It is 108 days until the long-awaited 21st June, the date the government have set that all lockdown restrictions will (hopefully) be lifted, nightclubs will be opened and large concerts can commence. The Streets have released a celebratory single, ‘Who’s Got The Bag (21st June),’ in light of Boris Johnson’s message, for the long-awaited return of the sesh, festivals and raves.
Mike Skinner opens the track describing everyone’s feelings on that fateful summers day: “First in the room, thirsting from noon / Herbalist fumes, where’s me balloon? / Curse off the zoom, burstin’, we boom” After opening with optimistic synths, the inevitable drop happens with the wordsmith singing out ‘21st Juuuuneee’ over a dirty, electro bassline. It takes the listener straight back to those warehouse raves that have been all too missed. Skinner then shouts “Who’s got the bag?”– the age-old question.
It is hard to imagine that this track won’t be the first played in most edgy nightclubs throughout the nation, with crowds of people singing along with Skinner’s hopeful and infectious ‘21st Juneeee’ hook. In typical Streets fashion, the ‘intrinsic Britishness’ shines through with British slang and witty references to political figures – “Tooting the Boris / Smoking on the Rishi / Shooting with my hand cocked.” Speaking to NME, Skinner stated:
“It’s been too long since I’ve been behind some decks, or on a stage, in a tour bus sleeping in a bunk. The moment we can do it we want to be the rave and we will.”
Whilst the optimistic track is celebratory of lockdown being over, it is also a reminder that the 21st of June was the date promised by the government for the entertainment and hospitality industry to return to normal. “It’s a protest song: it’s saying, don’t change the date on us again! FIRST IN THE ROOM. 21st June.”
With the 21st of June being a Monday, The Streets use this in their favour, ending a verse with “Nurse me all Tuesday” before breaking back into the main hook. I dread to think of the number of sickies pulled on that Tuesday, but The Streets did warn the whole country, so it is to be expected!
