New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The lyrics to
Gloria Estefan's just-released COVID-19 musical public service message, "Put on Your Mask," will illuminate the city's skyline during its nightly 10 p.m. Stars & Stripes Curfew Tower Lighting at the new 700-foot, $600-million Paramount Miami Worldcenter in downtown Miami.
"The futuristic Paramount superstructure glows nightly with the nation's largest LED lyrics and electronic American Flag display," says Paramount Miami Worldcenter CEO-Developer
Daniel Kodsi. "It is the city's official curfew signal that all businesses must close and all citizens to remain home."
Paramount Miami Worldcenter's vertical streams of red and white LED stripes are 693-feet tall, according to Art Falcone, Founder and Managing Principal of Miami Worldcenter Associates. "At the top of the 60-story building is a 300-foot-wide field of five-pointed stars that are blended with a ticker-tape read-out of the lyrics to Estefan's new song, 'Put on Your Mask.'"
Musical Public Service Message
"Put on Your Mask" is a parody conveying a serious public health message. It is set to the music of Estefan's 1989 blockbuster hit, "Get on Your Feet." But now, in 2020, the lyrics are solemnly different.
"They say stay home, please don't go outside, there's no use dying," sings Estefan. "Help save the world from COVID. Put on your mask when you go out in public; put on your mask when you are buying groceries."
Of the tower lighting, Estefan explains, "We are using Paramount Miami Worldcenter's LED animation system to help spread the word up in the sky with a gleaming patriotic beacon and a global message: Put on your Mask."
Song Writer's Inspiration
The 62-year-old singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman explains who inspired her to write the song.
"A close friend of mine is an infectious disease doctor," says Estefan. "She asked me to come up with something whimsical, musical, but meaningful to remind people of the importance of wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus."
Many states and cities, including Miami, have instituted mandatory face mask laws, especially when people are grocery shopping.
The Grammy Award-winning Estefan, who was born in Cuba and raised in Miami, emphasizes that just-released statistics show that Hispanic and
Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by the virus compared to other population sectors.
She adds, "There is a lack of public awareness in some of these communities and that's why we're using the Paramount Miami Worldcenter, which is in the heart of Miami -- America's 10th most heavily-Hispanic populated city - to transmit a public health message."
There are roughly 38-million African-Americans and 52-million Hispanic-Americans, according to the U.S. Census.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that many Hispanic and African-Americans work in the restaurant, hospitality and other service industries, where they come in contact with many different people -- increasing their odds of contracting the virus.
The CDC stresses many of these people also lack adequate healthcare resources and are prone to infection due to pre-existing cardiac, diabetic and respiratory conditions.
