Songs that sum up being British

[damion]

I'm putting together a CD for a mate in australia and I want about ten or so songs that really sum up what it is to be British. Kinda disaffected, on the dole, rainy British.

So far I'm thinking:

**The Smiths - Still ill (I decree today that life is simply taking and not giving / england is mine and it owes me a living)

**The Specials - Ghost Town (coming out amid all those riots, and reflecting that racial disaffection)

**Happy Mondays - Step On (or something else that captures that acid house bovverboy daze)

**That one that starts out (in mockney) "Wouldn't It Be Nice / To Get On Wiv Me Neighbours" (whatever it is... i'm thinking the Kinks??)

**Chas & Dave - Rabbit (say no more)

**That London Underground version of Going Underground


.....and now i'm stumped. any ideas?

 

[martin_e]

Why does it always rain on me ?
Something by the Streets ?

 

[Full Lotus]

**That one that starts out (in mockney) "Wouldn't It Be Nice / To Get On Wiv Me Neighbours" (whatever it is... i'm thinking the Kinks??)

'Lazy Sunday - The Small Faces'


I would also add 'The Village Green Preservation Society - The Kinks', 'Parklife - Blur',some Clash, Sex Pistols etc etc

 

[damion]

Why does it always rain on me ?

haha wicked. anyone know of a version thats not by travis?

Something by the Streets ?

ahahaha -- nice one -- that one that goes "turn left up the streets, nothing but grey skies and dead beats" etc

'Lazy Sunday - The Small Faces'

thats the bunny

I would also add 'The Village Green Preservation Society - The Kinks', 'Parklife - Blur',some Clash, Sex Pistols etc etc

mmm not sure about Parklife. That sums up being Phil Daniels

Clash and Sex Pistols i'm not too au fait with except the obvious ones. Any gems i should know about?

 

[Red five]

you cant do an english comp and talk about acid house without:
Voodoo Ray > A Guy Called Gerald

you also need:

The Eaton Rifles > I think it was The Jam

ohohoh definately A Town Called Malice > the Jam

Love Will Tear Us Apart > Joy Division

 

[martin_e]

Actually - you might like a listen to this:
http://www.skuffle.co.uk/download/Anna Key In The UK.mp3

Find out more about them at http://www.skuffle.co.uk/

 

[jamez_23]

strawberry fields forever ...... the beatles .......

 

[Jason Frog]

The Beatles - 'A day in the life'
Citizen Fish - 'PC Musical Chairs'

 

[damion]

i think i saw the boxhedge clippers at Cardiff Festival ... did they have Nigel from Eastenders? Whatever, they wiped the floor with CarterUSM

and jamez, the Candy Flip version is way better :p

 

[martin_e]

i think i saw the boxhedge clippers at Cardiff Festival ... did they have Nigel from Eastenders? Whatever, they wiped the floor with CarterUSM

Nah - I think Nigel was in a different band, they did a tune involving him wrapping himself in sellotape in a rythmic manner. Hang on - just found it on google. They were called the hKippers and their website is at http://www.hkippers.com/

I saw the hKippers at Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex (whilst in vague pursuit of an extrordinarily attractive guitarist - failed!). They started off well, but the joke ran out a LONG time before the concert did ...

 

[Risky]

Anything by the Manic Street Preachers kinda sums up grey and rainy for me.
How could you forget The Wurzels damo??? The anti-grey&rain!

 

[Geoff3]

Some Madness... (I think there is one called Land Of Hope And Glory, init)

Dreadzone Little Britain!

 

[jamez_23]

and jamez, the Candy Flip version is way better :p

meh ! ...... I seem to remember th b-side being ok though ......

 

[mickeyblueiiiis]

My Generation...............................The Who

 

[martin_e]

Billy Bragg - "Take down the Union Jack"

 

[jamez_23]

Mull of kintyre by Paul McCartney ......

or alternatively - the frog song :p

 

[Monkey Do]

Manowar - Hail to England

We march from the hills
Down to London Town. -
Join Raise your hand - or hide
When we ride for the crown.

The sign of the hammer and
The black winds blow through
The night. Long was our wait
Our meeting with Fate is tonight.

Strong she stands - reaching her
Hand. Brave and grand. On English
Ground - we were born. Proudly
We return. - To English shore

Hail, hail to England -
Hail, hail, hail.

 

[damion]

if i can do some sort of mashup of manowar and the frog chorus, this is going to be one kick ass cd...

:p

 

[ZINI]

Rule Britannia!

 

[mickeyblueiiiis]

Fergal Sharkey and the undertones............Teenage Kicks

Also a bit of a hail to thr late great John Peel