Joe Elliott, lead singer of one of the Steel City’s most famous exports, Def Leppard, once reportedly said Sheffield was a ‘great place with great people’ but that 'there’s nothing in Sheffield to write songs about’.
While he was right on the first two counts, he’s been proved wrong countless times on that final assertion, with many of Sheffield’s most successful acts taking inspiration from their home city in their lyrics.
Sheffield has also been a muse for many artists not lucky enough to hail from among its seven hills, who have still chosen to reference it in their music, from Elton John to Stormzy.
How many of these songs namechecking Sheffield or its streets and suburbs have you heard, and are there any we’ve missed off our list that you’d recommend?
Sheffield has also been a muse for many artists not lucky enough to hail from among its seven hills, who have still chosen to reference it in their music, from Elton John to Stormzy.
13. Crazy Titch (Interlude) - Stormzy
Stormzy was born a long way from Sheffield, in the London borough of Croydon, but he does reference the Steel City in his song Crazy Titch (Interlude). He sings: "I know certi' guys from all over/Brum, Manchester, Notts, Sheffield, Leeds, Manny, Liverpool/These people all say the same thing, 'We don't really even know what grime is but we know who Stormzy is'." Photo: Tristan Fewings