May 23rd 2024.
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In a historic moment for the books, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was caught in a downpour as he called for a general election, with the iconic anthem "Things Can Only Get Better" by Irish pop band D:Ream blasting in the background.
Interestingly, the song was not intentionally chosen by the PM, but rather by anti-Brexit activist Steve Bray. The track, which was the soundtrack for Tony Blair's successful 1997 election campaign, has now become a viral meme and has even re-entered the UK charts.
Even Professor Brian Cox, who was the keyboardist for D:Ream, couldn't resist adding some humor to the situation. He tweeted a video of Rishi walking away from the podium to circus music, jokingly suggesting another song for the occasion.
The success of "Things Can Only Get Better" was not immediate for D:Ream, as it only reached number 24 on the charts when it was first released in 1993. However, after being remixed while the band was on tour with Take That, the song shot to number one and remained there for four weeks.
It wasn't until Labour's 1997 campaign, with the help of the song, that it once again climbed the charts and became a symbol of the New Labour movement under Tony Blair. Despite the success, the band split that same year, but had achieved other hits such as "U R the Best Thing" and "Shoot Me with Your Love."
Now, with the song experiencing a resurgence in popularity, there is speculation that other political parties, such as Keir Starmer's Labour, may try to use it in future campaigns. However, this may not sit well with D:Ream, as in 2015, Professor Cox stated that he would not want the song to be associated with any specific party as he is "apolitical" and believes there are "pros and cons" to all parties.
As the UK prepares for a general election on July 4, only time will tell if "Things Can Only Get Better" will once again become a political rallying cry. But for now, it remains a fitting soundtrack for the unpredictable and ever-changing world of British politics.
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