Indefinite Leave to Remain about?

Message

Undertaker · #16 Post by **Undertaker** » Wed 24 May 2006, 6:09 pm

I think it's about Wayne Rooney. He's singing to Alex Ferguson and Sven Goran Eriksson. It's obvious.

Dave

CroMagnon · #17 Post by **CroMagnon** » Wed 24 May 2006, 9:17 pm

raggatwin wrote:I think millionaire liberals should steer clear of comenting on the immigration and asylum act.......

Can you explain why? Apart from the fact that ILTR doesn't really comment on immigration (just applies the language of asylum to a personal situation), why the hell shouldn't Neil write about this? Why does being a "millionaire liberal" disqualify you from having an opinion and voicing it?

Strange . . .

bobblekat · #18 Post by **bobblekat** » Wed 24 May 2006, 9:28 pm

ArseSpanker wrote: Lord knows what 'I Want A Dog' is really about....

Now there is a thought... Animal Farm anyone (and no not the George Orwell version...)?!

raggatwin · #19 Post by **raggatwin** » Thu 25 May 2006, 8:29 am

.....

patrick · #20 Post by **patrick** » Thu 25 May 2006, 4:04 pm

CroMagnon wrote:Apart from the fact that ILTR doesn't really comment on immigration

Well of course it does...

dannii · #21 Post by **dannii** » Thu 25 May 2006, 5:25 pm

Wayne's review:

Code: Select all

One of the more curious titles in the PSB canon, "indefinite leave to remain" is actually a British governmental term related to immigration. A holder of ILR (as it's commonly abbreviated) has the legal right to reside permanently in the United Kingdom. After having lived there for five years, he or she may apply for citizenship.

A touching song that opens with a stately, muted brass quartet, "Indefinite Leave to Remain" demonstrates once again how the Pet Shop Boys can readily take an all-too-current sociopolitical concern—in this case, issues surrounding immigration—and apply it metaphorically to interpersonal relationships. In this case, the title phrase provides the narrator with a clever way of saying that he wants to spend the rest of his life with the person to whom he's speaking:

You're my nation
This is my application
Give me hope, keep me sane
Give me indefinite leave to remain

It's absolutely remarkable how Neil manages in this way to turn such a coldly bureaucratic term into an expression of love so profoundly touching. It is, in fact, the juxtaposition of these two opposite worlds of meaning—cold bureaucracy and interpersonal warmth—that lends these lyrics their power.

Speaking of cold bureaucracy—

his reviews turn out to be quite correct, so I think this one's fine too

patrick · #22 Post by **patrick** » Thu 25 May 2006, 5:46 pm

dannii wrote:his reviews turn out to be quite correct

They're certainly valid opinions.

diana · #23 Post by **diana** » Thu 25 May 2006, 6:33 pm

patrick wrote:
dannii wrote:his reviews turn out to be quite correct
They're certainly valid opinions.

Why? They are just his opinions. Don't have to be right.

moxlox · #24 Post by **moxlox** » Thu 25 May 2006, 6:38 pm

Undertaker wrote:I think it's about Wayne Rooney. He's singing to Alex Ferguson and Sven Goran Eriksson. It's obvious.

Dave

I like it

Your Funny Uncle · Thu 25 May 2006, 6:56 pm

In this case, I think wayne has it spot on. It's a topical metaphor, but that's all it is.

CroMagnon · #26 Post by **CroMagnon** » Thu 25 May 2006, 7:20 pm

Exactly. It's a a metaphor and doesn't really comment on immigration per se. It's not a song that is pro / anti-immigration; instead it cleverly applies the langauage of asylum and immigration to a relationship with a lover.

patrick · #27 Post by **patrick** » Thu 25 May 2006, 7:22 pm

CroMagnon wrote:It's a a metaphor and doesn't really comment on immigration per se.

And Shopping is about going to the mall.

CroMagnon · #28 Post by **CroMagnon** » Thu 25 May 2006, 7:28 pm

I interpret "comment" to mean "give an opinion on". ILTR doesn't give an opinion about the asylum system. It is not in any way judgemental about an issue. Unlike Integral, for example.

patrick · #29 Post by **patrick** » Thu 25 May 2006, 8:09 pm

CroMagnon wrote:It is not in any way judgemental about an issue.

Of course it is; we're clearly expected to sympathize with the immigrant position. Which really shouldn't be too surprising given previous songs such as London.

Tomas · #30 Post by **Tomas** » Thu 25 May 2006, 9:44 pm

CroMagnon wrote:it cleverly applies the langauage of asylum and immigration to a relationship with a lover.

But what if it simply applies the language (and enthusiasm) of asylum seeker to describe the procedure from their point of view, full stop?

(The asylum seeker's clumsy language saying "you're my nation" - I assume only a primary school native English pupil would speak like this, but I can imagine someone from Sri Lanka can express themselves this way.)