Welsh artist Charlotte Church has certainly packed much into her lifetime. From best selling choir girl, to pop star, to chat show host and recently she’s been venturing off into her own self released musical projects, not to mention still being a working mother at the same time!
Since May though she’s aligned herself with the anti austerity movement, joining the protestors in Cardiff the day after the Conservative’s election victory. Speaking out against injustice, inequality and in defence of the NHS that’s under threat from government cuts. She has proven herself to be a heroine with a social conscience speaking for many without the platform to do so.
So it’s perhaps no surprise then that on Tuesday, Charlotte Church have a one-off live performance at Shell’s HQ in protest against Arctic drilling:
Giving a soulful rendition of ‘Requiem for Arctic Ice’ in front of a crowd of Greenpeace supporters, passers-by, and TV cameras. Welsh-born artist sang a genuinely moving version of ‘This Bitter Earth’ a combination of works originally by Max Richter and Dinah Washington. Accompanied by a string ensemble it’s reminiscent of Bjork’s work with a string orchestra and shows off Charlotte’s impeccable, soulful, vocal range, the words given prescient meaning by the setting and the imminent threat to the planet.
“The event was part of Greenpeace’s month-long run of Titanic-themed orchestral protests against Arctic drilling outside the oil giant’s offices on the South Bank.
Charlotte has made her one-off live performance available as a free download to help reach more people and let them know about the threat Shell’s drilling poses to the Arctic.
Charlotte said: “I can’t see how anyone could see footage of the Arctic melting and not feel moved. It’s terrifying to think of what we’re doing to this planet. This song just felt so appropriate to why I came here today. I wanted to capture the sorrow and regret that feels tied up with the melting ice, and the bitter irony of Arctic oil drilling.”
Just over a week ago Shell got the final permits it needs to start drilling for oil in the melting Arctic Ocean. It’s got a window of mere weeks to strike oil and billions of dollars on the line. But every second it drills it’s risking an oil spill in icy waters that would be impossible to clean up and disastrous for the people and unique wildlife that call the Arctic home.
Charlotte continued: “I can’t believe the risks that Shell is willing to take. The Arctic ecosystem is already weakened because the ice is melting, yet Shell is willing to risk an oil spill there that they wouldn’t be able to clean up. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
