Madonna
צילום: AP
Stars unite to help Haiti in telethon
(Video) George Clooney hosts benefit meant to aid quake-devastated nation, as stars like Wyclef Jean, Justin Timberlake, Brad Pitt, Madonna and Beyonce call on viewers to help Haitians recover
VIDEO – Some of the world's most popular screen and stage stars joined forces in "Hope for Haiti Now," a telethon held in New York to raise funds to aid the quake-devastated nation.
"Enough of this moping, man, let's rebuild Haiti, let's show 'em how we do it where we come from!" singer-producer Wyclef Jean, shouted after singing the downbeat "Rivers of Babylon," with a Haitian flag around his neck.
The telethon, shown on all the major US networks and streamed live on many Web sites, was quickly put together by George Clooney and MTV Networks, along with the help of others, to raise millions of dollars for the Caribbean country.
Video: Reuters (צילום: רויטרס, עריכה: תמר אברהם)
The list of participating celebrities rivaled any top awards show: Justin Timberlake, Brad Pitt, former President Clinton, Muhammad Ali, Beyonce, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Halle Berry, and many more. Luminaries like Steven Spielberg worked the phone banks, talking to donors.
"Hey Steven Spielberg, it's really cool to talk to you," one woman said to the Academy Award-winning filmmaker.
Singer John Mayer called in a $500,000 donation before the telethon began, according to a representative for MTV. Officials did not have an immediate total for the relief funds raised by the telethon.
Some stars, like Matt Damon and Clint Eastward recounted tragic moments from the quake; others like Denzel Washington offered inspirational words. Most of the musical performances were downcast, emotional songs. John Legend sang "I Feel like a Motherless Child." Kid Rock, Keith Urban and Sheryl Crow sang "Lean on me." Beyonce, with Coldplay's Chris Martin backing her on piano, revised her hit "Halo" with new lyrics: "Haiti we can see your halo, we pray you won't fade away."
Madonna provided one of the few upbeat moments with her choir-backed performance of "Like a Prayer."
Jay-Z, Riana and U2's Bono and The Edge debuted a new song, "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)," as Jay-Z rapped from London: "When the sky falls, and the earth quakes, we goon' put this back together, we won't break."
The telethon was broadcast from New York, London, Los Angeles and Haiti, where CNN's Anderson Cooper interviewed quake victims and anchored news clips of the tragedy.
Haitians were able to listen on Radio One Haiti.
A crowd made up mostly of Haiti's wealthier elite gathered Friday night at Break Time restaurant, one of the only still open in Port-au-Prince, and one of the only places residents could watch the telethon.
Owner Patrick Alexis said he enjoyed seeing the celebrities but was skeptical the money would get to people who need it.
"It's easy to do a telethon on behalf of the Haitian people, but who will really get the money? I know my country, I know my people, I know the leaders," he said.
The telethon won't be the last major celebrity effort for Haiti; BET plans to hold its own all-star telethon on Feb. 5, with Daddy and Queen Latina as hosts. It will also be aired on MTV and VH1.
