- Indochine openly comes to the defense of Sanna Marin, the former Finnish Prime Minister who was publicly vilified after party videos surfaced in 2022.
- The song denounces the sexist double standard and the cruelty of public opinion toward a female politician who simply dared to live her life.
- The music video, directed by Nicola Sirkis in Helsinki, ends with an appearance by Sanna Marin herself alongside the singer.
- The fifth single from the album Babel Babel (double platinum, 280 000 sales), the track confirms the band's commitment to current events.
We keep a close eye on releases at Woodbrass, and when a band like Indochine devotes an entire single to a female politician unfairly caught up in a controversy, we naturally listen closely. With Sanna sur la croix, the fifth track released from the album Babel Babel, Nicola Sirkis' band does not merely skim the headlines: it takes a clear, direct stand in support of Sanna Marin. And the message is worth taking a closer look at.
The 2022 controversy: when dancing becomes a crime
To understand the song, we need to rewind to the summer of 2022. Sanna Marin, then Prime Minister of Finland at just 36 years old, found herself at the center of a scandal that was as absurd as it was revealing. Private videos showing her dancing and partying with friends were leaked on social media. Nothing illegal, nothing shocking in itself — a woman in her thirties having fun on a Saturday night.
But the media machine went into overdrive. The Finns Party, a populist and nationalist party, demanded that she undergo a drug test. The reason: a Finnish slang word picked up in the background of a video, interpreted as a reference to cocaine. Sanna Marin agreed to the test — which came back negative. But the damage was done.
In response to the controversy, a huge wave of support emerged on social media under the hashtag #SolidarityWithSanna. Hundreds of women around the world posted videos of themselves dancing to defend Sanna Marin's right to have a private life. Even Hillary Clinton posted a photo of herself dancing with the message: “Keep dancing, Sanna.”
The controversy highlighted a glaring double standard. Young, female, charismatic, and from a nontraditional family, Sanna Marin embodied everything modern conservatism struggles to accept.
Indochine takes a stand, without hesitation
It was this injustice that moved Nicola Sirkis enough to devote an entire song to it. And contrary to what one might expect from a band accustomed to allegory, the message here is crystal clear. No vague metaphors or artistic distance: Indochine defends Sanna Marin and condemns those who crucified her.
In an interview with Sudinfo, the singer speaks unambiguously: she had the right to have fun like anyone else. He sees her as a modern symbol, a figure sacrificed under the gaze of conservatism. The “cross” in the title is not merely a poetic image — it is a direct accusation against the media pack.
The lyrics leave no room for doubt: the call to escape, the protective tenderness, and above all, “They don't deserve you”. Indochine does not merely observe — the band stands alongside Sanna Marin.
A music video shot in Helsinki, with Sanna Marin
The music video, directed by Nicola Sirkis himself, was filmed between Paris (June 2025) and Helsinki (July 2025). From the opening seconds, Sanna Marin's voice rings out through an excerpt from a speech in which she reminds us of a truth too often forgotten: despite her position, she remains a human being, with the right to joy and carefree moments.
The direction is understated, almost documentary-like. The five members of Indochine perform in the street in front of intrigued Finnish passersby. Archival photos of Sanna Marin punctuate the edit, recalling the violence of the criticism she endured. The video ends with an appearance by the former Prime Minister alongside Nicola Sirkis — a gesture that seals the project's committed dimension.
Beyond Sanna: a mirror held up to society
While the song is about Sanna Marin, it is really addressed to each and every one of us. Who has never seen a public figure torn apart over a moment from their private life?
Indochine asks a simple yet essential question: do we have the right to live, dance, and be happy when we hold public office? The band's answer is unequivocal. And in a French music scene that is often hesitant when it comes to taking a stand on controversial issues, this candor is refreshing.
Conclusion
With Sanna sur la croix, Indochine delivers an unapologetic act of support for a woman unfairly crushed by the media machine. Where many artists might have chosen subtlety, Nicola Sirkis chooses clarity. The right to live, dance, and be human — even under the spotlight. A necessary message carried by one of the most influential bands in French rock.
Sources
- RTBF — Indochine unveils “Sanna sur la croix”: a committed music video filmed in Finland with the former Prime Minister
- Nostalgie — Indochine pays tribute to Sanna Marin in the “Sanna sur la croix” music video
- Vibration — Indochine: a committed music video with “Sanna sur la croix” in Finland
- France 24 — Finland: behind the Sanna Marin controversy, a society undergoing profound change
- Wikipédia — Sanna sur la croix
