"Rock stars, is there anything they don't know?"
I ask, because a WEF survey suggests that is what a rather alarming percentage of Germans, Belgians and southern Irish think.
Asked 'Which of the following types of people would you like to give more power to in your country?', 34% of our Belgian chums said musicians, as did 28% of Germans and 20% of southern Irish. I am not, as God is my witness, making this up. Follow the link, and there it is on page 45. We were polled too, and 2% of Britons agreed with that proposition.
So, which musicians might we expect to see in the next Belgian cabinet? 2 Unlimited, Technotronic, Front 242 and maybe Johnny Hallyday. I suppose Kraftwerk are a shoo-in for the German ministry of industry, and the Dubliners will be taking charge of urban planning in the Republic.
'Hello' culture seems to have seeped deep into the core of the Belgian, German and southern Irish souls, as it is not just musos they want in government, they want film stars and sports stars too - 26% of Belgians want sports men and women with more power, and 14 % of Germans want more power for film stars. I am at least as happy as the next man to see more of Nastassja Kinski, but.....
Away from that particular set of jaw droppers, intellectuals are disturbingly popular as candidate for greater power - 60% + in the three countries at issue, 24% in France (Ha - take that BHL) and over 50% in both Thailand and Taiwan. We manage a fairly sensible 13%, so that's hard cheese for Stephen Hawking, inter alia. The track record of intellos in power has not been an entirely happy one, shall we say, and I would recommend our neighbours read up on former professor Abimael Guzmán, or Presidente Gonzalo as he preferred, and the Sendero Luminoso...
There's more, much more, in the WEF survey, and I may well be returning to this.
Asked 'Which of the following types of people would you like to give more power to in your country?', 34% of our Belgian chums said musicians, as did 28% of Germans and 20% of southern Irish. I am not, as God is my witness, making this up. Follow the link, and there it is on page 45. We were polled too, and 2% of Britons agreed with that proposition.
So, which musicians might we expect to see in the next Belgian cabinet? 2 Unlimited, Technotronic, Front 242 and maybe Johnny Hallyday. I suppose Kraftwerk are a shoo-in for the German ministry of industry, and the Dubliners will be taking charge of urban planning in the Republic.
'Hello' culture seems to have seeped deep into the core of the Belgian, German and southern Irish souls, as it is not just musos they want in government, they want film stars and sports stars too - 26% of Belgians want sports men and women with more power, and 14 % of Germans want more power for film stars. I am at least as happy as the next man to see more of Nastassja Kinski, but.....
Away from that particular set of jaw droppers, intellectuals are disturbingly popular as candidate for greater power - 60% + in the three countries at issue, 24% in France (Ha - take that BHL) and over 50% in both Thailand and Taiwan. We manage a fairly sensible 13%, so that's hard cheese for Stephen Hawking, inter alia. The track record of intellos in power has not been an entirely happy one, shall we say, and I would recommend our neighbours read up on former professor Abimael Guzmán, or Presidente Gonzalo as he preferred, and the Sendero Luminoso...
There's more, much more, in the WEF survey, and I may well be returning to this.
Labels: suryeys, Truly the Apocalypse is upon us
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De Dobliners was rock stars? Oi don't tink so, sor.
Troy U2.Day cd ron de programme of overseas aid from dair swimmin pools in d sout a Fronce.
Brian Boru
Well faith & begob etc, I was extending it to all musicians in pursuit of a rather strained joke.
As society gets more politically apathetic, it's natural - if wrong - that they'll turn to celebrities for answers.
And those answers seem so good in a soundbite culture where you don't have to actually turn ideas into policy.
I have often thought that, should the day arrive, David Beckham would make an excellent figurehead.
Although they may gain a tad more publicity, the views of musicians usually carry as much weight with policymakers as those of your average Joe interviewed outside Victoria Station on a wet Friday afternoon. Perhaps all is not yet quite lost.
Homer, the genius.
How did "former rugby players" fare?
Front 242? Did you know them or look them up in a list of bands from Belgium on Google? ;)
(I remember the Melody Maker writing about them in the 80s but never heard them until now).
Germany - I'd put Kraftwerk in the Ministry of Transport, what with their experience with Autobahn, Trans-Europe Express and Tour de France.
I think that for politics, Milli Vanilli would be most appropriate.
Tim - I was aware of them, a mate having been a fan some years ago. I knew they were not from these parts, and yes, I googled.
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