A star-studded cast of musicians, including Neneh Cherry, Celeste, Nadine Shah, and Brian Eno, have joined forces to create a charity single that aims to reach the coveted Christmas No. 1 spot. The song, titled 'Lullaby', is a heartfelt tribute to the children of Palestine, with proceeds going to support Palestinian-led organizations on the front lines. The track is a reimagining of the traditional Palestinian lullaby 'Yamma Mwel El Hawa' (Mama, Sing to the Wind), with new English lyrics penned by Peter Gabriel. Eno, a renowned artist, expressed his motivation behind the project: 'After a year marked by unimaginable loss, grief, and injustice, we wanted to end it with an act of love for Palestine's children. Lullaby captures their beauty, longing, and hope. If we all rally together and download it, we can make a real impact by landing Christmas No. 1 and turning that moment into life-saving support for families in Gaza.'
The single, released on December 12, will benefit the Choose Love charity's Together for Palestine Fund, which supports organizations like Taawon, the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, and the Palestine Medical Relief Society. The song's arrangement and composition are credited to Kieran Brunt and Nai Barghouti, and it features an impressive lineup of artists, including Amena El Abd, Dan Smith of Bastille, Lana Lubany, London Community Gospel Choir, Sura Abdo, Tyson, Yasmeen Ayyashi, and Ysee, alongside Brunt and Barghouti. Barghouti, a Palestinian artist, shared a powerful message: 'This lullaby from our Palestinian musical heritage has been a part of my childhood. Today, it takes on a new significance as a reminder of the hope, defiance, beauty, and dignity that Palestinians will never lose.'
The artwork for the single is a creation by Malak Mattar, a painter from Gaza. Mabel, who participated in the project, expressed her emotions: 'This song holds a special place in my heart for multiple reasons, but mostly because it's the first time I've sung with both my mom, Neneh, and my sister, Tyson. To have it as a traditional lullaby in tribute to the mothers and children of Gaza is truly meaningful. I hope our voices convey the strength and power of our message.'
The organizers are encouraging fans to pre-order the single to boost its chances of reaching the top spot on the Christmas charts. The competition is fierce, with Kylie Minogue's 'XMAS' exclusive to Amazon Music, Denise Welch's 'Slayyy Bells,' and the ever-popular classics by Wham! and Mariah Carey. The UK's Christmas No. 1 will be revealed on December 19.
