WE ARE THE WORLD: THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG (TV)
Summary
This documentary, hosted by Jane Fonda, provides an in-depth, behind the scenes look at the making of the song "We Are the World," which was recorded in January 1985 to benefit the African Famine Relief Program. Highlights include: the first meeting between co-writers Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and producer Quincy Jones at which they sing a raw version of the song; how many of the artists (forty-five in all) came straight from performing or appearing at the American Music Awards and others flew in from all over the globe for the recording; how the artists attending the session included music legends Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Harry Belafonte, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, and Tina Turner, as well as many of the industry's biggest names; a speech by Bob Geldof, who began African Famine Relief, to the artists about what their time and work means to the starving people in Ethiopia; some last minute changes in the words of the song and Jackson's offering of a new chorus; a tribute to Belafonte, a major catalyst behind the recording session, with an impromptu version of his signature "Banana Boat Song"; the process of organizing and selecting the twenty-one lead vocal parts; Stevie Wonder's introduction - before the solos begin -- of an Ethiopian woman who speaks to the artists; the collaboration of Dylan and Wonder as they practice the song together; how, on Good Friday, eight thousand radio stations from all over the world played the song at the same time; the artists' personal comments about being a part of the recording and the emotions they felt during it; and in conclusion, a broadcast of the video for the song.
(This program received a Golden Rose Award in 1986 for Best Program by an Independent Producer.)
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: May 1, 1985 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:52:41
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T87:0151
- GENRE: Music; Arts documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Charities; Fundraising; Music, popular (songs, etc.); Music videos; African-American Collection - Music
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 1985
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ken Kragen … Executive Producer
- Ken Yates … Executive Producer
- Howard G. Malley … Producer
- Craig Golin … Producer
- Tom Trbovich … Director
- Mikal Gilmore … Writer, Narration written by
- Dennis McCarthy … Music (Misc. Credits), Additional music by
- Jane Fonda … Host
- Dan Aykroyd
- Harry Belafonte
- Lindsey Buckingham
- Kim Carnes
- Ray Charles
- Bob Dylan
- Bob Geldof
- Daryl Hall
- James Ingram
- La Toya Jackson
- Michael Jackson
- Al Jarreau
- Billy Joel
- Quincy Jones
- Cyndi Lauper
- Huey Lewis
- Kenny Loggins
- Bette Midler
- Willie Nelson
- John Oates
- Steve Perry
- Lionel Richie
- Smokey Robinson
- Kenny Rogers
- Diana Ross
- Paul Simon
- Bruce Springsteen
- Tina Turner
- Dionne Warwick
- Stevie Wonder