Britpop figurehead Jarvis Cocker, has announced support for a recent online campaign to get his 2006 track “Running The World,” to the #1 spot on the UK Billboard Charts in time for Christmas. The song was made famous as the closing track for the 2006 film Children of Men, and is noted for its political lines: “If you thought things had changed, friend, you’d better think again / Bluntly put, in the fewest of words, cunts are still running the world.”
This campaign is in response to the recent UK election results, which saw a major landslide victory for the conservative party. Since the election and campaign, the song has reportedly ranked at number 3 on the iTunes UK streaming and download charts, number 2 on Amazon Music and number 1 on 7digital. On Spotify, there’s been a 19,182% increase of plays in the UK since last Monday, and a 1,100% increase in the US.
“I just want to say a very big thank you to everyone involved in this campaign to get ‘Cunts Are Still Running The World’ to #1 for Xmas. What a lark! I’m so proud that people have chosen the song as a means of protest against the social, political & environmental situation we find ourselves in,” Cocker explained. “We’ve been playing this song at the recent JARV IS… shows & I often sing ‘but not for long’ at the very end. I truly believe that, as long as we don’t give up, that is true. These are cold, hard times but initiatives like this campaign make me feel all warm & hopeful inside. Christmasy even.”
Cccker also praised the efforts, as proceeds from this track go to Shelter, a homeless charity organization. “All proceeds go to Shelter too – so it’s also doing some practical good. All being well we should have a musical Christmas pressie to share with you later today or tomorrow. It’s another way of saying thanks,” the musician explained.
Check out the song below:
The musician released a tribute to the late house legend Frankie Knuckles earlier this year as well.
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