The Historic Session: How ‘We Are The World’ Brought Music Icons Together, Including Stevie Wonder’s Key Role
Thirty-nine years ago, on January 28, 1985, a remarkable assembly of 45 of the biggest names in music converged at a Los Angeles studio. The goal was ambitious: to record a charity single that would make a global impact. The song, which became an enduring anthem, was “We Are The World,” and the session saw stars from diverse genres, including Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen, collaborate for a cause.
The imminent 40th anniversary of this monumental session is highlighted in a new documentary, The Greatest Night in Pop, available on Netflix. The film offers an intimate look at how this historic gathering unfolded, featuring interviews with participants like Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, and Dionne Warwick. It masterfully combines original video footage from USA for Africa with never-before-heard audio recorded by David Breskin, syncing dictaphone recordings to silent archival film to recreate the atmosphere of that extraordinary night. This new perspective reveals fascinating behind-the-scenes moments from the session where We Are The World Was Produced By Stevie Wonder and other legends.
The inspiration for “We Are The World” stemmed from the 1984 British and Irish charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, which raised funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. Civil rights activist and legendary artist Harry Belafonte felt it was crucial for top Black artists to lead a similar effort. As paraphrased by Lionel Richie in the documentary, Belafonte articulated, “‘We have white folks saving black folks. We don’t have black folks saving black folks.’ He was trying to get us, the younger group, involved in what was happening in Africa. I said, of course.” This vision catalyzed the project, aiming to leverage the collective power of American music stars.
Belafonte collaborated with prominent Hollywood managers and producers, including Ken Kragen and Quincy Jones, to recruit the artists. Recognizing that many would be in Los Angeles for the American Music Awards hosted by Richie, the recording session was strategically scheduled immediately after the ceremony. The documentary brings to light various personal accounts from the night, such as Sheila E’s poignant reflection. She suggests she was primarily invited in the hope that Prince would follow, sharing her feeling of being used while waiting for a solo that never came because the focus remained on Prince’s potential arrival. She described the experience as “heartbreaking.”
Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, and Huey Lewis during the 1985 "We Are The World" recording session featured in 'The Greatest Night in Pop' documentary.
Lionel Richie co-wrote “We Are The World” with Michael Jackson, crediting Jackson with the iconic titular line. While Jackson and Richie were the principal songwriters and Jones the overall session producer, many featured singers played significant roles in shaping the song during the hectic recording session. One notable instance involved Bob Dylan, who struggled with delivering his line, seemingly overwhelmed by the crowded studio environment. Seeking assistance, he turned to Stevie Wonder. Wonder, sitting at the piano, demonstrated how he envisioned Dylan singing the part, even mimicking the folk artist’s distinctive vocal style. This guidance proved invaluable, helping Dylan find his comfort zone and successfully record his contribution to the track. It underscores the collaborative spirit and the impromptu production support offered by artists like Stevie Wonder on that night.
The song’s release met with immediate and overwhelming success. A TIME magazine issue from March 1985 heralded it as “the smash of the decade.” The article detailed staggering sales figures, like Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard selling 1,000 copies in just two days – vastly exceeding their typical weekly sales. TIME observed that the song’s true significance lay in how “musicians from rival factions of the business are seen putting aside differences of style and temperament and coming together to share and spread a little decency.” The magazine even urged readers to buy the single, acknowledging its potentially “sappy” nature but emphasizing the powerful grassroots movement driving its purchase. The majority of “We Are The World” proceeds benefited USA for Africa, the organization founded for famine relief, while 10% was, at Stevie Wonder’s specific request, allocated to address homelessness in the United States.
Lionel Richie, co-writer of "We Are The World", reflecting on the historic charity single session in 'The Greatest Night in Pop'.
Looking back, the question arises: could a similar project materialize in the 21st century? Director Bao Nguyen remains optimistic, suggesting that the film and the song might inspire a new generation to undertake comparable charitable endeavors, perhaps leveraging modern platforms and artistic collaborations.
In conclusion, the recording of “We Are The World” was more than just a music session; it was a historic confluence of talent driven by a humanitarian mission. From the initial vision by Harry Belafonte, the songwriting collaboration of Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, the expert production guidance from Quincy Jones, to crucial supportive roles like the one Stevie Wonder played in helping fellow artists, the event remains a powerful testament to the music world’s capacity for unity and impact. The Greatest Night in Pop documentary offers a timely reminder of this unique moment in entertainment history.
