"New Day" - Jean, Wyclef and Bono
Promotional Release
U2 Related Content:
- "New Day" (Pop Acapella Mix) - Wyclef Jean and Bono (04:34)
- "New Day" (Pop Radio Edit) - Wyclef Jean and Bono (04:35)
- "New Day" (Pop Version) - Wyclef Jean and Bono (04:45)
Full Track Listing:
- New Day (Hip Hop Instrumental) (3:59)
- New Day (Hip Hop Clean Acapella) (3:55)
- New Day (Pop Acapella) (4:53)
- New Day (Hip Hop Clean) (3:59)
- New Day (Hip Hop Dirty) (3:59)
- New Day (Pop Main) (4:43)
- New Day (Pop Radio Edit) (4:33)
Background Information
On July 4, 1999 Bono visited with Wyclef Jean in Jean’s basement studio in New Jersey. While there, the idea was broached to take Wycelf’s song “New Day” and to re-record it as a duet under the title “War Child” with additional vocals by Bono. The song had been released earlier that year on the soundtrack to the movie, “Life”. The two recorded the song the next day, but it remained “New Day” as the title change was based on lyrics eventually discarded. The single was released in September of that year in aid of the charity, NetAid. Bono and Wyclef would perform together at the NetAid concert on October 9, 1999, including a performance of this song at that appearance at Giant’s Stadium in New Jersey. NetAid was an organization set up by Cisco Systems and the United Nations to help the poorest nations of the world. Part of the proceeds also went to a foundation run by Wyclef which aids refugees.
Bono is credited on the cover of the single, but he only sings on the “Pop Version” and the “Pop Version Edit” which are available on the commercial single and also on promotional releases. Bono also has a writing credit on the “Reggae Remix” but is not credited as such on the “Hip Hop Clean Version”. The “Pop Version” is listed as the “Pop Main” on some releases. They are the same mix. One additional mix, the “Pop Acapella” mix appears on promotional releases only.
Various promotional releases were issued throughout the world. The most common was a two track CD promotional item, which contained “New Day (Pop Edit)” and “New Day (Hip Hop Clean)” versions of the song. An unknown number of 12” singles were pressed which were issued in plain white sleeves. On that item there was a variety of mixes of the title track including an acapella version of the Pop mix of the song featuring Bono which has not appeared elsewhere. This 12”-vinyl was released in a generic white sleeve, and had no catalog number listed.