Christina Aguilera, R.E.M. Cover Lennon For Darfur

NEW YORK (March 12. 2007) — Christina Aguilera, British chanteuse Corinne Bailey Rae and punk rockers Green Day are among the many artists set to cover John Lennon songs in aid of Darfur.Earlier today, Warner Bros. announced they will release the benefit compilation, ?Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur,? June 12. The CD will feature twenty covers of songs by the former Beatle, with proceeds supporting Amnesty International?s campaign for Darfur.Lennon?s widow Yoko Ono will donate the publishing royalties associated with the album to the cause.“It’s wonderful that, through this campaign, music that is so familiar to many people of my era will now be embraced by a whole new generation,” Ono said in a statement. “John’s music set out to inspire change, and in standing up for human rights, we really can make the world a better place.” The first single dropped from the CD will be R.E.M.?s cover of ?#9 Dream,? which hails from Lennon?s 1974 album ?Walls and Bridges.?Tonight, R.E.M. will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and their version of the cut, which was recorded last fall following their induction to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, hits radio today. Tuesday March 13, the song will be available for purchase digitally.Other artists who will appear on the CD include ?Grey?s Anatomy? soundtrack favorites Snow Patrol and surf rocker Jack Johnson.More information on the CD can be found at www.instantkarma.org.