One face you won’t spot in the all-star “We Are the World” remake that premiered on Friday night is Jay-Z’s. Read the full post.
Feb 16
2010
10:50 AM ET
Jay-Z slams 'We Are the World' remake: 'Some things are just untouchable'
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As a child of the 80′s, I have to say that I always thought the original ‘We Are the World’ was lame. Yes, it was for a great cause, so ultimately who cares, but the original was lame. So I have no problem with the remake, because the first one was bad. And Jay-Z comparing it to ‘Thriller??????’ Beyonce needs to take away his bling for a week for making that comparison..
You obviously missed his point. He said that songs like Thriller (as an example) shouldn’t be remade and updated by other artists…he was comparing it to Thriller…
and as far his “sampling”… he samples, he doesn’t “remake”.
As for sampling: That’s even worse! Sampling somebody else’s stuff to put into your crappy rap “song.”
I stand corrected, Sally. I stand by what I said about the We are the World song, though..
Mr. Big, like his namesake (and no, not the Sex and the City one), is a relic of the 80s that no one should pay attention to. Putting song in quotation marks is about as dumb as it gets.
i agree with Jay-z 100%. i mean, you just can’t mess with perfection. this remake was such a mess that it was difficult to even watch. i don’t think MJ would have been very happy on how this turned out. i am sure had he still been around for this, the remake would have tuned out a thousand times better, simply because MJ was a perfectionist and he wouldn’t have settled for anything less. This is a great example on how you should never mess with a good thing unless you really know what your doing.
Precisely. MJ would’ve completely balked at the idea of including the preposterous-ness that is Auto-Tune.
Great song but I agree with JAY-Z 150%. What’s with the rap?? That ruined it. Justin is ok but LIl wayne…No cyndi. Jay Z AMen!
I usually don’t agree much with Jay-Z, but he has a point here. We Are The World was a moment led by Michael Jackson and they are desecrating it by “remaking” his song. Find a talented song-writer in the group and write your own song to do for Haiti relief. Lacks originality to remake a song. And the stars of today will never catch lightning in a bottle like they did in the 80s with We Are the World!
You forgot that MJ co-wrote it with Lionel? You did know that didn’t you?
Yes, indeed, he did. But MJ wrote the bulk of the song and Lionel Richie only apparently added input to it, so essentially, the majority of the credit (songwriting) goes to MJ. But all around a great job on the ORIGINAL by Quincy, Lionel and Michael. But it stands that this song was Michael’s vision.
The remake was HORRIBLE!! I was embarrassed for everyone who was in it. And why on earth was there a rap section? ughhh. And what the hell were those jungle calls Wyclef was doing. They were off beat and rhythm and were distracting and throwing everything off. Bad decision to remake it and to remake it with a D effort at that.
All I got to say is…..Y..!!!!
It was just ok for me..the main chorus parts by Barbra and Celine were fine but the whole computerized vocal, the screaming and that God awful rap portion ruined the entire song for me
haven’t heard the remake; don’t want to hear the remake. it’s a dated song. Wouldn’t recognize half the artists on it anyways. and if their goal is to get it onto people’s iPods, they NEED to pay more attention to who is singing. Jay-Z is right – a situation on the proportion of this deserves its own kind of tribute.
I completely agree with JayZ. The remake cannot touch the original and MJ wouldn’t have let this happen. We Are the World is one of those signature songs belonging to MJ and the original participants. Some of the new participants are really respected musicians of today, not sure why they’d want to do this.
People are funny….first off: MJ WASN’T THE ONLY PERSON WHO CREATE THIS SONG!! That is why this song isn’t on any of his albums. Yes, he wrote it…BUT THAT’S ALL! Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie and others fought to get this song record, volunteered their time and efforts (ie calling celebs to participate, etc) to get his song create. So since Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie AREN’T dead, why can’t they remake a song they help create in the first place? This was their song too. So as a MJ fan, stop with all the “MJ this and MJ would have done that…” when in reality, MJ really didn’t spearhead this project like everyone thinks, he just sang on it!
Secondly, when was the last time anyone heard the orginal version?? It’s funny that not one radio station, news channel and/or music station is playing the “memorable” orginal version; but eveyone is talking about how memorable it is. Most of you all on here probably don’t buy music like the younger generation does, so if this song is to raise money, why not market the people WHO ACTUALLY BUYS THE MUSIC???? This song is number 1 on itunes and other download sites, so the point was reached, wasn’t it?
Lastly, I actually liked both version in their own way..of course it isn’t going to be like the orginal, because it isn’t the orginal! I like the way that the song didn’t cater to one set audience; you had a little of every music genre included (that is to include Wyclef “screams” which is native Haiti songing, why do a song for Haiti and leave out their style of music?). I appreciated the rappers’ involvement, they showed younger people that it isn’t about just “getting money” but that there is a bigger picture. I like both songs, because they are two “completely different” songs. This time it is actually “We Are the World” and not “We are America” as far as singing talents and melody.
Well, you made your case with me about MJ. People forget that he co-wrote it with Lionel Richie…and Quincy spearheaded it.
If it’s #1 on Itunes, it did what it was supposed to do.
Case closed.
if you are a true mj fan the you must know mj would not be happy with this remake, they should do a new song that address hatiti.
1 the song was for the people of the world to all sing
ask your self this if mj was alive would they touch this song
he owned the rights to the song,
if you are going to ask the public to buy it then give us our moneies worths.
1
The purpose of the song was to raise money. You take away the people singing the song and it never makes the radio.
I agree, not only that but the new artists (I use the term loosely) murdered the song. I thought it was trash.
I totally agree with Jay-Z. The original is way too precious. Good for him for standing up to what he believes and not selling out.
Who cares? They took an over-blown, crappy song and redid an even crappier version. Have you all forgotten how bad the original was? A bunch of “stars” seeing who can over-sing the most. As for Jay-Z: He is irrelevant, and just wishes somebody would have given a $hit about his even crappier song.
It’s only number one on itunes because people are logging on to hear how bad it was.