew up immersed in the city’s brass band tradition. Featuring Lenny Kravitz from New York City (USA), the song celebrates hope, positivity, and the search for beauty in everyday life. It reflects both artists’ commitment to blending funk, rock, soul, and optimism. Born Troy Andrews, Trombone Shorty got his start (and nickname) earlier than most: at four, he made his first appearance at Jazz Fest performing with Bo Diddley; at six, he was leading his own brass band; and by his teenage years, he was hired by Lenny Kravitz to join the band he assembled for his Electric Church World Tour.
banana peel Volume 4	Ageispolis	Aphex Twin	1992	Richard David James (Aphex Twin), born in Limerick, Ireland, and raised in Cornwall, England (UK), is one of electronic music’s most influential innovators. The instrumental’s title is intentionally enigmatic, while its warm synth textures and hypnotic rhythms evoke a sense of forward motion and discovery. It remains one of the most accessible pieces from his groundbreaking early ambient techno period.
on track	I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues	Elton John	1983	Written by Elton John with lyricist Bernie Taupin, the song reflects longing and emotional distance during separation in a relationship. Elton John, born Reginald Dwight in Pinner, London, England (UK), became one of the most influential pop pianists of the 20th century. The track also features Stevie Wonder on harmonica, reinforcing its soulful tone and marking a successful return to chart prominence for John in the early 1980s.
on track	Deacon Blues	Steely Dan	1977	Written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, the song tells the story of an outsider dreaming of becoming a jazz musician named “Deacon Blues,” symbolising the romantic idea of artistic rebellion. Steely Dan, formed in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York (USA), became known for sophisticated jazz-influenced rock and meticulous studio production. The fictional name came from Deacon Jones, a star football player with the Rams and Chargers who got a lot of attention in the media because of his aggressive play and outsized personality..
on track	Real Gone Kid	Deacon Blue	1988	Written by Ricky Ross, the song is a tribute to American (ex-Lone Justice) singer Maria McKee, inspired by her energetic performances. Deacon Blue, formed in Glasgow, Scotland (UK), took their band name from Steely Dan’s “Deacon Blues”. Known for blending pop melodies with thoughtful lyrics, the band became one of Scotland’s most successful pop-rock acts of the late 1980s.
on track	Fragments of Time (ft. Todd Edwards)	Daft Punk	2013	Written by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo with Todd Edwards, the song reflects nostalgia and the fleeting nature of memories. Edwards’ lyrics are about the time he’s spent with Daft Punk. Daft Punk, electronic music pioneers from Paris, France, built their reputation by blending house, disco, and futuristic aesthetics. The track, from Random Access Memories, intentionally references late-1970s soft rock and studio musicianship.
on track	Little Fluffy Clouds (Cumulo Nimbus mix)	The Orb	1990	Created by Alex Paterson and Jimmy Cauty in London, England (UK), the track became a landmark in ambient house music. It features samples from an interview with singer Rickie Lee Jones about childhood skies and Arizona landscapes. Rickie Lee Jones Jones later said in interviews that the odd nasal tonality of her voice was the result of a heavy cold. She was not pleased when she heard her voice sampled and settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. The Orb is a British ambient house group founded by British musician Dr. Alex Paterson and KLF member Jimmy Cauty in 1988.
on track	Shape	Sugababes	2003	Originally written by Sting as “Shape of My Heart,” this version by the Sugababes incorporates elements of the melody and theme. The British pop group formed in London (UK) and became known for sophisticated pop production and evolving line-ups. The song explores emotional vulnerability and longing in relationships.
on track	One (ft. U2)	Mary J. Blige	2005	Originally written by U2’s Bono and bandmates, the song addresses unity, reconciliation, and shared humanity. Mary J. Blige, from Yonkers, New York (USA), is widely regarded as the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.” Her duet version with U2 bridges rock and soul traditions, emphasising emotional solidarity across genres.
on track	It Must Be Love	Madness	1981	Originally written and recorded by Labi Siffre in 1971. Madness, formed in Camden Town, London (UK), were key figures in the ska revival and “2 Tone” movement. Their playful, heartfelt interpretation transformed the song into one of their most beloved hits and a staple of British pop culture.
on track	My Song	Labi Siffre	1972	Written by Labi Siffre, a British singer-songwriter from London (UK) known for blending soul, folk, and socially conscious lyrics. “My Song” expresses personal conviction and artistic identity. Siffre later became influential through samples in hip-hop (notably by Eminem and Kanye West), highlighting the lasting impact of his songwriting.
social energy	Lady Cab Driver	Prince	1982	Written by Prince, from Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA), the song combines stripped-down funk with explicit emotional release and social frustration. Using a late-night cab ride as metaphor and confessional space, Prince explores sexuality, anger, and vulnerability. Known for blending genre innovation with provocative storytelling, he became one of pop music’s most influential multi-instrumentalists and performers.
social energy	It’s Been Done	Angela McCluskey	2004	Angela McCluskey, born in Glasgow, Scotland (UK) and later based in Los Angeles (USA), was known for her smoky voice and eclectic blend of trip-hop, electronic pop, and folk influences. The song reflects emotional resignation and acceptance, delivered with understated elegance and atmospheric production.
social energy	Find My Soul (Norwegian Electrojazz Mix)	Sally Shapiro	2006	Sally Shapiro is a Swedish Italo-disco project from Gothenburg, Sweden, composed of vocalist Sally Shapiro and musician Johan Agebjörn, blending melancholic synth-pop with retro dance aesthetics. “Find My Soul” explores emotional searching and romantic distance through dreamy electronic textures, continuing the duo’s fascination with nostalgia and emotionally restrained storytelling.
social energy	I’m Not Alone	Calvin Harris	2009	Written and produced by Calvin Harris, from Dumfries, Scotland (UK), the song mixes club-driven beats with themes of emotional isolation and reassurance. Harris emerged from the electronic dance scene as both producer and vocalist, later becoming one of the most commercially successful DJs in the world.
social energy	Playground Games (ft. TM Juke)	Alice Russell	2008	Alice Russell, from Suffolk, England (UK), is known for powerful soul vocals rooted in funk and jazz traditions. Collaborating with producer TM Juke, the song reflects playful emotional tension and groove-heavy experimentation, showcasing the UK’s modern soul revival scene. TM Juke is the stage name of English producer and DJ Alex Cowan.
social energy	19-2000 (Soulchild Remix)	Gorillaz	2001	Gorillaz, the virtual band created by Damon Albarn (London, UK) and artist Jamie Hewlett, blended alternative rock, hip-hop, and electronic music with animated visual storytelling. The song title was chosen to reflect the end of the millennium, when it was written. This remix by Soulchild transforms the quirky original into a funkier, dance-oriented groove while preserving its playful absurdity. This song samples “Sing a Simple Song” by Sly & the Family Stone and Tina Weymouth of the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club provided backing vocals.
social energy	Mind Power	A Tribe Called Quest	1996	Written by members of the influential Queens, New York (USA) hip-hop collective, the song promotes intellectual awareness, Afrocentric identity, and self-empowerment. A Tribe Called Quest, originally composed of rapper and main producer Q-Tip, rapper Phife Dawg, DJ and co-producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and rapper Jarobi White, helped redefine jazz-influenced hip-hop through thoughtful lyricism and innovative sampling. From the meditative opening hums to the final, resolute chant, the track argues that true strength is not found in aggression but in a cultivated intellect and a sincere spirit.
social energy	Home Improvement	Funky Boudoir	2004	Funky Boudoir, is a Belgian soul, jazz and lounge ensemble specialised in groove-oriented chill-out music blending jazz, funk, and electronic textures. The track, featuring the Belgian singer Dany Caen, reflects the relaxed sophistication of café/lounge culture with playful rhythmic layering.
social energy	I Can’t Get With That (Schmoove Mix)	Fun Lovin’ Criminals	1996	Fun Lovin’ Criminals, formed in New York City (USA) by founding member, multi-instrumentalist and producer Brian ‘Fast’ Leiser, drummer and producer Frank Benbini and guitarist Naim Cortazzi, became known for blending hip-hop, funk, rock, and cinematic storytelling. This remix smooths the band’s laid-back urban style into a downtempo groove while maintaining their signature cool, conversational attitude.
Apéro – Croquetas	Cuéntame	Fórmula V	1969	Written by José Luis Armenteros and Pablo Herrero, the song is a light-hearted plea to hear about a former lover’s new life, balancing curiosity with lingering affection. Fórmula V, formed in Madrid, Spain, became one of Spain’s defining pop groups of the late 1960s and early 1970s, known for sunny melodies and youthful optimism. “Cuéntame” remains one of the great classics of Spanish pop and is still widely sung across generations. In 2001 the song became the opening theme and gave its title to Cuéntame cómo pasó (initially Cuéntame), which would go on to become the longest-running television series in Spain and one of the most popular.
Apéro – Croquetas	El Baúl de los Recuerdos	Karina	1970	The title means “The Trunk of Memories,” and the song celebrates nostalgia without regret, encouraging listeners to treasure life’s happiest moments. Karina (born Maribel Llaudes Santiago in Jaén on December 4, 1945), a Spanish singer and actress, became one of Spain’s best-loved singers after representing the country at Eurovision in 1971. Her warm, optimistic style made her a symbol of Spanish pop during the final years of the Franco era.
Apéro – Croquetas	Me Olvidé de Vivir	Julio Iglesias	1978	Adapted from the French song J’ai oublié de vivre, the lyrics reflect on sacrificing personal happiness in pursuit of success and fame. Julio Iglesias, born in Madrid, Spain, reportedly identified deeply with the song as his international career accelerated. A former football goalkeeper whose career ended after a car accident, Iglesias became one of the world’s best-selling Latin artists.
Apéro – Croquetas	Libre	Nino Bravo	1972	Written by José Luis Armenteros and Pablo Herrero, the song became an anthem of freedom and hope. The song ended up taking on political associations in the hispanophone world. It was popular among supporters of the Pinochet regime, while other Latin American dictators of the time banned the album, including Fidel Castro. Bravo was also banned from singing in certain countries. Nino Bravo, (born Luis Manuel Ferri Llopis in Aielo de Malferit on 3 August 1944 and died in Villarrubio, Cuenca on 16 April 1973), possessed one of the most powerful voices in Spanish music before his tragic death in a car accident aged just 28.
Apéro – Croquetas	Échame a mí la culpa	Mari Trini	1970s	Originally written by Mexican composer Ferrusquilla (José Ángel Espinoza), the song expresses self-sacrifice by taking the blame for a failed relationship. Mari Trini, from Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia, Spain, became one of Spain’s finest singer-songwriters, admired for poetic lyrics, emotional honesty, and a distinctive husky voice.
Apéro – Croquetas	Ansiedad	Albert Hammond	1976	The famous bolero by José Enrique “Chelique” Sarabia explores longing and romantic yearning. Albert Hammond, born in London (UK) and raised in Gibraltar, is one of popular music’s most successful songwriters, having written worldwide hits for Leo Sayer, Whitney Houston and The Hollies. His interpretation blends Latin sentiment with polished international pop.
Apéro – Croquetas	Viva La Vida	Trio Marimberos	2002	Trio Marimberos, associated with the marimba traditions of Guatemala, celebrate life through joyful folk rhythms. Rather than Coldplay’s song of the same title, this version belongs to the Central American marimba tradition, where communal music-making, dancing and celebration are central cultural values. Trio Marimberos is a Mexican folk music group known for performing huasteco music, a traditional style from the Huasteca region. Their music often features the violin, jarana huasteca, and huapanguera instruments.
Apéro – Croquetas	Aguas de Marzo	Edgar Ramírez	2016	Originally written by Antônio Carlos Jobim in 1972, the song uses an endless stream of images to symbolise the cycle of endings and new beginnings. Edgar Ramírez interprets the Brazilian classic in Spanish. Jobim’s composition is widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of modern popular music and a cornerstone of bossa nova. Édgar Filiberto Ramírez Arellano is a Venezuelan actor, born on 25 March 1977 in San Cristóbal, Táchira State, Venezuela.
Apéro – Croquetas	Para Que No Me Olvides	Lorenzo Santamaría	1976	A tender plea to remain in someone’s memory after separation written by Ray Girado (Rafael Antonio Gil Domínguez). Lorenzo Santamaría, born in Santa María del Camí, Mallorca, Spain, became known for romantic ballads that combined Mediterranean warmth with soft-rock influences. The song remains one of his signature recordings.
Apéro – Croquetas	Te He Echado De Menos	Pablo Alborán	2012	Written by Pablo Alborán, from Málaga, Spain, the song expresses heartfelt longing after a loved one’s absence. Inspired by his deeply personal songwriting style, it helped cement his reputation as one of Spain’s leading contemporary singer-songwriters, admired for emotional sincerity and understated arrangements.
Apéro – Croquetas	De Colores	Nana Mouskouri	1970s	A beloved Spanish folk song celebrating nature, hope, diversity and joy. Greek singer Nana Mouskouri, born in Chania, Crete, Greece, became one of the world’s most multilingual recording artists, recording in over a dozen languages. Her warm interpretation helped introduce the traditional song to international audiences.
Apéro – Croquetas	Credo	Elsa Baeza	1971	Cuban singer Elsa Baeza (born Elsa Doris Baeza Pacheco in 1947 in Bayamo), settled in Spain since the 70s, became known for intimate romantic ballads. “Credo” expresses faith, not only in love but also in kindness and humanity, using the language of belief as a metaphor for emotional commitment.
Apéro – Croquetas	Es Muy Fácil	Los Mitos	1969	Los Mitos, formed in Bilbao, Spain, specialised in melodic pop influenced by British beat music. The song reminds listeners that love often becomes easier when approached with honesty and simplicity, capturing the optimistic spirit of late-1960s Spanish pop.
Apéro – Croquetas	Cuando, Cuando, Cuando	Tito Rodríguez	1962	Originally written by Tony Renis and Alberto Testa in Italy, the song humorously expresses impatience with a hesitant lover who keeps answering “when?” Tito Rodríguez, born in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico, became one of Latin America’s great bandleaders, helping popularise mambo, bolero and Latin jazz throughout the Americas.
Apéro – Croquetas	La Vida es un Carnaval	Angélique Kidjo	2019	Originally recorded by Celia Cruz in 1998, the song reminds listeners that life is worth celebrating despite hardship. Angélique Kidjo, from Ouidah, Benin, is one of Africa’s most acclaimed singers, celebrated for blending African traditions with Latin, jazz and pop influences while championing humanitarian causes worldwide.
Apéro – Croquetas	La Gota Fría	Carlos Vives	1993	Written by Colombian vallenato legend Emiliano Zuleta, the song recounts a famous musical rivalry between accordion players through witty lyrical exchanges. Carlos Vives, from Santa Marta, Colombia, modernised vallenato by blending traditional Colombian music with rock and pop, introducing the genre to a global audience.
Apéro – Croquetas	A Dios Le Pido	Juanes	2002	Written by Juanes (born Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez on 9 August 1972 in Medellín, Colombia), the song is a heartfelt prayer asking for peace, love, family, and the well-being of others. Inspired by his Christian faith and his hopes for a less violent Colombia, it became one of Latin music’s defining songs of the 2000s. Juanes has long been an advocate for peace and humanitarian initiatives.
Apéro – Rabas	Quiero	Julio Iglesias	1975	Written by Cecilia and composed by Rafael Ferro García, who has been Julio Iglesias’ musical director for about 40 years and wrote many hits with him. “Quiero” (“I Want”) is a heartfelt declaration of enduring love and the simple desires that give life meaning. Julio Iglesias, born in Madrid, Spain, transformed from a promising football goalkeeper into one of the world’s best-selling Latin artists after a car accident redirected his life toward music. The song exemplifies the elegant romantic ballads that made him an international icon.
Apéro – Rabas	El Rey Tiburón	Maná	1992	Written by Fher Olvera, the song uses the image of the shark as a metaphor for greed, power and environmental destruction. Like many Maná songs, it reflects the band’s commitment to ecological awareness and social commentary beneath an energetic rock arrangement. Formed in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Maná became the most successful Latin rock band in history, often supporting environmental and humanitarian causes.
Apéro – Rabas	Mediterráneo	Lolita	2002	Originally written and recorded by Joan Manuel Serrat in 1971, this classic is a love letter to the Mediterranean Sea, celebrating identity, memory and belonging. Lolita Flores, born in Madrid, Spain, is the daughter of legendary artists Lola Flores and Antonio González “El Pescaílla”. Her interpretation reflects her deep roots in Spanish musical tradition while adding her own expressive warmth.
Apéro – Rabas	Burbujas de Amor (ft. 440)	Juan Luis Guerra	1990	Written by Juan Luis Guerra, the song uses imaginative aquatic metaphors to describe overwhelming romantic desire, comparing the lover to a fish longing to remain immersed in love. Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Guerra is celebrated for combining merengue, bachata, jazz and poetic lyricism. The song became one of the defining Latin hits of the early 1990s and showcased his extraordinary gift for literary songwriting.
Apéro – Rabas	Ven Devórame Otra Vez	Lalo Rodríguez	1988	Written by Palmer Hernández, the song expresses intense physical longing after separation, becoming one of salsa romántica’s signature recordings. Lalo Rodríguez (born Ubaldo Rodríguez Santos in Carolina, Puerto Rico) began recording as a teenager before establishing himself as one of salsa’s most passionate vocalists. Its sensual lyrics helped define the romantic salsa movement of the late 1980s.
Apéro – Rabas	Todos los Besos (feat. El Reino de la Playa) [Comparsa de Tarifa]	Los Rebujitos	2011	A joyful celebration of romance, friendship and the festive spirit of southern Spain, particularly the Carnival traditions of Tarifa. Los Rebujitos originated in Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain, blending flamenco-pop with Andalusian rhythms. Their music often evokes beaches, summer celebrations and close-knit community life.
Apéro – Rabas	Pokito a Poko	Chambao	2005	Written by La Mari (María del Mar Rodríguez), the title means “Little by Little” and encourages patience, resilience and enjoying life’s gradual journey. Chambao, formed in Málaga, Andalusia, Spain, pioneered the “flamenco chill” style, blending flamenco vocals with electronic and world music influences. The optimistic message resonated especially after La Mari’s recovery from cancer, giving the song additional emotional significance.
Apéro – Rabas	Resistiré	Dúo Dinámico	1988	Written by Manuel de la Calva and Carlos Toro, who wrote more than 700 songs while working as a reporter of newspaper “El Mundo”. “Resistiré” is an anthem of perseverance in the face of adversity. Dúo Dinámico, formed in Barcelona, Spain, were pioneers of Spanish pop in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The song experienced an extraordinary revival during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it became an unofficial anthem of solidarity throughout Spain.
Apéro – Rabas	La Sirena	La Tuna	1969	Rooted in the long tradition of Spanish university “tuna” ensembles, the song tells of the mythical siren whose beauty and song symbolise temptation and unattainable love. Tuna groups date back to medieval student traditions, combining music, travel and serenading. Their performances remain a cherished part of Spanish cultural life.
Apéro – Rabas	No Sé Nadar	Micky	1971	A light-hearted pop song using the inability to swim as a playful metaphor for falling helplessly into love. Micky (born Miguel Angel Carreño in Madrid, Spain) became one of Spain’s best-known pop entertainers as Micky y Los Tonys during the 1960s and 1970s, later representing Spain at Eurovision in 1977 with “Enséñame a cantar”.
Apéro – Rabas	Un Velero Llamado Libertad	José Luis Perales	1979	Written by José Luis Perales, the sailing boat symbolises freedom, hope and the courage to begin again after loss. Born in Castejón, Cuenca, Spain, Perales is one of Spain’s most respected singer-songwriters, admired for his poetic simplicity. The song has become one of the most beloved classics in the Spanish-speaking world.
Apéro – Rabas	Un Rayo de Sol	Los Diablos	1970	Originally this song was composed by Daniel Vangarde and Claude Carrère under the title “Fernando” in French, recorded in 1969 by the singer Sheila. In 1970, Albert Band recorded it under the title “Un rayo de sol”. Amado Jaén, bassist and frequent songwriter for Los Diablos, adapted the song, writing new lyrics in Spanish to create “Un rayo de sol”. The song celebrates the arrival of happiness, sunshine and youthful love. Decades later, the song remains one of Spain’s quintessential holiday anthems. Los Diablos were formed in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain, and became synonymous with cheerful summer pop.
Apéro – Rabas	El Mismo Sol (ft. Jennifer Lopez)	Álvaro Soler	2015	Álvaro Soler’s original song celebrates unity, optimism and the shared experiences that connect people worldwide. The duet version with Jennifer Lopez expanded its international reach. Soler (born Álvaro Tauchert Soler in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain, to a German father and to a Spanish-Belgian mother and raised partly in Japan and Germany) draws on his multicultural background to create upbeat Latin-pop with global appeal.
Apéro – Rabas	Yo Solo Quiero	Roberto Carlos	1975	This song, written by Roberto Carlos – Erasmo Carlos, is about the desire for a simple, sincere love rather than material success or fame. Born in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, Brazil, Roberto Carlos became the “King of Latin Romance,” recording in Portuguese and Spanish and influencing generations of artists throughout Latin America.
Apéro – Rabas	Hijo de la Luna	Mecano	1986	Written by José María Cano, the song retells an original legend inspired by Spanish folklore: a Romani woman asks the Moon to help her marry the man she loves, but the bargain ends in tragedy when their pale child is born. The Moon claims the child as payment, creating a haunting myth about love, sacrifice and destiny. Mecano, formed in Madrid, Spain, became Spain’s most successful pop group of the 1980s. Although many listeners assume it is based on an ancient folktale, the story itself was created by Cano, whose evocative writing gave it the timeless quality of traditional folklore. Numerous artists, including Sarah Brightman, Montserrat Caballé and Loona, have recorded acclaimed cover versions.
Apéro – Empanada	Cuando Me Enamoro (ft. Juan Luis Guerra)	Enrique Iglesias	2010	Written by Descemer Bueno and Enrique Iglesias, the song describes the overwhelming vulnerability of falling deeply in love, where emotions overpower reason. Enrique Iglesias, born in Madrid, Spain, and raised partly in Miami, became one of the world’s most successful Latin-pop artists. Featuring Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra from Santo Domingo, the collaboration united two generations of Latin music and became an international hit.
Apéro – Empanada	Corazón Salvaje	Marcela Morelo	1997	Written by Marcela Morelo, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, the song celebrates a passionate, untamed heart that refuses to conform. Morelo blends Argentine folk, Latin pop and rock, often writing about love, nature and personal freedom. Her warm, earthy vocal style has made her one of Argentina’s most beloved contemporary singer-songwriters.
Apéro – Empanada	Vivir Así Es Morir de Amor	Camilo Sesto	1978	Written by Camilo Sesto, born in Alcoy, Alicante, Spain, the song explores obsessive love so intense that living without the beloved feels like dying. One of Spain’s greatest romantic composers, Sesto combined dramatic melodies with powerful vocals. The song has since become a Latin pop classic and has been covered by numerous artists.
Apéro – Empanada	Un Beso y Una Flor	Nino Bravo	1972	Written by José Luis Armenteros and Pablo Herrero, the song expresses hope and optimism when leaving loved ones behind, suggesting that affection and memories travel with us. Nino Bravo, from Aielo de Malferit, Valencia, Spain, possessed one of Spain’s finest voices. Released shortly before his tragic death at age 28, it remains one of the country’s most cherished songs.
Apéro – Empanada	Ramito de Violetas	Manzanita	1981	Originally written by Cecilia (Evangelina Sobredo) in 1974, the song tells the bittersweet story of a lonely woman who receives anonymous bouquets of violets each year, eventually discovering their touching origin. Manzanita, born in Madrid, Spain, reimagined the classic with flamenco influences, giving it a warmer, more Andalusian character.
Apéro – Empanada	Bella María de Mi Alma	Los Lobos	1987	Written by Luis Pérez-Sabido and Carlos Sánchez, the song was featured in the film La Bamba. It is a heartfelt serenade expressing unwavering devotion. Los Lobos, formed in East Los Angeles, California (USA) by musicians of Mexican heritage, are celebrated for blending rock, Tex-Mex, folk, blues and traditional Mexican music.
Apéro – Empanada	Corazón Partío	Alejandro Sanz	1997	Written by Alejandro Sanz, from Madrid, Spain, the title means “Broken Heart.” The song examines heartbreak while blending flamenco with contemporary pop. Sanz became one of Spain’s most influential singer-songwriters, and this breakthrough hit introduced his sophisticated fusion of Latin pop and flamenco to a global audience.
Apéro – Empanada	Eres Mi Religión	Maná	2002	Written by Fher Olvera, the song portrays love as a spiritual force that provides meaning and faith. Maná, formed in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, are renowned for combining Latin rock with poetic lyrics and social consciousness. It remains one of their most beloved romantic ballads.
Apéro – Empanada	Somos Novios	Armando Manzanero	1968	Written by Armando Manzanero, from Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, the song is one of the greatest romantic ballads in Latin music, celebrating mutual commitment and tenderness. It later became the English-language hit “It’s Impossible,” with lyrics by Sid Wayne, introducing Manzanero’s songwriting to an international audience.
Apéro – Empanada	Mujer Contra Mujer	Mecano	1988	Written by José María Cano, the song tells the story of a loving relationship between two women, challenging prejudice and advocating acceptance. Mecano, from Madrid, Spain, were pioneers of Spanish synth-pop. At a time when LGBTQ+ themes were rarely addressed in mainstream music, the song became an important symbol of tolerance throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
Apéro – Empanada	Yo No Soy Esa	Mari Trini	1971	Written by Mari Trini, from Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia, Spain, the song rejects traditional expectations imposed on women, declaring independence and equality in relationships. It became an early feminist anthem in Spain and established Mari Trini as one of the country’s most respected singer-songwriters.
Apéro – Empanada	A Mi Manera	Siempre Así	1990s	The Spanish adaptation of Claude François’ “Comme d’habitude,” internationally known as “My Way.” While Frank Sinatra made the English version famous, Siempre Así, from Seville, Spain, reinterpret it with Andalusian warmth and vocal harmonies. Their version celebrates living authentically and embracing life on one’s own terms.
Apéro – Empanada	Juntos	Paloma San Basilio	1981	Written by Pablo Herrero and José Luis Armenteros, the song reflects on enduring love and the strength found in facing life together. Paloma San Basilio, from Madrid, Spain, is one of Spain’s leading musical theatre performers and pop vocalists, renowned for her expressive voice and international stage career.
Apéro – Empanada	Amor de Mis Amores	Gipsy Rumba	1994	The song “Que nadie sepa mi sufrir” also known as “Amor de mis amores”, was composed in 1936 by Ángel Cabral with Spanish lyrics by Argentinian poet & lyricist Enrique Dizeo (a.k.a. “Ozedi”), both of Argentine origin, as a Peruvian waltz, also known as vals criollo (“creole waltz”). The song is also known as “La Foule”, a French language version with new lyrics written by Michel Rivegauche (born Mariano Ruiz), popularized by famed French vocalist Édith Piaf and released in 1957. Gipsy Rumba is a Gypsy Kings tribute band, the foremost Gipsy Kings act available anywhere after the original Gipsy Kings, and operate from a UK and French base
Apéro – Gambas	Chica de Ayer	Nacha Pop	1980	Written by Antonio Vega, the song is a nostalgic reflection on youthful love, memory and the fleeting nature of time. Although often interpreted autobiographically, Vega preferred to leave its meaning open, allowing listeners to connect their own experiences. Nacha Pop, formed in Madrid, Spain, became one of the defining bands of La Movida Madrileña, the cultural movement that revitalised Spanish music after the Franco era. Today, the song is widely regarded as one of the greatest Spanish pop songs ever written.
Apéro – Gambas	Dama, Dama	Cecilia	1972	Written by Cecilia (Evangelina Sobredo), the song is an ironic portrait of upper-class hypocrisy hidden behind impeccable manners. Its witty lyrics challenged social conventions during the final years of Franco’s dictatorship. Cecilia, born in Madrid, Spain, was admired for her poetic songwriting and subtle social criticism. Her promising career ended tragically in a car accident in 1976 at just 27 years old.
Apéro – Gambas	Lady Laura	Roberto Carlos	1978	Written by Roberto Carlos and Erasmo Carlos as a tribute to Roberto’s mother, Laura Moreira Braga. The song expresses gratitude, admiration and unconditional maternal love. Roberto Carlos, born in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, Brazil, became one of Latin America’s most successful romantic singers, selling well over 100 million records worldwide. “Lady Laura” remains one of his most personal and emotional recordings.
Apéro – Gambas	Por El Amor De Una Mujer	Danny Daniel	1976	Written and performed by Danny Daniel, from Madrid, Spain, the song describes the sacrifices a man is willing to make for love. Daniel became one of Spain’s best-known romantic balladeers during the 1970s. Julio Iglesias later recorded a successful version that introduced the song to a wider international audience.
Apéro – Gambas	Eres Tú (Touch the Wind)	Mocedades	1973	Written by Juan Carlos Calderón, the song compares a loved one to the most beautiful elements of nature. Mocedades are from Bilbao, Spain. In their beginnings they were just three sisters, Amaya (b. 1947), Izaskun (b. 1950) and Estíbaliz Uranga Amézaga (b. 1952), “Las Hermanas Uranga”. Later they changed their name to “Voces Y Guitarras (1967), and finally to “Mocedades”.
Apéro – Gambas	Solamente Tú	Pablo Alborán	2010	Written by Pablo Alborán, from Málaga, Spain, this intimate ballad speaks of finding emotional completeness in another person. Inspired by personal reflection rather than one specific relationship, the song launched Alborán’s career and established him as one of Spain’s leading contemporary singer-songwriters, admired for his understated sincerity.
Apéro – Gambas	Volví a Nacer	Carlos Vives	2012	Written by Carlos Vives, from Santa Marta, Colombia, the song celebrates feeling “reborn” after finding transformative love. The lyrics were inspired by his renewed happiness following major changes in his personal life. Vives is credited with modernizing Colombian vallenato by blending it with pop and rock, helping introduce the genre to global audiences.
Apéro – Gambas	Bailar Pegados	Sergio Dalma	1991	Written by Julio Seijas and Luis Gómez Escolar, the song celebrates intimacy through the simple act of slow dancing. Sergio Dalma, born in Sabadell, Catalonia, Spain, represented Spain at Eurovision in 1991, where the song finished fourth. It became one of the defining romantic hits of Spanish pop in the early 1990s.
Apéro – Gambas	Por Ella	José Manuel Soto	1988	José Manuel Soto, from Seville, Spain, built his career around romantic ballads influenced by Andalusian traditions. “Por Ella” expresses devotion and gratitude toward a beloved partner, emphasising loyalty over grand gestures. Soto remains a respected figure in Spanish popular music and television.
Apéro – Gambas	Manuela	Julio Iglesias	1974	Written by Manuel Alejandro, the song portrays an unforgettable woman whose memory endures long after the relationship has ended. Julio Iglesias, from Madrid, Spain, became famous for sophisticated romantic interpretations that appealed across Europe and Latin America. “Manuela” is one of the classics of his early career.
Apéro – Gambas	Perfidia	María Dolores Pradera	2006	Originally written by Mexican composer Alberto Domínguez in 1939, this bolero mourns betrayal while preserving dignity and longing. María Dolores Pradera, from Madrid, Spain, became known as “La Gran Señora de la Canción” or “La Pradera” for her elegant interpretations of Latin American repertoire. Her refined style helped preserve many classic boleros for new generations.
Apéro – Gambas	No Sé Por Qué Te Quiero	Ana Belén	1986	Written by Víctor Manuel (born Víctor Manuel San José Sánchez), the song reflects the mystery of love that defies logic or explanation. Ana Belén, from Madrid, Spain, is one of Spain’s most respected actresses and singers, known for combining artistic excellence with social engagement. Her partnership with singer-songwriter Víctor Manuel became one of Spain’s most celebrated creative collaborations.
Apéro – Gambas	Te Regalo	Carlos Baute	2005	Written by Carlos Baute (born Carlos Roberto Baute Jiménez in Caracas, 4 Venezuela on March 8, 1974) the song offers love as life’s greatest gift, emphasising generosity over material possessions. Baute became known throughout the Spanish-speaking world for upbeat Latin-pop songs celebrating optimism, affection and friendship.
Apéro – Gambas	Ai No Corrida (ft. Ibrahim Ferrer & Quincy Jones)	Vania Borges	2006	Written by Chaz Jankel and Kenny Young, the song was first recorded by Chaz Jankel in 1980. The title is a playful pseudo-Japanese phrase (“Ai” meaning “love” in Japanese, combined with the Spanish word corrida), while the lyrics satirise modern society’s obsession with money, ambition, consumerism, and the relentless “rat race.” The composition gained worldwide recognition through Quincy Jones’ 1981 recording on The Dude, which became a major international hit and earned Grammy recognition. Cuban singer Vania Borges, from Havana, Cuba, brings a Latin jazz sensibility to this later interpretation, joined by legendary Buena Vista Social Club vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer (born in San Luis, Santiago de Cuba) and Quincy Jones.
Apéro – Gambas	Quizás, Quizás, Quizás	Laura Fygi	2000	Originally written in 1947 by Cuban composer Osvaldo Farrés (born Fernando Gurmensindo Farrés Vázquez on 13 January 1902 in Quemado de Güines, Las Villas, Cuba), the song humorously captures romantic uncertainty through its endlessly repeated “perhaps”. Laura Fygi, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, built an international career interpreting jazz standards, Latin classics and chansons. Her sophisticated, understated version highlights the timeless elegance of this Latin American standard.
Apéro – Tortilla	Tu Recuerdo (ft. La Mari de Chambao & Tommy Torres)	Ricky Martin	2006	Written by Tommy Torres, Arnie Roman and others, the song reflects on memories that linger after a relationship has ended, suggesting that love survives in remembrance even when people move on. Ricky Martin, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, evolved from Menudo teen idol into one of Latin pop’s biggest international stars. The collaboration features La Mari (María del Mar Rodríguez) from Málaga, Spain, leader of Chambao and pioneer of flamenco chill, alongside Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Tommy Torres from San Juan, whose melodic songwriting shaped many modern Latin ballads.
Apéro – Tortilla	Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No (ft. Shakira)	Alejandro Sanz	2006	Written by Alejandro Sanz, the song politely but firmly rejects an unhealthy relationship, choosing self-respect over emotional dependence. Sanz, from Madrid, Spain, is one of Spain’s most influential contemporary songwriters, blending flamenco, pop and Latin music. Featuring Shakira, from Barranquilla, Colombia, the duet became one of the defining collaborations of 2000s Latin pop, highlighting the chemistry between two of its biggest stars.
Apéro – Tortilla	El Run Run	Estopa	2004	Written by brothers David and José Muñoz, the song playfully reflects on rumours, gossip and the stories that circulate within neighbourhoods. Estopa, from Cornellà de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain, revolutionized Spanish pop by combining rumba catalana, rock and flamenco with humorous, streetwise storytelling rooted in working-class life.
Apéro – Tortilla	Pasos de Cero	Pablo Alborán	2014	Written by Pablo Alborán, from Málaga, Spain, the song encourages leaving fear behind and starting again, one step at a time. Inspired by themes of personal renewal rather than one specific event, it reflects Alborán’s optimistic songwriting, balancing vulnerability with hope. It became one of the standout singles from Terral.
Apéro – Tortilla	Amor di Mundo	Cesária Évora	1999	Singing in Cape Verdean Creole, Cesária Évora celebrates love that transcends borders and cultures. Born in Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde, the “Barefoot Diva” introduced morna and coladeira music to audiences worldwide. Her understated delivery and deep emotional warmth made her one of the most admired voices in world music. This song was written by singer and songwriter Teófilo Chantre, born 1963 in São Nicolau, Cap Verde.
Apéro – Tortilla	Cántame	María del Monte	1988	María del Monte, from Seville, Spain, is one of Spain’s foremost interpreters of Andalusian copla and sevillanas. “Cántame” (“Sing to Me”) celebrates music itself as a source of comfort, joy and emotional healing. Her warm, expressive style has made her a beloved figure in Spanish popular culture for decades.
Apéro – Tortilla	Ámame o Déjame (ft. Mónica Naranjo)	Raphael	2015	Originally popularised by Mexican group Los Ángeles Negros, the song presents love as an all-or-nothing commitment: either love completely or let go. Raphael, from Linares, Jaén, Spain, is one of Spain’s greatest interpreters, renowned for theatrical performances and a career spanning more than sixty years. His duet with Mónica Naranjo, from Figueres, Girona, Spain, combines two of Spain’s most dramatic vocalists.
Apéro – Tortilla	Vete	Los Amaya	1977	Los Amaya, brothers José and Delfín Amaya from Barcelona, Spain, were pioneers of Catalan rumba, blending flamenco with Cuban rhythms and pop. “Vete” (“Go Away”) addresses the painful decision to end a relationship despite lingering affection. Their energetic style helped popularise rumba beyond its traditional audiences.
Apéro – Tortilla	No Me Importa Nada	Luz Casal	1989	Written by Gloria Varona and Joaquín Sabina, the song is a declaration of emotional independence and resilience. Luz Casal, from Boimorto, Galicia, Spain, became one of Spain’s most respected rock vocalists, admired for her powerful voice and ability to combine strength with vulnerability. International audiences later discovered her through Pedro Almodóvar’s films.
Apéro – Tortilla	No Dudaría	Antonio Flores	1980	Written by Antonio Flores, from Madrid, Spain, the song expresses a heartfelt wish for a more compassionate and peaceful world. Inspired by ideals of forgiveness and reconciliation, it has become one of Spain’s best-loved songs. Flores, son of Lola Flores, was celebrated for his sincerity and poetic songwriting before his untimely death in 1995.
Apéro – Tortilla	Nada Fue Un Error (ft. Paulina Rubio y Julieta Venegas)	Coti	2005	Written by Argentine singer-songwriter Coti Sorokin, from Rosario, Argentina, the song argues that even relationships that end should not be considered mistakes because they shape who we become. Featuring Paulina Rubio from Mexico City, Mexico, and Julieta Venegas from Long Beach, California (USA), raised in Tijuana, Mexico, the collaboration became one of the signature Latin pop songs of the 2000s.
Apéro – Tortilla	Lupita	Julián Granados	1969	Colombian singer-songwriter Julián Granados, from Bogotá, Colombia, became known for warm romantic ballads and Latin pop. “Lupita” affectionately portrays an unforgettable woman through simple, melodic storytelling, reflecting the conversational style that characterized much of his repertoire. The song was written by Spanish sax and guitar player Alfonso Eduardo Sáinz Amorós (1943-2014) and his brother Lucas Sáinz Amorós, Spanish guitar player and composer, born in 1944.
Apéro – Tortilla	Borriquito	Peret	1971	Written by Peret (Pedro Pubill Calaf), born in Mataró, Barcelona, Spain, the song is a humorous rumba classic whose title affectionately teases someone acting foolishly in love. Peret is widely regarded as the father of modern rumba catalana, combining flamenco guitar with Afro-Cuban rhythms and infectious optimism. The song remains one of Spain’s great party anthems.
Apéro – Tortilla	Me Gustas Tú	Manu Chao	2001	Written by Manu Chao, born in Paris, France, to Spanish parents from Galicia and the Basque Country, the song strings together simple declarations of affection while reflecting on travel, multiculturalism and everyday pleasures. Inspired by his nomadic lifestyle across Europe and Latin America, it became one of the defining global hits of the early 2000s, transcending language barriers with its joyful simplicity.
Apéro – Tortilla	Porque Te Vas (from Cría Cuervos)	Jeanette	1974	Written by José Luis Perales, the song gently portrays the sadness of separation through deceptively simple lyrics. Jeanette, born in London, England (UK) to a Spanish mother and Belgian-Congolese father, grew up partly in Barcelona, Spain and became one of Spain’s most distinctive pop voices. Although initially only a modest success, the song became an international classic after Carlos Saura featured it prominently in the 1976 film Cría Cuervos, where its innocent melody contrasted poignantly with the film’s emotional themes.
Apéro – Beaujo	Douce France	Charles Trénet	1943	A nostalgic love letter to France, expressing homesickness, affection and attachment to one’s homeland. Trénet wrote it with Léo Chauliac during WWII; its innocent patriotism acquired an additional resonance during the Occupation. Trénet, born in Narbonne, France, was one of France’s great chanson innovators, nicknamed Le Fou Chantant. The song later became associated with French identity and was famously adopted by resistance-minded and postwar generations.
Apéro – Beaujo	Les Copains d’abord	Georges Brassens	1964	A joyful hymn to friendship: real friends are the people who stay aboard when the proverbial ship gets rough. Brassens wrote it for the film Les Copains, using a boat and nautical imagery as a metaphor for solidarity. Born in Sète, France, he became one of the most influential French singer-songwriters, famous for combining literary poetry, humour and social irreverence. The expression les copains d’abord has effectively entered everyday French culture.
Apéro – Beaujo	Sous le ciel de Paris	Yves Montand	1954	A romantic portrait of Paris, where the city itself seems to sing, dance and fall in love beneath its sky. Music was by Hubert Giraud, lyrics by Jean Dréjac, originally written for the film Sous le ciel de Paris. Montand, born in Monsummano Terme, Italy, and raised in Marseille, became one of France’s most celebrated singers and actors. Edith Piaf and many others subsequently recorded the song.
Apéro – Beaujo	J’ai Deux Amours	Joséphine Baker	1930	Joséphine Baker (born Freda Josephine McDonald on 3 June 1906 in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA and died 12 April 1975 in Paris, France) was a dancer, singer and actress. Actually she was involved in the French Resistance during World War II, struggled against the racial segregation in the USA and for the Civil Rights beside Martin Luther King. While her body is still buried at Monaco’s Cimetière de Monaco, a cenotaph has been erected to the Panthéon in Paris the 30th November 2021 for services rendered to the Nation. Joséphine Baker sings about her two great loves: Paris and her homeland reflecting her extraordinary transatlantic identity and her affection for France. Georges Konyn wrote the lyrics for Josephine Baker’s “J’Ai Deux Amours” (with Henri Varna on a music composed by Vincent Scotto). The male voice is from French singer and actor Adrien Lamy.
Apéro – Beaujo	Fais comme l’oiseau	Michel Fugain	1972	The song uses a bird as a metaphor for freedom, optimism and letting go of constraints. Fugain’s French version is an adaptation of the Brazilian song “Você Abusou”, written by Antônio Carlos and Jocafi and recorded in 1971. Fugain, from Grenoble, France, became a major figure in French pop through Le Big Bazar, combining music with theatrical spectacle. The song’s message, essentially fly, don’t worry so much, has helped make it an enduring feel-good classic.
Apéro – Beaujo	Il est libre Max	Hervé Cristiani	1981	Max is an almost mythical character: free from convention, possessions and other people’s expectations. The song celebrates inner freedom and living according to your own rules. Cristiani, born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, wrote the song after imagining this idealised free spirit. Its simple melody and philosophical lyrics turned Max into a cultural character in France.
Apéro – Beaujo	L’autre Finistère	Les Innocents	1992	A poetic song about memory, identity, distance and an imagined “other Finistère”, a place that may be physical, emotional or entirely internal. Written by members of Les Innocents, it exemplifies the band’s sophisticated French pop songwriting. The group originated in Paris, France, and became one of the most respected French pop-rock acts of the 1990s. The title deliberately plays with the idea of Finistère, literally the end of the earth.
Apéro – Beaujo	Il est cinq heures, Paris s’éveille	Jacques Dutronc	1968	A cinematic portrait of Paris at 5 a.m., as bakers, workers, prostitutes, commuters and night owls give way to the new day. Written by Jacques Dutronc and Jacques Lanzmann, with inspiration from “Waterloo Sunset” and the Parisian dawn atmosphere, the song became one of the defining recordings of the late-1960s French pop era. Dutronc, from Paris, France, was a key figure of French rock and the yé-yé generation.
Apéro – Beaujo	Les Champs-Élysées	Joe Dassin	1969	A sunny celebration of meeting people, friendship and romance while strolling down Paris’s most famous avenue. The music comes from “Waterloo Road”, originally written by British songwriter Michael Deighan and Michael Wilsh, with French lyrics by Pierre Delanoë. French-American singer-songwriter Joe Dassin (born Nov. 5, 1938 – died Aug. 20, 1980), a former doctor in Ethnology, was the first French-singing artist signed by CBS and released several hits during the 70’s.
Apéro – Beaujo	La Maison où j’ai grandi	Françoise Hardy	1966	A deeply nostalgic reflection on leaving one’s childhood home and discovering that growing up means losing some of the certainty of youth. The song is a French adaptation of Adriano Celentano’s “Il ragazzo della via Gluck”, with French lyrics by Eddy Marnay. Hardy, from Paris, France, was a singer-songwriter, actress and fashion icon whose introspective style helped redefine French pop in the 1960s.
Apéro – Beaujo	L’important c’est la rose	Gilbert Bécaud	1967	A philosophical song suggesting that amid life’s difficulties, arguments and disappointments, what matters is preserving beauty, love and hope, symbolised by the rose. Music was by Bécaud, with lyrics by Louis Amade. Bécaud, born in Toulon, France, was nicknamed Monsieur 100,000 Volts for his famously energetic performances. The song became one of his signature pieces and has been recorded in numerous languages.
Apéro – Beaujo	La Vie en rose	Édith Piaf	1945	One of the ultimate songs about seeing life through the rosy glow of being in love. Piaf’s lyrics were written with Louis Louiguy composing the melody; Piaf herself wrote the original words. Born Édith Giovanna Gassion in Paris, France, she became one of France’s most internationally recognised voices. The phrase ‘voir la vie en rose’ has become part of the French language, meaning to see life optimistically or through rose-coloured glasses.
Apéro – Beaujo	La Bohème	Charles Aznavour	1995	Written by Armenian-French musician Charles Aznavour and French lyricist and publisher Jacques Plante (° Paris, August 14, 1920 – † Paris, July 16, 2003). According to Aznavour, this song is a farewell to the last days of bohemian Montmartre. He also recorded Italian, Spanish, English, and German versions, as well as a rare Portuguese recording.
Apéro – Beaujo	Mon vieux	Daniel Guichard	1974	One of French chanson’s most affecting portraits of a father. The narrator remembers a hardworking, modest man and recognises the love and sacrifice that were not always expressed openly. The song was written by Jean Ferrat and Michelle Senlis, with Guichard’s interpretation turning it into his signature song. Guichard, born in Paris, France, became closely associated with emotionally direct French chanson.
Apéro – Beaujo	C’est ma vie	Salvatore Adamo	1975	A reflective declaration of personal identity and acceptance: this is my life, with its joys, disappointments, memories and choices. Adamo, born in Comiso, Sicily, Italy, and raised in Jemappes, Belgium, became one of the biggest French-language recording artists of the 1960s and 1970s. His songs often combine romantic melancholy with an understated optimism.
Apéro – Beaujo	La robe & l’échelle	Francis Cabrel	2008	A nostalgic, sensual story about childhood memories, youthful discovery and the complicated passage from innocence into adulthood. Cabrel uses an apparently simple memory to explore desire, time and the way certain images remain vivid for decades. Born in Agen, France, Cabrel is one of France’s most respected singer-songwriters, strongly influenced by American folk, country and blues.
Apéro – Beaujo	Les Lacs du Connemara	Michel Sardou	1981	A grand, almost cinematic evocation of Ireland’s Connemara, mixing landscapes, history, religion, marriage and cultural identity. Music was composed by Jacques Revaux and Pierre Delanoë, with lyrics by Michel Sardou and Pierre Delanoë. Sardou, born in Paris, France, became one of France’s biggest chanson stars. The song’s enormous singalong chorus has made it a staple of French parties, weddings and late-night gatherings, particularly when everyone has reached the “enthusiastic vocal accuracy” stage.
Apéro – Chablis	C’est en septembre	Gilbert Bécaud	1978	A nostalgic celebration of September as a moment when summer memories, romance and the changing seasons become especially vivid. Bécaud turns the end of summer into something positive rather than sad. Born in Toulon, France, Monsieur 100,000 Volts was famous for his extraordinary stage energy and for songs that combined grand melodies with everyday emotions.
Apéro – Chablis	Ne m’oublie pas	La Grande Sophie	2009	A tender reflection on memory and the fear that a relationship or shared experience might gradually disappear. La Grande Sophie, born Sophie Huriaux in Thionville, France, is a major figure in modern French chanson/pop, known for combining acoustic songwriting with contemporary arrangements. The song fits her recurring interest in relationships, time and emotional independence.
Apéro – Chablis	Les Enfants de mes enfants	Claude-Michel Schönberg	1978	A forward-looking meditation on future generations, imagining the lives of one’s grandchildren and the world they will inherit. Schönberg, born in Vannes, France, is better known internationally as the composer of Les Misérables and Miss Saigon. This song reveals the singer-songwriter side of an artist subsequently associated much more strongly with musical theatre.
Apéro – Chablis	La Poupée qui fait non	Michel Polnareff	1966	A playful portrait of an elusive girl who continually says “no”, turning romantic frustration into catchy pop. Written by Polnareff with lyricist Frank Gérald, it became his breakthrough hit. Born in Nérac, France, Polnareff combined French chanson with Anglo-American rock, psychedelia and flamboyant visual presentation. The song became a French pop standard and has been covered internationally.
Apéro – Chablis	Ensemble	Art Sullivan	1972	A straightforward celebration of togetherness: love is presented as something that makes life more meaningful when experienced together. Belgian singer-songwriter Belgian singer Art Sullivan was born Marc Liénart van Lidth de Jeude on 22 November 1950 in Brussels, Belgium and died 27 December 2019. His mother, daughter of Baron Guy d’Udekem is a distant relative of Queen Mathilde of Belgium.
Apéro – Chablis	Amoureux Fou	Herbert Léonard & Julie Pietri	1983	Literally “Madly in Love,” this dramatic duet portrays two people caught between overwhelming attraction and emotional uncertainty. French singer Herbert Léonard (born Hubert Loenhard on 25 February 1945 in Strasbourg, France), was a prominent romantic singer. Julie Pietri, born Nicole Juliette Pietri in Douera, Algeria, became one of the major female voices of French pop in the 1980s. The conversational duet format makes the emotional push-and-pull particularly effective.
Apéro – Chablis	Si tu m’aimes	Juliette Gréco	1960s	A classic declaration of love and vulnerability, asking whether affection can be trusted and reciprocated. Gréco, born in Montpellier, France, became one of the defining voices of existentialist Paris and the Saint-Germain-des-Prés cultural scene. Her repertoire included works by some of France’s most important poets and composers, and her delivery often made a love song feel like a philosophical proposition.
Apéro – Chablis	Les Feuilles Mortes	Yves Montand	1955	A meditation on lost love, memory and the passing of time, using autumn leaves as a metaphor for things that have disappeared. The song was written by Joseph Kosma (born in Budapest), with French lyrics by Jacques Prévert, for the 1946 film Les Portes de la nuit. Montand’s 1949 recording helped establish it as a French standard. The English adaptation, “Autumn Leaves,” subsequently became a jazz standard.
Apéro – Chablis	Que Reste-t-il de nos amours ?	Stacey Kent	2007	The title asks the devastatingly elegant question: “What remains of our loves?” Charles Trenet’s original looks back on a vanished romance through memories of places, seasons and small details. American jazz singer Stacey Kent, born in South Orange, New Jersey, USA, brings the song into a sophisticated contemporary jazz setting. Her interest in French repertoire has made her particularly popular with Francophone audiences.
Apéro – Chablis	Chère amie (Toutes mes excuses) (ft. Françoise Hardy)	Marc Lavoine	1989	A sophisticated exchange about friendship, love and the complications that arise when emotions refuse to remain neatly categorised. Marc Lavoine, born in Longjumeau, France, became known for his intimate, cinematic pop chansons. The collaboration with Françoise Hardy, from Paris, adds a particularly elegant dialogue between two generations of French pop.
Apéro – Chablis	Amoureuse	Véronique Sanson	1972	Véronique Sanson is one of the first female artists to perform her self-penned material and play the piano in the 70’s in France and was once described as a ‘heavy Carole King’. Sanson, born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, became one of France’s most influential singer-songwriters, particularly admired for her piano-based compositions and emotionally direct performances. The song became internationally known through numerous adaptations, including “Emotion” and other versions. Adapted in 6 languages, the song was covered by more than 30 artists in all. Sanson gave birth to American-born musician Christopher Stills in 1974, now a multi-talented singer and songwriter.
Apéro – Chablis	Sous le charme	Khadja Nin	1990s	A sensual, atmospheric song about being captivated or enchanted by someone, with love portrayed as an irresistible force. Khadja Nin, born Jeanine Ntiruhwama in Kigoma, Tanzania, and raised in Burundi, became an important international voice combining East African musical traditions with African pop, jazz and European influences. Her multilingual repertoire reflects her culturally diverse background. She left Burundi for Zaire in 1975 and got married in 1978. In 1980 she emigrated to Belgium.
Apéro – Chablis	Je suis malade	Serge Lama	1973	One of French chanson’s great portraits of emotional devastation. The narrator describes himself as physically and psychologically “sick” because of a relationship that has collapsed. Written by Serge Lama and Alice Dona, the song is intensely personal in tone, although its exact autobiographical basis is less important than its dramatic portrayal of heartbreak. Lama, born in Bordeaux, France, became renowned for theatrical, emotionally uncompromising chanson.
Apéro – Chablis	Il me dit que je suis belle	Patricia Kaas	1993	A sophisticated song about the intoxicating power of being told you are beautiful by someone whose opinion matters deeply. Written by François Bernheim and Jean-Jacques Goldman, it combines vulnerability with a subtle awareness of romantic manipulation and desire. Kaas, born Patricia Noëlle Kaas in Forbach, Lorraine, France, became internationally known for her smoky voice and blend of chanson, blues and pop.
Apéro – Chablis	Un homme heureux	William Sheller	1991	A deceptively simple reflection on contentment and emotional fulfilment, celebrating the possibility of being genuinely happy rather than constantly chasing something else. Sheller, born William Hand on 9 July 1946 in Paris, France, is a classically trained composer and sophisticated French singer-songwriter. His ability to combine pop songwriting with orchestral and classical influences is particularly evident here.
Apéro – Chablis	Je range	Zita Swoon	2004	The title literally means “I’m tidying up.” Zita Swoon turns the mundane act of putting things away into a more reflective metaphor for sorting through memories, emotions and the remnants of a relationship. The Belgian group, led by Stef Kamil Carlens, originated in Antwerp, Belgium, and became known for blending indie rock, soul, folk and experimental pop. The understated subject matter is characteristic of their ability to find poetry in everyday life.
Apéro – Jurançon	Vacances, J’oublie Tout	Elegance	1982	Written by Jean-Manuel de Scarano and colleagues, the title (“On Holiday, I Forget Everything”) is an irresistible celebration of escaping everyday worries. The French group, formed in Paris, France, is mainly composed of Marc Ricci and Pierre Zito. Michel Boudon also participates in the production of Vacances, j’oublie tout with Gilbert Di Nino. The song remains a perennial holiday anthem in France, embodying the simple philosophy that sunshine is excellent therapy.
Apéro – Jurançon	Couleur Cafe	Serge Gainsbourg	1964	Written by Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg in Paris, France, the song playfully celebrates love and sensuality through Afro-Caribbean rhythms and witty wordplay. Inspired by Latin jazz and percussion, it marked one of Gainsbourg’s earliest experiments with world music influences. Today it remains one of the most elegant examples of French chanson meeting exotic grooves.
Apéro – Jurançon	Guitare De Plage	El Gato Negro	2019	El Gato Negro is the project of French musician Mathieu Sourisseau, based in Toulouse, France, whose travels across Latin America inspired a joyful fusion of cumbia, rumba, reggae and chanson. The song captures the carefree atmosphere of a beach guitar accompanying friendships, travel and spontaneous celebrations.
Apéro – Jurançon	Y’a d’la rumba dans l’air	Alain Souchon	1988	Written by Alain Souchon and longtime collaborator Laurent Voulzy, the song uses rumba as a metaphor for optimism and escape. Souchon, born Alain Édouard Kienast in Casablanca, Morocco, and raised in Paris, France, is one of France’s most beloved singer-songwriters, admired for combining poetic observations with understated humour.
Apéro – Jurançon	Le Sud	Nino Ferrer	1975	Inspired by memories of his childhood in New Caledonia, Nino Ferrer wrote this nostalgic hymn to an imagined southern paradise where life moves more slowly. Born Nino Agostino Arturo Maria Ferrari in Genoa, Italy, and raised in France, Ferrer became famous for blending rock, soul and chanson. “Le Sud” remains one of France’s most cherished songs about longing for warmth, simplicity and nature.
Apéro – Jurançon	Le coup de soleil	Richard Cocciante	1980	Written by Richard Cocciante, born Riccardo Vincent Cocciante in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) to an Italian family before settling in France and Italy, the song compares the shock of falling in love to suffering sunstroke. Its passionate melody became one of the defining French ballads of the 1980s. Cocciante later achieved worldwide success as the composer of the musical Notre-Dame de Paris.
Apéro – Jurançon	L’Eté Indien	Joe Dassin	1975	Adapted from the Italian song L’estate di San Martino by Toto Cutugno and collaborators, the lyrics recall a romance during an “Indian summer.” Joe Dassin, born in New York City (USA) and raised in France, became one of the country’s most beloved entertainers. His warm voice and cosmopolitan background helped make the song an enduring international classic.
Apéro – Jurançon	La Madrague	Brigitte Bardot	1963	Written by Jean-Max Rivière and Gérard Bourgeois, the song is a gentle tribute to Bardot’s beloved villa La Madrague in Saint-Tropez, where she sought refuge from fame. Born Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot in Paris, France, Bardot became an international film icon before devoting much of her later life to animal welfare. The song helped turn Saint-Tropez into a symbol of the French Riviera lifestyle.
Apéro – Jurançon	La Mer	Charles Trénet	1946	Written by Charles Trénet, (born Louis Charles Augustin Georges Trenet) from Narbonne, France, while travelling by train along the Mediterranean coast, the song celebrates the sea as a symbol of beauty, freedom and serenity. It became one of the most recorded French songs ever, later adapted into English as “Beyond the Sea.” Trénet’s poetic optimism earned him the nickname Le Fou Chantant (“The Singing Madman”).
Apéro – Jurançon	This Melody	Julien Clerc	1975	Performed and composed by Julien Clerc (born Paul-Alain Auguste Leclerc) with lyrics by Esteva Roda-Gil, renowned French lyricist, songwriter and screenwriter born 1 August 1941 in Montauban, France and died 31 May 2004 Paris, France. Son of Spanish republican refugee, he was also a member of the French anarcho-syndicalist union Confédération Nationale du Travail (CNT). The song was released in Spanish as ‘Esta canción’.
Apéro – Jurançon	Les Filles Du Bord De Mer	Salvatore Adamo	1964	Belgian-Italian singer-songwriter Salvatore Adamo, born in Comiso, Sicily, and raised in Mons, Belgium, affectionately portrays the carefree charm of girls spending summer by the seaside. His melodic romanticism made him one of Europe’s biggest French-language stars throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
Apéro – Jurançon	Les petites mad’maselles	Gilbert Bécaud	1967	Gilbert Bécaud, born François Gilbert Léopold Silly, son of Louis Bécaud, in Toulon, France, was famous for his energetic performances and expressive piano playing. This light-hearted chanson celebrates youthful elegance and flirtation, reflecting Bécaud’s gift for combining theatrical flair with memorable melodies. Nicknamed Monsieur 100,000 Volts, he was renowned for his electrifying concerts and spoke six languages fluently.
Apéro – Jurançon	Ivan Boris et moi	Marie Laforêt	1962	Written by Eddy Marnay and Emil Stern, the song humorously recounts a young woman’s romantic indecision between three suitors. Marie Laforêt balanced successful careers as both actress and singer. Her mysterious voice and distinctive repertoire made her one of France’s most original pop artists. Maîtena Doumenach (Marie in Basque) was born in Soulac-sur-mer, France, where the exodus had driven her family, on October 5, 1939. In 1978, she moved to Geneva, Switzerland and acquired Swiss citizenship.
Apéro – Jurançon	Enfants De Tous Pays	Enrico Macias	1962	Born Gaston Ghrenassia in Constantine, Algeria, Enrico Macias fled to France during the Algerian War. This heartfelt song expresses hope that children around the world can grow up in peace and friendship regardless of nationality. Throughout his career, Macias became an outspoken advocate for intercultural dialogue and humanitarian causes.
Apéro – Jurançon	L’oiseau et l’enfant	Marie Myriam	1977	Written by Joe Gracy and Jean-Paul Cara, the song celebrates hope, innocence and peace through the symbolic friendship between a bird and a child. Marie Myriam won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song, the last French victory to date. Its uplifting message continues to resonate across generations. Marie Myriam is a French singer of Portuguese descent, born Myriam Lopes Elmosnino on May 8, 1957 in Luluabourg (now Kananga), Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo).
Apéro – Jurançon	Pour Un Flirt Avec Toi	Michel Delpech	1971	Michel Delpech (born Jean-Michel Delpech), from Courbevoie, France, sings with charming honesty about simply wanting the chance to flirt. The song’s playful simplicity made it one of French pop’s most enduring singalong classics and established Delpech as a master of everyday storytelling.
Apéro – Jurançon	Twist À Saint-Tropez	Telex	1978	Originally recorded by Les Chats Sauvages in 1962 (Twist A Saint-Tropez). Belgian electronic trio Telex, formed in Brussels, Belgium, in 1978 by radio DJ / jazz musician Marc Moulin, programmer / sound engineer Dan Lacksman and vocalist Michel Moers. reinvented the classic French party tune with their trademark deadpan synth-pop style. Known for combining irony, minimalism and infectious electronic grooves, Telex became pioneers of European electro-pop and cult favourites well beyond Belgium.
Apéro – Jurançon	L’hiver indien (Radio Edit)	Baloji	2017	L’hiver indien, showcases Baloji’s unique style and is part of his broader discography. Baloji, an Mc from Belgium, born in Lubumbashi in 1978, moved to Ostend, Belgium with his father at the age of three. After developing a love of French hip-hop, he formed the collective Starflam in his teens. Fusing funk and ragga with the urban sounds of his Congo homeland, Baloji has been labeled as one of the most innovative rappers ever to emerge from Africa. L’hiver indien by Baloji explores themes of exile, struggle, and resilience, reflecting on the experiences of individuals feeling disconnected and trapped in their circumstances. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and the harsh realities of life, often using imagery related to winter and isolation.
Apéro – Jurançon	Emmenez-moi	Charles Aznavour	1968	The lyrics of the song are by Charles Aznavour, while the music and its arrangement are by Georges Garvarentz. The song’s theme is the narrator’s nostalgic desire to go far away to sunny countries in order to escape the misery of his daily life.
Apéro – Kir	Écoute ce disque	Sheila	1964	A playful early-1960s pop song built around the idea of communicating romantic feelings through a record: listen to this song and you’ll understand what I’m trying to say. Sheila, born Annie Chancel in Créteil, France, became one of the biggest stars of the French yé-yé era. Her deliberately youthful image and catchy singles made her a defining figure of 1960s French pop.
Apéro – Kir	Ma vie	Alain Barrière	1964	A reflective song about looking back on a life filled with love, disappointment and missed opportunities. Barrière’s narrator accepts that life cannot be rewritten, giving the song a bittersweet but ultimately resilient quality. Born Alain Bellec in La Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, France, Barrière became one of the great French chanson singers of the 1960s and 1970s.
Apéro – Kir	Love Me, Please Love Me	Michel Polnareff	1966	A desperate but elegant plea for reciprocated love. The narrator is emotionally exposed, asking to be loved despite his vulnerability. Polnareff, born in Nérac, France, and raised in Paris, combined French chanson with British and American pop, rock and orchestral influences. The song became his breakthrough international success and established his flamboyant musical identity.
Apéro – Kir	Tout	Lara Fabian	1996	A passionate declaration of total emotional commitment: the singer is willing to give everything to the person she loves. Fabian, born Lara Sophie Katy Crokaert in Etterbeek, Brussels, Belgium, and raised partly in Sicily, became one of the major Francophone power-ballad singers. Her huge vocal range and dramatic delivery are central to the song’s emotional impact.
Apéro – Kir	Pour que tu m’aimes encore	Céline Dion	1995	A plea to preserve a relationship that is slipping away. The narrator is prepared to change, compromise and fight for love rather than simply accept its disappearance. Written by Jean-Jacques Goldman, it was a crucial song in Dion’s French-language career. Dion, born Céline Marie Claudette Dion on March 30th, 1968, in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada, had already become a major international star, and D’eux, on which the song appears, became one of the best-selling French-language albums ever.
Apéro – Kir	Avant de nous dire adieu	Jeane Manson	1976	A melancholy farewell in which lovers face separation while still struggling with their feelings. Manson, born Jean Ann Manson on 1 October 1950 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, became a major French-language singer and actress after moving to France. Her warm, dramatic delivery suited the romantic chanson style of the 1970s. American singer, model, actress, and television hostess Manson moved to France after becoming Miss August, 1974 in Playboy magazine, where she has been living since. She changed her stage name into Jeane to avoid confusion with the French masculine name Jean.
Apéro – Kir	Je t’attends	Axelle Red	1993	A song about waiting, longing and emotional hope, the belief that someone or something worth loving may still arrive. Axelle Red, born Fabienne Demal in Hasselt, Belgium, combines soul, pop and chanson, frequently exploring relationships and social themes.
Apéro – Kir	Et maintenant	Gilbert Bécaud	1961	One of the great songs of romantic emptiness: after a relationship ends, the narrator asks the devastatingly simple question, “And now?”. Written by Bécaud and Pierre Delanoë, it was inspired by the emotional aftermath of a breakup. Bécaud, born in Toulon, France, was nicknamed Monsieur 100,000 Volts for his explosive stage performances. The song became an international standard, later recorded in English as “What Now My Love.”
Apéro – Kir	Comme d’habitude	Claude François	1967	A portrait of a relationship that has become emotionally empty: two people continue performing the routines of love even though the feeling has disappeared. Written by Claude François and Jacques Revaux, with lyrics by François and Gilles Thibaut. François, born in Ismaïlia, Egypt, became one of France’s biggest pop stars. The melody was later adapted into “My Way”, with completely different English lyrics by Paul Anka.
Apéro – Kir	Que je t’aime	Johnny Hallyday	1969	An intensely physical declaration of desire and devotion. Written by Jean Renard and Gilles Thibaut, it was designed around Hallyday’s powerful stage persona and became one of his greatest concert songs. Hallyday was born Jean-Philippe Léo Smet on June 15, 1943 in Paris, France, to a Belgian father, Léon Smet, and a French mother, Huguette Eugénie Pierrette Clerc. He was France’s definitive rock’n’roll icon, earning the nickname the “French Elvis.”
Apéro – Kir	Viens, viens	Marie Laforêt	1973	A desperate invitation for a lover to return, balancing vulnerability with insistence. The French version was adapted from the Italian song “Rain, Rain, Rain” by Simon Butterfly. Marie Laforêt, born Maïténa Marie Brigitte Douménach in Soulac-sur-Mer, France, was both a successful actress and singer, but also a gallery owner, auctioneer, known for her distinctive, slightly mysterious voice.
Apéro – Kir	Une femme avec toi	Nicole Croisille	1976	A celebration of the intimacy and emotional security found in a loving relationship. Croisille’s interpretation gives the song a sophisticated, soulful character. Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, she was an accomplished singer, dancer and actress, and became especially associated with French film music and sophisticated chanson.
Apéro – Kir	Les mots bleus	Christophe	1974	A beautiful meditation on the difficulty of expressing love in words. The “blue words” represent feelings that are difficult to articulate directly. Written by Christophe with lyrics by Jean-Michel Jarre, the song became one of French pop’s most admired compositions. Christophe, born Daniel Bevilacqua in Juvisy-sur-Orge, France, was celebrated for his atmospheric, sophisticated pop.
Apéro – Kir	Prendre un enfant par la main (À Martine)	Yves Duteil	1977	A tender celebration of childhood, innocence and the responsibility of protecting the next generation. Duteil dedicated the song to his wife Noëlle’s sister Martine, who was living with a serious illness. Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, Duteil became known for intimate, literary songwriting centred on family, humanity and simple acts of kindness.
Apéro – Kir	Alouette	Gilles Dreu	1960s	Dreu’s version draws on the imagery of the traditional French children’s song “Alouette, gentille alouette”, transforming familiar folk material into a popular-song setting. The lark (alouette) is traditionally associated with nature and playful innocence. Dreu, born Jean-Paul Chapuisat in Dreux, France, became known for his melodic French chanson repertoire.
Apéro – Kir	Comment te dire adieu	Françoise Hardy	1968	A witty yet melancholy song about trying to say goodbye to someone when the emotions clearly haven’t disappeared. The melody comes from “It Hurts to Say Goodbye”, composed by Arnold Goland and Jack Gold; French lyrics were written by Serge Gainsbourg. Hardy, from Paris, France, gave the song its cool, understated emotional character. Gainsbourg’s unusual rhymes and Hardy’s detached delivery created one of the great French pop recordings of the late 1960s. Françoise Madeleine Hardy was a French singer, songwriter, actress, and astrologer born January 17, 1944 in Paris and died on June 11, 2024. She was married to singer Jacques Dutronc (1981) and mother of Thomas Dutronc.
Apéro – Pastis	Attention mesdames et messieurs (ft. Le Big Bazar)	Michel Fugain	1972	A wonderfully theatrical invitation to stop whatever you’re doing and join the party. Written by Michel Fugain with Pierre Delanoë, it captures the communal, optimistic spirit of Le Big Bazar, Fugain’s large ensemble that mixed pop, theatre, dance and hippie-era idealism. Fugain, born in Grenoble, France, turned the song into a celebration of togetherness: essentially, ladies and gentlemen, the show, and life, is happening now.
Apéro – Pastis	Les Cornichons	Nino Ferrer	1966	A comic account of a family picnic, packed with sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs, sardines and, naturally, pickles. Ferrer deliberately turns an ordinary outing into surreal observational comedy. Born in Genoa, Italy, and raised partly in New Caledonia and France, he became famous for combining soul, pop, rock and absurdist humour. The song’s exaggerated food-listing has made it a French children’s and family singalong classic.
Apéro – Pastis	Les Tomates	Jack Ary	1967	A playful novelty song built around the humble tomato, treating everyday food with the kind of dramatic seriousness usually reserved for grand romantic chansons. Jack Ary, associated with French popular entertainment and novelty repertoire, represents the lighter, comic side of mid-century chanson. The song is a delightful reminder that French pop has always had room for culinary nonsense.
Apéro – Pastis	Nouvelle vague	Richard Anthony	1959	Richard Anthony’s French version of the American hit “Three Cool Cats”, itself written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The French title means “New Wave,” capturing the youthful, fashionable spirit of the late-1950s pop era. Anthony, born Ricardo Btesh in Cairo, Egypt, became one of the principal French yé-yé singers. His repertoire often adapted Anglo-American rock’n’roll for French audiences.
Apéro – Pastis	Comic Strip (ft. Brigitte Bardot)	Serge Gainsbourg	1967	Gainsbourg transforms comic-book language, Pow! Bang! Wow!, into a playful, flirtatious fantasy. The duet with Brigitte Bardot combines pop-art humour, erotic suggestion and deliberately exaggerated sound effects. Gainsbourg, born in Paris, France, was a master of provocation and musical experimentation; Bardot, also from Paris, was then one of France’s biggest film and fashion icons. The recording perfectly captures the colourful, cheeky aesthetic of 1960s pop culture.
Apéro – Pastis	Il Tape Sur Des Bambous	Philippe Lavil	1982	A sunny tropical-pop song, written by Didier Barbelivien with music composed by Michel Héron, about an exotic, carefree island world, built around the memorable image of someone “beating on bamboo”. More accurately, it belongs to Lavil’s Caribbean-influenced repertoire rather than being a straightforward translation of a famous Anglo-American hit. Lavil, born in Fort-de-France, Martinique, brought Caribbean rhythms and imagery into mainstream French pop. The song became one of his signature summer hits.
Apéro – Pastis	Vive Ma Liberté	Arno	1993	A celebration of independence and the freedom to live without excessive concern for convention. Belgian singer-songwriter Arno Hintjens (born Arnold Charles Ernest Hintjens on 21 May 1949 and died on 23 April 2022), better known by his stage name Arno, was a Belgian singer from Ostend, Belgium, known for his eccentric humour, blues-rock influences and deliberately unconventional personality. His music often combined French, English and Dutch, reflecting Belgium’s wonderfully chaotic linguistic geography.
Apéro – Pastis	Je veux	Zaz	2010	A joyful rejection of materialism: Zaz says she doesn’t want luxury, jewels or status, she wants love, joy, freedom and authenticity. Written by Zaz with Kerredine Soltani and Tryss, it became the defining song of her debut album. Zaz, born Isabelle Geffroy on 1 May 1980 in Chambray-lès-Tours, France, mixes chanson with jazz, soul and gypsy influences. Its philosophy is basically: keep your five-star hotel; I’ll take a good song and a good laugh.
Apéro – Pastis	La thune	Angèle	2018	A witty critique of money, social status and the pressure to appear successful. Angèle questions the obsession with la thune, slang for cash, while poking fun at modern consumer culture and the contradictions of wanting both authenticity and financial comfort. Born Angèle Joséphine Aimée Van Laeken in Uccle, Brussels, Belgium, she became one of the defining voices of contemporary Francophone pop. Her minimalist electronic pop and sharp observations helped redefine Belgian pop for a new generation.
Apéro – Pastis	M’envoyer des fleurs	Sandrine Kiberlain	2005	A bittersweet, witty reflection on affection, self-esteem and the desire to receive attention rather than waiting passively for someone else to provide it. Sandrine Kiberlain (born Sandrine Kiberlajn on 25 February 1968 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France) is primarily known as a celebrated actress who also developed a songwriting career. Her music has the intimacy of a diary entry, more conversational than grandiose.
Apéro – Pastis	J’ai la guitare qui me démange	Yves Duteil	1978	A playful declaration that music is an irresistible itch: the guitar is practically demanding to be played. Duteil, born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, is renowned for gentle, literary songwriting and acoustic guitar. The song celebrates the physical pleasure of making music and the inability of a musician to simply sit quietly when there is a guitar nearby, which is, frankly, a medically recognised condition among guitar owners.
Apéro – Pastis	Quand tu chantes	Nana Mouskouri	1976	A warm song about the transformative power of someone’s singing: when the beloved sings, the world becomes brighter and worries disappear. Greek-born Nana Mouskouri (Ιωάννα Μούσχουρη (Ioanna Mouskouri)), from Chania, Crete, Greece, became one of the world’s most successful multilingual singers. She recorded in numerous languages and helped carry French chanson to international audiences.
Apéro – Pastis	Si on chantait	Julien Clerc	1972	A simple invitation to sing together as a way of escaping gloom and reconnecting with joy. Written by Julien Clerc with lyricist Étienne Roda-Gil, the song reflects the communal optimism that runs through much French pop of the era. Clerc, born Paul-Alain Auguste Leclerc in Paris, France, became one of France’s most enduring singer-songwriters, combining chanson with pop, rock and orchestral arrangements.
Apéro – Pastis	En chantant	Michel Sardou	1978	Sardou presents singing as a companion through the whole journey of life, through childhood, love, work, disappointment and old age. Written by Michel Sardou and Pierre Delanoë, with music by Jacques Revaux, it turns singing into a metaphor for resilience. Sardou, born Michel Charles Sardou in Paris, France, is one of France’s biggest-selling chanson artists. The underlying message is wonderfully straightforward: when life gets complicated, keep singing.
Apéro – Pastis	Boum	Charles Trénet	1938	The repeated Boum! represents the sound of a heart falling in love, while the song connects romantic excitement with the rhythms of nature and everyday life. Written by Trénet and Jean Manse, it became one of the signature songs of French chanson. Trénet, from Narbonne, France, combined surreal imagery, jazz-inflected melodies and infectious optimism. It later travelled internationally through numerous adaptations. French singer and songwriter Charles Trénet was born May 18th, 1913 in Narbonne, Aude, France, and died February 19th, 2001 in Créteil, Val-de-Marne, France.
Apéro – Pastis	La Chansonnette	Yves Montand	1961	A charming celebration of the little song itself, music as something modest, intimate and capable of accompanying everyday life. Montand, born in Monsummano Terme, Italy, and raised in Marseille, was a major French singer and actor whose career crossed chanson, cinema and political activism. His interpretation brings theatrical warmth to this affectionate miniature. Italian-born French actor and singer Yves Montand, born Ivo Livi on 13 October 1921 in Monsummano Alto, Pistoia, Italy, died 9 November 1991 in Paris, France, was married to Simone Signoret from 1951 until her death in 1985.
Apéro – Pastis	Petit Bonheur	Salvatore Adamo	1969	The title means “Little Happiness”, and the song celebrates the small pleasures that can make ordinary life worthwhile. Adamo, born in Comiso, Sicily, Italy, and raised in Mons, Belgium, became a hugely popular French-language singer-songwriter. His songs often find emotional richness in seemingly simple experiences, an approach perfectly suited to this title.
Apéro – Pastis	Si j’étais président	Gérard Lenorman	1980	A playful fantasy about becoming president and creating a kinder, more imaginative world. Lenorman imagines a government shaped by children, friendship and peace rather than political seriousness. Born Gérard Christian Éric Lenormand in Bénouville, Normandy, France, he became famous for melodic chanson with accessible, optimistic storytelling. The song’s childlike political imagination is part satire, part utopian daydream, and considerably more cheerful than most election campaigns.
Apéro – Pastis	Si tu t’appelles Mélancolie	Joe Dassin	1974	A tender invitation to loneliness itself: if melancholy has a name, the singer is willing to welcome it and perhaps turn sadness into companionship. The French version was adapted from “Please tell her” by Shepstone & Dibbens, with French lyrics by Pierre Delanoë and Claude Lemesle. Dassin, born in New York City, USA, became a major French pop star despite his American birth, bringing a cosmopolitan quality to his chanson.
Apéro – Pastis	La Musique	Nicoletta	1967	A celebration of music as emotional escape and shared experience, the thing that can make people forget their troubles and feel connected. Nicoletta, born Nicole Fernande Grisoni-Chappuis in Vongy, Haute-Savoie, France, became one of France’s great soul-influenced singers, with a powerful gospel-inflected voice. Her repertoire frequently explored the uplifting and communal power of music itself. Nicole Grisoni is known for her distinctive voice and charismatic stage presence. Hot-tempered Nicoletta started in the early 1960s as a DJ in the most trendy clubs of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris.
Apéro – Picon	Toutes les mamas	Maurane	1989	A warm, affectionate celebration of mothers and maternal figures, recognising the strength, tenderness and sometimes complicated emotions surrounding motherhood. Written by Maurane and Jean-Claude Vannier, it became one of the Belgian singer’s signature songs. Maurane was renowned for her powerful, jazz-influenced voice and expressive phrasing. Claudine Luypaerts (i.e. Maurane) was born on 12 November 1960 in Ixelles, Brussels, to Guy-Philippe Luypaerts, a composer and director of Académie de Musique of Verviers, and Jeannie Patureaux, a piano teacher.
Apéro – Picon	Débranche	France Gall	1984	A playful plea to switch off the noise, pressure and distractions of modern life and reconnect with real human feeling. Written by Michel Berger, it reflects the growing tension between technology, media and intimacy. France Gall was born Isabelle Geneviève Marie Anne Gall on 9 October 1947 in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. She grew up in a family of musicians: father, Robert Gall (1918–1990), was a lyricist who wrote for Édith Piaf and Charles Aznavour and mother, singer Cécile Berthier (1921–2021), was the daughter of Paul Berthier (1884–1953), co-founder of the celebrated choir The Little Singers of Paris.
Apéro – Picon	Le Monde Tourne Mal	Axelle Red	1995	A socially conscious reflection on a world seemingly heading in the wrong direction, while still searching for hope and human solidarity. Axelle Red was born as Fabienne Demal on 15 February 1968 in Hasselt, Flanders, Belgium and graduated from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) as a lawyer in 1993. The Belgian singer-songwriter became known for combining soul, pop and chanson with humanitarian and social themes.
Apéro – Picon	À caus’ des garçons	À Caus’ des Garçons	1987	A cheeky, energetic take on the frustrations and complications caused by boys and the emotional chaos of young romance. À Caus’ des Garçons (‘Because of the boys’) is a Belgian duo formed by Laurence Heller and Hélène Bérard. The title’s deliberately colloquial spelling gives the song its playful attitude.
Apéro – Picon	Les Brunes Ne Comptent Pas Pour Des Prunes	Lio	1986	A witty feminist declaration that brunettes should not be dismissed or underestimated. The title is a pun on ne pas compter pour des prunes (“to count for nothing”). Lio, born Viana do Castelo, Portugal, and raised in Belgium, was one of the most distinctive personalities of French-language pop. The song combines flirtation, humour and female confidence.
Apéro – Picon	Balance ton quoi	Angèle	2018	A sharp but catchy critique of sexism, harassment and double standards, with Angèle turning the language of the #MeToo era into witty electropop. The title plays on the French expression balance ton… (“call out/expose…”) and plays on the phrase #BalanceTonPorc (meaning “Denounce your pig”), which was popular in France during the #MeToo movement. Angèle, from Brussels, Belgium, became one of the major voices of contemporary Francophone pop. The video also uses humour to confront gender stereotypes.
Apéro – Picon	Femme libérée	Cookie Dingler	1984	A satirical portrait of the supposedly liberated modern woman—and, importantly, the contradictions and prejudices surrounding female independence. Written by French lyricist Joëlle Bahl and composed by Christian Dingler, the song became a huge French pop hit. Cookie Dingler was formed in Strasbourg, France, and the song remains an emblematic 1980s French singalong. Its feminist credentials are intentionally complicated: it celebrates independence while poking fun at both traditional expectations and fashionable “liberation.”
Apéro – Picon	J’aime les filles	Jacques Dutronc	1967	A deliberately cheeky catalogue of the kinds of women Dutronc claims to like, mixing flirtation, stereotypes and tongue-in-cheek masculinity. Written by Jacques Lanzmann and Jacques Dutronc, it epitomises the irreverent humour of 1960s French pop. Dutronc, born in Paris, France, married Françoise Hardy in 1981 and became one of the great French rock/chanson personalities. Jacques Dutronc together with Eddy Mitchell and Jean-Philippe Smet (a.k.a. Johnny Hallyday) performed as Les Vieilles Canailles.
Apéro – Picon	Tous les garçons et les filles	Françoise Hardy	1962	A beautifully simple portrait of teenage loneliness: Hardy watches other young people fall in love while wondering when her own turn will arrive. Written and composed by Hardy herself, it launched her into stardom. Born in Paris, France, she married to singer Jacques Dutronc in 1981 and became a defining figure of the yé-yé generation and an international fashion icon.
Apéro – Picon	Fais-moi une place	Julien Clerc	1990	A tender request for emotional space in someone’s life: intimate, vulnerable and romantic without being overly dramatic. Written by Françoise Hardy, with music by Julien Clerc, it is an especially interesting meeting of two major French singer-songwriters. Clerc, from Paris, France, had already been a major chanson/pop star for more than two decades.
Apéro – Picon	Un homme, une femme	Nicole Croisille & Pierre Barouh	1966	A romantic meditation on the relationship between a man and a woman, inseparable from the atmosphere of Claude Lelouch’s film Un homme et une femme. Francis Lai composed the music and Pierre Barouh wrote the lyrics; Croisille and Barouh supplied the famous vocal interpretation. The film’s musical theme became internationally recognisable and helped establish Lai as a major film composer.
Apéro – Picon	Emmène-moi danser ce soir	Michèle Torr	1978	A joyful yet emotionally charged request to dance, escape routine and enjoy the moment with someone you love. Written by Jean Albertini and Didier Barbelivien, it became one of Torr’s signature songs. Torr, born Michelle Cléberte Tort on 7 April 1947 in Pertuis, Vaucluse, France, has had a remarkably long career in French chanson and popular music.
Apéro – Picon	Tu te reconnaîtras	Anne-Marie David	1973	A warm song about recognising oneself in another person’s qualities—kindness, love, humanity and shared experience. Written by Vline Buggy and Claude Morgan, it won the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest for Luxembourg and the song became an enduring Eurovision favourite. Anne-Marie David, is a French singer born May 23, 1952, in Casablanca, Morocco.
Apéro – Picon	Il est trop tard	Georges Moustaki	1969	A melancholy reflection on time passing and the realisation that some opportunities cannot be recovered. Moustaki’s understated delivery makes the message feel intimate rather than tragic. Born Giuseppe Mustacchi in Alexandria, Egypt, to a Greek-Jewish family, he settled in France and became one of the great cosmopolitan voices of chanson.
Apéro – Picon	Non, je ne regrette rien	Édith Piaf	1960	A defiant declaration of total acceptance and renewal: no regrets about the past, because life begins again in the present. Written by Charles Dumont and Michel Vaucaire, it was famously recorded by Piaf in 1960. French singer and cultural icon Edith Piaf was born Édith Giovanna Gassion on December 19, 1915, in Paris, and died October 11, 1963, in Plascassier. France. The song became strongly associated with the French Foreign Legion, whose soldiers adopted it as a symbol of leaving the past behind. The 2012 version is a remaster, not a new performance.
Apéro – Picon	Ça va pas changer le monde	Joe Dassin	1975	A wonderfully understated breakup song: yes, love has ended, but the world keeps turning. The narrator accepts heartbreak without melodrama. Written by Pierre Delanoë and Claude Lemesle, with music by Toto Cutugno and Vito Pallavicini, it perfectly suits Dassin’s warm, conversational style. Dassin was born in New York City, USA, but became a major French pop star. Joe (born Joseph Ira Dassin) was the son of the American director, screenwriter, producer and actor Jules Dassin (born Julius Dassin).
Apéro – Picon	Et pourtant	Charles Aznavour	1963	A deeply emotional song about still loving someone despite separation and circumstances that make the relationship impossible. Written by Aznavour with Georges Garvarentz, it became one of his major romantic chansons. Aznavour, born Shahnour Varenagh Aznavurjian (Armenian: Շահնուր Վաղինակ Ազնաւուրեան – Shahnur Vaghinak Aznavuryan) in Paris, France, to Armenian parents, was one of the world’s most successful French-language singer-songwriters.
Apéro – Picon	Tu verras	Claude Nougaro	1978	A hopeful promise that life will get better and love will make the future worthwhile. Nougaro adapted the song from Brazilian composer Chico Buarque’s “O Que Será (À Flor da Terra)”, creating new French lyrics rather than simply translating the original. Nougaro fused chanson with jazz, Brazilian music, African rhythms and blues. It is an excellent example of French music absorbing global influences. Claude Nougaro (born September 9, 1929, Toulouse, Occitania – died March 4, 2004, Paris) was a French songwriter and singer who’s father was an opera singer and his mother a piano teacher.
Apéro – Pineau	Tchin, Tchin	Richard Anthony	1964	A cheerful toast to love, friendship and good times, built around the familiar tchin-tchin sound of glasses being raised. Richard Anthony, born Richard Btesh in Cairo, Egypt, was one of the major French yé-yé singers and specialised in adapting international pop hits for French audiences. The song is an adaptation of “Cheat Cheat” by Johnny Cymbal.
Apéro – Pineau	Moi vouloir toi	Françoise Hardy	1983	A playful, direct expression of desire, with the deliberately simple title giving the song a teasing, almost childlike quality. Hardy, from Paris, France, was by then moving beyond her introspective 1960s sound into more sophisticated 1980s pop. The contrast between her normally restrained persona and the directness of the song is part of its charm.
Apéro – Pineau	Amoureux de ma femme	Richard Anthony	1974	A humorous romantic dilemma: the narrator is deeply in love with his own wife, turning marital devotion into a surprisingly catchy confession. Anthony’s relaxed delivery keeps it playful rather than overly sentimental. It belongs to the tradition of French pop songs that turn ordinary domestic relationships into amusing little stories. The original version, titled “Nessuno mi puo’ giudicare” (No one can judge me), dates from 1966, first performed at the San Remo Festival, by Italian singer Caterina Caselli. The lyrics are by Miki Del Prête and Luciano Beretta and the music is by Daniele Pace and Mario Panzeri.
Apéro – Pineau	Quand on est amoureux	Enrico Macias	1976	A warm celebration of the way love changes one’s perception of the world: when you’re in love, ordinary life becomes brighter and more meaningful. Macias, born in Constantine, Algeria, became one of France’s best-known Mediterranean-influenced chanson singers after moving to France. His repertoire frequently combines romance with themes of belonging and human connection.
Apéro – Pineau	Ma Femme	Sacha Distel	1982	A playful, affectionate portrait of married life, delivered with Distel’s trademark sophistication and light touch. The song is an adaptation of the song “Oh no no”, with the orchestral direction provided by its original performer, Bernie Paul. Distel, born Alexandre Sacha Distel in Paris, France, was both a hugely successful pop singer and an accomplished jazz guitarist. His ability to move between jazz, chanson and easy-listening pop made him one of France’s most effortlessly suave entertainers.
Apéro – Pineau	Vous Permettez, Monsieur	Salvatore Adamo	1964	A charmingly old-fashioned young man asks a girl’s father for permission to take her dancing. The song captures romance, manners and generational etiquette with a wink. Written by Adamo, it became one of his breakthrough hits. Born in Comiso, Sicily, and raised in Belgium, Adamo became one of the biggest French-language pop stars of the 1960s. Adamo told (on radio Classic 21) he had sung this song when he had been invited to sing at a reception given by the Belgian royal family.
Apéro – Pineau	Foule sentimentale	Alain Souchon	1993	A witty critique of consumerism and the endless pursuit of possessions, contrasting material desire with the much simpler need for affection and happiness. Souchon, born in Casablanca, Morocco, and raised in France, is celebrated for combining social observation, poetry and understated humour. The phrase foule sentimentale captures a crowd of people searching for emotional fulfilment in a commercial world.
Apéro – Pineau	Une belle histoire	Michel Fugain	1972	One of French pop’s great optimistic songs about two strangers meeting, falling in love and sharing a beautiful, perhaps temporary story. Written by Michel Fugain and Pierre Delanoë, with music by Fugain and collaborators, it became a signature song of Le Big Bazar. Fugain, from Grenoble, France, turned communal singing into something almost compulsory. The Spanish version “Una bella historia” was sung by Tony Frontiera, by Rudy Hernandez, by Las Cuatro Monedas and by Mayra Marti while Suzanna sang “Atame a tu piel”.
Apéro – Pineau	L’Aventura	Stone & Charden	1972	A joyful celebration of adventure, romance and escaping everyday routine together. Written by Eric Charden and Guy Bontempelli, it became the signature song of the French duo. Stone (Annie Gautrat) and Charden (Éric Charden) were one of the most recognisable couples of 1970s French pop. The Spanish-flavoured title and sunny arrangement give it instant holiday energy.
Apéro – Pineau	Il était une fois nous deux	Joe Dassin	1976	Literally “Once upon a time, there were the two of us,” the song, an adaptation of the song “Monja Monja” by Albatros, looks back on a romantic relationship as though it were a fairy tale. Dassin, born in New York City, USA, became one of the great French-language pop stars despite his American origins. The song features American singer Joëlle Mogensen, a member of the French pop group Il était une fois,
Apéro – Pineau	Ce n’est rien	Julien Clerc	1971	A deceptively philosophical song about love, disappointment and the temporary nature of life’s troubles. Written by Julien Clerc with lyricist Étienne Roda-Gil, it suggests that what seems enormous today may eventually amount to “nothing.” The song has also been performed by Gérard Lenorman.
Apéro – Pineau	Madame	Claude Barzotti	1982	A dramatic portrait of a woman carrying emotional history and perhaps regret, characteristic of Barzotti’s intensely sentimental storytelling. Barzotti, born in Châtelineau, Belgium, to Italian parents, was strongly influenced by Italian romantic song while becoming a major French-language performer. His music specialises in big feelings, bigger choruses and absolutely no shortage of emotional weather.
Apéro – Pineau	Je l’aime à mourir	Francis Cabrel	1979	One of Cabrel’s most famous declarations of love: the woman described is idealised as a source of meaning, inspiration and emotional transformation. Written by Francis Cabrel, from Agen, France, the song appeared on Les Chemins de traverse. Its acoustic, folk-influenced style reflects Cabrel’s admiration for American country and singer-songwriter traditions. It has subsequently been recorded by numerous artists, including Shakira, making it one of Cabrel’s most internationally recognised compositions.
Apéro – Pineau	Michèle	Gérard Lenorman	1976	A nostalgic love song addressing a woman named Michèle, with the singer remembering a relationship and wishing he could reconnect. Lenorman, born in Bénouville, Normandy, France, was known for melodic, emotionally accessible chanson. The name “Michèle” gives the song an intimate, conversational quality, as if we’re accidentally listening to someone’s very catchy voicemail. The song is written by Michel Cywie and Didier Barbelivien.
Apéro – Pineau	Elle était si jolie	Alain Barrière	1963	A tender remembrance of a beautiful woman and a love that has slipped away. Written and performed by Alain Barrière, the song became one of his signature chansons and was entered for France in the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing fifth. Barrière, born Alain Bellec in La Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, France, was renowned for romantic, dramatic songwriting.
Apéro – Pineau	Paroles, paroles (ft. Alain Delon)	Dalida	1973	A deliciously cynical dialogue between a woman who wants genuine affection and a man who offers nothing but “words, words”. The song is based on the Italian hit “Parole, parole”, originally recorded by Mina and Alberto Lupo in 1972. Dalida, born Yolanda Cristina Gigliotti in Cairo, Egypt, provides the vocals while actor Alain Delon, from Sceaux, France, delivers the spoken male lines. Its central complaint remains timeless: beautiful promises are not quite the same thing as actually doing something.
Apéro – Pineau	Aline	Christophe	1965	A desperate but melodic plea for Aline to return, inspired by the emotional aftermath of a romantic separation. Christophe, born Daniel Bevilacqua in Juvisy-sur-Orge, France, wrote the song himself. He reportedly came up with the famous opening while sitting at a restaurant, using a telephone as inspiration for the line about drawing a heart in the sand. “Aline” became his breakthrough hit and one of the great French pop songs of the 1960s.
Apéro – Pineau	Adieu Jolie Candy	Jean-François Michael	1969	Adieu jolie Candy is a song written by Alain Boublil and Michel Berger, with music composed by Raymond Jeannot. It was performed in 1969 by Jean-François Michaël, pseudonym of Yves Roze, at the time artistic director at Barclay. The lyrics deal with the end of a love story brought about by the return of “pretty Candy” to her native England, inspired by Swedish actress Ewa Aulin, who recently had starred in Candy, a film directed by Christian Marquand, in which she plays the role of a naive young girl.
jump start	Run Through The Jungle	Creedence Clearwater Revival	1970	Written by John Fogerty, from Berkeley, California (USA), the song is often mistaken for a Vietnam War narrative because of its swampy atmosphere and jungle imagery. Fogerty has explained that it was actually inspired by the proliferation of firearms in America and the sense of danger associated with gun culture. John Fogerty played the harmonica part. Creedence Clearwater Revival became one of the defining American rock bands of the late 1960s, blending roots rock, blues, and country influences.
jump start	Runnin’ With The Devil	Van Halen	1978	Written by the members of Van Halen, formed in Pasadena, California (USA), the song is less about evil than about freedom, rebellion, and life on the road. David Lee Roth described it as celebrating independence and living by one’s own rules. Its iconic bass pulse and Eddie Van Halen’s innovative guitar work helped establish the band as one of hard rock’s most influential acts.
jump start	Jump Into The Fire	Nilsson	1971	Written by Harry Nilsson, from Brooklyn, New York City (USA), the song explores temptation, risk, and surrender to intense experience. The track became famous for its extended bass-driven jam featuring Herbie Flowers and was later revived through its memorable use in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Flowers created his most famous bassline for Lou Reed’s 1972 hit single “Walk on the Wild Side” from the album Transformer. Jim Gordon (born James Beck Gordon on July 14, 1945 and died in prison on March 13, 2023) provided the tom-heavy rhythmic pulse on drums.
jump start	Run	Gnarls Barkley	2008	Written by CeeLo Green (Thomas DeCarlo Callaway) and producer Danger Mouse (Brian Joseph Burton), the song addresses emotional escape, personal transformation, and the urge to break free from limitations. Gnarls Barkley, formed between Atlanta, Georgia and New York City (USA), became known for combining soul, psychedelic pop, hip-hop, and experimentation. The song features a sample of “Junior Jet Set” from Keith Mansfield.
jump start	Jump (For My Love)	The Pointer Sisters	1983	“Jump (For My Love)” was written by Steve Mitchell, Marti Sharron and Gary Skardina and popularised by The Pointer Sisters from Oakland, California (USA). June Pointer sang lead while her sisters Anita and Ruth spread out the lead vocals equitably so none were consistently the lead singer. The group successfully evolved from jazz and soul into mainstream pop, and this upbeat hit became one of their biggest international successes.
jump start	The Power Of Love	Huey Lewis and The News	1985	Written by Huey Lewis and bandmates, from San Francisco, California (USA), the song celebrates love as a force stronger than money, fame, or power. Commissioned for the film Back to the Future, it became one of the most recognisable movie songs of the 1980s and helped define the band’s upbeat, blue-collar rock sound. The Tower of Power horn section played on this track.
jump start	The Heat Is On	Glenn Frey	1984	Written by Harold Faltermeyer and Keith Forsey for the film Beverly Hills Cop. Glenn Frey, from Detroit, Michigan (USA), co-founder of the Eagles, delivered a performance that perfectly captured the fast-paced energy and tension of the movie. The song became one of Frey’s most successful solo hits. The prominent saxophone part was played by David Woodford.
jump start	Jump, Jive An’ Wail	Louis Prima	1956	Written and performed by Louis Prima, from New Orleans, Louisiana (USA), the song is a joyous celebration of dancing, partying, and swing culture. Louis Prima recorded the song with another Italian-American saxophonist, Sam Butera, at the casino lounge of the Sahara Las Vegas. Keely Smith, Prima’s wife at that time, was one of the backup singers.
jump start	Jumpin’ Jive	Joe Jackson	1981	“Jumping Jive” (also known as “(Hep-Hep!) The Jumpin’ Jive”) was originally written by Cab Calloway, Frank Froeba, and Jack Palmer, in 1939. Joe Jackson’s version pays tribute to the jump-blues and swing traditions that influenced rock and roll. Jackson, from Burton upon Trent, England (UK), temporarily stepped away from new wave to explore jazz and big-band music, introducing these styles to a new generation.
jump start	Jump City	Willy DeVille	1992	Willy DeVille, born William Borsey Jr. in Stamford, Connecticut (USA), was known for blending rock, blues, Latin, and New Orleans influences. The song reflects his fascination with urban life, restless energy, and street-level storytelling, themes that ran throughout his career. The track was arranged by Dr John who also plays piano.
jump start	Loose Caboose	Joe Tex	1978	Joe Tex (born Joseph Arrington Jnr. in Rogers, Texas (USA)), was one of soul music’s great entertainers, known for humour, spoken-word interludes, and audience engagement. “Loose Caboose”, written by Gloria Thompson and Joe Tex, combines funk, dance rhythms, and playful lyrics. Joe Tex changed his name to Yusuf Hazziez when he converted to Islam in 1972. Back in the sixties Joe Tex and James Brown entered into a bitter feud after Brown had started a relationship with Tex’s ex-wife, Bea Ford.
still here	You Might Need Somebody	Shola Ama	1997	Originally written by Tom Snow and Nan O’Byrne and first recorded by Turley Richards in 1980, the song became a hit through Randy Crawford’s 1981 version before British singer Shola Ama, from Paddington, London (UK), revived it for a new generation. The lyrics remind listeners that independence and vulnerability can coexist, and that everyone eventually needs love and support. Ama became one of the leading voices of late-1990s British R&B.
still here	Love Don’t Live Here Anymore	Rose Royce	1978	Written by Miles Gregory, the song is a heartbreaking reflection on the end of a relationship and the emptiness left behind. Rose Royce, formed in Los Angeles, California (USA), were best known for blending soul, funk, and smooth balladry. Lead singer Gwen Dickey’s emotional performance helped make the song a soul classic that would later be covered by artists including Madonna.
still here	Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me	Elton John	1974	Written by Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, the song explores emotional isolation, regret, and the fear of losing an important relationship. Elton John, from Pinner, Middlesex, England (UK), has described it as one of his most personal recordings. Its later duet version with George Michael became one of the most celebrated collaborations in pop history.
still here	Some of Your Lovin’	Dusty Springfield	1965	Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, the song expresses a longing for affection and emotional reassurance. Dusty Springfield (born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien), from West Hampstead, London (UK), was one of the first British singers to fully embrace American soul influences. She was given the nickname “Dusty” because she played football with boys in the street and described as being a tomboy. Her ability to convey vulnerability made her one of the most respected vocalists of the 1960s.
still here	Always and Forever	Heatwave	1977	Written by keyboard player Rod Temperton, from Cleethorpes, England (UK), the song is a timeless declaration of enduring love and commitment. Heatwave, formed in London but featuring an international lineup, became one of the defining soul-funk groups of the era. Temperton would later write major hits for Michael Jackson, including “Thriller” and “Rock With You.”
still here	Just Like Heaven	Katie Melua	2006	Originally written by Robert Smith for The Cure in 1987, the song was inspired by memories of a romantic seaside trip. Katie Melua, born in Kutaisi, Georgia, and raised in Belfast and London (UK), reinterprets the classic with a gentler, jazz-inflected style. Her version emphasises the song’s tenderness and dreamlike qualities.
still here	You Go To My Head	Mathilde Santing	1982	Originally written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie in 1938, the song became a jazz standard expressing overwhelming romantic infatuation. Mathilde Santing, from Amsterdam, Netherlands, is admired for her sophisticated interpretations of jazz, pop, and chanson. Her understated vocal style brings intimacy and elegance to the classic.
still here	I Know Him So Well (ft. Barbara Dickson)	Elaine Paige	1984	Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Tim Rice for the musical Chess, the song explores two women reflecting on a shared relationship and the gap between dreams and reality. Elaine Paige, from Barnet, London (UK), and former folk singer Barbara Dickson, from Dunfermline, Scotland (UK), were among the leading voices of British musical theatre. It became one of the UK’s best-selling singles by a female duo.
still here	Be Without You (Kendu Mix)	Mary J. Blige	2005	The song was written by Johntá Austin, Bryan-Michael Cox, Jason Perry, and Mary J. Blige, from Yonkers, New York (USA). It celebrates commitment, loyalty, and surviving challenges within a relationship. Inspired in part by her marriage to Kendu Isaacs, it became one of the most successful R&B singles of the 2000s and reinforced Blige’s reputation as the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.”
still here	Don’t Give Up On Me	Joe Cocker	2007	This song was written by Hoy Lindsey, Dan Penn and Carson Whitsett and first released in 2002 by Solomon Burke. It is a heartfelt plea for perseverance and faith in a relationship. Joe Cocker, from Sheffield, England (UK), was renowned for his emotionally charged voice and ability to inhabit a lyric completely. The song became one of the defining late-career recordings of an artist celebrated for authenticity and resilience.
still here	You Are Not Alone	Michael Jackson	1995	Written by R. Kelly (Robert Sylvester Kelly) and recorded by Michael Jackson, from Gary, Indiana (USA), the song offers comfort and reassurance to someone feeling isolated or abandoned. Jackson’s delicate vocal performance helped make it one of his most successful ballads. “You Are Not Alone” was Jackson’s thirteenth and final number-one US single.
becoming	Under the Bridge	Red Hot Chili Peppers	1992	Written by Anthony Kiedis, the song, originally a poem, reflects loneliness, addiction recovery, and the search for belonging in Los Angeles. Kiedis, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and raised largely in Los Angeles, drew from personal experiences of feeling disconnected from his bandmates during his sobriety. The bridge mentioned in the song is a place where he sometimes went to buy drugs and get high. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, formed in Los Angeles, California (USA), transformed the intimate ballad into one of the defining alternative-rock songs of the 1990s. Guitarist John Frusciante’s intro drew heavily on the 1971 David Bowie song “Andy Warhol”. Guitarist John Frusciante’s mother sang backup on this song along with two of her friends from church. They’re credited on the album as “Gail Frusciante and her friends.”
becoming	Solitude Standing	Suzanne Vega	1987	Suzanne Vega, from Santa Monica, California, and raised in New York City (USA), wrote this poetic meditation on identity and self-reflection. “Solitude Standing” was inspired by Vega’s experiences while living in New York City. During this time, she felt a deep sense of loneliness, as she struggled to find her place in the world. Vega became known as one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the folk revival movement of the 1980s.
becoming	I Want It All	Queen	1989	Written by guitarist Brian May, inspired in part by a remark from his wife Anita Dobson who reportedly said, “I want it all, and I want it now”. Queen, formed in London, England (UK), turned the phrase into an anthem of ambition, determination, and self-belief. Released during a period when Freddie Mercury’s health was becoming a concern, the song later gained additional emotional significance among fans.
becoming	The Man Who Sold The World (Live)	David Bowie	2007	Written in 1970 by David Bowie, during his self-described “15 minutes of Buddhism”, the song explores identity, alienation, and confronting different versions of oneself. Influenced by themes of psychological duality and existential uncertainty, it became one of Bowie’s most enduring compositions. The British singer Lulu recorded “The Man Who Sold The World” in 1974. Bowie produced her version and played saxophone on the track. Nirvana recorded the song for their 1993 MTV Unplugged performance.
becoming	I Got a Name	Jim Croce	1973	Although written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel, the song became closely associated with Jim Croce, from South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA). The lyrics celebrate individuality, purpose, and optimism. Released shortly before Croce’s tragic death in a plane crash at age 30, it has since become an enduring anthem of perseverance and self-determination. “I Got A Name” was the theme song for the 1973 movie The Last American Hero, starring Jeff Bridges, based on the true story of the stock car racer Junior Johnson.
becoming	The Night Before	The Beatles	1965	Primarily written by Paul McCartney, from Liverpool, England (UK), the song explores the disappointment and confusion following a relationship’s sudden change. Recorded for the film Help!, it showcases the band’s transition from straightforward pop toward more mature emotional storytelling.
becoming	The Show Must Go On	Leo Sayer	1973	Co-written by Leo Sayer and David Courtney, the song uses circus imagery to explore resilience, performance, and emotional endurance. Sayer, born in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex (UK), built a career on expressive songwriting and theatrical performances. Despite its title, it is unrelated to Queen’s later song of the same name. American pop band Three Dog Night had a big hit with it when they released their version in 1974.
becoming	Super Trouper	ABBA	1980	Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the song reflects the loneliness of touring and the joy of reconnecting with loved ones. ABBA, formed in Stockholm, Sweden, became one of the most successful pop groups in history. The title refers to a type of stage spotlight, making the song both a love song and a reflection on life in the public eye.
becoming	Sowing The Seeds Of Love	Tears For Fears	1989	Written by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith of Bath, Somerset (UK), the song promotes love, social responsibility, and positive change. Inspired by political events of the late 1980s and influenced musically by The Beatles, it took over two years to complete and became one of the most ambitious productions of the band’s career. The title was inspired by the English folk song “The Seeds Of Love,” which Orzabal heard about on a radio program about folk tunes.
becoming	The Last Good Day of the Year	Cousteau	2000	Cousteau, formed in London (UK), became known for cinematic arrangements and the rich baritone vocals of Liam McKahey. The song, written by Davey Ray Moor, reflects nostalgia, fleeting happiness, and the awareness that special moments often pass before we fully appreciate them. Davey Ray Moor played the trumpet on this song. It remains one of the band’s most beloved recordings.
becoming	Send In The Clowns	Barbra Streisand	1985	Originally written by Stephen Sondheim for the 1973 musical A Little Night Music, for leading lady Glynis Johns. As she had a breathy voice and a limited range, Sondheim wrote the song with short phrases and a small music range of only an octave. The song reflects regret, missed opportunities, and life’s ironic twists. Barbra Streisand, from Brooklyn, New York City (USA), brought her trademark emotional precision to the interpretation. The title references a theatrical phrase used when something goes wrong on stage: “send in the clowns” to distract the audience.