Mick Jagger released music videos for a pair of new songs addressing the current state of politics in the United Kingdom and abroad.
July 28 (UPI) — Mick Jagger released music videos for a pair of new songs addressing the current state of politics in Great Britain and abroad.
Jagger said the songs, titled Gotta Get A Grip, and England Lost, were written in response to « confusion and frustration with the times we live in. »
He added in a statement that the music was inspired by the « anxiety, unknowability of the changing political situation » and his lack of hope that the situation will improve.
« We obviously have a lot of problems. So am I politically optimistic?… No, » Jagger said.
The video for « Gotta Get A Grip » takes place at a nightclub packed with sweat-covered revelers who eventually erupt into a riot as Jagger sings about greed, dishonest media and politicians and xenophobia.
« The message I suppose is – despite all those things that are happening, you gotta get on with your own life, be yourself and attempt to create your own destiny, » Jagger said of the song.
« England Lost » tells the tale of a soccer match in which fans are disappointed at England’s defeat on a rainy day, meant to represent this « difficult moment in our history. »
« It’s about the unknowability about where you are and the feeling of insecurity, » Jagger said. « That’s how I was feeling when I was writing. It’s obviously got a fair amount of humor because I don’t like anything too on the nose but it’s also got a sense of vulnerability of where we are as a country. »
Jagger said he enjoyed the ease and freedom of releasing the tracks individually rather than placing them on an album.
« It’s always refreshing to get creative in a different fashion and I feel a slight throwback to a time when you could be a bit more free and easy by recording on the hoof and putting it out there immediately, » he said.
The Rolling Stones frontman added he wrote the songs in April and wanted to release them as soon as possible to preserve their impact.
« I didn’t want to wait until next year when these two tracks might lose any impact and mean nothing, » he said.
