Tony Blair's Birthday

A song for Morlvision Song Contest 2023 by Benjamilian. This song was more inspired by the submission deadline date (May 6th) than by any of the three prompts.

The song lasts just over two minutes, and its main instruments were Sonokinetic's free Carousel library for Kontakt Player, with support from digital versions of Marimba and Upright Bass, Tubular Bells (free from Spitfire LABS), drumline snare-drum and some brass towards the end. It describes Ben's complex relationship with Tony Blair, whom they loved in the 90s, honoured with cake - or this was just an excuse - but who fell from grace as they realised his war was violent, needless and likely illegal, and his policies by-no-means left-wing.

The main body of the music video is shots of a Mr. Kipling battenberg cake being unwrapped, rotated, crumbled and divided, with repeated Pertwee-crash-zooms to underscore significant moments. The second half was a kaleidoscope of four images of Tony Blair's head and one image of a mini-battenberg. The whole video had overlaid lyrics in the Tomorrow People font - in retrospect, rather a seventies choice for a highly nineties/noughties topic. (Yes, there was an enjoyable nineties version of The Tomorrow People, but it used a different typeface).

The song finished sixth according to the rankings on the night, but was erroneously listed as fifth in a Discord post. [Citation Needed]

The music video can be found on Ben's YouTube, and the music can be downloaded from their Bandcamp, where many other treats and horrors abide.

Verse 1

FF.CC F

I like to buy a battenberg on Tony Blair’s birthday

FF CCF

I like to buy a battenberg on Tony Blair’s birthday

Bb

It’s on the sixth of May

F

No matter if you’re straight or gay

Bb C F

or miscellaneous like me

Verse 2 (but different chords to verse 1)

Bb                                                  F

They like to hold elections around Tony Blair’s birthday

Bb                                                  F

They like to hold elections around Tony Blair’s birthday

Bb

Between the sixth of May

C

And internat-ial Workers Day

Bb/D C/E C7

I have a battenberg for tea (oh!)

Bridge

Bb F

Oh Tony blair’s birthday, the day that he was born

Bb F

He came into the world to bring charisma, peace and scorn

Bb C

Alas he did some war crimes and everybody died,

Dm/A                                       G7

But still I’ll eat a battenberg, it’s not genocide

(No no no)

Verse 3

FF CC F

This year the coronation was on Tony blair’s birthday

FF CC F

This year the coronation was on Tony blair’s birthday

Bb

I don’t care for the king

F

Cos he owns nearly everything

Bb    C             F

But he will die before me!

More Different Bridge

Bb F

Oh Tony blair’s birthday, when he was a baby

Bb F

He was just a man, but he cannot save me

Bb C

Alas he did some war crimes and everybody died!

Dm/A G7

Alas he did some war crimes and everybody died!!

Bb

Everybody (everybody died) Bb

F

Everybody (everybody died) F

Bb                         C7

I will never be his bride

Bridge Bridge

Bb

I know there’s a vehement

F

Disgagreement

Bb

with this man who caused

F

Mass bereavement

Bb C

All that was good was his Friday agreement

DM/A G7

Everything else was a mistake

Bb C F

But still I am eating a battenberg cake

A Battenberg Cake

Yes I'm eating battenberg cake

Battenberg Cake

HURGH!!

I’m not not celebrating Tony

How the heck d’ya resist this

I’m treating this red letter day

Like secular Christmas

Still I am eating battenberg cake

Battenberg Cake

Not Tony