We Are the World

Lore & Background

Inspired by Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?", Harry Belafonte decided to create an American single for African famine relief. The recording brought together era's best-known artists including Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, and Tina Turner. The song was recorded at A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood. More than 45 top musicians participated, and another 50 were turned away. A sign taped to the studio door read: "Check your ego at the door." Prince did not attend; one newspaper said he did not want to record with other acts, another suggested he did not want to partake because organizer Bob Geldof called him a "creep." John Denver asked to participate but was refused. "We Are the World" topped charts worldwide, became the fastest-selling US pop single in history, and the first single to be certified multi-platinum. It won four Grammy Awards, one American Music Award, and a People's Choice Award.

Reader's Guide

"We Are the World" was a direct response to the 1984 British charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid. Harry Belafonte, an entertainer and activist, conceived the idea for an American equivalent to raise funds for the 1983–1985 Ethiopian famine, which had killed roughly one million people. Belafonte enlisted manager Ken Kragen, who brought in Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers, and later Stevie Wonder to add prestige. Quincy Jones was drafted as co-producer, and he contacted Michael Jackson, who had just finished a tour with his brothers. Jackson and Richie wrote the song together at the Jackson family home, working nightly for a week. Jackson produced a complete demo of drums, piano, strings, and chorus lyrics in a single night, surprising Richie and Jones. The lyrics were finished the night before the first recording session. The backing track was laid down at Kenny Rogers’ studio with session musicians who had previously played on Jackson’s 1979 hit "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." During recording, the line "taking our own lives" was changed to "saving our own lives" to avoid a suicide reference, and the phrase "There's a choice we're making" was substituted to prevent self-congratulation. The recording brought together many of the era’s most famous artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, and Tina Turner. The single became the fastest-selling US pop single in history, the first to be certified multi-platinum, and eventually reached quadruple platinum status. It topped charts worldwide, won four Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, and a People’s Choice Award. The project raised over $80 million for humanitarian aid in Africa and the United States, and its model directly inspired a 2010 version for Haiti earthquake relief.

Did You Know?

• The song was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, completed the night before the first recording session.
• More than 45 top musicians participated, and another 50 were turned away.
• Prince did not attend; one report said he did not want to record with other acts, another suggested he declined because Bob Geldof called him a 'creep'.
• John Denver asked to participate but was refused; he later wrote that the rejection 'broke my heart'.