You Gotta Be!Music video presenting 13 world-class artists from 9 countries brought together by True Colors Festival

The latest True Colors music video is being released worldwide today, bringing together a cast of 13 artists from nine countries for a new take on the R&B classic “You Gotta Be” by Des’ree.

Performing from their respective home countries, the artists include Mandy Harvey, whose performance on America’s Got Talent earned Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer; Grammy nominee Raul Midón, who devoted his life to music after being told that blindness would make it impossible; Kenta Kambara, an accomplished aerial performer and dancer who performed in the Rio 2016 Paralympics closing ceremony; Signmark, the first deaf artist to be signed to a major record label; and Alienette Coldfire, who placed third in France’s Got Talent.

Des’ree herself commented, “This is a truly powerful video – so invigorating and energizing, elevating the sentiment of the song and its message. The artists’ introductions at the end add even deeper resonance to their already inspiring performances.”

Directed and produced in Singapore by Creative & Music Director Dr. Sydney Tan and Video Director Jasper Tan, the music video takes the viewer beyond the artists’ performances into a variety of “day-in-the-life” moments.

Dr. Tan noted, “All of us, regardless of who and where we are, wake up and start our days and have the opportunity to listen and look up, to participate in choices and be fully human. We have the ability, whatever our circumstances and our geography, to experience and celebrate the ordinary yet wonderful moments that life unfolds.”

The technical process of producing this music video involved countless WhatsApp, Messenger, and Zoom calls, monitoring the time across time zones, and using Google Translate in real time to communicate across different languages – all in addition to the process of piecing together the audio and video performances across the globe. “The real challenge, though, was to develop a relationship with each artist, such that trust and freedom would allow them to perform and be themselves, with their spirit and energy coming through in a real and palpable way,” adds Dr. Tan.

In full agreement, Mandy Harvey said, “Even though we haven’t met in person…you can feel that every person put their heart into the entire process. Being a part of this team is another reinforcement to me that what’s within you is so much stronger than the barriers we face. This is a reminder to reach farther and dream bigger. My hope is that people are encouraged to try!”

According to Ichiro Kabasawa, Executive Director of The Nippon Foundation, presenter of True Colors Festival, “People everywhere have been going through such a prolonged period of uncertainty, isolation and fear. We chose this classic, “You Gotta Be,” for everyone, everywhere at this time, to realize the potential in ourselves; to choose to be bolder, stronger, wiser, whatever each day may bring. It’s a reminder that when it comes down to it, we’re all human, living together in our one world.”

And in this regard, this True Colors music video comes with options that make it widely accessible, including closed captions, audio description, and an accompanying video transcript.

True Colors Festival 2020/21

Presented by The Nippon Foundation, TCF brings diverse artists and audiences together through concerts, documentaries, music videos, film screenings, children’s programs, musicals, workshops and other activities. Since 2006, festivals have been organized in Southeast Asia and Japan, with more than 1,200 artists from more than 30 countries connecting with a global audience in almost 40 countries.

For more information, please visit the True Colors Festival website.