The British Humanist Association (BHA) is pleased to support the launch of a new “humanist song”, None Of The Above by The Strawheads.
Hanne Stinson, BHA Chief Executive, said, ‘When The Strawheads approached us about their new song, we were delighted to offer our support, because this lighthearted, cheerful and accessible song will make people think. Questioning the validity of different belief systems is an unusual subject for a popular song, but I think it works, and it could be a hit.’
Ms Stinson continued, ‘None Of The Above suggests that there is little difference between reverence for figures like Jesus or Mohamed and hero-worship of modern icons like David Beckham, and that the umbrella of religion can be extended to include a devotion to football clubs or reality TV shows. For some, this extension is a compelling alternative. A new poll by Penguin Books has shown once again that some two thirds of young people do not believe in any god and respondents rated everything from family and friends, to music and even reality TV shows, as more “important” than religious faith. I really do hope that radio stations pick this song up, because I think lots of people are going to love it.’
Chris Dingley, representing The Strawheads, added, “Writing None Of The Above was a bit of a challenge for the duo. This is a heavy subject, but they’ve tried to convey it in a “hooky” message and evocative lyric. Whether the listener’s prop or religion is earthly or celestial, we hope this inoffensive tuneful observation will be received with all the goodwill we intended.
Kimberley Rew of Katrina and The Waves who wrote the hit Walking on Sunshine, described None Of The Above as ‘Tuneful, pithy and a rare attempt to grapple thought-provokingly with some subject matter unusual for popular music’.
Notes
Links to download the full song at www.thestrawheads.co.uk.
CD or mp3 available upon request.
For the The Strawheads, contact Chris Dingley on 07879494080.
The Strawheads are happy to come into the studio as an acoustic duo to perform the song live and to chat about their motivations for writing the song.
They are a prolific singer song writing duo from Cambridgeshire making melodic, guitar based pop rock with jangly chords, catchy hooks and thoughtful lyrics delivered by the unique and commercial blend of the gravel-voiced Graham Buxton and the smooth dulcet vocal of Stephen Bottomley. Their infectious brand of music has been described from “Honey coated barbed wire” to “Refreshingly uplifting, more like Coke than regular pop”. The Strawheads believe in the power of music to inspire, excite, comfort and console.
For further comment from the British Humanist Association, contact Hanne Stinson, BHA Chief Executive on 020 7079 3593 or 07764 947 249.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing and supporting the non-religious and campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief. It is the largest organisation in the UK working for a secular state.