‘One Woman’ – The UN Women song
In 2013, 25 acclaimed singers and musicians, women and men, from China to Costa Rica, from Mali to Malaysia, came together to spread a message of unity and solidarity: We are “One Woman”.
Launched on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2013, the song is a rallying cry that inspires listeners to join the drive for women’s rights and gender equality. “One Woman” was written for UN Women, the global champion for women and girls worldwide, to celebrate its mission and work to improve women’s lives around the world. “One Woman” reminds us that together, we can overcome violence and discrimination against women and look toward a brighter future: “We Shall Shine!” Join us to help spread the word and enjoy this musical celebration of women worldwide.
Get the song from iTunes
All proceeds of “One Woman” will go to UN Women to support our work to empower women and improve their lives worldwide. We thank you for your support!
Lyrics
One Woman
In Kigali, she wakes up,
She makes a choice,
In Hanoi, Natal, Ramallah.
In Tangier, she takes a breath,
Lifts up her voice,
In Lahore, La Paz, Kampala.
Though she’s half a world away
Something in me wants to say …
We are One Woman,
You cry and I hear you.
We are One Woman,
You hurt, and I hurt, too.
We are One Woman,
Your hopes are mine.
We shall shine.
In Juarez she speaks the truth,
She reaches out,
Then teaches others how to.
In Jaipur, she gives her name,
She lives without shame
In Manila, Salta, Embu.
Though we’re different as can be,
We’re connected, she with me
We are One Woman,
Your courage keeps me strong.
We are One Woman,
You sing, I sing along.
We are One Woman,
Your dreams are mine.
And we shall shine.
We shall shine.
And one man, he hears her voice.
And one man, he fights her fight.
Day by day, he lets go the old ways,
One Woman at a time.
Though she’s half a world away,
Something in me wants to say.
We are One Woman,
Your victories lift us all.
We are One Woman,
You rise and I stand tall.
We are One Woman,
Your world is mine
And we shall shine.
Shine, shine, shine.
We shall shine
Shine, shine, shine.
We shall shine.
Shine, shine, shine.
Credits
The efforts of many committed women and men around the world contributed to the song and video you hear and see here. From songwriters to producers and our participating singers and musicians, we benefited from the talent, artistry and advice of hundreds. UN Women would like to give our heart-felt thanks for everyone's contribution.
One Woman
Song
Written by:
Beth Blatt
Graham Lyle
Fahan Hassan
Produced by:
Jerry Boys
Beth Blatt
Graham Lyle
Mixing Engineer:
Jerry Boys
Executive Producer:
Hope Sings
Produced at Livingston Studio, London, United Kingdom
Mixed at The Moor Room, United Kingdom
Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City
Music video
Produced at Microsoft Production Studios
Senior Manager Business Development and Marketing: Kara Costa
Producer: Maren S. Patterson
Editor: Denise Burdette
Production Coordinator: Betsy Grant
Photos and video courtesy of:
CIAT (Neil Palmer)
UNAIDS
UNDP (Ahmed Rady, Ari Vitikainen, Issraa El-Ko, Mohammad Moniruzzaman)
UN Photo (Christopher Herwig, Kibae Park, Helena Mulkerns, Martine Perret, P Mugabane, Rick Bajornas)
UNTV
UNTF/Phil Borges
UN Women (Catianne Tijerina, Gaganjit Singh, Janarbek Amankulov)
Individual session credits
Dave Arch Band
Recorded at Livingston Studio, London, United Kingdom
Recorded by Jerry Boys
Assisted by Sonny
Filmed by Mike Banks
Mikey Rowe
Recorded at home in United Kingdom
Engineered by Mikey Rowe
Ana Bacalhau
Recorded at Boom Studios, Porto, Portugal
Recorded by and mixed by Jerry Boys
Assisted by João Bessa
Filmed by André Tentugal
Angélique Kidjo
Recorded at Obatala Studios, New York City
Engineered by Jean Hebrail
Filmed by Andy Bryant
Anoushka Shankar
Recorded at Ravi Shankar Foundation, San Diego, California
Engineered by Ben Moore
Filmed by Sevdije Kastrati
Bassekou Kouyate
Recorded at Studio Bogolan, Bamako, Mali
Engineered by Yaya Diarra
Filmed by Dugugrafix/Youssouf Coulibaly
Bebel Gilberto
Recorded at Flux Studios, New York City
Engineered by Daniel Sanint
Filmed by MP Nunan
Make-up by Fatima Thomas
Brian Finnegan
Recorded at Spring Studios, Rostrevor, County Down, North Ireland
Engineered by Colum Sands
Buika
Recorded at Miami Beach Recording Studios, Miami Beach, Florida
Engineered by Luciano Delgado
Filmed by Sembrando Producciones SL
Charice
Recorded at The Assembly Entertainment, Los Angeles, California
Engineered by Troy Laureta
Filmed by Andy Bryant
Cherine Amr
Recorded at Vibe, Cairo, Egypt
Engineered by Yousef Ahmed
Filmed by Mahmoud Gawish
Producer: AbdulRahman EL-Garawany
Executive producer: Axeer Studio and Qabila Media Production
Debi Nova
Recorded at Mondomix Studios, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Engineered by Demian Nava
Filmed by Tato Borounian/LCNPro
Emeline Michel
Recorded at Eastside Sound, New York City
Engineered by Eric Elterman
Filmed by MP Nunan
Beth Blatt / Fahan Hassan / Jim Diamond / Keith Murrell / Lance Ellington
Recorded at Livingston Studio, London, United Kingdom
Recorded by Jerry Boys
Assisted by Sonny & Mark Allaway
Filmed by Mike Banks
Idan Raichel of The Idan Raichel Project
Recorded at Bardo Recording Studios, Tel Aviv, Israel
Engineered by Jonathan Kossov
Filmed by Talal Jabari
Jane Zhang
Recorded at Make Sound Studio, Beijing, China
Engineered by Liming Yu
Filmed by Alexei Berteig
Maria Friedman
Recorded at State of the Ark Studio, London, United Kingdom
Engineered by Tom Hough
Marta Gomez with Gaddafi Núñez Cano (charango) and Pablo Andrés Giménez (zampoña)
Recorded at La Ollita Records, Barcelona, Spain
Engineered by Gaddafi Núñez Cano
Filmed by Teo Campos
Meklit Hadero
Recorded at Eastcote Studios, London, United Kingdom
Recorded by Jerry Boys
Filmed by Ros Gihan Williams
Rokia Traoré
Recorded at Mercredi 9, Paris, France
Engineered by Frederic Carrayol
Filmed by Mariana Keller
Vanessa Quai
Recorded at Harvest Studio, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Engineered by Tito Quai
Filmed by Rick Malao
Interview filmed by Christopher Quai
Ximena Sariñana
Recorded at Obra Negra Studios, Mexico City, Mexico
Engineered by Ivan Leyva
Filmed by Alejandra Olivares
Yuna
Recorded at Indie-Pop Studios, Los Angeles, California
Engineered by Antonio M. Nochez
Filmed by Sevdije Kastrati
Special thanks to Microsoft as the corporate partner for the production of “One Woman”, particularly Orlando Ayala, Chairman of Emerging Markets, and Oriona Spaulding, Director of National Competitiveness.
Additional thanks to:
Ange Touré
Anna Pandorf
Beco Dranoff
Ben Willis
Boris Nowalski
Carly Slade
Christine Poundford
Daniella Tamayo
David Azulay
Deborah Cohen
Donnie Kehr
Earl Blackburn
Elly Lessin
Frances Zapanta
Gahri Lubin
Jay Rutledge
Katie Baron
Kellee Joost
Kerri Welsh
Marc Johnston
Marianne Pompeu
Maurice Keizer
Oriona Spaulding
Orlando Ayala
Paula Quijano
Polita Buika
Porfirio Pina
Rich Masio
Tim Prager
Tobias Tumarkin
Vasco Sacramento
Yeara Livny