Lil Wayne, Brian Wilson, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg and Celine Dion are among a group of artists who have recorded a new version of the wonderful 1985 song ‘We Are The World’ to aid victims of the recent Haiti earthquake.
Barbra Streisand, Carlos Santana, Usher, Miley Cyrus, Tony Bennett and Enrique Iglesias are also among the 75 singers who contributed, reports BBC News.
The song was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones – who returned to the role for the new version. The new recording took place at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, where the original was also put on tape.
The much-anticipated song is set to debut on NBC, February 12. The video is to be put together by director Paul Haggis, who filmed the recording session.
Lil Wayne said, after the recording, “I don’t know how to sing.” He went on to hail the new song but criticized the response to the 2005 disaster in New Orleans, when Hurricane Katrina caused havoc.
“I think it’s amazing what’s been done for Haiti, but I think it’s amazing what hasn’t been done for New Orleans,” he said.
Lil Wayne makes a good point. I think you could add the victims and families post-September 11. A production like this to raise money and show support would have been outstanding for American families after Sept. 11 AND Hurricane Katrina. But if someone doesn’t stand up and make it happen, it won’t happen. Fortunately for Haiti, someone did stand up, and I guess that’s what we should focus on, right?
In a recent interview, Jay Z summed up what everyone else has been trying to get their minds around for weeks. When asked in an interview about his friend, Kanye West’s infamous “I’m gonna let you finish…” broo ha ha – Jay Z (who said that Kanye was like a little brother to him) said that it was rude of Kanye to do what he did. He also said that it was Taylor Swift’s moment and he shouldn’t have taken it away from her.
Jay Z pointed out that no one was harmed, no one was killed, so that it’s time to move on… Amen!
I love his quote (below):
“At the end of the day, we’re going to celebrate him for his passion more than vilify him. Because his passion is the same thing that causes him to make Graduation and all these great records… and it’s the thing that causes him to step out of line sometimes.” – Jay Z about Kanye West
On Saturday, July 25, Fuse will air portions of a recent charity concert starring the one and only Kanye West.
The one-hour special Fuse Presents Kanye West: Live From the Chicago Theatre features performance footage from Kanye West’s 2nd annual “Stay in School” Benefit Concert in the Windy City produced by the Kanye West Foundation.
The show also features an exclusive interview with West speaking about his mother and founder of the Kanye West Foundation Dr. Donda West, who passed away in 2007. I can’t wait for this interview. The love Kanye has for his mother is as touching as his music is brilliant.
The foundation was established to help combat the dropout problem we have in our country. It’s a great message and I know it’s getting through to countless young people.
Jay-Z’s much-anticipated new song from his upcoming album “The Blueprint 3″ should be debuted this Friday, July 24. Titled “Run This Town”, Jay Z reportedly teams up with two of our personal favorites, Rihanna and Kanye West.
i say “should” and “reportedly” because Hot 106 reported on their web site: “JUST GOT WORD: New Jay-Z single coming this Friday called Run This Town with Kanye West and Rihanna!”.
Hours later however, the website took down the post without explanation. That leaves you wondering. They either got it very, very wrong or they got it very, very right.
My fingers are crossed for right.
Reportedly in order to avoid Internet leaks, the new album will be delivered personally by Jay Z to his record label, Atlantic Records. Why hasn’t anyone else ever thought of that?
Rihanna will be working with The All-American Rejects’ vocalist Tyson Ritter in her upcoming studio album, according to SRP Music Group. In addition to Tyson, she’ll also be working with Stargate, James Fauntleroy, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart and The-Dream.
Although the new project hasn’t been officially titled yet, some say it will be called “Rated R” and will be available for purchasing this fall. Previously according to Rihanna-Diva, Rihanna was rumored to go rock but will keep the R&B tune by mixing the rock materials with pop sounds.
Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z and Kanye West, OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, Soulja Boy, Shontelle and Pharrell Williams are expected to contribute to this new album as well.
In other news, Rihanna grabbed two prizes at 2009 Urban Music Awards which was held on July 17 at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. She was named Best Female Act, and her music video for single “Rehab” won Best Music Video.
Rihanna, Lady GaGa, and Kanye West are all intertwined in the news this week – and since they’re 3 of my very favorites, I’m all over it!
Rihanna made her live comeback this week, at a fashion event in New York.
She performed two impromptu songs with her friend Kanye West at the Costume Institute Gala.
An eyewitness tells E! Online: “Kanye asked her to do it. It was his idea, but (Vogue editor / event organizer) Anna Wintour obviously had to approve it.”
Lady GaGa has said that Kanye West’s remix of ‘Poker Face’ is “exactly what the song is about“.
She dismissed fans’ claims that West, Kid Cudi and Common’s version gives the song a different meaning than she intended it to have.
In fact, in an interview with MTV News, Lady GaGa said: “It’s funny, because a lot of my fans were like, ‘GaGa, Kanye wrote a song…and it’s not about what your record’s about. Your record is about gambling. And this song is about dirty things’,” she said.
“I said to them, ‘You’re wrong. Kanye was right’.”
“It was really exciting that he had so much insight into what the song was about,” GaGa added.
Lady GaGa also spoke about how excited she was about Madonna attending one of her shows in New York. Yeah, I guess!
The gorgeous pictures of Rihanna in the post are from May 4, 2009: “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion” Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I LOVE the strong “I’m back” statement she’s making with the clothes, the stance, and the direct eye contact with the camera. She looks amazing and it’s great to see her back.
Kanye West’s Heartless is my phone’s ringtone (and has been for a long time!) – a few days ago, it started ringing and a woman who had to be in her 60’s moved her lips along with the words. I loved that! It’s always cool to come face to face with fellow Kanye fans – fortunately there are SO many.
So for the rest of you who are all about Mr. West, here’s what’s been going on on Planet Kanye:
HERE is a link to a great review of Kanye’s performance at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas on March 21. Here’s a little snippet: ” West is a singular star in pop culture, arrogantly self-aware and dead accurate about the degree of his talent. From the moment he took the stage, the show had the feeling of the weekend’s biggest highlight.” Read the Rest!
Next year Kanye will lend his voice to a character on an episode of The Family Guy spinoff, “The Cleveland Show!” Kanye’s character will be a struggling rapper named MC Kenny West. Kanye West is, reportedly, a huge fan of The Family Guy and has even invited its creator Seth McFarland to his house.
Kanye is featured in and on the April/May issue of Complex. He’s all made up in futuristic makeup and looks like a character straight out of Terminator. Kanye is fascinated with the future, so I’m sure it was as fun for him to shoot the photos as they are to look at.
Inside the magazine, Kanye’s humble, rational side come out. Those of us who applaud the cockiness and arrogance commend him for sharing his calmer side but, at the same time, hope he doesn’t reign in all that is Kanye! Below is a quote from the interview:
“I would never spaz on MTV the way I did before. I feel like there are people who have given a lot to me and I wasn’t appreciative of them. MTV had a major part in making me, so how the he!! could I ever come out of my mouth and dis them and just be like the cry-baby-a$$ bit*h over one performance? How the he!! is a 29-year-old grown a$$ man acting like a little bit*h and getting all emotional? How spoiled can I get?”
First of all, I apologize for all of the *$$!! stuff, but I have sponsors and such that make me walk a tight line.
Second of all, Kanye asks, “How spoiled can I get?!” As spoiled as you want to get!
Grab a copy of the magazine. Or two. Maybe three.
If you haven’t been to Kanye’s web site and blog lately, what in the heck are you waiting for?! Honestly, his web site is unlike any other.
Just passed out. I’ve had a major cold for, like, 3 weeks – so news has traveled very slowly to my brain. I just found out that Kanye West will be performing Heartless on American Idol tonight. What?!?! I’m over the moon, tissues in hand (and under nose).
Something else just reached my brain, Miss Carrie Underwood will be the artist featured for the “goodbye” song this season.
I know I’ve been off my game for a few weeks, but I’ll admit something. When someone first told me that Carrie would be the featured singer, my first thought was, “Cool! They got Carrie.” I didn’t even register her as a former Idol – I just thought of her as a Country Music Superstar. That says a great deal about this girl and how far she has come.
I’m completely excited – I’ve got nothing but love for Kanye and Carrie, so it’s all good. Be sure to watch (and listen) for both of them tonight!
Kanye West and his fierce new girlfriend, Amber Rose, were shopping in Hollywood a day or so ago. Naturally, photographers were there to snap every move the couple made.
Errgh. I just found this out, or I’d have posted about it long before now.
Apparently Kanye West will be the Musical guest on Saturday Night Live tonight – December 13, 2008. Yeah, that tonight.
Hugh Laurie, the brilliant actor from the equally brilliant “House” will be the host.
The gorgeous pictures below are of Rihanna and Kanye West from the Jingle Ball 2008 December 12, 2008. Click each to see the larger version. I’ll be adding more pics from the event today and tomorrow.
