World
LA singer MILCK's song 'Quiet' first took the Women's March by storm, and then the internet.
Updated : Feb 01, 2017, 02:37 PM IST
Asian American singer MILCK's song Quiet became an anthem of sorts at the Women's March on Washington, where a day after US President Donald Trump's inauguration millions of women marched in the capital and across the country to protest statements and policy positions of the new president that would infringe on human rights, including women's rights, LGBT rights, and racial equality.
The Los Angeles-based singer brought together a group of acapella singers to perform her song Quiet at various points in the march. The women had not met each other before the event and practised singing together online before performing.
A video of their performance was captured by Israeli director Alma Har'el and went viral online, with 15 million views as of Wednesday.
These women never met till today and practiced this song online. Show them some love. #Icantkeepquiet #WomensMarch #WomensMarchOnWashington pic.twitter.com/rPA4dDTIYz
— Alma Har'el (@Almaharel) January 21, 2017
The song's stirring lyrics captured the spirit of the protests and resonated with many supporters.
"But no one knows me no one ever will
if I don’t say something, if I just lie still
Would I be that monster, scare them all away
If I let the-em hear what I have to say
I can’t keep quiet, no oh oh oh oh oh oh
I can’t keep quiet, no oh oh oh oh oh oh
A one woman riot, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh"
This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I'm watching this every day of this administration. #icantkeepquiet #resist https://t.co/SGos5Vmhyi
— Book Slut Co. (@bookslutco) January 23, 2017
I have listened to #icantkeepquiet 3 or 4 times today & it brought me to tears every time. Such a beautiful display of solidarity
— Amanda West (@westab1) January 23, 2017
We must not suppress our voices or let's others do so -- they are beautiful & NEEDED. #StillMarching #ICantKeepQuiet #OneWomanRiot https://t.co/lnfygdPH9n
— Lanford Beard (@lanfordbeard) January 23, 2017
Please give this a listen. It will fill your heart and break it and heal it all at the same time. #WomensMarch #icantkeepquiet https://t.co/D1jL5DC6Jd
— Paige Bird (@PaigeBird17) January 23, 2017
MILCK, whose real name is Connie Lim, wrote the song a year ago after getting out of an abusive relationship but did not release it. Before the march, Lim composed the song for a capella singing and brought together 25 women from various a cappella groups, including the GW Sirens and Capital Blend, to sing it on January 21. The group performed seven times during the march.
Since the song went viral online, several groups have approached Lim for permission to perform it. She has since posted the song's arrangement on her website.
If you want to learn the harmonies or start your own #icantkeepquiet flash mob, here's how: https://t.co/dhYfMyVRXe https://t.co/XimyOCXcZU
— Lily Milos (@lilymilos) January 23, 2017
Lim told the Washington Post, “Anthem is such a grand and big word. It (the song) was something to heal myself. For it to be so big just coming from one person’s story, it’s just blowing my mind.”
"With this song I’m saying I am NOT the woman who is going to stay quiet where there are figures who promote oppression. I want to encourage others to give a voice to whatever they may have silenced, political or personal," she told Mashable.
Lim performed the song on Samantha Bee's show Full Frontal last week.
Lim will be recording a video for the song and donating the proceeds to an organisation yet to be named.