"Londinium" is a song by Welsh band Catatonia from their third studio album, Equally Cursed and Blessed (1999). It was written by Mark Roberts with Catatonia and produced by TommyD and the band. Released on 12 July 1999, the song reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart.
| "Londinium" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Catatonia | ||||
| from the album Equally Cursed and Blessed | ||||
| B-side | "Apathy Revolution", "Intercontinental Sigh" | |||
| Released | 12 July 1999 | |||
| Studio | Monnow Valley (Rockfield, Wales) | |||
| Length | 4:36 | |||
| Label | Blanco y Negro | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Mark Roberts, Catatonia | |||
| Producer(s) | TommyD, Catatonia | |||
| Catatonia singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Recording and release
edit"Londinium" was released as the second single from the album Equally Cursed and Blessed against the wishes of the band, who wanted to release "Karaoke Queen" instead. Singer Cerys Matthews was also equally annoyed that the studio had spent more on the video than it had cost to produce the album.[1] She was open about it in interviews, saying as much both to NME and when interviewed by Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 1.[1][2]
The song was released on 12 July 1999 and was supported by a string of appearances on television shows such as CD:UK, The Pepsi Chart Show and Top of the Pops.[3][4] However, it did not pick up a great deal of airplay amid fears that it contained inflammatory lyrics about London,[2] and the line "sushi bars, wet fish, it just sucks the life out of me" was removed for the radio edit. It peaked in the UK charts at number 20.[5]
Track listings
editUK and Australian CD single[6]
- "Londinium" (album version) – 4:36
- "Apathy Revolution" – 4:20
- "Intercontinental Sigh" – 2:56
UK 7-inch and cassette single[7][8]
- "Londinium" (album version) – 4:36
- "Intercontinental Sigh" – 2:56
Credits and personnel
editCredits are lifted from the Equally Cursed and Blessed album booklet.[9]
Studios
- Recorded at Monnow Valley Studios (Rockfield, Wales)
- Mixed at Whitfield Street Studios (London, England)
Personnel
- Catatonia – writing, production
- Mark Roberts – writing
- TommyD – production, mixing
- Roland Herrington – mixing
- Joe Gibb – engineering
Charts
edit| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[10] | 66 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] | 69 |
| Scotland (OCC)[12] | 21 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[5] | 20 |
References
edit- ^ a b Bychawski, Adam (29 June 1999). "Cerys: We Hate 'Londinium'". NME. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ a b Owens 2000, p. 242.
- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 12 July, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 10 July 1999. p. 23. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ Owens 2000, p. 243.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ Londinium (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). Catatonia. Blanco y Negro Records. 1999. NEG117CD, 3984290389.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Londinium (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Catatonia. Blanco y Negro Records. 1999. NEG 117.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Londinium (UK cassette single sleeve). Catatonia. Blanco y Negro Records. 1999. NEG117C, 3984290394.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Equally Cursed and Blessed (UK CD album booklet). Catatonia. Blanco y Negro Records. 1999. 3984 270942.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 52.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 31. 31 July 1999. p. 8. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- Owens, David (2000). Cerys, Catatonia and the Rise of Welsh Pop. London: Ebury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-0918-7412-4.