Chrissie Hynde, frontwoman of The Pretenders, sparked a cultural discussion after sharing her thoughts about the disappearance of "cool" from modern vernacular. During a conversation with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, both musicians noted how the term has largely been replaced by words like "hot."

Photo Credit: Chrissie Hynde by Raph PH / CC by 2.0

Hynde defined "cool" as qualities like:

• Quiet and reserved
• Modest but mysterious
• Good manners
• Attention to dress detail
• Watching events without phones
• Discrete behavior

In contrast, she labeled as "uncool":

• Loud and showy behavior
• Boastful attitudes
• Oversharing
• Phone use during performances

This discussion connects to Hynde's previous criticism of phone use at concerts. She admitted to struggling with fans filming shows, stating, "There's no way to explain how distracting it is." Several venues have since implemented no-phone policies, with bands like Ghost following suit.

The conversation expanded when musician James Blake referenced Hynde's comments while defending Coldplay against critics. Coldplay's Chris Martin responded diplomatically, acknowledging that criticism comes with their territory as "four white, middle-class men from England."

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