British singer Petula Clark relayed a message to her fans after learning her hit song “Downtown” was played on a loudspeaker moments before the Christmas Day bombing in Nashville.
In a post to Facebook on Tuesday, Clark said she felt “shock and disbelief” to learn that her music had been broadcast from the same RV that authorities said exploded in downtown Nashville, injuring three people and damaging dozens of buildings in the area.
“I feel the need to express my shock and disbelief at the Christmas Day explosion in our beloved Music City,” Clark wrote. “I love Nashville and its people. Why this violent act — leaving behind it such devastation?”
The loudspeaker also warned residents of the city to back away from the vehicle and leave the area.
Authorities have identified 63-year-old Anthony Warner as the bombing suspect who killed himself in the explosion after investigators matched human remains found on the scene to Warner’s DNA. Investigators are still looking for a motive.
One of the buildings near the blast was an AT&T facility, and the damage led to disruptions in communications services.
Clark, 88, said she couldn’t understand why Warner would use her music, which she said has been embraced all over the world as a “joyful song.”
“A few hours later — I was told that the music in the background of that strange announcement — was me — singing ‘Downtown’! Of all the thousands of songs — why this one?” Clark added. “Of course, the opening lyric is ‘When you’re alone and life is making you lonely you can always go Downtown’. But millions of people all over the world have been uplifted by this joyful song. Perhaps you can read something else into these words — depending on your state of mind. It’s possible.”
