Welcome to the second instalment of our “Greatest Songs of All Time” series. This week, we’re looking at another fantastic set of songs from different eras, all with interesting backstories (and some surprising, too).
“Hung Up” by Madonna
This 2005 hit from Madonna was the lead single from her 10th studio album, “Confessions on a Dance Floor”, and is an iconic song from the mid-2000s. The song samples Swedish pop group ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)”, and combined with the song’s 1980s pop-inspired sound, “Hung Up” was a track that blew up charts around the world. However, ABBA rarely allowed their music to be used in others’ tracks – leading to Madonna sending an emissary to Stockholm with a letter begging the group to let her use the track. The rest is history.
“True” by Spandau Ballet
“True” is the 80s track that dominated the radio and found its way into every modern romance movie ever. From English new-wave group Spandau Ballet, “True” and its smooth melody and lyrics, were composed by lead songwriter Garry Kemp while living in his parents’ house, and the song was actually about writing a love song, rather than one individual. Weird, but wonderful.
“Domino Dancing” by the Pet Shop Boys
A synth-pop classic from British duo Pet Shop Boys, “Domino Dancing” released in 1988 became a firm favourite in Europe and the UK. The song infuses the sounds of Latin pop, which was inspired by Pet Shop Boys member Neil Tennant and his trip to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, where Tennant recalls how there was not much to do in the evening but play dominoes. The music video also made a statement of its own, turning the sexual gaze from male to female, making the men the main sexual object of the video – fairly groundbreaking at the time.
“Sinnerman” by Nina Simone
“Sinnerman”, jazz and soul icon Nina Simone’s longest track, was released in 1965 on her album “Pastel Blues”. The song was originally an African-American traditional spiritual track, however Simone ended up recording her own version after hearing the lyrics of the song in her childhood at revival meetings held by her Methodist minister mother. The track is now deemed to be one of the most famous and influential pieces of jazz ever known.
“What’s Love Got To Do With It” by Tina Turner
This track was American singer Tina Turner’s most successful song ever, and it was never actually intended for her in the first place. “What’s Love Got To Do With It” was originally for Cliff Richard, who was offered the song by its producer and one of the songwriters Terry Britten. Cliff Richard turned down the song, leading it to be given to American actress and singer Phyllis Hyman who wanted the song, but her label head at Artista Records Clive Davis did not allow Hyman to go through with recording it. The song was once again passed over to Donna Summer, who contemplated recording the track for a few years but decided not to. Right before the song was offered to Turner, British group Bucks Fizz were offered the track, but declined to record it as they believed the vocals were unsuitable for “a female lead”. I wonder how they felt after they saw the success the track gained…
“Common People” by Pulp
“Common People” by English rock band, Pulp, was voted by Rolling Stone magazine readers to be “the greatest Britpop song” ever, and for good reasons. The mid-90s song criticises the upper classes who pretend to be working class and stems from band member Jarvis Cocker’s fascination behind the word “common”, as well as his experiences with a young woman he met at college from a well-to-do background, who wanted to live and experience life as a working-class member of society purely for the experience. “Common People” ended up defining the thoughts of a large and important part of society who were being ignored and taken advantage of. To this day, “Common People” is still deemed to be a British classic, and rightfully so.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
American rock band Nirvana’s most well-known and well-loved hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” defined the sound of American rock and punk in the early 90s. Frontman Kurt Cobain admitted in an interview with Rolling Stone that he had tried to create the ultimate pop song, essentially “trying to rip off the Pixies” and their iconic sound. However, the title came from a note written by feminist pop punk band Bikini Kill’s lead singer Kathleen Hanna. Hanna wrote “Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit”, meaning that Cobain smelt like a deodorant that Cobain’s then-girlfriend used to wear. Apparently 90s deodorant can be a wonderful source of inspiration for punk music.
“WAP” by Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion
Perhaps not one you were expecting, but “WAP” by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion deserves a place on this list purely for its ground-breaking YouTube records and its powerful message of female sexuality. For years, men having been singing about their sexual powers, body count and how wonderful they are in bed – seems appropriate that, in 2020, some of pop’s biggest female artists turn the tables and express their sexual power, too.
For a more in-depth and detailed look into the stories of these songs and more, head to storyofsong.com
Image credit: Paul Hudson