Day 7: March 24 - Foggy Ol' Lockdown Town
London is officially in lockdown for three weeks. That means THREE MORE WEEKS OF OF QUARANTUNES!!! (alsoplsbesafeandhealthyy’all)
Ralph Vaughan Williams - A London Symphony
Premiered in 1914, this was Vaughan Williams’ first proper orchestral symphony (the first symphony, A Sea Symphony, had chorus). While not programmatic, it pictorializes Vaughan Williams’ London, written from his attic studio in Chelsea overlooking the Thames. The opening is simply one of the most divine and touching slow openings in music, imho. Vaughan Williams then jumps straight into the hustle and bustle of the City. The rest of the movement reads to me as a series of episodes of London life. The entire piece is meticulously orchestrated. He sharply revised it after the War, cutting over twenty minutes, but today’s track is the original 1913 version. Vaughan Williams and his estate refused to let this version be performed for many years until this recording, which caused a reappraisal of the original version. Played here by the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Richard Hickox.
The Rakes - 22 Grand Job
The lead single from their 2005 debut album Capture/Release, 22 Grand Job is by far the most relatable track on here. Upbeat and classic British indie punk-rock, it’s basically just that sort of unmotivated malaise that comes with your first job and how it’s not great, but it’ll do. Proper tune with a great lick in it as well. Currently, I would really appreciate a 26 grand job, as thats the cut-off salary the home office has set for us immigrants. But also any money through this COVID mess.
David Bowie - The London Boys
A quirky little ballad about a young lad spiralling into drugs after moving to London at seventeen. It builds through some wandering harmonies into a series of key changes as this young lad’s life becomes unbearable. Also, some delightfully tasty lil brass countermelodies.
Noel Coward - London Pride
Composed during the Blitz when Coward was sitting in Paddington Station watching Londoners going about their days during the peak of German aggression. Jaunty and lilting, this little tune winds through scenes of London life during the War with a very charming hope, brought out by bright and clean orchestration, punctuated only by low piano, Coward acknowledging musically the struggle they were all in.
Every Blitz
Your resistance
Toughening,
From the Ritz
To the Anchor and Crown,
Nothing ever could override
The pride of London Town.
LV (Feat. Joshua Idehen) - Northern Line
This track is just Joshua Idehen asking what do you know about [tube stop] then rhyming how angry or horny he is at various stops on the Northern Line. It slaps so properly hard, it had to be included. Also, my main tube line, so represent.
Best line:
What do you know about Moorgate?
I don’t know anything about Moorgate…
[BONUS] Young Tiger - I Was There (At the Coronation)
Trinidian Calypso singer Young Tiger came to England on board a Norwegian tanker at 20, but only after stopping through Australia and landing in Scotland. This song was set to broadcast the same day as Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation. As he clearly couldn’t have written and recorded this if he had been at the coronation, the Queen’s aides had sent him a secret dispatch detailing what the Queen would be wearing so he could include it in his song. This speaks in a really interesting way as to how the Monarchy was seeking inclusivity at a time of racial strife, at least in the US. (Almost certainly there are nuances and caveats to this, but in the US that sort of gesture would have been very large and controversial.)