Songs from London - secondary and adults (A1/2) 

NEW! 2026/2027 

London is often the first port of call for many students of English who travel to the U.K., but beyond Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace etc, lies a remarkable musical legacy. This didactic concert takes us on a tour round London to discover some of the great artists and songs that have emerged from London, either because they were born and bred in the city or because their bands were formed there. The songs also often give us insights into London life.

“Our house” by Madness takes us into a busy working class family life in a typical terraced house, “Cemeteries of London” by Coldplay whisks us back into the Victorian era with a tale of ghosts and witches amidst a dark, misty gothic backdrop. Cat Stevens grew up in Marylebone and captured the downside of urban development in “Where do the children play?”.  Phil Collins in “Another day in paradise” addresses the issue of homeless people on the streets. Similarly, Lily Allen’s “LDN” invites us to take another look and discover a tougher side to London town. “London calling” by The Clash adopts the famous BBC news slogan to arouse feelings of rebellion as do The Sex Pistols in “God save the Queen”. Dua Lipa's song "Houdini" offers a chance to look at London's magical legacy.

New star Olivia Dean asks questions about modern relationships in “Nice to each other” while Billy Idol’s  “Rebel Yell” is about pure passion and similarly David Bowie’s “Let’s dance” explores love in the presence of music. Amy Winehouse in “Rehab” takes us to a darker side of emotional turbulence while Queen provide a more upbeat feeling with “Friends will be friends”

 Contact me for an information sheet with the details.