Professor Brian Cox responds to D:Ream’s ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ drowning out Rishi Sunak’s election announcement

nme.com:

Rishi Sunak announced the summer general election.Yesterday evening (May 22), the Prime Minister confirmed that the UK would be going to the polls on Thursday July 4.

Addressing the nation outside 10 Downing Street, Sunak said it was “the moment for Britain to choose its future”.The PM delivered the speech as he stood in the heavy rain, and was drowned out by the sound of D:Ream’s 1993 single ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ – which was the election campaign song for Labour in 1997.Famous physicist Cox – who is known for his space and science programmes on TV – played keyboards for the pop/dance band in the ’90s.

Taking to X/Twitter last night, he shared a clip of Sunak’s announcement containing an alternate soundtrack.“‘Things Can Only Get Better’ is of course the most appropriate song for today,” Cox wrote of the footage, “but let me throw another one into the ring to add a little variety…”His version featured the Luciano Michelini-composed track ‘Il barone rosso’ (aka ‘Frolic’) – best known as the theme from US sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The instrumental is also popular within meme culture – often accompanying awkward or embarrassing moments.You can see Cox’s post below, along with the original video of Sunak’s speech.Things Can Only Get Better is of course the most appropriate song for today, but let me throw another one into the ring to add a little variety… pic.twitter.com/MZmu1YfBKm— Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox) May 22, 2024Rishi dishing out this speech in the pouring rain as “Things Can Only Get Better” is played loudly.Is this an episode of the Thick of It pic.twitter.com/NpnOJXta0F— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) May 22, 2024we had a good run at Downing Street but both and amplifiers got soaked and blown.