When millions of Ethiopians were starving in a biblical famine that hit the country in 1984/1985 under the military regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam, Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) wrote the “We’re the World” song with Lionel Richie to raise funds for the famine victims with a group called the “United Support of Artists for Africa” (USA for Africa). Michael Jackson, who died of cardiac arrest today in Los Angeles, California, was especially key to the success of the song and the fund raising. Some 25 years after this song was first sung, close to 12.5 millions people are still in need of humanitarian food aid under the current Ethiopian regime of Meles Zenawi. The estimated death toll of the 1984/1985 famine was over one million. After the “We’re World” song in 1985, the world gave money, but it has not yet heeded to the certain call for change and reform in Ethiopia and the Horn of African region.

There comes a time
When we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
Oh, and it’s time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

Here’s a brief history behind the “We’re the World” song.

“We Are the World” is a 1985 song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced and conducted by Quincy Jones and recorded by a supergroup of popular musicians billed as USA for Africa.

Lyrical format

During the performance, the solo portions, sung by the lead singers, allowed their distinctive, famous voices to be heard individually, or in pairs, for a short phrase, before the entire group sang the third repetition of the chorus verses. Later into the song they intensify the climax of the song with a key change from E to F.

The arrangement created a dramatic effect by having the entire group sing together only after many of the celebrity singers are revealed in solo parts through two repetitions of the chorus and the bridge is sung by Michael Jackson, Huey Lewis, Kim Carnes, and Cyndi Lauper.

Recording session details

The recording session in January 1985 was held during and after the American Music Awards. Michael Jackson skipped the American Music Awards ceremony that night to record the chorus of the song as a guide to the other artists. The artists who performed on “We Are the World” arrived in-studio from limousines (as most of them had participated in the American Music Awards) – except Bruce Springsteen, who arrived driving a pickup truck. John Denver, who had been actively campaigning against world hunger in the 1980s, had offered to participate in the recording, but was turned down. According to Ken Kragen, (who helped to produce the song), the reason John Denver was turned down, was due to the fact several people felt his image would hurt the credibility of the song. Linda Ronstadt missed the session due to a bout of the flu and Pat Benatar was not available due to her pregnancy, since there was concern the bright lights and number of people in the studio would not have made it feasible for her to be present in the studio. Madonna was asked to take part in the recording but turned the request down. Although Michael Jackson and most of his brothers were at the recording, sister Janet, who would have her first hit album a year later, and Rebbie were not. The middle Jackson sister, LaToya, did participate. Also, brother Jermaine was the only Jackson brother who did not attend the recording. Cyndi Lauper’s jewelry clicking required a retake of the bridge section and during a break in the session, the group broke out into an impromptu version of Harry Belafonte’s 1950s hit “Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” which led to a suggestion, “This should be the B-Side.” Stevie Wonder came back after the session to “touch up” his vocals.

(Source: Wiki)

Video Reports on the Death of Michael Jackson