The coronavirus outbreak has seen countless musicians coming together to perform from isolation, and now Canada’s best, including Rush frontman Geddy Lee, have joined to perform ‘Lean On Me’ for charity.
The Bill Withers cover united over 25 artists including Avril Lavigne, Bryan Adams, Jann Arden, Justin Bieber, Michael Bublé, Sarah McLachlan, Serena Ryder and Walk Off The Earth.
The single has now been released under the moniker ArtistsCAN, and the initiative will see all profits from sales going to the Canadian Red Cross response to COVID-19.
There’s also an official music video for the single, with Rush star Lee, Bieber, and the rest all showing off their homes or home studies.
The ‘Lean On Me’ cover debuted over the weekend on a TV special throughout Canada called ‘Strong Together, Tous Ensemble’, and started artists, activists, actors and athletes telling their stories of hope and inspiration in a tribute to frontline health care workers.
Geddy Lee’s appearance in the clip is a clear highlight, as he appears in front of over a dozen guitars hanging in his studio, and with his dog on his lap.
He hasn’t lost any of his vocal chops either, giving a passionate rendition of the Bill Withers classic.
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The single is now available on all digital platforms to stream and download.
Check out ‘Lean On Me’ performed by ArtistsCAN:
Closer to home, Aussie artists came together for a similar performance to pay tribute to the ANZACs as well as our frontline medical workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, during Music From The Home Front.
One of the undoubted highlights was a performance by Hunter & Collectors and Australian Crawl members.
COVID-19 has also seen stacks of artists performing covers that may never have seen the light of day otherwise. So for something a bit different check out ‘YYZ’ by Rush as covered by Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies and Testament.
