Cameron's Rifles.
 

Reading this article in last weekend's Sunday Times really tickled me, and illustrated just out of touch with reality some politicans really are.

'Little wonder, then, at the cackles of disbelief when David Cameron declared that his favourite song was Weller’s The Eton Rifles, a satire railing against social division and inequality in Britain.

Weller, one of the most respected and inventive figures in pop music, was a 21-year-old living in a rented caravan when he wrote the song after seeing a television report about right-to-work marchers being jeered by Eton schoolboys as they passed the college. By contrast, the Tory leader was a 12-year-old newcomer to Eton, where he joined the cadet corps - the object of Weller’s ridicule: “All that rugby puts hairs on your chest/ What chance have you got against a tie and a crest.”

http://entertainment.timesonline.co....cle3953594.ece

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

I didn't think Paul Weller was a politician? ;)

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

It's just one more in a long line of idiotic remarks from Cameron with regards to music. No one should try to re-enact Blair's painful 'Cool Britannia' David, give it up please!

Such was his enthusiasm to cover all bases in the summer of 2006 from Heat to NME, he begged himself invites to the V Festival and Victoria Beckham's World Cup bash, co-opted Bob Geldof into his Globalization and Global Policy group and claimed Radiohead played 'Fake Plastic Trees' just for him during a charity show. Radiohead rushed, horrified, to deny this.

Now Eton Rifles was his favourite song as a boy? Tosspot.

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

He is younger than my dad and he listens to coldplay. He wanted to come to Leeds Festival with me last year, as did his girlfriend as they liked the lineup. I see no reason for somebody not wanting to attend these things just because he's a politician.

Yeah so what if it was his favourite song back then or not? I think Frank Turner is completely wrong in what he says in 'Thatcher ****ed the Kids' but it doesn't stop me listening to it.

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

'Tory' is a faulty gene, not a matter of socialisation. :D

It's quite clear to any sane person that David Cameron is trying his best to copy Blair circa '97. Rightly so in some instances, for example masquerading as further towards the middle than right in order to get those pivotal constituencies. However I just wish he'd drop the "I'm Davo and I love hip music maaaaan" facade.

True and honest politicians don't have to flaunt a personality (fake or not) to the country as their policies stand up for themselves.

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Its not right, I demand you return to your proper name immediately!

I'll have to start changing teh entries in my phones and all sorts if you continue like this!

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

I find this thread a bit odd. Do people pick their music taste based on their politics? Or anything else for that matter? Alcohol lol?

I don't see why anyone would honestly think he's trying to copy Gordon Brown lol... he's hardly worthy of being anyones idol.

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

Two words - Billy Bragg.

Who does?

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

No one's said he has. He's trying to copy Tony Blair...think "Cool Britannia".

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

If he was going to copy someone for electoral gain he should be copying Thatcher, she got more votes than Blair ever could.

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

Being kind of right wing I am a huge Pink Floyd fan. Well they are a bit lefty, Roger Waters is very anti War and really gave it to Maggie in the 80's. along with every other right wing politician. However I never let the politics get in the way.
If David Cameron is trying to do a Boris it might be working.

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

According to Wikipedia Bruce Foxton's (Jam Drummer) son is an old boy of Eton. I wonder if he told Weller? So Cameron's a ****** for liking the Jam and the Jam are a bunch of ******* because their drummer's son went to Eton.

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

Where does it say that?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Foxton

I can't see him being able to afford Eton's fees.

His career has been on the skids ever since The Jam split up.

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

I should have said bassist.

Ironically, in 1997, Iago Foxton, the son of The Jam vocalist and bassist Bruce Foxton, entered Eton College as a new pupil.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eton_Rifles

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

Thanks for the link.

Obviously playing in The Stiff Little Fingers, pays better than I thought.:rolleyes:

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

err, I like Billy Bragg and often listen to it in teh car, does that mean I'm suddenly Gordons best chum? Just like I like a lot of morbid stuff like Cure, morrissey, marilyn Manson etc. I think most people who konw me would say I'm more jolly than most people so clearly music doesn't fit to stereotypes

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

No it doesn't always fit to stereotypes at all. The point I was making with Billy Bragg is that many, even people on here, have had their foundational political views shaped by people such as him so music & politics do have a strong link that Blazey was denying.

The words & sentiments of the song The Eton Rifles are the work of Paul Weller. It's somewhat irrelevant that Foxton sent his son to Eton.

Anyone denying that Cameron is staging a (failing) re-enactment of Blair's "Cool Britannia", that he is merely sharing his iPod playlist with all of us because he is such a nice cool guy, is just kidding themselves.

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

Red Wedge:)

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

I don't consider my politics when I pick music that I like. Perhaps there is something wrong with me.

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

Say what??????????:confused::D

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

I saw that coming :p

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

No, they don't - most people don't give two hoots about the political leanings of the music makers they're listening to. And quite rightly so - Bragg may be sincere, but most singers who spout right-on, left wing views, do so because it's the trendy thing to do. And how many people do you know on here who've had their political views shaped by people like him? Every person who I know on here is far too independent-minded to have their views shaped by some bleedin' pop star, mate! ;)

You're right about the boy David trying to ape Blair in the coolness stakes, though (although Cyfr likes to pretend than he isn't). :D

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

There you go, Wyn. :D
Thank you very much Sir Red of Pendle.

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

You are joking, of course. A couple of tours by the likes of the Style Council and the Communards. A comedy tour featuring the side-splitting hilarity of Ben Elton during the 1987 election...fat lot of good that did! And how long did the whole pretentious shebang last after that? 2-3 years at most, before it all came tumbling down, with the Tories still firmly in power. Vive la revolution!

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

bag of crap, have 1000s of records n never once did i consider political leanings when purchasing. but honestly think Cameron is doing a Blair no question. Wheres me sick-bag.:D

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

I'm not saying every music fan picks out music because of the political implications/insinuations of the music, but I'm not going to accept that music and politics have no link for anyone anywhere. I don't think that link has been and gone with the punk rock bands of the seventies or the Dylan-ers of the sixties either.
For instance, look at the sudden boom in Dixie Chicks fans after they made an album slating our friend Bushy?

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

If you think I'm going to sing 'Flower of Scotland' you are one off. :eek:

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

dont really think that link existed with punks shaker, most i knew were just rebelling as kids do n didn't give a monkeys fer politics, they just used to love the "Shock" Horror" they created by slagging off the establishment, most i knew despite the "Look" were very decent kids.:alright:

Re: Cameron's Rifles.
 

Music and politics have no links for most people in most places. All the garbage about music having the power to change things politically is just that - pure garbage. People form their political views because of the things they see around them in the real world, in their daily lives, in the news and through the views of people they come into contact with.

Certain pop stars promote the idea that music can change things politically because they have a hugely overinflated sense of their own importance. Ordinary people, including record buyers, are much too canny to buy into that particular myth!

Dylan's political songs make up a very small portion of his recorded work. The vast majority of his work is apolitical. The influence of his political songs can't have been that great, as the generation that grew up with them are no more - or less - left-wing or revolutionary than previous generations. And as for punk rock bands exerting a political influence, you are joking, aren't you? Take away the posturing radical chic of the Clash, Weller and a few others, and you're left with a bunch of nihilistic numpties with nary an original thought between them. Hardly the stuff of revolutions!