Stars Align for ‘We Are the World’ Remake
Twenty-five years after the original recording, history was made once again on Monday night (Feb. 1) as over 75 stars gathered to record a contemporary remake of “We Are the World” at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood.
Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie, the producer and co-writer of the iconic 1985 philanthropic anthem, teamed with Wyclef Jean, producer RedOne, and producer-musical director Rickey Minor for the new version called “We Are the World – 25 for Haiti,” benefitting Haitian earthquake relief efforts.
The recording session took place in the same studio as the original song written by Richie and Michael Jackson, and featured a diverse lineup including Lil Wayne (redoing Bob Dylan’s verse), Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Trey Songz, Drake, Barbra Streisand, Toni Braxton, Snoop Dogg, Usher, Pink, Jamie Foxx, T-Pain, Keri Hilson, Brandy, Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrus, Busta Rhymes, Nicole Scherzinger, Akon, Tony Bennett, Carlos Santana, and many others.
“After I did Bob Dylan’s part, it kinda hit me that I guess this is something way more important than I could’ve ever imagined,” Wayne told reporters, while responding “Hell no!” when asked if his version was better than Dylan’s.
Singer Josh Groban also shared his experience. “To be smack-dab in the middle of a sandwich between Barbra Streisand and Weezy was personally a creative experience I don’t think I’ll ever have the pleasure of having again,” he remarked.
The world premiere of “We Are the World – 25 for Haiti,” along with the accompanying 3-D video, will air during NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Friday, February 12.
- We Are the World
- Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, and Rickey Minor
- Jennifer Hudson and Jordin Sparks
- Lil Wayne
- Kanye West, Tony Bennett, J-Hud, and India.Arie
- Brandy, Celine Dion, and Keri Hilson
- T-Pain and Joe Jonas
- Brandy and Keri Hilson
- Nicole Scherzinger, Tyrese, and Brandy
- Kanye, J-Hud, Al Jardine, and Jamie Foxx
- Quincy, Wyclef, will.i.am, Kanye, Kid Cudi, and LL Cool J
- T-Pain, J-Hud, Gladys Knight, Toni, and Jordin
- Justin Bieber, will.i.am, and Barbra Streisand
- Nicole, Akon, and Justin
- Snoop Dogg and Justin Bieber
- T-Pain and Kanye West
- Tony Bennett, Al Jardine, Enrique Iglesias, Kanye, and Nicole Richie
- Akon and will.i.am
- Madden Brothers and Kid Cudi
- Mya
- We Are the World
- Kanye, Enrique, India.Arie, J-Hud, Sean Garrett, and Kid Cudi
- Tyrese, Brandy, Musiq, and Robin Thicke
- Miley Cyrus and Pink
- We Are the World
- Jamie Foxx and Nicole Scherzinger
- Justin, Usher, Barbra, Toni, and Wyclef
- Randy Jackson, Nicole, Akon, and A.R. Rahman
- Kanye, Enrique, and India.Arie
- Nicole Scherzinger and Jennifer Hudson
- Wyclef and Wayne
- Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, and Kanye West
- Gladys Knight, Toni Braxton, and Justin Bieber
- Robin Thicke, Lil Wayne, Keri Hilson, and Trey Songz
- Snoop Dogg and Brandy
- Busta Rhymes, Lionel Richie, Swizz Beatz, and Snoop
- LL, Wyclef, Swizz, Snoop, Busta, and will.i.am
- Robin Thicke, Trey Songz, and Vince Vaughn
- Jamie Foxx, Kid Cudi, and Kanye West