Just like the title has suggested, the visuals highlight the power of 30 inspiring young people all around the world.
- Nov 6, 2018
AceShowbiz - Ahead of the midterm elections, Shawn Mendes and Khalid released a music video for their collaboration "Youth" on Monday, November 5. As the title has suggested, the visuals highlights the power of young people all around the world.
It opens with a ceramic gun shattering followed by a series of footage from the March for Our Lives, including ones from Cameron Kasky and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s granddaughter Yolanda Renee King. There's also a scene of Emma Gonzalez's face as the music finally kicks off.
In between shots of Shawn and Khalid belting out the song, viewers are treated to scenes of inspiring young people showcasing their different talents. For instance, 17-year-old Lizzy Howell shows off some impressive ballet moves despite her weight, and world champion gymnast Morgan Hurd jumps high into the sky.
There's also Phoenix Hunter, an eight-year-old wrestling state champion. Phoenix may be young, but he can pull a car all by himself. Other youngsters taking part in the video include martial arts champions Rayna Vallandingham and Ethan Fineshriber, basketball player Nassir Little and fimmaker Zuriel Oduwole.
The video ends with 5-year-old Austin Perine shouting out, "Don't forget to show up!"
"For the 'Youth' video, we wanted to make something that would highlight and empower young people, by giving the stage to a group of extraordinary kids," Shawn said of the visuals. "Khalid and I wanted them to be the focus of the video, and to give them a platform. In the hope that it can inspire other young people to pursue what they love and use their voice."
"Youth" was released on May 3 as the third single off Shawn's self-titled album. He called the track "the most important song on the album." The Canadian heartthrob said, "I wanted to write something but it had to be about the feeling for us as a generation when [a tragedy] happens. So I wrote a song about our youth, a feeling that can't be taken away from us."
