“Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and Latina pop star Jennifer Lopez (JLo) took to the “Today” show stage to perform “Love Make the World Go Round” Monday morning.
In the moving performance, the activist duo recited the song’s powerful lyrics and called for the world to unite. The crowd, which included 50 survivors of the attack and family members of victims, danced along and waved LGBT pride flags.
“Those who hate us and fear us cannot keep us down,” Lopez sang. “‘Cause we hear in our heartbeat a beautiful sound.”
Toward the end of their performance, Lopez and Miranda joined hands and urged the audience to do the same as images of the victims were shown on the stage beneath them.
It was the pair’s first live performance of the moving single since its release last week.
JLo and Miranda aren’t the only people creating a more positive atmosphere in the wake of such tragedy.
The city of Orlando will establish a permanent memorial to those who lost their lives in the June 12 massacre at Pulse nightclub, Mayor Buddy Dyer announced at the end of June.
The timeline for creating the memorial and the location have not been announced, and Dyer asked for patience as the city continues “with this very sensitive and difficult work that will pay tribute to victims, survivors, families and our community.”
Dyer said in his announcement that the city plans to establish a community-based committee to oversee the permanent memorial’s creation. He pledged that the memorial, in any form, will “preserve the memory of those who lost their lives, provide comfort to those who seek it and honor the spirit and love of our great city.”
Approximately 14% of work-related deaths occur as a result of machine accidents, but the 49 individuals at Pulse were victims of hate and anger. It is for this reason JLo and Miranda combined forces.
Lopez explained she began writing an unreleased version of “Love Make the World Go Round” eight months ago, but the project took on an entirely new meaning after the shooting.
“When everything happened in Orlando, I heard it in a different way, and I thought the world really needs this right now,” she told “Today” show hosts Savannah Guthrie and Carson Daly.
Miranda seemed like a natural fit for the project, especially after the lasting impression his “love is love is love is love” Tony awards speech left on millions.
“It felt like the perfect sort of way to amplify that message of the song and do something good for people,” he said Monday.
All proceeds of the song will be donated to help those impacted by the Orlando attack.
