Hope for Haiti Now: "Not Gonna Leave You Stranded"

Speaking to a global audience of tens of millions, George Clooney, the prime mover behind 'Hope for Haiti Now' described the earthquake that hit the Carribean island on January 12 as 'a tragedy that reaches across all borders, all boundaries...the Haitian people need our help. They need to know they are not alone.'

Jay-Z, U2 and Rihanna got together in London to perform "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" in front of an audience as part of the "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief" telethon on Friday night (January 22).

The mid-tempo track featured guitar by The Edge and messages of hope from Jay-Z, Rihanna and Bono. Along with Madonna's "Like a Prayer" and Wyclef Jean's finale, it was one of the most upbeat performance of the night.

"My Port-au-Princes and Haitians gods/ All my princesses/ Our condolences as we fight against this," Jay rapped to open the record. "We right by your side/ While we trying to make sense of this/ Heavenly Father/ Help us see through these problems/ For those that's left/ Welcome them into your garden.

"Let's get involved with 'em," Jay added in the first verse. "Hand in hand with 'em/ Arm and arm with 'em/ Till they get strong again."

"When the sky falls and the earth quakes/ We gonna put this back together/ We won't break," the rap icon promised with a melodic delivery.

In the second verse, Jay touched on Hurricane Katrina: "We learned from the past/ New Orleans was flooded/ So we know we just can't rely on the government."

Rihanna and Bono both lent their vocals to the hook.

"Can't wait until tomorrow," U2's frontman and the pop princess sang, stressing the urgent need for help.

"Haiti, mon amour," Rihanna took over.
"Not gonna leave you stranded, alone," they continued.

The in-studio version of "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" will be available via iTunes on a special album of live performances from the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon. Just like the telethon, relief organizations that will benefit from the special album include Partners in Health, Oxfam America, the Red Cross, UNICEF, Yéle Haiti Foundation, United Nations World Food Program and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. All the proceeds will go toward Haiti earthquake relief.

Visit and donate: www.hopeforhaitinow.org
Donate now at 1-877-51-HAITI

source:www.u2.com//www.mtv.com