Twenty-nine years ago today (2+9=11), fifty artists recorded “We are the World” to aid famine victims in Ethiopia. That was two years before the Harmonic Convergence. Their song still brings tears to my eyes and represents a milestone in people banding together to make a difference. Here are excerpts from a Wikipedia article on their efforts. Soon we all may be following their example.
“We Are the World” is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World. With sales in excess of 20 million copies, it is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold at least 10 million copies worldwide.
Following Band Aid‘s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” project in the UK, an idea for the creation of an American benefit single for African famine relief came from activist Harry Belafonte, who, along with fundraiser Ken Kragen, was instrumental in bringing the vision to reality. Several musicians were contacted by the pair, before Jackson and Richie were assigned the task of writing the song. The duo completed the writing of “We Are the World” seven weeks after the release of “Do They Know Its Christmas”, and one night before the song’s first recording session, on January 21, 1985. (The last recording session for the song was held on January 28, 1985). The historic event brought together some of the most famous artists in the music industry at the time.
The song was released on March 7, 1985, as the only single from the album. A worldwide commercial success, it topped music charts throughout the world and became the fastest-selling American pop single in history. The first ever single to be certified multi-platinum, “We Are the World” received a Quadruple Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. However, the song garnered mixed reviews from journalists, music critics, and the public. Fans enjoyed hearing racially and musically diverse recording artists singing together on one track, and felt satisfied in buying “We Are the World”, knowing that the money was going to charity. Other individuals, including many commentators in the rock press, were disappointed that the song did not challenge listeners as to why famines occur in the first place, and felt that the lyrics were self-aggrandizing.
Awarded numerous honors—including three Grammy Awards, one American Music Award, and a People’s Choice Award—the song was promoted with a critically received music video, a home video, a special edition magazine, a simulcast, and several books, posters, and shirts. The promotion and merchandise aided the success of “We Are the World” and raised over $63 million for humanitarian aid in Africa and the US. …
The final night of recording was held on January 28, 1985, at A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood.[3][9] Michael Jackson arrived at 9 pm, earlier than the other artists, to record his solo section and record a vocal chorus by himself.[9] He was subsequently joined in the recording studio by the remaining USA for Africa artists, which included Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen and Smokey Robinson. Also in attendance were five of Jackson’s siblings: Jackie, La Toya, Marlon, Randy and Tito.[10] Many of the participants came straight from an American Music Award ceremony, which had been held that same night.[5] … In all, more than 45 of America’s top musicians participated in the recording, and another 50 had to be turned away.[11][14] … They were also greeted by Stevie Wonder, who proclaimed that if the recording was not completed in one take, he and Ray Charles, two blind men, would drive everybody home.[16] …
In the early hours of the morning, two Ethiopian women, guests of Stevie Wonder, were brought into the recording studio—it had been decided that a portion of the proceeds raised would be used to bring aid to those affected by the recent famine in Ethiopia.[18][19] They thanked the singers on behalf of their country, bringing several artists to tears, before being led from the room.[18][19] Wonder attempted to lighten the mood, by joking that the recording session gave him a chance to “see” fellow blind musician Ray Charles. “We just sort of bumped into each other!”[16] The solo parts of the song were recorded without any problems.[19] The final version of “We Are the World” was completed at 8 am.[19][20] …
The initial shipment of 800,000 “We Are the World” records sold out within three days of release.[24] The record became the fastest-selling American pop single in history.[33] At one Tower Records store on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, 1,000 copies of the song were sold in two days.[34] Store worker Richard Petitpas commented, “A number one single sells about 100 to 125 copies a week. This is absolutely unheard of.”[34] By the end of 1985, “We Are the World” had become the best selling single of the year.[35] Five years later it was revealed that the song had become the biggest single of the 1980s.[36] “We Are the World” was eventually cited as the biggest selling single in both US and pop music history.[nb 2][38][39][40] The song became the first ever single to be certified multi-platinum; it received a 4× certification by the Recording Industry Association of America.[27][41] The estimated global sales of “We Are the World” are said to be 20 million.[42]
Four months after the release of “We Are the World”, USA for Africa had taken in almost $10.8 million.[60][61] The majority of the money came from record sales within the US.[60][61] Members of the public also donated money—almost $1.3 million within the same time period. In May 1985, USA for Africa officials estimated that they had sold between $45 million and $47 million worth of official merchandise around the world. Organizer Ken Kragen announced that they would not be distributing all of the money at once. Instead, he revealed that the foundation would be looking into finding a long-term solution for Africa’s problems.[60] “We could go out and spend it all in one shot. Maybe we’d save some lives in the short term but it would be like putting a Band-Aid over a serious wound.”[60] Kragen noted that experts had predicted that it would take at least 10 to 20 years to make a slight difference to Africa’s long-term problems.[60]
In June 1985, the first USA for Africa cargo jet carrying food, medicine and clothing departed for Ethiopia and the Sudan. It stopped en route in New York, where 15,000 T-shirts were added to the cargo. Included in the supplies were high-protein biscuits, high-protein vitamins, medicine, tents, blankets and refrigeration equipment.[62] Harry Belafonte, representing the USA for Africa musicians, visited Sudan in the same month. The trip was his last stop on a four nation tour of Africa. Tanzanian Prime Minister Salim Ahmed Salim greeted and praised Belafonte, telling him, “I personally and the people of Tanzania are moved by this tremendous example of human solidarity.”[63]
One year after the release of “We Are the World”, organizers noted that $44.5 million had been raised for USA for Africa’s humanitarian fund. They stated that they were confident that they would reach an initial set target of $50 million.[64] By October 1986, it was revealed that their $50 million target had been met and exceeded (US$ 108 million in 2014); CBS Records gave USA for Africa a check for $2.5 million, drawing the total amount of money to $51.2 million.[65] USA for Africa’s Hands Across America event had also raised a significant amount of money—approximately $24.5 million for the hungry in the US.[65]
Since its release, “We Are the World” has raised over $63 million for humanitarian causes.[66] Ninety percent of the money was pledged to African relief, both long and short term.[65][67] The long term initiative included efforts in birth control and food production.[67] The remaining 10 percent of funds was earmarked for domestic hunger and homeless programs in the US.[65][67] From the African fund, over 70 recovery and development projects were launched in seven African nations. Such projects included aid in agriculture, fishing, water management, manufacturing and reforestation. Training programs were also developed in the African countries of Mozambique, Senegal, Chad, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Mali.[65]
Elias Kifle Maraim Beyene, a survivor from Ethiopia remembers: “I won’t ever forget Michael Jackson because his contribution to the song We are the World had a very significant effect on my life. Lots of people became sick and many more died(…). In 1984 Michael Jackson, along with a number of other leading musicians, made the song We are the World to raise money for Africa. We baked a special bread from it(…). When you have been through such hard times you never forget events like this. If you speak to anyone who was in Addis Ababa at that time they will all know what Michael Bread is and I know I will remember it for the rest of my life.(…)”” [68]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_are_the_world