England, We Love You!

This post is from the Retropolis archives & was written July 13 2005, after the terrorist attacks in England.

The terrorists have attacked more innocent people in yet another wonderful country. If they really want us to hear or understand their point, they should just write a book. Their acts of terrorism are just creating more love for the people and countries they have terrorized and stronger bonds among the people within those countries. Who is going to love England any less because of what the terrorists have done? Nobody. In fact, people love England more than ever and will therefore feel an even greater need to defend it. So, instead of killing any more innocent people they should just write a book, make a movie, or write a song if they want us to understand where they are coming from and what they really want.

I do wonder if the terrorists have chosen not to listen to music from all these countries that they seem to hate, or eat food that originates from each country, or wear clothes designed in each country or use things that were invented or made in those countries. That would mean that they are supporting the very countries that they hate, right? They wouldn't DARE be hypocrites, would they? So, this means that they are running out of great music to listen to, great food to eat, amazing inventions and products they could be benefiting from, and cool clothes to wear.

There are so many wonderful things that come from England alone - not to mention all the other countries the terrorists hate.

I want to take this opportunity to say what I love about England, focusing mainly on the fun pop culture stuff (there is sooooo much more beyond the pop culture stuff, of course, that it would take me years to write it all).

Music:

Let's start with The Beatles. Who doesn't love AT LEAST one song by The Beatles? They had such a huge influence on music around the world. I do wonder if the terrorists block their ears whenever they hear The Beatles or Elton John or Queen or George Michael or Annie Lennox or ANY of the great British voices that are heard on the radio all over the world. They'd have to or else they'd be supporting some of England's best musical exports. Enjoying any of their songs would be to adore something special from England. How awful it would be to put so much energy into hate that you can't enjoy life.

More Music: When I was a teenager, many of my friends and I were obsessed with music from England. We were into bands like The Cure, The Police, The Smiths, Depeche Mode, New Order, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys to The Sex Pistols and of course, so much more. I remember when MTV first began I was amazed at all these British bands which each had a unique sound, such as A Flock of Seagulls, Haircut 100, Dexys Midnight Runners, Madness, Culture Club, Bow Wow Wow, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Heaven 17, OMD, Tears for Fears and also singer Billy Idol. Each of those bands had at least one song that I love and some of those bands I loved so much that I had to have all of their tapes OR albums (yes, I went both ways when it came to music).

I know I have left tons of bands off the list of my (mainly) 80's musical experience. Fast forward to today. We both listen to Radiohead all the time. Just lately I have been really into a band called Bloc Party (Bloc is spelled without the K). I won't even start another list here. We'll just leave it at that.

This is getting so long that I'll come back later with more on the love affair with England. Cheerio!