Pet Shop Boys Community

How in the hell does a tiny island of 60 million claim so many great bands? Beatles, Stones, Radiohead, PSB, Pink Floyd, New Order, Smiths, Elton John, David Bowie, Genesis, The Clash, Oasis, Blur, Prodigy, etc. etc. These aren't even just popular artists, but among the most influential and shockingly good. Anyone have any ideas on why?

dont great songwriters claim that the best music comes from angst and sorrow?

What's with England?

Scotland and Wales. That's what makes up our tiny island called GREAT BRITAIN.

For United Kingdom, add Northern Ireland.

whateverman42 wrote:How in the hell does a tiny island of 60 million claim so many great bands?

I think you'll find its probably a damn sight more than 60million living on these shores.

If you'd asked "What's with Great Britain ?" I could have told you ... the answer's in the name ....

Do some of those bands come from Scotland or Wales? I know they're not Irish.

They're all English, although properly you probably ought to refer to a British music scene as one entity.

It's not just music either. How many great artists were British? How many great actors? Scientists? Politicians and philosophers? How many of today's sports were invented here... football, cricket, rugby, tennis, baseball... need I go on? This tiny island also somehow managed to amass the largest empire this planet has ever seen. Let's not forgot this language we all speak - the most versatile means of communication we have; the lingua franca of Earth.

Like redsock says, the clue is in the name: Great Britain. No other country can claim to have contributed so much throughout its history.

I think you'll find plenty will. Jingoism isn't the sole preserve of the British.

Drico.

But all these bands came after the 50's, well into their decline as a global superpower. It must be in the psyche, with such a rich history, perhaps it stimulates creativity.

I thought I was being polite referring specifically to England. From what I understand, Wales and Scotland dislike the English, somewhat akin to Canada's feelings for the US. If a foreigner referred to a canucks work as North American, well, that'd be a bit annoying.

This tiny island also somehow managed to amass the largest empire this planet has ever seen. Let's not forgot this language we all speak - the most versatile means of communication we have; the lingua franca of Earth.

Like redsock says, the clue is in the name: Great Britain. No other country can claim to have contributed so much throughout its history.

But don't forget you're also burdened with plenty of atrocities which were implemented to amass such a great empire. And I don't think it rivals the Roman or Greek empires .

Drico One wrote:I think you'll find plenty will. Jingoism isn't the sole preserve of the British.

In your hurry to smarmily pour scorn over my post, you neglected to mention a single country that has contributed as much, per capita, as Britain has.

I am sure this oversight on your part will be rectified forthwith.

@ whateverman: the British empire was bigger than the Roman and Greek empires combined.

At least four of those bands have their roots in Ireland...

I don't dislike the Scots, Welsh or Northern Irish, but I don't for a second class myself as British, even though we seem to be pushed towards accepting our nationality as such.

I am from England - I am English, not British.

Yes, there does seem to be a lot of good music come from these shores. Indeed,just about all of the bands I like are from England, or 'Britain'.


StevePSB

I am from England, but I am most definitely British too. Apart from my Jewish grandfather, my other 3 grandparents have/had, respectively, Scottish, Irish and Welsh surnames.

Indeed, most people from these shores are similarly mongrelised; that's why Scottish and Welsh nationalism is such a load of baloney.

I consider myself Scottish, but British also. My original point was about the classing of the entire island of Great Britain as England when it isn't.

Excellent point Danny, btw.

whateverman42 wrote:How in the hell does a tiny island of 60 million claim so many great bands? Beatles, Stones, Radiohead, PSB, Pink Floyd, New Order, Smiths, Elton John, David Bowie, Genesis, The Clash, Oasis, Blur, Prodigy, etc. etc. These aren't even just popular artists, but among the most influential and shockingly good. Anyone have any ideas on why?

Maybe it is because children in Britain are singing a lot in the church?