(February 21, 2025) One of the tragedies of January 2025 has been the California wildfires, which caused loss of life, loss of property, and untold damage to one of America’s most beloved locations. Multiple reports say climate change played a huge role in those destructive blazes.
One artist who’s been fighting against climate change is Grammy-nominated singer, actress and activist Antonique Smith. (She’s the co-founder and CEO of a nonprofit called Climate Revival, connecting people of color and faith with the cause.) You may have seen her portray Mimi on Broadway’s Rent, Faith Evans on the biopic Notorious, or the Queen of Soul’s mother, Barbara Franklin, on the TV series Genius: Aretha.
Antonique is also a voice to be reckoned with, as the SoulTracks team recognized when reviewing her debut EP about a decade ago. Her new release is no disappointment; it’s a cover of “Love Song to the Earth.” This anthem was first recorded in 2015 by artists including its co-writer Natasha Bedingfield, Sir Paul McCartney, and Sean Paul. They sang it in a soft-rock style, but Antonique’s version is a whole different ball game. The best way I can describe it is soul-stirring. Her voice is full of power and sincerity, and the choir element adds to the emotion. Her passionate plea to “keep (the earth) safe” tugs right at the heart. You can tell she means every word she’s singing. She wants the earth to survive.
It’s been said that the climate crisis is so bad that the planet is sending its own SOS. Antonique Smith’s version of “Love Song to the Earth” provides a most touching response to that SOS. Hear it for yourself.
The song is available on all platforms on Friday, February 21st.
By Darnea N. Samuels
