Haiti all-star telethon breaks records and tops iTunes charts

MTV and George Clooney's star-studded Hope for Haiti Now telethon, seen on dozens of channels around the world, has raised $58 million for the Haiti earthquake relief efforts, and counting -- the most ever raised by any televised fundraiser. The songs performed and available for downloading on iTunes, also broke records for the biggest album pre-orders.

(Relaxnews) -

MTV and George Clooney's star-studded Hope for Haiti Now telethon, seen on dozens of channels around the world, has raised $58 million for the Haiti earthquake relief efforts, and counting - the most ever raised by any televised fundraiser. The songs performed and available for downloading on iTunes, also broke records for the biggest album pre-orders.

While actors from Robert Pattinson to Julia Roberts and director Steven Spielberg requested donations and took phone calls, performers sang songs appropriate to the cause, either from their own repertoire or borrowed. The first song to hit the top of the iTunes singles chart in 12 countries was "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" by Jay-Z, Bono, the Edge, and Rihanna, an original song written for the occasion.

The all-time single day record for advance album orders on iTunes was the Hope For Haiti Now collection, where reached number one in 21 countries, including the US. Justin Timberlake's version of "Hallelujah" hit second place and five other songs from the telethon made the top 50.

All of the proceeds from the sales of songs and the album will benefit the victims of the Haiti earthquake. The artists' inspired performances follow:

- Jay-Z, Rihanna, Bono and the Edge, "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" an original song
- Beyonce, "Halo"
- Mary J. Blige, "Hard Times Come Again No More"
- Shakira with The Roots, "I'll Stand by You" (The Pretenders' song)
- Justin Timberlake with Charlie Sexton, "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen song)
- Alicia Keys, "Send Me an Angel"
- Coldplay, "A Message 2010"
- Sting, "Driven to Tears
- Christina Aguilera, "Lift Me Up"
- John Legend, "Motherless Child"
- Bruce Springsteen, "We Shall Overcome"
- Madonna, "Like a Prayer"
- Wyclef Jean, "Rivers of Babylon"
- Jennifer Hudson, "Let It Be" (The Beatles)
- Emeline Michel, "Too Many Rivers to Cross" (the Jimmy Cliff song)
- Taylor Swift, "Breathless" (song from alt-rock band Better Than Ezra)
- Dave Matthew and Neil Young, "Alone and Forsaken" (Hank Williams's song)
- Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock and Keith Urban, "Lean on Me" (Bill Withers's tune)
- Stevie Wonder, "A Time to Love" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" medley

The money will be split between eight organizations including Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF, World Food Programme, Yele Haiti Foundation and Clinton-Bush Haiti Foundation. Donations will be accepted for the next six months online (www.hopeforhaitinow.org).

Performances can be seen on www.mtv.com and songs can be purchased for .99 cents at www.apple.com/itunes/overview

RC