™
A VOICE LIKE NO OTHER
(FYC)
16 languages*, 2 world records, 5 continents, millions of smiles!
Best Global Music Performance
Song For Social Change
Gao Hong
Pipa
Dong Lan
Vietnamese
Shihori
Japanese
Jeanette Vacalares
Tagalog
Bruna Black
Portuguese
Music Videos (16 versions/languages)
We need to change the way we look at each other
The Story....
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"In 2022, a young man in Tokyo was found passed away in his apartment alone. He had been there for weeks. In Japan, as in other countries, this has become so common that there is a term for this. “Lonely death”.
I never forgot his story. I imagined him walking on the streets with the sounds of thousands of footsteps passing by and wondered if anyone had ever bothered to lend him a smile."
* English, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, French, Italian, Polish, German, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, ASL, Spoken word, 12 language global version.
Michael Ursu
Spoken Word
Nathalie Bonin
Violin
Reewa
Hindi
Emy Smith
Spanish
Katleen
French
Marlò
Italian
Lenise Bent
Jett Galindo
Maria Elisa Ayerbe
Greg Scelsa
Producer
RAJIB KARMAKAR
Sean Beresford
Yonnie
Global
Woodwinds
Philip Krohnengold
Piano
Caro Jordanow
German
Miist
Chinese
Alexx Antaeus
Executive Producer
(Artists Not pictured):
Korean - ESAE
Polish - Karolina Osrodka
Cellist
Special Thanks to:
Jungee Marcelo (Tagalog Adaptation)
Mey (Spanish Adaptation)
Marie Troxel (Polish Adaptation)
Nicole Schmidt
Paniz Farokhnia
Ari Rios
David Young
Executive Producer
SITARRAJIB
The Song
"Could You Lend Me a Smile" was inspired by the true story of a 20 year old Japanese man who died from "Lonely Death" syndrome. Loneliness is a global epidemic and I wanted to write a song not just about the problem but also to provide the incredibly simple solution. We need to learn how to smile again. So many global musicians joined the project that it was released in 15 languages and versions simultaneously along with respective music videos. It's now up to 16. That ended up being a world record and hopefully gave the millions of listeners around the world a reason to smile. This 12 language edition includes over a dozen women's voices with global instruments that creates an extraordinary mix. Please listen for the bird at the end. He was a guest at the music video filming in Bologna, Italy and I feel in love with him. He visited me every day I was there and we would sing to each other.
The Instruments
The 12 language global version of "Could You Lend Me a Smile" is more than a song with a dozen extraordinary women’s voices. It is a plea, a united voice, pleading for your help and my help. Each of the instruments have a role and voice in this message. Guzheng and piano are the footsteps of the people passing by the lonely Japanese salaryman whose story inspired me. The xiao, dizi and other global woodwinds along with the violin are the distant voices of the people who have heard the man's pleas and are coming from far away to help. The cello which is known for evoking sadness, is instead the dream of hope. The world renown Pipa player, Gao Hong is playing the man's tears. Tears of desperation mixed in with dreams of happiness. I see those tears streaming down his face when she plays.
The Artists
It would have been impossible to do the 12 language global version of "Could You Lend Me a Smile", let alone the 16 total versions, without the help of so many world class vocalists and artists. I wanted this to be a women focused project highlighting Asian women but there ended up being over 35 people from all over the world both men and women. Bei Bei, who plays the guzheng, became the footsteps of the man in the story. I heard her in Mulan and Kung Fu Panda and she rebuilt her guzheng so she could play in the correct key. Gao Hong, widely recognized as one of the world's premier pipa players made me cry when I heard her rendition of the man's tears. Yonnie was amazing on the xiao & dizi. Acclaimed sitar player Rajib Karmaker added a touch of mystery and I got to play with several crazy percussion instruments like the Hawaiian Ipu Heke. Master producer Kitt Wakeley, who not only guided me but taught me so much along with Greg Scelsa, Alexx Antaeus, Emilio Miler, Lenise Bent, Jett Galindo, Sean Beresford and so many others made this project possible. You can see the full list of amazing artists on this page.