... the iTunes singles chart
Ahead of the UK leaving the European Union on Friday, Remain campaigners are buying and streaming Beethoven’s seminal work – while Leavers champion Dominic Frisby’s ‘17 Million F***-Offs’.
Classical music is making a rare appearance at the in the form of Dutch violinist ’s version of ’s ‘Ode to Joy’.The final movement of Beethoven’s seminal , ‘Ode to Joy’ was originally written for symphony orchestra and chorus – a rarity in symphonies written in the (and still now). The version currently moving around the top spaces of the iTunes chart features Rieu leading the Johann Strauss Orchestra.
Rieu’s singles chart entry has occurred as people on the Remain side of Brexit are buying and streaming ‘Ode to Joy’. A version of the piece is the organisational anthem of the European Union, and with it Remainers are sending a political message ahead of the UK leaving the EU this Friday (31 January).
People on the Leave side of Brexit are similarly buying and streaming ‘17 Million F***-Offs’ by Dominic Frisby to also send a political message ahead of Friday.
Classical music rarely makes it into the iTunes or other popular music charts, such as the UK Official Singles and Album charts.
Rare exceptions include the cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, whose earlier this month when it jumped into the UK Official Album Chart Top 10, landing at No. 8 – just behind Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and Easy Life, and ahead of Post Malone.
Other songs currently hovering around the top spots of this week’s iTunes single chart include The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’, ’s ‘Before You Go’ and Tones and I’s ‘Dance Monkey.’
