‘We stand together’: Tom Odell reacts to ‘Another Love’ becoming viral protest song
The 2013 song has a resurgence in the UK charts, returning to number 17 after going viral on TikTok
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Tom Odell’s 2013 single “Another Love” is now at number 17 in the UK’s Official Charts after gaining popularity on TikTok.
The song started trending after a section of the track was repeatedly used to accompany a range of protest videos.
The clip of the song being used is a soundbite filmed at an Odell gig where the crowd can be heard singing the words: “And if somebody hurts you, I wanna fight/ But my hands been broken one too many times/ So I’ll use my voice, I’ll be so f*cking rude/ Words they always win, but I know I’ll lose.”
Now, Iranian women have been using the clip to soundtrack their protest videos in response to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while she was in custody of the “morality police”.
Amini was held by the country’s police for allegedly having a loose headscarf, or hijab. Police have denied mistreatment and say she died of a heart attack, but her family disputed this.
Demonstrations have taken place across Iran, including in the capital Tehran. At least 41 people have died since protests began, according to officials.
In response to the videos, Odell said: “I’m shocked by the events taking place in Iran. I’m sending love and thoughts to those incredibly brave people standing up for human rights and standing up for women.
“Everyone should have the choice to wear, or not wear, whatever they choose,” he added.
The singer also dedicated “Another Love” to the protestors while playing a show last night in Germany: “Tonight I want to dedicate it to the brave people who are protesting in Iran.
We might be far from Iran here in Hannover Germany, but I think and hope that I speak for everyone in this room that we stand together with everyone protesting for human rights and women’s rights,” he continued.
Many of the videos using the Odell clip show women cutting their hair in solidarity with Amini.
Others videos show the protests taking place while some show Iranian women getting ready to leave the house, highlighting Iran’s strict rules.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments