Heeeeey! Who remembers this enormous hit? I mean… who could possibly forget it?! That’s insane!!! Let’s go back to the 90´s to understand better what this song is all about. Maybe there are a few things that you don’t know about this single, or do you know? Hmmm… let’s find out!
So, "We Are the World" is a charity single originally recorded by the U.S. supergroup for Africa in 1985. Also, and to my astonishment, “We Are the World” was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for this album.
The song was released on March 7, 1985 and became the most rapidly broadcast single in the history of pop music. With sales exceeding 20 million copies, it is the eighth best-selling physical single of all time!
It is said that at the entrance of the studio, on the day of the recordings, was posted a sign asking the musicians: "Please leave your egos at the door”, and it makes perfect sense, because after all were not all working for the same purpose? Genious!
What was the real purpose of this song?
Prior to the composition of "We Are the World" American activist and actor Harry Belafonte had already suggested a charity project involving the most famous artists in the music industry at the time. Belafonte had even planned to donate the proceeds to a new organization called "United Support of Artists for Africa" (USA for Africa). The non-profit organization would be responsible for routing resources to hungry peoples on the African continent, especially ethiopia, where hunger victimized about 1 million people a year (according to data from the 1980s).
The idea was inspired by "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by the British supergroup Band Aid. There was also an intention to distribute resources to fight hunger in the United States. Media entrepreneur Ken Kragen was contacted by Belafonte, who invited Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers to develop the project.
Jackson said he not only wanted to participate in the recording, but also the composition of the song. Thus, it was agreed that the partnership of "We Are the World" would be between Jackson, Richie and Wonder. However, due to the limited time of the latter, Jackson and Richie took over the composition of the song alone.
For an entire week, the two spent nights working on the song's lyrics and melody, wishing for something simple and also memorable.
Remember the video:
A curious fact is that the verse: "There's a choice we're making, we're saving our own lives, it's true" is similar to the verses of the Christmas song "Do You Hear What I Hear?".
Another legend says that Ray Charles and Lionel Ritchie, both blind, warned that they would drive the musicians' cars home at the end of the day if the recording was not completed in a single take. Too risky? (#scared face)
How were the amazing recordings?
The first night of recording, on January 22, 1985, was very extensive ( and exhaustive, I think). The studio, located in Beverly Hills, was filled with musicians, technicians, production assistants, among other team members of each of the singers. Initially, Richie and Jackson recorded the guide voice and distributed it on cassette tape to each of the guest artists.
Then, continuing the vocal part, Jackson and Jones came up with the idea of an alternative to the verses: "There's a chance we're taking, we're taking our own lives". Jones suggested changing only a few words instead of the entire verse. "One thing we don't want to do, especially with this group, is think we're regressing. So really “it was a choice we made”. Around 1:30 a.m., the four musicians closed the first session rehearsing the melodic vocalizations of the refrain, including the sound "sha-lum sha-lin-gay".
On January 24, 1985, after a day off, Jones distributed the cassette tape with prior recording to all the singers involved in the project. Along with the tapes, the strict music producer left a message:
“The tapes are numbered and I can't express how important it is not to leave them without this material. Please don't make copies and return it on the night of the 28th. In the years to come, when your children ask 'what have my father and mother done in the fight against world hunger?', you can proudly say that this is your contribution”.
In 2010, "We Are the World" was re-recorded with the goal of profit being reverted to earthquake victims in Haiti. In the new version, legends such as Brian Wilson, Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett went to Henson Studios in Los Angeles to sing with Will.i.am, Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, Kanye West and Pink.
Take a look to the next video:
So, what did you think? I bet you were unaware of many of the facts of this memorable single. I got it right, didn't I?
Here's a tip: plant the good now so that you'll reap your reward later!
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