Valerie June has released an uplifting cover of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.” The single follows the release of her Brighter Blue EP, which arrived in September via Concord.
In the accompanying visual to the songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s rendition of the song, she performs in a space decorated with white flowers, her hair adorned with decorative butterflies. The joy she expresses is contagious as she smiles while delivering the resonant lines over pedal steel accompaniment. It’s clear she relishes each line, as she dances around while playing banjo and brings both empowerment and reflection as she sings.
The feel-good, hopeful vibes are welcome in these times, and deciding to cover this song right now was an intentional, uplifting choice, as June explained in a statement. It was inspired by working with the American Revival program.
“Working with elementary and middle school students through Yo-Yo Ma and Nicholas Ma’s American Revival program gives me hope for a more beautiful world,” she said in a statement. “Many of these young people have been deeply affected by the disruption of families and communities along the border, violence in their neighborhoods, and countless other challenges. Art and music can be powerful healers. They create space for connection, expression, joy, and hope.”
“We often say that the world is a dark place right now, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or powerless to make a difference. But we don’t have to stand on the sidelines, she continued. “We can join the leaders in our own communities and work together to make things better. Change starts at home.”
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She noted that while America has made some progress, there is still more work to do. “When Louis Armstrong first sang ‘What a Wonderful World,’ many artists still had to enter through the back doors of some of America’s finest venues,” June added. “Today, we are free to walk through the front door. That freedom reminds us that, while we still have a long way to go, we have also come a long way.
“Progress happens when everyday people believe in one another, come together, and work toward a more just, compassionate, and beautiful world.” She concluded. “I believe in humanity. I believe in the power of art and music to bring us closer together. And I believe in the wonderful world we can create—one child, one community, and one act of kindness at a time.”