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Pop Will Eat Itself - Ich Bin Ein Auslander

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 25m

#EUrOcktober
#EUr0cktober
#MusicChallenge

Day 9: UK

Pop Will Eat Itself - Ich Bin Ein Auslander

Perhaps an even more accurate "State of the Nation" than it was when it was released over 30 years ago.

YouTube video by PopWillEatItselfVEVO

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poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 59m

Indeed, the vote of a minority of the population stripped us of many of our rights, our freedoms, and our identity as Europeans against our will. Nobody aged 26 or younger has had any say in this whatsoever and yet still are forced to live with the consequences.

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 1h

Quite, I agree. And for this reason to talk about citizens of any nation in a sweeping sense is a gross over-simplification.
For sure, there is a dunderhead element in England - and one which is shamefully large at that. However, to ascribe those characteristics to "The English" is IMHO wrong.

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 1h

I simply don't think that outside of the flag littering neandarthals there is any such thing as a uniform "Englishness".
Go to Liverpool or Manchester, and then some dive town in Essex. Culturally, you might as well be in a different country: certainly as distinct as Glasgow is, for instance.

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 1h

Remember FPTP. Pernicious, anti-democratic, and seemingly here to stay.

FWIW in the 2024 GE, 42 of the 57 Scottish seats also went to Brexit supporting parties, along with 27 of the 32 seats in Wales.

So hardly an exclusively "English disease".

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 2h

England is politically and culturally Balkanised. You won't find a Reform UK Ltd MP in any of the places I mentioned after the next GE or indeed after any subsequent elections.

Moreover, RUK Ltd are polling around 30% overall. This points to 70% opposing them.

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poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 2h

That said, I agree with what you say about the three right leaning parties.

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 2h

Wales as a whole voted to leave (52.5% to 47.5%) and many parts of England (London, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, Newcastle, etc) went decisively Remain.
To talk about "The English" in such terms is painting with far too broad a brush. There is no homogenous "English" political culture.

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 7h

That must be a very low bar...

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 10h

That's unnecessarily complimentary. Kemi's closer to being Steve "Clueless" Kean.

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 10h

I wonder whether "Honest Bob" thinks that places which are almost exclusively "White British" should also be derided as examples of a poorly integrated society, or does that not count?

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 10h

It's true that not everyone works.
However, within a very short time, it's
inconceivable that it won't be needed to access the NHS, claim any sort of benefit, to apply for a passport or driving licence.
I don't think that anyone should be in any doubt that this garbage will be mandatory in practice.

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 10h

There may be a valid discussion (undecided personally) about degree inflation, the need for higher quality technical apprenticeships, and whether there ought to be funding made available for professional qualifications, but simply calling something a "rip-off subject" is hardly the way to do it.

The Fatima Mansions − You’re A Rose (Official Video)

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 14h

The default argument appears to be: "If you don't vote for Labour, you're effectively voting for Farage".
Now, firstly I'd say that it depends on where you live and who's actually in contention (our old "friend" FPTP).
Moreover though, in some ways there
is barely a fag paper between Labour
and RUK.

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poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 1d

#EUrOcktober
#MusicChallenge

Day 8: Ireland

Fatima Mansions - You're A Rose

YouTube video by Frau Blücher

YouTube video by Andraia4

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poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 1d

#DavidsMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge

Day 8: "A song about love, without the word love in the title."

Art Brut - Emily Kane

Art Brut - Emily Kane

The Only Ones - Another Girl, Another Planet (Video)

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poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 1d

"Not racist, but..."

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 1d

#DavidsMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge

Day 7: "Relating to outer space or the ocean"

The Only Ones - Another Girl Another Planet

YouTube video by TheOnlyOnesVEVO

The Courettes - "Want You! Like a Cigarette" (Official video)

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poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 1d

#EUrOcktober
#MusicChallenge

Day7: Denmark

The Courettes - Want You! Like a Cigarette

YouTube video by Damgoodrecords

John Kongos He's gonna step on you again

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poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 2d

#DavidsMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge

Day 6 - a song with a pronoun in the title

John Kongos - He's Gonna Step On You Again

YouTube video by Songcovers and Things of interest

Yorick van Norden - In Dreams (Official Video)

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poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 2d

#EUrOcktober
#MusicChallenge
Day 6: Netherlands

Glorious sixties tinged pop.

Yorick van Norden - In Dreams

YouTube video by Excelsior Recordings

The Luxembourg Signal - Laura Palmer (Official Video)

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poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 3d

Labour need to get their act together and ditch their reactionary leader and his puppetmasters.
I'd love to give them a loan vote - I have a very good Labour MP at the moment. But I cannot validate govt policies which are to the right of where the Tories were 5 years ago. Surely they can see this?

poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 4d

#EUrOcktober
#MusicChallenge

Day 5 - Luxembourg

I don't know any bands from Luxembourg, so...

The Luxembourg Signal - Laura Palmer

YouTube video by Ginny Pitchford

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poshbloke @poshbloke.bsky.social · 4d

Agreed - everybody who has been killed in Gaza also has families and loved ones.