We Are the World: Difference between revisions

"'''We Are the World'''" is a [[charity record|charity single]] originally recorded by the [[charity supergroup|supergroup]] '''USA for Africa''' in 1985. It was written by [[Michael Jackson]] and [[Lionel Richie]] and produced by [[Quincy Jones]] and [[Michael Omartian]] for the album ''[[We Are the World (album)|We Are the World]]''. With sales in excess of 20 million physical copies, it is the eighth-[[list of best-selling singles worldwide|best-selling physical single of all time]], meant to raise money for the [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia]].

Soon after the British group [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] released "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]" in December 1984, musician and activist [[Harry Belafonte]] decided to create an American benefit single for African famine relief. With fundraiser [[Ken Kragen]], he enlisted several musicians. Jackson and Richie completed the writing the night before the first recording session, on January 21, 1985. The event brought together some of the era's best-known musicians. One musician deliberately omitted was [[John Denver]], who had asked to participate but was rejected despite his previous commitment to charity work. Ken Kragen said it was due to some people feeling that Denver's image would affect the credibility of the song as a pop-rock anthem. "I didn't agree with this assessment," Kragen said, but reluctantly turned Denver down.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harrychapin.com/circle/winter05/behind.htm |title=Behind the Song: "We Are the World" |website=HarryChapin.com |first=Mike |last=Grayeb | date=2005 |access-date=May 9, 2011}}</ref> Denver recalled the rejection in his 1994 autobiography "Take Me Home", stating that "It broke my heart not to be included."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://danmiller.typepad.com/dan_millers_notebook/2006/07/by_dan_miller_o.html | title=The Snubbing of John Denver | date=October 12, 2004 | first1=Dan | last1=Miller | website=Dan Miller's Notebook}}</ref>

"We Are the World" was promoted with a music video, a VHS, a special edition magazine, a [[simulcast]], and several books, posters, and shirts. The promotion and merchandise helped "We Are the World" raise more than $80&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{formatnum:formatprice|{{Inflation|US|8080000000|1986|r=0}}}} millionin today{{inflation/year|US}}){{inflation/fn|US}} for humanitarian aid in Africa and the United States.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|first=Al|last=Newstead|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-01/we-are-the-world-documentary-the-greatest-night-in-pop-review/103414458|title=How pop's biggest names pulled a secret marathon all-nighter to create history's biggest charity single|newspaper=[[ABC News Australia]] |date=February 1, 2024|via=www.abc.net.au}}</ref> Another cast of singers recorded a new version, "[[We Are the World 25 for Haiti]]", to raise relief following the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]].

On January 24, 1985, after a day of rest, Jones shipped Richie and Jackson's vocal guide to all the artists who would be involved the recording. Enclosed in the package was a letter from Jones imploring the artists not to share the tape or make copies. He wrote: "In the years to come, when your children ask, 'What did mommy and daddy do for the war against world famine?', you can say proudly, <nowiki>''</nowiki>this<nowiki>''</nowiki> was your contribution."<ref name="breskin 3"/>[[File:We Are The World Glenn Francis.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Back of the "We Are the World" sweater autographed by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie]]

[[Prince (musician)|Prince]], who would have had a part in which he and Michael Jackson sang to each other, did not attend.<ref name="We Are the World tune brings out the best of America's 46 stars">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_CbMDAAAAMBAJ_2|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_CbMDAAAAMBAJ_2/page/n15 16]|quote=jackson we are the world.|title=We Are the World tune brings out the best of America's 46 stars|date=February 18, 1985|magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|access-date=July 11, 2009}}</ref> One newspaper said that Prince did not want to record with other acts;<ref name="Prince">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/1999/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/20/wb.prince.bio/|title=Prince|date=December 20, 1999|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=July 11, 2009}}</ref> another report, from the time of "We Are the World"'s recording, suggested that he did not want to partake because the organizer, [[Bob Geldof]], called him a "creep".<ref name="Only a bad album could dethrone Prince">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ovILAAAAIBAJ&pg=5724,1518019&dq=we-are-the-world|title=Only a bad album could dethrone Prince|last=Parks|first=Kyle|date=April 5, 1985|newspaper=[[The Evening Independent]]|access-date=July 11, 2009}}</ref> During the session, Richie spoke with Prince on the phone, and declined Prince's offer to play a guitar solo in a separate room.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheila E. felt used by 'We Are the World' producers who wanted Prince |url=https://ew.com/sheila-e-felt-used-by-we-are-the-world-producers-who-wanted-prince-8551826 |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref> Instead, Prince donated an exclusive track, "4 the Tears in Your Eyes", to the ''[[We Are the World (album)|We Are the World]]'' album.<ref name="Prince" /> Wonder asked [[Eddie Murphy]] to participate, but Murphy declined because he was busy recording his single "[[Party All the Time]]". Murphy later said after he "realized what it was, [he] felt like an idiot".<ref name="Murphy Kimmel">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfLjhW8eioc| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/wfLjhW8eioc| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live|title=Eddie Murphy on His Return to Stand-up|date=October 24, 2019|work=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> More than 45 of America's top musicians participated,<ref name="We Are the World tune brings out the best of America's 46 stars" /><ref name="African relief">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1aMRAAAAIBAJ&pg=5792,5179525&dq=we-are-the-world|title=African relief|date=January 30, 1985|newspaper=[[The Gainesville Sun]]|access-date=July 11, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and another 50 had to be turned away.<ref name="tara 342" /> A sign taped to the studio door read: "Check your ego at the door."<ref name="tara 343">Taraborrelli, p. 343</ref> Wonder greeted the musicians as they entered, and said that if the recording was not completed in one take, he and Ray Charles, two blind men, would drive everybody home.<ref name="davis 174">Davis, p. 174.</ref>

{{quote box|width=30%|quote=I think what's happening in Africa is a crime of historic proportions&nbsp;... You walk into one of the corrugated iron huts and you see [[meningitis]] and [[malaria]] and [[typhoid]] buzzing around in the air. And you see dead bodies lying side by side with the live ones&nbsp;... In some of the camps you see 15&nbsp;bags of flour for 27,500&nbsp;people. And it's that that we're here for.|source=[[Bob Geldof]], addressing his fellow USA for Africa musicians during one of the recording sessions of "We Are the World" on January 28, 1985.<ref name="breskin 6"/>}}

Each performer took their position at around 10:30&nbsp;p.m. and began to sing. Several hours passed before Wonder announced that he would like to substitute a line in [[Swahili language|Swahili]] for the "sha-lum sha-lin-gay" sound,<ref name="breskin 6">Breskin, p. 6</ref><ref name="They Were the World">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,309280,00.html1992/01/24/we-are-world/|title=They Were the World|last=Cagle|first=Jess|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=July 11, 2009|date=January 24, 1992}}</ref> causing [[Waylon Jennings]] to leave.<ref name="breskin 6"/><ref name="They Were the World" /> A heated debate ensued, in which several artists also rejected the suggestion. The "sha-lum sha-lin-gay" sound ran into opposition as well and was removed. Jennings returned and participated in the recording. The participants eventually decided to sing something meaningful in English. They chose to sing the new line "one world, our children", which most of the participants enjoyed.<ref name="breskin 6"/>

"We Are the World" was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award|title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame &#w124; Hall of Fame Artists &#124; GRAMMY.com|website=grammy.com|accessdate=July 31, 2024}}</ref>

"We Are the World" received worldwide radio coverage in the form of an international simultaneous broadcast later that year. Upon spinning the song on their local stations, Georgia radio disc jockeys Bob Wolf and Don Briscar came up with the idea for a worldwide simulcast.<ref>{{cite news|title=We are the World to be Played Worldwide|url=https://apnews.com/35bd795632c2b1f23d36392e5b9d3835|work=Associated Press News|access-date=February 7, 2014}}</ref> They called hundreds of radio and satellite stations asking them to participate. On the morning of April 5, 1985 ([[Good Friday]] of that year) at 3:50&nbsp;pm GMT, over 8,000 radio stations simultaneously broadcast the song around the world.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stations Around Globe Air 'We Are The World'|url=https://articleswww.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-06/entertainment/-ca-18495_1_radio18495-stationsstory.html|agency=Associated Press|date=April 6, 1985|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref> As the song was broadcast, hundreds of people sang along on the steps of [[St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York|St. Patrick's Cathedral]] in New York.<ref name="Strike Up the Bandwagon We Are the World Raises Money, Spirits"/><ref name="Fifth Avenue Singalong Supports Relief Effort">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/06/arts/fifth-avenue-singalong-supports-relief-effort.html?n=Top%2FNews%2FScience%2FTopics%2FDrought|title=Fifth Avenue Singalong Supports Relief Effort|date=April 6, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 20, 2009}}</ref> A year later, on March 28, 1986 (Good Friday of that year), the simultaneous radio broadcast of "We Are the World" was repeated over 6,000 radio stations worldwide.<ref name="Campbell 113"/>

"We Are the World" gained further promotion and coverage on May 25, 1986, when it was played during a major benefit event held throughout the US.<ref name="Hands">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WegLAAAAIBAJ&pg=4387,2498283&dq=we-are-the-world|title=Hands|date=May 23, 1986|newspaper=The Evening Independent|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref><ref name="A 15-minute handshake for the US">{{cite news|title=A 15-minute handshake for the US|last=Hewett|first=Jenni|date=May 27, 1986|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref> [[Hands Across America]]—USA for Africa's follow-up project—was an event in which millions of people formed a [[human chain (politics)|human chain]] across the US.<ref name="Hunger song profits exceed expectation">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b7ISAAAAIBAJ&pg=5679,1906145&dq=we-are-the-world|title=Hunger song profits exceed expectation|date=October 9, 1986|newspaper=[[Spokane Chronicle]]|access-date=July 21, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The event was held to draw attention to hunger and homelessness in the United States.<ref name="Altruistic marketing">{{cite magazine|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1985/11/25/66688/index.htm|title=Altruistic marketing|last=Steinbreder|first=John|date=November 25, 1985|magazine=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> "We Are the World"'s co-writer, Michael Jackson, had wanted his song to be the official theme for the event. The other board members of USA for Africa outvoted him, and it was instead decided that a new song would be created and released for the event, titled "Hands Across America".<ref name="campbell 114 115"/> When released, the new song did not achieve the level of success that "We Are the World" did, and the decision to use it as the official theme for the event led to Jackson—who co-owned the publishing rights to "We Are the World"—resigning from the board of directors of USA for Africa.<ref name="campbell 114 115"/><ref name="Campbell 116">Campbell, p. 116</ref>

In June 1985, the first USA for Africa cargo jet carrying food, medicine, and clothing departed for Ethiopia and [[Sudan]]. It stopped ''en route'' in New York, where 15,000&nbsp;T-shirts were added to the cargo. Included in the supplies were high-protein biscuits, high-protein vitamins, medicine, tents, blankets and refrigeration equipment.<ref name="Music group sends supplies">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/11/world/around-the-world-music-group-sends-supplies-to-ethiopians.html?n=Top/News/Science/Topics/Drought|title=Music group sends supplies|date=June 11, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> Harry Belafonte, representing the USA for Africa musicians, visited Sudan in the same month. The trip was his last stop on a four-nation tour of Africa. Tanzanian Prime Minister [[Salim Ahmed Salim]] greeted and praised Belafonte, telling him, "I personally and the people of [[Tanzania]] are moved by this tremendous example of human solidarity."<ref name="Belafonte visits Sudan">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MuoVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6245,6038350&dq=we-are-the-world|title=Belafonte visits Sudan|date=June 22, 1985|newspaper=[[Wilmington Morning Star]]|access-date=July 21, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

An inaugural celebration was held for US President-elect [[Bill Clinton]] in January 1993.<ref name="A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/18/us/the-inauguration-a-grand-beginning-inaugural-week-begins-with-pomp-and-populism.html|title=A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism|last=Apple|first=R. W.|date=January 18, 1993|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> The event was staged by Clinton's Hollywood friends at the [[Lincoln Memorial]] and drew hundreds of thousands of people.<ref name="A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism" /> [[Aretha Franklin]], [[LL Cool J]], [[Michael Bolton]] and [[Tony Bennett]] were among some of the musicians in attendance.<ref name="A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism" /><ref name="A Musical Smorgasbord; 2 Concerts Gel Sounds Of America">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/19/us/the-inauguration-a-musical-smorgasbord-2-concerts-gel-sounds-of-america.html|title=A Musical Smorgasbord; 2 Concerts Gel Sounds Of America|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=January 19, 1993|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> Said Jones, "I've never seen so many great performers come together with so much love and selflessness."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Archerd |first=Army |url=https://www.variety.com/article1993/voices/columns/jones-says-whoopi-as-comic-comes-to-rescue-1117862112/VR1117862112?refCatId=2 |title=Jones says 'Whoopi' as comic comes to rescue – Entertainment News, Army Archerd, Media |magazine=Variety |date=January 18, 1993 |access-date=August 16, 2011}}</ref> The celebration included a performance of "We Are the World", which involved Clinton, his daughter [[Chelsea Clinton|Chelsea]], and his wife [[Hillary Clinton|Hillary]] singing the song along with USA for Africa's Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.<ref name="A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism" /> ''The New York Times''{{'}} [[Edward Rothstein]] commented on the event, stating, "The most enduring image may be of Mr. Clinton singing along in 'We Are the World', the first President to aspire, however futilely, to hipness."<ref name="Vox Pop, The Sound Of Politics">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/14/arts/classical-view-vox-pop-the-sound-of-politics.html|title=Vox Pop, The Sound Of Politics|last=Rothstein|first=Edward|date=February 14, 1993|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref>

Since the release of "We Are the World", and the Band Aid single that influenced it, numerous songs have been recorded in a similar fashion, with the intent to aid disaster victims throughout the world. One such example involved a supergroup of Latin musicians billed as "Hermanos del Tercer Mundo", or "Brothers of the Third World". Among the supergroup of 62&nbsp;recording artists were [[Julio Iglesias]], [[José Feliciano]], and [[Sérgio Mendes]]. Their [[Cantaré, cantarás|famine relief song]] was recorded in the same studio as "We Are the World". Half of the profits raised from the charity single was pledged to USA for Africa. The rest of the money was to be used for impoverished Latin American countries.<ref name="Latin stars sing for hungry">{{cite news|title=Latin stars sing for hungry|date=April 10, 1985|newspaper=Columbia Missourian}}</ref> Other notable examples include the 1989 cover of the [[Deep Purple]] song "[[Smoke on the Water]]" by a supergroup of hard rock, prog rock, and heavy metal musicians collaborating as [[Rock Aid Armenia]] to raise money for victims of the devastating [[1988 Armenian earthquake]],<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20091209111912/http://rockaidarmenia.com/#/content-00-02 'Smoke on the Water' history]", Rock Aid Armenia website. Retrieved July 20, 2016.</ref> the 1986 all-star [[Music of the Philippines|OPM]] single "[[Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo]]", which talked about the optimism the Filipinos needed after the [[People Power Revolution]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sg.style.yahoo.com/tagged/celebrity/blogs/switchingchannels/handog-ng-pilipino-sa-mundo-was-composed-in-three-minutes.html|title=Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo was composed in three minutes|first=Ed|last=Sicam|website=[[Yahoo!]] Life|date=February 25, 2011 |access-date=March 20, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/642589-revisiting-handog-ng-pilipino-sa-mundo|title=Revisiting the People Power hit 'Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo' and the anniversary cover it spawned|first=Saab|last=Lariosa|website=Philstar Life|access-date=March 20, 2022}}</ref> the 1997 [[Star Music|Star Records]] all-star recording "Sa Araw ng Pasko", the 2003 all-star [[Music of the Philippines|OPM]] recording "Biyahe Tayo" which promoted [[Tourism in the Philippines|Philippine tourism]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2004/03/29/244355/invitation-travel|title=An invitation to travel|first=Boy|last=Abunda|website=Philstar.com|access-date=February 12, 2022}}</ref> and its subsequent 2011 remake "Pilipinas, Tara Na!"<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2011/08/10/pilipinas-tara-na-music-video-to-boost-domestic-tourism/ | title=Pilipinas, Tara Na! music video to boost domestic tourism | website=www.officialgazette.gov.ph | date=2011-08-10}}</ref> and the 2009 all-star [[Music of the Philippines|OPM]] recordings "[[Star ng Pasko]]" and "[[Kaya Natin Ito!]]" as a means to provide hope to the survivors of [[Typhoon Ketsana]] (locally known as Ondoy).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pep.ph/news/local/5065/abs-cbn-versus-gma-739s-station-id-which-fared-better | title=ABS-CBN versus GMA-7's station ID: Which fared better? }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pinoyparazzi.net/regine-velasquez-at-ogie-alcasid-abala-sa-malaking-fund-raising-concert/ | title=Regine Velasquez at Ogie Alcasid, abala sa malaking fund-raising concert – Gorgy's Park - Pinoy Parazzi | date=October 13, 2009 }}</ref> Several [[GMA Network]] personalities also recorded another inspirational ballad, "Bangon Kaibigan" in 2013 to provide hope to the survivors of [[Typhoon Haiyan]] (locally known as Yolanda).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/chikaminute/339846/kapuso-stars-lumikha-ng-music-video-na-bangon-kaibigan-para-sa-yolanda-victims/story/ | title=Kapuso stars, lumikha ng music video na 'Bangon Kaibigan' para sa 'Yolanda' victims | date=December 14, 2013 }}</ref>

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|type=single|award=|artist=USA For Africa|title=We Are the World|nocert=true|salesamount=7,750|access-date=October 26, 2015}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=New Zealand|artist=U.S.A. for Africa|title=We Are the World|relyear=1985|award=Platinum|id=3157 |access-date=October 26, 2015}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=single|award=|artist=USA For Africa|title=We Are the World|nocert=true|salesamount=200,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-07-29.pdf|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|title=Portugal Follows World Pattern|page=81|issn=0006-2510|date=July 29, 1989|accessdate=February 7, 2023}}</ref>}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=USA for Africa|title=We Are the World|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1985|certyear=1985|access-date=October 26, 2015|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Gavin|last=Edwards|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/we-are-the-world-a-minute-by-minute-breakdown-54619/|title='We Are the World': A Minute-by-Minute Breakdown|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=March 6, 2020|access-date=November 27, 2021}}</ref>}}{{Certification Table Summary}}{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|title=We Are the World|artist=USA For Africa|type=single|award=7.4 Million|nocert=true|salesamount=7,400,000|salesref=<ref name="sales">{{cite book|year= 1984 |title=First USA For Africa relief shipment arrives |publisher= Baltimore Afro-American | page= 70 |quote= The Recording by 45 of America's Top Artists has sold more than 7.4 million singles and 4.4 million albums since January }}</ref>|note=Sales (As of May 1984)}}

[[Category:UK Singlessingles Chartchart number-one singles]]