Abagond

Remarks:

Wow, they hardly ever make songs like this anymore. It is, by far, my favourite Olivia Dean song – so far. It is not her best known song, but after nine months it has already reached the top-40 on pop charts across the Anglosphere. It is based on a sample from a 1971 song, “We Had True Love” by Hot Chocolate (the US band, not the UK band of the same name famous for “You Sexy Things” (1975)).

See also:

• songs: the 2020s

Lyrics:

[Verse 1]
Turn around
Since when are you smoking now?
It’s been a while
Let me know, mm
Like did you end up moving house?
You’re the only one who knows that name
You’re the only one that does that face
I just wanna know if you’re okay
Only have a couple minutes, it already kinda feels like

[Chorus]
Back on your sofa
Of course I still care
Love’s never wasted when it’s shared, mm
And although it’s over
I’ll always be there
Only have a couple minutes, guess we’re going back to real life

[Verse 2]
I guess we found a silver lining
I’m glad you’re doing so well
If only you could see how I’ve been
If I’m being real, no, it ain’t been the same
We could talk (Mm) if we want now (Mm)
Already know it’s no good for me
It’s alright, think I’m fine with the silence
There’s some good in goodbyes

[Chorus]
Oh, I’m back on your sofa
Of course I still care
Love’s never wasted when it’s shared, mm
And although it’s over
I’ll always be there
Only have a couple minutes and we’re going back to real life

[Post-Chorus]
In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go
And let it start to be
In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go
And let it start to be
In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go
And let it start to be (Ooh)
In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go
And let it start to be

[Outro]
Oh-oh, hey
Only have a couple minutes, guess we’re going back to real life
Oh-oh, hey
Have a couple minutes and we’re going back to real life

Source: Genius Lyrics. 

Remarks:

This came out in the summer of 1970, reaching the top 3 on pop charts throughout the Anglosphere.

It is one of those sad songs that sound happy. Because Cracklin’ Rosie is not a real woman. She is “a store-bought woman”, “a poor man’s lady” – a bottle of wine. Cracklin’ Rosé was a brand of cheap rosé wine popular in northern Canada among lonely men on Indian reservations where there were not enough women. The wine became their woman.

This was not his first song about wine. “Red, Red Wine” (1983) of UB40 fame was written by him in 1967. Nor was “Cracklin’ Rosie” his first number-one hit in the US: he also wrote “I’m a Believer” (1966), taken to number-one by the Monkees, a made-for-TV rock band.

The Wrecking Crew, the band of LA session musicians that plays on the song, has appeared in this space at least twice before: on “Be My Baby” (1963) by the Ronettes and on “I Got You Babe” (1965) by Sonny and Cher. They were the real band behind the Monkees on “I’m a Believer”.

See also:

• songs: the 1970s
• Neil Diamond:
  • Neil Diamond: America
  • Neil Diamond: If You Know What I Mean
• Americans
  • A Hidden America: Children of the Plains
• When Jimi Hendrix opened for The Monkees

Lyrics:

Aw, Cracklin’ Rosie, get on board
We’re gonna ride
Till there ain’t no more to go
Taking it slow
And Lord, don’t you know
We’ll have me a time with a poor man’s lady

Hitchin’ on a twilight train
Ain’t nothing here that I care to take along
Maybe a song
To sing when I want
No need to say please to no man
For a happy tune

Oh, I love my Rosie child
You got the way to make me happy
You and me we go in style
Cracklin’ Rose
You’re a store-bought woman
But you make me sing like a guitar hummin’
So hang on to me, girl
Our song keeps runnin’ on
Play it now, play it now
Play it now, my baby

Cracklin’ Rosie, make me a smile
Girl, if it lasts for an hour, that’s all right
We got all night to set the world right
Find us a dream that don’t ask no questions
Yeah
Oh, I love my Rosie child
You got the way to make me happy
You and me we go in style
Cracklin’ Rose
You’re a store-bought woman
But you make me sing like a guitar hummin’
So hang on to me, girl
Our song keeps runnin’ on
Play it now, play it now
Play it now, my baby

Cracklin’ Rosie, make me a smile
Girl, if it lasts for an hour, that’s all right
We got all night
To set the world right
Find us a dream that don’t ask no questions
Ba ba ba ba ba ……

Source: Genius Lyrics. 

Remarks: 

This came out in 1983 and it is still a great song. And it is not just me: right now, on May 24th 2026, it is the number one song in the whole world according to Billboard’s Global 200. The video above has been seen over 2 billion times!  Baby Shark watch out!

See also:

• songs: the 1980s
• Michael Jackson
  • Michael Jackson: Billie Jean – the first time I posted it
• Quincy Jones – the music producer, who wanted to cut the instrumental intro!
• MTV – which was too racist to play the song that would make their name!
• other songs that charted in non-consecutive years:
  • Michael Jackson: Thriller
  • The Killers: Mr Brighside
  • OMC: How Bizarre
  • The La’s: There She Goes
  • Mariah Carey: All I Want For Christmas is You
  • Chubby Checker: The Twist
  • Irene Cara: Fame
  • Prince: Purple Rain
  • Nina Simone: My Baby Just Cares for Me
  • Modern English: I Melt With You

Lyrics:

[1st verse]
She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene
I said don’t mind, but what do you mean I am the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round
She said I am the one who will dance on the floor in the round

[2nd verse]
She told me her name was Billie Jean, as she caused a scene
Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round

[Bridge]
People always told me be careful of what you do
And don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts
And mother always told me be careful of who you love
And be careful of what you do ’cause the lie becomes the truth

[Chorus]
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son

[3rd verse]
For forty days and forty nights
The law was on her side
But who can stand when she’s in demand
Her schemes and plans
’cause we danced on the floor in the round
So take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice
(do think twice.)

[4th verse]
She told my baby we’d danced ’til three
Then she looked at me
She showed a photo of a baby crying
His eyes looked like mine
Go on dance on the floor in the round, baby

[Bridge]
People always told me be careful of what you do
And don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts
She came and stood right by me
Then the smell of sweet perfume
This happened much too soon
She called me to her room

[Chorus]
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son

She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son

Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, she says he is my son
She says I am the one
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover

Sources: A-Z Lyrics.

Remarks:

This may be the first time I have posted a country music song, but it is not the first time in this space that someone got their heart broke at a Texas honky-tonk. This song came out in 2025, conquering the country charts and then, in 2026, the pop chart, where it has been number one in the US off and on since February. In fact, it has gone to #1 throughout the Anglosphere except for the UK, where (so far) it has only reached #13.

See also:

• songs: the 2020s
• Boz Scaggs: Look What You’ve Done to Me
• ethnic

Lyrics: 

[Verse 1]
Just when I thought I got him to fall in love with Tennessee
I shoulda known better than to take him back to Abilene
I put him right back into her arms
I wasn’t a match for that kind of spark

[Chorus]
She’s from Texas, I can tell by the way
He’s two-steppin’ ’round the room
And judgin’ by the smile that’s written on his face
There’s nothin’ I can do
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinkin’ Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, I can tell

[Verse 2]
Well, I guess he forgot about the Smoky Mountain rain
Them old Hank tunes, the Memphis blues we used to sing
He always loved “Amarillo by Morning”
I should’ve taken that as a warnin’

[Chorus]
She’s from Texas, I can tell by the way
He’s two-steppin’ ’round the room
And judgin’ by the smile that’s written on his face
There’s nothin’ I can do
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinkin’ Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, I can tell

[Bridge]
When I’m eastbound and down, and I can’t help but cry
‘Cause I-40 gets lonelier with every mile
I’ll know that his mind wasn’t ever gonna change
‘Cause his heart still belongs to the Lone Star State

[Chorus]
She’s from Texas, I can tell by the way
He’s two-steppin’ ’round the room
And judgin’ by the smile that’s written on his face
There’s nothin’ I can do, naw, yeah
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinkin’ Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, I can tell, no
Drinkin’ Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, I can tell

[Outro]
Come on, baby
Oh yeah
Just when I thought I got him to fall in love with Tennessee

Source: Genius Lyrics. 

Remarks:

This came out in France in 1966. It is my new favourite Françoise Hardy song! It is Mina’s “Se Telfonando” (1966) but with considerably different lyrics: a break-up song became a I-will-follow-your-anywhere song! Does anyone still write songs like that anymore?

Miss Hardy did sing it in English – she was fluent in English – but I find that version unlistenable.

See also:

• songs: the 1960s
• songs in French
• also Françoise Hardy:
  • Françoise Hardy: L’amitié – my previous favourite
  • Françoise Hardy: Tous les garçons et les filles
• also Mina:
  • Mina: Il cielo in una stanza
  • Mina: Estate

Lyrics:

La vie n’est pas un seul garçon
Un seul visage à aimer
La vie n’est pas une seule passion
Pour toujours, allumée

Il faut de tout pour faire un coeur
Et bien peu, pour le défaire
Mais pourtant devant toi, j’ai peur
J’oublie les leçons d’hier

Je changerais d’avis
Ce qu’il faut penser
Au fond je sais, que le l’oublierais

Je changerais de vie
Si tu le voulais
Au fond je sais, que je te suivrais

Je changerais d’amis
Si tu y tenais
Tout mon passé, je le quitterais

Si tu m’aimais aussi
Je sais que je pourrais tout laisser
Et tout recommencer

Je changerais d’avis
Et je me dirais que jusqu’à toi
Je m’étais trompée

Je changerais de vie
Sans me demander où je m’en vais
Si tu m’emmenais

S’il n’y avait qu’une chance
Une sur des milliers pour te garder
Moi je la prendrais

Et tant pis si c’est fou
J’aurais envie de tout avec toi
Si tu pouvais m’aimer

Source: Genius Lyrics.

Remarks:

This is a song from Puccini’s opera “Gianni Schicchi” (1918). It is easily my new favourite Italian song. By far. Replacing “Con te partirò” (1995) by Andrea Bocelli. This song made even a non-opera buff like me want to cry. And that was before I understood what it was about. !!! Then it became even sadder and even more powerful.

See also:

• songs
• songs in Italian
• my favourite song from each country

Lyrics: 

O mio babbino caro
Mi piace, è bello, bello
Vo’ andare in Porta Rossa
A comperar l’anello!

Sì, sì, ci voglio andare!
E se l’amassi indarno
Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio
Ma per buttarmi in Arno!
Mi struggo e mi tormento!

O Dio, vorrei morir!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!

Source: letras.mus.br.

Remarks:

This is easily my favourite song from Iran. It mocks Donald Trump, the US president, after making war on Iran and criticizing the pope while seeming to compare himself to Jesus in an AI-generated picture:

Trump says he is just a doctor in that picture – but quickly took it down.

Compare it to an actual picture of Jesus:

In Scripture, Jesus heals with a touch. Doctors do not.

See also:

• songs: the 2020s
• my favourite song from each country
• The Iran war

Lyrics:

Fake Jesus. Fake Jesus.
You put on the robe and the glowing light.
Pretending to heal while you start the fight.
I ran on his Jesus.
The pure and the truth.
You mock the faith.
What a shame from you.

You attack the pope calling him weak and confusing.
And drop that AI pic like you’re the one who’s been chosen.
White robe shining hands healing the man.
While your bombs fall on our children in Iran.
The pope stands tall.
Says he’s not afraid of you.
You keep playing saviour like the whole world is fooled.
You think you’re holy?
Nah, you’re just a clown pretending to be Christ while you tear the world down.

Fake Jesus. Fake Jesus.
If you put on the robe in the glowing light,
pretending to heal while you start the fight.
I ran on his Jesus, the pure and the true.
You mock the faith.
What a shame from you.

In Iran we respect Jesus, the Messiah, the light, a prophet of mercy.
A message so bright.
You twisted for clout, turn it into a meme while you push for more war and more suffering.
And you act like the Chosen, but the signs are all wrong.
Playing Antichrist games while the real one stay strong.
You delete the post quick when the backlash gets loud.
But we see the truth.
You’re just another fraud.

Sacred defence.
We honour the real one.
We faking it for clout.
Yeah.

Remarks:

An Irving Berlin song about Hitler from 1941 that has been covered many times – and is still be covered. This recording by Glenn Miller is from February 19th 1941 – ten months before the US entered the war.

See also:

• songs
• Hitler
  • Was Hitler evil?
• The La’s: There She Goes
• Doris Day: Sentimental Journey
• Vera Lynn: We’ll Meet Again

Lyrics:

Satan, Satan, caught up a plan
Dressed as a man
Walkin the Earth, and since he began
The world is hell for you and me
But what a heaven it will be
When that man is dead and gone
When that man is dead and gone
We’ll go dancin down the street
Kissin everyone we meet
When that man is dead and gone…
What a day to wake upon
What a way to greet the dawn
Some fine day the news will flash
“Satan with a small mustache
Is asleep beneath the lawn”
When that man is dead and gone…
What a lucky day to wake upon
What a happy way to greet the dawn
Some fine day the news will flash
“Satan with a small mustache
Is asleep beneath the lawn”
When that man is dead and gone
When that certain man is dead and gone, gone, gone
When that man is
Dead —
And —
Gone!!!

Source: Genius Lyrics. 

Remarks:

This combines the music of “Can You Feel It” (1981) by the Jacksons and the words of “Wanna Drop a House” (1996) of Urban Discharge, creating something better than either! It came out of Italy in 1998 and was a hit across Europe (#2), the UK (#1), and the Antipodes (a gold record in both Australia and New Zealand), but in Maya’s native US it did not even break the top #100 (though it did go to #4 in dance clubs).

I definitely remember this song because I misheard the main line as:

“What she’s gonna look like with a chimney on her?”

But now, thanks to the Internet, I can finally know what the words really were:

“What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?”

Huh? I had heard the words just fine! It was the words themselves that were mysterious. It was popular in the UK at the very same time as the equally mysterious “Brimful of Asha”. Maybe being mysterious was the point.

According to Genius Lyrics:

“Turns out that ‘chimney’ is a Northern Irish slang term for a black eye.”

If you lived in parts of the UK, the song made perfect sense. But that was an accident. The band is Italian, not Irish, and the singer herself, Maya Days, is from the US.

The line it replaces in “Gonna Drop a House” is:

“Wanna drop the house on that bitch”.

The reference is to Dorothy Gale in “The Wizard of Oz” dropping a house on a witch.

According to Maya Days herself, “with a chimney on her” was an ad-libbed extension of that, added by one of the Tamperers. They liked it so much it wound up taking over the whole song. The fact that “chimney” also meant a black eye (as they found out later) and fits the lyrics perfectly was a brilliant stroke of luck.

See also:

• songs: the 1990s
• Cornershop: Brimful of Asha
• Black Box: Ride On Time – yet more mysterious English lyrics from an Italian band
• Mya: My Love Is Like … Wo – the other Mya!
• Dorothy Gale – who dropped a house on a witch
• the video reminds me of:
  • The Killers: Mr Brighside
• Michael Jackson – who co-wrote “Can You Feel it”

Lyrics:

[Verse 1: Maya]
You got it on the side
A little one-night thing
I thought it over and this time I will forgive you
Well I’m not letting go
But don’t forget I know
You made your bed and she was in it, no no no

[Chorus]
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?

[Verse 2]
Well I’m not blaming you
But she’s still hanging around
And she’s so crazy, tell ya now I just don’t trust her
She thinks she’s right on time
But I think she crossed the line
And I’m ready for the ride, I’m ready if it’s fighting time

[Chorus]
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?
What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?

Source: Genius Lyrics. 

Remarks:

This is an Easter song from Brazil in 2004. Cristina Mel is from Rio de Janeiro. She sings Christian Contemporary Music in Portuguese, Spanish and English. In the 2000s she was nominated for a Grammy Latino four times. The bee seems to be a play on her last name Mel, which means honey.

“Páscoa” means Easter, which the song spells out, giving a meaning for each letter. For example:

C de Cristo, o caminho para o céu

“C is for Christ, the way to heaven.”

See also:

• songs: the 2000s
• songs in Portuguese
• Handel: Messiah

Lyrics:

Páscoa! Páscoa! Páscoa!

Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a

P de passagem
A de amor
S de Senhor e Salvador
C de Cristo, o caminho para o céu
O de Orientador
A de alegria, amizade e amor

Quando Jesus Cristo, Sua vida entregou
A minha Páscoa bem mais doce se tornou
Morreu na cruz, foi assim que me salvou
Mas no terceiro dia ressuscitou!

Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a

P de passagem
A de amor
S de Senhor e Salvador
C de Cristo, o caminho para o céu
O de Orientador
A de alegria, amizade e amor

Quando Jesus Cristo, Sua vida entregou
A minha Páscoa bem mais doce se tornou
Morreu na cruz, foi assim que me salvou
Mas no terceiro dia ressuscitou!

Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a
Páscoa, Páscoa, p-a-s-c-o-a

Páscoa!

Source: letras.mus.br. 

Remarks: 

This is from 2013, her only #1 song in her native Brazil. It was the most played song on Brazilian radio ever up till then. So sweet! So innocent! And so different from her later stuff. Despite her best rump-shaking efforts, she has not been able to break the top 10 in Brazil since 2017, at least not without the help of The Weeknd. Even “Envolver” (2021), probably her best-known song internationally, only made it to #40 in Brazil.

She has appeared here before with Snoop Dogg and Ludmilla in “Onda Diferente” (2019). What an earworm! But that one only made it to #64 in Brazil.

See also:

• songs: the 2010s
• songs in Portuguese
• Anitta, Ludmilla & Snoop Dogg: Onda Diferente

Lyrics: 

Uh, uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh

Olha, cê me faz tão bem
Só de olhar teus olhos, baby, eu fico zen
Coração acelerado a mais de cem
Juro que eu não quero mais ninguém
Você me faz tão bem

Olha, cê me faz tão bem
Só de olhar teus olhos, baby, eu fico zen
Coração acelerado a mais de cem
Juro que eu não quero mais ninguém
Você me faz tão bem

Olha, baby, eu não tô mais na idade
Se quiser ir embora fique à vontade
Esperava um pouco de maturidade em você
Olha, tenta me levar a sério
Esse nosso lance já não tem mistério
Eu já te falei que tudo o que eu mais quero é você

Então
Tenta não me provocar
Que eu prometo, não vou complicar
Feito nuvem solta pelo ar
É assim que eu vou te levar
Porque

Olha, cê me faz tão bem
Só de olhar teus olhos, baby, eu fico zen
Coração acelerado a mais de cem
Juro que eu não quero mais ninguém
Você me faz tão bem

Olha, baby, eu não tô mais na idade
Se quiser ir embora fique à vontade
Esperava um pouco de maturidade em você

Olha, tenta me levar a sério
Esse nosso lance já não tem mistério
Eu já te falei que tudo o que eu mais quero é você

Então
Tenta não me provocar
Que eu prometo, não vou complicar
Feito nuvem solta pelo ar
É assim que eu vou te levar

Porque
Olha, cê me faz tão bem
Só de olhar teus olhos, baby, eu fico zen
Coração acelerado a mais de cem
Juro que eu não quero mais ninguém
Você me faz tão bem

Olha, cê me faz tão bem
Só de olhar teus olhos, baby, eu fico zen
Coração acelerado a mais de cem
Juro que eu não quero mais ninguém
Você me faz tão bem

Uh, uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh

Source: letras.mus.br.

Remarks:

Just to show you how close Sade is to bossa nova, here is an instrumental bossa nova version from 2009 of her song “Kiss of Life” (1993). Compare and contrast! The style of music is not all that different and even her singing remains within its aesthetic – but it is her very singing that lifts it way beyond Muzak.

Lola Coker and others have also done bossa nova covers of this song.

See also:

• songs: the 2000s
• Sade: Kiss of Life
• bossa nova
• Muzak
• Marisa Monte, Seu Jorge & Flor: Pra Melhorar – also compares Sade to Brazilian music

If I could take only one song from each country with me to a desert isle, these would be the ones. These are not necessarily the best songs, even according to me: some songs were chosen for personal reasons, some won by default because I have only one song posted from that country.

• country = any one of the 193 members of the United Nations as of 2026 and their internationally recognized borders. So Hong Kong counts as part of China, Puerto Rico as part of the US, and so on. Notable non-members: Vatican City, Taiwan, Kosovo, Palestine.
• from = the lead singer or artist was born in said country according to its current borders. So Sade counts as Nigerian, but M.I.A. and Dua Lipa as British, etc.

Countries are listed alphabetically by continent.

Note: As you can see, this is very much a work in progress!!! Only about 20% of the countries have a song! But it is a 20% that includes most of the world’s land surface and most of its people. 

Africa:

• Cameroon: Andy Allo ft. Blu: DreamLand
• Cape Verde: Cesaria Evora: Sodade
• Egypt: Reconstructed Ancient Egyptian song
• Mali: Inna Modja: Tombouctou
• Morocco: French Montana ft Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne: Pop That
• Niger: Les Filles de Illighadad
• Nigeria: Sade: Feel No Pain
• Senegal: Coumba Gawlo: Pata Pata
• South Africa: Malaika: 2 Bob (Muntuza)
• Togo: Tabi Bonney: Beat Rock

America:

• Bahamas: T-Connection: At Midnight
• Barbados: Rihanna ft Jay Z: Umbrella
• Belize: Andy Palacio: Watina
• Brazil: Daniela Mercury: Nobre Vagabundo
• Canada: Deborah Cox: Did You Ever Love Me?
• Colombia: Shakira: Ciega, sordomuda
• Cuba: Gloria Estefan: Wepa (DJ Chuckie Surinam Club Remix)
• Haiti: Wyclef Jean: Gone till November
• Jamaica: Bob Marley: Three Little Birds
• Mexico: Yuri: Soy Libre
• Peru: Susana Baca: Maria Lando
• Trinidad & Tobago: Nicki Minaj: Megatron
• US: Marvin Gaye: If I Should Die Tonight

Asia:

• Burma: Bow Wow Wow: Do You Wanna Hold Me?
• China: Faye Wong: Red Bean (王菲 – 紅豆)
• Georgia: Gesmis: Always Highhh
• India: Mohe Rang Do Laal (मोहे रंग दो लाल, Colour Me Red)
• Japan: Pizzacato Five: It’s a Beautiful Day
• Malaysia: Yuna ft Usher: Crush
• Philippines: Bella Poarch: Build a B*tch
• South Korea: Pinkfong: Baby Shark

Europe:

• Austria: Franz Schubert: Ave Maria
• Belgium: Natacha Atlas: Mon amie la rose
• Denmark: Aqua: Barbie Girl
• France: Debussy: Clair De Lune
• Germany: Schumann: Of Foreign Lands and People (Kinderszenen, Opus 15)
• Greece: Coyot: Love Myself on the Weekend
• Ireland: U2: Where the Streets Have No Name
• Italy: Andrea Bocelli: Con te partirò
• Netherlands: 2 Unlimited: Twilight Zone
• Portugal: Buraka Som Sistema: STOOPID
• Russia: Pussy Riot: Chaika (ЧАЙКИ)
• Spain: Mocedades: Eres Tú
• Sweden: ABBA: Waterloo
• UK: Rolling Stones: She’s a Rainbow

Oceania:

• Australia: The Avalanches: Because I’m Me
• New Zealand: OMC: How Bizarre
• Tonga: The Jets: Crush on You

Remarks: Thanks to the brain drain and to US influence on my musical tastes and tastes worldwide, this list is less global than it would seem at first sight. Most songs do not stray too far from an international pop style defined by the US and UK in the 1960s. In fact, almost half the songs are in English.

The largest countries not on the list, by population: Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, D.R. Congo. Each one has 100 to 300 million people. The US by comparison has 342 million people.

– Abagond, 2026. 

See also:

• Desert Island Songs – the top 10
• The Golden Record
• songs
  • in Latin, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian, Romanian
  • from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s,

528

Remarks:

I woke up the other morning with this ringing in my head, further proof that my brain is an attic full of New York dance music from 1975 to 1993. This one is from 1978. It was never one of the top-40 pop songs in either the US or UK, but in the US it did reach #32 on the R&B chart, #3 on the dance chart, and at least #24 in New York. There are longer versions of this songs – 6 minutes and 9 minutes.

The band is from Nassau in the Bahamas. T is for Theophilus.

See also:

• songs: the 1970s
• Time Warp Radio: 1979 – from April 17th when it was #24 in New York, just above Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff”.
• R&B: a brief history: 1975-1979

Lyrics:

(Midnight, midnight
Midnight, midnight
Midnight, midnight
Midnight, midnight)

(Midnight)

Look into my eyes, tell me what you see
Do you see some possibilities?
Try and get away tonight, you can leave with me
It’s a golden opportunity

And when the sun goes down my fantasies run wild
When midnight rolls around I really come alive

At midnight (midnight), oh, I really come alive
(Midnight, midnight) oh, my fantasies run wild
(Midnight, midnight) I got so much energy
(Midnight, midnight) yeah, deep inside of me, girl

Come a little closer, girl, look into my mind
You would be surprised at what you find
There’s a roaring lion inside of me, waiting for the night
Comes out only when the time is right

And when the sun goes down my fantasies run wild
When midnight goes around I really come alive

At midnight (midnight), oh, I really come alive
(Midnight, midnight) oh, my fantasies run wild
(Midnight, midnight) I got so much energy
(Midnight, midnight) yeah, deep inside of me, girl (midnight), oh!

And when the sun goes down my fantasies run wild
When midnight goes around I really come alive

At midnight (midnight), oh, I really come alive
(Midnight, midnight) oh, my fantasies run wild
(Midnight, midnight) I got so much energy
(Midnight, midnight) I got so much energy

(Midnight, midnight) yeah, deep inside of me, yeah
(Midnight, midnight) yeah, at midnight, midnight
(Midnight, midnight) midnight, oh
(Midnight, midnight) while the world is sleepin’, people needin’

(Midnight, midnight) said I love my fantasies run free
(Midnight, midnight) at midnight, midnight!

(Midnight, midnight) I let my fantasies run free, yeah
(Midnight, midnight) talkin’ ’bout midnight!
(Midnight, midnight) midnight, come on!
(Midnight, midnight) at midnight, come on

(Midnight, midnight) oh, baby!
(Midnight, midnight) oh, baby, yeah!
(Midnight, midnight) at midnight, midnight!
(Midnight, midnight) midnight!

(Midnight, midnight) wow, oooh
(Midnight, midnight)

Source: letras.mus.br.

Remarks:

This came out in 2002. In 2007 it was one of my favourite Brazilian songs. It is a cover of an old Elis Regina and Tom Jobim song from 1974.

See also:

• songs: the 2000s
• songs in Portuguese
  • Brazilian songs I like
• Paula Lima

Lyrics: 

É,
Só eu sei
Quanto amor
Eu guardei
Sem saber
Que era só
Pra você.

É, só tinha de ser com você,
Havia de ser pra você,
Senão era mais uma dor,
Senão não seria o amor,
Aquele que a gente não vê,
O amor que chegou para dar
O que ninguém deu pra você.
O amor que chegou para dar
O que ninguém deu pra você.

É, você que é feito de azul,
Me deixa morar nesse azul,
Me deixa encontrar minha paz,
Você que é bonito demais,
Se ao menos pudesse saber
Que eu sempre fui só de você,
Você sempre foi só de mim.

É, você que é feito de azul,
Me deixa morar nesse azul,
Me deixa encontrar minha paz,
Você que é bonito demais,
Se ao menos pudesse saber
Que eu sempre fui só de você,
Você sempre foi só de mim.
Eu sempre fui só de você,
Você sempre foi só de mim.
Eu sempre fui só de você,
Você sempre foi só de mim.
Eu sempre fui só de você,
Você sempre foi só de mim

Source: letras.mus.br.