By Jackie Gentilesco, Staff Writer
You may think the chocolate-chip scones offered at "Pura Vida" are the only UK influence in your life right now, but you are greatly mistaken. Rising in recognition, a movement known as transatlanticism describes an integration of English culture resounding on the daily. Ranging anywhere from the 1960's hit "I Want to Hold Your Hand" to Wham!'s "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," a long line of foreign tunes are marked among the greatest of US nostalgia. The migration of such artists into the United States is recognized by music buffs as "British Invasion," although commonly associated with the past, and is anything but a fleeting craze of modern day.
Undoubtedly most have come across the soothing adagios of Corinne Bailey Rae or the Britpop ballads of James Blunt, plus we all know your friends sat around a campfire at one time or another belting Coldplay. If not, this is bound to occur sooner than later, while fusions of English and American artists are budding across the nation as nothing unfamiliar to the media. Representing a wide variety of styles, a revival of the original "British Invasion" is spanning nationwide, where old school UK (think: "Everybody Wang Chung") transforms to a sort of contemporary reminiscence - echoing the inspirations of Piccadilly Square and foggy Londontown. The Wombat's move-your-feet ditty "Let's Dance to Joy Division" replaces the "Dance Hall Days," and "Yellow Submarine" becomes The Arctic Monkey's "Old Yellow Bricks."
If you really want to get trite here, you can note that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. As for Jay-Z, he took the mockery route. In favor of a cocky response to an alleged feud with Oasis frontrunner Noel Gallagher, the rapper covered their 1995 album launcher "Wonderwall" as he headlined the Glastonbury Festival last summer. Similarly, Lily Allen reportedly expressed her contemptuousness for George W. Bush in her chart-topping "F You Very Much," playfully singing the libretto "Your point of view is medieval," and "You think we need to go to war, well, you're already in one."
But this merging of the airwaves is not always controversial. Jay finally gave in to a friendlier form of transatlanticism, and London native, Amy Winehouse, expanded her market by collaborating with H.O.V.A. himself on a remix of her infamous, "Rehab." Outspoken Lily Allen is still ticked about the ex-president; so do not count on any political pacifist duets with G.W.B. As for nearby songstress Natasha Bedingfield, she took the Winehouse approach and teamed with reggae musician Sean Kingston to form the Top 40 hit "Love Like This." Many similar artists such as The Kooks and The Maccabees have proved illustrious while they frequent Western culture, some to the beat of quintessential "British Invasion," and others to the bustle of the mainstream. Either way, even Mick Jagger vouches for his homeland troubadours, contributing transatlantic success to "the diversity of their styles."
Ultimately, if you want to get on the good side of some rock legends, Beyoncé's main man, or even Long Island natives Brand New, who are "sick of your tattoos, and the way you always criticize the Smiths," expand your horizons a bit and fancy a UK songbird, or two. But don't worry about removing your ink.
(Photo Courtesy of www.lillyallenmusic.com)