Simply The Best

Some people will do anything to be better than all the rest. But why?

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The song entitled The Best (also known as Simply the Best) was first recorded by Bonnie Tyler in 1988, and later ‘covered’ by Tina Turner. The latter is by far the better-known version and has come to be a classic pop rock anthem.

If I ever hear it again, I will probably shoot myself.

It’s unbearable; reeking as it does of middle management awards ceremonies, corporate backslapping and, ironically, mediocrity. If one has to shout from the rooftops or provide musical accompaniment to felicitate others or feel good about themselves, I would suggest that the level of achievement is as low as a snake’s stomach.

We’re all striving to be the best, and new-age philosophy is always telling us that we need to be the ‘best people’ we can – or the very buzzy but equally irritating ‘best version’ of ourselves. The Personal Growth section in all bad bookstores is littered with sage advice on fulfilling potential and meeting ambitions, generally written by people who managed to achieve parochial fame for a media eye blink and maybe even a small fortune. We’re very drawn to people who make money; however they manage to do it.

Trying to be the best person you can be is somewhat intuitive and should be obvious, and accounts for the fact that books with titles such as How to be a Complete Dickhead: A step by step guide on the path to hatefulness (Very Random Books – 2018) haven’t been hugely successful. Although the chapter on ‘road rage’ was a page-turner. I digress.