# London Calling

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-calling/441862>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 18, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-calling/441862 "2008-03-18T23:16:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-calling/441862/1 "2008-03-18T23:16:35Z")

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There is likely a thread or two on this, but search is disabled. I know that I will never completely understand all the references in the song, but the [meaning](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Calling_(song)) appears to have roots in several different explanations.

However, how did this song suddenly become a commercial tie-in for a [Hollywood movie](http://www.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/thebankjob/) (The Bank Job). Not to mention, in an unrelated coincidence, the newest season of [ABC’s “The Bachelor”](http://abc.go.com/primetime/bachelor/index?pn=index) is sub-titled “London Calling.”

Joe Strummer must be moshing in his grave!

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**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-calling/441862/2 "2008-03-18T23:36:09Z")

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I don’t know … as that Wikipedia link shows, Strummer had no problem with having Clash songs in advertisements under the right circumstances.

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**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-calling/441862/3 "2008-03-19T00:29:06Z")

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[QUOTE=phungi]  
However, how did this song suddenly become a commercial tie-in for a [Hollywood movie](http://www.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/thebankjob/) (The Bank Job).  
[/QUOTE]  
I’m not sure if it’s completely fair to call it a Hollywood movie, since it’s got a completely English cast, was written by two Englishmen, and takes place entirely in England (based on a true UK case). Even the director isn’t American.

I’ve seen “London Calling” used from everything from _Billy Elliott_ to an episode of _Friends_ (when they visited England). Essentially, it’s shorthand for **BRITISH**.