Location: Michael Jackson > U.S.A. for Africa - We Are The World
U.S.A. for Africa - We Are The World
Written and composed by michael jackson and lionel richie (1985)
Harry Belafonte initiated the idea for a fundraising effort. His manager, Ken Kragen, suggested the multi-artist approach, inspired by the success of the British supergroup Band Aid and their 1984 fundraising single Do They Know It's Christmas?
The performers gathered at A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, on January 28, 1985. Kragen selected the night of the American Music Awards to ensure as many artists as possible could attend. Jones famously advised them, in his written invitation, to check your egos at the door. In all, 45 musicians attended the recording session, including Bob Geldof, who had arranged the Band Aid effort in the United Kingdom. Lead vocals were rotated among 21 of the performers, including Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Perry, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Bob Dylan, Kim Carnes and Ray Charles.
Columbia Records donated their manufacturing and distribution costs to the effort. We Are the World hit stores on Tuesday, March 5, 1985, and all 800,000 copies sold out before the end of the weekend. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number twenty-one. On April 5 (Good Friday in that year), more than 5,000 radio stations played the song at the same time. It became the United States' number one single on April 13 and held the position for four weeks.
The song went on to win four 1986 Grammys for: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Music Video, Short Form.
Ultimately, the single sold 7.5 million copies in the US. It was released on an album, We Are the World, which sold over three million copies. In addition to We Are the World, the album included previously unreleased songs by Tina Turner, Prince, Springsteen, Rogers, Chicago, Huey Lewis and the News, Steve Perry, and The Pointer Sisters. It also included another famine relief fundraising song, Tears Are Not Enough, which was performed by Canadian supergroup Northern Lights.
Including revenues from the single, the album, the video and related merchandise, We Are the World raised over $63 million for famine relief.
Lionel Richie stated that We Are the World had 11 lawsuits brought up against the song (claiming others had written the song).
On November 15, 2006 Michael Jackson performed the song in the World Music Awards and also performed a solo version which is now on his The Ultimate Collection Boxset which was released in 2004. Kenny Rogers has also performed a solo version of the song, which is featured on a 1986 concert video at Texas stadium.
The performers gathered at A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, on January 28, 1985. Kragen selected the night of the American Music Awards to ensure as many artists as possible could attend. Jones famously advised them, in his written invitation, to check your egos at the door. In all, 45 musicians attended the recording session, including Bob Geldof, who had arranged the Band Aid effort in the United Kingdom. Lead vocals were rotated among 21 of the performers, including Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Perry, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Bob Dylan, Kim Carnes and Ray Charles.
Columbia Records donated their manufacturing and distribution costs to the effort. We Are the World hit stores on Tuesday, March 5, 1985, and all 800,000 copies sold out before the end of the weekend. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number twenty-one. On April 5 (Good Friday in that year), more than 5,000 radio stations played the song at the same time. It became the United States' number one single on April 13 and held the position for four weeks.
The song went on to win four 1986 Grammys for: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Music Video, Short Form.
Ultimately, the single sold 7.5 million copies in the US. It was released on an album, We Are the World, which sold over three million copies. In addition to We Are the World, the album included previously unreleased songs by Tina Turner, Prince, Springsteen, Rogers, Chicago, Huey Lewis and the News, Steve Perry, and The Pointer Sisters. It also included another famine relief fundraising song, Tears Are Not Enough, which was performed by Canadian supergroup Northern Lights.
Including revenues from the single, the album, the video and related merchandise, We Are the World raised over $63 million for famine relief.
Lionel Richie stated that We Are the World had 11 lawsuits brought up against the song (claiming others had written the song).
On November 15, 2006 Michael Jackson performed the song in the World Music Awards and also performed a solo version which is now on his The Ultimate Collection Boxset which was released in 2004. Kenny Rogers has also performed a solo version of the song, which is featured on a 1986 concert video at Texas stadium.
Lyrics:
There comes a time, when we hear a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth you know
Love is all we need
chorus:
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me
Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free.
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
And so we all must lend a helping hand
When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you believe there's no way we can fall
Let us realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one
Link: YouTube - U.S.A. FOR AFRICA - WE ARE THE WORLD
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