Pasadena Student Wins Songwriting Contest, to Debut Original Song at Rose Parade

Ella Beyer, a 20-year-old student at the Los Angeles College of Music (LACM), has been named the winner of the Pasadena Humane Songwriting Competition for the 2024 Rose Parade. Her original song, “Feed the Love,” will be featured on Pasadena Humane’s float in the parade, which is themed “Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language.”

Beyer, who is studying songwriting at LACM, discovered the competition through a school poster. 

An animal adoption enthusiast, she saw the competition as an opportunity to combine her passions for music and animals. The result was “Feed the Love,” a song that perfectly encapsulates the parade’s theme and the spirit of Pasadena Humane’s mission.

“So it had to be all that, and that had to be the main theme of the song,” Beyer said. “My family and I have always been super passionate about animal adoption, and so I was like, oh, I love this. And I thought I’d take a whack at it. And so I spent a week or so working on the song and crafting it and, yeah, I submitted it and then I won. It was very exciting.” 

“Feed the Love” not only aligns with the Rose Parade’s musical theme but also carries a dual message. Beyer believes the song resonates with the broader concept of giving and receiving love, in addition to its primary focus on pet adoption. The lyrics touch on the significance of finding the perfect pet match and the mutual love that forms between humans and animals, emphasizing the importance of adoption.

The recording of “Feed the Love” will play as Pasadena Humane’s float, sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, makes its way through the parade route on January 1, 2024. Ella Beyer expressed her hope that the catchy melody and uplifting message will inspire viewers to consider pet adoption. 

“I hope the song gets stuck in their heads so much that viewers go, ‘oh my gosh! I need to feed the love and I need to go adopt a dog,’” she said. “Yeah, I hope the message sticks. I hope the catchy hook and the melody gets so stuck in their head that it gets them to go do it.” 

Beyer also shared her creative process, highlighting the significance of each verse in conveying messages related to dog adoption. She explained how the verses touch on finding the perfect match, the unique journey of rescue animals, and the strong bonds formed through adoption.

Beyer also sees her work extending beyond animal welfare to include themes such as mental health. 

“I try to be very vulnerable in my lyrics and just kind of be raw and tell it like it is,” she said. “And I speak a lot about not only animal rights but mental health in my music, and the importance of checking in on your friends. And so that’s another cause that I try to fight for.” 

The collaboration between Pasadena Humane and LACM not only showcases the talents of local students but also aims to inspire viewers to adopt, foster, volunteer, or donate to their favorite shelters. The song will definitely be a vibrant addition to the Rose Parade’s celebration of music and community.

To listen to “Feed the Love,” visit https://youtu.be/MSZr_UHYnhU.