Most British-sounding rock song

Cafe Society
1

On the way home tonight, on one of the satellite radio channels, I heard the song "Making Plans For Nigel " by XTC. I couldn’t help but think that this is the most British rock song I have ever heard; the clear accents in the singing, repeating the name “Nigel” about 30 times at the end - it seemed more British than an image of the Queen eating fish and chips while watching a game of cricket.

“Cool for Cats” by Squeeze is another song that reeks of Britannia; even though the song is about cowboys and Indians, it’s as if Chris Difford went out of his way to sing with the most affected Cockney accent possible. Other Squeeze tunes don’t sound even a quarter as British.

What are some other songs that are absolutely, positively flaming British?

2

Oasis - Champagne Supernover

3

Probably any number of Kinks songs. How about “Waterloo Sunset?”

Another XTC one for you - “Towers of London.”

Blur’s “London Loves.”

The Jam are utterly British as well. Something like “Eton Rifles.”

Many Smiths songs namecheck British towns and cities: Birkenhead (What She Said), Rusholme (Rusholme Ruffians), Manchester (The Headmaster Ritual), Newport Pagnell (Is It Really So Strange?), London, Carlisle, Dundee, Humberside (Panic), Whalley Range (Pretty Girls Make Graves), the moors around Manchester (Suffer Little Children), and Euston Station (London). I’m sure there are many more, but that’s off the top of my head.

As far as sounding unmistakably British? I’d go with the Bard of Barking, Billy Bragg. Everything he sings is done in such an inimitable way accent-wise I couldn’t imagine an American covering the song without sounding terribly affected or as if they were taking the piss.

4

Madness–“Our House”

5

I dunno. Songs like “The Price I Pay” or “Levi Stubbs’ Tears” (which namechecks a bunch of Americans) easily transcend national borders. And I can’t imagine Nora Guthrie would have selected him to set her father’s lyrics to music if she thought he was too identified with his home soil.

But you’re definitely right on his more politically charged songs.

6

“Alfie” by Lily Allen. Ska-punk by way of old 60s girl acts like Lulu.

7

How about Pink Floyd’s first single, Arnold Layne?

8

Bloc Party “Staying Fat.” I knew they were British a long while before hearing this song, but the accent and the use of the term “trainers” made me think, wow, these guys are really British! is anyone else crazy about their new singles “The Prayer” and “Hunting for Witches”?

9

or “Victoria” or “Village Green Preservation Society”

10

Henry the Eighth and Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter, both by Herman’s Hermits. Blimey, was it Peter Noone?

A Mother’s Lament by Cream was undeniably British, but probably not a rock song.

Mother’s Little Helper by the Rolling Stones held an indelible British stamp.

11

You’ve all got it wrong - “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” by Herman’s Hermits wins, hands down.

Honorable mention goes to Modern English with “Melt with You”

12

“Another Brick in the Wall Pt. II” is another obviously British Pink Floyd song.

13

Whoops, look like I was beaten.

14
  1. Beatles - “Paperback Writer”
  2. Genesis - “Time Table”
  3. Beatles - “Maggie Mae”
  4. Ian Dury - “Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll”
  5. Kate Bush - “Oh England My Lionheart”
  6. Queen - “God Save the Queen” (from A Night at the Opera. yes I mean it. )
  7. Supertramp - “Bloody Well Right”

Otherwise, Billy Bragg rules.

15

No mention of the Sex Pistols yet?

16

Right album, wrong song. Clearly, the correct answer is “Pahkloife.”

17

I thought The Killers were British until I read more about them. It seems the vocalist goes out of his way to sound British.

18

Since everyone else is voting for English songs, I’ll open up the field by throwing anything by The Proclaimers or any track from the Super Furry Animals’ Mwng in to the mix

19

You must have gone to public school.

20

Definitely agree with Waterloo Sunset, Eton Rifles (also Going Underground), Smiths (London would be a favourite) and XTC. Also all the Billy Bragg love.

Beatles songs like Penny Lane?

Jethro Tull always struck me as very British. Especially the folkier stuff like Songs From The Woods, Hunting Girl, Dun Ringill and that, but even the earlier blues-rock like Mother Goose (namechecks Hampstead, Piccadilly Circus etc).

And last, but not least, the theme from The Wombles.