Songs for Japan [Import]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 5, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Legacy
• ASIN: B004TS0LBW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,744 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. John Lennon “Imagine”

2. U2 “Walk On”

3. Bob Dylan “Shelter From The Storm”

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Around The World”

5. Lady Gaga “Born This Way”

6. Beyonce “Irreplaceable”

7. Bruno Mars “Talking To The Moon”

8. Katy Perry “Firework”

9. Rihanna “Only Girl (In The World)”

10. Justin Timberlake “Like I Love You”

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Lady Antebellum “I Run To You”

2. Bon Jovi “What Do You Got”

3. Foo Fighters “My Hero”

4. REM “Man On The Moon”

5. Nicki Minaj “Save Me”

6. Sade “By Your Side”

7. Michael Buble “Hold On”

8. Justin Bieber “Pray”

9. Adele “Make You Feel My Love”

10. Enya “If I Could Be Where You Are”

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

A music industry-wide charity initiative, Songs For Japan is an unprecedented compilation of 37 major hits and classic tracks on 2 CDs including 21 Billboard Hot 100 hits and five #1's from more than 30 of the biggest names in contemporary music. It is a star-studded album collection benefitting Japan earthquake and Pacific tsunami relief. The artists participating on Songs for Japan, the music labels and music publishers have waived their royalties and proceeds to ensure that the Japanese Red Cross Society receives as much support as possible from this initiative.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 61 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars For a good cause, but some tracks are sub-quality April 4, 2011

By Anthony L. Robertson

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

First, I gave this 4 stars because the primary reason for buying this was to support the relief efforts in Japan. I already the original version of most of the music. I bought this mainly with the idea of listening to some music of artists that I either have not heard of, or hadn't felt that their music was worth investing in as of yet.

Overall this is definitely a value album since you get 38 songs for less that $10. Most of the songs have an uplifting melody or lyrics. Most are rather slow, so if you are looking for dance music than this is definately not an album for you.

I can't speak of all the songs, but I know that some are definitely not the original versions and because of this I was quite disappointed. I considered dropping this another star, but I reconsidered since the primary reason for buying this wasn't just for the music.

(No particular order, just how they loaded into my music player)
Good versions:
Lady Antebellum - I Run to You
Foo Fighters - My Hero
Micheael Buble - Hold On
Adele - Make You Feel My Love (Excellent song. Slow but has a jazzy feel)
John Mayer - Waiting on the World to Change
Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
Norah Jones - Sunrise
John Lennon - Imagine (Excellent song even if I now own 4 versions of it)
U2 - Walk On
Bob Dylan - Shelter From the Storm (Interesting this song was selected for this cd, but good addition)
David Guetta - When Love Takes Over (One of the surprises on the album for me because I did not know the artist)
Eminem - Love the Way You Lie (I am not a huge fan of Eminem but this is a pretty good song. In my opinion he always sounds better when he gets a quality singer for the chorus)
Keith Urban - Better Life (I am not a huge country fan but this song is pretty good, although it still has some country twang)
Pink - Sober
Cee-Lo-Green - It's OK

Average versions:
Bon Jovi - What Do You Got?
Nicki Minaj - Save Me
Sade - By Your Side
Justin Bieber - Pray (I am not really a Bieber fan but this is a decent song)
Enya - If I Could Be Where You Are
Elton John - Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
Queen - Teo Torriatte
Sting - Fragile
Leona Lewis - Better in Time
Ne-Yo - One in a Million
Shakira - Whenever, Wherever (Personally I liked her Spanish version much better)
Beyonce Knowles - Irreplaceable
Bruno Mars - Talking to the Moon (While I do like his two popular singles, this song seems a bit too slow for him. Still a decent song)
Katy Perry - Firework
Rihanna - Only Girl
Justin Timberlake - Like I Love You
Madonna - Miles Away
Bruce Springsteen - Human Touch (Sounds a bit muffled but it still has pretty decent quality)
Josh Groban - Awake
Black Eyed Peas - One Tribe (This seems to be the exact same as on the E.N.D. cd)

Poor versions:
R.E.M. Man on the Moon (Thankfully I own the original which is way better. This version sounds muffled and the 'Hey Baby' lyrics sound so fake)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Around the World (Again a bit muffled as in the REM song. Not a horrible version, but not as good a quality as I would expect thankfully I already own this song as well).
Lady Gaga - Born This Way (This super extended version is horrendous. I actually like the radio edit, since I don't actually own the single. This one was my biggest disappointment since I was hoping this version was at least comparable to the radio edit)

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Help Japan, and treat yourself. April 5, 2011

By H3@+h

Format:Audio CD

First let me say, based on what I've read the record companies have waived their usual fees so ALL of the money from sales goes directly to the Japan Red Cross. If that's so, bravo to them. Currently the mp3 and CD goes for around ten dollars. That may not seem like much to donate to such a needed cause, but when many thousands of people do it...$$$.

Now for the music, other than the Lady Gaga track it looks to me like everything here is available elsewhere. Some songs are old, some songs are newer, but almost nothing is exclusive to this collection (usually a reason to buy). Also fyi, a number of the songs are the live versions: RHCP, Madonna, Josh Groban, REM, Sting. Songs from Eminem and Nicki Minaj are the clean versions. One big plus is that Songs For Japan is two discs worth of music, so we get 38 songs! 19 on each disc, which is about as full as a CD can be. (Currently the CD edition isn't showing the Madonna or David Guetta tracks).

There's no doubt few people want every song here, but at 38 cents a track you can't beat it. It's like getting 28 songs for free. Normally I'd never give most of these songs 5 stars, but for the quantity, the quality and the cause....5 stars. Get well soon Japan.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars (Not the Version of "Born This Way" You're Looking For, But) Great Music for a Fine Cause April 5, 2011

By Rudy Palma

Format:Audio CD

It should be noted for those interested in the inclusion of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" that the version here is not the hit version from the radio but instead the dance floor ready Starstruck Mix, which clocks in at 6:45 and, while full of zest, is no replacement for the catchy original.

Still, it seldom gets more cost effective than nearly 40 tracks - most of them hit singles, many of them quite recent, others timeless radio staples - for 10 dollars. Add in the fact that the artists and their labels have waived their standard fees, which means all profits go to help those who are suffering in Japan, and "Songs for Japan" may justifiably become one of the year's highest sellers.

Of course, some inclusions are less generous than others, such as Adele's take on Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love," popularized by Billy Joel, as opposed to one of her several larger hits. Still, the standard of quality persists, with a leaning toward strength-of-conviction anthems such U2's "Walk On" and the pure, unadulterated beauty of John Lennon's "Imagine."

This makes tracks such as Pink's 2008 Top 20 hit "Sober" and Rihanna's recent chart-topper "Only Girl (In the World)" - not to mention Justin Timberlake's 2002 Michael Jackson mimicry "Like I Love You" - stand out like sore thumbs. Nevertheless, the amount of (mostly) solid music for the price is large.

Madonna's "Miles Away" is represented by a solid live rendition on the digital release. It was one of the best tracks from her 2008 album "Hard Candy" and should have been a hit single. Other lesser-known gems include Bruce Springsteen's satisfying, underrated "Human Touch" from 1992.

Kings of Leon deserve commendation for turning down a paycheck in the name of the artistic beliefs and not licensing their music to Fox's "Glee" yet including their biggest hit ("Use Somebody") here without any profit to be had.

Some of the sequencing is a bit odd, as though the track list was determined by drawing names from a hat. After all, a recent Justin Bieber recording ("Pray") sounds a bit jarring when so close in proximity to soothing Enya ("If I Could Be Where You Are") and classic Elton John ("Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me"). So does Shakira's 2001 smash "Whenever, Wherever" next to Norah Jones' gorgeous "Sunrise."

"Songs for Japan" is an impressive selection of music, precision-tooled to draw a large audience together to spread music and, most importantly, charity. A purchase is highly recommended.