Fiona Apple pledges to donate royalties of ‘Criminal’ for refugees
The singer whose most popular work is a song about guilt and being bad is utilizing the song in every right way to help a greater cause.
Fiona Apple might have been “bad bad girl” in a “sad sad world” but with her recent initiative to give away part of her earnings for a good cause makes it seem like “[she’s] got to cleanse [her]self of all these lies till [she’s] good enough…”. Apple’s biggest hit, ‘Criminal’ the third track of her 1996 album, ‘Tidal’, deals with an interesting topic which the singer describes as, “feeling bad for getting something so easily by using your sexuality". The song, in the video of which Apple fearlessly flaunts her “heroin chic” look had won the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards and was nominated for Best Rock Song. Now she is utilizing the song for a more humane cause.
The 41-year-old Grammy Award winning singer has pledged to donate the 2019 and 2020 earnings of her song’s TV and movie placements to the immigration aid initiative, ‘While They Wait’. According to the non-profit’s website, “The "While They Wait" Fund coordinated by Brooklyn Defender Services and RAICES allows immigrants seeking asylum and other legal status to achieve self-sufficiency during their long, uncertain, and costly wait to see if they will be allowed to stay in the United States. Your support will help pay for necessities and fees like employment authorization applications, while enhancing access to legal services.”
‘Criminal’ is a part of her album ‘Tidal’. (Google Images)
She informed her fans about her decision over a Tumblr post where she wrote, “Something I love about being a songwriter is that I get paid for usage of a song I wrote years ago whenever a TV show or movie asks to use it. “Criminal” is my most requested song. In the past I have used my “Criminal” money to help friends or family. However, after months and months of reading the news about how my country is treating refugees, I’ve become gutted with frustration trying to figure out the best way to help. Of course you can donate money for the bare necessities, toothbrushes, blankets, tents, Pedialyte, etc., but after much searching I found the organization WhileTheyWait.org It seems to me that the best way I can help detainees is to contribute to the payment of their legal fees.
What they need is representation and guidance because these people are being prosecuted as criminals just for asking for asylum. When they are separated from their children they need help navigating the system. They need to be bailed out of prison. They need money to pay for the ankle bracelets they are forced to rent and wear while awaiting arraignment, for crying out loud.” She further explained, “WhileTheyWait helps families through the entire process so they don’t have to stand in court alone, so that they are not, in the end, treated like criminals.
I have decided to pledge all of my earnings from “Criminal” over this year and next to this organization. I want to ask other songwriters to donate just ONE TIME, the money they get for the usage of one of their songs to this organization or one of their choosings. I could write a song about this and maybe I will but for now, I will use “CRIMINAL” to help the WRONGLY criminalized get justice. I encourage anyone who wants to join with me to get involved–Watch the short film on their site.” In their return, the organization said in their statement, “We are humbled and blown away by Fiona Apple's generous support for asylum seekers through the While They Wait Fund. There are over 1 million immigrants, including 300,000 asylum seekers, who are going through the legal steps to gain legal status. Release from detention is just the beginning of their struggle. Fiona Apple's support will allow people to achieve self-sufficiency during their long, uncertain, and costly wait to see if they will be allowed to stay in the United States."
