Things Can Only Get Better (D:Ream song)

"Things Can Only Get Better" is a song by Northern Irish musical group D:Ream. The Labour Party used it as a theme during the party's successful campaign in the general election of 1997. The song took several months to reach the top of the UK Singles Chart. Originally a club hit, pop success took much longer for the song – initially, it reached only number 24 on the chart in January 1993. Band member Al Mackenzie left later that year, and remaining member Peter Cunnah took the band in a more pop-friendly direction. "Things Can Only Get Better" was remixed and became a bigger hit, spending four weeks at number one in January 1994.[1] In addition, the song managed to reach the top 10 in 8 countries. In the US, it peaked at number 7 on Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

"Things Can Only Get Better"
Single by D:Ream
from the album D:Ream On Volume 1
B-side"Remix"
Released
  • 18 January 1993 (1st 1993 Version)
  • 27 December 1993 (2nd 1993 Version)
  • 21 April 1997 (1997 Version)
  • 24 February 2014 (2014 Version)
RecordedAosis Studios
GenreDance-pop
Length4:03
LabelMagnet Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
D:Ream singles chronology
"Unforgiven"
(1993)		 "Things Can Only Get Better"
(1993)		 "U R the Best Thing"
(1993)
"Star" / "I Like It"
(1993)
"Things Can Only Get Better"
(1994)
"U R the Best Thing (Perfecto Mix)"
(1994)
Music video
"Things Can Only Get Better" on YouTube

Background and release

Frontman of D:Ream, Peter Cunnah was in a indie guitar band called Tie the Boy in Derry. After moving to London and the deal with the label Mother went cold, the band broke up. Cunnah stayed in London, working three years in clubs. He also had an office job, but all he really wanted was to become a pop star. One day he was a bit teary about it, one of the office girls said, "Don't worry. Things can only get better." Right there he got the idea for the song and with some help from Jamie Petrie, who wrote some of the lyrics. But the song just ended up on Cunnah's stockpile of 300 unrecorded tunes. Two years later, after Cunnah had started the new band D:Ream with Alan Mackenzie, they were working on a track and then "Things Can Only Get Better" came back into Cunnah's head. It took a year to get the song right and producer Tom Frederikse built it up with choirs until it sounded like a stadium full of people singing. This time, the single reached number 24 on the UK Singles Chart. Now they wanted to go in different directions, so Mackenzie left the band.

"There used to be this idea that rock music was intellectual and dance music was just a totally physical thing. I think we're one of the bands that has succeeded in breaking that down. If people just want to dance to our music, that's fine. If they want to sit down and take in some of the serious points adressed by the lyrics, that's also fine. If they want to listen to it on both levels, that's even better."
—Peter Cunnah.[2]

According to Mackenzie, "Things Can Only Get Better" was first released as a 10-minute instrumental EP with a reggae break. The subsequent single version originally had a gospel-type a cappella intro, but the record company cut it off. Mackenzie told them that they were crazy and that the part was crucial to how the song builds, so when the song was remixed, it was reinstated in the song.[3] In 1994, the remix sold 600,000 copies and spent 4 weeks at number-one on the UK Singles Chart. The single also managed to reach the Top 10 in 8 other countries. Tony Blair loved that song and in 1997, Labour Party asked if they could use the song as their 1997 election tune. That made the song go back into the UK Singles Chart for a third time.

Critical reception

The song received favorable reviews from most music critics. Aberdeen Evening Express said it is "incredibly catchy".[4] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "radio-friendly ditty that blends an insinuating groove with rollicking gospel chants and a wildly infectious pop melody. Track builds to a fitting, anthemic musical climax that is complemented by choir vocals and heartfelt lead belting."[5] Evening Herald called the song a "prophetic anthem".[6] Tom Ewing from Freaky Trigger described it as "tune-heavy, hands-high dance-pop".[7] Melody Maker labeled it as a "infectious, euphoric anthem".[8] Music & Media called it a "poppy rave anthem" and added that "this optimistic perspective on life deserves your support."[9] The Network Forty said that a "house approach gives this tune a cutting edge feel. D:Ream sends a positive message to disenchanted youth. Featuring powerful vibes flavored by techno bass thumps as well as Peter Cunnah's searing harmonies, this record will stir up the request lines for months. Encompassing the best of dance, rock, and alternative, D:Ream hits a home run."[10] Pop Rescue wrote, "This song has a funky saxophone, a relentlessly thumping bass drum, house piano and Peter’s strong vocals. He’s joined for the chorus by the gospel choir that was missing in the previous song. The song is thumping, almost as fresh as it sounded back then, and despite its over-use in the 90s, it’s still a bloody good song."[11] Adam Higginbotham from Select called it a "perfect feelgood pop-dance record".[12] Smash Hits gave it 5 out of 5, noting that D:Ream "are the best dance act this side of the moon and it's a crime that they're not as big as M People already with all their fab dancey tunes. Stick it on, stick it out and let 'em down. Just watch the elastic on your knickers burst with the sheer excitement of it all. Bloomin' marvellous."[13]

Commercial performance

"Things Can Only Get Better" was originally a club hit, reaching number 24 in the United Kingdom in January 1993. A year later, in January 1994, the song was released in a new remix and spent four weeks at number one in the UK. In Europe, the song peaked within the top 10 in Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Scotland and Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Things Can Only Get Better" reached number 5. Outside Europe, the song reached number 3 in Israel and number 9 in Australia. In the United States, the 1994 version peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Music video
Peter Cunnah in front of the choir in the music video of "Things Can Only Get Better".

The music video for "Things Can Only Get Better" was directed by British film and music video director James Lebon. The video was nominated for the International Viewer's Choice Award for MTV Europe at MTV Europe Music Awards in 1994.

Track listing
CD maxi, Europe (1st 1993 Release)
No.TitleLength
1."Things Can Only Get Better" (7" D:reamix)3:23
2."Things Can Only Get Better" (12" D:reamix)7:10
3."Things Can Only Get Better" (12" Vocal Dub)8:00
4."Things Can Only Get Better" (12" Instrumental)6:10
5."Things Can Only Get Better" (12" Danny Rampling Mix)5:55
CD maxi, Europe (2nd 1993 Release)
No.TitleLength
1."Things Can Only Get Better" (D·Reamix Edit)4:01
2."Things Can Only Get Better" (12" D·Reamix)7:04
3."Things Can Only Get Better" (Cleveland City Style)6:15
4."Things Can Only Get Better" (Superfly Development Vocal)5:58
5."Things Can Only Get Better" (Cleveland Main Vocal)6:32
6."Things Can Only Get Better" (Cleveland Euro Style)5:58
CD maxi, Europe (1997)
No.TitleLength
1."Things Can Only Get Better" (D:reamix Edit)3:59
2."Things Can Only Get Better" (D:reamix '97 Edit)4:06
3."Things Can Only Get Better" (12" D:reamix)7:03
4."Things Can Only Get Better" (12" D:reamix '97)8:14
5."Things Can Only Get Better" (Cleveland City Style)6:14
6."Things Can Only Get Better" (Superfly Development Vocal)5:59
Digital Download, (2014)
No.TitleLength
1."Things Can Only Get Better" (D·Reamix Edit)4:01

As a campaign song

In 1997, the track was adopted by the UK Labour Party, as their theme for the general election (the title claiming that things "cannot get worse"), as Labour's campaign was that the United Kingdom was in a dire state, after eighteen years of Tory government under first Margaret Thatcher and then John Major, and the Labour Party said they could fix the problems of the country.

On the back of this use it returned to the chart, reaching #19 in May 1997, when Labour returned to power with Tony Blair as Prime Minister, replacing John Major's Conservatives as the party in government, with one of the biggest landslides in British political history.

John O'Farrell used the song title as the title of his book about Labour's 18 years in opposition. Later, lead singer Peter Cunnah admitted mixed feelings about the use of the song as part of the election campaign.

Other

In February 1998, the song was featured in an episode of Top Gear, during the review of the Toyota Avensis, with a voice over by presenter Jeremy Clarkson.[14]

In 2013, the song was adopted as a chant by fans of Sunderland A.F.C.,[15] [16] after the teams revival under manager Gus Poyet. Supporters of Sunderland launched a campaign to get the song back into the chart, to coincide with their team's Capital One Cup Final on 2 March 2014 at Wembley Stadium. On 3 March 2014, the song re entered in the UK Dance Chart at #19. Mackenzie described the resurgence to a Sunderland website as "a bit bizarre" but he was "revelling in it" [17][18][19]

In an interview on the television programme Charlie Brooker's 2016 Wipe, D:Ream's keyboard player turned physicist Brian Cox, reflected on the song during a discussion about the destruction and incineration of Earth by the sun, admitting that it is "one of the most misleading and scientifically inaccurate pop songs that's ever been written".[20]

Charts
gollark: You can find any number of people with some education who think stupid things.
gollark: We have a solar minimum or something, it just means fewer sunspots.
gollark: We know carbon dioxide went up/is going up, and temperatures also are, and there's a clear mechanism for CO2 causing temperature increases, and also Venus as a neat demo.
gollark: That... is irrelevant.
gollark: How would those cause carbon dioxide production?

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 562–3. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. Kutner, Jon; Leigh, Spencer (26 May 2010). 1,000 UK Number One Hits. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-360-2.
  3. Simpson, Dave (5 June 2017). "How we made D:Ream's election anthem Things Can Only Get Better". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. "Dream team". Aberdeen Evening Express. 1993-01-28. page 15. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  5. "Billboard: Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  6. "A D:Ream come true for Peter". Evening Herald. 1995-09-26. page 16. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  7. "D:REAM – "Things Can Only Get Better"". Freaky Trigger. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  8. "Day D:Ream Believer". Melody Maker. 22 January 1994. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  9. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  10. "Mainstream: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. 12 November 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  11. "REVIEW: "ON VOL. 1" BY D:REAM (CD, 1994)". Pop Rescue. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  12. "Reviews: New Albums". Select. 1 September 1993. p. 86. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  13. "new singles". Smash Hits. 12 April 1993. p. 57. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  14. "Old Top Gear Saloons 1/2". 2 April 2017.
  15. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-afc-player-chants-memorable-11043723
  16. https://www.espn.com.au/soccer/team/sunderland/366/blog/post/1814638/null
  17. "Campaign to get 1990s Sunderland anthem Things Can Only Get Better to No1". Sunderland Echo. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  18. David Boyle (12 January 2014). "Adam Johnson puts stunning Sunderland in D:Ream-land | Metro News". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  19. WeAreWearside (26 February 2014). "Dare to D:Ream - Interview with Band Member Al Mackenzie On SAFC Campaign". wearewearside.com. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  20. Cox, Brian (29 December 2016). "Charlie Brooker's 2016 Wipe" (Interview). Interviewed by Diane Morgan. BBC.
  21. "Australian-charts.com – D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  22. "Austriancharts.at – D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  23. "Ultratop.be – D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  24. Danish Singles Chart 11 March 1994
  25. "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  26. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  27. "Musicline.de – D:Ream Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  28. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 03.03.1994 - 09.03.1994" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  29. Israel Top-30 01.02.1994
  30. "Nederlandse Top 40 – D:Ream" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  31. "Dutchcharts.nl – D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  32. "Charts.nz – D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better". Top 40 Singles.
  33. http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19940305/41
  34. "Swedishcharts.com – D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better". Singles Top 100.
  35. "Swisscharts.com – D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better". Swiss Singles Chart.
  36. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 27 April 1997 - 03 May 1997". officialcharts.com.
  37. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
  38. http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20140302/7501/
  39. "1994 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  40. "jaaroverzichten 1994" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  41. "1994 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  42. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1994" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  43. "Árslistinn 1994". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1995. p. 25. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  44. "Jaarlijsten 1994" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  45. "Årslista Singlar, 1994" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  46. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1994". Retrieved 4 December 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.