While the United Kingdom deals with the fallout of their most recent election, some constituents are biting back with a protest movement that’s been blessed by Jarvis Cocker himself.
The fun began with the self-explanatory Facebook group, “Fancy Getting ‘C***s Are Still Running The World to UK Xmas No.1?,” looking to Cocker’s 2006 tune as an appropriate response to the Conservative party election victory last week.
“In light of so much recent election horror, let’s do this, eh?” group poster Darcie Shoenman Molina shared on Facebook. “Bit of fun to focus on for the next week.”
Once Cocker got wind of what was happening, he gave Molina and company his full blessing, vowing to donate all proceeds from the song to UK housing and homelessness charity Shelter. The song’s label, Rough Trade, is also on board.
According to the Guardian earlier this week, the song has some tough competition in current UK chart-topper, “I Love Sausage Rolls”—a parody sung to the tune of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll”—by Ladbaby. Yes, really. Last year, the same act took the Christmas number one crown with “We Built This City (on Sausage Rolls).” England: are you OK?
UPDATE (12/18): Jarvis has responded on his Instagram:
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. 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.
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.
