In the wake of the recent events in Charlottesville, VA and the terror attacks all over the world, Eric Bellinger felt compelled to fight back. His weapon of choice, however, is his voice and his pen. With the help of director Cam Fairfax, the singer/songwriter/producer took to the streets of Los Angeles to capture a performance of his track “Be The Change.” The inspiring anthem energizes and empowers as Bellinger asks us all to “just give love a try.” Accompanied by an acoustic guitar, he passionately urges listeners to fight hate with love and stand up instead of watching passively from the sidelines. He sings, “Let’s come together / Keep your head up to the sky / And fight ’til the day you die / Let’s come together.”
The visual includes footage from the Civil Right Movement, as well as scenes from the violent protests in Charlottesville and snippets of the comments from 45 that followed. If it wasn’t for the clarity of some of the footage and images, one wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the recent events and those that occurred in the '50s and '60s. Sadly, while the faces and methods may change, the root of it all remains the same. Racial injustice and religious intolerance are still major issues throughout the United States and worldwide. We are always glad to see artists use their platform for change, and Bellinger provides a bit of a blueprint for action. Towards the end of the song he sings, “Let’s start with religion / Then move on to the children / Let’s make better decisions / Who gonna listen? / More help in the communities / More after-school activities / You just gotta believe in me.” We believe, and we are right there with you.
Watch the video for “Be The Change” below and get motivated to get involved. We can all agree that it will take all of us to bring about real change, and Eric Bellinger's latest effort serves as a stark reminder that none of us can afford to sit idle.
