London is the capital and largest city of England. London is an ancient name, already attested in the first century AD, usually in the Latinised form Londinium; for example, handwritten Roman tablets recovered in the city originating from AD 65/70–80 include the word Londinio (‘in London’). As one of the world’s major global cities, London exerts a strong influence on its arts, entertainment, fashion, commerce and finance, education, health care, media, science and technology, tourism, and transport and communications.
“London Calling” is the third studio album by English band the Clash. It was originally released as a double album in the United Kingdom in December 1979 by CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 by Epic Records. The album was a top ten chart success in the UK, and its lead single “London Calling” was a top 20 single. “London Calling” preceded the album with a December 1979 release. It peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. The song’s music video, directed by Letts, featured the band performing the song on a boat in the pouring rain with the River Thames behind them.
“LDN” (shorthand for, and pronounced as, “London”) is a song by English singer-songwriter Lily Allen. It was co-written by Future Cut, and features a Colombian porro from the country’s Caribbean coast. The song was originally released on limited-edition 7-inch vinyl (500 copies) in the UK in April 2006, accompanied by album track “Knock ‘Em Out”. It was reissued in September 2006 following the huge success of Allen’s first mainstream single “Smile”. The re-release peaked at number six in the UK.
“London Belongs To Me” Over the past 20 years, the group St Etienne have referenced more London names in their songs than most artists, though like many chroniclers they are not natives of the place they describe so well, coming to the capital from Surrey and Windsor. London Belongs to Me, off their 1991 album Foxbase Alpha, is perhaps not one of their finest songs but it epitomises the St Etienne view on London. An ethereal Sarah Cracknell drifts like a summer breeze over a musical wash of electric piano chords, simulated bells, the sound of heat and crickets.
The London Boys” is a song by English musician David Bowie. It was first released as the B-side of the single “Rubber Band” in the United Kingdom in December 1966. It was originally written and demoed in 1965 with the Lower Third for potential release as the artist’s debut single but it was rejected. After a year of rewrites, he recorded a new version with a new band, the Buzz, which helped secure him a record contract with Decca-subsidiary Deram Records. Unlike the A-side, “The London Boys” retains the Mod feel of Bowie’s previous singles. The dark lyrics concern a 17-year-old girl who left home for London. As she wants to get to know the London boys, she turns to take pills to fit in. Like his previous singles, it failed to chart. Decca later issued it as an A-side in 1975.
“Werewolves of London” is a rock song performed by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon. It was composed by Zevon, LeRoy Marinell and Waddy Wachtel and was included on Excitable Boy (1978), Zevon’s third solo album. The track featured Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood and John McVie on drums and bass respectively. The single was released by Asylum Records and was a top 40 US hit, the only one of Zevon’s career, reaching No. 21 on the Billboard that May.
