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?
13. Heavyweight Champion of the World - Reverend and the Makers
Sheffield's Reverend and the Makers are riding a wave at the moment, on the back of their acclaimed album Heatwave in the Cold North. Their most famous single, however, is still Heavyweight Champion of the World, which reached the top 10. It includes the lyrics: "At school, he used to dream about being Bruce Lee/But the need for chops in the Manor Top/Ain't all that great you see." Photo: DEAN ATKINS
14. The Bus to Crookes - The Human League
A second entry for Crookes on our list, this time courtesy of Sheffield legends The Human League. While it may not have reached the heights of Don't You Want Me, instrumental track The Bus to Crookes is still a catchy tune and somewhat surprisingly not the first song on this list to be inspired by Sheffield's public transport network. Photo: Daniel Martino
15. Whippin' Piccadilly - Gomez
Gomez hail from Southport and their infectious indie classic Whippin' Piccadilly is about a day out in Manchester, but it does include the line: "Finally made our way back to the train, rolling into Sheffield tonight." Photo: Submitted
16. The Sheffield Grinder - Tony Capstick
Tony Capstick was a comedian, actor, musician and broadcaster, who was a long-running presenter on BBC Radio Sheffield and a member of the cast of Last of the Summer Wine. The Sheffield Grinder tells of the hardships of working in the city's steel industry and includes the lines: "Every working day we are breathing dust and steel/And a broken stone can give us a wound that will not heal." Photo: Sheffield Newspapers Ltd