Talk:Burlington Bertie

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[edit] Original research?

The Analysis section smacks of original research. If it is, it should be removed. If it is a common analysis, references should be cited.Lilac Soul 10:04, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

I can probably get a reference. That Bow is not the most salubrious part of London, is well-known to UK residents, though maybe not to persons of other countries. It is for the benefit of the latter that I mention it. It would be the same thing as if some supposedly wealthy American gave his address as the Bronx or the Bowery. Geographic frames of reference are commonplace knowledge in one country but possibly enigmatic in another country. As Al Capone said: 'I don't even know what street Canada is on.' Colin4C 13:50, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Is this true?

From the article:

'The original song "Burlington Bertie" referred to Burlington Arcade, an area of London with many side arches: these arches led to the arcade's unintended notoriety as a popular refuge for homeless people -- at night, after the arcade's shops were closed -- where they could sleep with some degree of shelter and privacy. (In the song, Burlington Bertie is boasting of his address in the arcade: a posh enough address, indeed ... but only in the daytime.) Two popular music-hall songs of the 1930s, performed by Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen -- "Underneath the Arches" and "Where the Arches Used to Be" -- are widely perceived to refer to Burlington Arcade, despite conflicting explanations by Flanagan and others. The song title "Burlington Bertie from Bow" makes little sense, because Burlington Arcade and Bow are in two completely different parts of London.

Somehow I don't think so...I have never heard of the Burlington Arcade being used as a shelter for the homeless. And, besides, Bertie is from Bow in the East-End of London. The song even tracks his progress from the East End to the West End...Colin4C 14:36, 17 June 2007 (UTC)