Mick Jagger has revealed two new tracks today, along with two new videos as part of a new audio-visual project. The brand new tracks ‘Gotta Get A Grip’ and ‘England Lost’ are out now, view the videos and have a listen below!
Jagger has described the unexpected tracks as an urgent response to ‘confusion and frustration with the times we live in.’ And also says that they were a result of “anxiety, unknowability of the changing political situation”.
Jagger’s personal commentary can be heard across the two songs, over guitar drones and intense beats. The commentary discusses a range of current issues including fake news, immigration laws and the accountability of powerful leaders.
Jagger speaks of a football match he once attended in the new track ‘England Lost’. He uses the event as an analogy for a country challenged with a change in it’s political direction. Similarly, Jagger spits out his views of the current issues of war, immigration and political angst in ‘Gotta Get A Grip’.
Jagger has used the tracks to express his feelings about the world we currently live in, while also documenting such an important time through music. The results are two thought-provoking and emotionally powerful tracks.
Jagger has said the following about ‘England Lost’:
“Ostensibly, it’s about seeing an England football team lose, but when I wrote the title I knew it would be about more than just that. It’s about a feeling that we are in a difficult moment in our history. It’s about the unknowability about where you are and the feeling of insecurity. That’s how I was feeling when I was writing. It’s obviously got a fair amount of humour because I don’t like anything too on the nose but it’s also got a sense of vulnerability of where we are as a country.”
“Right from the off when I started writing ‘England Lost’, I imagined having a British rapper on the track… Skepta stepped in at a moment’s notice and I just loved what he did.”
Video directed by Saam Farahmand, starring Luke Evans
Discussing ‘Gotta Get A Grip’ Jagger says:
“The message I suppose is – despite all those things that are happening, you gotta get on with your own life, be yourself and attempt to create your own destiny”.
Speaking about the current political climate he said the following: “We obviously have a lot of problems. So am I politically optimistic? …No.”
Video directed by Saam Farahmand, starring Jemima Kirke
The iconic rocker went on to discuss how the two tracks came to life –
“I started writing these two songs in April and wanted them out straight away. Doing a whole album often takes a long time even after finishing it with all the record company preparations and global release set up. It’s always refreshing to get creative in a different fashion and I feel a slight throwback to a time when you could be a bit more free and easy by recording on the hoof and putting it out there immediately. I didn’t want to wait until next year when these two tracks might lose any impact and mean nothing”.
Jagger says that Kendrick Lamar’s new record was an inspiration as he also speaks about his discontent of the world –
“I do quite a lot of trawling for music online and also the youngsters in my family all play me music when we get together so I get to hear all kinds of things. I listen to R&B and pop and strange mixes of old and new and then like everyone I make my own random playlists. The last things I added to a list were Kendrick Lamar, Skepta, Mozart, Howlin’ Wolf, Tame Impala, obscure Prince tracks and classic soul stuff from The Valentine Brothers.
I really like Kendrick Lamar, he’s also talking about discontent and he really nailed it. I thought his stuff, and what Skepta is doing, are very interesting and pretty much on the button.’’
Mick Jagger – Gotta Get A Grip/England Lost – Reimagined
- England Lost featuring Skepta
- Gotta Get A Grip (Seeb Remix)
- Gotta Get A Grip (Kevin Parker Remix)
- Gotta Get A Grip (Alok Remix)
- Gotta Get A Grip (Matt Clifford Remix)
The tracks are available as a Double A side limited edition 12” vinyl and CD, digital download and via streaming services.
