VIA: TheUrbanDaily.com, Gather.com, CNN.com
Twenty-five years ago Michael Jackson was joined by some of music’s biggest names in an effort to show the USA’s support for Africa. People like Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Cindy Lauper, Ray Charles, Harry Bellafonte, his siblings Randy Jackson & Latoya Jackson, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Diana Ross, and Willie Nelson joined Jackon in recording “We Are The World,” originally written by Jackson and Lionel Richie, to help raise fund for the people in Africa. And it did just that, raising more than $63 million dollars for the cause.
The night after this years 2010 Grammy Awards, Jones and Richie assembled a new team to re-record “We Are The World” for the 25th anniversary. The new recording benefits the relief efforts in Haiti. They re-recorded the song and video in the same Hollywood studio from 25 years prior.
Artists performing on the new version, none of whom appeared on the original song now include: Charlotte’s own Anthony Hamilton, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Wyclef Jean, Harry Connick Jr., Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, Tony Bennett, Justin Bieber, Patti Austin, Beach Boys Brian Wilson and Al Jardine, Carlos Santana, Josh Groban, the Jonas Brothers, Jennifer Hudson, Natalie Cole, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Drake, LL Cool J, Nancy Wilson of Heart, Usher, and will.i.am of the Black-Eyed Peas.
According to Reuters, Ms. Streisand sings the part that Diana Ross sang in the original and went through several takes of the line to meet her own personal demand for perfection. Michael Jackson’s lines were to be sung by his sister Janet from a studio in Atlanta, but now it is said that Michael will sing his own lines with his sister joining in.
The new “We Are the World” song and video (directed by Paul Haggis (Crash)) is scheduled to made its public debut during the opening ceremonies telecast of the Olympic Games to be broadcast from Vancouver on NBC February 12, 2010.
