How the Brit-Pack....

Rob Pattinson, Sam Bradley and others are affecting American pop culture

Has everyone noticed how plaid is the new color for fall? Specifically, plaid shirts for both men and women. One can’t help but wonder if Robert Pattinson’s (start of mega movie franchise, Twilight, and BFF Bobby Long’s preference for plaid shirts have affected the current trends and styles of the U.S. Everywhere one looks, you will see blue and red plaid, black and white plaid, yellow, blue and white plaid – everything plaid! Coincidence? Hardly. That is just one of the small ways the Brit-Pack, consisting of Rob Pattinson, Sam Bradley, Marcus Foster, Bobby Long and Tom Sturridge, are affecting American pop culture. These British lads have hit the U.S. pop culture like a storm, riding the waves of the popular 2008 Twilight movie franchise in which three of the British lads co-wrote songs with Rob Pattinson on the Twilight movie soundtrack. Marcus Foster and Bobby Long co-authored the song, “Let Me Sign,” which Rob performed on the movie soundtrack and Sam Bradley co-wrote “Never Think” with Rob that was also featured on the soundtrack.

This weekend, all three are performing at the much publicized Twi-Con event in Dallas, Texas. With as many as 2,500 attendees, these three British musicians will likely affect the fans in the same way the Beatles did back in the 60s. Then, it was the Beatles. Today, it’s Sam Bradley, Marcus Foster and Bobby Long – three of the famous Brit-Pack group headed by mega-star, Rob Pattinson. As a result, the U.S. will never be the same.

Already, young men can be seen across the nation with hair that can only be described as “Rob Pattinson hair.” Scruffy, bed-head hair, gelled, tousled, and adorable. Sam Bradley sports a more chic, shorter hairstyle and Bobby Long prefers sweeping bangs over the eyes, while Marcus Foster has a relaxed, curly, devil-may-care look. Watch the U.S. teens as these hairstyles take precedence in an era when everything British is wonderful in the U.S. Not to mention the beautiful accents.
Perhaps Simon Cowell re-ignited the love affair of the U.S. with the Brits with the much-watched “American Idol” TV show, based on Britain’s “Pop Idol” TV show. Perhaps the love affair with the Brit-Pack is simply reminiscent of the one with the Beatles from long ago. Perhaps Americans simply look to their cousins, the Brits, as the leaders in pop culture where everything “Brit” is cool and attractive. In 1965, model Jean Shrimpton wore a miniskirt to the Melbourne Cup and shocked the country. A few weeks later, thousands were wearing skirts of that length in the U.S. Another new ideal was that women started wearing pants. Bell bottoms and blue jeans were worn by young women, much to the disheartenment of their mothers. Boys had long hair, like the Beatles and wore bell bottoms and brightly colored shirts and socks.

The Beatles weren't the only successful British Band. Gerry and the
Pacemakers, the Dave Clark Five, The Who and the Rolling Stones together launched the British Invasion on the world. The British Invasion was a different type of music altogether. The Beatles combined the guitar based rock and roll of Chuck Berry while the Stones added aspects of Chicago Blues in their forceful music.

Much like those British bands of yesteryear, Bobby Long, Sam Bradley and Marcus Foster are bringing their own styles of music and style to the U.S. Will it have the same impact as the Beatles and others? Only time will tell. All three are brilliant songwriters with a grasp of writing music that belies their age. Long’s music is reminiscent of a troubadour’s - raspy, folksy, and a little Dylanesque. Foster’s music is bluesy, folksy and brilliant, and Bradley’s music is more pop and Americana. All three have unique, different sounds and American fans love all three of them.

Among the Brit-Pack, Tom Sturridge is an actor with no apparent musical aspirations. Tom has starred in such movies as Being Julia, Vanity Fair (in which Rob starred as well), and Like Minds. He, too, has the potential to influence American pop culture with his own style of scruffy hair, homeless style of dressing in plaid shirts and cut jeans, with that attitude of, “I’m comfortable just the way I am.” It’s this attitude that Americans may be fond of. Brits don’t have to try to be cool. They just are.

As for the three musicians, Bobby, Sam and Marcus, they all will embark on U.S. tours immediately following Twi-con this weekend. Bobby Long will begin his Dangerous Summer Tour through the U.S. in an ambitious, jam-packed schedule. He’ll also head up to Quebec, Canada, then to Barcelona, Spain, Paris, France, Germany and back to the U.S. again for a fall tour. Likewise, Sam Bradley will also be embarking on another U.S. tour after Twi-con, as will Marcus Foster.



source: EXaminer.com