Entertainment
Entertainment
"We Are the World" performed again — for Haiti
The charity anthem "We Are the World" has been rerecorded by 80 artists who came together in the same Hollywood studio where the original was cut 25 years ago.
Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Pink, Natalie Cole, Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion and others stood shoulder-to-shoulder on risers at Henson Recording studios Monday night to raise money for Haiti earthquake relief.
"This one, the enthusiasm, I've never seen anything like it," said Lionel Richie, who wrote the original with Michael Jackson and oversaw the new version with music mogul Quincy Jones, 76.
"We Are the World — 25 for Haiti" will premiere this month during coverage of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics on NBC, according to a release from promoter AEG Live.
A who's who of rappers, including Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J and Wyclef Jean, recorded an interlude written by Black Eyed Peas frontman and producer will.i.am.
Rapper Lil Wayne said he was blessed to record the tune but was surprised when told he would do Bob Dylan's part from the original.
"I don't know how to sing," he said with a smile.
Asked how the earthquake had affected him, he said he had Haitian friends in Miami who lost relatives in the disaster.
An unprecedented number of top pop musicians gathered at A&M the night of Jan. 28, 1985, following the American Music Awards, to record the tune. The song featured 45 American superstars, including Jackson, Richie, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Cyndi Lauper.
None of the original performers returned Monday because none were asked, said Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live and also Richie's manager.
"This is about a new generation mixed with an old generation," Phillips said.
Proceeds initially are to go to the newly formed charity We Are the World Foundation LLC, and then be distributed to Haiti.
- Posted on February 2, 2010
I think it was great I loved it and i think it was a good idea to redo it for Haiti. I think it was cool how they showed it on the Olympics because that way more people would watch it.
i think that is so sweet and thoughtful of the black eyed peas to perfom for hadey they deserve it they are a good country!
I saw it during the Olympics and I loved it! If I had all the money in the world, I would donate a lot to Hati! I have not heard much about it lately, but I hope they are doing better!
I am in love with this song , it is so awesome . I almost cried when i saw this song , it's so emotional and sad . I think the fact that, all this singers are singing in this song means a lot to all those haitians who have the chance to see this ; it is also respectful because it shows that all these singer have respect for haitians . I mean ... We are all the same !!!!!
i loved that song. i had hared it on youtube, ohh wow it made me cry that micheal jackson wasn't in the video but they had put him in their from the old "we are the world" video. also JANET JACKSON was in the video to subusitut for him at the same time she had sang his part in the video.
I think that's wonderful that celebrities are singing for Haiti. I would give them over 12,000 dollars if I had the money. I feel so bad for the families, and mothers of the babies, that have passed away during the earthquake.