Hilarious spoof 80s music video about Edinburgh's Cameron Toll shopping centre goes viral - and you will not want to miss it

Of all the song subjects that could launch a career, a musical love letter to an Edinburgh 80s shopping centre is probably low on a writer’s list.

But comic video artist Danny Macleod may have just cracked it after his latest video and tongue-in-cheek song ‘Cameron Toll, best shopping centre in the land’ went viral on Facebook with over 36,000 views online.

Danny, who is originally from Gracemount but now lives in London where he works as a museum security guard, created an alter ego character by the name of Loud Macleod.

Out of boredom, the 38-year-old started making spoof pop videos for family and friends during lockdown – and he’s been shocked by the incredible response to his songs online.

Over the past couple of months, he’s released a series of tunes, with titles such as Git Yerself Tae Scotmid and a hilarious parody of East 17’s 90s dance-pop hit It’s Alright, titled EH17, Awright.

Cameron Toll, undoubtedly his biggest ’hit’ to date, is an 80s-inspired pop ditty to the shopping centre where he spent much of his youth, that sees Danny busting some moves in a garish purple and blue tracksuit in the self-made video.

The 80s theme is kept up with use of dated period graphics which self-taught Danny created in his own bedroom.

And because he was stuck in London he even roped his mum Sarah and her partner Michael into not only shooting some footage inside the shopping centre, but appearing in the finished video itself.

The chorus gives a flavour of the rest of the 5 min song:

‘Goin doon Cameron Toll,

For some milk and eggs

Some brand new skeggs

And a sausage roll fae Greggs

It’s where yi spend yir dole tae live.

‘So go doon Cameron Toll

If you need some clathes (clothes)

Visit Aldi’s if you need some mayonnaise

Last night at Cameron Toll, I saw yir mum.’

Danny has been taken aback by the response to the song online.

“The most common reaction from people is, ‘what the hell have I just watched?’,” he told the Evening News.

“I have a musical background, but it was lockdown that started me doing the crazy stuff.

“During lockdown I started thinking about my mum and friends in Edinburgh, whom I couldn’t get home to see.

“The whole cabin fever kicked in and I started doing these daft videos. It’s nice to give folk an escape.”

Had lockdown not happened, Danny admits he probably would never have started making his pop videos – but now he’s seen the response, he has no intention of stopping.

“They’re really fun to make,” he says. “I’m going back to work full-time, and with the kids back at school I might not have as much time – but I still plan on making a few more.”

As for Turner Prize or Top of the Pops, Danny is unequivocal about his aim.

“Top of the Pops, brilliant.”

Cameron Toll shopping centre was contacted for comment about Danny's video, but a spokesperson for the mall said they are yet to see the video.

You can watch Danny's other pop videos by visiting his Facebook page here.

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