Legendary singer returns with peace anthem timed for International World Peace Day
Internationally renowned singer Dionne Warwick has unveiled details of a new single, "One Heart Can Change the World", which is due to be released on 25 September. The track is the third single from DWuets, the album Warwick announced earlier this year as the closing record of a career spanning 65 years.
The song brings together contemporary artists and veteran musicians. R&B singer Mya and rapper Saweetie provide guest turns, while actor and activist Forest Whitaker supplies narration. The record also features Grammy-winning violinist Miri Ben-Ari and sound healer Ana Netanel.
- Release date: 25 September — International World Peace Day
- Album: DWuets — billed as the final album in Warwick's 65-year career
- Notable contributors: Mya, Saweetie, Forest Whitaker, Miri Ben-Ari, Ana Netanel
The timing of the release is deliberate: 25 September coincides with the 45th International World Peace Day and falls on the night of the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative's "Rise As One" gala at Gotham Hall in New York. Warwick, Mya and Saweetie are among those being honoured at that event.
"In a world that longs for peace, it begins with a smile; from a smile hope takes flight. One smile, one world, one heart,"
The voice quoted belongs to Forest Whitaker and underlines the record's explicit peace and charity emphasis. Warwick has long linked her music to humanitarian causes. In the source announcement she referenced her participation in high-profile charity singles of the 1980s, including the USA for Africa effort and the star-studded charity single "That’s What Friends Are For", whose proceeds continue to support the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
DWuets: a closing chapter and familiar collaborators
The new single is part of DWuets, an album of duets written by acclaimed songwriter Diane Warren. Warwick's son, Damon Elliott, is reported to be producing the duets. The first two singles from the project featured performances with Cynthia Erivo and John Legend.
Warwick's catalogue has been recognised repeatedly over many decades: three of her songs — "Alfie", "Walk On By" and "Don’t Make Me Over" — are in the Grammy Hall of Fame. DWuets will, according to the announcement, mark the end of a long and decorated recording career.
| Contributor | Role |
|---|---|
| Dionne Warwick | Lead artist |
| Mya, Saweetie | Featured artists |
| Forest Whitaker | Narrator |
| Miri Ben-Ari, Ana Netanel | Musical collaborators |
| Diane Warren | Songwriter (all tracks on DWuets) |
Locally, listeners in Warwick and across the West Midlands who follow popular music and veteran artists may find particular interest in the cross-generational nature of the collaboration. It dovetails with a trend among established performers to engage contemporary stars and causes as they conclude long careers, ensuring outreach to younger audiences while maintaining their charitable and artistic legacies.
The announcement also ties the single to a high-profile charity gala and the United Nations' peace calendar, suggesting that the release will be accompanied by promotional and philanthropic activity rather than being a standalone commercial single.
For now, the facts are clear: "One Heart Can Change the World" is scheduled for release on 25 September as part of a farewell album. The involvement of notable contemporary artists and public figures guarantees attention; whether the single will become a significant cultural touchstone like Warwick's earlier charity recordings remains to be seen.
