David Lister: Great result, but hardly a new one
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Forty five years ago this month, the Beatles arrived at Kennedy airport in New York to find thousands of screaming fans there to greet them. The British Invasion had happened; and at regular intervals since, the headline is resurrected to signal that British music acts have conquered America.
There's no shortage of such references today. And the success of Robert Plant, Radiohead, Coldplay, Adele and Duffy in the Grammy Awards might seem to suggest that a new British invasion is under way at the end of the Noughties.
But while this haul of Grammys is by any yardstick good news, it hardly represents a flowering of new British talent or a fresh young line-up of artists. Coldplay and Radiohead have been popular in America for some years. Robert Plant has been popular there since before many of the Grammy voters were born. Besides, his latest award-winning incarnation is a partnership with an American – an American who happens to be the most decorated female in Grammy history. There was also an award for Peter Gabriel, again not exactly in the first flush.
Adele and Duffy do, it's true, represent the younger, newer brand of British music, even if it is just one strand – white female soul. And it was certainly good to see Estelle's Kanye West pairing, "American Boy", win best rap/sung collaboration. But America has yet to embrace the more innovative and cutting edge side of current British music. If one is looking, as the Grammys do, at the output of the past 12 months, then what about the Last Shadow Puppets or M.I.A. (who is on the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire)?
It's right that there's a good old dose of self congratulation in the British music industry over the latest Grammy haul. But let's not get too carried away. This was actually America playing it safe with bands and artists that are blazing talents but are well within the comfort and familiarity zones. There's no new invasion just yet.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments