Comments: 43

• Steveazo from San Mateo, CaAs a follow up piece of trivia from my last comment discussing musicians invited to the 'We Are The World' session, this is from Wikipedia's article on the song: "One musician deliberately omitted was John Denver who had asked to participate but was rejected, despite his previous commitment to charity work. Ken Kragen claimed it was due to some people feeling that Denver's image would affect the credibility of the song as a pop-rock anthem. 'I didn't agree with this assessment,' Kragen said, but reluctantly turned Denver down. Denver recalled the rejection in his 1994 autobiography 'Take Me Home', stating that 'It broke my heart not to be included'."
• Steveazo from San Mateo, CaTo "Bruce from Houston, Ny" who commented "...I can think of a few artists from that time period that surely deserved an invite: Whitney Houston? Madonna? Don Henley? John Mellencamp? Pat Benatar? Van Halen? Heart?": Bradmeister from Santa Monca already made the true comment about Whitney's debut album which was not released until February of 1985, a few weeks after "We Are The World" was recorded. Similarly, Madonna, who true was nominated for an AMA that night, wasn't established as a major artist until after her "Like A Virgin" album and singles had saturated the airwaves. The title track and first single from "Like A Virgin" went to #1 in late December 1984 at the same time the search was going on for artists to participate in "We Are The World." Before "Like A Virgin," Madonna's biggest singles had been "Borderline" (#10) and "Lucky Star" (#4). She surely would've been invited a year later after "Like A Virgin," "Material Girl," "Crazy For You," "Angel," and "Dress You Up" hit the Top 10 from late 1984 to 1985. Inviting Heart would've been a stretch as up to late 1984, their most recent hit was "Tell It Like It Is" (#8) from 1981. I'm sure you're thinking of the success they had right AFTER "We Are The World" blew up as Heart had 4 top 10 hits from mid-1985 to 1986 like "What About Love?", "Never," "These Dreams" (#1), and "Nothin' At All." (as well as continuing chart success from 1987 to 1990) After their HUGE success with their "1984" album and "Jump" single the year before, Van Halen may be considered a viable choice but to ask David Lee Roth to check his ego at the door would have been a challenge. :)
• Annabelle from Eugene, OrI sure wish we could all come together to help those who are less fortunate. Especially in crazy times like these! Everyone around the world needs love and tenderness when times are tough and the road is rough! Hopefully soon we'll make good turns down this road we call the road of life.
• J.c. from Dover, FlI especially love the lyrics to this song. It has so much meaning. All of the artists featured in the song made it sound great. I'm really glad Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson had in their minds to create a lasting sensation.
• Toddzee from North CarolinaThe lyrics aren't often what makes a good song. In this case, I can enjoy all the distinctive voices singing one song. It's sort of novel but I admire the logistics of it all and the cause. Nothing like this will ever happen again, in my opinion. And Huey is The Man.
• Paul BradleyI wish i heard Whitney and Prince and Bryan Adams
• Ryan Ann Feit from Saginaw, MiThis song is one of my all time favorite songs growing up. I am a child of the 80's. No song right now is more important than this song. With the pandemic and now the rioting it is great to see all of these different musicians of all races, ideologies and types (rock, country, pop, soul) getting together for a cause. There was no other time in history where music was this diverse. I was 10 years old in April 1985 when this song came out and I remember listening to Tom Brokaw on the news talk about the starving children in Africa and I wanted to help. I am so glad this song has remained so popular and so influential and am so grateful that Michael Jackson, Lionel Ritchie and Quincy Jones worked together to write and produce this iconic song that has done so much good for so many people then and for people now. Also another song that came out at the end of the year that was also a charity song was the iconic "That's What Friends Are For" which was a charity song written for the aids epidemic which is just as important and iconic as "We Are the World" and was song by three legendary musical artists were were part of "We Are the World" (Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight) and the always awesome and truly legendary Elton John. 1985 was a truly great year for inspiring and wonderful music and I can not believe that was 35 years ago.
• Sandy from Wildomar, CaI read below a lot of negative comments. You may not think that the lyrics are the best possible, but there was indeed a simple message which had a measure of value in itself. Somehow, in spite of the many negative comments, it was the song of the year, so some folks liked it. The music was performed exceptionally by the band of artists, and those who had solos, were spectacular with their performance.
• Sandy from Wildomar, CaThis is such a wonderful song, arrangement, and music that I listen to it daily. It spite on any and all controversy, all singers performed with their best talent on display, and all looked wonderful in the video. What a group!
• Wes from Ms@Mr.Mike....Voice was heard on Muzak prior to "We Are The World". When hostages were released from Iran.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 5th 1985, at 3:50 GMT; over 5,000 radio stations around the world played "We Are The World"* by USA for Africa...
  At the time the song was at #2 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; two days later on April 7th, 1985 it peaked at #1, and would spent for four weeks in the top spot...
  * Proceeds from the single recorded by artists from the United States benefited starving people in Africa.
• Bradmeister from Santa Monica, CaTo the person that thought Whitney Houston should have been invited: Whitney's debut album, called "Whitney Houston," which contained many of her early hits, was not released until February of 1985, a few weeks after "We Are The World" was recorded.
• Ken from Philadelphia, PaI greatly appreciate the cause and applaud all involved on that basis. However, if we are being completely honest here, the song is execrable... literally some of the worst music ever committed to vinyl.
• Christine from Sacramento, CaYeah, Billy Joel certainly did have a solo and then he harmonized with the fabulous Tina Turner! Dylan would not have been an easy sell, that he appeared must have been a coup, and for the MASSIVE part Ray Charles plays, leading the end of the whole thing, spurring the singers on.
• Christine from Sacramento, CaIt's astounding to me that Jones would choose Huey Lewis (who I adore but ...) above Harry Belafonte, who started the whole idea, or the fabulous Bette Midler or Smokey Robinson!
• Esskayess from Dallas, TxThe Simpsons hilariously spoofed this song with 'Sending Our Love Down the Well' when Bart falls down the well and makes everyone think it's some lovable little boy down there. Krusty the Clown says that when the money comes in, 'Well, we gotta pay for promotion, shipping, distribution, and you know those limos out back? They aren't free. But whatever's left, we throw down the well.'
• Rick from Belfast, Meawesome song w/ a calvacade of great artists.....last but not least of all....great GODLY message
• David from Lawren, MaIt is Cheessy...The song makes me Sick :-/
• Stefania from Antwerp, Belgium'the artists didn't give very much of themselves, other than a couple of hours of their time'??
  What about MJ's Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star World Record? MJ donated millions of dollars to charity.
  Anyway, love the song and I think every effort to give back, small or big, is great!
• Martin from Vienna, AustriaWhen it came to Bob Dylan to sing his part it didn't sound like Dylan. So Ray Charles started to imitate Dylan and said, "That's what you should sound like, Bob!" We all know that Mr. Dylan obeyed - on the record you recognise him at first tone.
• Phil from Edmonton, AbA distant third behind "Do They Know it's Christmas" and "Tears are not Enough".
• Bruce from Houston, NyI think the song holds up pretty well. I still get chills when Springsteen comes in for the first time. What I find interesting is how the intervening 25 years has sorted the true legends from the, well, lounge acts. Anyone seen Jefferey Osborne lately? Sheila E.? James Ingram? I read somewhere that when they were assembling the 'chorus', they took that week's Billboard charts and pulled out 20 artists that were hot right then (Huey Lewis, The Pointer Sisters)to go with their 'Dream Team' of 20 'Legends' (Dylan, Springsteen, MJ, etc.) But I can think of a few artists from that time period that surely deserved an invite: Whiney Houston? Madonna? Don Henley? John Mellencamp? Pat Benatar? Van Halen? Heart? Surely, we could have made room for some of them, right?
• Mr. Mike from Jonesville, MiThere was a day when every (or most) radio stations in America agreed to play "We Are the World" at the same time. If I recall correctly it was on Good Friday at 3:00 p.m. I remember going up and down the dial of my radio and most stations were playing the song. Evan MUZAK played it so it was broadcast to stores, shopping cneters, and elevators, too. This event made the opening lyric "There comes a time" by Lionel Ritchie the first words ever spoken on MUZAK.
• Sucitawati from Denpasar, IndonesiaI heard this song for the first time when I was a teenager. Now, at 42 I still love this song! The melody , lyric, singers and of course the charity spirit it conveys.... Totally lovely and everlasting.
• Dave from Liverpool, United KingdomI found the whole thing a bit of a farce. A bunch of rich and successful artists singing about a place they couldn't even point to on a map.
  
  Sean Penn in New Orleans wading chest-deep in filthy water to drag a rescue raft to a stranded family is more my idea of celebrity disaster relief
• Sara from Silver Spring, MdThey should actually do this for Darfur, Sudan now
  The record album also had a Canadian version called "Tears Are Not Enough" by Northern Lights. Produced by David Foster and featuring Bryan Adams, Neil Young, Anne Murray and many more.
  (Celine was just a teen at the time...)
• Sara from Silver Spring, MdThere has been talk about doing a remake or something. With the stars who are still active and living plus all the American Idols,
• Kenneth from Cleveland, OhPrince was invited but was a no-show. He called Quincy hours late and said he would add a guitar part and Quincy declined.Huey Lewis sang his solo.No loss the record is great.
• Kek from Sydney, AustraliaThis is an amazing song. I've replayed it on youtube a million and one times.
  
  Bruce Springsteen always puts me to tears at the end when he cries. He's so sexy haha
• Antonia from Rousse, BulgariaWonderful song with such an important message. One of my all time favorites, I so often play it, everybody home would love to stop doing whatever they're doing and come near the puter to listen. I don't wanna compare it to "Do They Know It's Christmas Time", I just enjoy both of them though "We Are The World" has been in my heart since I first listened to it. Thanks for the facts, I knew some things about the song. It's interesting to find out facts about the recording process and all the stuff connected to the song.
  Antonia, Rousse, Bulgaria
• Caitlin from Upper Township, NjLOve the song. It's got a good message. I especially like when Bruce Springsteen comes in in the end
• Mark from Lancaster, OhDoes anyone ever play this on the radio?
  
  Howard Stern pointed out that the only really humorous part of the song was Bob Dylan's solo. He hastened to add that Mr Dylan was clearly sincere and competent, but that it was still funny.
• Rick from Humboldt, Iai think lindsey buckingham was in this
• Don from Newmarket, Canadaa group of Canadian artists performed 'Tears Are Not Enough' around the same time.
• Jaelin from Lincolnshire, EnglandI love this song, it sends a much better message to people then Band Aid's 'Do They No It's Christmas'. I like this song because it is has some fantastic singers like Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Tina Turner and there is some fantastic harmonies.
• Ken from Louisville, KyOn the VH1 "I Love The 80's" special, Lionel Ritchie joked about Dan Aykroyd being in the chorus: "We needed Dan's voice".
• Kudjo from Lome-togo, Otheri write this mesage who came straight my heart i live right now in Colorado but my country (TOGO) we really need a help even share with us this hard moment . please if someone who want to help or to see how you can help us e mail me "maxod82@hotmail.com"
  God bless us all
• Eric from Cincinnati, OhThis was a decent song, and did a great job of raising money for famine relief, but I was always bothered by two aspects: 1) Despite what the song says, God never turned stone into bread. The Devil wanted Jesus to do it, but Jesus refused. 2) Sure, a lot of money was raised, but in typical elite rich entertainer fashion, the artists didn't give very much of themselves, other than a couple of hours of their time. Contrast this with Rich Mullins, who made a ton of money in the music industry, only to give it all away and go to do charity work -- now that's real compassion!
• Aj from Cleveland, Gathis is one of my favorite songs and it is definitly not less than "Do They Know It's Christmas?" i love it!!!!
• Doug from Minneapolis, MnGreat cause (which you can still support by buying the Live Aid DVD), but the song doesn't hold up too well after 20 years does it? Compare this with Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Much less dated, and a much better song.
• Germaine from Melbourne, AustraliaInstead of "There's a choice we're making, we're savin' our own lives," was originally "It's a chance we're taking, we're taking our own lives." Quincy felt it sounded too much like suicide so it was changed. You can actually hear MJ singing this line on a special hosted by Jane Fonda about the USA For Africa event. I remember reading somewhere that Lionel came up with "We are the world, we are the children..." but the rest of the song was largely Michael's doing.
• William from Douglasville, GaLionel Ritchie invited his former bandmates in the Commodores to attend the taping. They assumed he meant to participate in singing the song. Apparently, it caused some hurt feelings...
• Stephanie from Ellicott City, MdBilly Joel did indeed have a solo, right after Tina Turner.

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