Christine's impact on popular culture is diverse, with numerous songs written about her and the events of the early 1960s.
There have been three musicals: A Model Girl, Christine the Musical, and most recently, Stephen Ward. Each musical features its own songs by and for the lead character.
(See The Actors Who Have Played Christine)
This is just a part of the long story of Christine's inspiration for popular music.
If we have missed any songs, we would love to hear from you. Please let us know through the contact page.
Miss X was Lionel Blair’s sister Joyce Blair. The music was written Jaime De Mora y Aragon, The brother in law of the King of Baudouin of Belgium and the words by Leslie Bricusse.
It was of course band by the BBC but reached no 37 in the UK charts.
Performed by an unknown singer using the music from Miss X but Italy lyrics
In 1963 American singer song writer, Phil Ochs, recorded ‘Christine Keeler’
The song appears on his album The Broadside Tapes 1, which was released in 1989 after his death.
Some time in the early 1960’s - probably 1964 - Mandy released “You’ve got what it takes” and “Close your eyes”.
A very 60’s pop sound
It was a ska version of “Comin’ home baby” a song written by Ben Tucker and first recorded by the Dave Bailey Quintet in 1961. Mel Torme hit the UK top 20 with his vocal version in 1962.
The Skatalites; version was played at Christine’s funeral.
With we lyrics:
“Where have all the swinging Londoners gone?
Ossie Clark and Mary Quant
And what of Christine Keeler,
John Stephen and Alvaro,
Where on earth did they all go?
Mr. Fish and Mr. Chow,
Yeah, I wonder where they all are now.”
The Kinks where A favourite of Christine and by chance the final scene of the BBC drama is Christine (Sophie Cookson) dancing to the Kinks.
Al Stewart’s ‘Post World War Two Blues’ came out in 1973. It is a storytelling folk/rock song marking some of the historical events of the era.
“And one day Macmillan was coming downstairs
A voice in the dark caught him unawares
It was Christine Keeler blowing him a kiss
He said "I never believed it could happen like this“
Post punk band Glaxo Babies released the song ‘Christine Keeler’ in 1979.
I remember hearing this song when I was much younger and not realising it was about my mother.
Ian Dury‘s ‘England’s Glory’ from the Album Apples released in 1989.
‘England’s Glory was written by Ian 12 years earlier when his band was called Kilburn and the High Roads and has the line “Christine Keeler and the Board of Trade.”
I remember this being an in joke for Christine. I understand From where it came.
Christine appeared in the 1987 Bryan Ferry video for “Kiss and Tell.” The song was not about Christine but was apparently about Bryan’s ex, Jerry Hall, who had just written a tell-all book. Mandy Smith, famous for her relationship with Bill Wyman, also appeared in the video.
We spent the day at Pinewood Studios. I remember it was a long day of filming, and Christine didn’t get to meet Bryan Ferry, who only arrived on set after she had left. She was told by the crew that Bryan was very shy.
Billy Joel’s 1989 song “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” which was a commentary on 20th-century history, includes the line “British Politician Sex.”
Also in 1989 ‘Nothing Has Been Proved’ and ‘In Private’ by Dusty Springfield were released, Both written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chis Lowe of The Pet Shop Boys.
‘Nothing Has Been Proved’ reached no 16 in the UK charts.
‘In Private’ was a little more successful and reached no 14 in the UK charts and both the songs were used in the film Scandal released that year.
Neil Tennant and Chis Lowe from the Pet Shop Boys attended the London premiere of Scandal, as did Christine and I.
The Clash’s 1980 song ‘The Leader‘ was about the Profumo affair. One of the verses refers to ‘The man in the mask’:
“He wore a leather mask for his dinner guests
Totally nude and with deep respect
Proposed a toast to the votes he gets
The feeling of power and the thought of sex!”
In 1995 English rock group Senseless Things released the single ‘Christine Keeler.’
It went to number 56 in the UK charts.
The Charlatans released the album “Tellin‘ Stories” in 1997, With Christine’s permission the Charlatans used the icon image of her on the chair on both the sleeve and publicity poster for their single ‘Tellin’ Stories”
n 2013 the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical ‘Stephen Ward’ ran for four months at the Aldwych Theatre.
‘I’m hopeless when it comes to you’ and ‘This side of the sky’ seem to be the most popular songs from the musical.
Christine chose not to be involved in the production and not to see it. Christine didn't believe that any musical was a suitable medium to tell her story.
Emily Capell and the Dreadzone released Flamingo Nov 2020. Its Christine’s story inspired by the film and the BBC drama - Emily writes about the song
The punk band London, from their 2020 album The Hell for Leather Mob (2020 Beach Café Records)
A tribute to Christine Keeler
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