a child's cultural canon - redux cc @russelldavies

Ages ago, when blogging was hip, Russell wrote about a child's cultural canon.

We were listening to The Beatles in the car yesterday. First time Arthur had let us listen to 'grown-up music'. Anne was saying how there's a bunch of stuff it would be good if Arthur just knew. The stuff that she and I picked up just by cultural osmosis and that helped us get pleasure from the world, but which he very well might not. Like The Beatles. Or the book of common prayer. Neither of us are Christians but we've both spent lots of time in Church and are therefore familiar with the rhythms and phrases of the CofE. Which means you get much more out of some things - like 40 Years On, for example, our favourite play ever.

The other day I saw a (supposed) playlist for the Olympic opening ceremony. I think it comes close to a child's cultural canon. It's certainly a great start, I'd love to have it in the car. I love the way it has the Beatles but also the Big Ben chimes. I love the way it has MIA 'Paper Planes' and Simon May 'EastEnders theme'. Brilliant.

And best of all, I presume you will soon be able to buy it in handy mp3 form with a Wenlock embossed on the front of each song.

God, I'm excited about the summer.

Here's the full list:

Captain Algernon Drummond/William Johnson Cory - 'Eton Boating Song'
Elgar/AC Benson - 'Land of Hope and Glory'
The Jam - 'Going Underground'
Muse - 'Map of the Problematique'
Big Ben Chimes
Sex Pistols - 'God Save the Queen'
The Clash - 'London Calling'
Simon May - EastEnders Theme
The Shipping Forecast
Sir Hubert Parry/William Blake - 'Jerusalem'
Elgar - 'Nimrod'
Handel - 'Arrival of the Queen of Sheba'
Eric Coates - 'Dambusters March'
Handel - 'Music for the Royal Fireworks'
Monty Norman - James Bond Theme
Mike Oldfield - 'Tubular Bells'
Mike Oldfield - 'In Dulci Jubilo'
Vangelis - 'Chariots of Fire'
BBC News 1954
Arthur Wood - The Archers Theme
Winifred Atwell - 'Black and White Rag'
Sugababes - 'Push the Button'
OMD - 'Enola Gay'
David Rose - 'The Stripper'
Lionel Bart - 'Food Glorious Food'
Irwin Kostal, Richard Sherman, Robert Sherman - 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks'
Rizzle Kicks - 'When I Was a Youngster'
Eric Clapton - 'Wonderful Tonight'
Colin Tully - Gregory's Girl Theme
William Pitt - 'City Lights'
The Who - 'My Generation'
The Rolling Stones - 'Satisfaction'
Millie Small - 'My Boy Lollipop'
The Kinks - 'All Day and All of the Night'
The Beatles - 'She Loves You'
Mud - 'Tiger Feet'
Led Zeppelin - 'Trampled Under Foot'
The Specials - 'A Message to You Rudy'
David Bowie - 'Starman'
Queen - 'Bohemian Rhapsody'
Sex Pistols - 'Pretty Vacant'
Duran Duran - 'The Reflex'
New Order - 'Blue Monday'
Frankie Goes to Hollywood - 'Relax'
Soul II Soul - 'Back To Life'
Happy Mondays - 'Step On'
Eurythmics - 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
The Verve - 'Bittersweet Symphony'
Prodigy - 'Firestarter'
Underworld - 'Born Slippy'
Jaan Kenbrovin, John William Kellette - 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles'
Blur - 'Song 2'
Dizzee Rascal - 'Bonkers'
Tigerstyle - 'Nacnha Onda Nei' (contains Michael Jackson - 'Billie Jean', Queen & David Bowie - 'Under Pressure' and Ilaiyaraaja - 'Naanthaan Ungappanda')
Arctic Monkeys - 'I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor'
Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse - 'Valerie'
Radiohead - 'Creep'
Muse - 'Uprising'
Kano & Mikey J - 'Random Antics'
Tinie Tempah - 'Pass Out'
MIA - 'Paper Planes'
Coldplay - 'Viva La Vida'
The Chemical Brothers - 'Galvanize'
Franz Ferdinand - 'Take Me Out'
Kaiser Chiefs - 'I Predict a Riot'
Roll Deep - 'Shake a Leg'
Adele - 'Rolling in the Deep'
Oasis - 'The Hindu Times'
Oasis - 'Wonderwall'
Emeli Sande - 'Heaven'
William Monk/Henry Francis - 'Abide With Me'
Pink Floyd - 'Eclipse'
The Beatles - 'The End'
The Beatles - 'Hey Jude'
David Bowie - 'Heroes'
Eric Spear - Coronation Street Theme
Ron Grainer - Doctor Who Theme
John Philip Sousa - Monty Python Theme/'The Liberty Bell' 
David Bowie - 'Absolute Beginners'

Comments

[Rafael Armstrong]

I'm a bit surprised there's not one Elton John track on this list ("Rocket Man", "I'm still Standing" seem like obvious choices, IMO), but seeing The Specials kinda makes up for it a bit.

[Rob]

That's actually a pretty good list. There's a few other acts I might have expected but mostly it seems well thought out.

I love that Liberty Bell / Monty Python theme is in there. That might be the only one some Americans recognise :)

[Anjali28]

Very cool list, thanks for sharing. Not sure I would have come across this anywhere else!

[Account Deleted]

Thanks for the blog tips - I'm saving to hire a freckled nest genius :)

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