Liner Notes | December

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]he largest story in music and in global news right now is the coordinated attacks on several locations throughout Paris on the night of November 14, 2015. Of course, this story will continue to develop and change after this story goes to print, but a brief summary of the events and its effects in this column should give the reader an understanding of the musical aspects of these tragic events.

Firstly, one of the most deadly attacks in Paris occurred at Le Bataclan, a venue previously run by Jewish owners. (I mention this only because it is being discussed as a possible reason why the landmark venue came to be a target of who we know to be, at the time of press, ISIS militants). American rock group, Eagles of Death Metal were playing when armed attackers burst into the venue shooting randomly into the crowd with assault rifles and reportedly hurtling grenades.

There are over 120 confirmed deaths and hundreds of injuries confirmed. The worst of humanity has brought about cries of terror in Paris, but also songs of hope. While many artists—among them Coldplay, Julie Holter and Prince—have, citing security reasons, cancelled their shows throughout Europe, many people have taken to the streets and shown solidarity with the dead and with the survivors through music.

This solidarity could be seen following an address by French president François Hollande, in which the members of the French parliament burst out into an impromptu version of “La Marseillaise” for the first time since the liberation of France after the First World War. Several members were seen in the video footage to be moved to tears, and while there is a significant portion of the French population who believe Hollande’s policies have precipitated an even more destabilized Middle East, France showed its fraternity in that moment.

Another moment that’s gotten media attention is the pianist that set up outside Le Bataclan the next morning and played a rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” The pianist has been identified as Davide Martello, a 34-year-old German musician who was watching a soccer game from a German pub when it was interrupted by a suicide bombing attack. He told The Guardian that he knew in that moment he had to do something, so he packed his grand piano into his car and drove seven hours through the night into France.

“I just knew I had to do something. I wanted to be there to try and comfort, and offer a sign of hope,” he told The Guardian.

Surrounded by press and by mourners, he played through “Imagine,” getting increasingly emotional as he played. “I can’t bring people back,” he said in the interview, “but I can inspire them with music and when people are inspired they can do anything.”  Paris, he said, is a city of love which cannot be conquered by senseless violence.

Further North in Stockholm, Madonna performed for a massive crowd, but paused at the beginning of the show to say a few words about the attacks:

“It’s been really hard actually to get through the show, because in many ways, I feel torn. Like, why am I up here dancing and having fun when people are crying over the loss of their loved ones? However, that is exactly what these people want us to do. They want to shut us up. They want to silence us. And we won’t let them.”

People on various social media platforms have echoed these sentiments, not just about Paris but about places like Beirut and Iraq where similar slaughters occurred.

Music brings people together, across cultures and across borders. It can heal wounds and inspire love and fraternity in the hearts of all. If music be the food of love, play on.