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From Ancient Truce to Dido

From Ancient Truce to Dido

6 Underground White Flag (2021)

In many cultures, the color white is associated with truth, purity, peace or a fresh start. In the context of war, these associations naturally lend themselves to signaling a desire for surrender or the cessation of violence.

This tradition dates back centuries and has been documented in various ancient cultures. For example, the ancient Greeks and Romans used white cloths (among other symbols) to signal peaceful intentions or to request a ceasefire. The practice was later codified in the 19th century, particularly with the adoption of international treaties like the Hague Conventions (1899 and 1907), which established the use of the white flag in warfare to request parley.

With the release of Dido’s iconic song of the same name in 2003, the white flag also found its place in pop culture. The song has been covered many times, and while many covers fail to capture the essence of the original, the stripped-down version of the enigmatic artist 6 Underground, released via the Munich-based label Public Possession, both honors and elevates Dido’s original. It enhances the ethereal quality of the song while adding new depth to it, making it our song of the day.

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