Amfar Announces 80s Covers Benefit Compilation Featuring Phantogram, Metric and Lower Dens

1980s pop has never felt so modern. In a benefit compilation organized by amfAR, an international non-profit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, many modern pop artists will be covering classic pop tunes from the era of clothes far too bright for the human eye.

The compilation, named The Time is Now, will feature artists such as Aloe Blacc, Phantogram, DNCE, LP, Theophilus London and more. Consisting of 14 cover-tracks, the record will be released on October 7 via Republic Records and Mass Appeal with a portion of the proceeds going directly to amfAR.

“The Time Is Now is a great example of our longstanding relationship with the music industry, and we are deeply grateful to the artists who graciously donated their time and talents to the making of this album,” said amfAR Chief Executive Officer Kevin Robert Frost. “With continued support for HIV research, and we are confident that we will ultimately find a cure for the millions of people living with HIV/AIDS today.”

Among the songs featured on the new album are Tina Turner’s classic “What’s Love Got to Do With It” revamped by DNCE, Dita Von Teese and Sebastien Tellier taking on Culture Club’s hit “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” and New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triange” covered by Sugar for Sugar, a band consisting of Scarlett Johansson, Julia Haltigan, Holly Miranda and Kendra Morris. See the full track list below.

The first track released from the set is Aloe Blacc’s bluesy cover of the Michael Jackson classic “Billie Jean.”

Check out the track, the album cover and the tracklist below:

The Time is Now Tracklist
1. Take Me Home (Phil Collins) – Phantogram
2. Bizarre Love Triangle (New Order) – Sugar for Sugar
3. Under The Milky Way (The Church) – Metric
4. Whip It (Devo) – Brazilian Girls
5. Rio (Duran Duran) – Bebel Gilberto
6. What’s Love Got to Do With It (Tina Turner) – DNCE
7. Billie Jean (Michael Jackson) – Aloe Blacc
8. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me (Culture Club) – Dita Von Teese and Sebastien Tellier
9. Maneater (Hall & Oates) – Lower Dens
10. Genius of Love (Tom Tom Club) – Chaos Chaos and Slow Magic
11. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) (Whitney Houston) – Marian Hill
12. Pride (In the Name of Love) (U2) – LP
13. Lovesong (The Cure) – Yuna
14. Dance Hall Days (Wang Chung) – Theophilus London