Zack left?

[Narnian]

mini Ben like to clim trees

Well in Surrey you get a lot of green land, unlike in London

LOL... veryyyyy funny discussion
When I was in London I found there some trees too... LOL

[TEB]

Just for the official record, Ben Phillip is an American. While he has spent enough of his life in the UK to have the accent, his father is American, which makes Ben one as well. Nice to know that the US has supplied one of the singers to the group.
I do agree with the statement that not all of the boys live in Norbury. I remember hearing once that Joe Snelling's parents had a very long drive to get him to practice, which might have figured into his departure.
My source told me once that it is impossible to really tell the financial status of any of the boys on appearance since the different uniforms (hoodies, the blue shirts) are provided for them.
While I can't say for sure about the accents in the UK, in my area of Pennsylvania, the accent actually varies from county to county, making it very hard to tell class.
Later on all,

[libera36]

Yeah, I was about to say that but you beat me too it TEB
Mr. Philipp sounds very educated when he talks, which I suppose is the American equivalent of a "posh" accent!

I was wondering though, do the boys have to wear a "uniform" to rehearsals? In the behind the scenes video on the DVD the boys all have on the typical Libera outfit, and in the SoP documentary they have on a different uniform... Or was that just for filming?

[TEB]

I don't know the answer to the uniform worn for practice. To me, it would be difficult since they are all coming from school and would be in their school uniform. But, then again, so no one feels bad because of an expensive uniform compared to a lower cost one, RP might make them wear the blue one.
Though, like you, I did notice in the SOP special, Josh is shown training a newbie and he doesn't have anykind of uniform on. Just regular street clothes.
School uniforms are a very good idea that I wish would be instituted in the US.

I just talked some with my source about Mini Ben. His father has made sure that the family was in the US for the birth of all his children since he wanted them to be citizens of the country of his birth. So all of the Phillip kids are Americans.

[Yorkie]

I just talked some with my source about Mini Ben. His father has made sure that the family was in the US for the birth of all his children since he wanted them to be citizens of the country of his birth. So all of the Phillip kids are Americans.

Well, it just goes to show they take anybody in then

[plumpuff6]

[quote="TEB"

I just talked some with my source about Mini Ben. His father has made sure that the family was in the US for the birth of all his children since he wanted them to be citizens of the country of his birth. So all of the Phillip kids are Americans.[/quote]

So does that mean that Mini-Ben has dual citizenship?

[TullyBascombe]

You don't actually have to be born in the US to be an American citizen. If at least one of your parents is an American citizen and has lived in the US for more than 5 years you are considered a "natural born citizen" even if you were born outside of the United States. Think about it, there are literally tens of thousands of American military personnel living with their families overseas. Are you going to tell them that if their kids are born while in an Army hospital in Germany, Korea, Japan, etc. that their kids aren't Americans? Do that and I promise you it's going to be very difficult to provide adequate officer staff for America's committments to its allies.

That's one of the more hillarious aspects of the Obama birth certificate controversy. It actually doesn't matter, his mother was a born American, she grew up in the US, any child of hers is a natural born American no matter where he's born.

[Jude Andrew]

I think really what we need to consider is how incredibly unique Libera is! Its something completely new, and therefore they don't have anybody to copy off of. If they were a traditional boys choir, then very little information would be found about the boys whereas if it was a traditional boy band (thank God its not, we have enough of those already! ) basically any information could be found about the boys. I see it like this

Traditional Choir - The first thing people think "choir" as a whole.

Libera - The first thing people think of is... just Libera, something new that's never been done before!

Traditional Boyband - The first thing people think of is the boys!

So I think it goes back and forth with Libera: sometimes they want to be seen as a choir, sometimes as a boyband. The openness with the fans depends on how they currently see the group! I think that until they find the "perfect balance", we just have to be happy with what we get!

Very nicely put Libera 36

[Jude Andrew]

DrewE, well said & I'm with you 100% on this. Personally I don't find it strange that news of the boys is kept quite. Unlike a pop group they are not marketing themselves to make as much money as they can now. Yes they need to raise money but just so they can do what is important to them - singing. It has never been about boy A or B, it has always been about the group because Libera must always change.

I know the tag line is that Libera take boys from all walks of life from the mean streets of South London but trust me, as an Englishman the only accent I hear from these kids is a very middle class one. Nothing wrong with that but it does mean that mum and dad are likely to be conservative (not in a political sense) and cautious. The idea of their son as part of a successful vocal group might appeal, but I think they might get cold feet if young joey is the centre of too much attention & internet fandom. This site makes it quite clear (I assume at the request of somebody within Libera) that there are bounderies on what can and can't be discussed.

We need to all acknowledge that there are some weird people (men & women) out there who might obsess a little too much on an individual boy. I'm certain that Libera believe they are doing the right thing to protect all the lads, whether that is from a direct threat or from the fame and attention turning a young mans head. So, we need to accept it because I'm sure it will not change.

Personally (and it is not my intention to offend anybody who holds the opposite view), I don't need a meet and greet or an autograph, as long as they keep making new records and putting on live shows I'm a happy man. If Zack misses four or five shows I think we can safely assume that whether by design of nature or his personal choice or circumstances he will no longer be singing with Libera. Good luck Zack and thank you for your contribution which we will never forget.

Finally, all that said, Robert if you happen to read this could you make some more bloody videos for us to watch And you really must (I insist) film Ed's Mysterium before we lose it forever

Dammmnnnnn, you're good.... I wholeheartedly agree with evry word you wrote. Very well said Andy.

[Jude Andrew]

Not all the boys come from middle class homes, Mini Ben speaks very differently from some of the boys and it shows he is from a middle class home , plus some of the boys live in Norbury( been in Local newpapers ,so i am not stalking them) and to be honest its a crap hole and thats putting it mildly. Nobody with any real money would live there. Thats why its pointed out so much thats where they come from as its not normal for kids in that area to be in a boy choir, kids from that area normally cause trouble and drink alcohol in parks and so on.

I must admit that from the outside looking in and hearing a number of the boys speak at concerts and on the DVD that one gets the impression that they are from the upper classes. That's just the impression I get. I have never been to that part of London but am surprised to hear it described as a crap hole !!

[Yorkie]

I just talked some with my source about Mini Ben. His father has made sure that the family was in the US for the birth of all his children since he wanted them to be citizens of the country of his birth. So all of the Phillip kids are Americans.

Well, it just goes to show they take anybody in then

None of you Yanks taking the bait I thought more of you than that!

[Yorkie]

thespian tyke?

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite
jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath bore me on his back a
thousand times, and now how abhorr'd in my imagination it is!
My gorge rises at it.

Thespian = actor

Tyke = a small child, especially a boy (or a Yorkshireman, possibly of Nordic origin from when the Vikings ruled this part of the world).

As we now know young Benedict is an American we can discount the Yorkshireman part (although I bet his lovely mum is a true Brit and therefore I claim Ben as a true son of Blighty)

[Yorkie]

Sam Coats mentioned where some of the more middle class boys come from, it is green leafy (sp) surrey , Mini Ben will be from around there lol. and you can bet his does not go to a local school, he will go to a fee paying school as he menioned he did Latin, no normal school teaches Latin anymore as no demand for it.

Kelsie's favourite part of the world and home to my sister - I wonder if he lives anywhere near..............

[Yorkie]

plus some of the boys live in Norbury. . . . . and to be honest its a crap hole and thats putting it mildly. Nobody with any real money would live there.

Being from the US, I can't say whether or not what you say is true, but judging from the surroundings, when I visit St. Philip's for Evensong, I make sure I walk back to the train station before the sun goes down!

Rich

Never been Rich but I assume from your comment that it is full of vampires around there?????

[dani]

Not all the boys come from middle class homes, Mini Ben speaks very differently from some of the boys and it shows he is from a middle class home , plus some of the boys live in Norbury( been in Local newpapers ,so i am not stalking them) and to be honest its a crap hole and thats putting it mildly. Nobody with any real money would live there. Thats why its pointed out so much thats where they come from as its not normal for kids in that area to be in a boy choir, kids from that area normally cause trouble and drink alcohol in parks and so on.

I must admit that from the outside looking in and hearing a number of the boys speak at concerts and on the DVD that one gets the impression that they are from the upper classes. That's just the impression I get. I have never been to that part of London but am surprised to hear it described as a crap hole !!

I am sure a lot of them do come from wealthy backgrounds but some of them clearly do not, i would point out some names but i wont im sure people can make there own minds up on the who some of the working class boys are.

But for example 2 of the boys " one no longer goes there" was at a school where somebody got stabbed in the eye with a pencil and that made the papers. So that sums up some of the schools in South London and where some of the boys go to.