British Singer Rebecca Ferguson Wants to Sing a Protest Song at the Inauguration

With only 18 days left until Donald Trump takes the oath of office, it appears his team is still struggling to find artists who are willing to perform at his inauguration. Many big-name musicians such as Elton John, Céline Dion, and Beyoncé have reportedly turned down the offer; however, it looks like British singer Rebecca Ferguson is open to the gig…on one condition.

On Monday, the former X-Factor contestant announced she had been approached to sing at the high-profile ceremony. She went on to say she would “graciously accept” the invitation only is she was allowed to perform “Strange Fruit,” a 1930s protest song about black lynchings.

“I’ve been asked and this is my answer. If you allow me to sing 'strange fruit' a song that has huge historical importance, a song that was blacklisted in the United States for being too controversial,” Ferguson wrote on social media. “A song that speaks to all the disregarded and down trodden black people in the United States. A song that is a reminder of how love is the only thing that will conquer all the hatred in this world, then I will graciously accept your invitation and see you in Washington.”

A teacher named Abel Meeropol wrote “Strange Fruit” in 1937. It was originally published as a protest poem against American racism, specifically lynching, and Meeropol then set it to music. Two years later, Billie Holiday started performing the song, which has since been covered by numerous artists. Nina Simone’s 1965 rendition was sampled in Kanye West’s Yeezus track “Blood on the Leaves.”