Politics Goes Pop

I still maintain that Pulp's 'Common People' and 'Cocaine Socialism' are two of the best political pop songs of the last ten years or so. Employing a lacerating wit where others would just be shouty fuckers, Jarvis Cocker has that knack in his lyrics for spot on acidic observations about everyday life that have always been so much more politically relevant than those other musicians who, in trying to angle an invite to be on the bottom of the bill at the Love Music, Hate Racism festival at the Weasel and Duck pub in Dunstable, try to wrap a borrowed Ruts riff around a lyric that is the equivalent of a mimeographed manifesto written by an anarcho-trot expelled from the Alliance of Workers' Spartacist Federation for being too politically incoherent.

That is why I was buzzed to read in the comments section of Lenny's Blog that Jarvis Cocker has debuted a new old song, 'Running The World', on his recently launched MySpace page. According to the blurb on his profile page he's uploaded the song now 'cos it's a year to the day that he wrote the song on the night of Live8 last year, and in his own words:

"I wanted you to hear it now cos It's exactly 1 year since that Live-8 thing & it was the night of that event that I wrote this song. I apologise for all the swearing but sometimes that's the only thing that seems appropriate. It's in no way a criticism of Geldof & co. but I remember thinking at the time: "Where does engaging with these politicians/businessmen really get you?" - ( 12 months on & the cunts still haven't paid up as far as I can make out) - maybe the problem is something more ..... fundamental. Anyway, what do I know? I'm just a pampered rock star - but at least I think it's good to discuss this stuff. Don't you?"

With the opening lines of 'Well did you hear that there is a natural order, those most deserving will end up with the most, that the cream can't help but always rise to the top, well I say: shit floats', and a chorus that the whole family can sing along to, I think we've found the soundtrack to the summer; especially now that Trevorland have been dumped out of the World Cup, and Baddiel and Skinner have put the acetate of 'Three Lions' in Ian Broudie's vault for another two years.

The boy done good.