I find it really, really strange that people complain about Lily Allen trying to hard to create a certain image... and then compare her to Amy Winehouse. Seriously? I like Winehouse, but she is in no way Amy From The Block, however she chooses to market herself.
That said, I hate this thing of mentioning somebody's financial background like it automatically renders them incapable of charisma or talent or heart. Josh Homme and Win Butler both come from comfortable backgrounds, but I don't think either of them are doing their thing just because they got bored of making moneycastles at home in their Scrooge McDuck money room, nor do I think those self-same moneycastles are entirely to thank for the success of Queens of the Stone Age or Arcade Fire.
Allen gets a lot of hassle for her image, but she's never made any bones about who she is or what she comes from. She's not a chav, and I really hate using that word. Maybe her fans are. But she's not, really. The fact that Keith Allen has lots of useful industry connections probably helped her get her music out, back in the beginning, but it doesn't explain her enduring popularity. People like her and they like her music, so she must be doing something right.
I prefer Allen, just because I think she's a genuinely unusual figure who likes to do unusual things, and I reckon that of the two, she's willing to take a few more risks. I prefer her mate Kate Nash more though. Foundations is a great damn song.