Singer-songwriter Carole King soothes Brexit-wracked Brits at London concert

It was almost like they planned it. Some ten days after the brutal Brexit vote that sent Britain out of the European Union and into days of chaos, veteran American singer-songwriter Carole King arrived Sunday night in London’s Hyde Park to soothe English folks battered by the political and economic upheaval.

In fact, the world premiere of the performing of her iconic best-selling album "Tapestry" from beginning to end, marking its 45th anniversary, had been planned for the “British Summer Time” festival for months. But the timing was perfect.

While her songs are, of course, principally about love and loss,  certainly a few of these Carole King tunes could have a political spin as well:

“It’s Too Late” (Many unhappy British voters have been asking for a “do-over” of the referendum);

“Where You Lead” (Leadership of all the parties here has been in turmoil since the vote);

“So Far Away”  (Although just separated by the English Channel, many now feel distant from the European continent);

“You’ve Got a Friend” (President Obama quickly told the U.K. the U.S. was still a strong ally despite his anti-Brexit stance);

And of course, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” (…or two and a half years from now, when the U.K.-European divorce should be settled.)

In fact, the vast majority of the audience was in the older demographic, which voted in favor of Brexit, and so the concert might be taken as an affirmation of the vote.

Tapestry did come out in 1971, two years before Britain entered the EU (then the EEC).

And a medley that followed, included songs she wrote with her late ex-husband and partner Gerry Goffin (some even sung by the Beatles and other British groups), were from the '60s when the U.K. was adamantly on its own.

Still, there was a smattering of young people in attendance, including one couple who seemed to know every word. British youth voted overwhelmingly in favor of staying in the EU.

As well as at least one Scottish person whose country voted to Remain. She told me slightly tipsily that she backed the EU and was seen tearfully listening to one song later on.

The overall tone of the concert, however, with the warm, motherly and masterful 74-year-old Carole King very much in charge, embraced the old war-time British slogan, “Keep Calm and Carry On.”

Her finale was perfect for the politically raucous times on this side of the pond.

With Big Ben and Parliament projected behind her, King told her audience, “when this old world starts getting (you) down…there’s room enough…up on the roof…(where)…it’s peaceful as can be.”

Unfortunately, for a lot of disgruntled British voters, you can’t actually “wish to make it so” as the song adds.

Hey…Carole can’t fix everything!