I’ll apologise in advance for getting a little serious today folks, but the topic is related to the recent devastating events that occurred in Haiti and I don’t think it’s appropriate to sprinkle my usual playful and regularly sarcastic humour throughout today’s words and sounds.
Words can’t really even begin to describe the magnitude of what occurred in Haiti recently, yet the more we read and hear helps us understand that this is devastation like very few us will ever experience – devastation of the physical buildings and land, and devastation of the hearts and lives of the Haitian people. It breaks my heart – and without wanting to sounds too preachy, so it damn well should!
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of a lazy Saturday at home – coffee, paper, Video Hits … life was all good. After Video Hits finished, I could hear a familiar voice coming from the TV and thought “that sounds like Alicia Keys” (I can sniff it out from anywhere, despite it being a sound) so I got up to check out what was going on. And how glad I am that I did …
A special televised event called Hope For Haiti was being hosted from both the US and the UK by celebrities to raise money for the earthquake damaged country. There were celebrities manning the phones and separately telling us very moving stories about some of the individual struggles – and triumphs – of the Haitian people since the quake and there were some spectacular performances too.
In case you missed it, I think it’s worth highlighting three of those performances in particular. PLEASE check them out, be MOVED by their sincerity and DONATE to the people of Haiti who have likely had more struggles in the last two weeks (not to mention the many years prior) than you or I could even imagine.
To donate, you can visit www.hopeforhaitinow.org. Even if it’s only $5, that is about twice what the average Haitian earns per day, so the impact will not be insignificant.
The songs can also be downloaded at iTunes and the proceeds will be going to the relief efforts. Click on the song title below to view the performance.
Bridge Over Troubled Water – Stevie Wonder
You really understand why people hold him in such high regard when you see a performance like this. His voice, his emotion, his passion – all out on a plate for you to eat up as much as you like .. and I licked the bowl clean! Outstanding.
Hallelujah – Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris
Wow – I can’t blame my dear friend Kitty Cat for writing ‘JT doing Hallelujah. Kill me now - I’m happy’. Whilst being a great performance, it’s not his best performance ever but he means every single word he sings and that is surely the most important thing at an event like this – and he’s still better than 99.9% of the remaining performing population. PLUS, Matt Morris – where have you been all my life. His voice matches JT in this one here AND THEN I learn he co-wrote on Christina Aguilera’s Stripped album (you know, one of the best cd’s I own) … wow! And he is also an openly gay man, for what that’s worth (which is a lot to those of us who are of that particular ‘preference’).
Lift Me Up – Christina Aguilera
She. Is. Incredible. I really hope that watching this there are a few of you who learn and understand what it is she has to offer. Her voice is flawless and epic and she sings with a sincerity that brings tears to my eyes – this is amazing and would be nowhere near as effective by anyone else. That’s the truth. And almost like fate the pianist is Linda Perry, who no longer needs an introduction around these parts. I don’t know where this song came from, but I’m really happy that she sang it and that I was lucky enough to see it. Give it a chance, please.
I have watched these three clips and others (Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Sheryl Crow) so many times already. I wouldn’t have donated had I not seen this and I’m hoping that by sharing this with you, a few more of you will donate too.
Thanks for letting me get on my high horse today – I won’t ride it that often, just so you know …
