King Charles III's Coronation Has An Official Playlist (Here's What We Think The Songs Mean)
The following article includes a brief reference to domestic violence.
Buckingham Palace is in full swing, preparing for the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023. Held in London at Westminster Abbey, the event will also host the coronation of Queen Consort Camilla. It promises the pageantry we've come to expect from the British royal family. Charles and Camilla will arrive at the abbey from Buckingham Palace in what is called "The King's Procession." After the ceremony, they'll return to the palace for "The Coronation Procession." Like royal weddings, Charles, Camilla, and other key members of the royal family will then appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet crowds.
While it all sounds exciting, much of the talk of the coronation has been eclipsed by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Harry's scathing memoir "Spare" rocked the royal family that January and created a considerable degree of turbulence, particularly between Harry and Prince William. However, even after the memoir, their Netflix show, and Harry's extensive book tour, complete with interviews, Charles allegedly still wants a reconciliation with his younger son. One has to wonder, would the presence of Harry and Meghan at the big event detract from Charles' moment? The poor guy has been waiting for over 70 years to become king. Give him a day!
But it seems like the palace — through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) – is taking the narrative back by releasing an official "Coronation Celebration Playlist" that has nothing to do with family feuds. It sets the musical tone for King Charles' reign and brings more than a few subtle messages.
Come Together by the Beatles
The first song on King Charles III's "Coronation Celebration Playlist" on Spotify is the Beatles' "Come Together" from "Abbey Road." A deeply significant choice, it sets the tone of England, since the Beatles, who formed in Liverpool, were so distinctly English that they changed the history of the country. As Hanif Kureishi argued for the British Library, the fact that the Beatles came from working class roots meant that they transformed class barriers in a country famous for its class divides. Not only this, but they heralded in a new era of star power. "At this time, before people were aware of the power of the media, the social changes the Beatles sanctioned had happened practically before anyone noticed," Kureishi writes.
What does this have to do with Charles? The monarchy hinges precisely on class divide; it's an institution that doesn't exist without the concept of the superior and the inferior. However, the monarchy has had to ride the wave of media power in a way no other organization has ever needed quite so much to justify its existence.
On a more obvious note, the lyrics of "Come Together" point to a key element of Charles' reign. In his first ever televised Christmas message as king in 2022, Charles spoke of the importance of unity: "Our churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and gurdwaras have once again united in feeding the hungry, providing love and support throughout the year. Such heartfelt solidarity is the most inspiring expression of loving our neighbor as ourself." His focus was, sure enough, on coming together.
A dance celebration of England
The "Coronation Celebration Playlist" in preparation for King Charles III's big day is nothing if not a joyful celebration of England. Several of the songs on the playlist are happy dance hits by iconic English singers and songwriters. To start, there's David Bowie's "Let's Dance" from 1983, with lyrics appropriate for a grand celebration: "(Let's dance) put on your red shoes and dance the blues / (Let's dance) to the song they're playing on the radio."
Also on the list is English rock band Elbow and their 2008 song "One Day Like This." It features lyrics that spark joy and ring in a new era, such as, "Drinking in the morning sun / Blinking in the morning sun / Shaking off the heavy one / Heavy like a loaded gun." Another English singer-songwriter found on the Spotify playlist is George Ezra and his 2022 hit "Dance All Over Me." "Tonight with me, tonight with me / Won't you cut it up and dance all over me?" he sings in the chorus.
Meanwhile, Kate Bush's marvel "Running Up that Hill (A Deal with God)," a song from 1985 that oddly had a renaissance in 2022 thanks to its appearance in "Stranger Things," is also featured. Bush told Billboard that she was delighted that the song brought comfort to a new audience, saying, "Life became incredibly frightening in the pandemic. ... It's a bombardment — the horrific war in Ukraine, the famines, the droughts, the floods ... and we lost our Queen." After so much sorrow, it's indeed time for the UK to celebrate.
So many stars appear on the coronation playlist
What's the deal with stars in King Charles III's coronation playlist? There are so many star songs. There's Coldplay's "A Sky Full of Stars," Ellie Goulding's "Starry Eyed," and Emeli Sandé's "Starlight." Coldplay is, of course, an English band while Goulding is English, too, and Sandé is a Scottish singer-songwriter, so there's an obvious connection with the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, all of these songs — because of their celestial theme — speak to guidance and direction. Coldplay's hit says, "'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars / 'Cause you light up the path." There's also an interesting element of relinquishing control in Goulding's song. "Hit, hit, hit, hit, hit me with lightning / Handlebars that I let go, let go for anyone / Take me in and I'll throw out my heart and get a new one," she sings. The same goes for Sandé's tune, which features the lyric, "You are my starlight / Your shine can brighten up the darkest night / I'll follow you until the daylight."
For centuries, the British monarchy held power through the belief in the divine right of kings and queens; the sovereign ruled because God had anointed them. For contemporary audiences, this notion might not be so palatable, yet Charles is still deemed the "Defender of the Faith." The Church of England uses the King James Bible, which states that the wise men were led to Christ through a star. In fact, stars are hugely symbolic in Christianity. Could this speak to Charles' subtle reinforcement that he's there by divine right?
Why Ed Sheeran's Celestial is such a cute song choice
Hot on the heels of so many stars is Ed Sheeran's hit "Celestial," and as far as themes go, this one isn't too far off — at least lyrically, as there's an element of mourning here. "You see tonight, it could go either way / Hearts balanced on a razor blade / We are designed to love and break / And to rinse and repeat it all again," he sings. While we are celebrating the new reign of King Charles III, we are simultaneously grieving the loss of Queen Elizabeth II. "I know your arms, they are reachin' out / From somewhere beyond the clouds," Sheeran later sings on the track.
However, it's worth noting that "Celestial" has a quizzical origin story, one unrelated to anything regal. In September 2022, Sheeran admitted of this songwriting journey on Instagram, "I met the people from Pokémon when I was traveling in Japan, and we joked about me writing a song for them. But now here we are. 'Celestial' comes out next Thursday." Speaking of the music video, Sheeran added, "The video is insanely amazing, animated by the incredible people at Pokémon. I love it, you're gonna love it. And we all gotta catch 'em all." Sure enough, the music video is a playful dreamscape of animation and real life, with appearances from Charmander, Snorlax, Charizard, and others.
While this aspect may not exactly make sense in a royal coronation, "Celestial" is ultimately a playful, fun celebration of whimsy fit for a king.
The hidden meaning of Mr. Blue Sky
"Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra is on the official coronation playlist, and it makes a lot of sense. First of all, the song taps into feelings of joy and celebration: "The sun is shining in the sky / There ain't a cloud in sight / It's stopped raining, everybody's in the play / And don't you know it's a beautiful new day?" The upbeat tune alludes to being without something for a long time, which could speak to the period of mourning following Queen Elizabeth II's death, or even the incredibly long wait of King Charles III before he became king. "Hey you with the pretty face / Welcome to the human race / A celebration, Mr. Blue Sky's up there waiting / And today is the day we've waited for," vocalist Jeff Lynne later sings in the song.
Meanwhile, the 1977 song has re-emerged among younger audiences thanks to TikTok. One user named @chicleson even shared a video with his big discovery. The song is the final tune on the first side of ELO's vinyl album "Out of the Blue," and the TikTok user wrote (via Virgin Radio UK), "When u realize he's saying 'please turn me over' not 'Mr Blue Sky' bc it's the end of the side." The track, then, is somewhat of an invitation: keep listening because there's something more happening.
In this sense, its appearance on the playlist marks a new reign for Charles. It's a time for celebration and joy for the monarchy, and he's inviting people to stay tuned.
The coronation playlist's wild card: Daddy Cool
One of the more unusual songs featured on King Charles III's coronation playlist is Boney M.'s "Daddy Cool," a 1976 hit that was huge in England. Boney M. was a German-Caribbean group most famous for their hit "Rasputin." Their Caribbean roots make sense on the list, since parts of the Caribbean are still part of the Commonwealth. But why "Daddy Cool"? The lyrics are pretty straightforward. "She's crazy like a fool / Wild about Daddy Cool / I'm crazy like a fool / Wild about Daddy Cool," the group sings in the chorus. Could this be an intimate window into Charles himself? Maybe it's a real favorite of his. Perhaps Prince Harry will enlighten us in a follow-up memoir with some tale of Charles dancing in his bedroom to Boney M. We'll just have to wait and see.
The song also has an intimate overtone to it, with a verse that goes, "She's crazy 'bout her daddy / Oh, she believes in him / She loves her daddy." Some royal fans might wonder whether this is some kind of inside look at Charles and Queen Consort Camilla's romance. We certainly discovered a lot about their relationship with the leaked "Tampongate" phone calls from 1989. But considering the tune was released the same decade they met, perhaps it's simply one of their old favorites.
Basically, there are lots of theories to play around with here, and since Charles is king, who's going to stop him from including "Daddy Cool" on this playlist? The answer is literally no one.
Why Slave to the Rhythm is such a bold choice
On the "Coronation Celebration Playlist," the creators also included Grace Jones' "Slave to the Rhythm." Jones, who was Jamaican-born, actually played her hit for the late Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee concert in 2012. Elizabeth was celebrating 60 years on the throne, and the event brought major performers to Buckingham Palace. As The Guardian noted, the concert played key songs from every decade of her reign, so there was a lot of history and nostalgia to the musical choices. For her part, Jones performed "Slave to the Rhythm" while hula-hooping throughout the song's duration. The performance is a masterclass in musical charisma. In a charming mistake at the end, Jones shouted, "We love you! Happy birthday, our queen!" It was not, of course, her birthday — but the celebratory sentiment was felt, all the same.
Meanwhile, the song's lyrics are all about love for music and the demands of music. "You Work all day and men who know / The wheels must turn to keep the flow," Jones sings. Since the late Elizabeth was famous for her prodigious reign and work ethic, the song works as a homage to her on the playlist — though, considering the title, there also appears to be the dark undercurrent of colonialism, which arguably forces one to question, who really toiled to keep England in power?
However, since Jones performed "Slave to the Rhythm" for Elizabeth means that its inclusion is ultimately a nice way to honor the late queen as King Charles III begins his reign.
Harry Styles and treating people with kindness
British singer-songwriter Harry Styles also made it onto King Charles III's playlist with his song "Treat People with Kindness." From his sophomore album "Fine Line," the tune's lyrics tap into the experience of caring for others: "Maybe we can / Find a place to feel good / And we can treat people with kindness / Find a place to feel good." This message parallels Charles' early messages as monarch. "I shall endeavor to serve you with loyalty, respect, and love," Charles said in his first public address as king after Queen Elizabeth II died. While it's clear that Charles is using music to amplify his message of service and love, some of the more recent songs on the list — namely Styles' hit and Sam Ryder's "Space Man" — may speak to another focus of his reign: that of staying relevant.
The late queen mastered the art of mystery and silence during her reign, but Charles is facing a new era, prompted in large part by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's outspoken criticism of the royal family, particularly in issues surrounding racism and unconscious bias. Majesty magazine editor Joe Little told the New York Post, "Charles has said himself that he will have to adapt his style when he becomes sovereign. But the question of just how outspoken he will be remains to be seen."
Basically, Charles' reign will have to change with the times. The presence of contemporary, young artists on his playlist seemingly speaks to the fact that Charles is listening — and hopefully paying attention.
The Spice Girls have a long history with King Charles III
It wouldn't be a classically British playlist without the Spice Girls, and their hit "Say You'll Be There" is featured loud and proud on King Charles III's official coronation playlist. This inclusion was major not only for Charles, but also for the musical group. As The Sun pointed out, the Spice Girls could very likely reunite for Charles' coronation weekend in 2023, slated to last three days from May 6 to 8. An insider claimed to the outlet, "Royal [organizers] are super keen to secure Britain's biggest girl band and the Spice Girls are seriously pondering a return to the stage as a five piece for such a historical event."
What's so cute about the idea is that the Spice Girls have a long-standing history with Charles. Back in 1997, when their band was newly formed, the five singers attended The Prince's Trust charity held at the Manchester Opera House. It was at this event that Geri Halliwell allegedly left Charles red in the face when she reportedly said he was "very sexy" before pinching his royal behind. Decades later, she clarified some things to The Times (via Express). "I didn't pinch Prince Charles's bum, as was reported," Halliwell said. "I patted it. Patting him on the bottom was against royal protocol but we're all human."
Judging by the Spice Girls' continued presence at royal events — and now possibly at the upcoming coronation — we're guessing this headline-making protocol breach swiftly became water under the bridge between Ginger Spice and King Charles.
Where are the voices of the Commonwealth?
King Charles III's "Coronation Celebration Playlist" garnered some criticism after its release for its lack of diversity. The purpose of the playlist, a spokesperson explained (via BBC News) was to "celebrate British and Commonwealth artists ahead of the upcoming Coronation." There's ample celebration of British artists amongst the 27 songs chosen, but many critics have pointed out that the playlist failed to truly showcase voices from throughout the 54 countries that make up the Commonwealth.
As Euro News noted, the only geographically diverse voices on the list come from Boney M. (a German-Carribean group), Jamaican-born singer Grace Jones, and Canadian Michael Bublé, with his hit "It's a Beautiful Day." Meanwhile, there is no representation from the African nations that are members of the Commonwealth, including Kenya, Namibia, Uganda, and more; nor is there any sign of the Pacific realm of the Commonwealth, such as Australia, New Zealand, or Papua New Guinea.
There was also a quick edit made to the playlist regarding a British artist whose parents hailed from Ghana and Nigeria. Dizzee Rascal's song "Dance Wiv Me" controversially made it on the list, after he'd been convicted of domestic violence toward his then-fiancée, Cassandra Jones, in April 2022. Buckingham Palace did not make a comment about the rapper's initial inclusion on the list, nor his later removal from it. However, the DCMS – who curated the playlist — noted, "A track featuring Dizzee Rascal was included in error — and as soon as this was identified, it was removed."
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
Why the Kinks' Waterloo Sunset is significant
English rock band The Kinks made it onto King Charles III's official coronation playlist with their 1967 hit "Waterloo Sunset." The quintessentially English band was an apt choice for a playlist celebrating a new British monarch, and the song holds special significance. It's all about London and the River Thames, the artery of the great city. "Dirty old river, must you keep rolling / Flowing into the night / People so busy, make me feel dizzy / Taxi light shines so bright," Ray Davies sings.
The song held special meaning to The Kinks. "'Waterloo Sunset' came to me in a dream," Davies told Classic Rock. "I woke up and it was there." While he admitted to waffling around with different English cities, he picked London in the end. "Originally I wanted to call it 'Liverpool Sunset,'" Davies explained. "I loved Liverpool and Merseybeat. But you know what they say as advice for writers — write about what you know. I knew London better than I knew Liverpool. So I changed it." However, the tune was originally intended to be private, with Davies telling Mojo (via Ultimate Classic Rock), "I said, 'That's for us and I don't want it to come out.' It was so important to me. Shows I'm not a very good businessman. I just wanted it to be ours."
Still, Davies later admitted his gratitude over how many people loved the song. We imagine Charles does too — especially considering that London, home to Buckingham Palace, is critical for the monarchy.
The nostalgia of Green, Green Grass of Home
Famed Welsh singer Tom Jones also made it onto King Charles III's official coronation playlist with his 1966 song "Green, Green Grass of Home." The song is one of Jones' all-time hits, but it's actually a cover of a song initially recorded by American musician Johnny Darrell — thus creating a tie-in with the United States for the playlist. The song, then, is an anomaly on the playlist, with its distinct country music sound. It's also deeply nostalgic. "The old home town looks the same / As I step down from the train / And there to meet me is my Mama and Papa," Jones sings.
It's ultimately a song about returning home and dying in one's homeland. "Yes, they'll all come to see me in the shade / Of that old oak tree / As they lay me neath the green, green grass of home," Jones sings at the end. With Queen Elizabeth II's death in such recent memory, there's an element of grief within the royal family and the UK that pairs well with these lyrics, especially considering her burial at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
That said, there's also an air of longing for the crown that has marked Charles' life. He held the British royal family's record for the longest-serving heir apparent. Becoming king at last at age 73 seems much like his own return home after years of waiting.
King Charles III's playlist ends on themes of reign and kingship
The DCMS' "Coronation Celebration Playlist" wraps up with "King" by Years & Years. The real appeal to this upbeat dance track is its fitting title, as the lyrics have more to do with a breakup. "I was a king under your control / And, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh / I wanna feel like you've let me go," frontman Olly Alexander sings. The choice to close with "King" seemingly sets a self-congratulatory tone for King Charles III's new reign, after the distinctly female monarchy of Queen Elizabeth II.
But judging by what Charles has said about becoming king, he's focused on service and duty, much like his mother was. "I've had this extraordinary feeling, for years and years, ever since I can remember really, of wanting to heal and make things better," he told Time in 2013. "I feel more than anything else it's my duty to worry about everybody and their lives in this country, to try to find a way of improving things if I possibly can."
It's been a long time coming for Charles, after decades of waiting and controversy, largely through his tumultuous marriage to the late Princess Diana and his relationship with Queen Consort Camilla. But Charles, like the monarchy itself, made it through the turbulence, even as he's doing these days with the fallout from Prince Harry's memoir. Can he rise above? The king and his supporters seem to think so, with a playlist speaking to a moment of pause in all of this: it's time for joy and celebration.