Fourth Estate
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
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London SE1 9GF
First published by Fourth Estate in 2015
Copyright © Erik Didriksen 2015
Cover Layout Design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2015
Cover illustration by Martin Hargreaves
Illustrations here, here and here courtesy of the Wellcome Library, London
Erik Didriksen asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9780008137199
Ebook Edition © October 2015 ISBN: 9780008145439
Version: 2015-09-16
To Becca,
the left side of my brain
and the entirety of my heart
CONTENTS
Copyright
Dedication
Introduction
I. SONNETS OF LOVE
Rick Astley, ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’
Carly Rae Jepsen, ‘Call Me Maybe’
Backstreet Boys, ‘I Want It That Way’
One Direction, ‘What Makes You Beautiful’
Celine Dion, ‘My Heart Will Go On’
The Wonders, ‘That Thing You Do!’
Bruno Mars, ‘Just the Way You Are’
Christina Aguilera, ‘Genie in a Bottle’
The Cure, ‘Friday I’m in Love’
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, ‘You’re the One That I Want’
The Monkees, ‘I’m a Believer’
Neil Diamond, ‘Sweet Caroline’
Sam Cooke, ‘Wonderful World’
Weezer, ‘Buddy Holly’
Guns N’ Roses, ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’
Nicki Minaj, ‘Super Bass’
The Police, ‘Roxanne’
Rihanna feat. Jay-Z, ‘Umbrella’
Van Morrison, ‘Brown-Eyed Girl’
Spin Doctors, ‘Two Princes’
The Proclaimers, ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’
II. SONNETS OF DESPAIR
Britney Spears, ‘Oops! I Did It Again’
Rick Springfield, ‘Jessie’s Girl’
Taylor Swift, ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’
CeeLo Green, ‘F**k You!’
Avril Lavigne, ‘Complicated’
TLC, ‘No Scrubs’
Eiffel 65, ‘Blue (Da Ba Dee)’
Magic!, ‘Rude’
Soft Cell, ‘Tainted Love’
Aretha Franklin, ‘Respect’
Green Day, ‘Basket Case’
The Clash, ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go?’
Red Hot Chili Peppers, ‘Under the Bridge’
Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea, ‘Problem’
Gloria Gaynor, ‘I Will Survive’
The Cardigans, ‘Lovefool’
Tom Jones, ‘It’s Not Unusual’
Deep Blue Something, ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’
Beyoncé, ‘Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)’
Lynyrd Skynyrd, ‘Free Bird’
Destiny’s Child, ‘Say My Name’
III. SONGS OF TIME AND MORTALITY
Talking Heads, ‘Once in a Lifetime’
Journey, ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’
Bon Jovi, ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’
Alanis Morissette, ‘Ironic’
Boston, ‘More Than a Feeling’
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, ‘The Impression That I Get’
Outkast, ‘Hey Ya!’
Lorde, ‘Royals’
Idina Menzel, ‘Let It Go’
The Beatles, ‘All You Need Is Love’