Orlando is still on the minds and in the hearts of so many. Two dozen music artists have come together to honor the lives of the 49 people killed last month at the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando. The stars came together to sing to a new LGBT benefits single, “Hands,” available now on iTunes from Interscope Records.
Prominent LGBT figures such as RuPaul, Adam Lambert, Alex Newell, Mary Lambert, Jussie Smollett, MNEK, Ty Herndon, and The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, the GLAAD-supported all-star release also features Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Mary J. Blige, Kacey Musgraves, Jason Derulo, Meghan Trainor, Selena Gomez, Halsey, Nate Reuss, Prince Royce, and Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, all of whom recorded their parts from studios around the world.
Funds raised by the song will aid the 53 injured Pulse victims and their families with medical care, counseling, and education following the deadliest act of violence against LGBT people in American history.
The track was conceived by Semi Precious Weapons frontman and prominent pop songwriter Justin Tranter (Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” Nick Jonas’ “Close”), a member of the LGBT community himself who previously spent well over a year opening for Lady Gaga on her Monster Ball tour between 2009 and 2011. He co-wrote the track with frequent Collaborator Julia Michaels and producer Bloodpop (formerly Blood Diamonds), while Mark Ronson co-produced.
According to Billboard, Tranter was co-writing songs aboard Gomez’s tour bus in Miami the weekend of June 11, when the Pulse shooting occurred. He quickly signed on as a volunteer at The Center Orlando, the region’s top LGBT community center.
“I called them and said, ‘If I fly up is there something for me to help with?’” Tranter told the publication. “They say, ‘We need as many hands as we can possibly get,” and thus the song’s title was born shortly thereafter, when the 36-year old met with GLAAD CEO Kate Ellis, who traveled to the center from New York City and was, like Tranter, looking to contribute relief efforts that would have a lasting impact.
“When you hear the song it talks about hate being the driver here,” Ellis said, further stressing the importance of remembering most Pulse victims were people of color. “…we have to be able to identify what’s driving these cruel acts in order to stop them. Artists using their platforms to accelerate acceptance is very powerful.”
Listen to “Hands” in the video above, and check out the full set of lyrics (per Billboard), below.
“Hands”
By Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter and BloodPop
Can hold a gun
And hold your heart
Can put out fires
And make ‘em start
Skin and bones
And flesh and blood
With all this nerve
How did we get this numb
Cus they can hurt
Or they can heal
They can give back
Or they can steal
They can break the world
Or they can change it too
CHORUS
Ooh hands
Hands
Woooo hands
Oh hands
Cus they can love
Or they can take
They can fight up
Until they save
They can break the world
They can change it too
Ooh hands
Doesn’t matter
Who you love
All that matters
Is you love
I’ve been watching news
And seeing all this hate
Tell me is it wrong
To want a little change
They can hurt
Or they can heal
They can give back
Or they can steal
They can break the world
Or they can change it too
CHORUS
Ooh hands
Hands
Woooo hands
Oh hands
Cus they can love
Or they can take
They can fight up
Until they save
They can break the world
They can change it too
Ooh hands
BRIDGE
If a million hands can build a wall
A million hands can break it down
If a million hands can build a wall
A million hands can break it down
Ooooh
Can hold a gun
And hold your heart
Can put out fires
And make ‘em start
I’ve been watching news
And seeing all this hate
Tell me is it wrong
To want a little change
CHORUS
Ooh hands
Hands
Woooo hands
Oh hands
Cus they can love
Or they can take
They can fight up
Until they save
They can break the world
They can change it too
Ooh hands
BRIDGE
If a million hands can build a wall
a million hands can break it down
If a million hands can build a wall
a million hands can break it down
Ooooh
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