This song, with words written by Cynthia Dammerer, and supported by Accor’s teams and staff across the network, is sung by Accor’s own Veronique Nel, and charts the fears and feelings of all our wonderful Accor staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Firstly, as they faced the fear of what COVID19 was, where and how it was spreading, and the growing reality of the grim human toll it was taking. First in China, then Europe, then the world.
The song laments the catastrophic global spread of the disease and the doom of severe lockdowns lasting months, with an inability to see loved ones, work or travel.
It then highlights the more positive side of the impact we started noticing, on the environment being given breathing space, reconnecting with family, and when Work From Home would never have been dreamed of prior to the pandemic.
The themes of human resilience and strength, and a new global caring attitude in humanity, and – most of all – how we could only beat it as a team, are all featured in the song.
We dealt with fake news, crazy remedies being touted, loss of millions of jobs, the pain of losing friends and family, fear of catching the disease, and, ultimately now, as most countries emerge timidly from border closures and being closeted at home, it is the feeling of hope that maybe we WILL enjoy a “new normal” one day soon.