The Making of We Are the World: Very Hard Edition

The song had been written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. The purpose of this song is to help people from Ethiopia fight the severe hunger of the nation from 1984-86. There was a severe drought on that place. Actually, Ethiopia had been experiencing great famine on its northern part and on its southern posts due to rebel uprisings and confiscation of land from poor tenant farmers by corrupt land owners.




The world had the desire to feed the population, because it was reported that about 1 million people died of severe starvation. The band aid of 1985, headed by Bob Geldof encourage people from the West to help save lives in Ethiopia. Harry Belafonte on one night while watching news report in a television set had been struck with a heart's desire to help save these people from Ethiopia. He then contacted a prominent singer manager, Ken Kragen to contact music artists to join without any fees and any royalty fines too. Plus no agent fees too.The Developments inspires Michael Jackson to team with Lionel Richie to make an incredible song to be sung by popular singers of that era.

The desire to make the music was so disheartening, because of this song is dedicated to a cause. Then the making led a lot of tensions because all of them are popular singers of that era. The lyrics are ordinary but the message is really strong. There are a bit squabbles going on with how to sing the song and rock stars feel that there is no sense in singing for the project because of their hatred to some of the pop stars present around the studio, causing that their fans might not appreciate them singing side by side with pop stars.

"They felt it was going to hurt their credibility." , according to Ken Kragen.

But when Bruce Springsteen refused to join the Rocker's revolt, "the whole mutiny fell apart," Kragen said, recalling that the response of the Boss was: "I'm here to save lives and feed people, and I'm staying." The funny part of the rehearsal is that Cindi Lauper had to make a take two because her jewelry was making a clicking sound.

The original line: "there's a chance we're taking / we're taking our own lives"

The line suggests something suicidal. Thus, during the rehearsal they change it to "there's a choice we're making / we're saving our own lives".






Dan Aykroyd, Harry Belafonte, Lindsey Buckingham, Kim Carnes, Ray Charles,
Bob Dylan,Sheila E.,Bob Geldof, Hall and Oates, James Ingram, Jackie Jackson,
LaToya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Michael Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson,
Al Jarreau, Waylon Jennings, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Huey Lewis and the News,
Kenny Logins, Bette Midler, Willie Nelson, Jeffery Osborne, Steve Perry,The Pointer Sisters, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers,Diana Ross,Paul Simon
Bruce Springsteen,Tina Turner,Dionne Warwick, and Stevie Wonder.

Michael Boddicker - synthesizers, programming
Paulinho Da Costa - percussion
Louis Johnson - bass
Quincy Jones - producer
Michael Omartian - keyboards, producer
Greg Phillinganes - keyboards
John Robinson - drums