An example of the UK’s incredible soft power across all five continents

In a rare Facts4EU piece using music, we show how far the UK’s influence extends

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2024

An uplifting Sunday personal reflection from our Chairman

In this Sunday report we ask readers to suspend their own particular musical tastes and simply enjoy the reach of the popular culture of the UK around the world. Far too often the British media put down our great country. Across the globe, however, we still pack a punch.

Today we present two videos featuring the music of a British musical genius from Birmingham - Jeff Lynne OBE, founder of the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - which has touched people in all five continents.

We have chosen two entertaining videos which we hope will be uplifting for all readers. Regardless of readers’ musical tastes, these are two examples of how the UK’s ‘soft power’ still permeates across the globe.

Somehow, two British songs have gone global with ‘flash mob’ status

Some readers will be aware of something called a ‘flash mob”, where ordinary people practice dance moves in large groups for weeks beforehand and then take over shopping malls and other large spaces to dance to popular tunes, to the surprise of shoppers and the public.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

Here are two examples which cover all five continents.

The first uses Jeff Lynne’s “All Over the World”.

From Australia to Brazil to Canada to London to New York to India to Israel to Japan to most EU capitals and major cities, people came out in their thousands in a glorious explosion of dance to a song from this UK composer. Even if this type of music is not what you would normally listen to, it inspired so many across the world to take to the streets in joyous fun.

The second features his “Don’t Bring Me Down” with a popular dance known as 'the shuffle'.

As with the previous example, this features ordinary people across the world dancing in public to British music.

For those who are musically inclined

Jeff Lynne OBE is a Brummie and unashamed Englishman. His output over so many years is characterised by his ability to orchestrate complex and multi-layered pieces using traditional rock band line-ups, together with string and choral sections.

In later years Lynne teamed up for a period with the late George Harrison (of the Beatles), as part of “The Traveling Wilburys” - a British-American supergroup comprising Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty.

Perhaps for those who like this kind of music, I might suggest two more videos.

Jeff Lynne’s ELO live at Wembley Stadium, 2017

The Travelling Wilburys

Jeff Lynne has a reputation amongst musicians for being a perfectionist. In any walk of life give me this any day, over an acceptance of being second-rate.

Exclusive video interview with Richard Tice, Leader of Reform UK

TOMORROW : We resume our normal repertoire of politics, with an EXCLUSIVE interview with the Leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice.

Mr Tice takes us on a tour of how the UK might transform and perhaps return to its traditional roots, in a three-part series taken from a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred, and riveting interview we were granted last week.

You do NOT want to miss this!

And finally....

It can sometimes be depressing to read the news coming out of British universities these days. Here is something to cheer you up. This was Exeter University's a cappella group, 'Semi-Toned', in one of their most impressive videos, a few years ago.

Observations

Too many British commentators underestimate the UK's global influence

In today’s rare departure from our normal fare, we have tried to show how British influence still pervades across the globe.

It doesn’t matter whether we like a particular style of music or not. We all have our own tastes and my own are very broad, from classical and choral, to blues, rock, folk, jazz and bluegrass. There are a great number of examples of British musicians, composers and performers who light up the planet. On this occasion I have chosen just one to illustrate the point.

The simple fact is that the UK’s ‘soft power’ works in mysterious ways, its wonders to perform.

Tomorrow the Facts4EU.Org team will go back to our normal output, with an important and exclusive interview with Richard Tice, Leader of Reform UK.

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[ Sources: Jeff Lynne's ELO | YouTube ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Sun 03 Mar 2024

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Reader Comments 8

1. Sparky , Sunday, March 03, 2024, 07:43:

Great songs, great musician and producer, great band.
.
Just a shame that Brexit has resulted in almost half of UK musicians and workers in the music industry having less work in the EU since Brexit than before it, and more than a quarter have had no EU work at all, according to a survey. “The impact of Brexit on the music sector had been devastating, said the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM). Restrictions had impaired the viability of making a living as a musician, it said.”

2. terence patrick hewett , Sunday, March 03, 2024, 08:18:

As a professional engineer, I have worked on 4 continents and I have never had any difficulty in working anywhere, in the EU or outside of it. Possibly, it is because I have skills which are wanted.

3. Old Albion , Sunday, March 03, 2024, 08:19:

Immediately after Brexit it's true there were problems for musicians. The immediate aftermath of Brexit was always going to be bumpy as any intelligent person could see. Not just in music but all around. However, a couple of bumpy years pales into insignificance compared to the exaggerated nonsense and lies of 'project fear' And don't forget the impact of 'Covid' on the ability to travel.
Now the 'dust has settled' work is opening up again. My son is a professional musician who will very shortly begin a Europe and world tour.

4. NH , Sunday, March 03, 2024, 11:27:

1. Sparky, "Brexit has resulted in almost half of UK musicians and workers in the music industry having less work in the EU"
The British artists mentioned by Facts4eu were successful before we joined the EU. Did not being in the EU prevent the Beatles playing in Hamburg ? Did it stop all the other British groups from the 60's becoming hugely successful ?
.
Since we left the EU the number of British professional musicians has increased by more than 20% so they must be working some where. Sales of UK music increased by 10% last year and music tourism levels, both domestic and international, are at all time highs. It's the 1.1 million international music tourists that came to UK concerts and festivals that contribute to the UK economy.

5. Sparky , Sunday, March 03, 2024, 13:44:

4 NH. Have a read of UK Music, This is Music 2023. Quote “difficulties with touring, especially in the EU, remain. This has negatively impacted the recovery of these (UK recording studios) revenues. The UK has had a very successful music industry which will continue to thrive, Brexit has made it more challenging and less competitive.

6. David , Sunday, March 03, 2024, 13:44:

Question for Sparky.
Do you have a full-time job? Or are you unemployed or retired?
I ask because I note that you post comments(often more than one) on almost every single article
that Facts4EU publish.
I find it hard to see how you can hold down a full-time job and find the time to post comments on this site
every day.
Or perhaps your full-time job is to post comment on this site?

7. NH , Sunday, March 03, 2024, 16:29:

5. Sparky, "Quote “difficulties with touring, especially in the EU, remain"
They don't actually put any figure on the losses or costs. They only figures they seem to quote are the ones for the very successful musicians who generate the vast vast majority of this figure. As far as I can see it's a very small number of very low payed musicians which has next to zero effect on the UK economy. It seems they want a subsidy, paid for by the general public, rather than face the same costs that musicians from other parts of the world pay (USA, Canada, Australia, NZ etc).
.
I would have more sympathy if the music industry didn't revolve around tax avoidance. Eg. Rolling Stones, Beatles, George Michael, Ozzy Osbourne, Take That, Arctic Monkeys, David Bowie, Cat Stephens, Rob Stewart, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Bad Company, Ringo Star, Sting, U2, Eurythmics etc etc. There doesn't seem to be many of them that do pay much tax. They seem to be Socialists when they want a government subsidy and then the turn into Capitalists when the tax bill arrives. Maybe the very wealthy members of the music industry should subsidise the much lower paid members.

8. Sparky , Tuesday, March 05, 2024, 16:16:

6 D. Retired, living in a beautiful part of the UK. Just post for fun but just about had enough now.

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