View source for We Are the World

{{Short description|1985 charity song}}
{{About|the 1985 charity song}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = We Are the World
| cover      = We Are the World alternative cover.jpg
| alt        = An album cover with "We Are the World " spelled out across the left and bottom in cut-and-paste-style. To the top right of the cover is "USA for Africa" in blue text, under which names are listed against a white background
| border     = yes
| type       = single
| artist     = USA for Africa
| album      = [[We Are the World (album)|We Are the World]]
| B-side     = Grace
| released   = {{Start date|1985|3|7}}
| recorded   = {{Start date|1985|1|28}}
| studio     =
* [[A&M Studios|A&M]] (Hollywood)
* [[Lion Share Studios|Lion Share]] (Los Angeles)
| venue      = 
| genre      =
* [[Pop music|Pop]]
* [[Gospel music|gospel]]
| length     =
* 7:02 (album version)
* 6:22 (single version)
| label      =
* [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
* [[Sony Music|CBS]]
| writer     =
* [[Michael Jackson]]
* [[Lionel Richie]]
| producer   =
* [[Quincy Jones]]
| misc          = {{External music video|{{YouTube|182f6dTagkU|"We Are The World"}}}}
}}

"'''We Are the World'''" is a [[charity record|charity single]] recorded by the [[charity supergroup|supergroup]] '''USA for Africa''' in 1985. It was written by [[Michael Jackson]] and [[Lionel Richie]] and produced by [[Quincy Jones]] for the album ''[[We Are the World (album)|We Are the World]]'' to raise money for the [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia]]. With sales in excess of 20 million physical copies, it is the eighth-[[list of best-selling singles worldwide|best-selling single of all time]].

After the British group [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] released the charity single "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]" in 1984, the musician and activist [[Harry Belafonte]] decided to create an American single for African famine relief. The agent [[Ken Kragen]] enlisted several musicians for the project. Jackson and Richie completed the writing the night before the first recording session on January 28, 1985. The recording brought together some of the era's best-known recording artists, including [[Bruce Springsteen]], [[Cyndi Lauper]], [[Paul Simon]], [[Stevie Wonder]], and [[Tina Turner]]. 

"We Are the World" was released on March 7, 1985, by [[Columbia Records]]. It topped music charts throughout the world, became the fastest-selling US pop single in history and the first single to be certified multi-platinum, and was certified [[quadruple platinum]]. Its awards include four [[Grammy Award]]s, one [[American Music Award]], and a [[People's Choice Award]].

"We Are the World" was promoted with a music video, a VHS, a special edition magazine, a [[simulcast]], and books, posters and shirts. It raised more than $80&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|80000000|1986}}}} in {{inflation/year|US}}){{inflation/fn|US}} for humanitarian aid in Africa and the United States.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|first=Al|last=Newstead|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-01/we-are-the-world-documentary-the-greatest-night-in-pop-review/103414458|title=How pop's biggest names pulled a secret marathon all-nighter to create history's biggest charity single|newspaper=[[ABC News Australia]] |date=February 1, 2024}}</ref> Another cast of singers recorded a new version, "[[We Are the World 25 for Haiti]]", following the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]].

==Background==
{{Multiple image
| total_width       = 300
| image1            =Michael Jackson 1984 (cropped).jpg
| image2            = Lionel Richie in 2017.jpg
| footer            = [[Michael Jackson]] (left) and [[Lionel Richie]] (right) wrote the song.
}}

In 1985, inspired by Band Aid's "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]" in the UK, the American entertainer and activist [[Harry Belafonte]] decided to organize a US equivalent. He planned to have the proceeds donated to a new organization, United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa). The organization would provide food and relief aid for the [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia]],<ref name="tara 341">Taraborrelli, p. 341</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Harden|first=Blaine|date=September 14, 1987|title=Ethiopia Faces Famine Again, Requests Massive Food Relief|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | via=[[ProQuest]] Archiver | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73844842.html?dids=73844842:73844842&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+14%2C+1987&author=Blaine+Harden&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Ethiopia+Faces+Famine+Again%2C+Requests+Massive+Food+Relief&pqatl=google|access-date=October 7, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604214934/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73844842.html?dids=73844842:73844842&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+14%2C+1987&author=Blaine+Harden&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Ethiopia+Faces+Famine+Again%2C+Requests+Massive+Food+Relief&pqatl=google | archive-date=June 4, 2011 | url-status=dead}}</ref> which killed about one million people.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/25092058.html?dids=25092058:25092058&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+17%2C+1985&author=Jonathan+Taylor+and+Gary+Graff+Los+Angeles+Daily+News%2C+Chicago+Tribune+and+Knight-Ridder+Newspapers&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=A+HIT+WITH+A+HEART%3A+'WE+ARE+THE+WORLD'+BUOYED+BY+BRISK+SALES+AND+CURIOSITY&pqatl=google|title=A hit with a heart: 'We Are the World' buoyed by brisk sales and Curiosity|last=Taylor|first=Jonathan|date=March 17, 1985|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=October 7, 2009 | via=[[ProQuest]] Archiver | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307182052/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/25092058.html?dids=25092058:25092058&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+17%2C+1985&author=Jonathan+Taylor+and+Gary+Graff+Los+Angeles+Daily+News%2C+Chicago+Tribune+and+Knight-Ridder+Newspapers&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=A+HIT+WITH+A+HEART%3A+%27WE+ARE+THE+WORLD%27+BUOYED+BY+BRISK+SALES+AND+CURIOSITY&pqatl=google | archive-date=March 7, 2012 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/03/17/a-hit-with-a-heart-we-are-the-world-buoyed-by-brisk-sales-and/ | title=A hit with a heart: 'We Are the World' buoyed by brisk sales and Curiosity | date=March 17, 1985 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713100002/https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/03/17/a-hit-with-a-heart-we-are-the-world-buoyed-by-brisk-sales-and/ | archive-date=July 13, 2024 | access-date=July 13, 2024 | newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] | url-status=live}}</ref> Belafonte also planned to set aside money to help eliminate hunger in the US.<ref name="tara 341" />

Belafonte contacted the entertainment manager and fundraiser [[Ken Kragen]], who enlisted his clients [[Lionel Richie]] and [[Kenny Rogers]]. In turn, they enlisted [[Stevie Wonder]] to add more "name value".<ref name="tara 341" /> [[Quincy Jones]] was drafted to co-produce, taking time out from his work on the film ''[[The Color Purple (1985 film)|The Color Purple]]''.<ref name="tara 341" /><ref name="tara 342">Taraborrelli, p. 342</ref> Jones also telephoned [[Michael Jackson]], who had just concluded [[Victory Tour (The Jacksons)|Victory Tour]] with [[the Jacksons]].<ref name="tara 341" />

== Writing ==
Jackson told Richie that he wanted to help write the song.<ref name="tara 341" /><ref name="Campbell 109">Campbell, p. 109</ref> The songwriting team originally included Wonder, but his time was constrained by his songwriting for the film ''[[The Woman in Red (soundtrack)|The Woman in Red]]''. Jackson and Richie wrote "We Are the World"<ref name="Campbell 109" /> at [[Hayvenhurst]], the [[Jackson family]] home in [[Encino, California]]. They sought to write a song that would be easy to sing, memorable and anthemic. For a week, they spent every night working on lyrics and melodies in Jackson's bedroom. Jackson's older sister [[La Toya Jackson|La Toya]] recounted'':'' "I'd go into the room while they were writing and it would be very quiet, which is odd, since Michael's usually very cheery when he works. It was very emotional for them."<ref name="Campbell 109" /> She said later that Jackson wrote most of the lyrics.<ref name="tara 342" />

Richie recorded two melodies, to which Jackson added music on the same day. Jackson said, "I love working quickly. I went ahead without even Lionel knowing. I couldn't wait. I went in and came out the same night with the song completed: drums, piano, strings, and words to the chorus."<ref name="Campbell 110">Campbell, p. 110</ref> Jackson presented his demo to Richie and Jones, who were both surprised that he had completed the structure so quickly. The next meetings between Jackson and Richie were unproductive. On January 21, 1985, the night before the first recording session, Richie and Jackson completed the lyrics and melody.<ref name="Campbell 110"/>

==Recording==
[[File:We Are The World Cyndi-Glenn Francis.jpg|thumb|[[Cyndi Lauper]], studio badge, and the sweatshirt given to all attendees at A&M Studios in Hollywood, California on January 28, 1985]]

Recording began on January 22, 1985, at Kenny Rogers' [[Lion Share Studios|Lion Share Recording Studio]] on [[Beverly Boulevard]] in Los Angeles. The first day included Richie, Jackson, Wonder, and Jones, along with the session musicians Jones had hired to lay down the backing tracks: [[John Robinson (drummer)|John "JR" Robinson]] on drums, [[Louis Johnson (bassist)|Louis Johnson]] on bass, and [[Greg Phillinganes]] on piano. The three had first played together on Jackson's 1979 single "[[Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough]]", produced by Jones. Despite tight security, the studio was filled with the musicians, technicians, video crews, [[retinue]], assistants, and organizers.{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}} 

Richie sat at the piano to teach everyone the song. When it was time to record, Robinson cleared the room of non-musicians. The session musicians recorded the backing tracks,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slapklatz.com/endorsers/john-jr-robinson/stories-behind-the-biggest-hits/ |title=Behind 10 of JR's biggest hits |author=Gunnar "funkpost" Kristiansen |date=November 16, 2017 |website=SlapKlatz |access-date=July 15, 2020}}</ref> then Richie and Jackson recorded a vocal guide. Jones selected the sixth [[take]] of the guide—he felt there was too much "thought" in the previous versions—and had it mixed with the instrumental tracks. A cassette tape duplicate was made for each of the  performers invited to the vocal recording sessions.<ref name="breskin 2">Breskin, p. 2</ref>

After the initial recording, Jackson and Jones began thinking of alternatives for the line "There's a chance we're taking, we're taking our own lives". The pair was concerned that line would be considered a reference to suicide. As the group listened to a playback of the chorus, Richie declared that the last part of the line should be changed to "We're 'saving' our own lives". Jones also suggested altering the former part of the line. "One thing we don't want to do, especially with this group, is look like we're patting ourselves on the back. So it's really: 'There's a ''choice'' we're making.'"<ref name="breskin 3">Breskin, p. 3</ref> Around 1:30&nbsp;am, the musicians ended the night by finishing a chorus of melodic vocalizations, including the sound "sha-lum sha-lin-gay".<ref name="breskin 3" /> Jones told the group that they were not to add anything else to the tape, and said: "If we get too good, someone's gonna start playing it on the radio."<ref name="breskin 3" />

On January 24, 1985, after a day of rest, Jones shipped Richie and Jackson's vocal guide to all the artists who would be involved the recording. Enclosed in the package was a letter from Jones imploring the artists not to share the tape or make copies. He wrote: "In the years to come, when your children ask, 'What did mommy and daddy do for the war against world famine?', you can say proudly, ''this'' was your contribution."<ref name="breskin 3"/>[[File:We Are The World Glenn Francis.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Back of the "We Are the World" sweater autographed by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie]]
Ken Kragen chaired a production meeting at a bungalow off [[Sunset Boulevard]] on January 25, 1985. His team discussed where the recording sessions should take place. Kragen was concerned that a leak of the location would trigger a paparazzi frenzy and drive the celebrities away.<ref name="breskin 3" /> Jones was concerned about assigning performers to sing solos, saying that so much talent on hand made the task like "putting a watermelon in a Coke bottle".<ref name="breskin 3"/> The following evening, Richie held a choreography session at his home, where it was decided who would stand where.<ref name="breskin 3"/>

The final night of recording was held on January 28, 1985, at A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood.<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/27/arts/the-pop-life-artists-join-in-effort-for-famine-relief.html?&pagewanted=all|title=The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=February 27, 1985|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 11, 2009}}</ref><ref name="breskin 3"/> Jackson arrived at 8&nbsp;p.m., earlier than the others, to record his solo section and record a vocal chorus alone.<ref name="breskin 3"/> He was joined by the remaining artists, who included [[Ray Charles]], [[Billy Joel]], [[Diana Ross]], [[Cyndi Lauper]], [[Bruce Springsteen]] and [[Tina Turner]], and Jackson's siblings [[Jackie Jackson|Jackie]], [[La Toya Jackson|La&nbsp;Toya]], [[Marlon Jackson|Marlon]], [[Randy Jackson (The Jacksons)|Randy]] and [[Tito Jackson|Tito]].<ref name="breskin 5 6">Breskin, pp. 5–6</ref> Many of the participants came from an [[American Music Award]]s [[American Music Awards of 1985|ceremony]] held that night.<ref name="tara 342"/>

[[Prince (musician)|Prince]], who would have had a part in which he and Michael Jackson sang to each other, did not attend.<ref name="We Are the World tune brings out the best of America's 46 stars">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_CbMDAAAAMBAJ_2|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_CbMDAAAAMBAJ_2/page/n15 16]|quote=jackson we are the world.|title=We Are the World tune brings out the best of America's 46 stars|date=February 18, 1985|magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|access-date=July 11, 2009}}</ref>  One newspaper said that Prince did not want to record with other acts;<ref name="Prince">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/1999/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/20/wb.prince.bio/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118194035/http://edition.cnn.com/1999/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/20/wb.prince.bio/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2008|title=Prince|date=December 20, 1999|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=July 11, 2009}}</ref> another report, from the time of "We Are the World"'s recording, suggested that he did not want to partake because the organizer, [[Bob Geldof]], called him a "creep".<ref name="Only a bad album could dethrone Prince">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ovILAAAAIBAJ&pg=5724,1518019&dq=we-are-the-world|title=Only a bad album could dethrone Prince|last=Parks|first=Kyle|date=April 5, 1985|newspaper=[[The Evening Independent]]|access-date=July 11, 2009}}</ref> During the session, Richie spoke with Prince on the phone, and declined Prince's offer to play a guitar solo in a separate room.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheila E. felt used by 'We Are the World' producers who wanted Prince |url=https://ew.com/sheila-e-felt-used-by-we-are-the-world-producers-who-wanted-prince-8551826 |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref> Instead, Prince donated an exclusive track, "4 the Tears in Your Eyes", to the ''[[We Are the World (album)|We Are the World]]'' album.<ref name="Prince" /> Wonder asked [[Eddie Murphy]] to participate, but Murphy declined because he was busy recording his single "[[Party All the Time]]". Murphy later said after he "realized what it was, [he] felt like an idiot".<ref name="Murphy Kimmel">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfLjhW8eioc| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/wfLjhW8eioc| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live|title=Eddie Murphy on His Return to Stand-up|date=October 24, 2019|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[John Denver]] had asked to participate but was rejected despite his previous commitment to charity work. Ken Kragen said it was due to some people feeling that Denver's image would affect the credibility of the song as a pop-rock anthem. "I didn't agree with this assessment", Kragen said, but reluctantly turned Denver down.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harrychapin.com/circle/winter05/behind.htm |title=Behind the Song: "We Are the World" |website=HarryChapin.com |first=Mike |last=Grayeb | date=2005 |access-date=May 9, 2011}}</ref> Denver recalled the rejection in his 1994 autobiography "Take Me Home", stating that "It broke my heart not to be included."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://danmiller.typepad.com/dan_millers_notebook/2006/07/by_dan_miller_o.html | title=The Snubbing of John Denver | date=October 12, 2004 | first1=Dan | last1=Miller | website=Dan Miller's Notebook}}</ref>

More than 45 of America's top musicians participated,<ref name="We Are the World tune brings out the best of America's 46 stars" /><ref name="African relief">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1aMRAAAAIBAJ&pg=5792,5179525&dq=we-are-the-world|title=African relief|date=January 30, 1985|newspaper=[[The Gainesville Sun]]|access-date=July 11, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and another 50 had to be turned away.<ref name="tara 342" /> A sign taped to the studio door read: "Check your ego at the door."<ref name="tara 343">Taraborrelli, p. 343</ref> Wonder greeted the musicians as they entered, and said that if the recording was not completed in one take, he and Ray Charles, two blind men, would drive everybody home.<ref name="davis 174">Davis, p. 174.</ref>

{{quote box|width=30%|quote=I think what's happening in Africa is a crime of historic proportions&nbsp;... You walk into one of the corrugated iron huts and you see [[meningitis]] and [[malaria]] and [[typhoid]] buzzing around in the air. And you see dead bodies lying side by side with the live ones&nbsp;... In some of the camps you see 15&nbsp;bags of flour for 27,500&nbsp;people. And it's that that we're here for.|source=[[Bob Geldof]], addressing his fellow USA for Africa musicians during one of the recording sessions of "We Are the World" on January 28, 1985<ref name="breskin 6"/>}}

Each performer took their position at around 10:30&nbsp;p.m. and began to sing. Several hours passed before Wonder announced that he would like to substitute a line in [[Swahili language|Swahili]] for the "sha-lum sha-lin-gay" sound,<ref name="breskin 6">Breskin, p. 6</ref><ref name="They Were the World">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1992/01/24/we-are-world/|title=They Were the World|last=Cagle|first=Jess|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=July 11, 2009|date=January 24, 1992}}</ref> causing [[Waylon Jennings]] to leave.<ref name="breskin 6"/><ref name="They Were the World" /> A heated debate ensued, in which several artists also rejected the suggestion. The "sha-lum sha-lin-gay" sound ran into opposition as well and was removed. Jennings returned and participated in the recording. The participants eventually decided to sing something meaningful in English. They chose to sing the new line "one world, our children", which most of the participants enjoyed.<ref name="breskin 6"/>

In the early hours of the morning, two Ethiopian women, guests of Wonder, were brought in.<ref name="They Were the World" /><ref name="breskin 7">Breskin, p. 7</ref> They thanked the singers on behalf of their country, bringing several artists to tears.<ref name="They Were the World" /><ref name="breskin 7"/> Wonder attempted to lighten the mood, by joking that the recording session gave him a chance to "see" Charles, saying, "We just sort of bumped into each other!"<ref name="davis 174"/> Under the circumstances, the solo parts presented a variety of challenges, but were all successfully recorded that night.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-29 |title=The Greatest Night in Pop |url=https://www.netflix.com/title/81720500 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=Netflix |language=en}}</ref><ref name="breskin 7"/> The final version was completed at 8&nbsp;a.m.<ref name="breskin 7"/><ref name="Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie's song earns millions for charity">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8rADAAAAMBAJ&q=jackson+%22we+are+the+world%22&pg=PA60|title=Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie's song earns millions for charity|date=April 8, 1985|magazine=Jet|access-date=July 11, 2009}}</ref>

==Lyrics==
{{Listen|filename=Michael Jackson - We are the World.ogg|type=music|title="We Are the World"|description=The structuring of "We Are the World" is said to "create a sense of continuous surprise and emotional buildup".}}
"We Are the World" is sung from a first-person viewpoint, allowing the audience to "internalize" the message by singing the word ''we'' together.<ref name="braheny 18">Braheny, p. 18</ref> It has been described as "an appeal to human compassion".<ref name="Famine-aid song sells well locally">{{cite news|title=Famine-aid song sells well locally|last=Bodus|first=Tom|date=March 29, 1985|newspaper=[[Columbia Missourian]]}}</ref> The first lines of the chorus are: "We are the world, we are the children / we are the ones who make a brighter day / so let's start giving".<ref name="Famine-aid song sells well locally" />

== Arrangement ==
[[Lionel Richie]], [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Paul Simon]], [[Kenny Rogers]], [[James Ingram]], [[Tina Turner]] and [[Billy Joel]] sing the first verse;<ref name="marsh 518">Marsh, p. 518</ref> [[Michael Jackson]] and [[Diana Ross]] sing the first chorus;<ref name="marsh 518" /> [[Dionne Warwick]], [[Willie Nelson]] and [[Al Jarreau]] sing the second verse; [[Bruce Springsteen]], [[Kenny Loggins]], [[Steve Perry]] and [[Daryl Hall]] sing the second chorus;<ref name="marsh 518" /> Jackson, [[Huey Lewis]], [[Cyndi Lauper]], and [[Kim Carnes]] sing the bridge.<ref name="marsh 518" /> The structure is said to "create a sense of continuous surprise and emotional buildup".<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief" />

The following people sang in the chorus: [[Dan Aykroyd]], [[Harry Belafonte]], [[Lindsey Buckingham]], [[Mario Cipollina]], [[Johnny Colla]], [[Sheila E.]], [[Bob Geldof]], [[Bill Gibson (music producer)|Bill Gibson]], [[Chris Hayes (musician)|Chris Hayes]], [[Sean Hopper]], [[Jackie Jackson]], [[La Toya Jackson]], [[Marlon Jackson]], [[Randy Jackson (Jacksons singer)|Randy Jackson]], [[Tito Jackson]], [[Waylon Jennings]], [[Bette Midler]], [[John Oates]], [[Jeffrey Osborne]], [[Anita Pointer]], [[June Pointer]], [[Ruth Pointer]], and [[Smokey Robinson]].<ref name="marsh 518"/>

==USA for Africa musicians==
[[File:Stevie Wonder 1994.jpg|thumb|150px|right|[[Stevie Wonder]] was a featured soloist.]]
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
{|
|-
! Conductor
|-
| {{*}} [[Quincy Jones]]
|}

{|
|-
! Soloists (in order of appearance)
|-
| {{*}} [[Lionel Richie]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Stevie Wonder]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Paul Simon]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Kenny Rogers]]
|-
| {{*}} [[James Ingram]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Tina Turner]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Billy Joel]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Michael Jackson]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Diana Ross]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Dionne Warwick]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Willie Nelson]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Al Jarreau]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Bruce Springsteen]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Kenny Loggins]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Steve Perry]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Daryl Hall]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Huey Lewis]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Cyndi Lauper]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Kim Carnes]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Bob Dylan]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Ray Charles]]
|-
|}

{|
|-
!  Chorus (alphabetically)
|-
| {{*}} [[Dan Aykroyd]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Harry Belafonte]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Lindsey Buckingham]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Mario Cipollina]] (of [[Huey Lewis and the News]])
|-
| {{*}} [[Johnny Colla]] (of Huey Lewis and the News)
|-
| {{*}} [[Sheila E.]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Bob Geldof]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Bill Gibson (drummer)|Bill Gibson]] (of Huey Lewis and the News)
|-
| {{*}} Chris Hayes (of Huey Lewis and the News)
|-
| {{*}} [[Sean Hopper]] (of Huey Lewis and the News)
|-
| {{*}} [[Jackie Jackson]]
|-
| {{*}} [[La Toya Jackson]]
|-
|{{*}} [[Marlon Jackson]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Randy Jackson (The Jacksons)|Randy Jackson]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Tito Jackson]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Waylon Jennings]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Bette Midler]]
|-
| {{*}} [[John Oates]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Jeffrey Osborne]]
|-
| {{*}} [[Anita Pointer]] (of [[the Pointer Sisters]])
|-
| {{*}} [[June Pointer]] (of the Pointer Sisters)
|-
| {{*}} [[Ruth Pointer]] (of the Pointer Sisters)
|-
| {{*}} [[Smokey Robinson]]
|-
|}

{|
|-
! Instrument players
|-
| {{*}} [[John Barnes (musician)|John Barnes]] – keyboards, programming, arrangement
|-
| {{*}} [[David Paich]] – synthesizers
|-
| {{*}} [[Michael Boddicker]] – synthesizers, programming
|-
| {{*}} [[Ian Underwood]] – synthesizers, programming
|-
| {{*}} [[Steve Porcaro]] – synthesizers, programming
|
|-
| {{*}} [[Paulinho da Costa]] – percussion
|-
| {{*}} [[Louis Johnson (bassist)|Louis Johnson]] – bass
|-
| {{*}} [[Michael Omartian]] – keyboards
|-
| {{*}} [[Greg Phillinganes]] – keyboards
|-
| {{*}} [[John Robinson (drummer)|John Robinson]] – drums
|}

{{div col end}}

==Release==
On March 7, 1985, "We Are the World" was released as a single, in both [[7-inch]] and [[12-inch]] formats.<ref name="tara 344">Taraborrelli, p. 344</ref><ref name="We Are the World">{{cite news |title=We Are the World |date=April 10, 1985|newspaper=Columbia Missourian}}</ref> The song was the only one released from the ''We Are the World'' album and became a chart success around the world. In the U.S., it was a number-one hit on the [[R&B singles chart]], the [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks]] chart, and the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], where it remained for a month.<ref name="george 41">George, p. 41</ref><ref name="Campbell 113">Campbell, p. 113</ref> The single had debuted at number 21 on the Hot 100,<ref name="Famine-aid song sells well locally" /> and it took four weeks for the song to claim the number one spot, half the time a single would normally have taken to reach its charting peak.<ref name="'World' rules the charts">{{cite news|title='World' rules the charts|last=DeKnock|first=Jan|date=April 17, 1985|newspaper=[[The Ledger]]}}</ref> On the Hot 100, the song moved from 21 to 5 to 2 and then number 1. It was the only number 1 single on the Hot 100 for [[Bob Dylan]], [[Bruce Springsteen]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[Al Jarreau]], [[Steve Perry]], [[Harry Belafonte]], [[Bob Geldof]], [[Waylon Jennings]], [[Jeffrey Osborne]], [[Sheila E.]], [[The Pointer Sisters]], [[Randy Jackson (Jacksons)|Randy Jackson]], and [[La Toya Jackson]], as well as actor-comedian [[Dan Aykroyd]]. "We Are the World" might have reached the top of the Hot 100 chart sooner, were it not for the success of [[Phil Collins]]' "[[One More Night (Phil Collins song)|One More Night]]", which received support from both pop and rock listeners.<ref name="'World' rules the charts" /> "We Are the World" also entered ''Billboard''{{-'}}s Top Rock Tracks and Hot Country Singles charts, where it peaked at numbers 27 and 76 respectively.<ref name="george 41"/> The song became the first single since [[the Beatles]]' "[[Let It Be (song)|Let It Be]]" to enter ''Billboard''{{'}}s Top 5 within two weeks of release.<ref name="We Are the World" /> Outside the U.S., the single reached number one in Australia, France, Ireland, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The song peaked at number 2 in two countries: Germany and Austria.<ref name="Ultratop Singles Chart Archives">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=USA+For+Africa&titel=We+Are+The+World&cat=s|title=Ultratop Singles Chart Archives|publisher=ultratop.be|access-date=September 29, 2009}}</ref><ref name="WATW Ireland">{{cite web|url=http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title=Irish Singles chart – Searchable database |publisher=Irishcharts.ie |access-date=July 31, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125210/http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement |archive-date=July 21, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="WATW NL">{{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/artist.aspx?contributor_id=228090&jaar=1984&maand=3&week=12#|title=USA for Africa – Dutch Top 40 Chart|publisher=top40.nl|access-date=July 31, 2011}}</ref>

The single was also a commercial success: the initial shipment of 800,000 "We Are the World" records sold out within three days of release.<ref name="tara 344"/> The record became the fastest-selling American pop single in history.<ref name="Whoever dreamed that up?">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/29/business/whoever-dreamed-that-up.html?&pagewanted=5|title=Whoever dreamed that up?|last=Bennett|first=Robert A.|date=December 29, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 19, 2009}}</ref> At [[Tower Records (music retailer)|Tower Records]] in [[West Hollywood]], 1,000&nbsp;copies of the song were sold in two days.<ref name="Forty-Five Voices">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,964119,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220093750/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,964119,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 20, 2008|title=Forty-Five Voices|last=Worrell|first=Denise|date=March 25, 1985|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=July 19, 2009}}</ref> Store worker Richard Petitpas commented, "A number one single sells about 100 to 125&nbsp;copies a week. This is absolutely unheard of."<ref name="Forty-Five Voices" /> By the end of 1985, "We Are the World" had become the year's best-selling single.<ref name="American Music Award nominees named">{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF41ADE2F9681DA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=American Music Award nominees named|date=January 4, 1986|newspaper=[[Daily News of Los Angeles]]|access-date=September 25, 2009|archive-date=June 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622220911/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF41ADE2F9681DA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=dead}}</ref> Five years later it was revealed that the song had become the biggest single of the 1980s.<ref name="A Pop Virtuoso Who Can Do It All">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/03/arts/pop-view-a-pop-virtuoso-who-can-do-it-all.html|title=A Pop Virtuoso Who Can Do It All|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=December 3, 1989|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 19, 2009}}</ref> "We Are the World" was eventually cited as the best-selling single in U.S. and pop music history.{{refn|[[Elton John]]'s [[Candle in the Wind 1997|1997 version]] of "[[Candle in the Wind]]"—a tribute to [[Diana, Princess of Wales]]—later claimed the status of biggest selling pop single of all time.<ref name="If It's a Hit, Why Stop There?">{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/17854116.html?dids=17854116%3A17854116&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Oct+12%2C+1997&author=ANNE+BEATTS&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=If+It%27s+a+Hit%2C+Why+Stop+There%3F&pqatl=google|title=If It's a Hit, Why Stop There?|last=Beatts|first=Anne|date=October 12, 1997|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 8, 2009|archive-date=November 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105075907/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/17854116.html?dids=17854116%3A17854116&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Oct+12%2C+1997&author=ANNE+BEATTS&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=If+It%27s+a+Hit%2C+Why+Stop+There%3F&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref>|group="nb"}}<ref name="Bob Geldof biography">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/geldof_bob/artist.jhtml|title=Bob Geldof biography|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|publisher=MTV|access-date=July 19, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029155813/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/geldof_bob/artist.jhtml|archive-date=October 29, 2009}}</ref><ref name="In Pop, Whose Song Is It, Anyway?">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/27/arts/pop-view-in-pop-whose-song-is-it-anyway.html|title=In Pop, Whose Song Is It, Anyway?|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=August 27, 1989|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 19, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Listen Up! Quincy Jones Has a New Gig">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/05/business/listen-up-quincy-jones-has-a-new-gig.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|title=Listen Up! Quincy Jones Has a New Gig|last=Andrews|first=Edmund L.|date=June 5, 1995|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 19, 2009}}</ref> The song became the first single to be certified multi-platinum; it received a 4× certification by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]].<ref name="Campbell 113"/><ref name="Pointers, Prince and Pavarotti in platinum parade">{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24957451.html?dids=24957451:24957451&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+31%2C+1986&author=Tom+Popson&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=POINTERS%2C+PRINCE+AND+PAVAROTTI+IN+PLATINUM+PARADE&pqatl=google|title=Pointers, Prince and Pavarotti in platinum parade|first=Tom|last=Popson|date=January 31, 1986|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=September 25, 2009|archive-date=November 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105075845/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24957451.html?dids=24957451:24957451&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+31%2C+1986&author=Tom+Popson&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=POINTERS%2C+PRINCE+AND+PAVAROTTI+IN+PLATINUM+PARADE&pqatl=google| via=[[ProQuest]] Archiver | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/01/31/pointers-prince-and-pavarotti-in-platinum-parade/ | title=Pointers, Prince and Pavarotti in platinum parade | date=January 31, 1986 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713101440/https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/01/31/pointers-prince-and-pavarotti-in-platinum-parade/ | archive-date=July 13, 2024 | access-date=July 13, 2024 | newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] | url-status=live}}</ref> The estimated global sales of "We Are the World" are said to be 20&nbsp;million.<ref name="The many faces of Michael Jackson">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-06-26-jackson-faces_N.htm|title=The many faces of Michael Jackson|last=Breznican|first=Anthony|date=June 30, 2009|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|access-date=July 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919102248/https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-06-26-jackson-faces_N.htm|archive-date=19 September 2010}}</ref>

==Reception==
"We Are the World" received mixed reviews. American journalist [[Greil Marcus]] felt that it sounded like a [[Pepsi]] jingle.<ref name="Garofalo 29">Garofalo, p. 29</ref> He wrote that "the constant repetition of 'There's a choice we're making' conflates with Pepsi's trademarked 'The choice of a new generation' in a way that, on the part of Pepsi-contracted song writers Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, is certainly not intentional, and even more certainly beyond the realm of serendipity."<ref name="Garofalo 29"/> Marcus added, "In the realm of contextualization, 'We Are the World' says less about Ethiopia than it does about Pepsi—and the true result will likely be less that certain Ethiopian individuals will live, or anyway live a bit longer than they otherwise would have, than that Pepsi will get the catch phrase of its advertising campaign sung for free by Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and all the rest."<ref name="Garofalo 29"/> Professor and activist [[Reebee Garofalo]] agreed, calling the line "We're saving our own lives" a "distasteful element of self-indulgence".<ref name="Garofalo 29"/> He asserted that the artists of USA for Africa were proclaiming "their own salvation for singing about an issue they will never experience on behalf of a people most of them will never encounter".<ref name="Garofalo 29"/>

In contrast, [[Stephen Holden]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised the phrase "There's a choice we're making, We're saving our own lives".<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief"/> He wrote that the line assumed "an extra emotional dimension when sung by people with superstar mystiques".<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief"/> Holden wrote that the song was "an artistic triumph that transcends its official nature".<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief"/> He noted that unlike Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas", the vocals on "We Are the World" were "artfully interwoven" and emphasized the individuality of each singer.<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief"/> Holden concluded that "We Are the World" was "a simple, eloquent ballad" and a "{{Sic|hide=y|fully|-}}realized pop statement that would sound outstanding even if it weren't recorded by stars".<ref name="The pop life; artists join in effort for famine relief"/>

The song proved popular with both young and old listeners.<ref name="Famine-aid song sells well locally" /> People in [[Columbia, Missouri]] reported they bought more than one copy of the single, some buying up to five copies of the record at one time.<ref name="Strike Up the Bandwagon We Are the World Raises Money, Spirits">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,966887,00.html?promoid=googlep|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604173011/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,966887,00.html?promoid=googlep|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 4, 2011|title=Strike Up the Bandwagon We Are the World Raises Money, Spirits|last=Cocks |first=Jay |author-link=Jay Cocks|date=April 22, 1985|magazine=Time|access-date=July 19, 2009}}</ref>

According to the music critic and Springsteen biographer [[Dave Marsh]], "We Are the World" was not widely accepted within the rock music community.<ref name="marsh 519">Marsh, p. 519</ref> Marsh said it was dismissed as it was not "a rock record, a critique of the political policies that created the famine, a way of finding out how and why famines occur, an all-inclusive representation of the entire worldwide spectrum of post-[[Elvis Presley|Presley]] popular music".<ref name="marsh 519"/> Though Marsh agreed with some of the criticisms, he felt that, despite its sentimentality, "We Are the World" was a large-scale pop event with serious political overtones.<ref name="marsh 519"/>

"We Are the World" was recognized with several awards following its release. At the [[Grammy Awards of 1986|1986 Grammy Awards]], the song and its music video won four awards: [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]], [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]], [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal|Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video|Best Music Video, Short Form]].<ref name="campbell 114 115">Campbell, pp. 114–115</ref> The music video was awarded two honors at the 1985 [[MTV Video Music Awards]]. It collected the awards for Best Group Video and Viewer's Choice.<ref name="MTV Video Music Awards 1985">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1985/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830021739/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1985/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2008|title=MTV Video Music Awards 1985|publisher=MTV|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref><ref name="MTV Video Awards">{{cite news|url=http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG/1985/09/16&EntityId=Ar01200|title=MTV Video Awards|last=DiPerio|first=Diane D.|date=September 16, 1985|newspaper=The Daily Collegian|access-date=July 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408162707/http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG%2F1985%2F09%2F16&EntityId=Ar01200|archive-date=April 8, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[People's Choice Awards]] recognized "We Are the World" with the Favorite New Song award in 1986.<ref name="campbell 114 115"/> In the same year, the American Music Awards named "We Are the World" "Song of the Year", and honored organizer Harry Belafonte with the Award of Appreciation. Collecting his award, Belafonte thanked Ken Kragen, Quincy Jones, and "the two artists who, without their great gift would not have inspired us in quite the same way as we were inspired, Mr. Lionel Richie and Mr. Michael Jackson".<ref name="campbell 114 115"/> Following the speech, the majority of USA for Africa reunited on stage, closing the ceremony with "We Are the World".<ref name="campbell 114 115"/><ref name="Awards honor year of charity">{{cite news|url=http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG/1986/01/29&EntityId=Ar01602|title=Awards honor year of charity|last=Da Atley|first=Richard|date=January 29, 1986|newspaper=The Daily Collegian|access-date=July 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408162707/http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG%2F1986%2F01%2F29&EntityId=Ar01602|archive-date=April 8, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

"We Are the World" was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award|title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame &#124; Hall of Fame Artists &#124; GRAMMY.com|website=grammy.com|accessdate=July 31, 2024}}</ref>

==Track listing==
===Vinyl single===
# "We Are the World" (USA for Africa) – 4:51
# "Grace" (Quincy Jones) – 4:30

==Marketing and promotion==
{{Multiple image
| total_width       = 300
| image1            = Quincy Jones Harry Belafonte.jpg
| image2            = USA For Africa 1985 (US Press Kit 001).jpg
| footer            = [[Quincy Jones]] and [[Harry Belafonte]] at a press conference (left); USA For Africa supergroup, featuring all musicians in a promotional photo (right)
}}

"We Are the World" was promoted with a music video, a video cassette, and several other items made available to the public, including books, posters, shirts and buttons.<ref name="Campbell 112">Campbell, p. 112</ref><ref name="Belafonte learns answers aren't easy">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pNkSAAAAIBAJ&pg=5227,4256062&dq=we-are-the-world|title=Belafonte learns answers aren't easy|last=May|first=Clifford D.|date=June 27, 1985|newspaper=The Ledger|access-date=July 19, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> All proceeds from the sale of official USA for Africa merchandise went directly to the famine relief fund. All of the merchandise sold well; the video cassette—titled ''We Are the World: The Video Event''—documented the making of the song, and became the ninth-best-selling video of 1985.<ref name="Campbell 112"/> All of the video elements were produced by [[Howard G. Malley]] and Craig B. Golin along with April Lee Grebb as the production supervisor.
The music video showed the recording of "We Are the World", and drew criticism from some. Michael Jackson was reported to have joked before filming, "People will know it's me as soon as they see the socks. Try taking footage of Bruce Springsteen's socks and see if anyone knows who they belong to."<ref name="tara 344"/>

The song was also promoted with a special edition of the American magazine ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]''. The publication had been the only media outlet permitted inside A&M Recording Studios on the night of January 28, 1985. All other press organizations were barred from reporting the events leading up to and during "We Are the World"'s recording. ''Life'' ran a cover story of the recording session in its April 1985 edition of the monthly magazine. Seven members of USA for Africa were pictured on the cover: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner and Willie Nelson. Inside the magazine were photographs of the "We Are the World" participants working and taking breaks.<ref name="Campbell 112"/>

"We Are the World" received worldwide radio coverage in the form of an international simultaneous broadcast later that year. Upon spinning the song on their local stations, Georgia radio disc jockeys Bob Wolf and Don Briscar came up with the idea for a worldwide simulcast.<ref>{{cite news|title=We are the World to be Played Worldwide|url=https://apnews.com/35bd795632c2b1f23d36392e5b9d3835|work=Associated Press News|access-date=February 7, 2014}}</ref> They called hundreds of radio and satellite stations asking them to participate. On the morning of April 5, 1985 ([[Good Friday]] of that year) at 3:50&nbsp;pm GMT, over 8,000 radio stations simultaneously broadcast the song around the world.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stations Around Globe Air 'We Are The World'|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-06-ca-18495-story.html|agency=Associated Press|date=April 6, 1985|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref> As the song was broadcast, hundreds of people sang along on the steps of [[St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York|St. Patrick's Cathedral]] in New York.<ref name="Strike Up the Bandwagon We Are the World Raises Money, Spirits"/><ref name="Fifth Avenue Singalong Supports Relief Effort">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/06/arts/fifth-avenue-singalong-supports-relief-effort.html?n=Top%2FNews%2FScience%2FTopics%2FDrought|title=Fifth Avenue Singalong Supports Relief Effort|date=April 6, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 20, 2009}}</ref> A year later, on March 28, 1986 (Good Friday of that year), the simultaneous radio broadcast of "We Are the World" was repeated over 6,000 radio stations worldwide.<ref name="Campbell 113"/>

"We Are the World" gained further promotion and coverage on May 25, 1986, when it was played during a major benefit event held throughout the US.<ref name="Hands">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WegLAAAAIBAJ&pg=4387,2498283&dq=we-are-the-world|title=Hands|date=May 23, 1986|newspaper=The Evening Independent|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref><ref name="A 15-minute handshake for the US">{{cite news|title=A 15-minute handshake for the US|last=Hewett|first=Jenni|date=May 27, 1986|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref> [[Hands Across America]]—USA for Africa's follow-up project—was an event in which millions of people formed a [[human chain (politics)|human chain]] across the US.<ref name="Hunger song profits exceed expectation">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b7ISAAAAIBAJ&pg=5679,1906145&dq=we-are-the-world|title=Hunger song profits exceed expectation|date=October 9, 1986|newspaper=[[Spokane Chronicle]]|access-date=July 21, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The event was held to draw attention to hunger and homelessness in the United States.<ref name="Altruistic marketing">{{cite magazine|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1985/11/25/66688/index.htm|title=Altruistic marketing|last=Steinbreder|first=John|date=November 25, 1985|magazine=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> "We Are the World"'s co-writer, Michael Jackson, had wanted his song to be the official theme for the event. The other board members of USA for Africa outvoted him, and it was instead decided that a new song would be created and released for the event, titled "Hands Across America".<ref name="campbell 114 115"/> When released, the new song did not achieve the level of success that "We Are the World" did, and the decision to use it as the official theme for the event led to Jackson—who co-owned the publishing rights to "We Are the World"—resigning from the board of directors of USA for Africa.<ref name="campbell 114 115"/><ref name="Campbell 116">Campbell, p. 116</ref>

==Humanitarian aid==
Four months after the release of "We Are the World", USA for Africa had taken in almost $10.8&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|10.8|1986|r=0}}}} million today).<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission">{{cite news|title=USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission|last=Glave|first=Judie|date=May 17, 1985|newspaper=The Gainesville Sun}}</ref><ref name="Record's first profits will go to the hungry">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/19/arts/record-s-first-profits-will-go-to-the-hungry.html?sec=&spon=|title=Record's first profits will go to the hungry|date=May 19, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> The majority of the money came from record sales within the US.<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission" /><ref name="Record's first profits will go to the hungry" /> Members of the public also donated money—almost $1.3&nbsp;million within the same time period. In May 1985, USA for Africa officials estimated that they had sold between $45&nbsp;million and $47&nbsp;million worth of official merchandise around the world. Organizer Ken Kragen announced that they would not be distributing all of the money at once. Instead, he revealed that the foundation would be looking into finding a long-term solution for Africa's problems.<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission" /> "We could go out and spend it all in one shot. Maybe we'd save some lives in the short term but it would be like putting a Band-Aid over a serious wound."<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission" /> Kragen noted that experts had predicted that it would take at least 10 to 20&nbsp;years to make a slight difference to Africa's long-term problems.<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission" />

In June 1985, the first USA for Africa cargo jet carrying food, medicine, and clothing departed for Ethiopia and [[Sudan]]. It stopped ''en route'' in New York, where 15,000&nbsp;T-shirts were added to the cargo. Included in the supplies were high-protein biscuits, high-protein vitamins, medicine, tents, blankets and refrigeration equipment.<ref name="Music group sends supplies">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/11/world/around-the-world-music-group-sends-supplies-to-ethiopians.html?n=Top/News/Science/Topics/Drought|title=Music group sends supplies|date=June 11, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> Harry Belafonte, representing the USA for Africa musicians, visited Sudan in the same month. The trip was his last stop on a four-nation tour of Africa. Tanzanian Prime Minister [[Salim Ahmed Salim]] greeted and praised Belafonte, telling him, "I personally and the people of [[Tanzania]] are moved by this tremendous example of human solidarity."<ref name="Belafonte visits Sudan">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MuoVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6245,6038350&dq=we-are-the-world|title=Belafonte visits Sudan|date=June 22, 1985|newspaper=[[Wilmington Morning Star]]|access-date=July 21, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

[[File:Opbushel.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A [[Royal Air Force]] [[C-130 Hercules]] military plane. Its propellers attach to its wings, and it appears to be hovering just above a barren field. From the back of the aircraft, a package is being dropped onto the field from an open rear gangway.|A military aircraft dropping food during the [[1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia|1984–1985 Ethiopian famine]]]]
One year after the release of "We Are the World", organizers noted that $44.5&nbsp;million had been raised for USA for Africa's humanitarian fund. They stated that they were confident that they would reach an initial set target of $50&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|50|1986|r=0}}}} million in {{inflation/year|US}}).<ref name="USA for Africa nears goal">{{cite news|title=USA for Africa nears goal|date=March 10, 1986|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times}}</ref> By October 1986, it was revealed that their $50&nbsp;million target had been met and exceeded; [[Sony Music|CBS Records]] gave USA for Africa a check for $2.5&nbsp;million, drawing the total amount of money to $51.2&nbsp;million.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money">{{cite news|title='We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money|last=Wilson|first=Jeff|date=October 9, 1986|newspaper=The Gainesville Sun}}</ref> USA for Africa's Hands Across America event had also raised a significant amount of money—approximately $24.5&nbsp;million for the hungry in the US.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money" />

Since its release, "We Are the World" has raised over $80&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|80|1986|r=0}}}} million today) for humanitarian causes.<ref name="auto"/> Ninety percent of the money was pledged to African relief, both long and short term.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money" /><ref name="USA for Africa: a hunger to share">{{cite news|title=USA for Africa: a hunger to share|last=Pike|first=Douglas|date=April 28, 1985|newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]]}}</ref> The long-term initiative included efforts in birth control and food production.<ref name="USA for Africa: a hunger to share" /> The remaining 10&nbsp;percent of funds was earmarked for domestic hunger and homeless programs in the US.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money" /><ref name="USA for Africa: a hunger to share" /> From the African fund, over 70&nbsp;recovery and development projects were launched in seven African nations. Such projects included aid in agriculture, fishing, water management, manufacturing and reforestation. Training programs were also developed in the African countries of Mozambique, Senegal, Chad, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Mali.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money"/>

Following [[Death of Michael Jackson|Jackson's death]] in 2009, Elias Kifle Maraim Beyene, who grew up in Ethiopia and was a beneficiary of the aid provided by the single, related:
{{blockquote|I won't ever forget Michael Jackson because his contribution to the song We are the World had a very significant effect on my life. I am 50 now but 25 years ago I was living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which at that time was suffering from a long drought and famine. It was a terrible situation. Lots of people became sick and many more died. Around one million people in all were killed by the famine. In 1984 Michael Jackson, along with a number of other leading musicians, made the song We are the World to raise money for Africa. We received a lot of aid from the world and I was one of those who directly benefitted from it. The wheat flour that was distributed to the famine victims was different to the usual cereal we bought at the market. We baked a special bread from it. The local people named the bread after the great artist and it became known as Michael Bread. It was soft and delicious.

When you have been through such hard times you never forget events like this. If you speak to anyone who was in [[Addis Ababa]] at that time they will all know what Michael Bread is and I know I will remember it for the rest of my life.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8120745.stm|publisher=[[BBC News]]|title=Jackson death: Global fans' reaction | date=June 26, 2009}}</ref>}}

==Notable live performances==
"We Are the World" has been performed live by members of USA for Africa on several occasions both together and individually. One of the earliest such performances came in 1985, during the rock music concert [[Live Aid]], which ended with more than 100&nbsp;musicians singing the song on stage.<ref name="Live Aid TDC">{{cite news|url=http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG/1985/07/22&EntityId=Ar00400|title=Live Aid|last=Kutner|first=Michael|date=July 22, 1985|newspaper=The Daily Collegian|access-date=July 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408162724/http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG%2F1985%2F07%2F22&EntityId=Ar00400|archive-date=April 8, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Live Aid touches hearts, pockets">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Tp0RAAAAIBAJ&pg=4070,4458956&dq=we-are-the-world|title=Live Aid touches hearts, pockets|last=Linder|first=Lee|date=July 14, 1985|newspaper=The Gainesville Sun|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> Harry Belafonte and Lionel Richie made surprise appearances for the live rendition of the song.<ref name="Live Aid provided reunions of 60's bands">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/15/arts/live-aid-provided-reunions-of-60-s-bands.html?&pagewanted=2|title=Live Aid provided reunions of 60's bands|last=Palmer|first=Robert|date=July 15, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> Michael Jackson would have joined the artists, but was "working around the clock in the studio on a project that he's made a major commitment to", according to his press agent, Norman Winter.<ref name="Michael Jackson project kept him from concert">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/17/arts/michael-jackson-project-kept-him-from-concert.html?n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FSubjects%2FM%2FMusic|title=Michael Jackson project kept him from concert|date=July 17, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref>

An inaugural celebration was held for US President-elect [[Bill Clinton]] in January 1993.<ref name="A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/18/us/the-inauguration-a-grand-beginning-inaugural-week-begins-with-pomp-and-populism.html|title=A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism|last=Apple|first=R. W.|date=January 18, 1993|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> The event was staged by Clinton's Hollywood friends at the [[Lincoln Memorial]] and drew hundreds of thousands of people.<ref name="A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism" /> [[Aretha Franklin]], [[LL Cool J]], [[Michael Bolton]] and [[Tony Bennett]] were among some of the musicians in attendance.<ref name="A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism" /><ref name="A Musical Smorgasbord; 2 Concerts Gel Sounds Of America">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/19/us/the-inauguration-a-musical-smorgasbord-2-concerts-gel-sounds-of-america.html|title=A Musical Smorgasbord; 2 Concerts Gel Sounds Of America|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=January 19, 1993|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> Said Jones, "I've never seen so many great performers come together with so much love and selflessness."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Archerd |first=Army |url=https://variety.com/1993/voices/columns/jones-says-whoopi-as-comic-comes-to-rescue-1117862112/ |title=Jones says 'Whoopi' as comic comes to rescue – Entertainment News, Army Archerd, Media |magazine=Variety |date=January 18, 1993 |access-date=August 16, 2011}}</ref> The celebration included a performance of "We Are the World", which involved Clinton, his daughter [[Chelsea Clinton|Chelsea]], and his wife [[Hillary Clinton|Hillary]] singing the song along with USA for Africa's Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.<ref name="A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism" /> ''The New York Times''{{'}} [[Edward Rothstein]] commented on the event, stating, "The most enduring image may be of Mr. Clinton singing along in 'We Are the World', the first President to aspire, however futilely, to hipness."<ref name="Vox Pop, The Sound Of Politics">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/14/arts/classical-view-vox-pop-the-sound-of-politics.html|title=Vox Pop, The Sound Of Politics|last=Rothstein|first=Edward|date=February 14, 1993|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref>

As a prelude to his song "[[Heal the World]]", "We Are the World" was performed as an interlude during two of Michael Jackson's tours, the [[Dangerous World Tour]] (1992–1993) and the [[HIStory World Tour]] (1996–1997), as well as Jackson's performance at the [[Super Bowl XXVII halftime show]] in 1993. Jackson briefly performed the song with a chorus at the 2006 World Music Awards in London, which marked his last live public performance. Jackson planned to use the song for his [[This Is It (concert residency)|This Is It]] comeback concerts at [[the O2 Arena]] in [[London]] from 2009 to 2010, but the shows were cancelled due to his sudden death.

[[Death of Michael Jackson|Michael Jackson died]] in June 2009, after suffering a cardiac arrest.<ref name="death MSNBC">{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/michael-jackson-s-life-cut-shockingly-short-wbna31552029|title=Singer Michael Jackson dead at 50-Legendary pop star had been preparing for London comeback tour|publisher=[[Today.com]]|date=June 25, 2009|access-date=June 25, 2009}}</ref> [[Michael Jackson memorial service|His memorial service]] was held several days later on July 7, and was reported to have been viewed by more than one billion people.<ref name="Who Is Michael Jackson Memorial Performer Shaheen Jafargholi?">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/07/07/who-is-michael-jackson-memorial-performer-shaheen-jafargholi/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709232105/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/07/07/who-is-michael-jackson-memorial-performer-shaheen-jafargholi|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2009|title=Who Is Michael Jackson Memorial Performer Shaheen Jafargholi?|last=Harris|first=Chris|date=July 7, 2009|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> The finale of the event featured group renditions of the Jackson anthems "We Are the World" and "[[Heal the World]]".<ref name="Who Sang 'We Are The World' At Michael Jackson Memorial?">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1615545/20090708/jackson_michael.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090711082620/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1615545/20090708/jackson_michael.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 11, 2009|title=Who Sang 'We Are The World' At Michael Jackson Memorial?|last=Anderson|first=Kyle|date=July 8, 2009|publisher=MTV|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> The singalong of "We Are the World" was led by Darryl Phinnessee, who had worked with Jackson since the late 1980s.<ref name="Who Sang 'We Are The World' At Michael Jackson Memorial?" /><ref name="Michael Jackson memorial: 'We Are the World,' 'Who's Lovin' You' and the final performances">{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/07/michael-jackson-memorial-we-are-the-world-whos-loving-you-and-the-final-performances.html|title=Michael Jackson memorial: 'We Are the World,' 'Who's Lovin' You' and the final performances|last=Powers|first=Anne|date=July 7, 2009|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> It also featured co-writer Lionel Richie and Jackson's family, including his children.<ref name="Who Sang 'We Are The World' At Michael Jackson Memorial?" /><ref name="Michael Jackson memorial: 'We Are the World,' 'Who's Lovin' You' and the final performances"/> Following the performance, "We Are the World" re-entered the US charts for the first time since its 1985 release. The song debuted at number 50 on ''Billboard''{{'s}} [[Hot Digital Songs]] chart.<ref name="'We are the World' in charts after Jackson tribute">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSTRE56D6M220090716|title='We are the World' in charts after Jackson tribute|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=July 16, 2009|work=Reuters|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref>

==25 for Haiti==
{{main|We Are the World 25 for Haiti|We Are the World 25 for Haiti (YouTube edition)|Somos El Mundo 25 Por Haiti}}

[[File:Boy receiving treatment after Haiti earthquake.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A black child stares through one eye. A hand attends to a bandage which covers his head and that has blood seeping through it. The boy's face is cut and injured. He wears a T-shirt that is sodden and dirty.|One of the hundreds of thousands of people who were injured by the destructive earthquake in Haiti]]

On January 12, 2010, a [[moment magnitude scale|magnitude]]-7.0 [[2010 Haiti earthquake|earthquake]] struck [[Haiti]], the island's most severe earthquake in over 200 years.<ref name="United States Geological Survey">{{cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2010/us2010rja6/ |title=Magnitude 7.0&nbsp;– Haiti Region |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |access-date=January 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115110510/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2010/us2010rja6/ |archive-date=January 15, 2010 }}</ref> The epicenter of the quake was just outside the Haitian capital [[Port-au-Prince]].<ref name="haiti tele">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/haiti/6977308/Major-earthquake-off-Haiti-causes-hospital-to-collapse.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/haiti/6977308/Major-earthquake-off-Haiti-causes-hospital-to-collapse.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Major earthquake off Haiti causes hospital to collapse|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=January 12, 2010|access-date=January 12, 2010|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The Haitian government confirmed the deaths of over 230,000 civilians because of the disaster and the injuries of around 300,000. Approximately 1.2 million people were homeless and the lack of temporary shelter may have led to the outbreak of disease.<ref name="Haiti quake death toll rises to 230,000">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8507531.stm|title=Haiti quake death toll rises to 230,000|date=February 11, 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=March 6, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Purdue researchers saw potential for Haitian earthquake">{{cite news|url=http://www.indy.com/posts/purdue-researchers-saw-potential-for-haitian-earthquake|title=Purdue researchers saw potential for Haitian earthquake|last=McFeely|first=Dan|date=March 6, 2010|newspaper=[[The Indianapolis Star]]|access-date=October 19, 2010}}</ref>

To raise money for earthquake victims, a new celebrity version of "We Are the World" was recorded on February 1, 2010, and released on February 12, 2010. Over 75 musicians were involved in the remake, which was recorded in the same studio as the 1985 original.<ref name="Stars gather for 'We Are the World' recording" /> The new version features revised lyrics as well as a rap part pertaining to Haiti.<ref name="Stars gather for 'We Are the World' recording">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/01/haiti.we.are.the.world/?hpt=Sbin|title=Stars gather for 'We Are the World' recording|last=Duke|first=Alan|date=February 2, 2010|publisher=CNN|access-date=February 2, 2010}}</ref><ref name="New voices unite for 'We Are the World'">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2010-02-02-we-are-world-main_N.htm|title=New voices unite for 'We Are the World'|last=Gunderson|first=Edna|date=February 2, 2010|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=February 3, 2010}}</ref> Michael Jackson's younger sister [[Janet Jackson|Janet]] duets with her brother on the track, as per a request from their mother [[Katherine Jackson|Katherine]]. In the video and on the track, archival material of Michael Jackson is used from the original 1985 recording.<ref name="usatodayinfo">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2010-02-15-wearetheworld15_ST_N.htm |title=Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie pass 'We Are the World' baton|first=Edna|last=Gundersen|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=February 14, 2010|access-date=March 6, 2010}}</ref> This version is also infamous for the way [[Wyclef]] sings towards the end of the song, fluctuating his voice in a manner that sounds like, as a music writer for the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' called it, "Not unlike a cross between a fire siren and the sound of Wyclef giving himself a hernia."

On February 20, 2010, a non-celebrity remake, "[[We Are the World 25 for Haiti (YouTube edition)]]", was posted to the video sharing website YouTube. [[List of YouTube personalities|Internet personality]] and singer-songwriter [[Lisa Lavie]] conceived and organized the Internet collaboration of 57 [[unsigned artist|unsigned]] or [[independent record label|independent]] YouTube musicians geographically distributed around the world. Lavie's 2010 YouTube version, a cover of the 1985 original, excludes the rap segment and minimizes the [[Auto-tune]] that characterizes the 2010 celebrity remake.<ref name="CNNrefs">Josh Levs, CNN, [http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/03/06/nr.levs.youtube.for.haiti.cnn "YouTube Singers Rock for Haiti"] (March 6, 2010); Josh Levs, CNN, [http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2010/03/07/levs.youtubers.haiti.cnn "YouTubers do 'We Are the World'"] (March 7, 2010); Rosemary Church, CNN International, [http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/03/20/church.youtube.world.cnn "We Are the World, part two"], (March 20, 2010). Textual transcripts of programs on which the CNN videos aired, are found at [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/06/smn.01.html "CNN SATURDAY MORNING NEWS"] (March 6, 2010), [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/06/cnr.02.html "CNN NEWSROOM"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313010623/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/06/cnr.02.html |date=March 13, 2010 }} (March 6, 2010), and [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/07/sm.01.html "CNN SUNDAY MORNING"] (March 7, 2010).</ref> Another 2010 remake of the original is the Spanish-language "[[Somos El Mundo]]". It was written by [[Emilio Estefan]] and his wife [[Gloria Estefan]], and produced by Emilio, Quincy Jones and [[Univision Communications]], the company that funded the project.<ref>Cobo, Leila, [https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959303/50-latin-stars-gather-to-record-somos-el-mundo "50 Latin Stars Gather to Record 'Somos El Mundo'"], Billboard.com, February 22, 2010 (downloaded May 26, 2010).</ref>

==Legacy==
"We Are the World" has been recognized as a politically important song, which "affected an international focus on Africa that was simply unprecedented".<ref name="Garofalo 29"/> It has been credited with creating a climate in which musicians from around the world felt inclined to follow.<ref name="Garofalo 29"/> According to ''The New York Times''{{'}} Stephen Holden, since the release of "We Are the World", it has been noted that movement has been made within popular music to create songs that address humanitarian concerns.<ref name="Pop for Grown-Ups Gathers Momentum">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/27/arts/pop-for-grown-ups-gathers-momentum.html|title=Pop for Grown-Ups Gathers Momentum|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=December 27, 1987|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> "We Are the World" was also influential in subverting the way music and meaning were produced, showing that musically and racially diverse musicians could work together both productively and creatively.<ref name="marsh 519"/> ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'' described the January 28 recording session, in which Quincy Jones brought together a multi-racial group, as being "a major moment in world music that showed we can change the world".<ref name="Black music">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wsoDAAAAMBAJ&q=jackson+%22we+are+the+world%22&pg=PA136|title=Black music|date=November 2005|magazine=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> "We Are the World", along with [[Live Aid]] and [[Farm Aid]], demonstrated that rock music had become more than entertainment, but a political and social movement.<ref name="Politics and a crossbreeding of forms were the trend">{{cite news|title=Politics and a crossbreeding of forms were the trend|last=Palmer|first=Robert|date=December 26, 1985|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref> Journalist Robert Palmer noted that such songs and events had the ability to reach people around the world, send them a message, and then get results.<ref name="Politics and a crossbreeding of forms were the trend" />

Since the release of "We Are the World", and the Band Aid single that influenced it, numerous songs have been recorded in a similar fashion, with the intent to aid disaster victims throughout the world. One such example involved a supergroup of Latin musicians billed as "Hermanos del Tercer Mundo", or "Brothers of the Third World". Among the supergroup of 62&nbsp;recording artists were [[Julio Iglesias]], [[José Feliciano]], and [[Sérgio Mendes]]. Their [[Cantaré, cantarás|famine relief song]] was recorded in the same studio as "We Are the World". Half of the profits raised from the charity single was pledged to USA for Africa. The rest of the money was to be used for impoverished Latin American countries.<ref name="Latin stars sing for hungry">{{cite news|title=Latin stars sing for hungry|date=April 10, 1985|newspaper=Columbia Missourian}}</ref> Other notable examples include the 1989 cover of the [[Deep Purple]] song "[[Smoke on the Water]]" by a supergroup of hard rock, prog rock, and heavy metal musicians collaborating as [[Rock Aid Armenia]] to raise money for victims of the devastating [[1988 Armenian earthquake]],<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20091209111912/http://rockaidarmenia.com/#/content-00-02 'Smoke on the Water' history]", Rock Aid Armenia website. Retrieved July 20, 2016.</ref> the 1986 all-star [[Music of the Philippines|OPM]] single "[[Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo]]", which talked about the optimism the Filipinos needed after the [[People Power Revolution]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sg.style.yahoo.com/tagged/celebrity/blogs/switchingchannels/handog-ng-pilipino-sa-mundo-was-composed-in-three-minutes.html|title=Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo was composed in three minutes|first=Ed|last=Sicam|website=[[Yahoo!]] Life|date=February 25, 2011 |access-date=March 20, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/642589-revisiting-handog-ng-pilipino-sa-mundo|title=Revisiting the People Power hit 'Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo' and the anniversary cover it spawned|first=Saab|last=Lariosa|website=Philstar Life|access-date=March 20, 2022}}</ref> the 2003 all-star [[Music of the Philippines|OPM]] recording "Biyahe Tayo" which promoted [[Tourism in the Philippines|Philippine tourism]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2004/03/29/244355/invitation-travel|title=An invitation to travel|first=Boy|last=Abunda|website=Philstar.com|access-date=February 12, 2022}}</ref> and its subsequent 2011 remake "Pilipinas, Tara Na!"<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2011/08/10/pilipinas-tara-na-music-video-to-boost-domestic-tourism/ | title=Pilipinas, Tara Na! music video to boost domestic tourism | website=www.officialgazette.gov.ph | date=2011-08-10}}</ref> the 2009 all-star [[Music of the Philippines|OPM]] recordings "[[Star ng Pasko]]" and "[[Kaya Natin Ito!]]" as a means to provide hope to the survivors of [[Typhoon Ketsana]] (locally known as Ondoy).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pep.ph/news/local/5065/abs-cbn-versus-gma-739s-station-id-which-fared-better | title=ABS-CBN versus GMA-7's station ID: Which fared better? }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pinoyparazzi.net/regine-velasquez-at-ogie-alcasid-abala-sa-malaking-fund-raising-concert/ | title=Regine Velasquez at Ogie Alcasid, abala sa malaking fund-raising concert – Gorgy's Park - Pinoy Parazzi | date=October 13, 2009 }}</ref> Several [[Star Music]] artists also recorded another inspirational ballad, "Restart Back2Love" in 2017 to provide hope to the survivors of the [[Siege of Marawi]] (locally known as Yolanda).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1XovdtNY2Y | title= Restart.Back2Love - All Star Cast (Official Music Video) | website= [[YouTube]] | date=December 4, 2017 }}</ref>

The 20th anniversary of "We Are the World" was celebrated in 2005. Radio stations around the world paid homage to USA for Africa's creation by simultaneously broadcasting the charity song. In addition to the simulcast, the milestone was marked by the release of a two-disc DVD called ''We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song''.<ref name="Stations pay tribute to 'We Are the World'">{{cite news|url=https://archive.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/01/28/stations_pay_tribute_to_we_are_the_world/|title=Stations pay tribute to 'We Are the World'|last=Lewis|first=Randy|date=January 28, 2005|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> Ken Kragen asserted that the reason behind the simulcast and DVD release was not for USA for Africa to praise themselves for doing a good job, but to "use it to do some more good [for the original charity]. That's all we care about accomplishing."<ref name="Stations pay tribute to 'We Are the World'" /> Harry Belafonte also commented on the 20th&nbsp;anniversary of the song. He acknowledged that "We Are the World" had "stood the test of time"; anyone old enough to remember it can still at least hum along.<ref name="'We Are the World' song celebrates 20 years">{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/we-are-world-song-celebrates-20-years-wbna6870678|title='We Are the World' song celebrates 20 years|last=Gangel|first=Jamie|date=February 5, 2005|publisher=Today.com|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref>

On January 29, 2024, a documentary about the recording of the song, ''[[The Greatest Night in Pop]]'', was released on [[Netflix]], featuring interviews with Richie, Springsteen, Lewis, Warwick, Lauper and others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/29/entertainment/the-greatest-night-in-pop-review/index.html|title='The Greatest Night in Pop' makes a trip down memory lane for you and me|first=Brian|last=Lowry|website=CNN|date=January 29, 2024 |access-date=February 1, 2024}}</ref> Reflecting on the song's cultural and artistic legacy 40 years later, the British filmmaker and philosopher [[Jason Barker]] wrote that "the USA For Africa anthem is the birth of postmodern tragedy" and "marks the beginning of the so-called Disaster Appeal".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://communispress.com/lost-in-music/|title='Lost In Music|first=Jason|last=Barker|website=Communis|date=March 7, 2025 |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref>

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!align="left"|Chart (1985–1986)
! style="text-align:center;"|Peak<br />position
|-
|align="left"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="george 41" /><ref name="auchart">{{Cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |publisher=Australian Chart Book |location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]] |page=317 |date=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6 |title-link=Kent Music Report }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
{{single chart|Austria|2|artist=USA For Africa|song=We Are the World}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|1|artist=USA For Africa|song=We Are the World}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|chartid=0518|access-date=June 18, 2017}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|1|chartid=8321|access-date=June 18, 2017}}
|-
| Chile ([[UPI]])<ref name="books.google.com">{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IOJDAAAAIBAJ&dq=Las+canciones+m%C3%A1s+populares+en+Latinoam%C3%A9rica&pg=PA10&article_id=1365,649519|title=Las canciones más populares en Latinoamérica|newspaper=[[La Opinión (Los Angeles)]]|language=es|access-date=21 September 2024|date=3 June 1985}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
|align="left"|Denmark ([[Hitlisten]])<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ukmix.org/showthread.php?63915-Danish-Charts-Archive |title = Danish Charts Archive?| date=November 11, 2009 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
|-
{{single chart|Finland|1|artist=USA For Africa|song=We Are the World}}
|-
{{single chart|France|1|artist=USA For Africa|song=We Are the World}}
|-
|align="left"|Ireland ([[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRMA]])<ref name="WATW Ireland"/>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
|align="left"|Italy (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=[[Musica e dischi]]|language=it|access-date=8 June 2022}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "USA for Africa".</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|1|artist=USA For Africa|song=We Are the World}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|1|artist=USA For Africa|song=We Are the World}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=USA For Africa|song=We Are the World}}
|-
{{single chart|Norway|1|artist=USA For Africa|song=We Are the World}}
|-
| Panama ([[UPI]])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cfNDAAAAIBAJ&dq=Las+canciones+m%C3%A1s+populares+en+Latinoam%C3%A9rica&pg=PA13&article_id=1381,5114072|title=Las canciones más populares en Latinoamérica|newspaper=[[La Opinión (Los Angeles)]]|language=es|access-date=21 September 2024|date=25 May 1985}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
| Paraguay ([[UPI]])<ref name="books.google.com"/>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
|Portugal ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.laurentpons.com/charts/portugal/80s.htm | title=TOP 20 TMP Portugal - number one in the 80's airplay charts | access-date=August 8, 2019 | archive-date=August 30, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830094830/http://www.laurentpons.com/charts/portugal/80s.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
|South Africa ([[Springbok Radio]])<ref name="We are the world1">{{cite web |url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(U).html |title= We are the world in South African Chart |first= John |last= Samson |access-date=June 2, 2013}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
|Spain ([[Productores de Música de España|AFYVE]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|1|artist=USA For Africa|song=We Are the World}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|1|artist=USA For Africa|song=We Are the World}}
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|1|artist=USA For Africa|song=We Are The World|access-date=June 18, 2017}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=USA for Africa|access-date=June 18, 2017}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=USA for Africa|access-date=June 18, 2017}}
|-
|US [[Hot Black Singles]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/usa-for-africa/chart-history/bsi/|title=USA for Africa Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|76|artist=USA for Africa|access-date=June 18, 2017}}
|-
|US [[Dance Singles Sales|Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iyQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%2212+inch+singles%22 | title=Billboard| date=April 20, 1985}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|27|artist=USA for Africa|access-date=June 18, 2017}}
|-
|US [[Cashbox (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top Singles<ref>{{cite web |title=Cash Box Top Singles – 1985 |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1985.html |website=Cash Box |access-date=June 20, 2017 |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514003613/https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1985.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
| Venezuela ([[UPI]])<ref name="books.google.com"/>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
{{single chart|West Germany|2|artist=USA For Africa|song=We Are the World|songid=1241|access-date= February 13, 2019}}
|-
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1985)
!Position
|-
|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>Kent (1993). p. 437.</ref><ref name="aus85">{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/SN2evHp.jpg|title=Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985|publisher=[[Kent Music Report]]|via=[[Imgur]]|access-date=January 23, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|Brazil (ABPD)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/1985/ |title=Top 100 Músicas Mais Tocadas em 1985 |date=March 17, 2018 |trans-title=Top 100 Most Played Songs of 1975 |access-date=September 5, 2025}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title= RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985 |magazine= [[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |volume= 43 |issue= 16 |date= December 28, 1985 |access-date= February 18, 2018 |url= http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0619&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0619.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0619}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|23
|-
|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)<ref>{{cite web|title= Top Selling Singles of 1985 – The Official New Zealand Music Chart |url= https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1985-12-31 |publisher= [[Recorded Music NZ]] |access-date= June 29, 2016}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|South Africa (Springbok Radio)<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 20 Hit Singles of 1985|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1985.html|access-date=December 26, 2018|website=rock.co.za}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite journal |title=Top 100 Singles |periodical=[[Music Week]] |publisher=Spotlight Publications |location=London, England |page=10 |date=January 18, 1986}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Scaping |chapter=Top 100 singles: 1985 |title=BPI Year Book 1986 |publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]] |edition=8th |pages=48–49 |date=1986 |isbn=0-906154-07-3}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|35
|-
|align="left"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 28, 1985 |title=Top Pop Singles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uyQEAAAAMBAJ&q=billboard+magazine+december+1985 |magazine=Billboard |volume=97 |issue=52 |page=T-21 |access-date=January 29, 2015}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 20
|-
|align="left"|US Black Singles Chart (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 28, 1985 |title=Top Black Singles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uyQEAAAAMBAJ&q=billboard+magazine+december+1985 |magazine=Billboard |volume=97 |issue=52 |page=T-26 |access-date=January 29, 2015}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 37
|-
|align="left"|US ''Cash Box'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web |title=Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1985 |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1985YESP.html |website=Cash Box |access-date=June 7, 2016 |archive-date=October 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001214739/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1985YESP.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications and sales==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=USA for Africa|title=We Are the World|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1985|certyear=1985|access-date=October 26, 2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|type=single|award=|artist=USA For Africa|title=We Are the World|nocert=true|salesamount=7,750|access-date=October 26, 2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|artist=U.S.A. for Africa|title=We Are the World|award=Platinum|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|source=infodisc|access-date=October 26, 2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=U.S.A. for Africa|title=We Are the World|award=Gold|relyear=1985|certyear=2014|access-date=October 26, 2015|note=Sales since 2009}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=New Zealand|artist=USA for Africa|title=We Are the World|relyear=1985|id=1985-07-19|source=newchart|access-date=January 20, 2025|award=Platinum}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=single|award=|artist=USA For Africa|title=We Are the World|nocert=true|salesamount=200,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-07-29.pdf|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|title=Portugal Follows World Pattern|page=81|issn=0006-2510|date=July 29, 1989|accessdate=February 7, 2023}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|relyear=1985|artist=USA for Africa|title=We Are the World|id=8083-506-1|award=Silver|access-date=October 26, 2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=USA for Africa|title=We Are the World|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1985|certyear=1985|access-date=October 26, 2015|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Gavin|last=Edwards|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/we-are-the-world-a-minute-by-minute-breakdown-54619/|title='We Are the World': A Minute-by-Minute Breakdown|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=March 6, 2020|access-date=November 27, 2021}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|title=We Are the World|artist=USA For Africa|type=single|award=14 Million|nocert=true|salesamount=14,000,000|salesref=<ref name="sales">{{cite book|year=1995|title=The Power of Music|publisher=The News|page=117|quote=The single "We are the World" eventually sold 14 million copies and lead to the Live Aid concert|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oBZPAAAAIBAJ&dq=we+are+the+world+14+million+copies+sold&pg=PA117&article_id=4063,4953340}}</ref>|note=Global Sales (as of 1995)}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

==See also==
{{portal|Music|1980s|Food|World}}
* [[Band Aid (band)]]
* "[[Cantaré, cantarás]]"
* "[[Chiquitita]]", an ABBA song, sales of which benefit humanitarian relief for children
* [[Hear 'n Aid]]
* [[Music for UNICEF Concert]]
* "[[Tears Are Not Enough]]", a 1985 charity single recorded by a [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] of [[Canadians|Canadian]] artists, under the name Northern Lights, to raise funds for relief of the [[1983–85 famine in Ethiopia]]
* ''[[The Greatest Night in Pop]]'', documentary about the making of "We Are the World"
* "[[Tomorrow Will Be Better]]"
* [[We Are One (global collaboration song)|"We Are One" (global collaboration song)]]
* [[We Con the World]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group="nb"}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Braheny|first=John|title=The Craft and Business of Songwriting|publisher=Writer's Digest Books|year=2006|isbn=1-58297-466-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/craftbusinessofs00brah}}
* Breskin, David (2004). ''We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song'' booklet. Image Entertainment, Inc.
* {{cite book|last=Campbell|first=Lisa|title=Michael Jackson: The King of Pop|publisher=Branden|year=1993|isbn=0-8283-1957-X}}
* {{cite book|last=Davis|first=Sharon|title=Stevie Wonder: Rhythms of Wonder|publisher=Robson|year=2006|isbn=1-86105-965-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Garofalo|first=Reebee|title=Rockin' the Boat|url=https://archive.org/details/rockinboatmassmu00garof|url-access=registration|publisher=South End Press|year=1992|isbn=0-89608-427-2}}
* [[Nelson George|George, Nelson]] (2004). ''[[Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection]]'' booklet. [[Sony BMG]].
* {{cite book|last=Marsh|first=Dave|title=Bruce Springsteen: Two Hearts|publisher=Routledge|year=2004|isbn=0-415-96928-X}}
* {{cite book|last=Taraborrelli|first=J. Randy|author-link=J. Randy Taraborrelli|title=The Magic and the Madness|year=2004|publisher=Headline|location=Terra Alta, WV|isbn=0-330-42005-4}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.usaforafrica.org/ Official website] of USA for Africa
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100214093530/http://wearetheworldfoundation.org/ Official website] for "We Are the World 25 for Haiti"
* {{YouTube|Glny4jSciVI|Official music video of "We Are the World 25 for Haiti"}}

{{Michael Jackson songs}}
{{Lionel Richie}}
{{Quincy Jones}}
{{Harry Belafonte}}
{{Stevie Wonder}}
{{La Toya Jackson}}
{{Bette Midler singles}}
{{Diana Ross}}
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{{Janet Jackson singles}}
{{Justin Bieber}}
{{Nicole Scherzinger}}
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{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for "We Are the World"
|titlestyle = background: lightblue
|list1 =
{{Grammy Award for Record of the Year}}
{{Grammy Award for Song of the Year}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Music Video}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video}}
{{MTV Video Music Award – Viewer's Choice}}}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1985 songs]]
[[Category:1980s ballads]]
[[Category:1985 debut singles]]
[[Category:Aid songs for Africa]]
[[Category:All-star recordings]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]]
[[Category:CBS Records singles]]
[[Category:Charity singles]]
[[Category:Columbia Records singles]]
[[Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles]]
[[Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:Gospel songs]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Record of the Year]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Song of the Year]]
[[Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Lionel Richie songs]]
[[Category:Michael Jackson songs]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Australia]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Belgium]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Brazil]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Denmark]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Italy]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Norway]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in South Africa]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Sweden]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Pop ballads]]
[[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:SNEP Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Michael Omartian]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Quincy Jones]]
[[Category:Songs about poverty]]
[[Category:Songs about racism and xenophobia]]
[[Category:Songs written by Lionel Richie]]
[[Category:Songs written by Michael Jackson]]
[[Category:UK singles chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Vocal collaborations]]
[[Category:1985 quotations]]
[[Category:Quotations from music]]
[[Category:Works about Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Ethiopian Civil War]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Spain]]