The B-52s flourished long before Uniting Voices Chicago member Stella Corotis was even born — and yet she grew up on them and their music.
“[‘Roam’] is always playing around the house when my family gets ready for a trip,” recalled Corotis of the 1989 hit by the dance-pop group. “My mom blasted the song when I told her that the choir would be traveling to Italy and then I listened to it multiple times on the bus rides as we went from town to town.”
But never did the 17-year-old high school senior at DePaul College Prep imagine joining voices with the queen of The B-52s herself — Kate Pierson — on a completely reimagined cover of “People Have the Power,” a song written by Patti Smith and her late husband, Fred “Sonic” Smith, and released in 1988 on Smith’s album “Dream of Life.” Pierson released the single in November.
Pierson laid down the vocals over the summer and then the choir recorded their part in September.
Corotis said the opportunity to do a song with Pierson “is unbelievably exciting.”
“It is such a song for now,” the “Love Shack” hitmaker said of “People Have the Power.” “To have [Uniting Voices Chicago] on board makes it something that pulls [the song] forward to the next generation and makes it even more current than it is. It just seemed like now is the time to bring the message forth.”
Kate Pierson of The B-52s performs in 2020 in New York City. The singer recorded a cover of Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power” with the Uniting Voices Chicago choir. “To have them on board makes it something that pulls [the song] forward to the next generation and makes it even more current than it is. It just seemed like now is the time to bring the message forth,” she said.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Women’s Day
However, the self-proclaimed political junkie said that she would only attempt the cover if she could do it differently than it had ever been done before. “I wanted to make it my own,” said Pierson. “I love this song, and I admire Patti Smith so much, but I did approach it with a little bit of trepidation thinking, ‘How can I make this something that can be different, but also catch the attention of a younger generation now?’”
Pierson knew she wanted a choir –– she just wasn’t sure which one. That changed when SongVest Records label head and longtime Chicagoan Roy D’Souza suggested Uniting Voices Chicago –– a citywide youth choral organization previously known as the Chicago Children’s Choir.
“ I was very excited because [the song] was danceable and upbeat, but I knew we needed a whole bunch of young people singing this because I mean, it’s about people having the power,” said Pierson of the song whose net proceeds will be shared with Uniting Voices Chicago and Sandy Hook Promise. “Having them on the song really amped up the volume of it. It’s just so fitting to have those voices and especially a youth choir on there. It just fits right in there with the whole message of the song.”
And while Uniting Voices Chicago has had the chance to perform with legends such as Beyoncé and Chance the Rapper, getting to perform with Pierson served up a real treat for the young singers.
“When I told them about it, they were just freaking out,” said Uniting Voices Chicago President Josephine Lee about the chance to join voices with Pierson. “And what a legend and icon she is. When I met her, she couldn’t be more genuine or more humble. She is just the sweetest, kindest soul who has such a really strong understanding of how her music can impact the world and the legacy she wants to leave behind. Her message really resonated with them.”
Certainly, it’s a message worthy of amplification.
“There is a lot of noise that’s going on for these young people,” said Lee. “From social media to grappling with mental health and societal pressures –– to be able to have this moment to just be free and let loose and have fun and just be together to represent something greater than ourselves on this song was really powerful.”
“I’ve seen firsthand how music gives us strength,” said Corotis, a member of Voice of Chicago, Uniting Voices’ premier high school ensemble. “That’s exactly what this song is about — reminding us that people have power when they unify.”
And while Pierson isn’t saying yet if she will in fact join Uniting Voices Chicago to perform “People Have the Power” live on stage sometime in the near future, the group — which now serves more than 4,000 students — have several shows in 2026, including the Get Amp’d Solo Showcase at Metro in January and Englewood Sings! Festival in March.
“I always say to the kids, you have so much power in your voice to bring positivity and to bring joy,” said Lee. “They don’t realize how powerful what they have is. That’s what music allows us to do.”