Pop Culture from an Alternate Dimension

       250 years ago, the United States was fighting a bloody war with Great Britain to gain independence, yet the two nations are still inextricably linked, especially in pop culture. Influences from movies, music, etcetera go both ways. So it makes sense that the Commonwealth would have songs showing mixed feelings of the U.S. (for the sake of simplicity I will define the Commonwealth as any country that had Queen Elizabeth on their money).         I open the album with "Kids in America" who is English and was an adult when she recorded this song. David Bowie follows with another song of American youth. The Scottish band Simple Minds follow, Brits Supertramp have a spot of "Breakfast in America" and The Clash say how they feel about the U.S.A. Aussies AC/DC give their appreciation of American thighs in "You Shook Me All Night Long". E.L.O. are "Calling America" while The Proclaimers of Scotland look forward to a "Letter from America"....

             These are songs that remind me of the great detective, Sherlock Holmes. I open the album with a song named after him, but instead of the original from Sparks, I used a cover version. I followed Holmes with Watson. Then to the street where they rent a room from Mrs. Hudson. Queen Victoria, I felt should be represented if only for Holmes' indoor shooting practice in "The Musgrave Ritual". Reichenbach Falls was the site of Sherlock's death (don't worry, he got better). When thinking of Holmes and Watson I imagine the foggy streets of London Town where these private eyes are looking for clues. Of course, for Holmes it's elementary. It's so simple that I included a song of the same name from a stage musical called Baker Street  starring Fritz Weaver. I wrap up the whole affair with the title music from BBC's "Sherlock". You can listen to my choices here:  Sherlock Holmes: a Musical Portrait - YouTube