Why are the Brits so good at music ?
 

Why are the Brits so good at music ? One American asks . . .

That is a question I gave to a full English girl about 20 years ago.

While eating dinner in a social setting, this question occurred to me that so very many exceptional groups have come out of the British Isles. It has not been limited to just what we call the 'first' or 'second' British invasions. But really during and ever since WW2 there has been an outflow of incredible musical talent from the UK. That musical talent has been very well received on this side of the pond.

So naturally, after a few cold glasses of fermented barley water, I had to present this issue as a question to the wife of a friend. She being a full-on Brit would certainly have a rational answer.

Here is what she said. 'You have to understand, in the UK there is not a lot to do in the evenings. Typically a groups of friends will visit a local pub and listen to whatever live local band was playing. This provides the stimulus for other like minded musicians to give it a go. You end up with a large bunch of music enthusiasts which generates an even larger base of future music makers who try their own hand at making something new.'

Thoughts ?

stop sucking british dick

I’ve thought about that. It’s the same way with sci-fi.

British doesn't holds a monopoly on good music. There's good music in every country. Rock and Roll is just one of many different styles of music. If Rock wasn't your thing, but Bossa Nova was, then Brazil would be filled with "incredible musical talent."

OK, between the end of WWII and Cliff Richard & The Shadows and all the bands that followed who are these "incredible musical talent?" I can only think of George Formby. Who do you got?

George Formby - When i'm cleaning windows

If you can't be clever, don't be crass.

Quick quiz, name the top five British genres of music that are not derived from or heavily indebted to music from current or former colonies.

Nice.

French and German.

I guess the next thing you are going to tell me is it was really guys in berets and lederhosen that started EMS.

what type of electronic music are you talking about here? if you're talking about EDM then house & techno started in Chicago & Detroit (who the brits were heavily influenced by when they started their own EDM scene in the late 80's)

I'm mainly talking origins, i.e electroacoustic, musique concrète, tape music, and synthesizer-pop (krautrock and progressive electronic). I definitely agree that EDM came from the US.

It does irritate me how many IDM artists are from the UK though. The only American artist in the genre that was "early" to the punch and I've grown to like is Casino Versus Japan.

I've got more US artists among my favorites than British artists, but the ratio of British to US artists is still very solid given the much smaller size of the country.

This proves nothing, except that Britain seems to have more musical artists per capita that I personally like, than the US does.

OP speaks the truth.

It's just one of those things I guess.

Oppression brings out creativity in most scenario's, so take that and run with it.

UK punches above its weight in lots of things.
I have a feeling we are basically just talking about English artists though tbh. Which obviously makes it even smaller.

OP said the British Isles but that would include the ROI and I don't think we are counting that, I don't think we are including Scottish, Northern Irish or Welsh artists either. Or are we?

18 posts, I am surprised it took that long for you to turn this into a race issue.

England isn't just white people either, silly.

The resident white nationalist was sure quick onto this scene.

Frank Auerbach is probably my favourite British artist.

How do you know OP is white or a he?

Classic whitey enjoying English music. As usual it's just him and his oppressive cronies listening to that claptrap. Bet he hasn't even heard Buena Vista Social Club.

Or when Ry portrayed Raph Macchio in Crossroads with Brittney.

To be fair, white guys with guitars have been known to play reggae.

The only thing you can dare guess is that the OP is a Cream fan ... maybe. At very first glance I was thinking maybe the OP was a fan of Dylan and/or The Band, but the song I was thinking was "This Wheels' On Fire." However since both Bob and The Band are American it was a fatal blow against that being the possibility. It had to be another reference to something and it turns out to be Cream's third album. I have a strong feeling about this cause Cream are from the UK. Cream is an example of Brits being so good at music.

I'd take Norway over England any day.

Yeah I meant specifically English, although I do have a bit from Scotland, Ireland and even Wales (9Bach is a really good band).

Are you OP?

Negative, sir.*

But if my comment makes less sense because I'm not, then it's because I skimemd and replied to Fluff's comment way too fast.

I made a comment where I think I said British when I meant English. I thought he referred to that.



*Unless you're asking if I'm overpowered. Yes I am. I will be nerfed in the next patch.

Na I was in agreement with you Mic and then I moved on to something else cos of the wording of the OP.

How do you punch above the "empire" weight class?

Finishing second in the Olympics medal table.

:laughing:

Why were Germans so good at music from about 1650 to around 1900?

Just one of those things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Furrw0VDpWM

Clarification
 

The question I posed was purely on a humanist level. It is a simple inquiry into the cause and effect of quality music production.

If you look at a map of planet Earth, the British Isles are not physically that large in comparison to many other countries. The same issue goes for total population.

So my question was in the direction of 'what factors encourage the production of so much good music which emanates from this group of island nations ?'

The OP was not intended to impugn the race or national origin of anyone anywhere. I am 100% American. I love the music my country has and continues to produce. The OP was simply an objective question from someone on this side of pond who has greatly enjoyed the music coming out of the British Isles. And that is a considerable amount.

The biggest factor is their status a former globe-spanning empire.

Hi. I 'd agree, though I don't entirely discount U.S. bands either, just heavily lean towards British. I've always had a leaning toward British/Britpop, though I do agree with another that everything contemporary did originally rise from blues. I find music to love throughout decades, but find that no matter what I'm currently listening to, I usually will end up turning, or re-turning to British.

Other than the obvious, going back, England also gave us The Kinks and The Yardbirds (all the top musicians that came out of that band...wow!) .