Cool Britannia

(Trad, arr. V. Stanshall/N.Innes)

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Thanks to New Scientist for mentioning this Web site as part of an article on 18 April 1998 about the in-vogue phrase Cool Britannia. Apparently a Newsweek magazine cover article in 1996 revived the phrase for the perceived fashionable status of Britain. In 1998 the media attached the label Cool Britannia to the Labour Government's packaging of the nation's image - the Government then tried to disown it. [Background info: the New Scientist article went on to explain that Rule Britannia was written by James Thompson in the 18th century at The Dove pub, Thameside.]

Also in 1998 Cool Britannia was briefly a flavour of ice cream at Ben & Jerry's and the Prince of Wales Festival Ale House, Birmingham, produced a range of beers to celebrate the G8 summit in May, including Cool Britannia Bitter.

By way of contrast, the British tourist industry pushed the theme of warm Britain: they emphasised the traditional and warm hospitality and charm, in contrast to the supposed ethos of Cool Britannia.

Anyway, here's the origin of the phrase, the very short opening track from the Bonzo's first album, the 1967 Gorilla, to the tune of Rule Britannia...

Cool Britannia

Cool Britannia
Britannia you are cool
Take a trip
Britons ever ever ever shall be hip: Hit me, hit me [pronounced by Vivian so as to sound like "hippy" too]