As Japan recovers from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck on March 11, the world’s top recording artists respond to the tragedy with the “Songs for Japan” (US$9.99) benefit album.
The 38 tracks include some of their biggest hits, featuring an exclusive remix of Lady GaGa’s “Born This Way,” along with original versions of Katy Perry’s “Firework,” Bruno Mars’ “Talking to the Moon,” Adele’s “Make You Feel My Love,” and many more.
The “Songs for Japan” track listing features an all-star lineup:
01. John Lennon “Imagine”
02. U2 “Walk On”
03. Bob Dylan “Shelter From The Storm”
04. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Around The World”
05. Lady Gaga “Born This Way”
06. Beyonce “Irreplaceable”
07. Bruno Mars “Talking To The Moon”
08. Katy Perry “Firework”
09. Rihanna “Only Girl (In The World)”
10. Justin Timberlake “Like I Love You”
11. Madonna “Miles Away”
12. David Guetta “When Love Takes Over”
13. Eminem “Love The Way You Lie”
14. Bruce Springsteen “Human Touch”
15. Josh Groban “Awake”
16. Keith Urban “Better Life”
17. Black Eyed Peas “One Tribe”
18. Pink “Sober”
19. Cee Lo Green “It’s Ok”
20. Lady Antebellum “I Run To You”
21. Bon Jovi “What Do You Got?”
22. Foo Fighters “My Hero”
23. R.E.M. “Man On The Moon”
24. Nicki Minaj “Save Me”
25. Sade “By Your Side”
26. Michael Buble “Hold On”
27. Justin Bieber “Pray”
28. Adele “Make You Feel My Love”
29. Enya “If I Could Be Where You Are”
30. Elton John “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”
31. John Mayer “Waiting On The World To Change”
32. Queen “Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)”
33. Kings Of Leon “Use Somebody”
34. Sting “Fragile”
35. Leona Lewis “Better In Time”
36. Ne-Yo “One In A Million”
37. Shakira “Whenever, Wherever”
38. Norah Jones “Sunrise”
Proceeds from “Songs for Japan” will be directed to the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) to support its disaster relief efforts. The society will use the funds for the ongoing provision of immediate relief and for eventual recovery support to the affected population. The artists participating on “Songs for Japan,” the music labels and music publishers have waived their royalties and proceeds from the worldwide sales of the album to ensure that the JRCS receives as much support as possible from this global initiative. iTunes will also donate its proceeds from the album’s worldwide sales to the benefit of the JRCS, and has prominently featured the project throughout its stores worldwide. Make a donation to the Japanese Red Cross.
More info and download link via Apple’s iTunes Store here: Songs for Japan
Source: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, EMI Music
I already gave $50 thru iTunes’ Red Cross link. I went to the Songs for Japan album yesterday to see if it was worth buying. Any song worth buying I already have, and most of them were just awful.
I recognize 5 songs, and 6 “artists” myself.
Good for them to put it together, but I’ll pass. Music does nothing for me, already helped out anyway.
You don’t pay much attention then. Most of these people are very, very famous. Even in passing you should have heard their names before.
Famous or just Infamous?…
I recognize more of the “artists” then @Backlash, but less “songs” then him. Go Figure…
Nice effort but doesn’t appeal to me to purchase even knowing who it is going to and why…
I’d help and have in some other way.
Biggest humanitarian of all musicians, Michael Jackson, is strangely absent in the list. His works like “Earth Song” would bring more of epic scale musically, too.
you got it right, I DON’T pay much attention to music. Haven’t in prob 15 years… I have the same 4 gb music library i have had for years.
I don’t have a reason to question your carefully selective musical taste; and as a concerned consumer you reserve the right to criticise any poor or even less than perfect compilations, irrespective of any worthy cause associated or none. However, I’m not convinced that your criticism here was well placed. I certainly wouldn’t have offered such an opinion to discourage (even if not intended) others from making the purchase.
To give you an example, at a first glance I noted the few famous artists and some of their more recognisable work. I liked what I saw and deemed the compilation a good enough value for a very worthy cause. Then I ran into your insightful comment and immediately doubt snuck in that maybe my initial reaction wasn’t sound. Negativity and pessimism often can be just as infectious as a charitable heart and smile.
I can only hope that a lot of folks will click on that link and purchase that album (great or otherwise) on a compassionate impulse before running into you comment.
I’m a fan of your posts and comments, just not on this instance. Hope you’ll understand where I’m coming from on this. My prayers and well wishes are with those suffering.
Or you can just bypass the song compilation and donate directly…
I have, when iTunes first put up the Red Cross Japan aid link. This was in addition to that.
Agreed.
I have a problem with these compilation things anyway.
I donated to Doctors without Borders directly, but for this kind of compilation, how would anything that I can contribute, possibly compare to any of these stars just giving money directly?
They’ve got a hell of a lot more than I can ever hope to give.
I should quantify my statement.
If I buy this album, don’t these stars make money from that?
Why should I do this, when they can just as easily give money themselves. Again – they have a hell of a lot more money than I have.
I think you are responding to my post, so I’ll reply back.
The first thing I wrote was that I had already directly given $50 to Japan Disaster Relief. I don’t know how that is discouraging to anyone. I figured people would understand that they have choices. I did not find the album compelling as there was nothing new in it.
Now, I wish I had elaborated more in my original post.
A direct donation from you, the individual, let’s use $10 for example, means $10 goes to the Japan Red Cross or similar organization. If you give enough to charity, so that you can take more than the standard deduction on your taxes and itemize, you may deduct that $10 from your taxable income. In essence, the US gov’t is making part of your $10 donation. Nice.
Buying this $10 album, still means $10 is going to the Japan Red Cross; however, you do NOT get to use this $10 on your taxes as a charitable donation. The labels and the artists get to claim a deduction on THEIR TAXES. And believe me, they will use this deduction.
For some of the artists represented on this album, like U2, they already shelter most of their royalty income by using a front company in the Netherlands, (a tax haven for musicians). I’d like to think the labels and artists are thinking of the grief in Japan when doing something like this, but when the music isn’t from a Relief Concert, but just individual tracks from other albums, which require no effort from the artist themselves, then I am left to wonder. Thus, I choose to direct my charitable donations directly, and not thru a conduit that might be used to generate tax deductions for the artists and labels. Cynical, but I’d wager the notion crossed the minds of the people, artists, and labels involved.
Well said that man!
Sometimes they donate a lot of money anonymously. We don’t even know who they are and how much they gave. And sadly some have never heard of Japan. Bot those who gave deserve kudos; tax deduction or not.
I think this is a great album and a great way to donate. I’ll be buying it today. Amazing lineup and assembled in a relatively short time. Kudos to artists for contributing their music.
I think a better way to help, would be to give money directly to the Red Cross, or something like Doctors Without Borders.
If wealthy recording stars want to contribute, they can do it directly.
Great to help those in need. Wish the music were more of a “yes”. Most songs are rather lame.
Is Bon Jovi (#21) upset that you can’t go to your neighborhood record shop to buy this with your allowance money?
Good catch!
I’m sure he’ll protest his song being there shortly.
And maybe Bon Jovi should donate a million or so himself.
Proportionally, it’s probably pretty close to me buying one of his albums anyway.
What?!?!?! No Ween?!?!?!!!!
Not a great collection, would buy if they could tell exactly what portion of sales is going to the Japanese earthquake relief.
…and not ONE decent song here. Just the typical overrated simplistic pop crap (YES, THAT INCLUDES IMAGINE, OVERRATED PIECE OF CRAP)
I’m donating my money to stop the murder of dolphins and other whales
As a SCUBA Instructor Trainer I teach and highly value our whales and dolphins. And I recognize Japan’s indifference to both ae well as sharks.
But there comes a time when the suffering of human beings, and they are truly suffering, trumps all other animal rights issues.
Separate the two causes and donate to both.
Interesting how petty we can get over a human disaster. So much venom. That’s just messed up.