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Robbie Parry Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 June 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12187
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Posted: 10 January 2018 at 8:24pm | IP Logged | 1
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The British Invasion, as many will know, was a period in the 60s when the likes of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones "invaded" the United States by soaring in popularity on US shores.
The Second British Invasion was a period in the 80s when Duran Duran and Culture Club "invaded" the United States by soaring in popularity on US shores.
Was there a third invasion? Will there ever be one? Thoughts?
And does anyone, US, UK or otherwise, have any views on either of the first two invasions?
I was surprised Culture Club took off in the US. I didn't imagine they would. There was even a THE A-TEAM episode where Boy George was set to play at a venue in Arizona - and the club owner claimed he wouldn't even be able to draw flies to the venue!
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Bob Simko Byrne Robotics Security
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Joined: 16 April 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5665
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Posted: 10 January 2018 at 9:58pm | IP Logged | 2
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I never really thought of the 80's as a second British Invasion. The first one I can see...it influenced how US bands approached music...even though it was a repackaging of US blues & R&B back to the States. The 80's certainly had a LOT of popular UK bands played in the US, but I don't think the UK & Manchester sound s drove US 80's bands to the degree that happened in the 60's.
I can't think of anything that would resemble a 3rd wave to me.
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Robbie Parry Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 June 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12187
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Posted: 11 January 2018 at 4:44am | IP Logged | 3
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You make a valid point, Bob. Although "Second British Invasion" is a term, and has been used by music journalists, it probably is not comparable to the initial British Invasion.
And, like you, I can't think of anything that would resemble a third wave. Maybe you'll be getting it soon! ;-)
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Peter Martin Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 March 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 11275
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Posted: 11 January 2018 at 8:19am | IP Logged | 4
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The 80s invasion was a consequence of the nascent MTV needing music videos to broadcast and UK bands being ahead of the curve in terms of producing glossy, imaginative videos than US bands. Clearly it wasn't as big as the first invasion, but in the early to mid-80s there was definitely a notable influx into the US charts of new British bands. Robert Palmer, Bily Idol, The Police, George Michael, The Human League, Duran Duran, Culture Club, Tears for Fears, the Eurythmics. These acts played a major part in defining pop music of the period.
If you look at who hit number 1 in the US singles charts in 1985, British acts have a huge impact. George Michael with Careless Whisper and Everything She Wants, Phil Collins with One More Night, Sussudio and Separate Lives, Tears for Fears with Shout and Everybody Wants to Run the World, Simple Minds , Duran Duran, Paul Young, John Parr and Dire Straits all hit number one as well with massive songs (and I would argue American band Mister Mister and Norwegian band A-Ha, who also had number ones that year, had sounds that were very influenced by the British Invasion).
As for a third invasion, it does start to get a bit tenuous trying to link the bands, but there was large British success earlier this decade with Adele, One Direction, Calvin Harris, Ed Sheeran, Muse and Mumford and Sons all cracking the US market around the same time, to the extent that four of the five best-selling albums in the US in 2012 were by British acts.
Edited by Peter Martin on 11 January 2018 at 8:20am
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Robbie Parry Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 June 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12187
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Posted: 11 January 2018 at 9:00am | IP Logged | 5
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I love that NEWSWEEK cover!
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Bill Collins Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2005 Location: England Posts: 10483
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Posted: 11 January 2018 at 12:51pm | IP Logged | 6
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What about Def Leppard,Whitesnake,Iron Maiden,Judas Priest,under the mass media radar invasion in the 80`s?
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Michael Roberts Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 20 April 2004 Location: United States Posts: 12482
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Posted: 11 January 2018 at 12:58pm | IP Logged | 7
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As for a third invasion, it does start to get a bit tenuous trying to link the bands, but there was large British success earlier this decade with Adele, One Direction, Calvin Harris, Ed Sheeran, Muse and Mumford and Sons all cracking the US market around the same time, to the extent that four of the five best-selling albums in the US in 2012 were by British acts.
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If you consider those artists, then you'd also have to consider the mid-90s with the Spice Girls, Radiohead, and the Britpop bands like Oasis. But mostly the Spice Girls. There was a period from the late 90s to the early 2000s where they kept trying to push manufactured pop bands with a similar sound.
Another mini-invasion would be the wave of mid-2000s British soul singers like Amy Winehouse and Joss Stone.
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Robbie Parry Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 June 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12187
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Posted: 11 January 2018 at 1:37pm | IP Logged | 8
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The first invasion was one of a kind.
Peter has summarised the second invasion very well, specifically the need for MTV to acquire music videos.
Anything else may not be in the same league.
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John Popa Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 20 March 2008 Posts: 3221
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Posted: 11 January 2018 at 4:01pm | IP Logged | 9
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As Bill pointed out, there was what was called the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the late 70's/early 80's.
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Robbie Parry Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 June 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12187
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Posted: 11 January 2018 at 4:09pm | IP Logged | 10
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Yes, I wonder why that hasn't been deemed an "invasion" by the music journalists over time. It was an "invasion" in a sense.
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Peter Martin Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 March 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 11275
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Posted: 11 January 2018 at 6:03pm | IP Logged | 11
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you'd also have to consider the mid-90s with the Spice Girls, Radiohead, and the Britpop bands like Oasis.------------------------------- I think you absolutely can make a case for that.
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Robbie Parry Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 June 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12187
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Posted: 11 January 2018 at 7:25pm | IP Logged | 12
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So we're now talking four invasions, right? ;-)
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Brian Miller Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 28 July 2004 Location: United States Posts: 25696
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Posted: 11 January 2018 at 9:55pm | IP Logged | 13
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I would think the second British Invasion was the late 60s when you had bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, Traffic, Cream, et al came upon the scene.
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Bill Collins Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2005 Location: England Posts: 10483
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Posted: 12 January 2018 at 6:23am | IP Logged | 14
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In reality the British have consistently done well in the U.S.,the fact that the media hypes up certain styles or bands that they deem worthy,doesn`t diminish the success of bands they ignore.The media lead myth that punk killed the rock dinosaurs is a similar irritation to me! Look at the best selling albums on both sides of the Atlantic during the punk peak...all Rock/Prog old school bands!
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Robbie Parry Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 June 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12187
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Posted: 12 January 2018 at 6:50am | IP Logged | 15
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So, next question, class: what counts as a US invasion of the UK?
I can only think of pro wrestling! ;-)
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Michael Penn Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 12 April 2006 Location: United States Posts: 10307
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Posted: 12 January 2018 at 8:15am | IP Logged | 16
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QUOTE:
...what counts as a US invasion of the UK? |
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In the 50s, the original American Rock'n'Roll acts busted into the UK first, and this prompted the responding British Invasion in the 60s.
Acts with #1 UK hits: Everly Brothers, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Platters, Elvis Presley, etc...
Acts with top ten UK hits: Chuck Berry, The Coasters, Fats Domino, Everly Brothers, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, The Platters, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, etc...
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Bill Collins Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2005 Location: England Posts: 10483
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Posted: 12 January 2018 at 9:32am | IP Logged | 17
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David Cassidy and The Osmonds in the early 70`s?
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Adam Schulman Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 22 July 2017 Posts: 900
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Posted: 12 January 2018 at 1:00pm | IP Logged | 18
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The Jimi Hendrix Experience were a big deal in the UK before the US -- and, unless I'm misremembering, had hit singles in the UK, unlike in the US, excepting "All Along the Watchtower."
Make of that what you will. (Honestly, if there was ever a "King of Rock & Roll," Jimi was it.)
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Robbie Parry Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 June 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12187
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Posted: 13 January 2018 at 6:51pm | IP Logged | 19
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What about KISS, circa May 2017? They came to my hometown. I attended the concert. That's an invasion...right?
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Peter Martin Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 March 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 11275
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Posted: 13 January 2018 at 7:59pm | IP Logged | 20
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Yes, Robbie, I believe many people are referring to that as the fifth invasion.
In regard to a US invasion of the UK, I'm guessing Robbie's smiley indicated he knows how pervasive US culture has been in the UK in the post-war period. Rock and Roll, Hollywood, Coca-Cola, Maccy-Ds.... To name but a few.
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Warren Scott Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 09 July 2016 Posts: 201
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Posted: 15 February 2018 at 11:09pm | IP Logged | 21
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I c an't say if there's actually been a third British invasion with the impact of the ones in the 60s and 80s. But I'm spurred to comment on a couple of the responses. Bob is right that the 80s British music didn't have as much influence on American music. Just look at the rock and R&B acts that rose on the charts with the Brits. But the influence of the British acts could be seen in the clothes, hairstyles, films, TV and comics of the decade. And Peter, I think it was the other way around - the creativity and popularity of the British music videos made MTV possible. The first video MTV showed was The Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star" and Billy Idol (among others) appeared in ads encouraging viewers to tell cable companies "I want my MTV!"
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