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Monday
25Jan2010

Not Stranded. A Great Aid Relief Song.

For all their noble intentions, aid relief songs like “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, “Tears are not Enough,” and “We Are the World” are lousy musical compositions: bombastic anthems for big A-list choruses, weighed down with turgid verses, histrionic choruses, and sappy lyrics.

Not so “Stranded: Haiti Mon Amour.” Jay-Z raps the verses with simmering intensity. Bono, amazingly, refrains from going full Bono — he doesn’t wail a chorus; he slips in a couple of subtle vocal hooks instead. Rihanna wraps it all up with a loping chorus and crushed velvet vocals.

The big egos and disparate styles don’t clash. The result: a song worthy of the cause it espouses. Check out Rolling Stone’s report of the “Haiti Mon Amour” sessions here. Watch the video below. Donate some cash while you’re at it. 

Donate Now: 1-877-99-HAITI in US/Canada, or go to www.hopeforhaitinow.org

Reader Comments (2)

Great post, Ed!

BTW, there WAS one great song you missed: SunCity (Ain't Gonna Play in). That was a great protest song (and maybe it was because it was a protest song, it was stronger.) But I loved that one.

January 25, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterBernie

Love this song

January 25, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterLisa Comeau

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