These are my people, part 986743

All that one-fifth of Brits wish for is the chance to be a rock-star. In a new poll, 20% of those surveyed said that they would love to trade their jobs for a gig in the music biz, and 50% complained that in school there was not enough information about music careers.

Want.

This is a low

I blame Kazza.*

She's the one that started me on my current Blur kick, most likely by accident.

Though I think this may be retribution for getting us started on our mutal lusting for Thomas and Sergio....

For the love of God, I'm an Oasis fan! How can I suddenly fall for the many charms of Damon Albarn?

The winking, the mugging for the camera... Oh, God. This is not good when I consider those positives.....

I've resisted for a really long time, and what put me over the edge? The picture of Damon dressed as Debbie Harry in Blondie circa the early '80s.

First of all, I'd kill for those shoes. And the legs.... Dammit, KAZ! You did this on purpose!

You're making me question whether I picked the right team in the battle of Britpop! I mean, Dave was totally acceptable looking and has the right politics, and I love a delightfully dorky Graham and pretty, pretty Alex.....guh.

You couldn't have said that about Guigsy, Bonehead, Tony or Whitey. Or even my beloved Noel pre-2002 (getting his teeth fixed and growing his hair out= very good things. Yay Sarah, well done!)

And they never would have done a video that referenced 'A Clockwork Orange,' because the concept would have taken too long to explain to Our Kid.

Crap, I'm going to have to re-evaluate my whole existence now. I fucking hate that.

*it's also entirely possible that I've finally watched 'Dress To Kill' one too many times.

So funny

Two items from that bastion of journalistic integrity, The Sun.

NATALIE PORTMAN stars in PAUL McCARTNEY’S new video for Dance Tonight, thanks to her friendship with his designer daughter STELLA.

Macca says: “I rang her and said, ‘I’m Stella’s dad’. Luckily, she was between films.”

and

Hold on to your skirts, ladies. A bulletin from RUSSELL BRAND on my MySpace page tells us his comedy gigs will act as “freedom rallies” so he can “establish a society of hanky panky”.

He welcomes “women aged between 18 and death”.

Irish Blood, English Heart

Interesting article in The Independent regarding the massive influence of Irish immigrants on Brit pop culture. When you really think, it is quite staggering.

The Smiths- Steven Patrick Morrissey, Johnny (Maher) Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce

The Brothers Gallagher- Noel Thomas David and William John Paul

Shaun William and Paul Ryder

John Lennon

Johnny (Lydon) Rotten

I mean, look at that list. Some of the most iconic Brit frontmen ever!

Not to mention Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien, whom you may know as Dusty freaking Springfield.

Great bit about Big Brother, too:

Noel Gallagher might be a Mancunian with football blood coursing through his veins but when Oasis were asked to record the "Three Lions" English football anthem seven years ago, he was unequivocal. "When push comes to shove, I'm in the Ireland end," he said. "If I'd done the England song and gone on at Wembley my uncles would have killed me."

St. Trinian's

Oh, I'm going to NEED to see this movie.

Why? Because Mr. Darcy, er, Mark Darcy, er, Colin Firth is in it.

And so is The Winehouse, Richard E. Grant, and dirty, dirty Russell Brand. Filthy boy.

via fashionologie

American v. Brit humor

Simon Pegg, writing in the Guardian about perceived differences in what Americans and Brits find amusing.

Although it is true that we British do use irony a little more often than our special friends in the US. It's like the kettle to us: it's always on, whistling slyly in the corner of our daily interactions. To Americans, however, it's more like a nice teapot, something to be used when the occasion demands it. This is why an ironic comment will sometimes be met with a perplexed smile by an unwary American. Take this exchange that took place between two friends of mine, one British (B), the other American (A):

B: "I had to go to my grandad's funeral last week."

A: "Sorry to hear that."

B: "Don't be. It was the first time he ever paid for the drinks."

A: "I see."

Now, my American friend was being neither thick nor obtuse here; he simply didn't immediately register the need to bury emotion under humour.

I find British comedy more amusing than homegrown stuff, but that's mainly due to childhood exposure. Every Sunday, before Mass and Sunday School, I'd get ready and watch "Monty Python's Flying Circus" on PBS (which was only on Sunday AM).

This explains more about my personal and emotional development than I'd like to think about.

Diamond Lil does America

Go, honey! Get down with your bad self!

I totally would have gone to the Chicago concert, but as I'm a floral designer, and we have a little holiday coming up next week, you know, Valentine's Day, it wasn't in the cards.

We've 'Alright, Still' on constant rotation at the flower shop, though. Along with 'The Sound of Girls Aloud,' 'Overloaded' (Sugababes greatest hits), 'The Very Best Of The Stone Roses,' and 'Back To Black' (Amy Winehouse)..... Oh yeah, the Virgin Megastore LOVES me.

Lily Allen's bid to break America is gathering momentum, after her debut album entered the Billboard chart.

"Alright, Still" has charted at Number 20, having shifted 34,000 copies in the first week of release Stateside.

The success of the LP is thought to have been assisted by Lily's appearance on coveted US TV show "Saturday Night Live" last week.

Bridget

I am unable to hear this book's title without thinking, "Oh, it's like Kafka's Motorbike. Is that Mr. Titzherbert, er, Fitzherbert, there?"

Obviously, I am a fan of the collected works of Helen Fielding.