From The Straits Times    |

 

Rumour has it that Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin wrote the hit song, “Fix You” for wife Gwyneth Paltrow after the passing of her father, Bruce Paltrow. The ballad tugged at our heartstrings and resonated with listeners around the world, making it one of the band’s biggest hits ever.

We can’t think of a song more apt to help out with Japan’s quake relief efforts than this.

More than 40 artists around the world covered the single to benefit The Japanese Red Cross Society and Tokyo charity Peace Boat.

Multi-platinum selling band, Simple Plan (Lead singer Pierre Bouvier is pictured on the left),  recorded their version in Canada, 11-year-old guitar prodigy Yuto Miyazawa strummed his guitar solo in Tokyo and somewhere in between—at Singapore’s Ocean Butterflies Studio—over 40 artists from all over the globe did their part by recording an Asian-themed version of the song.

The unprecedented event took place over a period of just 36 hours during the recently concluded Music Matters conference and Music Matters Live with HP music festival, which was held in Singapore from May 26-28.

“The net result, in my opinion, is a sonic masterpiece of loving art, born from the hearts and souls of all the participants, for the sole purpose of helping to relieve the suffering of the victims of the earthquake and tsunami of 2011,” said veteran Los Angeles based producer Joseph Curiale, who not only oversaw and mixed the final version, but had a personal attachment to the outcome since he was actually in Japan when the earthquake struck.

Now in its sixth year, Music Matters is a four-day, five-night entertainment industry gathering held in Singapore, a global outlook that offers a business gateway to Asia-Pacific, the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami tragedies were close to home and mind as the conference took shape.

The track incorporates Japanese instruments like the Koto (national instrument of Japan) and Shakuhachi (Japanese end-blown flute) and features everyone from emerging Asian artists like Singapore music ensemble 53A and Sixx, to music prodigy and guitar whiz Yuto Miyazawa, regional sensations Car Sick Cars (China) and Pentagram (India), as well as established international superstars Simple Plan and Canadian sensations These Kids Wear Crowns and Saidah Baba Talibah.

“There were significant logistical challenges in producing this new recording of ‘Fix You’. It required many vocals being sent from a variety of countries in advance, and our having to create an international music mosaic from a distance,” said Joseph Curiale.
 
For 11-year-old guitarist Yuto Miyazawa, the track also had special meaning. “I am honored to take part in this wonderful project and very thankful for all of the help and support given to Japan. Ganbarou Nippon! (Stay strong Japan!)”, he said.
 
“Fix You” was released to a limited audience on Friday 27 May 2011 at the Music Matters conference via the Music Matters app and all proceeds will go to The Japanese Red Cross Society and Tokyo charity Peace Boat.

WATCH VIDEO: