“Where words fail, music speaks.” This famous quote, spoken by Hans Christian Andersen, has come as an inspiration to many who use music as a way to express themselves. Music has the power to touch the souls of those who listen. It has the power to unite, and it can be meaningful in a way that no other form of art can.
The tragic school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School gave rise to a new generation of voters and a new wave of protests. The spark from survivors of the shooting has ignited a flame of students who are fighting for gun reform, as demonstrated by the March for Our Lives protests not only in America but around the world. In support of this new wave of voters, some artists have released songs to directly benefit these protests.
Music has the power to touch the souls of those who listen. It has the power to unite, and it can be meaningful in a way that no other form of art can.
Composer and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda of the Broadway musical “Hamilton” and actor Ben Platt of the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen” released a mash-up of a powerful song from each play to benefit the March for our Lives. From “Hamilton” was the song “The Story of Tonight” and from “Dear Evan Hansen” was the song “You Will Be Found.”
The union of these songs for support of a powerful and significant cause not only raises money but inspires the youth to get involved and fight for their friends. It takes meaningful music from popular musicals to create a new meaning for those who have lost and for those who will fight.
The union of these songs for support of a powerful and significant cause not only raises money but inspires the youth to get involved and fight for their friends.
Two students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Sawyer Garrity and Andrea Peña, composed and performed a song titled “Shine” dedicated to the lives lost in the shooting. They performed their song at the BB&T Center during CNN’s Town Hall regarding gun control discussions.
On March 16, Garrity and Peña released “Shine” on iTunes. The proceeds are being used to help kids who experienced trauma to heal by expression through the arts (Sun Sentinel). The composition of “Shine” demonstrates the power and effect that music can have on an individual or whole community.
Stoneman Douglas’ band program, Eagle Regiment, traveled to New York to perform at Carnegie Hall just three weeks after the shooting. After losing a member of the band, Alex Schachter, and a member of the color guard, Gina Montalto, the Eagle Regiment decided to go through with their previously planned trip. The group’s journey together was a powerful movement showing support for the victims of the shooting and it was an effort to unite through the arts.
The group’s journey together was a powerful movement showing support for the victims of the shooting and it was an effort to unite through the arts.
“Heart On Your Sleeve” is a single released by singer and songwriter Nicole Rechtszaid on YouTube about unification after tragedies. Written after the Stoneman Douglas shooting, the profits made from the lyrics video will contribute to the efforts of Stoneman Douglas to enact change.
The amount of support that the Stoneman Douglas students have received in their efforts to promote gun reform makes a difference. Music, especially, provides an emotional connection, raises awareness and supports the political change that teenagers are trying to inspire.
Photo courtesy of The Celebrity Cafe
