Song of The Day – “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba

Chumbawamba’s song “Tubthumping” is perhaps the most misunderstood one hit wonder in all of pop music. More an anarchist performance collective than a band, in 1997 Chumbawamba decided to try and expand the anti-“New Labor” audience with an instantly accessible, high energy drinking song.

The anti-New Labour sentiment wasn’t exactly explicit in the lyrics, but the band used the access to entertainment media that a chart topping song afforded them. ,

A few weeks later, provoked by the Labour government’s refusal to support the Liverpool Dockworkers Strike, the band performed “Tubthumping” at the 1998 BRIT Awards with the lyric changed to include “New Labour sold out the dockers, just like they’ll sell out the rest of us”, and vocalist Danbert Nobacon later poured a jug of water over UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who was in the audience.

In the late 1990s, the band turned down $1.5 million from Nike to use the song “Tubthumping” in a World Cup advertisement.[17] According to the band, the decision took approximately “30 seconds” to make.