Strong women standing together. Kelly Clarkson, Diane Warren, Missy Elliott, Kelly Rowland, Janelle Monae, Lea Michele and Zendaya have teamed up with Michelle Obama to record "This Is for My Girls," a charity single to promote female empowerment.
The tune, which became available on iTunes at midnight on Wednesday, March 16 (and can be previewed here), has been described as "kind of like 'We Are the World' meets 'Lady Marmalade'" by songwriting veteran Warren, who penned the future hit, while speaking to Billboard magazine.
"When was the last time you heard a song like this or a record that had this many amazing divas on it? I'm really proud," she added.
The song is being sold to benefit the White House's "Til It Happens to You" campaign. Ultimately aimed at raising education-inequality awareness, the lyrics are a powerful call for action to all females, to make a difference in the world.
"This is for my girls, all around the world / Stand up, hold your head up / Don't take nothing from nobody," the chorus rings. "This is for my girls, stand up and be heard / This is for my ladies, my sisters / All over, this is for my girls," the lyrics read.
The release comes as the First Lady prepares for her SXSW Music keynote, which will be live streamed at 11:30 a.m. ET and will include a performance of the song.
Obama is keen to point out that, while she's very thankful to the artists who performed on her single, everybody can do something to help make sure all girls have the right to an education.
"You don’t have to have a Grammy to make a difference here (I can’t even carry a tune)," she writes in her Lenny Letter. "You can organize a fun run, a battle of the bands, a trivia contest, a cocktail party — anything you can dream up and execute is fair game (within limits, of course). You absolutely have the power to make a difference on this issue, and girls around the world are counting on you to step up and act."
