For What It's Worth - Pride Song of the Day - June 21st

“There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down”

What happens when

Emmy, Grammy and Tony award winner

Billy Porter gets ahold of one of the 

Greatest civil rights and protest anthems of all time?

To the surprise of no one, it soars to the highest heights and lands with a stunning level of immediacy in our moment in time.

As Porter belts the timeless Buffalo Springfield tune, penned by hall-of-fame songwriter Stephen Stills, it reverberates across the generations, drawing us together both as a poignant depiction of our social unrest and tension, and as a rallying cry to draw us together for change.

Named one of Queety’s Pride50 in 2019 - "trailblazing individuals who actively ensure society remains moving towards equality, acceptance, and dignity for all queer people" - in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2020, Porter’s radiant light and energy are an inspiration to millions. 

The Broadway legend and fashion icon became the first gay Black man to be nominated and win a Primetime Emmy in 2019 for his role in the television series, Pose. 

He is literally the definition of fabulous.

And has stated that his expression through fashion is to be a, "walking piece of political art.”

In a 2020 interview with Vanity Fair, Porter shared his views on race, stating, “"The reason why our country is in the mess we're in is simply because of whiteness. White supremacy. White people choke-holding power and sucking the life out of humanity."

After releasing “For What It’s Worth” as a single and music video in April of 2020 - notably prior to the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests -  Porter and Steven Stills gave a stirring digital performance of the song together to close out the night at the 2020 Democratic National Convention - which was held virtually due to the pandemic. Porter’s cover of the tune leaves in-tact the entirety of the original song, but puts it over a hip-hop and R&B groove, and tags on his own exhortation at the end of the track,

“...Children, down and away
We need a change
Change for good
Woo
(Change)
(I)
(Change)...”

Porter’s aim with the song in 2020 was to inspire hope and change, and he and Stills certainly did their part in 2020 with their rally cry in efforts to encourage folks to get out and vote for change that November.

But the rally cry continues to reverberate and echo today.

Pride is a rally cry. 

Not simply just to say, “love is love,” but to 

Ban together for change. 

For action. 

For the protection of LGBTQ+ rights, that are

Under attack like never before.

The battle lines, once again, have been drawn.

And “...it’s time we stop, children,”

Hear the sound, and

Pay attention to “what’s goin’ down.”

Because lives depend on it.

Check out the Porter & Stills video from the 2020 DNC below, tune into our Pride Month playlist on Ascent to catch Porter and hundreds of other fabulous queer artists, icons, and allies all month long, and make sure to explore the rest of Billy’s brilliant catalog this month on your preferred streaming service!