(CNN)A Ukrainian punk band has released an anti-war spin on hit song The Clash Song “London Calling”, with the blessing of the English band themselves.
The cover, which describes Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion, is called “Kyiv Calling” and calls for global support for Ukraine. “Kyiv is calling the whole world / Come out of neutrality you boys and girls,” sings the band known as Beton.
“Because Kyiv is rising,” the lyrics continue. “We live from resistance.” The lyrics also allude to Russia’s powerful use of propaganda to tell its own citizens a distorted narrative about the invasion: “And do you know what Moscow said? Well, none of that was true.”
Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, killing hundreds of people and forcing millions of others to flee the country. According to the International Organization for Migration, there were more than 3 million refugees as of Sunday, including at least 1.5 million children. Most of them have fled to nearby countries, including Romania, Moldova and Poland. Millions more are internally displaced within Ukraine.
The title of the original song refers to World War II. The BBC World Service used “This is London Calling” on its programs during the war. Its lyrics relate to the political instability in Britain and around the world at the time of its publication in 1979.
A video for the cover song, posted to Free Ukraine’s YouTube channel on Saturday, surpassed 200,000 views as of Sunday afternoon. The video shows the band being spliced with footage of protests and Russian attacks on the country.
Beton said on Instagram the cover was designed to “raise money to support our country around the world through punk rock.” They were asked by the Free Ukraine Resistance Movement to produce the song and delivered on request in just three days. The movement works with governments and non-governmental organizations to protect “the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” according to its website.
The band has also used his own social media to condemn the Russian invasion and document its resistance. They posted a picture of themselves on Instagram with the caption: “We are punk hardcore band Beton from Ukraine and families are hiding in shelters. All our hatred is for the enemy!”
Among the producers who helped record and mix the cover song is Danny Saber, a veteran engineer who has produced works by famous artists such as Madonna and the Rolling Stones.
Add Comment