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Rachel Platten’s Tribute Amidst Los Angeles Wildfires

Since its debut in 2015, Rachel Platten’s anthem “Fight Song” has symbolized resilience and hope for many facing challenges and adversity. This powerful connection was poignantly highlighted during recent events in Los Angeles, where wildfires have caused widespread destruction and distress.

On January 13, Platten performed her iconic song at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, right before the NFL playoff matchup between the LA Rams and the Minnesota Vikings. In reflecting on the performance, Platten told Billboard, “It was such an emotional night. It was so much bigger than me and the song.” Her performance was not only a musical showcase but served as a heartfelt tribute to those affected by the fires, including the brave first responders dedicated to safeguarding their community.

Luckily, Platten and her family were safe after a brief evacuation. “My heart breaks,” she remarked, highlighting the personal toll of the disaster. “We know friends who have lost their houses, friends whose schools have burned down. It’s horrifying, and it’s been a really scary experience.”

During her rendition of “Fight Song,” Platten adapted a line from the song to resonate more with the audience’s experience: she changed “I might only have one match/ But I can make an explosion” to “We might have been knocked down/ But I know we’ll keep going.” This alteration underscored the themes of perseverance and hope, essential in the face of tragedy.

Platten expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to perform during such a poignant moment: “I feel really incredibly grateful for the whole night. We can do so many things with tragedy. We can mourn together, and we can cry together — but then there are also times to be strong together.” She added that her goal was for the music to resonate as a form of healing: “I did feel a reverberation and an echo in the stadium of that hunger for hope in the midst of darkness. Sometimes music can do what words can’t.”

Looking ahead, Platten plans to further spread her message of resilience during her upcoming Set Me Free tour, which begins on March 17 in Denver and will include several cities, culminating on May 9 in Orlando. Describing the tour, she noted, “It’s freedom, and it’s earned joy, not superficial way of celebration. It’s the kind of joy where you’ve been through some stuff, and you’ve seen pain and you’ve seen tragedy, and you are choosing to stay strong and resilient.” Platten aims for the tour to be a space where fans can fully express their emotions, saying, “We’re all going to sing and dance, but we’re also going to cry and feel our feelings. Hopefully, the whole tour gives people permission to feel everything.”

To experience the powerful moment of Platten’s performance of “Fight Song” during the game, you can watch the video below.

Source
www.billboard.com