We Are the World
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What is the song 'We Are the World'?
"We Are the World" is a charity single written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. The song was created to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia and became an immediate success, selling 800,000 copies in its first three days and ultimately raising over $60 million.
The initiative was inspired by Harry Belafonte and the success of the British charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?". Quincy Jones produced the recording session, which brought together over 45 popular artists who were instructed to "check your ego at the door". The song achieved significant commercial success, topping charts and winning Grammy Awards for record and song of the year. Its impact inspired other music-driven charitable efforts, such as Farm Aid.
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Who wrote 'We Are the World'?
The iconic charity single "We Are the World" was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. The song was conceived by Harry Belafonte, who approached Richie with the idea of a charity single for Africa. Richie then collaborated with Jackson, and together they penned the anthem to raise funds for famine relief through the organization USA for Africa. The recording brought together over 45 popular artists, and the song achieved immense success, becoming one of the best-selling singles in history and winning multiple Grammy Awards.
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Why was 'We Are the World' created?
The song "We Are the World" was created to raise funds for famine relief in Africa. Inspired by the British charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?", American singer Harry Belafonte approached Lionel Richie to organize a similar effort. Richie, along with Michael Jackson, wrote the song, which was recorded by over 45 popular artists on January 28, 1985. The song was released on March 7, 1985, and became an immediate success, selling 800,000 copies in three days and ultimately raising over $60 million for African famine relief through the charity USA for Africa.
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How did the song help people in need?
The song "We Are the World," recorded by over 45 popular singers and songwriters, was created to raise funds for the charity USA for Africa. Released in 1985, it became an immediate success, selling 800,000 copies in three days and ultimately raising over $60 million for African famine relief. This effort was inspired by Harry Belafonte and organized by Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones, with Michael Jackson co-writing the song. The song's immense popularity and sales directly translated into significant financial aid for those in need, demonstrating the powerful impact of music for charitable causes.
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What makes 'We Are the World' important in music history?
"We Are the World" holds significant importance in music history primarily due to its groundbreaking success as a charity single and its role in inspiring future musical humanitarian efforts.
The song, released in 1985, was a collaborative effort by over 45 popular artists, including Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, who also co-wrote the song. It was conceived by Harry Belafonte and produced by Quincy Jones, aiming to raise funds for famine relief in Africa.
"We Are the World" achieved immense commercial success, selling rapidly and ultimately raising over $60 million. It topped music charts for weeks and won Grammy Awards, solidifying its status as one of the best-selling singles ever. Its impact extended beyond sales, as it pioneered a model for large-scale, musician-led charitable initiatives, influencing subsequent projects like Farm Aid and "That's What Friends Are For".
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On January 28, 1985, more than 45 of the eraâs most popular singers and songwriters gathered to record a song to raise funds for the charity USA for Africa. The song, âWe Are the World,â released on March 7 that year, was an immediate media sensation. It sold an astonishing 800,000 copies in three days and ultimately raised more than $60 million for African famine relief and inspired other musician-driven charitable efforts.
The idea
The idea for âWe Are the Worldâ originated with American singer, actor, and activist Harry Belafonte, who was inspired by âDo They Know Itâs Christmas?â That single, which was released in 1984 and featured a number of popular singers, among them Bono, Boy George, Phil Collins, George Michael, and Sting, aimed to raise money for individuals affected by famine in Ethiopia. Belafonte approached American singer, songwriter, and producer Lionel Richie about organizing a similar fundraising effort for Africa more broadly. Richie reached out to Quincy Jones, who agreed to produce the project. Richie was originally supposed to pair up with Stevie Wonder to write the song, but Wonder was deeply involved in the production of an album. Instead, Richie connected with singer Michael Jackson, and the two began to write the song, which they hoped would become an anthem.
Making the project work
The project required a large cast of well-known performers to succeed. Ken Kragen, who managed a number of singers, including Richie, made it his mission to recruit an all-star chorus. Recording took place at A&M Studios in Los Angeles immediately following the American Music Awards, which Richie had hosted that evening in L.A. When the performers arrived, they were greeted by a sign stating, âCheck your ego at the door.â
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Many of the singers knew one another, making the event a sort of social gathering, in addition to a recording session. Recording the song was challenging, as individual singers and duos were given specific lines to sing. In addition, with so many performers involved, the recording took several hours. A documentary titled We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song (1985), hosted by Jane Fonda, captured the making of the song.
Success and legacy
A second documentary about the recording session, The Greatest Night in Pop, directed by Bao Nguyen, was released on Netflix in 2024. The film takes viewers behind the scenes of the event and includes snippets of sound recorded by journalist David Breskin, who was present at the event on behalf of Life magazine.
âWe Are the Worldâ became one of the best-selling singles in music history. It was number one on Billboardâs Hot 100 chart for four consecutive weeks, was certified quadruple platinum, and won Grammy Awards for record of the year and song of the year. The success of âWe Are the Worldâ inspired other charitable music endeavors. In September 1985, for example, the music festival Farm Aid debuted, having been organized by Willie Nelson, Neil Young (who had participated in the recording of the album We Are the World) and John Mellencamp to help struggling farmers in the United States. Another example was the 1986 hit song âThatâs What Friends Are For,â performed by Wonder, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Dionne Warwick, money from which supported AIDS research.