Photo Credit: Owen Ela

Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam fame has shared a new video for “Better Believe,” a track the grunge rock legend dropped earlier this year in June. The track originally released in partnership with the Chicago-based nonprofit group Guitars Over Guns and debuted at the opening of the Obama Presidential Library. The new video gives a behind the scenes look at Vedder, the Obama Foundation and the artists at Guitars Over Guns came together to create the song. The new video can be found on YouTube.

The video begins with a clip of Vedder speaking on stage with members of the nonprofit, calling the event “one of the most powerful memories in making music in my whole life.” Text appears describing Guitars Over Guns’ mission as being “rooted in the belief that music can be transformative” and their goal “to positively reshape the trajectory of students’ lives.” The message and meaning behind the song goes even further, with all royalties earned by Vedder and co-writers benefiting Guitars Over Guns. The video begins with members of Guitars Over Guns learning not only that they were invited to the opening of the Obama Presidential Library, but that they would be writing and performing alongside none other than Vedder himself.

The upbeat and emotional track plays over behind the scenes footage, recording sessions and interviews with the members of the nonprofit. The list of co-writers for the track featured in the videos includes Giselle Castro, Andre “Add-2” Daniels, Jeremiah Fristoe, Mason Harris, Michael “Myskie” Hightower, Naomi Owens, Joy Viltz, and Iya Waters. The video serves as a heartwarming insight into the power of music – the members of the nonprofit speaking on how music has helped them with their struggles, and the positive experiences they had in creating the track and working with Vedder.