Tom Walker says he wrote his No. 10 protest song about Boris Johnson and his government in an attempt to vent the nation’s frustration.
Sharing an exclusive clip from the single, the Scottish singer told Sky News: “[On Wednesday night]to see that politics is more of a trend than Love Island; you know this says something about what is happening in government right now.
“When a big TV show that a lot of young people love is being completely included in the list of trends by a government that is dismantling moment by moment as people come out and resign … People have gotten to the point where it feels like we have to focus on what’s going on because it’s unprecedented, and we’ve never seen anything like this before. ”
Image: Boris Johnson has resigned from his role as leader of the Conservative Party
Calling the political turmoil “terribly entertaining,” Walker admitted that posting such an opinion song was a risk: “For an established artist, suddenly coming out of politics very out of nowhere is probably a risk to be honest. It wasn’t until I saw the reaction to my song and read all the comments and realized that people are very, very frustrated. “
Walker wrote the first part of the song in response to the Conservative party scandal and the resulting vote of confidence several weeks ago.
He said: “I will not persecute the entire Conservative Party and I am not telling people who I should vote for. I am just saying that it is unacceptable that [the government] they were constantly at cheese and wine parties, while people could not visit dying family members in the hospital or witness the birth of their first child. “
However, with his finger on the political pulse, Walker returned to the recording studio Thursday morning to write a new verse once Conservative MPs began resigning en masse and it became clear that Mr Johnson would likely resign. in his charge.
The BRIT award winner said his song reflects the fact that people are “angry” and have “completely lost confidence” because “they don’t feel like they’re being heard.”
He added: “I can see why. There is scandal every two weeks … The government is in a total mess. It is unprecedented to see so many resignations in 48 hours … I welcome someone new, come in and try bring some integrity to politics and hopefully someone we can trust. “
While Walker’s biggest hit to date has been his 2017 song Leave The Light On (which reached number 7 on the UK charts), it is the online response to this song that has made him left speechless.
Walker called the response “wild,” with excerpts from his first studio recordings that garnered hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok and the initial version of the song (before Mr. Johnson’s resignation) reached the iTunes list, despite not receiving radio. play for its political content.
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3:10 Walker caught up with Sky News at Glastonbury 2019
In addition to the No. 10 festivities during the blockade, the song also refers to a troubled NHS and the cost of living crisis.
Looking back on the last few years, when the nation fought the Covid-19 virus, Walker said, “It was such a long and difficult time, musicians and artists couldn’t go anywhere or do our job for two not to mention the whole NHS crisis and what incredible doctors, nurses and carers had to go through.
“So, for [the government] to be discovered, to be at a party on multiple occasions, including when the queen attended [Prince Philip’s] the funeral and they’re all at ten Downing Street, just partying … I just missed it and started writing this song. “
Walker said a percentage of all proceeds from downloads of his Number 10 song will go to Trussell Trust, a charity that provides emergency food and support to people locked in poverty in an attempt to end the need. of food banks.