“Woman, Life, Freedom”
Iran Demos: This song has become the unofficial protest song
© IPON / imago images
Tom Odell’s single “Another Love” is actually from 2013 – now he’s leading the chart lists again. The reason: Exactly one passage has become a symbol for the fight for freedom in Iran. Can you sing it along already?
“Another Love” was first heard this year to accompany a series of protest videos in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine – mostly on social media such as TikTok. Now it’s appearing more and more often in videos showing demonstrations in Iran against the oppression of women.
80,000 people gathered in Berlin for demonstrations against the Iran leadership
“Zan, Zendegi, Azadi” or “Woman, Life, Freedom” was the slogan under which tens of thousands gathered in Berlin last weekend to demonstrate against Iran’s leadership. According to police estimates, around 80,000 people were on site. They demanded the overthrow of the Islamic system of government and shouted: “Death to Khamenei!”. As supreme religious leader and head of state, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say in all important matters in Iran. He recently described the nationwide protests as a conspiracy from abroad. The country is repeatedly cut off from the internet so that opponents of the regime cannot network as much as possible.
Videos of the weekend demonstrations were partly accompanied by the Odell song “Another Love” – activists themselves also use the song. Specifically, it is about a certain part of the song. But not only the text fits the current situation, but also the recording that is used most often. Because it’s not the original that runs in the background, but a recording of a concert. The crowd joins Odell in singing the song – Alone we are strong, together we are much stronger, reads below some of these videos.
This passage in the song is about:
“And if somebody hurts you, I wanna fight
But my hands have been broken one too many times
So I’ll use my voice, I’ll be so fucking rude
Words they always win, but I know I’ll lose”
Translated into German it means something like:
“And if someone hurts you, I want to fight
But my hands have been broken once too many times
So I’ll use my voice, I’ll be damn rude
Words will always win, but I know I will lose”
Tom Odell dedicates his song “Another Love” to the fighters in Iran
Tom Odell himself is shocked by the events in Iran and dedicates the song at his concerts to all those who fight for “human rights and women’s rights” in Iran, according to the singer at a concert in Hanover. There’s even a remix now available that brings together the original by Tom Odell and the live excerpt of the singing crowd with new lyrics and a beat – “Another Love (TikTok Edit)” by DJ and producer House of Paper.
Carolin Kebekus makes others heard and sings “Another Love”
Last week, Carolin Kebekus also took up the topic in Iran in her show of the same name. She is known for drawing attention to feminist issues and demonstrating grievances. Her own home broadcaster ARD also gets a little dig at the beginning: “Have you seen the ARD hotspots on Iran lately? No. No wonder. There weren’t any,” she says with a shrug of the shoulders. before taking a closer look at the story behind the demonstrations in Iran.
Among many posts, the Iranians say “be our voice”. And that’s exactly why Kebekus picks up the microphone himself at the end of her show. She makes others heard by singing “Another Love” herself, accompanied by a musician playing a piano inscribed with the names of the fallen. Kebekus begins to sing and later hundreds of people who have gathered on the Cologne Cathedral square join in.
“Zan, Zendegi, Azadi” and “Woman, Life, Freedom” they chorus as the song ends. They lend their voices to those who aren’t even allowed to sing in public right now.
Sources used: rnd.de, tagesschau.de, daserste.de, tiktok.com, youtube.com, songtexte.com