USA FOR AFRICA : we are the world

L'idée a été lancée par Harry Belafonte. Son manager Ken Kragen a suggéré une approche multi-artistes inspirée du succès du titre "Do They Know It's Christmas?" du groupe britannique Band Aid formé par Bob Geldof et Midge Ure en 1984.

Kragen avait fait son casting (la majeur partie) la nuit des American Music Award afin d'obtenir le plus d'artistes. Quincy Jones dans son invitation leur écrit "check your egos at the door" (laissez votre égoïsme à la porte du studio)


Genèse:

20 Decembre 1984: Belafonte & kragen decident d'enregistrer une chanson en vue de collecter les fonds pour venir en aide aux victimes de famines en Afrique

10 Janvier 1985 : La fondation "USA for africa" est créée
USA = United support artists et non United states of America

28 Janvier 1985 : We are the world est enregistrée au studio A&M d'hollywood(Californie)

7 Mars 1985 "We Are the World" est dans les bacs ce mardi là, et établit directement des records de vente,en effet 800 000 copies sont vendues avant la fin du week end ! du jamais vu

16 Mai 1985 Les premiers dons d'un montant de 6,5 millions de $ sont expédiés des USA pour l'Afrique,Belafonte et Kragen assurent l'acheminement

10 juin 1985 : une quantité massive de dons est distribuée aux victimes, dont des médicaments, des vivres, des produits de 1ère nécessité,des vêtements.....le montant total de la collecte s'élève alors à 65 millions de $ (10% pour les victimes aux USA)

Dan Aykroyd
Harry Belafonte
Lindsey Buckingham
Kim Carnes
Ray Charles +
Bob Dylan
Sheila E.
Bob Geldof
Daryl Hall
James Ingram
Jackie Jackson
LaToya Jackson
Marlon Jackson
Michael Jackson +
Randy Jackson
Tito Jackson
Al Jarreau
Waylon Jennings +
Billy Joel
Cyndi Lauper
Huey Lewis and the News
Mario Cipollina
John Colla
Bill Gibson
Chris Hayes
Sean Hopper
Kenny Loggins
Bette Midler
Willie Nelson
John Oates
Jeffrey Osborne
Steve Perry
The Pointer Sisters
(Anita Pointer )
(June Pointer) +
(Ruth Pointer)
Lionel Richie
Smokey Robinson
Kenny Rogers
Diana Ross
Paul Simon
Bruce Springsteen
Tina Turner
Stevie Wonder
Quincy jones

+ = décédé
Waylon jennings 13/02/2002
Ray Charles 10/06/2004
June Pointer 11/04/2006
Michael Jackson 25/06/2009

seuls ces 21 artistes ont eu des lignes de solo sur la chanson,le reste chantait en chœur et Quincy Jones dirigeait la troupe
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
Quincy Jones

Paroles & Musique composée Par "Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie"


Lionel Richie
There comes a time when we heed a certain call

Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder
When the world must come together as one

Stevie Wonder
There are people dying

Paul Simon
Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life

Paul Simon & Kenny Rogers
The greatest gift of all

Kenny Rogers
We can't go on pretending day by day

James Ingram
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change

Tina Turner
We are all a part of God's great big family

Billy Joel
And the truth,

Tina Turner/Billy Joel
you know, love is all we need

Michael Jackson
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving

Diana Ross
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives

Michael Jackson & Diana Ross
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Dionne Warwick
Oh, Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares

Dionne Warwick & Willie Nelson
And their lives will be stronger and free

Willie Nelson
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread

Al Jarreau
And so we all must lend a helping hand

Bruce Springsteen
We are the world, we are the children

Kenny Loggins
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving

Steve Perry
Oh, there's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives

Daryl Hall
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Michael Jackson
When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all

Huey Lewis
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall

Cyndi Lauper
Well, well, well, well let us realise that a change can only come

Kim Carnes
When we

Kim Carnes/Cyndi Lauper/Huey Lewis
stand together as one

Chorus:
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving

Bob Dylan
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Chorus:
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives

Bob Dylan
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Chorus:..............

Ray Charles
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Stevie Wonder/Bruce Springsteen
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving

Stevie Wonder
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Stevie Wonder/Bruce Springsteen
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving

Bruce Springsteen
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Chorus:............


James Ingram
We are the world, we are the children, that's all
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving

Ray Charles
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Chorus:........