Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones will record a new version of We Are the World to benefit Haiti. The veteran stars are honoring the song’s 25th anniversary, releasing their tribute alongside new charity tracks by Simon Cowell, and Jay-Z and Bono – who have revealed that they are bringing along Rhianna.
Like the original 1985 recording, which raised money for famine relief in Africa, the new We Are the World will consist of both a song and a video. Organizers are asking artists to stay in Los Angeles for an extra night after the Grammy awards. According to Billboard, Richie and Jones hope to include Usher, Natalie Cole and John Legend, as well as many Grammy nominees.
The late Michael Jackson, one of the song’s co-authors, is also expected to be integrated into the project.
Meanwhile, television networks have released more details of tonight’s Hope for Haiti Now telethon, co-hosted by George Clooney, Wyclef Jean and CNN’s Anderson Cooper. One of the program me’s highlights, a team-up between Bono and Jay-Z, is now going to be a trio. “I knew that Jay would be able to tell a story, and that Bono would be able to sing and bring it home,” producer Swizz Beatz told Rolling Stone. “The last component that I added was Rihanna, and she’s kinda like the angel that’s on the track, softening it up and giving it that caring feeling, because this hook is so powerful.”
The track is called Stranded. “The idea of the song is, ‘We’re not gonna leave you stranded,'” Swizz Beatz said. The project launched when Swizz Beatz sent text messages to Jay-Z and the U2 frontman. The producer accidentally hung up on Jay-Z when the rapper called him back and it took three hours of telephone tag before they all managed to speak. Recording took place separately, with extra production work by the Edge.
Other acts scheduled to perform tonight include Beyoncé, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Madonna, Mary J Blige, Shakira, Justin Timberlake and Stevie Wonder. Kid Rock, Keith Urban and Sheryl Crow will also perform together. The entire concert will be available as a paid download from iTunes and other digital services, with proceeds going to Haiti relief funds such as the Red Cross and Yele Haiti Foundation.
Via: www.gaurdian.co.uk
