CAFFE` LATTE` 
TOP 1200 CHOICE TRACKS

(MID-WEEK BONUS) #753-749
#753 WHEN I GET YOU ALONE Thicke
Robin Thicke was born in L.A. in 1977 to TV celebrity couple Gloria Loring (from "the soap Days of Our Lives") and Alan Thicke (from the sitcom "Growing Pains"). Aged only 14, Robin impressed R&B singer Brian McKnight with a demo. The boy's first taste of success was as a songwriter, creating songs for the likes of Christina Aguilera, Brandy, Color Me Badd and Mya. In 2002, Thicke released the single "When I Get You Alone". The hit sampled the instrumental "A Fifth of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy & the Big Apple. That 1976 disco hit was also featured on the 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack. Based loosely on Beethoven's Symphony #5, the original instrumental recording was reworked by Murphy. Thicke added lyrics to the track. In the US, the singer's revamp peaked at #8. It also reached the Top 10 in the Netherlands and New Zealand. The track was included on his 'A Beautiful World'. The woman featured on its cover later became his wife.
Thicke enjoyed greater popularity with his 2013 single "Blurred Lines". This song, which features guest vocals from Pharrell Williams, proved irresistible and reached #1 in countries that include Britain, America, Australia, New Zealand, France and Canada. 

#752 LET LOVE RULE Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz was born in New York in 1964. Musically, he had been exposed to an array of styles and legendary performers that included Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald throughout his childhood. His biggest influence was Prince and Kravitz adopted the Purple One's skill in fusing many genres to forge new sounds. In 1987, the young singer married Lisa Bonet who was in the cast of hit TV series "The Cosby Show".  
1989 saw Kravitz release his debut LP, 'Let Love Rule'. The title track was penned and produced by the musician. Some other tracks on the album were co-written by Bonet. Sadly, their marriage came to an end in 1993. As his musical career has continued, Kravitz has branched out into acting, with roles in films such as 'Precious', 'The Hunger Games' and 'The Butler'.

#751 THE END OF THE WORLD Agnetha Faltskog
If few singers do heartache and love within the same song the way Agnetha Faltskog can, the idea for her to cover "The End of the World" was an obvious and appropriate choice. Faltskog recorded her remake for the 2004 album 'My Colouring Book'. The song consists of music composed by Arthur Kent with Sylvia Dee's lyrics. Skeeter Davis recorded the original hit version of the ballad in 1963.

#750 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate enjoyed a lengthy string of hits, beginning with "Love is Life" in 1970. Though they were often pigeonholed as merely a disco group, their music incorporated rock, funk, gospel and pop in general. "So You Win Again" has traces of disco and funk, but it is a slower song. Lead singer Errol Brown wrote most of their hits, but Hot Chocolate finally reached #1 in the UK in 1977 with this Russell Ballard composition.   

#749 GRACE KELLY Mika
Michael Penniman was born in 1983 in Beirut, Lebanon. By the age of 9, the boy had lived in Paris, France before relocating again in London, UK. His troubled childhood led the youth to find solace in music. Drawing inspiration from Freddie Mercury, Elton John and The Scissor Sisters, Mika the singer/ songwriter emerged. 
In 2006, he issued his debut single "Relax, Take it Easy". This song made the charts in his adopted home and reached #1 in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. The follow-up single, written by Mika with Jodi Marr, John Merchant and Dan Warner, was "Grace Kelly". The singer plays keyboards on the song. He co-produced the track with Greg Wells who can be heard on drums and guitar. The song topped the charts in Britain, Belgium, Ireland, Italy and Norway. It also made Top 3 in Australia, Switzerland and Austria in 2007.
The song title of course refers to the Oscar winning actress Grace Kelly who left behind her Hollywood film career to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The chorus mentions a "Freddie" and this is a reference to Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury, a major influence on Mika's vocals. The track can be found on his debut album 'Life in Cartoon Motion'.
 

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