1985 USA For Africa – We Are The World (US: #1 UK: #1)
“We Are the World“ is a song and charity single originally 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 copies, it is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold at least 10 million copies worldwide.
Following Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” project in the UK, an idea for the creation of an American benefit single for African famine relief came from activist Harry Belafonte, who, along with fundraiser Ken Kragen, was instrumental in bringing the vision to reality. Several musicians were contacted by the pair, before Jackson and Richie were assigned the task of writing the song. The duo completed the writing of “We Are the World” seven weeks after the release of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, and one night before the song’s first recording session, on January 21, 1985. The historic event brought together some of the most famous artists in the music industry at the time.
The song was released on March 7, 1985, as the only single from the album. A worldwide commercial success, it topped music charts throughout the world and became the fastest-selling American pop single in history. The first ever single to be certified multi-platinum, “We Are the World” received a Quadruple Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. However, the song garnered mixed reviews from journalists, music critics, and the public. Fans enjoyed hearing racially and musically diverse recording artists singing together on one track, and felt satisfied in buying “We Are the World”, knowing that the money was going to charity. Other individuals, including many commentators in the rock press, were disappointed that the song did not challenge listeners as to why famines occur in the first place, and felt that the lyrics were self-aggrandizing.
Awarded numerous honors—including three Grammy Awards, one American Music Award, and a People’s Choice Award—the song was promoted with a critically received music video, a home video, a special edition magazine, a simulcast, and several books, posters, and shirts. The promotion and merchandise aided the success of “We Are the World” and raised over $63 million (equivalent to $136 million today) for humanitarian aid in Africa and the US.
Following the devastation caused by the magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, a remake of the song by another all-star cast of singers was recorded on February 1, 2010. Entitled “We Are the World 25 for Haiti”, it was released as a single on February 12, 2010, and proceeds from the record aided survivors in the impoverished country.
Album
None album track.
Muscians
Bass | Louis Johnson |
Drums | JR Robinson |
Keyboards | Michael Omartian |
Keyboards | Greg Phillinganes |
Synthesizer | David Paich |
Synthesizer | Michael Boddicker |
Programming | Steve Porcaro |
Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
Background Vocals | Dan Aykroyd |
Background Vocals | Harry Belafonte |
Background Vocals | Lindsey Buckingham |
Background Vocals | Mario Cipollina |
Background Vocals | Johnny Colla |
Background Vocals | Sheila E. |
Background Vocals | Bob Geldof |
Background Vocals | Bill Gibson |
Background Vocals | Chris Hayes |
Background Vocals | Sean Hopper |
Background Vocals | Jackie Jackson |
Background Vocals | La Toya Jackson |
Background Vocals | Marlon Jackson |
Background Vocals | Randy Jackson |
Background Vocals | Tito Jackson |
Background Vocals | Waylon Jennings |
Background Vocals | Bette Midler |
Background Vocals | John Oates |
Background Vocals | Jeffrey Osborne |
Background Vocals | Anita Pointer |
Background Vocals | June Pointer |
Background Vocals | Ruth Pointer |
Background Vocals | Smokey Robinson |
Vocals | Lionel Richie |
Vocals | Stevie Wonder |
Vocals | Paul Simon |
Vocals | Kenny Rogers |
Vocals | James Ingram |
Vocals | Tina Turner |
Vocals | Billy Joel |
Vocals | Michael Jackson |
Vocals | Diana Ross |
Vocals | Dionne Warwick |
Vocals | Willie Nelson |
Vocals | Al Jarreau |
Vocals | Bruce Springsteen |
Vocals | Kenny Loggins |
Vocals | Steve Perry |
Vocals | Daryl Hall |
Vocals | Huey Lewis |
Vocals | Cyndi Lauper |
Vocals | Kim Carnes |
Vocals | Bob Dylan |
Vocals | Ray Charles |
Produced By
Quincy Jones
Songwriters
Michael Jackson
Lionel Richie
Charts
US:# 1
UK:# 1
January 27, 2016 @ 21:44
Steve Perry!!