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Luton Airport is a song performed and popularised by the British all-female band Cats UK in 1979. It reached No. 22 in the UK Singles Chart and was inspired by a 1977 television commercial for Campari featuring Lorraine Chase. The song's lyrics are narrated by a dyed-in-the-wool East End girl, who finds herself in a state of frustration with transport issues, only to be saved by a geezer who offers her a ride to Luton Airport. The song's release was preceded by a unique sequence of events, with the advertisement coming first and the song later.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Song | Luton Airport |
| Band | Cats UK/Cats U.K. |
| Year of Release | 1979 |
| Peak Position on UK Singles Chart | #22 |
| Songwriters | Paul Curtis and John Worsley/John Worseley |
| Inspiration | 1977 Campari TV commercial featuring Lorraine Chase |
| Lead Singer | Bea Rowley |
| Lyrics | Available on various websites |
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What You'll Learn
Cats UK
"Luton Airport" is a song performed and made popular by the British all-female band Cats UK in 1979. The song was inspired by a 1977 Campari television commercial in which model and actress Lorraine Chase, in her distinct Cockney accent, responds to Jeremy Clyde's line, "Were you truly wafted here from paradise?" with the now-famous punchline, "Nahh, Luton Airport!". The commercial's humorous exchange became a cultural reference, and two years later, songwriter Paul Curtis and record producer John Worsley created "Luton Airport" while holidaying in Majorca.
The song's lyrics narrate the story of a young woman's journey to Luton Airport and her subsequent holiday romance. The song begins with the singer describing her haste to catch her ride to the airport, only to be let down by a taxi driver who fails to show up on time. She eventually finds another way to the airport and, upon landing in Majorca, embarks on a romantic encounter. The song's chorus emphasises the surprise and delight of finding love during her holiday getaway.
"Luton Airport" by Cats UK has left a lasting impression in British pop culture. The song's catchy tune and light-hearted narrative captured the imaginations of listeners, turning a simple airport into a destination of love and adventure. The song's success also showcases the power of advertising in shaping popular culture, as it drew inspiration from a well-known television commercial. "Luton Airport" continues to be remembered and enjoyed by music lovers, even decades after its release.
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Lorraine Chase
The song "Luton Airport" was performed by the British all-female band Cats UK in 1979. It was inspired by a 1977 television commercial for Campari featuring Lorraine Chase. In the advert, Chase, with her distinct Cockney accent, replies "Nahh, Luton Airport!" when asked, "Were you truly wafted here from paradise?". This line became a cultural reference, and songwriters Paul Curtis and John Worsley penned "Luton Airport" while holidaying in Majorca.
Chase has had a successful acting career, appearing in several television shows and stage productions. She is best known for playing Steph Stokes (formerly Forsythe) in the ITV soap opera "Emmerdale" from 2002 to 2006, returning briefly in 2013. She has also appeared in "Casualty", "The Bill", "My Family", "Doctors", "Lock, Stock...", and "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!".
In addition to her acting career, Chase has made guest appearances on various talk shows, including "This Morning", "Daybreak", and "Come Dine with Me". She has also been a patron of the theatre charity The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America. Chase's impact on popular culture was recognised when, in 2009, the Campari advert featuring her was placed 41st in Channel 4's 100 Greatest TV Adverts.
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Paul Curtis
The song was released in 1979 and reached No. 22 in the UK Singles Chart. The lead singer of Cats UK was Bea Rowley, a leading TV dancer who had worked with many major choreographers of the 1980s. The band also included Deena Payne, who supplied backing vocals and would later appear with Chase in the soap opera Emmerdale.
The song has been described as using snippy lyrics to tell a simple story and employing pop synths and tricks like raising the key on the last verse. It was released on the WEA label and backed by the song "Sail Away".
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John Worsley
In 1979, Worsley co-wrote the song "Luton Airport" with Paul Curtis. The song was performed by the British all-female band Cats UK and reached No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart. The idea for the song came from a 1977 Campari advertisement featuring model and actress Lorraine Chase. In the ad, Chase's character replies to the line "Were you truly wafted here from paradise?" with "Nahh, Luton Airport!". The humorous line became very popular, and Curtis and Worsley decided to turn it into a song while on holiday in Majorca.
Worsley began his career as a singer but later transitioned into songwriting. He wrote music for several low-budget movies during the 1960s and 1970s, including What a Whopper (1961) and Some People (1962). He also penned hit records in the early 1970s, such as "Gonna Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse," a UK No. 8 hit for Jimmy Helms. In 1971, he wrote the United Kingdom's Eurovision entry "Jack in the Box," performed by Clodagh Rodgers, which came fourth in the contest.
Worsley was born on 21 June 1931 and passed away on 6 August 2021. His father chose the name "Worsley" during the Wall Street crash of 1929, fearing that his Greek name would hinder his career prospects. John Worsley joined the Royal Navy at the start of World War II and served on convoy escort duty in the Atlantic and the North Sea. He was a talented artist and illustrator, documenting his experiences during the war through his artwork.
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Commercial inspiration
The song "Luton Airport" was performed by the British all-female band Cats UK in 1979. It reached No. 22 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was inspired by a 1977 Campari television commercial featuring model and actress Lorraine Chase. In the advert, Chase's character replies to Jeremy Clyde's line, "Were you truly wafted here from paradise?" with "Nahh, Luton Airport!" in a strong Cockney accent. The punchline became very popular, and in 1979, songwriter Paul Curtis and record producer John Worsley created the song while on holiday in Majorca.
The writers approached Jill Shirley, who had experience with the UK heats for Eurovision, to find suitable singers for the group. The band featured Deena Payne, Bea Rowley as the lead singer, and three other members. Payne later claimed in an interview that the song reached No. 9 in the charts, but this was incorrect. Some releases of the record featured a censored version that bleeped out the line "Sod it" from the lyrics.
The lyrics of "Luton Airport" narrate the story of a girl with "suitcase in each hand and no transport" who is eventually offered a ride to Luton Airport by a "geezer". The song continues with the narrator's journey to Majorca, including romantic nights and encounters with other holidaymakers.
The commercial inspiration for the song "Luton Airport" showcases how a catchy and memorable punchline from an advertisement can capture the public's imagination and be turned into a successful musical number. The song's popularity also led to Cats UK releasing two more singles, "Sixteen Looking for Love" and "Holiday Camp" in 1980, although these failed to chart.
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Frequently asked questions
The song "Luton Airport" was performed by the British all-female band Cats UK.
The song "Luton Airport" was released in October 1979.
The song was inspired by a 1977 Campari television commercial in which model and actress Lorraine Chase responds to Jeremy Clyde's line "Were you truly wafted here from paradise?" with "Nahh, Luton Airport!".
The song was written by Paul Curtis and John Worsley.
The song "Luton Airport" reached No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart.
