Peter Gabriel recently released a new song, "Won't Stand Down," the fifth track from his upcoming 11th studio album, o/i.
"It's really a song to encourage some sort of activism," Gabriel said of the politically charged single and added that he originally wanted to create music for The Elders.org - the organization founded by Nelson Mandela that sees independent global leaders fight for justice, human rights and a more sustainable planet.
"That's something which I wanted to talk about, write about and encourage, because it's pretty dark out there in lots of places and I think we need people who can just nudge both us and our leaders and keep alive some basic values of justice, compassion and democracy - a hope that can help us start envisioning a just, peaceful and fairer world," Gabriel added.
Gabriel also recalled how he believes people "generally respond much better" towards messages of hope and positivity, rather than being "bombarded and scared by negative ones," and therefore wanted to bring that lighter feeling to his new music.
For the "Bright Side" version of "Won't Stand Down," he was inspired by Marvin Gaye and the "Cuban element to his song 'Sexual Healing,'" which brought energy and movement to the song.
"A million mothers looking forward/ They're all looking out ahead/ In the haze they can make out a planet/ Alive, or was it dead?," Gabriel sings in the ethereal, invigorating first verse. "Moving out in so many directions/ This is not the way we want to live/ It's not the way it has to be."
It gradually builds towards the euphoric-yet-tranquil chorus: "But we won't stand down/ Until there's something better showing on the ground."
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