Hidden meaning of music blasted during Keir Starmer’s resignation

The piece of music has a hidden meaning

In an address to the nation on Monday morning from Downing Street, Starmer gave an emotional speech in which he confirmed he would be stepping down as Labour leader.

But within seconds of Starmer beginning his speech, loud classical music could be heard in the background.

The music being played was Ode to Joy, and came from anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray and his loudspeaker.

Speaking on BBC News in the wake of Starmer’s resignation, Nick Robinson said it was a “bizarre spectacle” and that the music was “almost deafening.”

He said Bray was “trying to blast him [Starmer] off the airwaves.”

Reacting online, journalist Lewis Goodall branded Bray a “disgrace” for playing the music, labelling him a “yob.”

Others drew comparisons to when Bray played ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ in 2024 when Rishi Sunak announced a general election.

The meaning behind Ode to Joy

Ode to Joy dates back to 1785, and is an ode written by German poet, playwright, and historian Friedrich Schiller. However, it is best known nowadays for being used by Ludwig van Beethoven in his Ninth Symphony in the 1820s.

The melody used by Beethoven was then adopted by the Council of Europe in 1972 as the ‘Anthem of Europe,’ and is still used as the official anthem of the European Union.

So, given the European symbolism of the song and the anti-Brexit campaigner who was playing it, it seems this was a comment on the UK remaining outside of the EU.

Whilst Starmer and his government took significant steps since coming into power to rebuild relations with the EU, they maintained that Britain should not rejoin the trading bloc.

This has been a point of contention for some Labour figures, such as Sadiq Khan and Wes Streeting who have both called for the UK to rejoin the EU.

London Mayor Khan suggested earlier this year that Labour should make a second EU referendum part of their manifesto at the next general election, something we have previously called for.