Jay-Z - Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)

It is amazing that (talented) artists can just jump in a studio at any given moment and create such meaningful and powerful music. This has quite the powerful line-up of star power behind it. Only in the name of charity would we get a Swizz Beatz produced record that has Bono singing a hook. Amazing.

Swizzy Swizzy Swizzy, i hope u keep some sick beats for urself. he was def the highlight here. as for the rest, i could use a break from the whole Haiti thing.

If the "Forever" lineup was the definition of a super-collaboration for '09, this is definitely worthy of that title for (at least the start) of 2010. Amazing; when's the last time Bono touched something that didn't turn to gold?

Rihanna's input on the hook ruined the whole song for me (the "Can't wait until tomorrow" part in particular). The chorus with Bono is solid (I'm a huge U2 fan so I was extremely pleased to see them on here) but Jay-Z definitely stole the show. The flow on this one goes hard. Take out the hook and this is a classic.

I'm not gonna rate a song just becuz of what its about (like Better On The Other Side for Michael Jackson, although i do regret rating that a 3, i didnt really give it a chance)

My hatred towards Jay Z continues, he continues to bring average verses, the hook kind of annoyed me, but it was alright, and so was the song

I bought the track, only to support Haiti.

I wasnt a fan of this track when i first heard it. The production is average & I wasnt a big fan of Jay-Z's verses. Bono on the hook was alright.

Its for a great cause so we all should be supporting this track

This song is really good. I heard it on tv the other day and feel in love with it. Dope

HELP HAITI

Personally, I would've preferred this without Rihanna. Bono steals the show. Jay-Z is sadly one of the few artists from this genre that can come out on a track like this without sounding like a fool, and look professional. All for the sake of the good cause, there's not a single reason to hate.

This is such a great song. Swizz really surprised the hell outta me with a guitar style beat, the guitar riffs at the end really made it special, and I loved Jay's verse. "Learn from the past, New Orleans was flooded/So we know we just can’t rely on the government".

Bono's voice is so powerfull and went nice with Ri's voice, who as well sounded great. Love this song.

A great song for a great cause!

Best Haiti tribute yet. I agree, rating music like this is hard cuz its all about the message, but from a musical standpoint, this was hot. Great verses from Jay. I don't know what some of yall are listening to. I liked the Mike Shinoda effect on his vocals. Rihanna was good, but Bono and Swizz stole the show for me. CLASSIC!

No. Haiti needs all the prayer they can get.

Production is amazing: beautiful mournful and hopeful melodies at the same time. Percussion, occasional piano, bells... everything hit in the right moment. (can't believe someone called this "average"!). Swizz surprised me, much respect!

Maybe the "pre-chorus" was too much for Rihanna, but she holds the chorus well with her distinctive touch that brings a needed uplifting vibe to the cause.

Bono was his great self in the bridge and in the background tips, and The Edge just made that guitar smile and cry at the same time. That was beautiful in the end.

Jay-Z represents everything good about hip hop.

where can i download this track?

Swizz Beatz!!! (RR!)

Jay-Z, is the physical manifestation of contradiction! He has assumed the forefront of confused artists, followed by David Banner and Khujo Goodie, with his "heavenly father" line.

Cannot go wrong with Bono, that guy's amazing. Probably, should have taken sole ownership of the hook.

Rihanna's sound in this song was strange, yet gratifying, except when she attempted to harmonize with Bono. ("Give me that sh*t b*tch"- Bono)

I like the intentions though.

Jay-Z=2
Rihanna=3
Remnants of U2=5
Swizz Beatz=5

Overall=3.75

When I was watching the relief on TV and this song came on, I was blown away. EXCELLENT job on this track by everyone, but especially Jay-Z. Very positive track, but it was done excellently. BANGER STATUS! Go make your donation if you haven't already. They are really hurting over there! Easy...

First of all, it goes without saying that I support Haiti, and I've got nothing but respect for these artists for using their fame to help.

But on a purely musical level this just doesn't work for me, it sounds disjointed, which makes sense given the short time frame they had to work under.

Think about it like the Pro Bowl. Sure there are a lot of great players on the field, but since they've only been playing together for a few hours the result's almost never that good. Maybe Jay x Swizz x U2 could have pulled it off, maybe, but adding Rihanna's just too much.

While I must admit that I didn't watch the majority of the telethon, I did donate and have tried my best to get everyone that I know to donate and become aware of the fact that the people of Haiti are still in great, great need...

[Jay-Z - Chorus]
When the sky falls and the Earth quakes
We gon put this back together
We won’t break
[repeat]

[Jay-Z]
Sa Pa Sé, my Port-Au-Princes
my Haitian Gods and all of my Princesses
Our condolences as you fightin’ against this
we’re right by your side while we tryin’ to make sense of this
heavenly father help us see through these problems
and for those that left, accept them into your garden
so here’s my theory, the country’s already starvin’
so we sacrificed many to shed light on all of them
God please pardon, I speak from my heart
its the only way I see this tragedy befall on them
so lets get involved with them, hand to hand with them
arm to arm with them til they get strong again,
When the sky falls…

[Rihanna & Bono – Hook]
Can’t wait until tomorrow
Haitia, Mi Amor
Haiti, Mon Amour
Not gonna leave you stranded, alone, alone
oh no

[Chorus]

[Jay-Z]
Learn from the past, New Orleans was flooded
So we know we just can’t rely on the government
We under the rubble again, here we go rumbling when
When we gon catch a break, my friend lost his mother and then
And then, Carline lost her uncles and them
Buried with no caskets, they just put covers on them
And the tears fall, and we fight back
Story ain’t done, it can’t end like that
Nah not like this, tomorrow’s survivors gonna carry on your name
You live on inside us, your memory’s alive with us
You inspired us, to rebuild this country, you just guide us

[Hook]

[Bono]
It’s not the angels that are on their way
its not the bells of Santa Trinity
the people waiting, position vacant
for hands to help, not just to pray

[Hook]

[French singing]
Haïti va s’élever
Tu vas te relever
Nous nous éléverons
Ensemble ensemble ensemble

(not gonna leave you stranded…)

[Jay-Z]
we gon put this back together we wont break
we gon put this back together we wont break
we gon put this back together we wont break
we gon put this back together we wont break

I liked this a lot. The guitars in the production were great and the fact that this many different styles of musicians came together to make a song like this is inspiring. Jay-Z was solid and having Bono on here was special. Rihanna sounded great too. Much respect.

i liked this but rihanna didnt work, jay-z was alright, not great though, bono was awesome as was swizzy, 3.5 but ill round up cos of the message.

Jay-Z killed it & Bono!! I agree with everybody else I don't know about Rihanna, she sounded bad on this track.

Another auto-banger from jay-z, surprised anyone? With an Al star line up and an uplifting message its no wonder. This will be in rotation for a loooong time.

Oh I forgot, thank you again Mr. Top Hat for the lyrics!

good song... powerful...

This actually sounds pretty nice, SWIZZ KILLS IT! Bono sounds strange singing spanish/french with an irish accent. Rihanna actually wasn't bad, the less the better lol It all fits relatively well.

I LOVE this song (You don't hear that from me often) Not just because it's for Haiti, but it shows how talented artists( and producers, Swizz) can get when they're really into something.

i rate it a 5 star for what it is about

Yes.

Yo im a haitian and from the first i heard jigga was making a track bout i just died

another beautiful song,thanx richard & the booth,for this amazing piece of ear candy,love it

Good work

Impressive.

The message is what it's all about, I hope the world can put what's broken back together... musically wise tho... I dunno it IS heartfelt, but it's just not what I'd listen to. I can't wait for Wyclef's album...

im not a fan of Jay-z...at ALL!....but just because its about my country...and because i think its very considerate of them,i'll give it a 5...donate to Haiti?

i like this

Im feelin like the music industry is reaching new heights soon all the other planets are goona come to listen lol!

Love this!