It topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100.

[3][4] Vocalist Dunstan Bruce retrospectively observed that, before the group wrote it, they "were in a mess: we had become directionless and disparate".

He credited "Tubthumping" with changing that, telling The Guardian, "It's not our most political or best song, but it brought us back together.

"[5] A Leeds pub named the Fforde Grene served as the group's inspiration for the song.

Guitarist Boff Whalley told The Guardian that it was written about "the resilience of ordinary people";[5] musically, "Tubthumping" is a dance-rock, alternative rock, and dance-punk song in D major.

"[14] A reviewer from Daily Record described it as an "irritating catchy drinking anthem from the anarchist band".

[16] Pan-European magazine Music & Media said, "After a decade and a half spent as indie heroes this collective is likely to break into the mainstream in a big way".

[17] Music Week gave the song four out of five, noting that it "combines their unique sound with a very infectious chant that could have come from the terraces.

Radio One's Simon Mayo has been heavily championing the song which should prove to be their biggest hit to date.

"[18] Ian Hyland of the Sunday Mirror rated it eight out of ten, writing, "Sing a terrace chant, mention lager and the rugby boys will be making boozed-up human pyramids on the dance floor in seconds.

"[19] Troy J. Augusto from Variety named it a "drinking-and-dancing anthem" and "the quirk hit of the season".

[20] In The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop poll for 1997, "Tubthumping" was voted the second-best single of the year.

[114] In 2024, New Zealand deputy prime minister Winston Peters used the song at a political rally.

Chumbawamba accused Peters of hijacking the song and asked their record label to issue a cease and desist letter.

"[115] The song was also used briefly in the 1998 comedy film Dirty Work starring Norm Macdonald and directed by Bob Saget.