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Chumbawamba, Tubthumping: Music Lifts ๐ŸŽถ ๐Ÿ‹ No. 54 (2023) [๐Ÿ“ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; EMI Germany; Hamid Tajik, Qamar Rehman, vansh mehta, Viridiana Rivera via Pexels]In the 54th edition of Music Lifts (2023), weโ€™re uplifted by Chumbawamba performing, โ€œTubthumping.โ€

โ€œWeโ€™ll be singinโ€™ / When weโ€™re winninโ€™ / Weโ€™ll be singinโ€™.โ€ Welcome to Music Lifts ๐ŸŽถ ๐Ÿ‹, a column that seeks to highlight songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs arenโ€™t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better โ€“ be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 54th  edition of Music Lifts ๐ŸŽถ ๐Ÿ‹ (2023), we highlight ๐ŸŽต โ€œTubthumpingโ€ as performed by ๐ŸŽ™ Chumbawamba.

Chumbawamba, Tubthumper [๐Ÿ“ท: EMI Germany]โ€œI get knocked down, but I get up again / Youโ€™re never gonna keep me down.โ€ WOO! Those lyrics, from the big, anthemic chorus of ๐ŸŽต โ€œTubthumpingโ€ are both iconic and inspiring.  What Iโ€™m saying is, the musical lift ๐Ÿ‹๏ธ is legit ๐Ÿ’ช! The disbanded, UK anarchist punk band ๐ŸŽ™ Chumbawamba is renowned for the top-10 hit, which peaked a no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1998. โ€œTubthumpingโ€ commences Chumbawambaโ€™s 1997, multiplatinum album, fittingly titled, ๐Ÿ’ฟ Tubthumper.  For some context, Bianca Gracie (udiscovermusic) writes that โ€œthe title of the record derives from British slang for aggressive political protesting.โ€ Sort of explains that big, resilient, and totally unflappable and unstoppable chorus!

balancing a barbell on fingerThe chorus is the crowning achievement of โ€œTubthumping.โ€ However, there are so many reasons why this gave the band its sole top-40 hit in the U.S.  Still focusing on the lyrics, in the verses, the band is having a hell of a good time ๐Ÿ‹๏ธ.  The drinks ๐Ÿบ are clearly flowing per ๐ŸŽ™ Dunstan Bruce (โ€œHe drinks a whiskey drink he drinks a vodka drinkโ€) and ๐ŸŽ™ Lou Watts, given that theyโ€™re โ€œPissinโ€™ the night awayโ€ (drinking in British slang), and singing, โ€œOh, Danny Boy, Danny Boy, Danny Boy ๐Ÿ€.โ€ Not only is the band having fun, so are the listeners โ€“ how can you not with this song right here? The musical backdrop is epic with the groove, punk/alternative rock cues, and some unique samples: Dannyโ€™s Speech from the 1996 movie, ๐ŸŽฆ Brassed Off (1996) and Prince of Denmarkโ€™s March by English organist and composer, ๐ŸŽผ โœ Jeremiah Clarke (1699). The trumpet solo (๐ŸŽบ Jude Abbott) is incredibly sweet, as well as the harmonized riffs that follow! Maybe drunkenness doesnโ€™t provide the traditional, musical lift, and faith doesnโ€™t have a role in the least, but that chorus โ€“ it pumps you TF up ๐Ÿ’ช!


๐ŸŽ™ Chumbawamba โ€ข ๐Ÿ’ฟ Tubthumper โ€ข ๐Ÿท EMI Germany โ€ข ๐Ÿ“… 1997

Chumbawamba, Tubthumping: Music Lifts ๐ŸŽถ ๐Ÿ‹ No. 54 (2023) [๐Ÿ“ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; EMI Germany; Hamid Tajik, Qamar Rehman, vansh mehta, Viridiana Rivera via Pexels]

 


the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.