Glen Hansard returns to the music scene with a beautiful song of compassion and support for Ukrainians. 'Take heart' was partly inspired by Patti Smith's words: "People, take heart. Things will get better, and if they don’t – we’ll make them better!"
The enchanting vocals of Ukrainian Action, comprised of three Ireland-based Ukrainian refugees, and Marketa Irglova add so much resonance and emotion to a song of resilience and sorrow. It’s Glen at his most beguiling, and poignant. A softly strummed song that states ‘We’ll forge an alliance of lovers and friends, and we’re fighting to win‘, when the female voices begin to sing in their native language after three and a half minutes, it is impossible not to be affected and to reflect on the terrible loss of life in that country.
Glen states in his own words:
This song is a single flower placed at the foot of all this devastation, a candle lit among the millions placed helplessly at the doors of embassies or left burning in windows; it’s a prayer sent up into the great cloud of goodwill that circles the globe, It’s a thing that didn’t exist and now it does, an offering, thanks to Patti, Alex, Anna, Olena, and Markéta who heard it as I was working on it and joined in to make it stronger. This is for them, and to all those who lost or are missing loved ones on every side of this brutal war.
Glen has spoken of new music further down the track, with a suggestion it may be a slight return to the more rock sound of The Frames. We will have to wait and see. Until then he has announced a short Irish tour in December, taking in Dublin Belfast, and Kilkenny. All tour dates available at glenhansard.com
Glen Hansard is one of the most talented and affecting artists this island has ever produced. Buy a ticket to tell people you saw him, buy a ticket to lift your spirits, buy a ticket for friends and family for early Christmas presents to enhance their musical knowledge, buy a ticket to revel in the man’s talent, but buy a ticket!