UK Conservatives have unleashed a new tactic in attempting to get the Gen Z vote by discovering what slowed and reverbed tracks are. Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak used an unauthorized, lower BPM version of MGMT's "Little Dark Age" — popularized on TikTok, no less — in an ad, and naturally, the band aren't happy about it.
As the Brits make their way to the polls today (July 4), our neighbours in the States are celebrating their Independence Day. The psych pop outfit found this ironic, and shared their thoughts with NME: "How many times do we have to remind you jokers that this song is NOT fair game for your utter garbage? Let's all laugh at this dingus. Clock's ticking, mate. Happy Independence Day," they said in a statement.
In MGMT's defence, the ad's choice of track is an oversight to say the least, considering "Little Dark Age" — and most of the album that shares its name — is almost certainly about alienation and misanthropy in the Trump era. This makes it even more darkly hilarious that the ad in question shows Sunak alongside a montage of the UK's armed forces, in typical Tory fashion.
As it happens, "Little Dark Age" was not licensed for use by the Conservative party, Sunak, or Alan Mabbutt — whom the video claims promoted the ad. It was taken off Facebook on July 1, but remains on Twitter X, despite numerous cease and desists sent to the Tories by the band.
The UK's general election today is predicted to see the Tories lose power for the first time in 14 years, as the Labour Party is expected to make a landslide win. Prepare to grieve in stereo, Sunak.
Check out the ad featuring the lo-fi hip-hop beats to study/relax to version of "Little Dark Age" below [Writer's note: this is in no way an endorsement].
