A new show on VH-1 this evening promises to introduce an element of local rivalry to the previously relatively benign pastime of loving pop music. The Nation's Favourite Music City will be three hours of contenders from eight of Britain's biggest band-producing cities and towns stating the case for their patch being the most critically and commercially relevant on the UK's musical landscapes.
Most of the contenders are obvious. You would think, for example, that London is in with a good shout, as it's the place that a huge number of bands who make it elsewhere eventually end up gravitating towards when they can afford the property prices. Yet the nation's capital isn't shy of bona fide local contenders either - David Bowie is from Brixton, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey are from Chiswick and Hammersmith originally, and the likes of The Clash and The Sex Pistols gave birth to British punk here. Contemporary artists like Lily Allen (Hammersmith), Jamie T (Wimbledon) and the Libertines axis (they formed here) keep the city's iconic flag flying.
In a historical sense, cities like Liverpool and Manchester are hard to ignore, although their contributions are less these days. Liverpool, of course, gave us the Fab Four (but that also includes Ringo's solo work, by default), alongside a respectable roster which incorporates The La's, The Coral and The Zutons. Gerry and The Pacemakers' You'll Never Walk Alone is a regional anthem, although Atomic Kitten, Sonia and Melanie C are perhaps best hushed up. Manchester, meanwhile, offers the unassailable likes of The Stone Roses, The Smiths, Joy Division/New Order and, of course, Oasis. Yet what have they offered in the last decade?
Other big hitters are Glasgow (The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Belle and Sebastian, etc) and the recently rediscovered Sheffield (thanks to the Arctic Monkeys, a lineage which started with Heaven 17 and the Human League through to Pulp and Moloko is still strong). Yet some bubbling-under locales have missed out on the final list - perhaps Sting's association with Newcastle soured the panel, although the north has also given us Bryan Ferry, Maximo Park and... er, Dire Straits? Or what about Dundee, punching above its weight with The View, Snow Patrol in their early days and The Associates?
So which is the nation's favourite music city? Has your own market town been unjustly neglected all these years, despite the fact that someone from the UK Subs went to primary school there? Or do you resent the fact that - like the Charlatans (from Northwich, not Manchester) - some bands get sucked into the orbit of your city as a matter of geographical convenience? Thoughts please.
