We Are the World

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Featured article Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox song

"We Are the World" is a charity single recorded by the 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. With sales in excess of 20 million physical copies, it is the eighth-best-selling single of all time, meant to raise money for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia.

Soon after the British group 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. Mega-agent Ken Kragen enlisted several musicians for the project. Jackson and Richie completed the writing the night before the first recording session, on January 28, 1985. The event brought together some of the era's best-known recording artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, and Tina Turner. Some major artists, such as Prince, did not participate.

"We Are the World" was released on March 7, 1985, as the first single from the album by Columbia Records. It topped music charts throughout the world and became the fastest-selling U.S. pop single in history. "We Are the World" was certified quadruple platinum, becoming the first single to be certified multi-platinum. Its awards include four Grammy Awards, one American Music Award, and a People's Choice Award.

"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 million (equivalent to $Template:Formatprice in Template:Inflation/year)Template:Inflation/fn for humanitarian aid in Africa and the United States.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite news</ref> Another cast of singers recorded a new version, "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", to raise relief following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

BackgroundEdit

Template:Multiple image

In 1985, inspired by Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in the UK, the American entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte decided to organize a US equivalent. He planned to have the proceeds donated to a new organization, United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa). The organization would provide food and relief aid for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia,<ref name="tara 341">Taraborrelli, p. 341</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which killed about one million people.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Belafonte also planned to set aside money to help eliminate hunger in the United States of America.<ref name="tara 341" />

Belafonte contacted the entertainment manager and fundraiser Ken Kragen, who enlisted his clients Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers. In turn, they enlisted Stevie Wonder, to add more "name value".<ref name="tara 341" /> Quincy Jones was drafted to co-produce, taking time out from his work on the film The Color Purple.<ref name="tara 341" /><ref name="tara 342">Taraborrelli, p. 342</ref> Jones also telephoned Michael Jackson, who had just concluded a tour with his brothers.<ref name="tara 341" />

WritingEdit

Jackson told Richie that he wanted to help write the song.<ref name="tara 341" /><ref name="Campbell 109">Campbell, p. 109</ref> The songwriting team originally included Wonder, but his time was constrained by his song-writing for the film The Woman in Red. Jackson and Richie wrote "We Are the World"<ref name="Campbell 109" /> at Hayvenhurst, the Jackson family home in Encino, California. They sought to write a song that would be easy to sing, memorable and anthemic. For a week, they spent every night working on lyrics and melodies in Jackson's bedroom. Jackson's older sister La Toya recounted the process: "I'd go into the room while they were writing and it would be very quiet, which is odd, since Michael's usually very cheery when he works. It was very emotional for them."<ref name="Campbell 109" /> She said later that Jackson had written most of the lyrics.<ref name="tara 342" />

File:Geldof, Bob (IMF 2009).jpg

Bob Geldof in 2009

Richie recorded two melodies for "We Are the World", to which Jackson added music on the same day. Jackson said, "I love working quickly. I went ahead without even Lionel knowing. I couldn't wait. I went in and came out the same night with the song completed: drums, piano, strings, and words to the chorus."<ref name="Campbell 110">Campbell, p. 110</ref> Jackson presented his demo to Richie and Jones, who were both shocked; they did not expect him to complete the structure of the song so quickly. The next meetings between Jackson and Richie were unfruitful; they produced no additional vocals and got no work done. On the night of January 21, 1985, the night before the first recording session, Richie and Jackson completed the lyrics and melody.<ref name="Campbell 110"/>

RecordingEdit

File:We Are The World Cyndi-Glenn Francis.jpg

Cyndi Lauper, studio badge, and the sweatshirt given to all attendees at A&M Studios in Hollywood, California on January 28, 1985

The first night of recording, January 22, 1985, had tight security on hand, as Richie, Jackson, Wonder, and Jones started work on "We Are the World" at Kenny Rogers' Lion Share Recording Studio. The studio, on Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles, was filled with session musicians, technicians, video crews, retinue, assistants, and organizers as the celebrity musicians entered. Jones hired session musicians to lay down the backing tracks: John "JR" Robinson on drums, Louis Johnson on bass, and pianist Greg Phillinganes. (These three first played together on "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" produced by Jones for Jackson.) Richie sat down at the piano to teach everyone the song. When it was time to roll tape, Robinson cleared the room of non-musicians, and the backing tracks were recorded.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After this, a vocal guide of "We Are the World" was recorded by Richie and Jackson, mixed with the instrumental tracks, and duplicated on tape for each of the invited performers. The guide was recorded on the sixth take, as Jones felt that there was too much "thought" in the previous versions.<ref name="breskin 2">Breskin, p. 2</ref>

Following their work on the vocal guide, Jackson and Jones began thinking of alternatives for the line "There's a chance we're taking, we're taking our own lives". The pair was concerned that line would be considered a reference to suicide. As the group listened to a playback of the chorus, Richie declared that the last part of the line should be changed to "We're 'saving' our own lives". Jones also suggested altering the former part of the line. "One thing we don't want to do, especially with this group, is look like we're patting ourselves on the back. So it's really: 'There's a choice we're making.'"<ref name="breskin 3">Breskin, p. 3</ref> Around 1:30 am, the four musicians ended the night by finishing a chorus of melodic vocalizations, including the sound "sha-lum sha-lin-gay".<ref name="breskin 3"/> Jones told the group that they were not to add anything else to the tape, and said: "If we get too good, someone's gonna start playing it on the radio."<ref name="breskin 3"/>

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, this was your contribution."<ref name="breskin 3"/>

File:We Are The World Glenn Francis.jpg

Back of the "We Are the World" sweater autographed by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie

Ken Kragen chaired a production meeting at a bungalow off Sunset Boulevard on January 25, 1985. There, his team discussed where the recording sessions should take place. Kragen was concerned that a leak of the location would trigger a paparazzi frenzy and drive the celebrities away.<ref name="breskin 3" /> Jones was concerned about assigning performers to sing solos, saying that so much talent on hand made the task like "putting a watermelon in a Coke bottle".<ref name="breskin 3"/> The following evening, Richie held a choreography session at his home, where it was decided who would stand where.<ref name="breskin 3"/>

The final night of recording was held on January 28, 1985, at A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood.<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="breskin 3"/> Jackson arrived at 8 p.m., earlier than the others, to record his solo section and record a vocal chorus alone.<ref name="breskin 3"/> He was joined by the remaining USA for Africa artists, who included Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner, and Jackson's siblings Jackie, La Toya, Marlon, Randy and Tito.<ref name="breskin 5 6">Breskin, pp. 5–6</ref> Many of the participants came straight from an American Music Awards ceremony that had been held that night.<ref name="tara 342"/>

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">Template:Cite magazine</ref> One newspaper said that Prince did not want to record with other acts;<ref name="Prince">Template:Cite news</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">Template:Cite news</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Instead, Prince donated an exclusive track, "4 the Tears in Your Eyes", to the 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">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> John Denver 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Denver recalled the rejection in his 1994 autobiography "Take Me Home", stating that "It broke my heart not to be included."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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">Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</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>

Template:Quote box

Each performer took their position at around 10:30 p.m. and began to sing. Several hours passed before Wonder announced that he would like to substitute a line in Swahili for the "sha-lum sha-lin-gay" sound,<ref name="breskin 6">Breskin, p. 6</ref><ref name="They Were the World">Template:Cite magazine</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"/>

In the early hours of the morning, two Ethiopian women, guests of Wonder, were brought in.<ref name="They Were the World" /><ref name="breskin 7">Breskin, p. 7</ref> They thanked the singers on behalf of their country, bringing several artists to tears.<ref name="They Were the World" /><ref name="breskin 7"/> Wonder attempted to lighten the mood, by joking that the recording session gave him a chance to "see" Charles, saying, "We just sort of bumped into each other!"<ref name="davis 174"/> Under the circumstances, the solo parts presented a variety of challenges, but were all successfully recorded that night.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="breskin 7"/> The final version was completed at 8 a.m.<ref name="breskin 7"/><ref name="Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie's song earns millions for charity">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

LyricsEdit

{{#invoke:Listen|main}} "We Are the World" is sung from a first-person viewpoint, allowing the audience to "internalize" the message by singing the word we together.<ref name="braheny 18">Braheny, p. 18</ref> It has been described as "an appeal to human compassion".<ref name="Famine-aid song sells well locally">Template:Cite news</ref> The first lines of the chorus are: "We are the world, we are the children / we are the ones who make a brighter day / so let's start giving".<ref name="Famine-aid song sells well locally" />

ArrangementEdit

Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner and Billy Joel sing the first verse;<ref name="marsh 518">Marsh, p. 518</ref> Michael Jackson and Diana Ross sing the first chorus;<ref name="marsh 518" /> Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson and Al Jarreau sing the second verse; Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry and Daryl Hall sing the second chorus;<ref name="marsh 518" /> Jackson, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, and Kim Carnes sing the bridge.<ref name="marsh 518" /> "We Are the World" concludes with Bob Dylan and Ray Charles singing a full chorus, Wonder and Springsteen duetting, and ad libs from Charles and Ingram.Template:Citation needed The structure is said to "create a sense of continuous surprise and emotional buildup".<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief" />

The following people sang in the chorus: Dan Aykroyd, Harry Belafonte, Lindsey Buckingham, Mario Cipollina, Johnny Colla, Sheila E., Bob Geldof, Bill Gibson, Chris Hayes, Sean Hopper, Jackie Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, Waylon Jennings, Bette Midler, John Oates, Jeffrey Osborne, Anita Pointer, June Pointer, Ruth Pointer, and Smokey Robinson.<ref name="marsh 518"/>

USA for Africa musiciansEdit

File:Stevie Wonder 1994.jpg

Stevie Wonder was a featured soloist.

Template:Div col

Conductor
Template:* Quincy Jones

Soloists (in order of appearance)
Template:* Lionel Richie
Template:* Stevie Wonder
Template:* Paul Simon
Template:* Kenny Rogers
Template:* James Ingram
Template:* Tina Turner
Template:* Billy Joel
Template:* Michael Jackson
Template:* Diana Ross
Template:* Dionne Warwick
Template:* Willie Nelson
Template:* Al Jarreau
Template:* Bruce Springsteen
Template:* Kenny Loggins
Template:* Steve Perry
Template:* Daryl Hall
Template:* Huey Lewis
Template:* Cyndi Lauper
Template:* Kim Carnes
Template:* Bob Dylan
Template:* Ray Charles

Chorus (alphabetically)
Template:* Dan Aykroyd
Template:* Harry Belafonte
Template:* Lindsey Buckingham
Template:* Mario Cipollina (of Huey Lewis and the News)
Template:* Johnny Colla (of Huey Lewis and the News)
Template:* Sheila E.
Template:* Bob Geldof
Template:* Bill Gibson (of Huey Lewis and the News)
Template:* Chris Hayes (of Huey Lewis and the News)
Template:* Sean Hopper (of Huey Lewis and the News)
Template:* Jackie Jackson
Template:* La Toya Jackson
Template:* Marlon Jackson
Template:* Randy Jackson
Template:* Tito Jackson
Template:* Waylon Jennings
Template:* Bette Midler
Template:* John Oates
Template:* Jeffrey Osborne
Template:* Anita Pointer (of the Pointer Sisters)
Template:* June Pointer (of the Pointer Sisters)
Template:* Ruth Pointer (of the Pointer Sisters)
Template:* Smokey Robinson

Instrument players
Template:* John Barnes – keyboards, programming, arrangement
Template:* David Paich – synthesizers
Template:* Michael Boddicker – synthesizers, programming
Template:* Ian Underwood – synthesizers, programming
Template:* Steve Porcaro – synthesizers, programming
Template:* Paulinho da Costa – percussion
Template:* Louis Johnson – synth bass
Template:* Michael Omartian – keyboards
Template:* Greg Phillinganes – keyboards
Template:* John Robinson – drums

Template:Div col end

ReleaseEdit

On March 7, 1985, "We Are the World" was released as a single, in both 7-inch and 12-inch formats.<ref name="tara 344">Taraborrelli, p. 344</ref><ref name="We Are the World">Template:Cite news</ref> The song was the only one released from the We Are the World album and became a chart success around the world. In the U.S., it was a number-one hit on the R&B singles chart, the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, and the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for a month.<ref name="george 41">George, p. 41</ref><ref name="Campbell 113">Campbell, p. 113</ref> The single had debuted at number 21 on the Hot 100,<ref name="Famine-aid song sells well locally" /> and it took four weeks for the song to claim the number one spot, half the time a single would normally have taken to reach its charting peak.<ref name="'World' rules the charts">Template:Cite news</ref> On the Hot 100, the song moved from 21 to 5 to 2 and then number 1. "We Are the World" might have reached the top of the Hot 100 chart sooner, were it not for the success of Phil Collins' "One More Night", which received support from both pop and rock listeners.<ref name="'World' rules the charts" /> "We Are the World" also entered BillboardTemplate:-'s Top Rock Tracks and Hot Country Singles charts, where it peaked at numbers 27 and 76 respectively.<ref name="george 41"/> The song became the first single since the Beatles' "Let It Be" to enter BillboardTemplate:'s Top 5 within two weeks of release.<ref name="We Are the World" /> Outside the U.S., the single reached number one in Australia, France, Ireland, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The song peaked at number 2 in two countries: Germany and Austria.<ref name="Ultratop Singles Chart Archives">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="WATW Ireland">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="WATW NL">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The single was also a commercial success: the initial shipment of 800,000 "We Are the World" records sold out within three days of release.<ref name="tara 344"/> The record became the fastest-selling American pop single in history.<ref name="Whoever dreamed that up?">Template:Cite news</ref> At Tower Records in West Hollywood, 1,000 copies of the song were sold in two days.<ref name="Forty-Five Voices">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Store worker Richard Petitpas commented, "A number one single sells about 100 to 125 copies a week. This is absolutely unheard of."<ref name="Forty-Five Voices" /> By the end of 1985, "We Are the World" had become the year's best-selling single.<ref name="American Music Award nominees named">Template:Cite news</ref> Five years later it was revealed that the song had become the biggest single of the 1980s.<ref name="A Pop Virtuoso Who Can Do It All">Template:Cite news</ref> "We Are the World" was eventually cited as the best-selling single in U.S. and pop music history.Template:Refn<ref name="Bob Geldof biography">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="In Pop, Whose Song Is It, Anyway?">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Listen Up! Quincy Jones Has a New Gig">Template:Cite news</ref> The song became the first single to be certified multi-platinum; it received a 4× certification by the Recording Industry Association of America.<ref name="Campbell 113"/><ref name="Pointers, Prince and Pavarotti in platinum parade">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The estimated global sales of "We Are the World" are said to be 20 million.<ref name="The many faces of Michael Jackson">Template:Cite news</ref>

ReceptionEdit

"We Are the World" received mixed reviews. American journalist Greil Marcus felt that it sounded like a Pepsi jingle.<ref name="Garofalo 29">Garofalo, p. 29</ref> He wrote that "the constant repetition of 'There's a choice we're making' conflates with Pepsi's trademarked 'The choice of a new generation' in a way that, on the part of Pepsi-contracted song writers Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, is certainly not intentional, and even more certainly beyond the realm of serendipity."<ref name="Garofalo 29"/> Marcus added, "In the realm of contextualization, 'We Are the World' says less about Ethiopia than it does about Pepsi—and the true result will likely be less that certain Ethiopian individuals will live, or anyway live a bit longer than they otherwise would have, than that Pepsi will get the catch phrase of its advertising campaign sung for free by Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and all the rest."<ref name="Garofalo 29"/> Professor and activist Reebee Garofalo agreed, calling the line "We're saving our own lives" a "distasteful element of self-indulgence".<ref name="Garofalo 29"/> He asserted that the artists of USA for Africa were proclaiming "their own salvation for singing about an issue they will never experience on behalf of a people most of them will never encounter".<ref name="Garofalo 29"/>

In contrast, Stephen Holden of The New York Times praised the phrase "There's a choice we're making, We're saving our own lives".<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief"/> He wrote that the line assumed "an extra emotional dimension when sung by people with superstar mystiques".<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief"/> Holden wrote that the song was "an artistic triumph that transcends its official nature".<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief"/> He noted that unlike Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas", the vocals on "We Are the World" were "artfully interwoven" and emphasized the individuality of each singer.<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief"/> Holden concluded that "We Are the World" was "a simple, eloquent ballad" and a "Template:Sicrealized pop statement that would sound outstanding even if it weren't recorded by stars".<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief"/>

The song proved popular with both young and old listeners.<ref name="Famine-aid song sells well locally" /> People in Columbia, Missouri, reported they bought more than one copy of the single, some buying up to five copies of the record at one time.<ref name="Strike Up the Bandwagon We Are the World Raises Money, Spirits">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

According to the music critic and Springsteen biographer Dave Marsh, "We Are the World" was not widely accepted within the rock music community.<ref name="marsh 519">Marsh, p. 519</ref> Marsh said it was dismissed as it was not "a rock record, a critique of the political policies that created the famine, a way of finding out how and why famines occur, an all-inclusive representation of the entire worldwide spectrum of post-Presley popular music".<ref name="marsh 519"/> Though Marsh agreed with some of the criticisms, he felt that, despite its sentimentality, "We Are the World" was a large-scale pop event with serious political overtones.<ref name="marsh 519"/>

"We Are the World" was recognized with several awards following its release. At the 1986 Grammy Awards, the song and its music video won four awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Music Video, Short Form.<ref name="campbell 114 115">Campbell, pp. 114–115</ref> The music video was awarded two honors at the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards. It collected the awards for Best Group Video and Viewer's Choice.<ref name="MTV Video Music Awards 1985">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="MTV Video Awards">Template:Cite news</ref> People's Choice Awards recognized "We Are the World" with the Favorite New Song award in 1986.<ref name="campbell 114 115"/> In the same year, the American Music Awards named "We Are the World" "Song of the Year", and honored organizer Harry Belafonte with the Award of Appreciation. Collecting his award, Belafonte thanked Ken Kragen, Quincy Jones, and "the two artists who, without their great gift would not have inspired us in quite the same way as we were inspired, Mr. Lionel Richie and Mr. Michael Jackson".<ref name="campbell 114 115"/> Following the speech, the majority of USA for Africa reunited on stage, closing the ceremony with "We Are the World".<ref name="campbell 114 115"/><ref name="Awards honor year of charity">Template:Cite news</ref>

"We Are the World" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Track listingEdit

Vinyl singleEdit

"We Are the World" (USA for Africa) – 4:51
"Grace" (Quincy Jones) – 4:30

Marketing and promotionEdit

Template:Multiple image

"We Are the World" was promoted with a music video, a video cassette, and several other items made available to the public, including books, posters, shirts and buttons.<ref name="Campbell 112">Campbell, p. 112</ref><ref name="Belafonte learns answers aren't easy">Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref> All proceeds from the sale of official USA for Africa merchandise went directly to the famine relief fund. All of the merchandise sold well; the video cassette—titled We Are the World: The Video Event—documented the making of the song, and became the ninth-best-selling video of 1985.<ref name="Campbell 112"/> All of the video elements were produced by Howard G. Malley and Craig B. Golin along with April Lee Grebb as the production supervisor. The music video showed the recording of "We Are the World", and drew criticism from some. Michael Jackson was reported to have joked before filming, "People will know it's me as soon as they see the socks. Try taking footage of Bruce Springsteen's socks and see if anyone knows who they belong to."<ref name="tara 344"/>

The song was also promoted with a special edition of the American magazine Life. The publication had been the only media outlet permitted inside A&M Recording Studios on the night of January 28, 1985. All other press organizations were barred from reporting the events leading up to and during "We Are the World"'s recording. Life ran a cover story of the recording session in its April 1985 edition of the monthly magazine. Seven members of USA for Africa were pictured on the cover: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner and Willie Nelson. Inside the magazine were photographs of the "We Are the World" participants working and taking breaks.<ref name="Campbell 112"/>

"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>Template:Cite news</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 pm GMT, over 8,000 radio stations simultaneously broadcast the song around the world.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As the song was broadcast, hundreds of people sang along on the steps of 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">Template:Cite news</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">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="A 15-minute handshake for the US">Template:Cite news</ref> Hands Across America—USA for Africa's follow-up project—was an event in which millions of people formed a human chain across the US.<ref name="Hunger song profits exceed expectation">Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref> The event was held to draw attention to hunger and homelessness in the United States.<ref name="Altruistic marketing">Template:Cite magazine</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>

Humanitarian aidEdit

Four months after the release of "We Are the World", USA for Africa had taken in almost $10.8 million (equivalent to $Template:Inflation million today).<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Record's first profits will go to the hungry">Template:Cite news</ref> The majority of the money came from record sales within the US.<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission" /><ref name="Record's first profits will go to the hungry" /> Members of the public also donated money—almost $1.3 million within the same time period. In May 1985, USA for Africa officials estimated that they had sold between $45 million and $47 million worth of official merchandise around the world. Organizer Ken Kragen announced that they would not be distributing all of the money at once. Instead, he revealed that the foundation would be looking into finding a long-term solution for Africa's problems.<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission" /> "We could go out and spend it all in one shot. Maybe we'd save some lives in the short term but it would be like putting a Band-Aid over a serious wound."<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission" /> Kragen noted that experts had predicted that it would take at least 10 to 20 years to make a slight difference to Africa's long-term problems.<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission" />

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 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">Template:Cite news</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">Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref>

File:Opbushel.jpg

A military aircraft dropping food during the 1984–1985 Ethiopian famine

One year after the release of "We Are the World", organizers noted that $44.5 million had been raised for USA for Africa's humanitarian fund. They stated that they were confident that they would reach an initial set target of $50 million (equivalent to $Template:Inflation million in 2025).<ref name="USA for Africa nears goal">Template:Cite news</ref> By October 1986, it was revealed that their $50 million target had been met and exceeded; CBS Records gave USA for Africa a check for $2.5 million, drawing the total amount of money to $51.2 million.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money">Template:Cite news</ref> USA for Africa's Hands Across America event had also raised a significant amount of money—approximately $24.5 million for the hungry in the US.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money" />

Since its release, "We Are the World" has raised over $80 million (equivalent to $Template:Inflation million today) for humanitarian causes.<ref name="auto"/> Ninety percent of the money was pledged to African relief, both long and short term.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money" /><ref name="USA for Africa: a hunger to share">Template:Cite news</ref> The long-term initiative included efforts in birth control and food production.<ref name="USA for Africa: a hunger to share" /> The remaining 10 percent of funds was earmarked for domestic hunger and homeless programs in the US.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money" /><ref name="USA for Africa: a hunger to share" /> From the African fund, over 70 recovery and development projects were launched in seven African nations. Such projects included aid in agriculture, fishing, water management, manufacturing and reforestation. Training programs were also developed in the African countries of Mozambique, Senegal, Chad, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Mali.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money"/>

Following Jackson's death in 2009, Elias Kifle Maraim Beyene, who grew up in Ethiopia and was a beneficiary of the aid provided by the single, related:

I won't ever forget Michael Jackson because his contribution to the song We are the World had a very significant effect on my life. I am 50 now but 25 years ago I was living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which at that time was suffering from a long drought and famine. It was a terrible situation. Lots of people became sick and many more died. Around one million people in all were killed by the famine. In 1984 Michael Jackson, along with a number of other leading musicians, made the song We are the World to raise money for Africa. We received a lot of aid from the world and I was one of those who directly benefitted from it. The wheat flour that was distributed to the famine victims was different to the usual cereal we bought at the market. We baked a special bread from it. The local people named the bread after the great artist and it became known as Michael Bread. It was soft and delicious.
When you have been through such hard times you never forget events like this. If you speak to anyone who was in Addis Ababa at that time they will all know what Michael Bread is and I know I will remember it for the rest of my life.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>{{#if:|{{#if:|}}

— {{#if:|, in }}Template:Comma separated entries
}}

{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }}

Notable live performancesEdit

"We Are the World" has been performed live by members of USA for Africa on several occasions both together and individually. One of the earliest such performances came in 1985, during the rock music concert Live Aid, which ended with more than 100 musicians singing the song on stage.<ref name="Live Aid TDC">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Live Aid touches hearts, pockets">Template:Cite news</ref> Harry Belafonte and Lionel Richie made surprise appearances for the live rendition of the song.<ref name="Live Aid provided reunions of 60's bands">Template:Cite news</ref> Michael Jackson would have joined the artists, but was "working around the clock in the studio on a project that he's made a major commitment to", according to his press agent, Norman Winter.<ref name="Michael Jackson project kept him from concert">Template:Cite news</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">Template:Cite news</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">Template:Cite news</ref> Said Jones, "I've never seen so many great performers come together with so much love and selflessness."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The celebration included a performance of "We Are the World", which involved Clinton, his daughter Chelsea, and his wife 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 TimesTemplate:' 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">Template:Cite news</ref>

As a prelude to his song "Heal the World", "We Are the World" was performed as an interlude during two of Michael Jackson's tours, the Dangerous World Tour (1992–1993) and the HIStory World Tour (1996–1997), as well as Jackson's performance at the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show in 1993. Jackson briefly performed the song with a chorus at the 2006 World Music Awards in London, which marked his last live public performance. Jackson planned to use the song for his This Is It comeback concerts at the O2 Arena in London from 2009 to 2010, but the shows were cancelled due to his sudden death.

Michael Jackson died in June 2009, after suffering a cardiac arrest.<ref name="death MSNBC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His memorial service was held several days later on July 7, and was reported to have been viewed by more than one billion people.<ref name="Who Is Michael Jackson Memorial Performer Shaheen Jafargholi?">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The finale of the event featured group renditions of the Jackson anthems "We Are the World" and "Heal the World".<ref name="Who Sang 'We Are The World' At Michael Jackson Memorial?">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The singalong of "We Are the World" was led by Darryl Phinnessee, who had worked with Jackson since the late 1980s.<ref name="Who Sang 'We Are The World' At Michael Jackson Memorial?" /><ref name="Michael Jackson memorial: 'We Are the World,' 'Who's Lovin' You' and the final performances">Template:Cite news</ref> It also featured co-writer Lionel Richie and Jackson's family, including his children.<ref name="Who Sang 'We Are The World' At Michael Jackson Memorial?" /><ref name="Michael Jackson memorial: 'We Are the World,' 'Who's Lovin' You' and the final performances"/> Following the performance, "We Are the World" re-entered the US charts for the first time since its 1985 release. The song debuted at number 50 on BillboardTemplate:'s Hot Digital Songs chart.<ref name="'We are the World' in charts after Jackson tribute">Template:Cite news</ref>

25 for HaitiEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

File:Boy receiving treatment after Haiti earthquake.jpg

One of the hundreds of thousands of people who were injured by the destructive earthquake in Haiti

On January 12, 2010, a magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, the island's most severe earthquake in over 200 years.<ref name="United States Geological Survey">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The epicenter of the quake was just outside the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince.<ref name="haiti tele">Template:Cite news Template:Cbignore</ref> The Haitian government confirmed the deaths of over 230,000 civilians because of the disaster and the injuries of around 300,000. Approximately 1.2 million people were homeless and the lack of temporary shelter may have led to the outbreak of disease.<ref name="Haiti quake death toll rises to 230,000">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Purdue researchers saw potential for Haitian earthquake">Template:Cite news</ref>

To raise money for earthquake victims, a new celebrity version of "We Are the World" was recorded on February 1, 2010, and released on February 12, 2010. Over 75 musicians were involved in the remake, which was recorded in the same studio as the 1985 original.<ref name="Stars gather for 'We Are the World' recording" /> The new version features revised lyrics as well as a rap part pertaining to Haiti.<ref name="Stars gather for 'We Are the World' recording">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="New voices unite for 'We Are the World'">Template:Cite news</ref> Michael Jackson's younger sister Janet duets with her late brother on the track, as per a request from their mother Katherine. In the video and on the track, archival material of Michael Jackson is used from the original 1985 recording.<ref name="usatodayinfo">Template:Cite news</ref> This version is also infamous for the way Wyclef sings towards the end of the song, fluctuating his voice in a manner that sounds like, as a music writer for the San Francisco Chronicle called it, "Not unlike a cross between a fire siren and the sound of Wyclef giving himself a hernia."

On February 20, 2010, a non-celebrity remake, "We Are the World 25 for Haiti (YouTube edition)", was posted to the video sharing website YouTube. Internet personality and singer-songwriter Lisa Lavie conceived and organized the Internet collaboration of 57 unsigned or independent YouTube musicians geographically distributed around the world. Lavie's 2010 YouTube version, a cover of the 1985 original, excludes the rap segment and minimizes the Auto-tune that characterizes the 2010 celebrity remake.<ref name="CNNrefs">Josh Levs, CNN, "YouTube Singers Rock for Haiti" (March 6, 2010); Josh Levs, CNN, "YouTubers do 'We Are the World'" (March 7, 2010); Rosemary Church, CNN International, "We Are the World, part two", (March 20, 2010). Textual transcripts of programs on which the CNN videos aired, are found at "CNN SATURDAY MORNING NEWS" (March 6, 2010), "CNN NEWSROOM" Template:Webarchive (March 6, 2010), and "CNN SUNDAY MORNING" (March 7, 2010).</ref> Another 2010 remake of the original is the Spanish-language "Somos El Mundo". It was written by Emilio Estefan and his wife Gloria Estefan, and produced by Emilio, Quincy Jones and Univision Communications, the company that funded the project.<ref>Cobo, Leila, "50 Latin Stars Gather to Record 'Somos El Mundo'", Billboard.com, February 22, 2010 (downloaded May 26, 2010).</ref>

LegacyEdit

"We Are the World" has been recognized as a politically important song, which "affected an international focus on Africa that was simply unprecedented".<ref name="Garofalo 29"/> It has been credited with creating a climate in which musicians from around the world felt inclined to follow.<ref name="Garofalo 29"/> According to The New York TimesTemplate:' Stephen Holden, since the release of "We Are the World", it has been noted that movement has been made within popular music to create songs that address humanitarian concerns.<ref name="Pop for Grown-Ups Gathers Momentum">Template:Cite news</ref> "We Are the World" was also influential in subverting the way music and meaning were produced, showing that musically and racially diverse musicians could work together both productively and creatively.<ref name="marsh 519"/> Ebony described the January 28 recording session, in which Quincy Jones brought together a multi-racial group, as being "a major moment in world music that showed we can change the world".<ref name="Black music">Template:Cite magazine</ref> "We Are the World", along with Live Aid and Farm Aid, demonstrated that rock music had become more than entertainment, but a political and social movement.<ref name="Politics and a crossbreeding of forms were the trend">Template:Cite news</ref> Journalist Robert Palmer noted that such songs and events had the ability to reach people around the world, send them a message, and then get results.<ref name="Politics and a crossbreeding of forms were the trend" />

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 recording artists were Julio Iglesias, José Feliciano, and Sérgio Mendes. Their 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">Template:Cite news</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>"'Smoke on the Water' history", Rock Aid Armenia website. Retrieved July 20, 2016.</ref> the 1986 all-star OPM single "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo", which talked about the optimism the Filipinos needed after the People Power Revolution,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the 1997 Star Records all-star recording "Sa Araw ng Pasko", the 2003 all-star OPM recording "Biyahe Tayo" which promoted Philippine tourism<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and its subsequent 2011 remake "Pilipinas, Tara Na!"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the 2009 all-star 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The 20th anniversary of "We Are the World" was celebrated in 2005. Radio stations around the world paid homage to USA for Africa's creation by simultaneously broadcasting the charity song. In addition to the simulcast, the milestone was marked by the release of a two-disc DVD called We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song.<ref name="Stations pay tribute to 'We Are the World'">Template:Cite news</ref> Ken Kragen asserted that the reason behind the simulcast and DVD release was not for USA for Africa to praise themselves for doing a good job, but to "use it to do some more good [for the original charity]. That's all we care about accomplishing."<ref name="Stations pay tribute to 'We Are the World'" /> Harry Belafonte also commented on the 20th anniversary of the song. He acknowledged that "We Are the World" had "stood the test of time"; anyone old enough to remember it can still at least hum along.<ref name="'We Are the World' song celebrates 20 years">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On January 29, 2024, a documentary titled The Greatest Night in Pop, was released on Netflix. The documentary, which was directed by Bao Nguyen, chronicles the obstacles and the behind-the-scenes stories that led to the creation of the song. The documentary features new interviews with Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Huey Lewis, Dionne Warwick, Cyndi Lauper and others involved with the song who reflect on the song and its legacy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Reflecting on the song's cultural and artistic legacy forty years later, British theorist Jason Barker asserts that "the USA For Africa anthem is the birth of postmodern tragedy" and "marks the beginning of the so-called Disaster Appeal".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ChartsEdit

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2

Weekly chartsEdit

Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart Template:Single chart

Chart (1985–1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="george 41" /><ref name="auchart">Template:Cite book</ref>	1
Chile (UPI)<ref name="books.google.com">Template:Cite news</ref>	1
Denmark (Hitlisten)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3
Ireland (IRMA)<ref name="WATW Ireland"/>	1
Italy (Musica e dischi)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "USA for Africa".</ref>	1
Panama (UPI)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	1
Paraguay (UPI)<ref name="books.google.com"/>	1
Portugal (AFP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)<ref name="We are the world1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Spain (AFYVE)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	1
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
US Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales (Billboard)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
US Cash Box Top Singles<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Venezuela (UPI)<ref name="books.google.com"/>	1

Template:Col-2

Year-end chartsEdit

Chart (1985)	Position
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	23
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	8
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	35
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	20
US Black Singles Chart (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	37
US Cash Box Top Singles<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1