British Airways have been promoting their London 2012 connection with a commercial that uses the Clash's seminal hit 'London Calling'.

The lyrics of 'London Calling' reflected on the unpleasant state of Britain in the late 1970's, hardly the best or most logical choice for such a promotion...

'London Calling' Single Cover.

Themes explored in the song included the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster, fears that the River Thames would flood London, police brutality referring to the Metropolitan Police's issue of truncheons as standard equipement during that time of mass rioting, and the band referencing their own debt and issues during that period. (1)

Joe Strummer's Original Lyrics For 'London Calling'

The apocalyptic lyrics are hardly suitable for promotion of tourism or a sporting event, and many find it hard to believe that the late Joe Strummer, would have approved this use of the song in such a manner.

It seems a lot of people share these concerns and have commented/ questioned on YouTube as to why BA picked this particular song in the first place - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6VzhDE1Wso

Lyrics used in the commercial:

London calling to the faraway towns 
Now that war is declared-and battle come down 

London calling to the underworld

Come out of the cupboard, all you boys and girls 

London calling, now don't look at us 

All that phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust 

London calling, see we ain't got no swing 

'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing  

Engines stop running but I have no fear
London is drowning-and I live by the river

What is most telling is that the last two lines of lyrics have in fact been edited down from the originals

The full original lyrics - which give those who are not familiar with the song an understanding why this track and the editing of the lyrics has been seen as an extremely bizzare choice:

London Calling

(Strummer/Jones)

London calling to the faraway towns 
Now that war is declared-and battle come down 

London calling to the underworld

Come out of the cupboard, all you boys and girls 



London calling, now don't look at us 

All that phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust 

London calling, see we ain't got no swing 

'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing  



CHORUS:

The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in 

Engines stop running and the wheat is growing thin 

A nuclear error, but I have no fear 

London is drowning-and I live by the river  



London calling to the imitation zone 

Forget it, brother, an' go it alone 

London calling upon the zombies of death 

Quit holding out-and draw another breath 



London calling-and I don't wanna shout 

But when we were talking-I saw you nodding out 

London calling, see we ain't got no highs 

Except for that one with the yellowy eyes  



CHORUS  Now get this London calling, yeah, I was there, too 

An' you know what they said? Well, some of it was true! 

London calling at the top of the dial 

After all this, won't you give me a smile?  



I never felt so much a' like

More disturbingly, many people have queried the voice over at 0.41-0.45. during the market scene?

Some specualte that the market trader announces "Everyone's dead now"

N.B - this is not present on any original Clash recording, and some have gone as far as to demand BA clarify what is being said.

BA make the following claim on YouTube comments:

"Hi - the voice you can hear is a market trader. The people in this scene are not actors and their words not scripted. It is a genuine traders' call captured on the soundtrack. Thanks."

Yet the YouTube poster, popupdave, who made the original query, claims:

"Why is the 'market trader' on this version and the TV version, yet not on the version on your website.

I feel these are pertinent questions."

The commercial ends with the legend "Don't Fly" complete with centred pyramid symbolism of the Olympic Stadium.

Highly unusual for a corporation where profits are the primary concern.

BA's own explanation for the commericial can be seen here:

However, no reason is given for the choice of 'London Calling' as the theme music.

(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Calling_%28song%29