What They'll Say About Us

Album: Optimist (2020)
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Songfacts®:

  • During this touching ballad, Finneas offers comfort to those who have lost someone because of COVID-19. In a statement, the singer noted that the song's inspiration came from:

    Being filled with hope after participating in a Black Lives Matter protest Downtown LA in June 2020.

    Being filled with sorrow reading Amanda Kloots documenting her husband Nick Cordero lying in a coma after being admitted to the ICU for COVID-19. The Broadway actor died at age 41 of complications from coronavirus. Said Finneas: "Imagining her sitting by his side, waiting, hopeful for him to wake up, it got me thinking about all the millions of people, all over the world, who also have loved ones, parents, children and extended family members going through the same thing. Fighting this horrific virus. Some will overcome and wake up again, while others, tragically may not. This song is dedicated to all who have had to endure this year. I hope this song can offer some sort of comfort to those who may need it."
  • Sam Bennett directed the simple and intimate one-take video, which was shot in Finneas' hometown of Los Angeles. A longtime collaborator of Finneas, Bennett's previous clips include "Break My Heart Again," "I Lost a Friend," "Shelter" and "Let's Fall in Love for the Night."
  • Finneas performed the song on the January 11, 2021 episode of Good Morning America. He introduced the tune by saying:

    "I was attending the Los Angeles Black Lives Matter Justice for George Floyd protests with my girlfriend the first week of June, I believe. I was coming home every day and immediately checking my phone to see how Nick Cordero was doing.

    I started following his journey of battling COVID-19. That was kind of the divide of my attention at that period was this kind of inspiring feeling... I mean, you know the feeling of going to a protest, I'm sure. You feel like you're surrounded by people who share the same ideals as you. It can make you feel very hopeful."

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