Jarvis Cocker - Running The World (Rough Trade)
5/5
By: Thomas Hannan
There was a peculiar moment at this year's Reading Festival, and we're not talking Peaches and her enormous inflatable, well, band member. Waiting in the rain for Franz Ferdinand to headline the main stage, the gathering audience were treated to Jarvis Cocker's spindly frame making an appearance on the large screens, crawling out from a shed, apologising for not being in bodily attendance but offering his new song up by way of apology. That song was 'Running The World'.
This then happened before every subsequent headline act, the words being spelt out on the big screen so as it was left not at all to chance that people may not get what Jarvis was going on about. The message, and the chorus, was clear. 'C**nts are still running the world'. 'C**nts are still running the world'.
Come Sunday, before Pearl Jam, people were joining in euphorically. You see, not only is the topic of this tune a hot one - written as it was the night of Live 8 and dealing with the subject, as if you haven't guessed from that short quote, of our international leaders' inability to sort any of the numerous current, tragic world messes out - but the melody makes it the greatest Pulp song Pulp never wrote. It's impossible not to bellow the word 'C**NTS!' at the top of your voice when it's used in a melody this appealing. Perhaps, it's the greatest political slogan ever.
C-words might still be running the world. But whilst folk like JC are pointing that fact out to us quite so superbly, there might be just a little bit of hope. Just a little.
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment