Regarding the article entitled, 'Fixed in fans' hearts: Coldplay on tour', I am annoyed by the line, 'a quartet of nice young working class boys...':x

 

I have frequently read this - that the band are 'working class.' It seems to be considered an essential attribute in modern day Britain that anyone who is famous (whether a footballer, actor, politician, or especially a rock star) to be from the lower class. As though being working class is something to be proud of, rather than something you can't help.

 

The fact is that NONE of the guys in Coldplay are working class. They all come from extremely well-to-do families, their parents being teachers, accountants etc, and Chris attending one of the most prestigious (and expensive!) private boarding schools (Sherborne college) in the country. He was born in what is possibly the most 'middle-class' county in Britain - Devon - which has virtually no industrial areas at all.

 

Please note that I am not critisicising the working class - it's just that I am a bit tired of the inverted snobbery of the media who automatically presume that if someone is a talented musician, then they MUST be from the working class. Yes, Oasis are, Travis are, many bands are - but Coldplay are NOT! And to be quite honest, it is unlikely that Chris would play the piano so beautifully HAD he been, as the vast majority of pianists who learn to play in their childhood come from middle class homes.

 

Just pointing out the facts!

Working Class is something that always seems to walk hand in hand with british bands, its to do with the fact many of our 'best' bands/musicians are so because this social class is believed to be more true to life, real, gritty and pure. But i also feel it has more to do with the fact that they are indeed the 'children' of brit-pop as much of their early influences were from bands of the New Wave of New Wave (nwonw) such as the stone roses, ride, pixies, which later turned into the subculture of Brit-pop, thanks to the lead taken on by Damion Albarn.

What many people never seem to realise is that much of Britians musical talent comes from 'art school scholars', but Brit-pop was at a time when Britian was being released from upper class clutches, thanks to the New Labour which meant the working class could prevail, and resently a statement was made that we are all middle class now (although i dont know if i truly believe in that myself).

 

Ive too noticed that they get put into this catagory, possibly mainly because of the music that they write. And to say that Chris can play the piano better because he comes from a middle class family is nonscence, my family had a piano in their home, when my parents were younger, which got played very well. The paino has been a symbol of all classes, granted the richer may have hand nicer ones but doesnt mean they play any better.

 

But i agree with you that if someone is going to write an article about a band/actor ect then they should AT LEAST get the facts right!

It doesn't matter. What really cares is music :)

hmm yea i always known coldplay are from that kind of middle class background and well i remember watching an interview with chris from like 2 years ago and he talks about the fact he is not ashamed of coming from that kind childhood..and the fact he was very lucky to have that ....and he wouldnt change it for the world

Sorry Firthy - didn't mean to be offensive about the piano thing, but in general, my experience shows that it is far more likely that a child from the middle class will have piano lessons as a child. My husband comes from a working class background, and when he met me (from the middle-class), he had never known a single person who could play the piano, and he was 22. His mother believes such things are a waste of time and money and wouldn't have considered letting any of her four kids learn to play an instrument.

 

Totally agree with you about the attitude towards British bands, but not about the likelihood of a working class child having piano lessons! Don't know whether you've ever been to Manchester, but it is unlikely that some of the kids in areas like Salford or Moss Side have even played the recorder, let alone the piano! For one thing, it isn't 'cool', and that is the most important thing in areas likes this. We are always hearing of extra bright kids at state comprehensives getting bullied till they sometimes attempt suicide because of all the stick they come in for. I myself was laughed at by a lot of my husband's mates when they learned I could play the piano. Soooo posh, according to them!

 

But yes, you are right about the association between British bands and the lower classes, possibly in most cases true. But Coldplay have shown you can be a brilliant band (as well as having a very strict social conscience) even though you might have been born with a silver spoon in your mouth!!

Quite agree Square_One - it doesn't matter in the sense of meaning that what class you are from makes you superior or inferior. But it is a factual error, which I thought needed correcting just as much as if the article had said that the Coldplay members were in their 70s and were born in Timbuktoo!

It doesn't matter. What really cares is music :)

 

agreed. and I don't get that whole class system anyway... lol

Sorry Firthy - didn't mean to be offensive about the piano thing, but in general, my experience shows that it is far more likely that a child from the middle class will have piano lessons as a child. My husband comes from a working class background, and when he met me (from the middle-class), he had never known a single person who could play the piano, and he was 22. His mother believes such things are a waste of time and money and wouldn't have considered letting any of her four kids learn to play an instrument.

 

Totally agree with you about the attitude towards British bands, but not about the likelihood of a working class child having piano lessons! Don't know whether you've ever been to Manchester, but it is unlikely that some of the kids in areas like Salford or Moss Side have even played the recorder, let alone the piano! For one thing, it isn't 'cool', and that is the most important thing in areas likes this. We are always hearing of extra bright kids at state comprehensives getting bullied till they sometimes attempt suicide because of all the stick they come in for. I myself was laughed at by a lot of my husband's mates when they learned I could play the piano. Soooo posh, according to them!

 

But yes, you are right about the association between British bands and the lower classes, possibly in most cases true. But Coldplay have shown you can be a brilliant band (as well as having a very strict social conscience) even though you might have been born with a silver spoon in your mouth!!

 

 

oh you didnt offend me...it takes A LOT more than that.

i was just trying to point out that playing the piano isnt restricted, i think it depends more upon the type of family/person you are, rather than bank balance and home location.

 

I know while i was at school music was pushed quite alot from a very young age, although its not a musical school, which i ended up learning to play a few instraments. It all comes down to the individual.

 

As for your husbands friends, its more to do with the type of people they are, their the ones that end up stereotyping/ed. They prob believe the social status they 'belong' in makes the person...when infact it doesnt. People need to see past these labels that segregate and we need to see its whats within ourselves that make us who we are.

It doesn't matter. What really cares is music :)

 

i agreed !!! i mean i realy dont care if they are bla bla clas as long as there music its brilliant ""

I'm from a working class background. I was given my first piano aged 8 and I had lessons [although paid for by the local government] up to aged 18. I passed all my exams up to Grade 8.

 

So - all things are possible...

Ya know, I would have bitten off my right arm to have had the opportuntity to play a musical instument when I was a kid. I barely saw my dad whilst I was growing up as he had 2 jobs to keep us fed and clothed, my mum stayed with us at home until we were all at school, then she went to work to bring more money in the house.

 

Sadly, today the working class/middle class thing is still major issue in the area I live, people assume that I have money because I live in cheshire, if you only knew how I lived!!! By the way, I do not have my own computer, carn't afford one!!! I use other peoples!

well i dont thing thats a bad thing mm i mean its like nettie said u if u whant u can do anything hahah but realy i think all people should be treated the same i mean i hate those people that just coz they have money they think that they are better that others its all rubbish i mean i realy hate those people

The last shreds of the British class system are something I have to say, I honestly just don't get at all. :inquisitive: Anthropologist types must have fun with it, though.

It's all relative, isn't it.

your mom is a relative

No shit, sherlock!!!

there but for the grace of god go iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

Lay off the drink, Kelliz.:kiss:

so i could be happyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! happyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! oh so hapyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! happyyyyyyyy! so happyyyyyyyy! happyyyyyyyyyyyyy! sooooooo happy so happy!

 

:kiss: :kiss: :kiss:

I wonder why every interesting topic gets spamed sooner or later.

It's St. Paddy's day. Have a heart:wink2:

It ain't no excuse.

It could be if you don't know what you're doing. :laugh4:

hey man, spam happens! anybody could ignore my posts and pick the conversation right back up again.

lmfao, what was this thread about anyways?