Young choristers from Cornwall release single to send message to G7 world leaders
The Sing2G7 project has already united 13,000 young voices from around the world, with lyrics by Sir Tim Rice!
Young choristers at Truro Cathedral have released a new single to send a musical message to world leaders, ahead of the G7 in Cornwall.
The Sing2G7 project has already united 13,000 voices from across the globe, including other choirs and schools.
The aim is to get 50,000 youngsters learning and singing the song, 'Gee Seven', by the time the summit begins.
With lyrics by Sir Tim Rice, 'Gee Seven' looks at the number seven throughout history and highlights the fragility of 'our only earthly home'.
The Sing2G7 initiative is the brainchild of Chris Gray, Director of Music, Truro Cathedral and Esmé Page, Founder of the charity Cornwall Hugs Grenfell, who worked together in 2018 on the song Grenfell From Today.
That saw over 6,000 voices worldwide join in musical solidarity to mark the first anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire.
"Kids today have a desperate need to speak to power and be heard and this is a joyful but powerful way for them to do that.
"I envisaged the G7 summit filling our screens but, for our children, remaining remote (despite happening on our doorstep), neither relevant to them nor interested in their ideas.
"My ten-year-old is frequently in tears over the plight of endangered species and feels powerless: 'Who will listen to me, I'm just a child!', he says.
"Our vision is that this song will amplify children's voices, creating such a loud, united, joyful sound that their powerful message will be un-ignorable and their voices take their rightful place, at the heart of discussions which decide their future.
"As leaders prepare to sit down to talk, children of the world will be standing up to sing.
"This year has been especially disempowering and isolating for children, so it's poignant that music can bring together children of all backgrounds and cultures in this shared purpose.
"We hope their voices will indeed be heard!'
Esme Page, Cornwall Hugs Grenfell
What is 'Gee Seven' all about?
The song, 'Gee Seven', is a gift from lyricist Tim Rice and composer Peter Hobbs to Truro Cathedral Choristers, specifically for the Sing2G7 initiative.
It was specially arranged for their voices by Joseph Wicks (The Gesualdo Six).
Aimed at young children, the catchy song takes an extravagant romp around the number seven throughout history.
"I wanted to write a song that is fun and toe-tapping so that children enjoy singing it." said Rice.
Towards the end, the song shifts emotionally, pointing to the fragility of 'our only earthly home' and ending with an urgent message to G7 leaders to collaborate and take their responsibility seriously to each other and to the rest of the world:
Gee Seven - let nation speak to nation
Gee Seven - don't let the others down
Gee Seven - don't forget the not so fortunate
Gee -Seven - or we'll run you out of town
Sir Tim Rice added: "In the context of history and science, we are very, very small and this is just our moment in time.
'We're saying to G7 leaders, you just happen to be our leaders in this moment, so watch it".
Lyricist, Sir Tim Rice
The Gee Seven song video ends with reference to the title of Greta Thunberg's pocket book, 'No one is too small to make a difference,' a sentiment echoed by choristers discussing their part in the programme.
"Everyone can make a difference, even a child. Just because we're children, it doesn't mean we can't make a difference to these things," says Josh, aged 12.
'We're the future and we're going to have to deal with this environment stuff. We're younger than them (the leaders) and we'll outlive them and if they keep doing it wrong, we're going to have to live with it. For example, I want them to decide to stop using coal because it's ruining everything,'" says chorister Lawrence, aged 11.
He added: "All of us singing the song will make a difference because they might listen to it and they might like it and then they might change their minds about some of these things we're singing about. Every single word we sang matters. We didn't waste any words".
Girl Chorister and soloist, Chloe (16), says: "It's made me think about how I use my voice and what I want to say with it. It's really important that as young people we all know that we can be heard. The song is playful but it has a deeper meaning - we all need to work together and go past our differences to look after each other and the world".
You can watch the video below or read more, including how to sign up to the Sing2G7 project here.
A recording of the song by the Truro Cathedral Choristers was released by Right Track Records on Friday 7th May and is available on Spotify and iTunes.
All of the choir's royalties will be donated to UNICEF's Give the World A Shot campaign.