From Ukraine to Chile, protesters worldwide have long rallied to the stirring Italian anthem Hello beautifulwhich is now being sung by demonstrators in solidarity with women in Iran.
The song, which talks of dying for freedom, was sung in Italy during World War II and became a symbol of resistance against fascism.
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It has since become a global rallying call, with the song currently being used by those protesting the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the feared Iranian morality police.
Early in the protests, a video of a singer – her head uncovered in defiance of the compulsory hijab – performing a version in Persian went viral.
Since then, Hello beautiful – meaning ‘Goodbye Beautiful’ in Italian – has been sung by supporters of the protests from all corners of the world, including Kurdish women in Turkey and expatriate Iranians in Paris.
Although the song has long been associated with Italian partisan fighters (the so-called ‘partisans‘), there is no evidence it was actually ever sung by them, according to Carlo Pestelli, author of the book Bella Ciao: The Song of Freedom.
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The song certainly became popular during the war, he said, but its history traces back to 19th-century traditional folk songs from northern Italy characterised by passionate themes, especially unfulfilled love.
“It is difficult to say exactly what its origins are,” Pestelli told AFP, adding that its ambiguous lyrics have allowed for its adoption in many different causes.
“It wasn’t a communist song but a manifesto for freedom… it represents apolitical values that everyone can understand and share,” Pestelli said.
It is also “an easy song to sing”, with a catchy chorus that even non-Italian speakers can pick up.
Over time, the global reach of the song has been fuelled by popular interpretations, including by French star Yves Montand and, more recently, its inclusion in the Netflix hit Money Heist.
Hello beautiful can now be heard wherever there are crowds rallying, from the streets of New York to Hong Kong and Athens.
A cry against oppression
Earlier this year, Ukrainians sang Hello beautiful in defiance of the invading Russian forces.
But, the song has also been the soundtrack to dancing demonstrators in Tripoli, a chant by English football fans and a call for action by climate activists from Sydney to Brussels.
In Rome and Paris, it was sung with emotion from windows and balconies during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown.
During Italy’s Covid lockdown, residents sang ‘Bella Ciao’ from windows and balconies. Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP
For many, the history of the song is now less important than its global impact.
“This song is very famous in Iran and all over the world because it is a symbol against oppression,” said Masah, a 29-year-old Iranian expatriate who attended a solidarity rally for the Mahsa Amini protests in Rome this week.
While the lyrics are often translated, the chorus is normally sung in Italian, although that too has been adapted on some occasions.
Last year in Jerusalem, protesters against then prime minister Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu sang ‘Bibi Ciao’ ahead of his departure from office.
In 2019, anti-regime protesters in Iraq rallied to their own version, ‘Blaya Chara’, meaning ‘no way out’ in Iraqi dialect.
“When we sing it, we feel more united with the whole world,” added Masah’s sister, Shiva, 33, at the Iran protest in Rome.
“Music is a form of expression that allows you to communicate even without knowing other languages,” she added.