Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom achieved its first success of the film awards season, winning the Golden Globe award for Best Original Song – Ordinary Love, composed by Irish superband U2.
U2 were inspired to write a song especially for the film, after watching an early cut of the film.
U2 has a long association with South Africa as supporters of the anti-apartheid movement and as supporters of Nelson Mandela’s projects, including the 46664, Mr Mandela’s global HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness campaign.
On accepting the award, U2 guitarist The Edge said, “This is amazing. We have been working for President Mandela since the 70s, since we were teenagers and when we did our very first concert against the apartheid movement, so it has taken us 35 years to write this song."
Singer Bono said, "This really is personal for us. Very, very personal. This man turned our life upside down, right side up. A man who refused to hate, not because he didn’t have rage or anger, but he thought love would do a better job. We wrote a love song because it’s kind of what's extraordinary about the film. You know about the global statesman, but you don’t know about the man, that’s why you should see this film."
Producer Anant Singh commented, “Congratulations to Bono and U2. They composed an amazing song that truly captures the love story of Madiba and Winnie. Ordinary Love was their first song in three years. We thank them for their contribution to our film, and for their commitment to Madiba and to our continent.”