Jen’s London/Edinburgh Takeover: What I Listened to Across the Pond
This year, I accomplished my goal of traveling to Europe and more specifically, London and Edinburgh. London was always on my bucket list destination because well…..I was a One Direction/The 1975 obsessed Tumblr girl from the years 2012-2016. Now as an adult being a 90s Britpop/Beatles nerd, going on this journey felt even more meaningful.
Oh and I still love Harry Styles too.
Because of these details about me, I was always interested in visiting a pop culture capital like London. Edinburgh is a place I recently added to my bucket list because I think castles are cool and I really wanted to see highland COOS.
As I prepared for this trip, I naturally made a playlist of songs, mostly from grime rappers, so I can try and be ~ one with the Londoners ~ . My goal for this trip was to become a grime rap fan and while I didn’t listen to this playlist a lot while traveling, I found myself being more present and really taking in my surroundings instead.
When I landed in London, I heard about there being a music festival in Finsbury Park headlined by The 1975. It’s like the universe somehow knew I was arriving in London :.)
Unfortunately, I didn’t go to the festival but I bar hopped in Soho with other fellow travelers and had the best first night in London. From hearing buskers to seeing bands all the way from Ireland perform traditional Irish songs, THE CRAIC WAS CRACKIN. One of my favorite memories was an Irish band saying “HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY” right before they played. Yes I was in London on July 4th lol.
In Edinburgh, I learned that Grassmarket was where a lot of the cool pubs were at, including my favorite, Biddy Mulligans!!! I spent my first night there and requested Taylor Swift and danced my ass off to songs like this one. There was also a Lumineers concert happening at Edingurgh castle!!! Only in the U.K. can you see a concert at a castle or even listen from outside the venue. Which is exactly what I did. I got to hear them live outside the castle while sitting in Grassmarket. And yes, I did hear “Ho Hey” live and will forever associate that song with my trip :.)
Edinburgh has a huge busking culture and almost everyday, I got to hear bagpipe players as I walked the Royal Mile. One of the most magical moments was hearing bagpipes on a tour to the Scotland highlands. I ended my trip by going to Grassmarket one more time and singing “Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis with an entire pub. As someone who lives in Texas, I know that moments like this don’t really happen since Oasis fans are few and far between but practically everywhere in the U.K. so I really took this moment in.
On this trip, I learned that Irish pubs are THE places to be at in the U.K. for some good live music and making new friends. And if any of the following songs get played at a pub
- Jolene by Dolly Parton
- Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon
- Wonderwall by Oasis
- Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes
you’re in for some good CRAIC!
While I didn’t listen to my playlist a lot, I admit that some grime rap is cool….I just need to expand my music palate a bit more.