A second visit to London for another selection of songs.
“London Boys” is a song by English glam rock act T. Rex. It was released a single in 1976 by record label T. Rex Wax Co. The track was not released on an album, but was originally intended to feature in Bolan’s aborted rock operas The London Opera and Billy Super Duper. The song was in the UK charts for a total of three weeks, peaking at No. 40.
“I Love London” is the second single by English electronic band Crystal Fighters from their album Star of Love. The single was released in December 2009 through Zirkulo records, to mixed reviews. The track gained attention from BBC Radio 1, with plays from Nick Grimshaw and Rob da Bank. “I Love London” was featured in Mixmag’s Top 100 Records of 2008, placing at number 91; this being particularly notable due to this being the only song in the list to have been unreleased at the time.
“Take Me Back to London” is a song by British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran featuring British rapper Stormzy. It was released through Asylum and Atlantic Records as the final single from the former’s compilation album No.6 Collaborations Project (2019). The song was written by Sheeran, Shellback, Karl Sanberg, Frederick Gibson and Michael Omari Jr. The song reached number one in the Uk following the release of its remix.
“We Are London” by Madness. This song makes reference to a greater number of London landmarks than any other song on this list. However, it is a tribute to London and the notion that city residents can and should coexist peacefully. Members of the city’s diverse population include everyone from Muslims (“From Regent’s Park Mosque on to Baker Street,” as the lyric puts it) to the gays of Old Compton Street to the band’s friends in Camden Town to the clubgoers and rock enthusiasts at The Roundhouse.
“London” by the Smiths was released in 1987 as a B-Side to “Shoplifters of the World Unite”. It was also included in the band’s second compilation album, Louder Than Bombs, released in 1987. In this song Morrissey speaks out directly to a man who decided to catch a train to London to pursue a better life, continuously speaking to his own feelings and asking him if he is sure of the very important decision he is making. It is one of the few lyrics where Morrissey doesn’t speak in the first person.
