In the latest example of an artist showing some love to Haiti, Rihanna took to the stage on Oprah Winfrey’s show on Wednesday in support of the relief efforts. This support came in the form of a wonderfully powerful cover of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”.
Accompanied initially by just an acoustic guitar and organ, the Barbados native sang in front of a backdrop reflecting photos of the destruction caused by the earthquake. Midway through, a full backing band comes into play, further emphasizing both the emotional intensity and uplifting nature of the song.
“This song for me, growing up, anytime there was a difficult situation, I always listened to this song because it was so liberating,” said Rihanna. “Even now I listen to it when my back is up against the wall. I feel like the people of Haiti need to hear something inspiring.”
Rihanna added after her performance, “Often in a tragedy like this, it’s the orphans who suffer most. In Haiti, they’ve already had almost 400,000 orphans prior to this. There are so many kids out there without parents, who can’t find their parents. There are a lot of kids dead, a lot of kids hungry. They have no way to get food. They’re helpless. That’s why we have to take care of them. The children are the future.”
Rihanna also used the appearance to encourage viewers to turn in to the “Hope for Haiti: A Global Benefit For Earthquake Relief” telethon on January 22nd. She’ll be performing in London alongside Bono, the Edge, and Jay-Z for that awesome, yet-to-be-titled collaboration.
“Everybody needs to tune in,” Rihanna said before Wednesday’s performance. “We need your help. Don’t depend on it to get done. Don’t assume it’s going to get done — it’s only going to get done if we help.”
The cover is currently available for sale on iTunes, RihannaNow.com, and Oprah.com with all proceeds going to Haitian relief efforts.
