Things Can Only Get Better (D:Ream song)

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"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 addressed by the lyrics, that's also fine. If they want to listen to it on both levels, that's even better."

—Peter Cunnah of D:Ream. [2]

Peter Cunnah's inspiration for the song came while living in London following his previous group's breakup, working an office job and being told by a co-worker, "Don't worry. Things can only get better." Cunnah soon after started work on the track but did not complete it. [3]

Two years later, after Cunnah started D:Ream, he resumed work on the track, alongside producer Tom Frederikse. While the initial version of the track was an instrumental with a reggae break, the final version of the track was described as sounding like a "stadium full of people singing". The single was released in January 1993. [3]

In 1994, the song was remixed, selling 600,000 copies and spending four weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart. The single also reached the top 10 in eight other countries. The Labour Party's central use of the song in their successful 1997 campaign led the song to appear on the UK Singles Chart for a third time. [3]

Chart performance

"Things Can Only Get Better" was originally a club hit, reaching number 24 in the UK in January 1993. A remixed version was released in October 1993, while the group were supporting Take That on their UK tour, which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on 16 January 1994, spending four weeks at Number One, and also topping the UK Dance Singles Chart. [3] [4]

In Europe, the song entered the top 10 also in Belgium (10), Finland (2), Iceland (4), Ireland (2), and Sweden (7). Additionally, it was a top 20 hit in Denmark (19), Germany (20), the Netherlands (20) and Scotland (17). On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Things Can Only Get Better" reached number five in February 1994.

Outside Europe, the song peaked at number three in Israel, and number nine in Australia. In the US, the 1994 version peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It was awarded a gold record in Australia after 35,000 units were sold.

Critical reception

Scottish Aberdeen Evening Express complimented the song as "incredibly catchy". [5] 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." [6] Simon Warner from The Guardian declared it as "the sort of insistent pop anthem that comes along only once in a while." [7] Irish Evening Herald called it a "prophetic anthem". [8] Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger described it as "tune-heavy, hands-high dance-pop". [9] Ian Gittins from Melody Maker declared it as an "infectious, euphoric anthem". [10] Pan-European magazine Music & Media called it a "poppy rave anthem" and concluded that "this optimistic perspective on life deserves your support." [11] Andy Beevers from Music Week named it a "stand-out tune" and a "tuneful, epic house track". [12] John Kilgo from The Network Forty felt the house approach gives this tune "a cutting edge feel." He explained, "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." [13]

Iestyn George from NME found that D:Ream's "Hammond-driven lead track "Things Can Only Get Better" is supremely uplifting stuff, crossing melody lines from Elton John's "Song for Guy", Yello's "The Race" and (gulp) The Farm's "All Together Now". More, please." [14] Another NME editor, Mandi James, praised its "hallelujah chorus of good vibrations, positive power and disco magic gift wrapped in gospel glory." [15] In a retrospective review, Pop Rescue complimented its "funky saxophone, a relentlessly thumping bass drum, house piano and Peter’s strong vocals." The reviewer stated that "it’s still a bloody good song". [16] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update described it as a "infectious" and "jiggly chugger". [17] Adam Higginbotham from Select deemed it a "perfect feelgood pop-dance record". [18] Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits gave it five out of five, stating 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." [19]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Things Can Only Get Better" was directed by British film and music video director James Lebon. It depicts the band performing the song in front of a backdrop of various scenes and images, such as art, burning flames and skies, prominently including Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden of Earthly Delights". [20] In between, they are performing on stage in front of a dancing audience. A young female sometimes appears. The chorus scenes shows Cunnah in front of a large white-clad choir in a heaven-like setting, singing and clapping in unison. Both the opening and the closing depicts a stage curtain that opens and closes in front of Cunnah. The video was A-listed on Germany's VIVA in March 1994 [21] and was nominated for the International Viewer's Choice Award for MTV Europe at the 1994 MTV Europe Music Awards.

As a campaign song

"Things Can Only Get Better" was frequently used by the Labour Party, then led by Tony Blair (pictured), in their successful 1997 campaign. Tony Blair 1997.jpg
"Things Can Only Get Better" was frequently used by the Labour Party, then led by Tony Blair (pictured), in their successful 1997 campaign.

During the 1997 general election, the Labour Party adopted the song as their campaign theme (the title claiming that things "cannot get worse"). Having spent eighteen years as the Opposition, the song was seen as reflective of the new direction of the party under Tony Blair. In an attempt to appear more relevant to voters the Labour Party stopped using the campaign song used by previous leaders, The Red Flag. [22] The song's usage returned it to the chart, reaching number 19 in May 1997, when Labour returned to power with Blair as Prime Minister. [23]

In 2024, the song was unexpectedly played by the political activist Steve Bray as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the date of the 2024 general election outside 10 Downing Street. [24] This led to the song entering the top 10 on the iTunes Charts within 24 hours. [25] The band later stated they regretted permitting the song to be used in political campaigns following the UK's involvement in the Iraq War and would not grant permission for it to be used in future campaigns. [26]

Other uses

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. [27]

In 2013, the song was adopted as a chant by fans of Sunderland, [28] [29] after the team's revival under manager Gus Poyet. On 3 March 2014, following a campaign by Sunderland Fans, the song re entered in the UK Dance Chart at number 19. D:Ream member, Al Mackenzie described the resurgence to a Sunderland website as "a bit bizarre" but he was "revelling in it". [30]

A running gag on The Infinite Monkey Cage , which D:Ream's former keyboardist Brian Cox co-presents, highlights that the lyric "Things Can Only Get Better" violates the second law of thermodynamics. [31]

The song was covered in a choral style in episode six of the sixth season of The Crown . [32]

The song was played by Brian Cox in an end-credits scene cameo in the 2019 film A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon . [33]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the song was used in Nottingham as part of the Clap for Carers campaign. [34]

Track listings

Charts

"Things Can Only Get Better"
Dream-things can only get better s.jpg
Single by D:Ream
from the album D:Ream On Volume 1
Released18 January 1993
Studio Roundhouse [1]
Genre Dance-pop
Length4:03
Label
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"
(1993)
"U R the Best Thing (Perfecto Mix)"
(1994)

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Things Can Only Get Better"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [65] Gold35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [74] Platinum600,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Things Can Only Get Better"
RegionVersionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United KingdomOriginal release18 January 1993
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[ citation needed ]
First re-release29 December 1993
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [75]
Second re-release21 April 1997 [76]

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"Unforgiven" is a song by Northern Irish musical group D:Ream, released in July 1993 by labels Magnet and FXU as the third single from their debut album, D:Ream On Volume 1 (1993). Written by band members Peter Cunnah and Al MacKenzie, it was produced by the group with Tom Frederikse. It peaked at number 29 in the UK and number ten in Portugal. After the success of the singles "U R the Best Thing" and "Things Can Only Get Better", "Unforgiven" was re-released in 1994. A music video was also produced to promote the single.

References

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