Taylor Swift Namechecks Loads Of London Areas, In Her New Track London Boy

Laura Reynolds
By Laura Reynolds Last edited 55 months ago

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Taylor Swift Namechecks Loads Of London Areas, In Her New Track London Boy
Photo: Taylor Swift

"Took me back to Highgate, met all of his best mates" croons Taylor Swift in her new track, London Boy. Yes, she is referring to our own N6 — and it's not the only area of the capital to be mentioned in the song.

Camden Market, the West End, Brixton, Shoreditch, Hackney, Bond Street (the Louis Vuitton shop, to be precise) and Soho all get a namecheck in TayTay's whistle-stop tour.

It seems she's been indulging a few local pastimes too; "you can find me in the pub, we are watching rugby with his school friends" (check out our pub guide if you need a good boozer, Taylor) and "show me a grey sky, a rainy cab ride" are some of the lyrics

The upbeat tune is an ode to places the pop star has visited with her 'London Boy' — and a couple of famous Londoners get a mention too.

Yours for $80.

"Stick with me, I'm your queen, Like a Tennessee Stella McCartney" is a reference to the singer's recently released fashion collection with the London-based designer (the t-shirt's yours for $80). And that male voice saying "We can go driving in, on my scooter, you know, just riding in London" at the start of the video? Hackney boy Idris Elba. It's taken from a 2017 interview (2:45) with James Corden. Please, Swifties, don't go getting any ideas — e-scooters are actually illegal on public roads and pavements here.

Oh, and before any Highgate residents get their hopes up of an international romance with a global pop star, the song is a statement, not a lonely hearts ad. She's already found her London Boy — North London actor Joe Alywn has apparently been dating Swift since 2016. In fact, the song is basically one big admission that the relationship is very much on — she follows up the Highgate lyric with "so I guess all the rumours are true".

Here's the song in full, released on her new album, Lover:

It's not the first time T-Swizzle has frolicked in our great city — part of the video for her 2018 single End Game was filmed in a north London kebab shop.

At least she hasn't fallen foul of Fergie's tourist-in-London faux pas (although her mention of 'high tea' instead of afternoon tea is bound to get a few purists riled).

No official video has yet been released for London Boy — could we soon see Swift belting out a tune in Waterlow Park or haggling in Camden Market?

Hit us up if you need a tour guide, Taylor. Happy to help.

Last Updated 23 August 2019

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