Quincy Jones is assembling an all-star sequel to 1985′s “We Are the World” to raise funds for earthquake relief in Haiti, EW has confirmed. A rep for Jones says the legendary producer will preside over a recording session for “We Are the World 25″ this Monday, Feb. 1, at Hollywood’s A&M Recording Studios, where the original charity single was recorded a quarter-century ago. Additionally, a rep for Paul Haggis confirms that the Crash director will film the proceedings. Initial word of the project first appeared in The Hollywood Reporter.
The lineup of performers for “We Are the World 25″ — the same song as “We Are the World,” sung by a new group of artists — has yet to be finalized. The original single, which raised money for famine victims in Africa, featured a stellar roster led by co-writers Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and also including Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, and many more. Watch it again below.
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won’t be the same without MJ.
It’ll be fine without him since every ballad he did after this basically riffed on this same melody time and time again. I’m excited to see who’s gonna be on it.
incorrect. MJ’s ballad melodies were dynamic. How is “Stranger in Moscow” anything like “Break of Dawn” or “Man in The Mirror” or “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”?
Will not be the same without MJ!
Why can’t they do something original? write something NEW!
My only wish is that they had kept this on the down low before speaking of it. Now it’s really just going to be another publicity machine rather than for charity.
Also, this was a sweet song and very heartfelt. God forbid it turns into the garbage a good many folks are spewing out nowadays in the name of “charitable devices”.
It will not be the same without the King. But at least, it will raise money for a great cause. But it will be missing something…HEART!!! The original songwriter is no longer with us (I refuse to call Lionel Richie a co-writer because after listening to Michael’s demo, Lionel’s contribution was minimal, at best)
25 years later I come to realize how truly CHEESY that song is. Great cause, great intentions, but CHEESY tune.
Pslightly Psycho you got a GREAT moniker!!!!! Yeah its a cheesy song but man when it was first out, was it just an awesome event.
Do you know what an anthem is? MJ wrote We Are The World as an anthem, which is a song everyone can sing. He had children and old people in mind when he wrote it…everyone. He intentionally kept it simple and if you want to describe it as ‘cheesy’, so be it. Just remember that the simplicity was intentional and it had a designed purpose!
I wish Quincy the best.
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Without Michael Jackson, I don’t think they should call it We Are The World…they should call it something else.
“Tears are not enough” is better and less creepy!”We are the world” from all American artists (it was last time) is not the right message. Any rerecording need to include international artists.
im please to see that there redoing we are the world. this song i truely love very much i was-n- my teens when that song came out-n- the 80′s my god bless Mr.Jones -n- the stars for redoing this song.
Delighted about this re-recording to benefit Haiti & celebrate the 25th anniversary of “We Are the World.” Would love Janet Jackson, Santana & Slash to participate and also as many as possible of the original recording–Diana Ross, Kenny Rogers, Bruce Springsteen, etc., along with current top entertainers.
This is equivalent to musical sacrilege.
It’s not a sequel. It will be new !
It’s a 25th anniversary & especially timely.
Such a beautiful & unifying song. Go for it !
As Haiti is bringing the world together, I offer my love & prayers as empowerment to the great strength you’ve always had.
And would you consider a concert of it in NYC since there are so many Haitian people there. And in honor of home of The United Nations for whom Stevie Wonder recently became a Peace Keeper.