Shawn Mendes, Khalid & MSD Choir's "Youth" Performance Sends Strong Message
By Nicole Mastrogiannis
May 21, 2018
Shawn Mendes and Khalid gave a very special performance during this year's Billboard Music Awards. The two performed their new song, "Youth," and invited the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Show Choir to help the send a powerful message, right on the heels of the tragic shooting at Santa Fe High School on Friday that left 10 dead.
Standing side by side, Khalid and Shawn performed the emotional song, Khalid wearing a t-shirt with the words "Protect our children" on it (the word "guns" is crossed out). And Shawn, as well as the MSD choir, wore Shawn's official "Youth" merch, which proceeds for go to March For Our Lives.
"Youth" is from Shawn's upcoming new self-titled album, and is a powerful song with lyrics inspired by the horrific Manchester attack during an Ariana Grande concert last year, as well as the attack on London Bridge. Shawn told Britain's Daily Star newspaper about the song, "Itโs the most important song on the album. I was touring around Europe when the events of Manchester and London happened, it was very overwhelming." He added, "I wanted to write something about it but it had to be about the feeling for us as a generation when one of these things happens. So I wrote a song about our youth, a feeling that canโt be taken away from us."
Introducing the powerful performance was Bebe Rexha, who explained that Shawn and Khalid's performance would be a tribute to the shooting in Santa Fe. She said:
"This past Friday, we experienced another tragedy, and this time at Santa Fe High School in Texas. Just a few weeks ago, many students from that very high school joined the protest against gun violence. And they're no different than tens of thousands of young adults across this nation who took a stand, and are raising their voices to say, 'Things must change.' They inspire me with their hope, with their compassion, and with their determination to make a difference and build a better world. Here to pay tribute are Shawn Mendes and Khalid joined by the show choir from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida."
Following Shawn and Khalid's "Youth" performance, young people on Twitter shared their emotional reactions:
Moved beyond words! Tear jerking honestly @ShawnMendes @thegreatkhalid you guys smashed it ๐
— Kat (@smhkattt) May 21, 2018
YOU CANT TAKE MY YOUTH AWAY ๐#BBMAs pic.twitter.com/pM53WWNt5A
THE CHOIR ARE ALL WEARING YOUTH HOODIES I LOVE THIS!!! Take a stand against gun violence, America needs CHANGE!
— Shawn Mendes Updates (@ReportingMendes) May 21, 2018
i really just wanna thank these two beautiful human beings for using their platforms for more than just music. I really really love you guys. #YOUTH ๐@thegreatkhalid @ShawnMendes
— ashh ; 8 (@youthmrning) May 21, 2018
Beautiful tribute. Powerful Message. #Billboards2018 #youth #BBMAs #SomethingMustChange
— Heather ๐ป๐๐ (@HeatherKeke06) May 21, 2018
You. Can't. Take. My. Youth. Away. ๐ข#BBMAs #GunControlNow #SantaFe#YouCantTakeMyYouthAway
— Chidi (@Chief_Chidi) May 21, 2018
Cc: @realDonaldTrump @NRA @GOP @SpeakerRyan @SenateMajLdr
can I just say that @ShawnMendes and @thegreatkhalid did such an amazing job like THANK YOU FOR SINGING FOR US AND GIVING US YOUTH ๐ญ๐
— princess rosie (@rosaaax32) May 21, 2018
SO BEAUTIFUL! Literal goosebumps watching them all sing in their #Youth hoodies! #BBMAs
— Shawn Mendes Updates (@MendesCrewInfo) May 21, 2018
what khalid and shawn mendes are doing is so brave and amazing. as a student who grew up seeing so many gun tradegies this breaks & heals my heart. we must do whatever we can to prevent another child from losing their youth again. #BBMAs
— anya!! ๐ธ (@jinspolaroid) May 21, 2018
Photo: Getty Images