Singer Petula Clark spoke confusedly about the use of her 1964 song “Downtown” by the man who detonated a bomb in a trailer on a Nashville street on Christmas Day.
“Why this violent act – leaving so much devastation behind?” The British singer said in a statement posted Tuesday on Facebook. “A few hours later – I was told that the background music of that strange ad – it was me – singing ‘Downtown’! Of all the thousands of songs – why is that? “
The classic pop song played at the end of a timed countdown, in which a woman’s voice warned people to clear the area because the trailer contained a bomb. Although the police worked quickly to evacuate residents, eight people were injured in the explosion.
The suicide bomber, Anthony Quinn Warner, of Antioch, Tennessee, died in the morning explosion, which damaged dozens of buildings, especially one of AT&T equipment. The 63-year-old man was identified by DNA after his remains were found in the aftermath of the explosion. No reason has yet been determined.
On Facebook, Clark, 88, tried to understand why his music was used, but did not come to a clear conclusion.
“Of course, the opening letter is, ‘When you’re alone and life is leaving you lonely, you can always go downtown’,” she wrote. “But millions of people around the world were excited about this happy song. Maybe you can read something else in those words – depending on your mood. It’s possible.”
The AT&T building was the headquarters of a telephone exchange, with network equipment, the company said. Part of Internet access in Tennessee and neighboring states fell after the explosion, as did some cell phones and 911 in Tennessee and Kentucky counties.
The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily suspended flights from Nashville International Airport on Friday due to telecommunications problems.
The singer, whose other successes include “I Know a Place” and “My Love”, ended with a sincere wish for the people of Music City.
“I would like to hug Nashville – give you all a hug – and wish you love, a Happy and Healthy New Year – and, as we sometimes say in the UK, sign the Buffs! (Look it up!) ”Wrote Clark.
Search for this phrase if you want or just know: it is a version of the admonition “Keep calm and carry on”.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.