We Are the World

At its time, this was a Who's Who of the Music Industry

"There comes a time, when we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one"

—"We Are the World"

In 1984, Ethiopia was struck by a famine, making headlines across the world. The famine also struck the conscience of the entertainment industry, with the release of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid that same year. Not long after, American entertainers decided to put together their own effort to raise funds and awareness for Ethiopia.

Enlisted by Harry Belafonte, Lionel Richie contacted Michael Jackson, who agreed to perform and help with writing. Belafonte also contacted Kenny Rogers, Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones, who assisted with conducting and producing the song.

Richie, Jackson, Wonder and Jones continued to tweak the lyrics up to the first recording session, and a special track was prepared for the performers who would be invited to perform on January 28. Included in the lineup were Ray Charles, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper and Willie Nelson, with a vast choir that included Dan Aykroyd, Bob Geldof, Bette Midler, the Pointer Sisters and the rest of Jackson's family.

"We Are the World" was released on March 7, 1985, reaching number one on the R&B Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100, and raising $10.8 million within four months. Since then, the record has raked in $63 million, put toward both short-term and long-term humanitarian relief projects, with 10% of the funds also being used for domestic hunger and homeless programs.

Twenty-five years on, in February 2010, a new version of "We Are the World" was recorded and released following the Haiti earthquake, reuniting Richie and Jones for its production. Material recorded by Jackson from the original was also interwoven into the new version, which features Wyclef Jean, Josh Groban, Usher, Janet Jackson, Lil Wayne and other well-known artists (including ten rappers in their own rapped section of the song). All proceeds from the song were used by the newly formed We Are the World LLC to help with relief efforts in Haiti.

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