Hope, Rebellion And Empowerment: The Multifaceted Appeal Of Mashrou' Leila's 'Roman'
The Lebanese alternative rock band's hit single has taken on a life of its own this summer: as an anthem for women's empowerment and as a song of hope for troubled political times.
Sometimes musicians write a song for a cause. Sometimes, the cause chooses the song.
That is what has happened with "Roman," the latest release from Mashrou' Leila, the Lebanese alternative rock band who toured the U.S. to huge acclaim this summer (and performed a spine-tingling Tiny Desk concert at NPR last summer).
When Mashrou' Leila conceived "Roman" some five years ago, the band thought of it as a song about betrayal. Its opening lyrics are dark: "I don't intend on swallowing your lies / The words will burn my throat." Later,
