Fix You

Though five months have passed since a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck northeast Japan, and though Japan has a reputation for endurance and comeback, there are still thousands of people there whose lives remain disheveled, who live in disarray and who define their days as temporary and subnormal. Despite the country’s touted wealth and its people’s resilience, a helping hand can be a beautiful sight to people struggling in the affected areas.

Fundraising events and charity efforts continue. One of the more ambitious contributions has come from the Music Matters Festival that played Singapore for five days between May 24 and 28. Among the bands and artists who performed at the festival, forty-eight of them from eighteen different countries participated in recording a special medley of Coldplay’s “Fix You” to be released globally. Coldplay donated the right to use the song, with promotional work being handled by Universal Music Group. The final track was put together in only thirty-six hours and includes contributions from other artists in Canada, Ireland and Japan, many of whom also appear in the supporting video. Among the artists contributing efforts to the cause are eleven year-old Japanese guitarist Yuto Miyazawa, Canada’s Simple Plan and Sixx from Singapore.

Artists, producers and studio engineers contributed their talents in the hope of showing that music can make a difference. One hundred percent of sales from the to-be-released single will be donated to Japan Red Cross and Peace Boat, two of the non-profit organizations actively helping victims rebuild their lives.

Japan is second only to the US in terms of the worldwide music market and number one in the Asia Pacific region. It has always been an important territory for music sales and musicians at the Music Matters Festival in Singapore saw it as a chance to contribute something to help friends and fans in Japan. Asked about the project, lead singer for Simple Plan, Pierre Bouvier responded: “It’s great to see that by bringing together a small group of people we can actually make a difference. We’re looking forward to seeing how this song inspires others to get involved in the rebuilding of Japan.”

An iTunes release is expected shortly.

Please find in your day six minutes to watch the very moving video below. You will be impressed. It is a beautiful effort and collaboration on the part of musicians to give something back, to help those in need and to spread the power of hearts opened to others. If nothing else, the eleven year-old Japanese guitarist Yuto Miyazawa will open your eyes. Share it!