10 songs suggested by London On The Ground blog readers.
Three years ago I posted my personal top 10 songs with 'London' in the title. Below is a list of 10 more such songs suggested after that post by readers of my blog and followers of my social media.
These songs, many of which were previously unknown to me, represent a variety of genres and eras. They are presented in no particular order.
At the end of this post is a link to a YouTube playlist with all 10 of the songs.
Please do get in touch, either by email or through my London On The Ground social media accounts (see the footer of this page for links), to let me know your favourite songs with 'London' in the title if they are not mentioned in my original post or in this post.
London Pride by Noel Coward
The idea to compile my original list of songs with 'London' in the title came to me when I attended an exhibition of Noel Coward's work at the Guildhall Art Gallery and saw a display referring to this song (whuch is also the name of a very drinkable beer brewed by Fullers).
Noel Coward wrote the song in the spring of 1941, during the Blitz in World War II. It captures a sense of patriotism and the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' attitude of Londoners at the time. The melody is based on a traditional English folk song, which Coward noted also bears a similarity to the German national anthem.
The London Boys by David Bowie
This song was released in 1970 as the B side of his single Rubber Band, before he became a global superstar, although David Bowie wrote it in 1965. It portrays the melancholy life of a 17 year old boy finding his way through the Mod scene in 1960s London. Bowie returned to the song in his live shows in the 2000s.
London by The Vibrators
Punk band The Vibrators performed this song on Radio 1 for DJ John Peel in 1977 and included it on their debut album Pure Mania. It was released as a single in August 1977, but failed to dent the charts.
My Name is London Town by Reg Meuross
Folk singer Reg Meuross released this song in 2013 on his album Leaves and Feathers, recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios. It was inspired by the Woody Guthrie song My Name is New York City. It has been described as a modern version of Ralph McTell's Streets Of London (which is included in my top 10 songs with 'London' in the title).
London Boy by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift wrote this 2019 hit, with co-writers Jack Antonoff and Sounwave, for her album Lover. Mentioning various London locations, the song portrays the singer's passion for a male Londoner. It is generally thought to be about her then boyfriend, actor Joe Alwyn.
London's Burning by The Clash
From The Clash's eponymous first album, released in 1977, this song has nothing to do with the Great Fire of London. The lyric "London's burning with boredom now" tells you everything you need to know about its theme. It describes bored young Londoners driving their cars through the night.
Goodbye London by Luke Jackson
From Londoner Luke Jackson's 2008 album ...And Then Some, this song's sentiments suggest that its author is no longer as enamored of the city of his birth as he once was. However, although Jackson left London for Canada, the 'bittersweet' lyrics of this song display his continued affection and sense of humour towards London.
Get Outta London by Aztec Camera
A track on the Scottish band's fourth album, Stray, this is another song that seems somewhat disillusioned with London.
London’s Brilliant Parade by Elvis Costello
The singer and songwriter composed this song, released on his 1994 album Brutal Youth, in tribute to the London of his youth.
"That song is probably as close as I'll ever get to writing a sentimental song about the town I was born in," he said, "even though I've never really regarded it as my hometown."
Musically, it is a tribute to the style of the Kinks, one of London's greatest bands, who were huge when Elvis Costello was growing up in the 1960s.
We Are London by Madness
Madness inherited the Kinks' tradition of songwriting in a very 'London' style. Both bands were based in north London, although Madness were Camden Town while the Kinks were in the more suburban Muswell Hill. Madness' heyday was in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but they have remained popular ever since. The band released an album in 2009 called The Liberty of Norton Folgate, their first new material in 10 years. It focused on an area between the City of London and Shoreditch, but also included this broader homage to London.
The song's lyrics name-check many parts of the capital and refer to the variety of characters to be found here. The song also captures the sense of possibility London offers:
"You can make it your own Hell or Heaven,
Live as you please.
Can we make it if we all live together
As one big family?"
Don't forget to let me know your favourite songs with 'London' in the title.
Playlist
Here is a link to a YouTube playlist with all 10 of the songs in this list:
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