LDN (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article documents a current single. Information is likely to change as the song remains on the charts. |
| "LDN" | ||
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| Single by Lily Allen | ||
| from the album Alright, Still | ||
| B-side(s) | "Nan, You're a Window Shopper" "Naive" |
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| Released | September 25, 2006 | |
| Format | Vinyl Record (7")/CD (CD1 & CD2), Digital Download & Vinyl Record (7") | |
| Recorded | 2006 | |
| Genre | Pop, Ska | |
| Length | 3:10 | |
| Label | Regal Zonophone Records | |
| Writer(s) | Lily Allen, Iyiola Babalola, Darren Lewis & Arthur "Duke" Reid | |
| Producer(s) | Future Cut | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Lily Allen singles chronology | ||
| "Smile" (2006) |
"LDN" (2006) |
"Littlest Things" (2006) |
| Alternate covers | ||
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| Original Vinyl Cover | ||
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LDN (text speak for London) is a single by Lily Allen which was released in the UK on 25 September 2006. It was co-written by Future Cut, and features a sample of "Reggae Merengue", written by Arthur "Duke" Reid. The song was originally released on strictly limited edition 7" vinyl (500 copies) in the UK on 24 April 2006, accompanied by album track, "Knock 'Em Out," and was re-released in September following the huge success of Allen's second single "Smile".
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[edit] About the record
The lyrics are of Lily describing a bicycle ride through her hometown of London. Set to a cheerful tune, the lyrics first appear to describe a lovely scene "A fella looking dapper, and he's sittin' with a slapper", but follow up revealing a less glamorous reality, "Then I see it's a pimp and his crack whore."
Several episodes from "city life" are described, suggesting that things may not be what they seem: "When you look with your eyes everything seems nice, But if you look twice you can see its all lies." However, Lily finds these sights "priceless", and asks, "Oh why would I wanna be anywhere else?"
[edit] Music videos
There have been two music videos made for "LDN," the first being a low budget affair to promote the original 7" release and the second to promote the re-release.
- The first version of the video, recorded in speed-up camera, follows Allen riding her bike through London. It depicts many positive aspects of London, showing her taking a friendly photograph with a police officer, greeting a passer-by, eating at an ice cream cafe and relaxing in the public park, seeing people playing and having fun. She then rides the underground subway and gets off at a station where she then rides the bike around the palace area (outside the gate) then through the streets.
- The second version of the "LDN" video was produced to be more in line with the song's lyrics, particularly, "When you look with your eyes, everything looks nice, but if you look twice, you can see it's all lies." It opens with Allen in a record store asking the store manager for an eclectic piece of music, satirising keywords that have been used to describe her album - "punky, electronica kindof, grime kinda like new-wave grime, kindof maybe like more broken-beats like kindof dubbie broken beats but a little bit kinda a bit soulful like high drum n bassy but kinda more broken drum and bass"). The song playing in the background is Lily Allen's "Friend of Mine". She receives a phone call, from someone we assume is her boyfriend, and arranges to meet him. She walks out of the store (called "Tough Grade," a play on the UK record store, "Rough Trade"), and walks through the downtown of London. While she walks through the street, she leaves a glowing trail of light behind her, in technicolor-like hues, and the town's atmosphere looks pleasant, fun and happy - however, if you "look twice," the "reality" kicks in, portraying litter, homelessness and violence in London, and the technicolour is washed out - for example, a magician's wand becomes a rusted nail, and a red confectionery on the ground becomes a still-smoking cigarette butt. The video ends with Allen receiving another phone call; her boyfriend has decided not to come. Angry and unhappy, she storms away, and the vivid colour disappears to reveal the duller, more depressing reality of her surroundings.
[edit] Track listing
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "LDN".
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[edit] Charts
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
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| Australian ARIA Singles Chart[1] | 39 |
| Ireland Singles Chart[1] | 21 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[1] | 23 |
| Poland Singles Chart[citation needed] | 41 |
| Switzerland Singles Chart[1] | 88 |
| UK Singles Chart[1] | 6 |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "LDN - chart positions". MusicSquare. Retrieved February 11, 2007.
