On June 13, the Simon and Garfunkel classic "Bridge Over Troubled Water" became a rallying anthem at a London vigil for the 49 victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida one day earlier.
That rendition, performed by the London Gay Men's Chorus, resonated not just in Britain's capital, but also the world over after footage of it was featured on The Daily Telegraph, The Evening Standard and The Huffington Post, among other publications. The global response has prompted the chorus, which boasts around 200 members, to release a new studio recording of the song as a charity single. (Check out a lyric video for the single above)
Performer Matthew Peake told HuffPost that chorus members recorded "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with the Orion Symphony Orchestra weeks before the Orlando tragedy for a forthcoming album. Still, the chorus pushed for an early release so that proceeds from sales of the song could be donated to LGBT advocacy groups Equality Florida Action, Inc. and Galop.
"The course of LGBT history throughout the U.K. and the world has changed so significantly in the last 25 years," Peake, who is one of over 200 members of the chorus, said. "Some times were good and other times were horrendously bad." The song, he added, was chosen "to commemorate our combined LGBT history and [show] that we're not alone."
Talk about a stunning tribute.
Don't miss a clip of the chorus's original June 13 performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" below.
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