I love punk/new wave, partly because it reminds me of my city. What are the songs that remind you of your London? They don't have to have London in the title or mention London in the lyrics but they have to remind you of London.
This painting is from John Virtue's specially commisioned collection entitled London, for the National Gallery. Just to get you in the mood!
Last edited by SiennaInLondon : 21-09-2005 at 06:38 PM.
'Haunted' by The Pogues. This is one of my favourite songs of all time
Do you remember that sunny day?
Somewhere in London
In the middle of nowhere
Didn't have nothing to do that day
Didn't wanna do nothing anyway
You got a way of walking
You got a way of talking
And there's something about you
And now I know I never ever
Want to be without you
[Chorus:]
I want to be haunted by the ghost
I want to be haunted by the ghost
I want to be haunted by the ghost
I want to be haunted by the ghost
Of your precious love
Of your precious love
The first time I saw you,
Standing in the street
You were so cool,
You could have put out Vietnam
My girlfriends ask me, "What's he like?"
I say, "He's kind of shy,
But that's the kind of girl I am,
He's my kind of guy"
[Chorus]
I'll build my world around you
I'll bless the day that I found you
I'll stand beside you, I'll never leave
Or tell you all those lies
That you'd never believe
Oh yea we're the London boys
Oh yea we're the London boys
Oh yea we're the London boys
Oh yea we're the London boys
Do you remember
Going to Petticoat Lane
With all the conceptions
Moving in your brain
Oh yea we're the London boys
Oh yea we're the London boys
Don't you remember that we're just the London boys
Oh yea we're the London boys
Mighty mean mod king
Dressed like fame
London to Brighton
And then back again
Changing life's patterns
To get to the top
And when you get up there
You don't know if you're there or what
Bloc Party - So here we are
Not so much the lyrics. Just the feel of the song....I love listening to it when I'm sitting on the top deck of the night bus going really fast.
I saw two shadow men on the Vallance Road
Said they'd pay me for your address
Oh I was so bold
I said you see these two cold fingers
These crooked fingers I show
Yous a way to mean no
Well they didn't like that much I can tell you
Said "sunshine I wouldn't wanna be in your shoes"
They chased me up two flights of stairs
Caught me in the lift how I sighed and said
Hello, 'cause you're impossible
But it's just like he's in another world
He doesn't see the danger on show
Wind up like Joseph bloody in a hole
And it's just like she's in another world
And how they suit each other oh no
But they never get close
It's impossible
Saw the same two men on the Cally road
Said now they'd double their offer
I was so bold
To say you see these two cold fingers
These crooked fingers I show
Oh yous a way to mean no
But it's just like he's in another world
He doesn't see the danger on show
He'll end up like Joseph bloody in a hole
It's just like she's in another world
How they suit each other oh no
But you never get close
It's unstoppable
But it's just like we're all in another world
How we suit each other oh no
But we never get close
Thats close enough now...
Bloc Party - So here we are
Not so much the lyrics. Just the feel of the song....I love listening to it when I'm sitting on the top deck of the night bus going really fast.
Anything by The Jam. Weller and Strummer are the two people with the most distinct 'London' voices. 'Down In The Tube Station At Midnight':
The distant echo -
Of faraway voices boarding faraway trains
To take them home to
The ones that they love and who love them forever
The glazed, dirty steps - repeat my own and reflect my thoughts
Cold and uninviting, partially naked
Except for toffee wrapers and this morning’s paper
Mr. jones got run down
Headlines of death and sorrow - they tell of tomorrow
Madmen on the rampage
And I’m down in the tube station at midnight
I fumble for change - and pull out the queen
Smiling, beguiling
I put in the money and pull out a plum
Behind me
Whispers in the shadows - gruff blazing voices
Hating, waiting
Hey boy they shout - have you got any money?
And I said - I’ve a little money and a take away curry,
I’m on my way home to my wife.
She’ll be lining up the cutlery,
You know she’s expecting me
Polishing the glasses and pulling out the cork
And I’m down in the tube station at midnight
I first felt a fist, and then a kick
I could now smell their breath
They smelt of pubs and wormwood scrubs
And too many right wing meetings
My life swam around me
It took a look and drowned me in it’s own existence
The smell of brown leather
It blended in with the weather
It filled my eyes, ears, nose and mouth
It blocked all my senses
Couldn’t see, hear, speak any longer
And I’m down in the tube station at midnight
I said I was down in the tube station at midnight
The last thing that I saw
As I lay there on the floor
Was jesus saves painted by an atheist nutter
And a british rail poster read have an awayday - a cheap holiday -
Do it today!
I glanced back on my life
And thought about my wife
’cause they took the keys - and she’ll think it’s me
And I’m down in the tube station at midnight
The wine will be flat and the curry’s gone cold
I’m down in the tube station at midnight
Don’t want to go down in a tube station at midnight
Other's include Bowie's (well Gershwin's) "A Foggy Day (In A London Town), The Ramones' (Ok they're not English...so?) "Needles and Pins", The Pretenders' "Hymn To Her". Nothing to do with London but it's like a hymn to city, "She will always carry on, something is lost, something is found. They will keep on speaking her name, somethings change, some stay the same". Gorgous song. Trying to stay away from mentioning "London Calling' and 'Penny Lane' and stuff... oops
Waterloo Sunset ,Dedicated Follower of fashion (how appropriate on a fashion forum!)
Quote:
Waterloo Sunset
Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night
People so busy, makes me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright
But I don’t need no friends
As long as I gaze on waterloo sunset
I am in paradise
Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunset’s fine
Terry meets julie, waterloo station
Every friday night
But I am so lazy, don’t want to wander
I stay at home at night
But I don’t feel afraid
As long as I gaze on waterloo sunset
I am in paradise
Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunset’s fine
Millions of people swarming like flies ’round waterloo underground
But terry and julie cross over the river
Where they feel safe and sound
And they don’t need no friends
As long as they gaze on waterloo sunset
They are in paradise
Waterloo sunset’s fine
Quote:
Dedicated Follower of fashion
They seek him here, they seek him there,
His clothes are loud, but never square.
It will make or break him so he's got to buy the best,
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion.
And when he does his little rounds,
'Round the boutiques of London Town,
Eagerly pursuing all the latest fads and trends,
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion.
Oh yes he is (oh yes he is), oh yes he is (oh yes he is).
He thinks he is a flower to be looked at,
And when he pulls his frilly nylon panties right up tight,
He feels a dedicated follower of fashion.
Oh yes he is (oh yes he is), oh yes he is (oh yes he is).
There's one thing that he loves and that is flattery.
One week he's in polka-dots, the next week he is in stripes.
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion.
They seek him here, they seek him there,
In Regent Street and Leicester Square.
Everywhere the Carnabetian army marches on,
Each one an dedicated follower of fashion.
Oh yes he is (oh yes he is), oh yes he is (oh yes he is).
His world is built 'round discoteques and parties.
This pleasure-seeking individual always looks his best
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion.
Oh yes he is (oh yes he is), oh yes he is (oh yes he is).
He flits from shop to shop just like a butterfly.
In matters of the cloth he is as fickle as can be,
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion.
He's a dedicated follower of fashion.
He's a dedicated follower of fashion.
The Libertines They're so english, many of their songs evokes London.
Quote:
The Bucket Shop
First stop was the bucket shop
To pick the pieces of your life up
And scream looking glad
Since all that you despised
You're thinking back to the Chicken Shack
And the smashing of the glass
And the knife in the back, well
My boy who would've believed your lies?
All your lies?
And no-one's going to sell you any alibis
A-li-bis
All you dirty small town girls
How I wish you were here now
And show me how to be the man, I'm your man
As only you can, as only you can
My White City girl
Well someone said you were an angel
Only what kind of angel
Would whisper 'hello'
And shout 'goodbye'
My White City girl
And I've seen you go down
On one too many times
It chills my bones to seem that way
Oh ... that way
And this aching heart of mine
You said you live your life by the Albion creed
So pure in thoughts and word and deed
Well, oh my boy, what did you gain?
Just empty bottles and ... roots
And holes in the years of your cowboy boots
And that makes she'll never forget your name
Or your lies...
And no-one's going to sell you any alibis
A-li-bis
Quote:
Albion
Down in Albion
they’re black and blue
but we don’t talk about that
are you from round here?
how do you do
I’d like to talk about that
talk over
gin in teacups and
leaves on the lawn
violence in bus stops
and pale thin girl with eyes forlorn
gin in teacups and
leaves on the lawn
violence in dole queue's
and pale thin girl behind the checkout
but if you're looking for a cheap sort
that’s in false anticipation
i'll be waiting in the photo booth at the underground station
so, come away, wont you come away
we’ll go to capford, watford, lincoln, digben, liverpool,
anywhere in Albion
oh yellowing classics and
canons at dawn
coffee wallows and pith helmets
and oh an English sun
oh reebok classics and
canons at dawn
coffee wallows and pith helmets
and oh an English sun
but if you're looking for a cheap tart
that’s glint with perspiration
theres a four mile que outside the dissused power station
ah come away, wont you come away
we’ll go to margate, scarbrough, wigan, sheperds bush,
ah anywhere
but if you're looking for a cheap sort
that’s glint with perspiration
i'll be waiting in the photo booth at the underground station
ah come away, wont you come away
we’ll go to anywhere in albion
I'll stay away from London Calling but I'll mention The guns of Brixton cos' it does remind me of London and I'm a naughty Clash fan
Of modern bands, I think that the Kaiser Chiefs and Bloc Party best evoke the London spirit. But how could we forget the ultimat punk London song, London Calling by the Clash!
Kaiser Chiefs- 'I Predict a Riot'
Watching the people get lairy
Is not very pretty I tell thee
Walking through town is quite scary
And not very sensible either
A friend of a friend he got beaten
He looked the wrong way at a policeman
Would never have happened to Smeaton
And old Leodiensian
La-ah-ah, la la lalala la
Ah-ah-ah, la la lalala la
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
I tried to get in my taxi
A man in a tracksuit attacked me
He said that he saw it before me
Wants to get things a bit gory
Girls run around with no clothes on
To borrow a pound for a condom
If it wasn't for chip fat, well they'd be frozen
They're not very sensible
La-ah-ah, la la lalala la
Ah-ah-ah, la la lalala la
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
And if there's anybody left in here
That doesn't want to be out there
Watching the people get lairy
Is not very pretty I tell thee
Walking through town is quite scary
And not very sensible
La-ah-ah, la la lalala la
Ah-ah-ah, la la lalala la
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
And if there's anybody left in here
That doesn't want to be out there
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
The Clash - 'London Calling'
London calling to the faraway towns
Now war is declared, and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls
London calling, now don't look to us
Phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing
[Chorus 1:]
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river
London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it, brother, you can go it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out, and draw another breath
London calling, and I don't wanna shout
But when we were talking, I saw you nodding out
London calling, see we ain't got no high
Except for that one with the yellowy eyes
[Chorus 2: (x2)]
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river
Now get this
London calling, yes, I was there, too
An' you know what they said? Well, some of it was true!
London calling at the top of the dial
After all this, won't you give me a smile?
London calling
I never felt so much alike [fading] alike alike alike
Razorlight - In The City
That's my London song, I love listening to it late at night when walking in London.
Well it's a close one, a real close one
but no-one gets hurt and she's got twice the fun
now they kiss in the rain
And did someone call out someone's name
From a white cadillac on a wide wind
To her white dress across the great divide
Into the warm moonlight
And she's been reading Bukowski for days
leans over, spits her name in my face
And says "Well now you know how it feels"
"Well now you know how it feels"
And I was looking for you
Looking for you
Looking for you in the city last night
And the boys in the band steal a kiss in the mystery of the night
11:59 to zero, little blonde hair in jeans, holds her tight
Turns on the heat and starts to fight and sayin' "that's my man"
Well the myth of love must have been there
The spirit of possession was there
And the boys at the bar
Yeah they're mixing up their medicines
The girls were on their mobile trying to get reception
and Johnny's shadow's getting long but he keeps on singing
His shadow getting long but he keeps on singing
But I was looking for you
Looking for you
Looking for you in the city last night
And people so strange
People so strange
People just keep talking in the city last night
Take off your shades and scroll down to number nine
You're living on the guest list, up against the meat rack
Head back, hand out, it's getting loud in here
Think you're going to have to shout
And she's tearing off her clothes
He's mixing his drinks all up
Streets divide them
It's an empire of signs
and Honey say she can read
And it looks like trouble
And it tastes like chocolate if you want it
It looks like trouble
but it tastes like chocolate if you want it
Still I was looking for you
Looking for you
Looking for you in the city last night
And people so strange
People so strange
People just keep talking in the city last night
And I was looking for you
And I was looking for you
And I was looking for you in the city last night
And I was looking for you
Yeah I was looking for you
Yeah I was looking for you in the city last night
It's alright!
It's alright!
If you say my name
It's alright!
^Agreed about Kaiserchiefs and Bloc Party! They've got LONDON written all over them. Verve - Bittersweet Symphony also reminds me of London. It's just the video imagery really, the ppl bumping into each other that reminds me of London.
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