November 24, 2007

Publication title: Monteal Gazette, vol. -, Iss. -, pg. –
Place: Unknown
Writer: T’cha Dunlevy

McLachlan, Lavigne Taking Stage To Fight AIDS

Sarah McLachlan is taking a break from the music industry to be at home with her second daughter, who is 4 1/2 months old. But she will make an exception Wednesday at the Bell Centre, when she performs at UNICEF’s United Against AIDS concert.

Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, Angelique Kidjo, Corneille, Nikki Yanofsky and Marie-Mai will also perform at the event, organized to raise awareness and funds for the organization’s United For Children, United Against AIDS campaign.

“As a mother myself, I was reminded of the fact that it could so easily be me,” McLachlan said. “I could be living in Africa — that could be my reality. The reality I have is like living in Disneyland. I’m so thankful to have this life. I have to thank the universe, and this is a good, easy way to do it. It’s a great campaign.”

McLachlan was the first artist to sign on for the Montreal concert. Her friend Alison Lawton, the national chair for the United For Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign, asked if she would participate.

“I said, absolutely,” McLachlan recalled. “(I’m up for) anything to do with children, old people, animals, anybody who doesn’t have a voice.”

McLachlan is not new to using her world-famous voice to support a cause. In 2005, she performed at the Philadelphia Live 8 concert, and in Vancouver for a Tsunami relief benefit along with Lavigne and Bryan Adams.

She recently joined an international roster of female artists including Madonna, Dido, Celine Dion and several others who lent their voices to Annie Lennox’s AIDS-awareness charity single Sing (which appears on her new album Songs of Mass Destruction, and will be released separately on Dec. 3).

McLachlan shot the video to her song “World on Fire” (from her 2004 album Afterglow) for a mere $15, using the platform to explain how the rest of the clip’s $150,000 budget would go to help people in need around the world.

“I wanted to show the perversity of how much it costs to do a music video,” she said. “You could build a well with that money, or provide food and sustenance for a community for years to come. It can be the difference between people dying and living. It’s pretty impressive.”

Profits from Wednesday’s concert will go toward helping children affected by HIV/AIDS in four ways, according to UNICEF Quebec communications director Sarah Houde.

“It’s an international campaign… that offers pediatric care for children with HIV/AIDS. We are also working to teach young people about the disease; to avoid spreading the sickness from mother to child, especially in Africa where infection rates can rise above 35 per cent; and to help orphans. There are 15 million orphans around the world (whose parents have died from HIV/AIDS).”

Concerts like this are a perfect example of how many different ways there are to help those in need, McLachlan said.

“We all have a responsibility, as global citizens, to do whatever it is we can. It’s a smaller and smaller world, and we are all deeply connected on some level. To not do anything when you can do something is the worst thing.”

Reached in L.A. where she was preparing for appearances on the American Music Awards and Dancing with the Stars, Avril Lavigne was happy to use her considerable influence to help a worthy cause.

“I like to get involved with different charities,” she said. “It’s great when I can do a concert to help raise money for something, (in this case) using my voice, and what I do… to raise money for treatment for kids, to offer protection to teens affected by the illness. I’ll do anything I can to bring awareness, and help in any way.”

Lavigne is aware that when she puts her stamp on something, she brings along an entire demographic of young music fans.

“Anything I get involved with, they’ll read up on. I worked with War Child before. Anything I tie myself to, my fans will be interested in.”

She is currently preparing next year’s tour for her recent album The Best Damn Thing, by far her most bubblegum-pop offering yet.

“I wanted to make this record really fun,” she said. “A lot of the inspiration came from previous tours and the songs I like to play live. It’s about having a good time and enjoying music.”

Which is how she will approach Wednesday’s concert: “I’ll go up and totally have a good time, and just be happy to be helping out.”

Sarah McLachlan, Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, Angelique Kidjo, Corneille, Marie-Mai and Nikki Yanofsky perform at UNICEF’s United Against AIDS concert, Wednesday in Montreal. For more information visit www.admission.com