The Athens Blur Magazine » Haiti

Arcade Fire, John Mayer license hit songs to benefit Haiti

MaggieSummers — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:44:05 +0000

Arcade Fire and John Mayer have licensed top hit songs to help support Haiti relief efforts. Both have contributed big songs to upcoming commercials and ads on television.

Arcade Fire has been very involved in supporting Haiti relief, as one of their members, Regine Chassagne, has family ties in the country. Since the disaster, the band has asked fans to contribute money to Stand With Haiti on their official website. And now the band has given the NFL permission to use their hit song “Wake Up” for charity ads that will run during the Super Bowl. All of the licensing fees will benefit Partner’s In Heath’s Stand With Haiti relief efforts.

John Mayer is following Arcade Fire’s lead by contributing his 2006 hit “The Heart of Life” to the Red Cross for a series of television commercials and radio ads promoting relief efforts in Haiti. He has also donated $500,000 to the Red Cross, and performed on Larry King’s “Haiti: How You Can Help” special, which raised $5.8 million for the Red Cross.

Maggie Summers

currently listening to “The Swell Season” by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

Wilco Helps Haiti with Free Concerts

Jessica Cole — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:48:02 +0000

The Haiti relief effort has garnered a huge celebrity and musician helping of support, and don’t think for a second the indie rock scene wouldn’t do their part for the cause. Wilco have released two separate concerts for download on their official site in exchange for a donation.

The only cost is a minimum donation of $15 to one of two organizations: OXFAM or Doctors without Borders.

The two shows available for download are the July 13, 2009 show at Keyspan Park in Brooklyn, NY and the November 11, 2009 show at HMV Forum in London.

For more information on Wilco’s free show downloads and donating to Haiti, check out Wilco’s website here.

- Jessica Cole

Currently Listening to: Charade starring Audrey Hepburn & Carey Grant

JT to host Haiti benefit concert

Ashley Thompson — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:19:15 +0000

Singer-songerwriter James Taylor will be showering the people of Haiti with much needed medical aid after the devastating earthquake. He is joining Kate Markowitz, Arnold McCuller, Boston Symphony Orchestra cellist Owen Young and his wife, Kim, to perform a benefit concert at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, Mass. this upcoming Friday.

The concert will be aired simulcast on WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Proceeds will go to the group, Partners in Health, which has been working in Haiti for more than 20 years bringing modern medical care to the poor nation.

Taylor released a statement saying he and his wife would match any proceeds from ticket sales.

Ashley Thompson

Currently listening to “Shower the People” by James Taylor

Jay-Z And U2 To Collaborate On Haiti Benefit Song

ZackKraimer — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:39:02 +0000

Over the years, artist collaborations have become run-of-the-mill; it’s not often that one stumbles across an album without a track featuring a guest artist. One such collaboration is in the works, but this one has come about as a financial aid gesture in a time of catastrophe. In light of the recent earthquake that ravaged Haiti, Jay-Z and U2 will together record a song to benefit the people of Haiti.

The Swizz Beatz-produced track will most likely appear first on iTunes, and it may very well be the next item available from either artist. This isn’t the first effort made by musicians to contribute to the Haitian relief effort, but as both U2 and Jay-Z are two of the most recognizable figures in music today, the release shouldn’t pass over too many heads.

Though their contribution may seem trite to some, the fact of the matter is that both artists are using the tools most readily available to them to help out some less fortunate individuals, and we should respect their efforts as honest ones.

-Zack Kraimer

currently listening to “Comin’ Home” by Cheeseburger

blink182 Release Exclusive Haiti Charity T-Shirt

ZackKraimer — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:01:01 +0000

In a complete turnaround from what most would expect from these raucous pranksters, blink182 have released an exclusive t-shirt to aid the victims of the recent earthquake that devastated much of Haiti. All proceeds from the sales of this shirt will go to the Red Cross.

The front of the shirt features the cartoon rabbit that has graced so many blink182-related items for years, but here he’s pictured running with a Haitian flag to commemorate the victims of this tragedy.

The shirts are for sale on the band’s website for only $15; c’mon, you’d pay that for a regular blink182 shirt anyway, and this time the proceeds are going somewhere other than up Travis Barker’s nose. To pick up one of these brand new shirts, visit www.blink182merch.com.

-Zack Kraimer

currently listening to “I Cried Last Night” by Junior Kimbrough