Listen: How Scarlet Johansson's “Bizarre Love Triangle” Raises Money for HIV Cure

Scarlett Johansson sings New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle” on a new 1980s-era cover song compilation album, The Time is Now, which benefits the American Foundation for AIDS Research. The actress is joined by her Sugar for Sugar bandmates—Julia Haltigan, Holly Miranda, and Kendra Morris—in their first official release. (Listen to their stirring rendition in the music video below)

The Time is Now is the latest album to benefit amfAR, in a tradition started in 1985, when Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder recorded a collaborative rendition of the song, “That’s What Friends Are For.”  The song was a huge hit, ending up as Billboard’s number one single for 1986, and raisings millions of dollars for AIDS research.

Kevin Robert Frost, amfAR CEO, called the new album a “great example of our long-standing relationship with the music industry. With continued support for HIV research, we are confident that we will ultimately find a cure for the millions of people living with HIV/AIDS today.”

The new album put together by internationally acclaimed music curator Michelangelo Lacqua, long-time event producer Andy Boose, and Mass Appeal CEO Peter Bittenbender.

“The 1980s was a decade of revolutionary changes in the music scene, with an explosion of new sounds and rhythms, the ascendance of MTV, and the emergence of new musical movements on both sides of the Atlantic,” Bittenbender told reporters this week. 

Lacqua added that, at the time, music "was a source of inspiration and solace with the advent of HIV/AIDS. This album is a tribute to that [period].”  

On the album, “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” by Culture Club is covered by Dita Von Teese and Sebastien Tellier; the band Lower Dens contributed their updated take on Hall & Oates’ “Maneater;” and pop rock group DNCE revamped Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” The 14-track compilation is produced by Republic Records and Mass Appeal and will officially drop October 7. It is available for pre-order now. The album’s first single, a soulful cover of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” by singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc, is available immediately to those who pre-order.

Listen to Sugar Sugar's version of "Bizzare Love Triangle" here and see full tracklist below.

It's not my fault if you read that as 'Scarlet Johansson in bizarre love triangle.' 

The Time is Now Tracks:

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