Gym Class Heroes Perform ‘The Fighter’ With PS-22 Chorus

At a recent show at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., Gym Class Heroes gave some lucky kids a memory that will last a lifetime. The band performed their new single, ‘The Fighter, with the PS-22 school chorus.

“Anybody out there ever been bullied?” frontman Travis McCoy asked the crowd. “Put your fists in the air,” he commanded. “And keep ‘em there for those kids who can’t stand up for themselves. We’re gonna speak up for ‘em tonight. This song is for all of the fighters here tonight,” McCoy said. “Keep your fists up!”

The kids, wearing matching Gym Class Heroes t-shirts, are clearly having a ball, dancing along to the song and singing their hearts out at the chorus. The original track features OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder on the hook, but we think the students more than do his original chorus justice.

The Heroes’ anti-bullying, defiant self-esteem anthem urges listeners to stay strong, so the chorus’ youth adds a new bit of dimension and meaning to the song for a really beautiful, moving effect. The performance is a really awesome way for the band to pay it forward — and the fact that it sounds great doesn’t hurt, either.

Watch Gym Class Heroes and the PS-22 Chorus Perform ‘The Fighter’