“Serbia is an example to the whole world of how people who unite can fight for truth, beauty and justice,” the Italian singer said in a video message shared by EXIT alongside students involved in the university blockades from several university centres across Serbia.
“Together, we can change everything. From the streets across Serbia to EXIT, ‘Freed from Desire’ was sung at the top of our lungs. Gala, students, citizens, standing side by side. Sometimes through tears, sometimes out of defiance, but always believing that we can fight for a better tomorrow.
Today, Gala tells us: Serbia is an example to the whole world. This victory belongs to everyone who refused to give up. To the students who walked for miles, the people who welcomed them along the way, the professors, artists and organisations placed on blacklists for supporting the students. To everyone who stood by them when things were at their hardest,” EXIT Festival and the students said in their joint post.
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One of the most memorable moments of last year’s EXIT Festival was Gala’s performance on the Main Stage, when she joined the students during the opening ceremony of the festival’s jubilee to perform “Freed from Desire” and deliver a message of support for Serbia: “Serbia, stand up for your rights. Show the world that the people have power. Pumpaj, bre!” Her words echoed across the Petrovaradin Fortress as tens of thousands of people sang along.
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Over the past year, “Freed from Desire” has become one of the most recognisable symbols of the student movement in Serbia. Originally written as an expression of resistance against the system, the song has taken on a new meaning among Serbian students and citizens, who have embraced it as part of their protests and their fight for justice. Its chorus has echoed through streets and squares across the country, becoming part of the collective voice of protesters and a powerful example of how music can drive the fight for social change.
