In 2013, 25 acclaimed singers and musicians, women and men, from China to Costa Rica, from Mali to Malaysia, came together to spread a message of unity and solidarity: We are “One Woman”.

Launched on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2013, the song is a rallying cry that inspires listeners to join the drive for women’s rights and gender equality. “One Woman” was written for UN Women, the global champion for women and girls worldwide, to celebrate its mission and work to improve women’s lives around the world. “One Woman” reminds us that together, we can overcome violence and discrimination against women and look toward a brighter future: “We Shall Shine!” Join us to help spread the word and enjoy this musical celebration of women worldwide.

Get the song from iTunes

All proceeds of “One Woman” will go to UN Women to support our work to empower women and improve their lives worldwide. We thank you for your support!

Lyrics

One Woman

In Kigali, she wakes up,

She makes a choice,

In Hanoi, Natal, Ramallah.

In Tangier, she takes a breath,

Lifts up her voice,

In Lahore, La Paz, Kampala.

Though she’s half a world away

Something in me wants to say …

We are One Woman,

You cry and I hear you.

We are One Woman,

You hurt, and I hurt, too.

We are One Woman,

Your hopes are mine.

We shall shine.

In Juarez she speaks the truth,

She reaches out,

Then teaches others how to.

In Jaipur, she gives her name,

She lives without shame

In Manila, Salta, Embu.

Though we’re different as can be,

We’re connected, she with me

We are One Woman,

Your courage keeps me strong.

We are One Woman,

You sing, I sing along.

We are One Woman,

Your dreams are mine.

And we shall shine.

We shall shine.

And one man, he hears her voice.

And one man, he fights her fight.

Day by day, he lets go the old ways,

One Woman at a time.

Though she’s half a world away,

Something in me wants to say.

We are One Woman,

Your victories lift us all.

We are One Woman,

You rise and I stand tall.

We are One Woman,

Your world is mine

And we shall shine.

Shine, shine, shine.

We shall shine

Shine, shine, shine.

We shall shine.

Shine, shine, shine.

Credits

The efforts of many committed women and men around the world contributed to the song and video you hear and see here. From songwriters to producers and our participating singers and musicians, we benefited from the talent, artistry and advice of hundreds. UN Women would like to give our heart-felt thanks for everyone's contribution.

One Woman

Song

Written by:

Beth Blatt

Graham Lyle

Fahan Hassan

Produced by:

Jerry Boys

Beth Blatt

Graham Lyle

Mixing Engineer:

Jerry Boys

Executive Producer:

Hope Sings

Produced at Livingston Studio, London, United Kingdom

Mixed at The Moor Room, United Kingdom

Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City

Music video

Produced at Microsoft Production Studios

Senior Manager Business Development and Marketing: Kara Costa

Producer: Maren S. Patterson

Editor: Denise Burdette

Production Coordinator: Betsy Grant

Photos and video courtesy of:

CIAT (Neil Palmer)

UNAIDS

UNDP (Ahmed Rady, Ari Vitikainen, Issraa El-Ko, Mohammad Moniruzzaman)

UN Photo (Christopher Herwig, Kibae Park, Helena Mulkerns, Martine Perret, P Mugabane, Rick Bajornas)

UNTV

UNTF/Phil Borges

UN Women (Catianne Tijerina, Gaganjit Singh, Janarbek Amankulov)

Individual session credits

Dave Arch Band

Recorded at Livingston Studio, London, United Kingdom

Recorded by Jerry Boys

Assisted by Sonny

Filmed by Mike Banks

Mikey Rowe

Recorded at home in United Kingdom

Engineered by Mikey Rowe

Ana Bacalhau

Recorded at Boom Studios, Porto, Portugal

Recorded by and mixed by Jerry Boys

Assisted by João Bessa

Filmed by André Tentugal

Angélique Kidjo

Recorded at Obatala Studios, New York City

Engineered by Jean Hebrail

Filmed by Andy Bryant

Anoushka Shankar

Recorded at Ravi Shankar Foundation, San Diego, California

Engineered by Ben Moore

Filmed by Sevdije Kastrati

Bassekou Kouyate

Recorded at Studio Bogolan, Bamako, Mali

Engineered by Yaya Diarra

Filmed by Dugugrafix/Youssouf Coulibaly

Bebel Gilberto

Recorded at Flux Studios, New York City

Engineered by Daniel Sanint

Filmed by MP Nunan

Make-up by Fatima Thomas

Brian Finnegan

Recorded at Spring Studios, Rostrevor, County Down, North Ireland

Engineered by Colum Sands

Buika

Recorded at Miami Beach Recording Studios, Miami Beach, Florida

Engineered by Luciano Delgado

Filmed by Sembrando Producciones SL

Charice

Recorded at The Assembly Entertainment, Los Angeles, California

Engineered by Troy Laureta

Filmed by Andy Bryant

Cherine Amr

Recorded at Vibe, Cairo, Egypt

Engineered by Yousef Ahmed

Filmed by Mahmoud Gawish

Producer: AbdulRahman EL-Garawany

Executive producer: Axeer Studio and Qabila Media Production

Debi Nova

Recorded at Mondomix Studios, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Engineered by Demian Nava

Filmed by Tato Borounian/LCNPro

Emeline Michel

Recorded at Eastside Sound, New York City

Engineered by Eric Elterman

Filmed by MP Nunan

Beth Blatt / Fahan Hassan / Jim Diamond / Keith Murrell / Lance Ellington

Recorded at Livingston Studio, London, United Kingdom

Recorded by Jerry Boys

Assisted by Sonny & Mark Allaway

Filmed by Mike Banks

Idan Raichel of The Idan Raichel Project

Recorded at Bardo Recording Studios, Tel Aviv, Israel

Engineered by Jonathan Kossov

Filmed by Talal Jabari

Jane Zhang

Recorded at Make Sound Studio, Beijing, China

Engineered by Liming Yu

Filmed by Alexei Berteig

Maria Friedman

Recorded at State of the Ark Studio, London, United Kingdom

Engineered by Tom Hough

Marta Gomez with Gaddafi Núñez Cano (charango) and Pablo Andrés Giménez (zampoña)

Recorded at La Ollita Records, Barcelona, Spain

Engineered by Gaddafi Núñez Cano

Filmed by Teo Campos

Meklit Hadero

Recorded at Eastcote Studios, London, United Kingdom

Recorded by Jerry Boys

Filmed by Ros Gihan Williams

Rokia Traoré

Recorded at Mercredi 9, Paris, France

Engineered by Frederic Carrayol

Filmed by Mariana Keller

Vanessa Quai

Recorded at Harvest Studio, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Engineered by Tito Quai

Filmed by Rick Malao

Interview filmed by Christopher Quai

Ximena Sariñana

Recorded at Obra Negra Studios, Mexico City, Mexico

Engineered by Ivan Leyva

Filmed by Alejandra Olivares

Yuna

Recorded at Indie-Pop Studios, Los Angeles, California

Engineered by Antonio M. Nochez

Filmed by Sevdije Kastrati

Special thanks to Microsoft as the corporate partner for the production of “One Woman”, particularly Orlando Ayala, Chairman of Emerging Markets, and Oriona Spaulding, Director of National Competitiveness.

Additional thanks to:

Ange Touré

Anna Pandorf

Beco Dranoff

Ben Willis

Boris Nowalski

Carly Slade

Christine Poundford

Daniella Tamayo

David Azulay

Deborah Cohen

Donnie Kehr

Earl Blackburn

Elly Lessin

Frances Zapanta

Gahri Lubin

Jay Rutledge

Katie Baron

Kellee Joost

Kerri Welsh

Marc Johnston

Marianne Pompeu

Maurice Keizer

Oriona Spaulding

Orlando Ayala

Paula Quijano

Polita Buika

Porfirio Pina

Rich Masio

Tim Prager

Tobias Tumarkin

Vasco Sacramento

Yeara Livny