Winston Peters, the deputy prime minister of New Zealand, claims he “does no care” about the controversy surrounding the use of the Chumbawamba hit Tubthumping at a social protest.
” It seems that the Chumbawamba history is more important to the internet than we are.” We really do n’t care”, Mr Peters said.
” There’s nothing to ‘ cease or desist ‘”, he wrote on X on Wednesday.
Mr. Peters, who is in charge of the right-wing New Zealand First Party, marched on to Tubthumping back of a contentious conversation last weekend.
He ended by referring to its famous phrases, saying:” We got knocked over, but we got up again”.
The group protested, saying they did not want him to use their song during his gatherings and that they did not support his political beliefs.
However, Mr. Peters asserted on Wednesday that the music “worked like a charm for our first open conference following the election.” The group of around 700 thought that too.
Though the group released some songs, Mr Peters took aim at Tubthumping being Chumbawamba’s biggest business success.
He wrote on X,” I may employ another of their reach music headings as a joke at the end of this article, but unfortunately they only had one.”
Dunstan Bruce, one of the original members of Chumbawamba and former lead singer, claimed the song was inspired by a sizable mingled and immigrant population in Leeds, United Kingdom.
I really thought it’s not something we could just stay back and let happen for Winston Peters to then try to hijack the song and use it to support his campaign, which I find very severe.
Mr. Bruce claimed that other people had used Tubthumping in a way that upended the circle, and that Mr. Peters had previously used it at gatherings.
” It’s happened quite a few times with the right- aircraft officials in the United States, in the UK, in Australia, who’ve all tried to use the music, and then clearly New Zealand”, Mr Bruce said.
He added that they typically respond by sending a “cease and desist” letter to “publicize the fact that these people on the right do n’t align with our politics.”
” They obviously see the music as a populist track… the concept of the track is quite common. He said it’s really simple for people to interpret it incorrectly or not be aware of the band behind that song.
The BBC has contacted Sony Music Publishing to inquire about their phone with Mr. Peters and New Zealand First, but it has not yet received a response.
On X, Mr Peters, said,” We will be sure to file the’ cease and desist’ letter in a safe place if it ever arrives”.
The NZ First head discussed plans to replace gender and gender lessons from the university education in the hour-long” state of the nation” speech that sparked the discussion and claimed that NZ First and its supporters have a “real chance to take back our country.”
He also made an appearance to contrast the co-governance theory of Nazi Germany with the shared decision-making between Mori people and the Crown, which is practiced in other ways. But he later attacked the media for “misreporting” this part of his speech.
New Zealand’s prime minister Christopher Luxon has said he had a “private conversation” with Mr Peters over his comments.
Former prime minister and Labour leader Chris Hipkins blasted Mr. Peters for “using racism and anti-media rhetoric to divide our country,” adding that” Kiwis deserve better than a deputy prime minister who behaves like a drunk uncle at a wedding.”
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5 December 2023
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