Dionne Warwick's Song Used For '#TheWorldNeeds' Campaign And Refugee Solidarity
By Fiyin Olowokandi on May 6, 2022 at 4:00 PM EDT
Dionne Warwick is giving the world what it needs!
The legendary songstress, best known for dominating the R&B, Soul, and Gospel music genres in the 20th century, recently joined hands with the UN Refugee Agency and TikTok.
As shared by PEOPLE, the 81-year-old entertainer's iconic track "What The World Needs Now (Is Love)" would unite people across the world in a new music campaign.
Dionne Warwick's Song Tapped By The UN Refugee Agency And TikTok For #TheWorldNeeds Challenge
Warwick may be in her 80s, but her music remains ageless, surviving several generations to bring comfort to the world during these difficult times.
The Billboard chart-topper's music became the centerpiece of #TheWorldNeeds global hashtag challenge, a collaborative effort between the UN Refugee Agency and TikTok.
On Thursday, May 5, the dynamic bodies announced the exciting news of a new musical campaign, which aimed to promote solidarity among refugees across the world.
The #TheWorldNeeds Challenge would also feature a series of TikTok Live concerts from the campaign's debut until Saturday, May 7.
The organizers hoped to touch the hearts of millions by imploring creators, artists, and social media influencers to join the challenge, using their creativity to spread a message of unity and support for refugees seeking asylum.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame inductee's song "What the World Needs Now (Is Love)" — initially released in 1965 by Jackie DeShannon — would be used by the TikTok community to make videos supporting the cause.
As for why the iconic songstress became the force behind the campaign, Warwick shared a special connection with the UNHCR, previously serving as part of the organization's World Stars Festival in 1968.
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In a press release, the mother-of-two explained that the number of refugees worldwide had significantly increased compared to the number of refugees present when she supported the World Stars Festival. The "Heartbreaker" singer said:
"There has never been a more important time to stand in solidarity and show support for people around the world who have been forced to flee from their homes."
Over four decades later, the UNHCR continued to utilize the influence of various artists and creators to spread love to displaced people worldwide.
Mary Maker, a refugee and avid supporter of the UNHCR, kick-started #TheWorldNeeds Challenge on TikTok with her own rendition of the song, motivating others to join the heartwarming campaign.
As a child, the social media influencer fled the conflict in South Sudan and endured numerous hardships as a refugee searching for a safe asylum.
However, through those trials, Mary discovered a "companion and comfort" in music, so seeing the TikTok community support refugees worldwide made her hopeful for a brighter future. In the creator's words:
"Music truly has the power to bring people together and break down boundaries, and I hope that through all of the creators' contributions, we are able to achieve just that!"
An informational page about the campaign has been made available for TikTok users to learn how they could support refugees and donate to the UNHCR.
Donations received by the organization would fund essential programs like emergency response, education, legal assistance, income generation, healthcare, shelter, and protection of refugees.
The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Doesn't Care About The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
As previously reported by The Blast, Warwick was named among the 17 iconic entertainers chosen for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2022.
As one of the great female vocalists in music history, it was only natural for the "Walk On By" singer to be shortlisted alongside acts like Dolly Parton and Lionel Richie.
However, the 81-year-old songstress had mixed feelings about receiving this honor, which she shared during an appearance on Andy Cohen's "Doesn't Give A Damn" segment.
According to the six-time Grammy winner, she did not care about the nomination because she was not a "Rock & Roller" and believed the honor should go to artists like Tina Turner.
The "Say A Little Prayer" author explained that if the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame were willing to honor artists outside the Rock genre, the organization needed a name change.
The Soul train Legend Award winner believed that changing the foundation's name to the "The Music Hall Of Fame" would make it easier to bring in singers from other genres.
