ARTISTS: Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, Leona Lewis, LeAnn Rimes, and Carrie Underwood
TITLE: “Just Stand Up”
WEB DEBUT: Aug. 22, 2008
ONE-LISTEN VERDICT: I know it’s probably uncharitable to say not-very-nice things about efforts put forth for a good cause, and Lord knows the “female singers are all so processed” argument is more than a little bit old. But this LA Reid and Babyface-produced benefit single (proceeds will go to the cancer-research nonprofit Stand Up For Cancer) is less notable for sounding exactly like what you’d think an LA Reid and Babyface-produced benefit single made in 2008 and more notable for processing the voices of all the boldfaced names singing on the track into a smooth oleo. Only Rihanna, Fergie, and Melissa Etheridge broke through the Velveeta barrier; shoot, I needed a second listen to figure out that Beyonce was probably singing the opening couplet, and she’s not exactly the type who’s wont to “blend.” Perhaps the production is actually a statement on how everyone should give up their egos for the fight against what is obviously an awful disease, but for some reason I suspect that we’re going to see quite the melisma contest during the performance of the track on the charity’s attendant telethon, which airs Sept. 5.
WHERE TO FIND IT: Clear Channel’s Boston top-40 station has the track streaming, although a warning to any of you who may click while at work: It’s on autoplay, so find some headphones first.
Surprised people are having difficulty telling the singers apart – thought Beyonce, Carrie, Rihanna, Fergie, Leona and Mary J Blige were very clear (and distinctive) from the first listen. And then there were Mariah’s cat yelps at the end.
Those who really suffer are the likes of Natasha and LeAnn who seem to have been given words rather than lines to sing.
Overall it could have been far, far worse.
I’ll buy it, but I’m really looking forward to the remix featuring Lil’ Wayne.
The very premise of this single is evil, thereby negating any good it might do.
I did about as good as UKidol at picking out those ones…Is that Keyshia that jumps in after Blige’s half-verse?
Surprised though that aside from Mariah’s yelps at the end, I couldn’t pick out a verse or line sung by her. Where is it? Also, nothing recognizable from Ciara and a few others. And wait, why did they give Fergie so much? (she gets that spoken crap at the end to)
the order of their names changed, i think.
i think i’d rather just give some money to some cancer research people and not have to listen to this again. although it’s at least less slow than i’d have thought.