A video released on the official Number 10 Downing Street social media channels has caused a stir online, as some felt the music used within the clip bore strong similarities to the song Rock and Roll Part 2 by convicted paedophile Gary Glitter. As such, the government was called out for appearing to sample what people believed to be an inappropriate song choice.
After facing criticism online, a Downing Street spokesperson has now confirmed that the music used in the video by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in fact a piece of stock music and has not been taken from any Gary Glitter song.
The video in question was released this morning and showed Mr Sunak at work during his first few days in office, taking calls from US President Joe Biden and attending meetings.
The video was shared on Twitter shortly after 10 am today (October 28) and swiftly led to a backlash over what appeared to some to be an insensitive choice of music.
One dismayed person commented: "You promised integrity and competence. Your video uses a Gary Glitter tune as the soundtrack."
Another wrote: "Rishi my dude, your PR team doesn't like you much. This is a Gary Glitter song..."
As previously noted on Twitter by Mirror reporter Mikey Smith, in the years since the release of Rock and Roll Part 2, the same drum beats have also been used by a number of musicians including "KLF, Fat Les, Kasabian - or in this case, probably some royalty-free music licensing farm."
The original song was controversially used in the 2019 thriller movie Joker, in a scene where disturbed main character Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) dances down a flight of stairs.
At the time it was feared Glitter would get royalties from the use of the track, however, as reported by Los Angeles Times, Glitter has sold his rights to the song, with US rights now owned by Universal Music Publishing Group, and so will not receive payment when it's used.
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