Since news broke of the Orlando shooting at Pulse nightclub, our minds and hearts have been wheeling from the shock. Forty-nine lives were lost and 53 injured in the deadliest LGBTQ community attack in modern history.
Celebrities have been very vocal concerning the matter and they’ve now brought their talents to the forefront to raise money and awareness. Songwriter Justin Tranter, most notably for Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and others, penned a song called “Hands” with BloodPop and Julia Michaels.
The song was a shelved project at some point, but has been pulled back out and given life for this cause. The proceeds for the song will go to medical care, counseling for families, and education. Funds will be distributed by Equality Florida Pulse Victims Fund, the LGBT Community Center of Central Florida, and GLAAD.
The song features lyrics that call to attention the power—both constructive and destructive—of hands. “This was an American guy who was born in Queens,” Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD CEO, says of the gunman, Omar Mateen. “He learned that hate here in America. This happened on American soil, against a particular community.”
Mary J. Blige, Jason DeRulo, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, Juanes, and Selena Gomez are among the many contributors of the project, having recorded their respective portions wherever they were at the given moment.
“We assigned everybody what we thought would be the best part for their voice,” Tranter says. “Mary J. Blige recorded in New Orleans. Britney Spears in Thousand Oaks, I think. Pink in Santa Barbara. MNEK recorded at home in London. Selena recorded in her studio bus. Dan Reynolds recorded in his home. Adam Lambert was in Luxembourg. Ty Herndon the country star was in Spain. Kacey Musgraves, Nashville. Everyone just got it done.”
With hopes of raising money not only for support, but education to prevent hate crimes such as this, the song will be sold for $1.29 on iTunes, but you can also stream it below.