CLAIM: Rema’s “calm down” was played during the coronation of Prince Charles III.
VERDICT: False.
The missing scenes in the video imply that the video clip has been edited. Meanwhile, Rema’s “Calm Down” was not included in the list of songs sung at the coronation at Westminster Abbey.
Also, a closer examination of the video clip shows that the congregation are not uttering the same lyrics as Rema’s song while the King is being led out of the Abbey.
Full Text
An Instagram user Notjustok.com (@notjustok), has uploaded a video showing the moment King Charles III was crowned King of England, with Afropop singer Rema’s 2022 ‘Calm Down’ playing in the background.
Along with the video was the caption:
“I still can’t believe this happened at the coronation.”
King Charles III ascended the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8, 2022. Upon her death, her son, King Charles, immediately assumed duties as the Head of State of the United Kingdom (UK) and 14 other countries.
He was crowned King of England on May 6, 2023, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Reverend Justin Welby, in Westminster Abbey, London.
The video shows the Archbishop placing the 365-year-old King Edward’s crown on the new sovereign.
After that, the Archbishop faced the king and proclaimed, “God save the King!” while the rest of the congregation echoed the chant, “God save the King!
Suddenly, Rema’s sensational “Calm down” bounces off an unseen disc-jockey box, with the ceremony’s attendees echoing the song as the King and the Archbishop process along the aisle.
The post has garnered over 24 thousand likes and 716 comments.
In the comment section, some other users believed the clip to be genuine, and others dismissed it as lacking originality.
Jack_the_king_of_money expressed pride that the song, written by a Nigerian and purportedly sung at the coronation, makes the country a force to reckon with.
“Nigeria to the world (!) We (are) going far out (with) music,” a part of his comment reads.
“Not real. (I)almost fell for it.” Another user, iam_daradolapo, disbelieved the video.
Due to the sensitivity of the post, and its implications on public opinion, DUBAWA decided to fact-check the claim.
Verification
When DUBAWA conducted a reverse image search on the alleged video using Invid Video Verifier, the results revealed that the same video had been shared on YouTube by the American-based television network Cable News Network (CNN). However, the CNN version of the video featured different music.
In the live footage provided by CNN, labelled as being filmed from Westminster Abbey during the coronation of King Charles II, Archbishop Justin Welby first blessed the crown and offered prayers for the King’s prosperity. He then crowned King Charles II.
Following this act, the Archbishop chanted, “God save the King!” while the congregation echoed his words, accompanied by the solemn tune played by the Coronation Brass Ensemble. It is worth noting that the background song heard in the video was not Rema’s “Calm Down” but rather “Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare,” composed by Richard Strauss.
DUBAWA also observed that the purported video skipped the segment where King Charles and the congregants listened to blessings read out by the clergies before the King was led to another part of the hall to take his seat. Furthermore, it was noted that the lips of the audience members in the video were not synchronised with Rema’s song. It appeared the congregation was singing an entirely different song while the King and the Archbishop led a procession.
Lastly, DUBAWA investigated the list of procession songs sung as King Charles II and Queen Camila left the Abbey. According to Classic FM, the songs included Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” and Hubert Parry’s “March from the Birds.”
Conclusion
False. Rema’s song “Calm Down” was not played at the king’s coronation.
