Emel Mathlouthi’s song My World is Free had a significant place in the Tunisian revolution ten years ago. I didn’t know the story until listening to podcasts to improve my French. Heard an episode about this song inspiring people against the rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who seemed like the kind of guy ready for a photo op saying “make Tunisia great again”. There were two parts to the story that were fascinating. The part about her creating the song because of dictatorship, censorship and corruption and how liberating it was for all. It is awesome to view online, in the midst of a revolution, she holds a candle and sings a capella and a few thousand people shut up, incredible. The other part, post revolution, is the Nobel Prize committee recognizes different Tunisian based forces and flew her to Oslo to perform at the ceremony. Now she performs the song with orchestra and a few thousand Swedish people swaying cellphones like matches at Woodstock. I know their intentions to celebrate the power of song but viewing the clip and the Hollywoodness of it felt only a reminder not to do this to something that actually already is powerful.