Pulp share ‘Begging for Change’ from War Child’s ‘Help (2)’
Pulp are the next stars to release their effort for War Child Records’ forthcoming Help(2) album, sharing new single, ‘Begging for Change’.
The song opens with a warning from Cocker, who robotically delivers the words, “We are being strip-mined by the powers that be, We are being strip-mined by the new bourgeoisie.”
The single comes as the fourth effort to be taken from the upcoming collaborative charity album to help children trapped in conflict zones, produced by James Ford, and set to be released on March 6th.
‘Begging for Change’ was written and composed by Cocker, Candida Doyle, Nick Banks, Mark Webber, Emma Smith, Andrew McKinney, Adam Betts, and Jason Buckle.
Pulp follow on from The Last Dinner Party’s ‘Let’s Do It Again!’, Arctic Monkeys’ cool, collected opener ‘Opening Night’, and the collaborative effort ‘Flags’ from Damon Albarn, Kae Tempest, Grian Chatten, and an all-star choir including the Pulp frontman himself.
On the new Pulp tune, the same kids’ choir featured in ‘Flags’ can be heard adding screams to the primal anthem. Another all-star choir, this one including Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten, Kae Tempest, and Carl Barat, adds backing vocals at the beginning of the song.
Pulp have a long history with the War Child project. In 1996, their album, Different Class, was nominated alongside the original Help compilation for the Mercury Prize. Though Pulp took home the award, Cocker dedicated the moment to War Child and donated the £25,000 prize money to the charity during his acceptance speech.
Speaking on the new release, Cocker has stated: “Thirty years ago we gave our Mercury Prize (and the prize money) to War Child. This year we have given more. How much more? You’ll have to wait and see..”
For more information on the work that War Child do in places of need, such as Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, Syria, visit here. Help (2) can also be pre-ordered here.
Help (2) tracklist:
- Arctic Monkeys – ‘Opening Night’
- Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten and Kae Tempest – ‘Flags’
- Black Country, New Road – ‘Strangers’
- The Last Dinner Party – ‘Let’s do it again!’
- Beth Gibbons – ‘Sunday Morning’
- Arooj Aftab & Beck – ‘Lilac Wine’
- King Krule – ‘The 343 Loop’
- Depeche Mode – ‘Universal Soldier’
- Ezra Collective and Greentea Peng – ‘Helicopters’
- Arlo Parks – ‘Nothing I Could Hide’
- English Teacher and Graham Coxon – ‘Parasite’
- Beabadoobee – ‘Say Yes’
- Big Thief – ‘Relive, Redie’
- Fontaines DC – ‘Black Boys on Mopeds’
- Cameron Winter – ‘Warning’
- Young Fathers – ‘Don’t Fight the Young’
- Pulp – ‘Begging for Change’
- Sampha – ‘Naboo’
- Wet Leg – ‘Obvious’
- Foals – ‘When the War is Finally Done’
- Bat For Lashes – ‘Carried My Girl’
- Anna Calvi, Ellie Rowsell, Nilüfer Yanya and Dove Ellis – ‘Sunday Light’
- Olivia Rodrigo – ‘The Book of Love’
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