Seminal favourites by the likes of The Beatles and the Sex Pistols are amongst the tracks picked by BBC Radio 2 to showcase ‘the soundtrack to British culture’ for a new series which will air on the station next year.
The Beatles’ 1963 single ‘She Loves You‘ and the Sex Pistols’ 1977 anti-establishment anthem ‘God Save The Queen‘ make up two of the first ten tracks which will feature across the ‘People’s Songs’ series, when Radio 2 will aim to ‘tell the story of Britain through 50 records’ from World War II to the present day.
According to presenter Stuart Maconie, the shows will look to highlight songs “…that people listened to, laughed to, loved to and laboured to, as well as down tools and danced to.”
First 10 People’s Choice tracks:
Vera Lynn – ‘We’ll Meet Again’
Lonnie Donegan – ‘Rock Island Line’
The Beatles – ‘She Loves You’
Millie Small – ‘My Boy Lollipop’
Procul Harum – ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’
Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin – ‘Je T’Aime…’
Sex Pistols – ‘God Save The Queen’
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – ‘Two Tribes’
The Shamen – ‘Ebeneezer Goode’
Amy Winehouse – ‘Rehab’