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NEWS ARCHIVE
The People’s Song Gallery Opened At BME
The British Music Experience has opened ‘The People’s Song Gallery’ in partnership with the popular BBC Radio 2 series, ‘The People’s Songs’. The gallery aims to tell the story of the last seven decades of British history through the popular music that provided its sound track.
The Radio 2 series, presented by Stuart Maconie, tells the story of modern Britain in 50 records, each week focusing on a well-known, popular song and discussing themes related to the time it was recorded. Starting with the austerity of the period following World War II, the series looks at a variety of issues ranging from society during the punk years to the modern obsession with celebrity. The accompanying gallery at the BME allows visitors to record their own memories of the songs that helped to shape Britain. They can also explore the show’s archive, listen to episodes and hear comments from other music fans.
British Music Experience curator Paul Lilley said: “Putting the fans into the story is something that we’ve always done at the British Music Experience and I’m thrilled that The People’s Songs is taking a similar approach in presenting a modern history of Britain. Oral history can be such a powerful tool, giving a voice to those often marginalised from traditional histories and at the same time, although subjective, capable of conveying much more than the written word.”
Stuart Maconie added: “In the company of the Great British public, I aim to tell the story of the last seven decades via the records that sound-tracked this dramatic period; a period of conflict, social change, parties, prosperity, plenty, poverty, peace and war. The creation of the People's Songs Gallery at the British Music Experience the home of our nation's pop music history is hugely important in allowing us to give the nation a voice in this story.”
The People's Songs Gallery is open to the public now and is based at the British Music Experience in London’s O2. Admission is included in the cost of a ticket to the museum: £13 adults, £6.50 children and £8 concessions.
The Radio 2 series, presented by Stuart Maconie, tells the story of modern Britain in 50 records, each week focusing on a well-known, popular song and discussing themes related to the time it was recorded. Starting with the austerity of the period following World War II, the series looks at a variety of issues ranging from society during the punk years to the modern obsession with celebrity. The accompanying gallery at the BME allows visitors to record their own memories of the songs that helped to shape Britain. They can also explore the show’s archive, listen to episodes and hear comments from other music fans.
British Music Experience curator Paul Lilley said: “Putting the fans into the story is something that we’ve always done at the British Music Experience and I’m thrilled that The People’s Songs is taking a similar approach in presenting a modern history of Britain. Oral history can be such a powerful tool, giving a voice to those often marginalised from traditional histories and at the same time, although subjective, capable of conveying much more than the written word.”
Stuart Maconie added: “In the company of the Great British public, I aim to tell the story of the last seven decades via the records that sound-tracked this dramatic period; a period of conflict, social change, parties, prosperity, plenty, poverty, peace and war. The creation of the People's Songs Gallery at the British Music Experience the home of our nation's pop music history is hugely important in allowing us to give the nation a voice in this story.”
The People's Songs Gallery is open to the public now and is based at the British Music Experience in London’s O2. Admission is included in the cost of a ticket to the museum: £13 adults, £6.50 children and £8 concessions.
