London Pride (song)
Encyclopedia
"London Pride" is a song written and composed by Noël Coward
.
. According to his own account, he was sitting on a seat on a platform of a damaged railway station
in London
, and was "overwhelmed by a wave of sentimental pride". The song started in his head there and then and was finished in a few days.
") as the starting-point for the tune, but he also pointed out the similarity with "Deutschland über alles
", which he claimed was based on the same tune. It contrasts with many of the major-key, grandiose melodies used to celebrate patriotism, including God Save The King and Land of Hope and Glory
. Its orchestration also contrasts with those anthems, employing muted strings and a celeste, rather than a pipe organ and a choir.
, including the closing titles. The song has since been covered by such notable artists as Gracie Fields
. Damon Albarn
and Michael Nyman
recorded the song in 1998 for the Twentieth-Century Blues: The Songs of Noel Coward
tribute album
. Julie Andrews
sang the song on her 1957 debut album, "The Lass with the Delicate Air."
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
.
Composition
Coward wrote "London Pride" in the spring of 1941, during the BlitzThe Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
. According to his own account, he was sitting on a seat on a platform of a damaged railway station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and was "overwhelmed by a wave of sentimental pride". The song started in his head there and then and was finished in a few days.
Melody
Coward acknowledged one of the traditional cries of London ("Won't You Buy My Sweet-Smelling LavenderOliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
") as the starting-point for the tune, but he also pointed out the similarity with "Deutschland über alles
Das Lied der Deutschen
The "'" , has been used wholly or partially as the national anthem of Germany since 1922. The music was written by Joseph Haydn in 1797 as an anthem for the birthday of the Austrian Emperor Francis II of the Holy Roman Empire...
", which he claimed was based on the same tune. It contrasts with many of the major-key, grandiose melodies used to celebrate patriotism, including God Save The King and Land of Hope and Glory
Land of Hope and Glory
"Land of Hope and Glory" is a British patriotic song, with music by Edward Elgar and lyrics by A. C. Benson, written in 1902.- Composition :...
. Its orchestration also contrasts with those anthems, employing muted strings and a celeste, rather than a pipe organ and a choir.
Usage
The music is used in the film This Happy BreedThis Happy Breed
This Happy Breed is a play by Noël Coward. It was written in 1939 but, because of the outbreak of World War II, it was not staged until 1942, when it was performed on alternating nights with another Coward play, Present Laughter. The two plays later alternated with Coward's Blithe Spirit...
, including the closing titles. The song has since been covered by such notable artists as Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields
Dame Gracie Fields, DBE , was an English-born, later Italian-based actress, singer and comedienne and star of both cinema and music hall.-Early life:...
. Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
and Michael Nyman
Michael Nyman
Michael Laurence Nyman, CBE is an English composer of minimalist music, pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's The Piano...
recorded the song in 1998 for the Twentieth-Century Blues: The Songs of Noel Coward
Twentieth-Century Blues: The Songs of Noel Coward
Twentieth-Century Blues: The Songs of Noël Coward is a 1998 Noël Coward tribute album curated by Neil Tennant, who invited prominent artists of the day to reinterpret Noël Coward’s songs for the late 20th century....
tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
. Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
sang the song on her 1957 debut album, "The Lass with the Delicate Air."
External links
- "London Pride" at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
(MP3, OGG)