Our straight talking Lancashire lass takes a sideways look at the daily news.
When politics goes pop
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Politics and pop never mix. Unless pop is protesting about bad politics, but this is the only exception. This is the unwritten rule and it must never be broken, lest those involved want to look like they’re Dad-Dancing at a wedding.
For politicians, it’s a minefield at the best of times. Remember David Cameron’s ill-fated comments about his affection for The Smiths?
Just what target audience was he going for with that one? Middle-aged shoegazers? Northern anti-Thatcherites? Militant vegetarians? Or was it a case of over-privileged posh bloke trying to look cool and missing the point completely? I wonder what his favourite Smiths song is? My odds are on ‘Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me’…
Personally, his admission made me want to vomit. I loved Smith’s guitarist Johnny Marr’s response to Cameron’s iPod choice. “David Cameron, stop saying you like The Smiths, no you don’t. I forbid you to like it.” Nuff said. Cameron should have stuck with Gary Barlow. Like Cameron he’s as beige as a Barratt Home development.
When (not if) politicians get it wrong they immediately become a national laughing stock. Just like Home Secretary Theresa May at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.
Oh Theresa... She may have the academic credentials but she really is a stupid woman. First she announces how the Human Rights Act should be axed because it only serves to protect evil illegal immigrants and their nefarious pet cats, then she chooses to play the indie classic ‘Rocks’ by Primal Scream to end her totally bizarre speech. Rocks. You know, the song about drugs and prostitution.
The band was horrified that they were associated with the Tories, saying: “How inappropriate. Didn't they research the political history of our band? Hasn't she listened to the words? Does she even know what getting your rocks off means? No. She is a Tory; how could she?”
Mind you, it’s not only the Tories who try to appeal to Britain’s youth and come across as desperate. New Labour’s Tony Blair Dad-Danced to D-Ream’s ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ during his election landslide in 1997, then got squiffed with Noel Gallagher in Number 10, post election. And Gordon Brown announced that he was a fan of the Arctic Monkeys. Which, frankly, was inexplicable.
And Nick Clegg? Well he must be a closet Celine Dion fan since he recently admitted that he ‘cries to music’ when he’s alone. Well Nick, the theme tune to Titanic is certainly a tear-jerker!
It’s all cringy stuff that makes you squirm, but it’s great entertainment for us! If my dad turned around and said he was really into Justin Bieber I’d be calling the men in white coats. I believe the same principle applies to politicians. Or anyone where Bieber is concerned, but that is for another Daily Bite…
