The song RISE, inspired by Canadian eventer Jessica Phoenix, has been short-listed by CBC to play during their coverage of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympics, in one of the athlete vignettes. How the athlete does determines if and when the vignette – and song – airs.
Performed by Canadian country singer Elyse Saunders, and co-written by Daryl Scott, Kyle Renton and Saunders, the empowering lyrics include the line: “It’s your moment to light up the world with that fire in your eyes, like a powerful phoenix. It’s your time to rise.”
Watch the music video featuring scenes of Phoenix riding:
Saunders’ description of the song and video states: “RISE is inspired by two-time Canadian Olympian, four-time Pan Am medalist and leading Canadian eventer Jessica Phoenix, from Uxbridge, Ontario.
“After suffering a heavy fall with her horse while competing cross-country at the Jersey Fresh International Three Day Event in 2015, Jessica underwent emergency surgery and her family was told that she would not recover in time to defend her Pan Am gold medal on home ground. Jessica’s spirit and love of the equine sport would be put to the ultimate test. Unwavering grit was all that Jessica needed to see her through to a full recovery. Returning to the sport she loved in record time, Jessica Phoenix led the Canadian Eventing Team at the Toronto Pan Am Games, winning an individual silver, and a bronze for Team Canada on her mount Pavarotti, an outstanding achievement, given the gravity of her injuries … a lacerated liver, a shattered sacrum, a punctured lung, 3 broken ribs and a concussion.
Veronica Low, Principal of Roar Records the label that launched the song commented, “We are so over the moon! It is a dream come true. It says that our song has struck a cord and inspires people to aim for their best, no matter what the obstacles. It says, while everyone and everything is saying ‘No, you can’t,’ your inner voice is singing ‘RISE’ – you can!”
“To be considered by the CBC to use our song RISE, is such an honor, and speaks to the fact that this song has struck a chord with athletes and fans alike.”
“We want to encourage everyone to support our Olympians and Paralympians in PyeongChang by tuning into the CBC, Canada’s Olympic Network,” said Low. “If you hear the song RISE, let us know on our Roar Records Facebook page. The first three readers of Horse-Canada to hear the song RISE and tell us when it aired will receive a free autographed copy of the book RISE: The Jessica Phoenix Story, by Julie Fitz-Gerald”
RISE is available for purchase online here.
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