Judith Bellmunt discusses Together for Palestine's single, Lullaby.
The single “Lullaby”, by the organisation Together For Palestine, is aiming to top UK charts this Christmas. As well as raising funds for Gaza, the song aims to send a strong message of resilience, hope, and dignity. It was originally intended to be the final act in the sold-out concert Together For Palestine organised in Wembley, London, which raised over £2 million for Palestine. However, with 69 artists, activists and speakers performing, the concert ran over time, and it could not be performed. Released the 12th of December, it has already reached No.5 in the charts, having until Friday the 18th to reach No.1. The song can be streamed across different platforms including Spotify, Youtube and Amazon Music. It can also be purchased as a digital file, for just £1.98 GBP, increasing its chances of reaching top 1, as well augmenting its fundraising.
The collaboration - between 15 British and Palestinian artists - comes at a time of great uncertainty for political activism. As of this summer, the UK Government proscribed Palestine Action a terrorist organisation. After being formalised in the Terrorism Act 2000 on the 5th of July, more than 2700 people have been arrested protesting for Palestine, which has been condemned by Amnesty International.
The collaboration - between 15 British and Palestinian artists - comes at a time of great uncertainty for political activism. As of this summer, the UK Government proscribed Palestine Action a terrorist organisation.
The lullaby is adapted from the Palestinian folk song ‘Yamma Mweel El Hawa’, translated to ‘Mama, Sing To The Wind’. It is produced by the composer Kieran Brunt, Benji B and Henri Davies and features a mix of the original Arabic with English lyrics written by Peter Gabriel. The Palestinian singer Nai Barghouti says the song's message is about demanding dignity. “It has a very special place for a lot of people,” Barghouti said. “It’s basically saying that I would rather die in dignity than live a life without freedom. That’s the main theme of the song, we want to live a dignified life that we deserve as Palestinians, where we can share the beauty of our identity.”
Similarly, another singer, Nai Barghouti, shares ”the song holds so much meaning and so much power, in how it describes what it means to be Palestinian, and that is having defiance, hope, strength and the determination to always continue, no matter what.”
Singer Leighanne Pinnock talks about how the videoclip is shot across different parts of Palestine, including Gaza, aiming to draw viewers closer to Palestine and Palestinians, reminding them of the beauty of the land and the resilience of its communities.
The director of the videoclip Lina Makoul says:
“Our screens have been filled with devastating, unfiltered footage from Gaza for more than two years now. And even though this has brought a lot of truth and understanding to the Palestinian cause, it’s also a double-edged sword.” She continues "the other edge is how the world is slowly being trained to only connect Palestinians with rubble, bombs, destruction, and victimhood.”
“As a storyteller who works with music and visuals, I feel it’s my responsibility to push against that imposed image and show us as the humans we are first. You can see us as hopeless victims if you want, but I see us as stubborn in our dignity."
As a storyteller who works with music and visuals, I feel it’s my responsibility to push against that imposed image and show us as the humans we are first. You can see us as hopeless victims if you want, but I see us as stubborn in our dignity.
All the money raised from the release will go to Choose Love’s Together For Palestine Fund supporting three Palestinian-led organisations Taawon, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and Palestine Medical Relief Service. “We don’t have a target,” said Brian Eno, one of the musicians. “We’ll go for whatever we can get. But obviously the more the merrier. It all goes out to Gaza”. He adds that on top of the lives lost, 92% of property is either completely destroyed or seriously damaged. “In that context, a few million quid doesn’t make that much difference. But I think what does make a difference is first of all making this cause better known and showing there’s another side to the story. Palestinian people have said to me that it means so much to them that somebody cares about them.”
“Together, we hope Lullaby will also help keep Gaza very much in our hearts and minds, reminding people everywhere that even after the supposed ceasefire, Israel’s atrocities continue,” declares Brian Eno.