Radium Girls (Curie Eleison) // Rachel Sumner [official music video]

Written by Rachel Sumner. Available on all streaming platforms.
rachelsumnermusic.com
Filmed at the Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark.
Special thanks to:
Emily Cunningham
Liz Keller-Tripp
Afsar Maria
Mike Siegel
Ian Fitzgerald
The Boston Foundation
The Loop Lab
Nine Athens Music
© Rachel Sumner, BMI
Produced by Rachel Sumner
Rachel Sumner
Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Flutes, Clarinets
Sam Kassirer
Piano, Shekere
Katie Martucci
Harmony Vocals
Jacob Sumner
French Horn
Eric Devey
Trumpet
Michael Siegel
Upright Bass
Ray Belli
Drums
-
Sam Kassirer, Sam Margolis, Rachel Sumner, Katie Martucci, Eric Devey, Austin Hoyle
Engineering
Sam Kassirer
Mixing
Dan Cardinal
Mastering
Mixed at Great North Sound Society Studio | Parsonsfield, ME
Mastered at Dimension Sound | Boston, MA

[@Rileyann130]

So I was wondering what “Curie Eleison” ment and when I did research I found that “Kyrie Eleison” means “Lord, Have Mercy” And I also found out that Marie Curie was the one who found Radium and and sold it to the watch companies responsible for the radiant girls. So when she sings “Curie Eleison” she’s singing “Marie Curie, have mercy” at least that’s my theory anyway.

[@LuckyDogDave]

Rachel has written a great song and poetry of the past. Mysteries of word choice always heightens the intrique.

[@Indigoification]

I think there's a few further levels of nuance on top of this. Marie Curie died from aplastic anaemia that was probably caused by her own radiation exposure. There's evidence to suggest that she was at least somewhat aware of the dangers of radiation (or perhaps felt it wasn't totally safe), as she required staff in her lab to have regular blood tests. Her discovery made a significant difference in terms of the use of x-rays during WWI. Because of Marie Curie, mobile x-ray units (petit curies) enabled doctors on the front lines to have a better understanding of the injuries of soldiers, which likely led to some lives being saved. She also likely experienced sexism as a woman in a male dominated field. In other words, there's a bunch of messy things underpinning this whole song. The whole thing is so fascinating in a horrifying way.

[@megangerhart3540]

I always figured the curie was Marie curie the one who discovered radium

[@patriciasy3870]

Marie Skłodowska Curie did not sell radium, the Curie family in general did not benefit from the discovery aside from some academic acclaim (necessary for their time) which allowed Skłodowska Curie to work as a teacher. Though the radium girls reaching out across time and space to beg for mercy from a woman who most likely shared in their suffering makes absolute sense.

[@ladyrhoryn6905]

As someone who has read books and watched documentaries on these women, you made something so beautiful for them. Thank you for creating something so beautiful in their memory. ❤

[@theresagerlach6217]

I live in the town where this these women suffered their fate. There is a memorial to the Radium Dial women near the spot where the building stood. This song is a wonderful tribute. Just beautiful.

[@Anime_theatre_lover]

I’m currently in a production of radium girls right now. This song means a lot to all of us involved with it 😭

[@Salathielito]

This was my favorite song played at Kerrville folk festival🔥🔥

[@bugsieverse]

On my neck i have a radium pedant, and i’ve got jars of watch dials painted with radium. when i heard this song i had a cry because it just reminded me of this were real suffering and horrific pain behind this thing i am so fascinated by. Even now as i listen I am tearing up. I would so very much like to learn perform this song in my city. it really touched me deep in a way i havent felt in a long time. thank you 💛

[@lustrousrose]

I wanna ask this, dose it not scare you wearing that thing?

[@bugsieverse]

@@lustrousrose Its not *made* out of radium, its made of a safe glow in the dark material. Its a pendant that looks like the periodic table square for Radium and it glows in the dark! I do have radioactive jewlery like Uranium jewlery, but thats safe for me to wear due to the extremely low concentration.

[@lustrousrose]

thank you for the reply

[@fionashampine4134]

This song gives me chills every time I listen to it. It's so beautiful and so heartwrenchingly tragic. You did a wonderful job. Thank you for telling their story

[@OctoberRust1973]

This is an incredibly, hauntingly beautiful song about such a sad topic.😢❤

[@jynx135]

I just sat at work typing out the lyrics to this song so that I can learn it and sing it to myself. I don’t know why but this speaks to every fiber in my being.

[@RachelSumnerMusic]

Oh my gosh!!! ❤️ glad it resonated! I made a free downloadable chord chart with lyrics if you need! www.patreon.com/posts/radium-girls-88770082?Link&

[@scb37889]

I found this song 24 hours ago and have listened to it at least 10 times and suggested we sing it in choir. I cannot express how deeply this song has buried its way into my heart.

[@katrobbins9239]

I shared this with 4 of the most important women in my life. Not just to share a piece of women’s history but to also to share your powerful music. I hope to see it performed by one of my 4 women someday. Thank you.

[@SouthernAngel]

❤ Absolutely beautiful song! I saw you on Tikrok and then found it here. I'm sharing. This is a wonderful piece of truth. Thank you for sharing your talent. So beautiful ❤️🙌🙌🙌🙏

[@Shineko9363]

God how I've cried to this song...

[@user-dm6jy5jr9o]

Saw it on TikTok and now I’m an evangelist! Have shared with everyone I know would appreciate it! Reminds me of Mercedes Sosa, Joan Baez, Don Maclean’s The Grave. Truly beautiful on its own, but with the powerful lyrics, a masterpiece. Well done!

[@LuckyDogDave]

Wow... this song lead to my adding a Labor Playlist #233 to the Dave's Basement Tracks. Will post it on Sunday.

[@ronpulcer2511]

I was not aware of this sad chapter of history. Thank you for writing and singing this song. Beautiful lyric writing, chord progressions and story telling. I'm hoping to attend the SAMW music camp this summer.

[@Songbyrdeonyourshoulder]

I have been obsessed with this song since it first appeared on my tiktok for you page. I can't stop listening to it on repeat.

[@hankwonder]

Splendid songwriting with a profound purpose. Well done, Rachel et. al.

[@lilith1979]

This song makes me 😭 every time. Thank you for sharing your talent and this story.

[@lustrousrose]

I have to say this song made me cry like a baby well done is all i can say

[@Catapolt]

This is my Roman empire

[@amberkind-keppel6317]

This is absolutely gorgeous and haunting. I am directing Radium Girls this upcoming November. Would there be a way for me to use it? If this is something you would consider, let me know, and we can go from there. Thank you for your consideration!

[@fullnestmama]

Pay them lots of money and perpetual rights, please. 💛🫂

[@myianikol]

I'm obsessed with this song, and now going down a rabbit hole. Bless these women and you for singing their story so beautifully

[@alexsummerRain]

I do sooo love this song. Congrats on your accomplishment. ❤ *I did notice the French Horn credits..... I'm sooo proud of you & your brother.

[@thomascepeda86]

Such a good song! I love the songwriting on this. The arrangement is so goooooood!

[@lexiemuncy4514]

This song is as haunting as it is beautiful.... It's horrible to know that there are stories like this from all over the place, and it's even worse that we never learn or even hear about them unless we go digging for the stories ourselves. It's horrifying to know that there's so much more history out there that's been buried by those in power who were (and still are) greedy enough to cover up the deeds of sin-soaked corporations in the hopes that such "success" could be found once again at the cost of the poor. And it's still happening, even to this day! I mean, I didn’t hear anything on the news about the protests (and even a few riots) that happened recently and are still happening in multiple countries in Europe that were/are due to a bunch of different things that we here in the US know frighteningly little about (like what's been happening in Palestine for literally ever, since Israel set their sights on them, which was confirmed back in 1967; the decision to formally authorize sea bed mining in Norway, potentially triggering a race as nations vie for "strategic minerals" present down there; the farmer's tax increase from 5.5% to 11% by the Dutch government that was based on supposedly good intentions/concerns for for the environment, but was executed in a very bad way; France raising the retirement age; etc, amd that's only from the last few years), and I only found out about them because, luckily, I follow people who live outside the US on the clock app! Sorry, I got a bit off topic... The song is beautiful, and the one and only thing I was thrown off by (musically) was that I expected the song's final notes to go down, or something. But I'm weird, and the song is perfect as it is, so don't take my hang up too seriously, bc it will still be on several of my playlists!

[@My401Life]

Sooo pretty!

[@ElliLavender]

In front of my x-ray tech school is a memorial for all the people who died from x-rays before its dangers were completely understood. I understand why the radium girls aren't listed on there (same with Chernobyl liquidators) I think they should get their own memorial.

[@pressatoanime2440]

any chance we can get the chords/tabs for this? it's an awesome song with a great guitar melody that I'd love to learn

[@RachelSumnerMusic]

Yes! There's a free download of the chords and lyrics on my Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/radium-girls-88770082?Link&

[@madelines.]

melody kinda reminds me of the creepy siren song from pirates of the Caribbean!

[@oguzhans]

😇🥰👍👏👏👏👏👏

[@destinyobrien1293]

This song is so sad but so beautifully done those women were done an injustice and then the facts were kinda left out like when I learned about ww2 I had learned about women working in factories but that was basically all that was really said in fact I only even first heard of radium girls a few year ago and even then I only had vague information

[@homebrewedthoughts2033]

Kyire "Curie" Eleison means lord have mercy

[@faigler]

This is gorgeous and appropriately tragic. I'm pretty sure I got suggested this because I'm a fan of the song Radium Girls by Tom Morello & the Bloody Beetroots (kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooaaqaCNgKyMobc) -- but I'm very glad I did! This is a haunting story that more people should know.

[@djkhaledtopg]

my cousin died listening to this song rip in peaces