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‘The song has been good to me,’ says the singer of the track that gave rise to ‘Rickrolling’
The singer’s 1969 track, at odds with his optimistic output, led to some remarkable cover versions
One of the earliest punk tracks, the 1976 song has become a favourite in sporting arenas
The duo were experimenting with electronica when they came up with the 1983 track’s distinctive rhythm and synth riff
The singer effectively disowned his 1964 account of a turbulent night in New York
The singer set down his memories of the city in a track that has since been adapted for new audiences
The track that helped foster the ‘deal with the devil’ story was transformed by Cream in 1968
The singer’s 1994 ballad — one of the highlights of his songbook — has sparked some fascinating cover versions
The punk group’s bassist Paul Simonon wrote this sneer of defiance after seeing the classic Jamaican gangster movie
Aqua’s 1997 bubblegum track sparked widespread loathing and a court case
Pete Seeger used an old Cossack lullaby to craft a powerful lament for dead soldiers and those they leave behind
Members of the Russian collective continue to protest against Vladimir Putin’s regime
Derided by critics on its release, the track slowly achieved chart status and recognition
The song was popularised by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, but two hellraising actors were instrumental in its revival
A dancefloor hit in 2000, the song has its roots in the work of a 19th-century composer
The group’s hugely influential 1977 song gained traction when it was picked up by DJs and clubbers in the US
The Drifters were the first to record a song written from the heart by Doc Pomus
From its origins in an Italian song contest, the track went on to be covered hundreds of times
The activist and folk singer’s protest against consumerism and suburban malaise became a hit, but she remained obscure
The opener from Abbey Road went on to penetrate the heartlands of American rock
The 1978 song was a departure for the band, and spawned some intriguing covers
Frank Loesser was irked by singers who didn’t ‘get’ his 1947 song
This mothers’ lament originated in a medieval mystery play
Frank Loesser’s song seems uncomfortable in the age of #MeToo, though its defenders point to its origins and context
Mystery surrounds the identity of the woman at the heart of lyricist Eric Maschwitz’s wistful list
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