Amid the ongoing lockdown in Italy, videos of groups of people singing from their balconies has been circulating online. Residents of several neighborhood — from the southern cities of Salerno and Naples, and the Sicilian capital Palermo to Turin in the north — are singing or playing instruments from their balcony to lift each other’s spirit and show solidarity as the country continues its battle with the deadly virus that is spreading all over the world.
In a thread made by Twitter user Leonardo Carella, Italians show how good they are at celebrating life even in the most difficult times.
https://twitter.com/leonardocarella/status/1238511612270690305?s=20
https://twitter.com/leonardocarella/status/1238512898324008960
A whole Roman neighborhood singing a popular Italian song “Volare” from their balconies and waving at each other. An amazing flash mob to lift the spirit in these crazy times ❤️ #Italy #coronavirus #forzaitalia #roma #flashmob #love pic.twitter.com/xjeZTeO0GO
— Jenna Vehviläinen (@jennavehvi) March 13, 2020
However, these viral videos of Italians singing while in quarantine became the latest meme material online and edited versions of the videos featuring different pop songs gained the attention of several pop stars.
To boost morale amid this chaotic global pandemic and add something entertaining to their online feed, people have been editing the audio of the videos and replacing it with their favorite songs like this one featuring fans singing Blackpink’s “Kill This Love”.
https://twitter.com/mamamulisa/status/1239092168981016577?s=20
With the lyrics “and you know, we’re on each other’s team,” this video proves to be a timely and apt use of Lorde’s song, “Team”.
https://twitter.com/ribsreprise/status/1239024586076770304?s=20
You’ll feel a sense of rebellion as you hear people sing along to Rihanna’s “Bitch Better Have My Money” in this video —as if the public is asking the government to pay back and fulfill its promises. WE STAN! (Maybe we should do this in the Philippines as well, you know, with all the budget cuts and fund allocations that should be in health care right now but we’re not seeing much.)
https://twitter.com/FENTYGEMlNl/status/1238971916209098752
As the edited videos started going viral on Twitter, pop stars like Katy Perry, the Queen of Pop Madonna, and Cheryl fell for the prank and were fooled into thinking that their songs were Italy’s “pop anthem” to get through the coronavirus crisis. Their fans and some concerned individuals quickly pointed out that the videos are actually fake.
https://twitter.com/katyperry/status/1238964946316046337
GIRL IT’S FAKE pic.twitter.com/N26AR9w1TU
— LegendaryNugget (@legendrynugget) March 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/kxtysboy_/status/1238965183063752706
Let Us All RISE UP. everywhere around the world!! 🌎 🌍 #irise pic.twitter.com/NJv93kWnWs
— Madonna (@Madonna) March 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/vanitydelrey/status/1239166255879188481?s=20
https://twitter.com/maniconio/status/1239166801562546176?s=20
I’m not crying 😢 https://t.co/kRq4HCAP5D
— Cheryl (@CherylOfficial) March 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/ihenryramos/status/1239198065560518657?s=20
https://twitter.com/Figoo2x/status/1239198406117031937?s=20
Cheryl, delete this quick. Its fake😭😩
— bally singh (@putasinghonit) March 15, 2020
Even Shawn Mendes was tricked and reposted a video of people in Italy singing one of his songs but deleted it after realizing his mistake.
Shawn Mendes is the latest to fall for an edited video of people in Italy on lockdown singing one of his songs.
“Wow 😭❤️” pic.twitter.com/GuBu01T4mc
— Pop Base (@PopBase) March 15, 2020
The edited versions of the Italians singing from their balcony might be misleading and fooled some of our favorite artists, but in this trying times, people are surely doing whatever they can to cope.