myguideBritain Blog

Liverpool, a Capital City.

January 14th, 2008

“Why should you never swerve your car to hit a Scouser on a bike…?” I was about to start this Blog with a joke about Liverpool as on Friday night the city celebrated the opening ceremony of its year as European Capital of Culture 2008. This nomination and accolade has been for me both a surprise and a delight. As many of you will know, if you have spoken with me or read our team profiles on the website, I studied and lived for 3 years of my life in Liverpool and therefore, for me, this magnificent city will always hold many special memories (and a few hazy ones). However, Liverpool does seem to take a good verbal bashing from the peoples of most other areas of Britain. So why has Liverpool been given such a prestigeous title? What is the culture of Liverpool? And what on earth is a Scouser?

Liverpool, boomed in the 18^th19^th and early 20^th centuries from international trade and immigration from Ireland. Lobscouse was the regional dish, a hearty Lamb Stew that was eaten by the Sailors and shipbuilders after a long day out in the cold. And it is from this that the colloquial name for Liverpudlian’s is derived, Scouser and the name of the accent, Scouse. By the 1980’s however, the shipbuilding and other heavy industries in Liverpool fell in to decline and in 1981 an area of Liverpool called Toxteth was the scene for some of the worst riots in the UK. For many Brits, it is from this era that Liverpool and Scouser’s still hold their reputations and there are endless jokes and stereotypes suggesting that Liverpool is still high on crime and with many deprived areas.

So why, with these sterotypes, has Liverpool been named European Capital of Culture? Well, it is because a city that has experienced a history such as that of Liverpool must have bundles of character. Any visitor will immediately note the Liverpudlian’s high pitched and entirely unique regional accent or dialect, some of the intricacies of which are still a mystery to me even after having lived there so long. As a language and linguistics student I was able to fathom a number of European languages but still struggle with Scouse! However, even if you can’t understand what they’re saying, worry not, because when you speak to a Scouser you will find that they are some of the most friendly people you will meet in the UK and are always willing to offer a friendly chat on the bus or in the supermarket. Indeed the Liverpool anthem, or one of them, which is sung on the terraces of Liverpool’s famous football ground, is “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and in this city you never will.

Although Liverpool is home to a number of iconic landmarks, being the only city in Europe with two christian cathedrals and with the famous riverside Liver Buildings, the real beauty of Liverpool really is in its people. Liverpool has given birth to a hugely disproportionate number of Britain’s greatest actors, comics and TV personalities. And that is not even mentioning a few international pop icons that you might just know: John, Paul, George and Ringo. The Beatles, of course hailed from Liverpool and catapulted the city into the international Limelight with their Mersey Beat and Pop/Rock sounds. They were inspired of course by the city, and it’s people. In my first year of studying, I lived opposite Penny Lane, yes the “Penny Lane”. And I have been to the Cavern Club where the Beatles first performed together. But in true Liverpool fashion all of these locations are very humble and unassuming. Today you will see a number of sculptures all over the city many referring to classic beatles songs. As you stroll across from the city to the Albert Docks you can’t miss the famous Yellow Submarine but one you may have to go hunting for is the, rather fittingly, little known statue of Eleanor Rigby sat alone on a bench on a tiny, tucked away side street. If you visit Liverpool be sure to keep her company for 5 minutes of your day. You will find her on Sir Thomas Street.

So this is why Liverpool has won European Capital of Culture for 2008. Because culture is all about people and the people of Liverpool, Scousers, are loyal and humble, abundant in personality and with unrivalled sense of humour even in hard times. So tradtionally, as the joke goes, you should never swerve your car to hit a Scouser on a bike because the chance is that the bike might be yours… However in reality, today, if you did knock a Scouser off his bike he would probably get up, dust himself off, check your car wasn’t damaged and then offer to buy you a pint in the pub down the road.

Entry Filed under: Cities, Coasts, England, Music