More than half a century ago,Burt Bacharachpenned the melody for “What the World Needs Now,” a plea for global peace that has provided solace in times of tragedy and a rallying cry for those who want a more tolerant future. Now the titan of American popular music — boasting two Oscars and an astonishing 73 Top 40 hits including “Walk on By,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Alfie,” “The Look of Love,” and “Raindrops Keep Falling’ on My Head” — has teamed up with Grammy-winning Latin composer and super-producerRudy Pérezto create another timeless anthem of compassion. Today PEOPLE has the exclusive premiere of their new song “Live to See Another Day,” a stirring response to the school shootings that occur with alarming regularity across the country.
“I’d a lot heard about Rudy. He’s Miami based and he’s very big in the Latin community,” Bacharach says of his partnership with Pérez. “He came out here and we sat around the piano. It’s a process, you know? You play something and some words come and it kind of snowballs like that — if you’re doing well. It’s the only song that we ever wrote and I’m so glad we did.”
In recent months he’s met with the organization’s cofounders, Mark Barden and Nicole Hockley — both of whom lost children in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on Dec. 14, 2012. “We are grateful to Burt and Rudy for using their talents to create this powerful song that will affect change around the epidemic of gun violence in schools across the country,” they tell PEOPLE in a joint statement. “It reminds people that we need to come together to look out for one another, and that change is possible. It is incredibly generous of them to donate the proceeds from the song to Sandy Hook Promise, as it will help us to train more schools and students how to spot at-risk behaviors and take action before violence occurs, as well as how they can create more inclusive and connected communities. We hope that the song will resonate with people and drive them to learn more about our gun violence prevention programs and the positive impact we are all making together.”
Burt Bacharach.Rune Hellestad/Corbis via Getty Images
Though Bacharach says that he plans to work with candidates for the impending midterm elections in November, he insists that school gun violence isn’t a political issue but a humanitarian one. “The song that Rudy and I wrote doesn’t go after the NRA. It’s just really trying to bring forth compassion and understanding and love,” he explains. “If it touches your heart, maybe it’ll have some relevance and move things along. That’s why we’re doing it.”
“Live to See Another Day” will be available on digital platforms, including Spotify and iTunes, starting on Sept. 21. Anyone who would like to donate to help eliminate violence in our schools through the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation can visitLive to See Another Day Donationorwww.sandyhookpromise.org.
source: people.com
