Written by: Shay Coulson | Photo(s) by: Screenshot Via Music Video
Pink Floyd Release First New Song In 28 Years To Benefit Ukraine, “Hey, Hey, Rise Up!” [Watch]
David Gilmour and Nick Mason have released their first new song as Pink Floyd in 28 years, “Hey, Hey, Rise Up!” All proceeds from the new track and accompanying music video will benefit the Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief.
Recorded just last Wednesday, the new track sees Gilmour and Mason join up with long time Pink Floyd bass player Guy Pratt, keyboardist Nitin Sawhney, and Ukrainian Boombox vocalist Andriy Khlyvnyuk. “Hey, Hey, Rise Up!” uses Khlyvnyuk’s vocals taken from his Instagram post of him in Kyiv’s Sofiyskaya Square singing, “Oh, The Red Viburnum In The Meadow,” a rousing Ukrainian folk protest song written during the first world war. The title of the Pink Floyd track is taken from the last line of the song which translates as “Hey, hey, rise up and rejoice.”
“We, like so many, have been feeling the fury and the frustration of this vile act of an independent, peaceful democratic country being invaded and having its people murdered by one of the world’s major powers,” Gilmour, who also has a Ukrainian daughter-in-law and grandchildren, said. “I hope [the song] will receive wide support and publicity. We want to raise funds and morale. We want to show our support for Ukraine and in that way, show that most of the world thinks that it is totally wrong for a superpower to invade the independent democratic country that Ukraine has become.”
The accompanying video, filmed by acclaimed director Mat Whitecross and shot on the same day the track was recorded, showcases Khlyvnyuk singing on the screen while the band performs the track. Watch the video below.
“Hey, Hey, Rise Up!” – Pink Floyd
[Video: Pink Floyd]
The artwork for the track features a painting by Cuban artist Yosan Leon of a sunflower, representing Ukraine’s national flower. The cover is a direct reference to the woman who was seen around the world giving sunflower seeds to Russian soldiers and telling them to carry them in their pocket so they when they die, sunflowers will grow.
“Hey, Hey, Rise Up!” will be available to stream on all platforms tonight at 12 a.m. local time here.