The Magic of British Music

The Magic of British Music 

 

Let's face it, there is something magical about British music, whether that is pop, rock, reggae or heavy metal; all of it has something unique and the envy of other countries. Maybe it's something to do with the English language because its Anglo-Saxon roots have something earthy.

Look at French music. France gave existentialism to the world, and there is something of that in French music, which seems somewhat self-obsessed, slightly nihilistic, even inward-looking.

French Jazz is exceptional; maybe Jazz is something that we don't do very well here. Spanish music is very earthy, but it seems to have taken root in places like South America and Central America, where it has influenced world music.

There is something in this sort of spit and sawdust attitude of contemporary British music that feeds from society's energy into the notes. You can find it in the Beatles, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.

So maybe it is cultural and linguistic, those things that you know as a musician, but very difficult to explain, you can show and can tell, and that's what we do.

So look at the periods when those musical styles developed. Punk developed in the late 70s when there were political problems in the United Kingdom, which reflects in the anti-establishment perspective of the music.

Looking at rock 'n' roll and skiffle, this was a reflection of the search for identity with the young against the established order of British society.

The 60s brought innovation to British culture and presented it to the world in a new way representing the hope of something different in the world, so it's not just the music; it's also a representation of hopes and dreams and a way of speaking truth to power.

Notice that I haven't pointed to musical expertise, and of course, there was, but I don't believe that is where the power of British music lies. It resides in the fact that there are many places to play, most notably the British pub, which is ubiquitous in British culture. Although we have lost a lot of British pubs, we still have thousands of them, and many of them can have live music in, even if it's just a couple of people sitting in the corner playing. 

The British pub was always a hotbed of descent and a way of letting off steam. It's become a little more refined now, depending on where you are. Still, the idea of music coming from those places and then moving to smaller concert venues or theatres has a way for the music to develop and for a band to build a following.

However, now, of course, the music industry is enshrined in British culture, but it still doesn't get the payback it deserves. I believe that the way music has become institutionalised in the way that it is taught losing its ability to go and kick arse. The key is how we perform and put our music together. Remember that British music isn't going to be liked by everybody, and nor will yours, but it needs to give meaning to life and society, and if we can continue to do that, it will continue to thrive. 

Vic 

www.Bluescampuk.co.uk - get away from it all and play in a band for three days 

www.vichyland.com - play guitar