Sheila (Jamie T song)
Encyclopedia
"Sheila" is the first single by Jamie T
from his debut album Panic Prevention
. The song features excerpts of John Betjeman
's poem "The Cockney Amorist". The song was re-released on 7 May 2007 with a new B-side, "Rawhide", featuring vocals by Lily Allen
. It charted at number fifteen in the UK.
The song has three tragic stories, the first about a girl called Sheila who is out in London, gets drunk, and stumbles into the River Thames and drowns. The second is of a gangster/drug dealer named Jack "The Crackaman" (reference to drugs) and his friends Mickey, Dan, Lisa and Sam. A single father who is gunned down on the streets of London. The third and final story tells of a girl called Georgina, her alcoholic father has been beating her, then he dies and she kills herself by taking an overdose.
When interviewed by the BBC collective website Jamie T said of the material in the song
“Tragedy is always a fun topic isn’t it?” he says, “Like Carlito’s Way - great film - and you think he’s gonna make it in the end but then… There’s something that attracts you about storylines like that. I go out every Friday and Saturday and I see people get the shit kicked out of them. It’s not nice, but I’ll be in the pub the next day going, ‘Mate, this bloke got the fucking shit kicked out of him last night.’ It’s just gossip on record basically. I should work for Heat magazine.”
Bob Hoskins
appears in the song's 2007 music video. He has also appeared in other music videos.
Sheila's friend "Stella" refers to the beer Stella Artois
.
The song has been covered by singer-songwriter Leddra Chapman
, who released it on an EP.
Jamie T
Jamie Alexander Treays , known by his stage name Jamie T, is an English singer/songwriter from Wimbledon, South London.-Early life:Jamie Alexander Treays, was born in Wimbledon, South-West London...
from his debut album Panic Prevention
Panic Prevention
Panic Prevention is the Mercury Prize nominated debut album by Wimbledon-born singer-songwriter Jamie T, released in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2007. The album is so-called because of the panic attacks Jamie suffered as an adolescent...
. The song features excerpts of John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
's poem "The Cockney Amorist". The song was re-released on 7 May 2007 with a new B-side, "Rawhide", featuring vocals by Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
. It charted at number fifteen in the UK.
The song has three tragic stories, the first about a girl called Sheila who is out in London, gets drunk, and stumbles into the River Thames and drowns. The second is of a gangster/drug dealer named Jack "The Crackaman" (reference to drugs) and his friends Mickey, Dan, Lisa and Sam. A single father who is gunned down on the streets of London. The third and final story tells of a girl called Georgina, her alcoholic father has been beating her, then he dies and she kills herself by taking an overdose.
When interviewed by the BBC collective website Jamie T said of the material in the song
“Tragedy is always a fun topic isn’t it?” he says, “Like Carlito’s Way - great film - and you think he’s gonna make it in the end but then… There’s something that attracts you about storylines like that. I go out every Friday and Saturday and I see people get the shit kicked out of them. It’s not nice, but I’ll be in the pub the next day going, ‘Mate, this bloke got the fucking shit kicked out of him last night.’ It’s just gossip on record basically. I should work for Heat magazine.”
Bob Hoskins
Bob Hoskins
Robert William "Bob" Hoskins, Jr. is an English actor known for playing Cockney rough diamonds, psychopaths and gangsters, in films such as The Long Good Friday , and Mona Lisa , and lighter roles in family films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Hook .- Early life :Hoskins was born in Bury St...
appears in the song's 2007 music video. He has also appeared in other music videos.
Sheila's friend "Stella" refers to the beer Stella Artois
Stella Artois
Stella Artois is a 5% ABV lager brewed in Leuven, Belgium since 1926. In the UK, Canada and New Zealand a 4% ABV version is also available.-Production:...
.
The song has been covered by singer-songwriter Leddra Chapman
Leddra Chapman
Leddra Chapman is a British singer-songwriter from Brentwood in Essex. Leddra was born in 1990 and is 21 years old. Her debut single, "Story", was released on 2 November 2009 and is from her debut album, Telling Tales, which was produced by Peter-John Vettese and released for download on 29...
, who released it on an EP.
In the UK
- "Sheila"
- "Sheila" (Live at Panic Prevention)