Offering up their contribution for War Child Records’ Help 2 collaboration album, Pulp deliver ‘Begging for Change’, an unfinished leftover from the sessions of their chart-topping 2025 album More. The song is a far more intense and energetic cut than much of More; it charges forward with frenetic guitar work, a stinging string section, and a sweeping communal choir including the voices of Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten, Kae Tempest and more.
At its core, frontman Jarvis Cocker employs his trademark drawl in a scathing, biting fashion as he delivers a long list of what he intends to change in the world — and himself — in a speech evocative of Trainspotting’s iconic ‘Choose Life’ monologue. “I wanna change myself, I wanna change me, him and you”.
Stylistically, the band move away from their hallmark alternative Britpop polish, adopting a rough, crunchy post-punk style reminiscent of The Velvet Underground. Thematically, however, Pulp retains their rebellious streak, providing an anti-establishment anthem that aligns with much of their previous discography, recalling politically charged tracks like ‘Cocaine Socialism’ and the anthemic ‘Common People’.
However, the track’s intensity is undercut by its repetitive nature. The chanting chorus quickly grows wearisome and becomes more of a blunt slogan rather than a satisfying melodic payoff. For a band so widely celebrated for its sly lyrical wit and narrative nuance, the limited vocabulary and lack of structural evolution across the song ultimately leaves me disappointed and wanting more.
‘Begging for Change’ does have compelling moments, but Pulp have demonstrated time and time again that they can offer better. Although the song falls short in places, its tight production, commanding vocal delivery and politically charged undertones leaves me hoping that Pulp will further explore and improve this new caustic stylistic approach in future releases, while remaining excited for what the rest of Help 2 will have to offer.
“Rock en Seine 2007, Jarvis Cocker” by Bertrand from Paris, France is licensed under CC BY 2.0.