Billy Porter Releases Politically Charged Single 'For What It's Worth'

Pose star Billy Porter just released his new single, a cover of Stephen Stills’ “For What It’s Worth,” as performed by Buffalo Springfield.

Here’s what the 50-year-old Grammy/Emmy/Tony winner shared:

On deciding his new single: :I wanted to have my art and my music matter, make a difference. I’ve always been a political person. I come from the generation where the music reflected what was going on in the world, in the day. The song was written and performed sort of during the Civil Rights Era, the Vietnam War, it was protest music and I wanted to have a hand in bringing that back and speaking truth directly to power.”

On reflecting during quarantine: “One of the heartening things that I’ve seen during the Coronavirus outbreak is how we’ve all banded together. Everyone doing their part, checking on each other, using technology to connect with one another. I think the messages in ‘For What It’s Worth’ are so relevant now. It’s a song about unifying and coming together to make a change.”

On leaning into the November 2020 Presidential elections: “While we’re all stuck at home, now is a great time to make sure you’re registered to vote. The election is comin,’ y’all. Let’s get ready and stay ready… I hope people are inspired to not give up, to continue to have hope, and to understand that the only way change comes is for the people to come together and demand it.”(Register to vote here.)

Last week, Billy appeared in the virtual Seder celebration to raise funds for the CDC Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

Stream Billy Porter‘s rendition of “For What It’s Worth” below!