Logic's inspiring VMAs performance of "1-800-273-8255," a courageous song about the rapper's own struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, reportedly prompted a 50-percent uptick in calls to suicide prevention hotlines.
Read more: Jared Leto honors Chester Bennington at the 2017 VMAs
As reported by the FADER, the rapper took the stage at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards with artists Alessia Cara and Khalid, surrounded by suicide attempt survivors, to make a public plea for mental health awareness and suicide prevention with the tune from his recent album, Everybody. The empathetic performance apparently moved the needle, as the the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline received a reported 50-percent increase in calls.
"It's not just about the calls," John Draper, director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, tells CNN about Logic's VMAs showing. "It's about increasing awareness about suicide, and suicide prevention in particular. The calls don't even begin to count the number of people who, just by listening to the song and hearing the lyrics, feel more hopeful and less alone."
"This past year, our audience was forced to say goodbye to musicians too soon because of suicide," says the VMAs' executive producer Garret English, alluding to the recent deaths of both Linkin Park's Chester Bennington and Soundgarden's Chris Cornell. "We want to do more than remember these artists. We want to remind people that suicide is preventable and that there are ways to get help and feel better if you're struggling emotionally."
Logic joins a growing list of musicians helping to push mental health issues to the collective fore, including recent exhortations from bands such as Foo Fighters, and artists like Real Friends' Dan Lambton and Clown from Slipknot.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, there is help to be found. Please consider these online resources and talk to your regular doctor about your symptoms:
International Association For Suicide Prevention - Resources
The Anxiety And Depression Association Of America
The National Alliance On Mental Illness
Watch Logic's moving VMAs performance here:
Watch more: Twenty One Pilots win Artist Of The Year at the 2016 APMAs
sum_dude on September 4th, 2017 at 07:14 UTC »
In an interview with Genius, Logic said:
So the first hook and verse is from the perspective of someone who is calling the hotline and they want to commit suicide. They want to kill themselves. They want to end their life. When I jumped on a tour bus that started in Los Angeles, California and I ended in New York City and did a fan tour where I went to fan's houses and shared meals with them, hung out with them, played them my album before it came out. Them along with other people on tour, just fans that I met randomly, they’ve said things like, "Your music has saved my life. You've saved my life." And I was always like, "Aw so nice of you. Thanks." And I give them a hug and shit but in my mind, I'm like, "What the fuck?" And they're really serious. And they tat shit on their arms and get shit like lyrics that save their life and in my mind, I was like, "Man I wasn't even trying to save nobody's life." And then it hit me, the power that I have as an artist with a voice. I wasn't even trying to save your life. Now what can happen if I actually did?.[4]
Pretty cool, from the wikipedia entry.
AnakinKardashian on September 4th, 2017 at 04:54 UTC »
I met him doing security in college about five years ago. very nice guy.
7sle on September 4th, 2017 at 01:55 UTC »
Are those actual people who were seeking help with suicide or people who saw the song and wondered who would answer?
Either way it's great publicity for suicide prevention.