The new charity single “Just Stand Up” is a great idea, a way to raise funds for cancer research and awareness for the “Stand Up to Cancer” special to be aired on ABC, CBS and NBC on Sept. 5.
In practice, though, the song, produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface, is a bit of a diva pile-up, with 15 singers crammed into a song that clocks in around three-and-a-half-minutes. And telling one from another, especially in the middle, gets a bit dicey.
So here’s a handy guide to tell who’s who:
Beyonce is clearly the opener, followed by a pop-sounding Carrie Underwood. Next is Rihanna, with her cute accent and distinctive phrasing that makes her lines sound a bit like “Umbrella,” and a line from Sheryl Crow. Crow and Beyonce team up for the first pass through the chorus.
The second verse starts with Fergie’s distinctly not-cute accent, before she starts trading lines with Leona Lewis and then Keyshia Cole. Rihanna returns for her bit, trading lines with Miley Cyrus, before handing off to LeAnn Rimes and Natasha Bedingfield. Underwood picks up the Sheryl Crow line and they all head into the chorus together, with some powerful vamping from Melissa Ethridge.
Mary J. Blige handles the first half of the bridge, with some support from Ciara, Rihanna and Underwood. Mariah Carey takes over for the second half, supported by Ashanti – leading to an All-Long Island oasis. Then Mary and Mariah head back into the chorus, ad libbing over the group, complete with Mariah’s trademark high-register notes.
Fergie comes back for the outro and we’re out.
"Just Stand Up" goes on sale on iTunes on Sept. 2 and will make its live debut during the Sept. 5 special.
Comments (3)
The Standup to cancer programming mainstreams the critical message that for so many is unspeakable.
But to fight the fight we must not bury the pain of the past but to push for solutions for the future.
Every family in every neighborhood across America has felt the pain cancer can bring. Cancer is not an unlucky role of the dice. Never before have the incidences of cancer been so high both for children and also in adults where specifically the leaps in cancer incidences are unrelated to smoking.
Cancer touches all both young and old. Cancer has become so prevalent it has now become an expected stage of life. Never before has there been more cancer. While the cure and early detection must never be underestimated- we must press to find solutions to preventing cancer. Cancer must be headed off at the pass.
Bill Couzens Founder Lesscancer.org
.I was diagnosed with Small Cell Cervical Cancer in August of 2008. I was 38. This is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that very little is known about. There is hardly any data to give a prognosis, but I am here, 18 months after treatment....and "cancer free".
Everyone will be touched by cancer at one point or another in their lives. Those of us diagnosed, will muster the strength to fight and those of us that are family members or friends, will put on a good face and stand by their sides. But, none of us will forget.
Cancer is not forgiving and does not discriminate. But cancer is a thing. We are living, human beings and can conquer this monster. We have the ability to be stronger and smarter and we will overcome if we stick together.
Stand Up 2 Cancer should be the beginning of this revolution! Take this stride and run. Today must be the beginning of the end of this disease and we has the human race, must come together and fight. Everything that can be done, should. Press forward and make our voices heard. We are not going to stand for this. We are going to "Stand Up 2 Cancer" and win.
I am a 46 year old male with breast cancer. I was diagnosed january 11th 2008. I believe 1 of my missions as I go threw life will help people with early detaction of cancer and that anyone including males can get breast cancer. LIVESTONG PEACE