The Renowned Musician Encourages Public Help to Send Together for Palestine Lullaby to UK Christmas No 1.
A fundraising initiative is aiming to launch a Palestinian lullaby to the Christmas number one spot. The project seeks to send support to communities in Gaza while also highlighting Palestinian artistic heritage.
A Chance for Support and an "Unlikely Coup"
Composer and producer Brian Eno, who features on the track, stated that the song titled Lullaby represents a moment to show solidarity with Palestinians over the Christmas period. He remarked the potential for an unlikely festive coup.
“That would be amazing if that occurred, yes,” he said. “I wouldn't be completely disheartened if it doesn't manage to, festive releases are a thing unto themselves.”
Resilient Spirit of Dignity and Freedom
Palestinian singer Nai Barghouti, who features in the version of a folk song called Yamma Mwel El Hawa, explained the song's powerful central theme.
“The song holds a very special place for many individuals,” Barghouti explained. “It’s basically saying that I would choose to perish with honor than exist without freedom. That is the core idea of the song; we seek to lead a dignified life that we deserve as Palestinians.”
Production History and Contributing Musicians
The song was recorded following a major charity concert held in September. Initially planned to be done as a live recording, the performance was omitted from the lengthy event due to the event running long.
The diverse array of musicians featured on Lullaby features a group of prominent voices from the industry. All took part in the earlier concert, which reportedly raised a significant sum for relief efforts.
Production and Release
Lullaby was brought to life by a team of producers and composers. The single showcases a mix of the traditional Arabic lyrics with freshly written English words.
The team running the project have clarified that their goal is to collect the highest amount for a specific fund. These resources will be allocated to projects in Palestine through an partnering humanitarian organization.
“We don’t have a specific target,” a spokesperson explained. “We aim for the maximum achievable. Of course, the more the merrier. It all goes out to the people of Gaza.”
The reality in the region was characterized as its extreme devastation, with a huge proportion of property described as destroyed or damaged.
“Against that backdrop, a few million won't make a massive dent. But I think what does make a difference is above all spreading knowledge of this plight and demonstrating the human dimension of the story.”
The track is scheduled for release at the end of the week. Additionally, a video of the benefit event will be made accessible to view on a digital service from mid-December.