UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Strums The Smiths For Ukrainian Soldier
Oh boy. OK. Let's get into it. Western politicians seem to believe that they can affect the outcome of the war between Russian and Ukraine, and they seem convinced that the best way to do this is by showing up in Ukraine with their guitars and serenading Ukrainian troops — or, at least, that the act of serenading Ukrainian troops will make them appear tough and cool to voters back home. Or maybe…
United Kingdom's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham made an unusual visit to Ukraine, where he played guitar and performed for Ukrainian soldiers. Burnham, who recently assumed his position following the resignation of his predecessor Keir Starmer, was introduced to the country's military and artistic unit, a group that performs for soldiers on the front lines and in hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
During his visit, Burnham strummed the riff from The Smiths' 1985 song "Rusholme Ruffians" on an unplugged electric guitar presented to him by a soldier. He did not sing the entire song, but the gesture symbolized the universal power of music to lift spirits and provide comfort. Burnham's visit also included a performance by the soldiers, who sang Oasis songs.
In a video posted on Burnham's social media, a Ukrainian soldier appeared to be uninterested in Burnham's musical performance, wearing headphones throughout the interaction.
Written by urgent.news from Stereogum's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
