"Statue in the Square"

21 March 2025

2 mins 54s

Statue in the Square

It's not enough to want a statue, you have to earn it. When Kae Tempest says "They never wanted people like me round here/But when I'm dead, they'll put my statue in the square", it's hard not to agree with him. Not only does Tempest back himself to the hilt, but he also backs those who are misunderstood, underappreciated, or looked down upon. They too shall get the statues they deserve.

The spoken-word performer's delivery makes you believe it, too. It's deliberate yet dynamic, arch but approachable, and makes lyrics such as "The norm is not normal, it's a construction/Designed to stifle the inner life and increase production" sound like what you needed to hear at this exact moment in time.

His words touch the cast of Boy Dykes's promo, as LGBTQ+ activists like Princess Julia, Joelle Taylor, Sweatmother, Debbie Smith, and Dr Ronx pound the streets of London with Tempest. It's a walk to remember thanks to Natasha Duursma's monochrome photography and the work of editor Scarlett Bovingdon, who seems to relish the cadence and rhythm of the track.

UK

Promos