Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
“We Are the World”
Artist: USA for Africa
Music / Lyrics by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie
Label: Columbia, 1985
Troubled by the terrible famine plaguing Ethiopia in the 1980s, a group of artists spearheaded by Harry Belafonte joined forces to perform a song for the benefit of the philanthropic group USA for Africa. Recorded in Hollywood the night of the 1985 American Music Awards, the event represented a particularly “Hollywood,” particularly 1980’s approach to global philanthropy. With mega-platinum producer Quincy Jones and eighties pop-prince Michael Jackson at the helm, the hit single “We are the World” featured a huge cast of pop royalty, singing a slickly produced pop tune with a “feel-good” text about compassion and global unity. Proceeds from the recording, video, and associated events were intended for famine relief in Africa, and indeed raised over fifty million dollars; but in an all-too-common scenario, it is thought that some of those funds may have been misdirected via lack of oversight to military governments on that continent. Some critics have suggested that “We Are The World” was infinitely more inspired and inspiring in concept than in execution, and that the accompanying video, which was hugely popular and very significant in boosting awareness of the organization, displayed a bit too much of the narcissistic mutual admiration which was the worst side of 80s pop wealth.
The redeeming element of the project, musically speaking, lies in the concept, and in the individual performances of various musicians, many of whom sang straight from the heart, with plenty of vocal intensity that cut through the event’s aura of self-congratulation.
Musical style notes
The beginning of “We Are the World” sounds like a Quincy Jones film soundtrack, with its tinkling bells, and symphonic horns; but in fact, the song is a simple, verse-chorus form with one bridge section, after which the chorus repeats ad infinitum while the various stars continue to take their turn in the vocal spotlight. The chorus is a classic example of the tune that stays in your head for the rest of the day – the hallmark of a great pop tune (or a particularly effective TV commercial!).
Musical “Road Map”
|Timings |Comments |Lyrics |
|0:00-0:28 |Introduction | |
| | | |
| |– Ppercussion, tinkling bells, French horns, piano, | |
| |synth. | |
|0:28-0:54 |Verse |There comes a time |
| | |When whe heed a certain call… |
| |Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny | |
| |Rogers. | |
|0:54-1:18 |Verse |We can’t go on |
| | |pretending day by day… |
| |Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel. | |
|1:18-1:49 |Chorus |We are the World |
| | |We are the Children |
| |Michael Jackson & Diana Ross. |We are the ones who make a brighter day |
| | |So let’s start giving… |
|1:49-2:14 |Verse |Well – send them your heart |
| | |So they know that someone cares… |
| |Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau. | |
|2:14-2:43 |Chorus |We are the World |
| | |We are the Children |
| |Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins. |We are the ones who make a brighter day |
| |Steve Perry, Darryl Hall. |So let’s start giving… |
|2:43-3:08 |Bridge |When you’re down and out |
| | |And there seems no hope at all… |
| |Michael Jackson, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper (at 2:54!),|But if you just believe |
| |Kim Carnes. |There no way we can fall |
| | |Wo wo wo wo – just realize |
| | |That a change can only come |
| | |When we stand together as one – |
| | |Yeah yeah yeah yeah…. |
|3:08-3:34 |Chorus (everyone) |We are the World |
| | |We are the Children |
| | |We are the ones who make a brighter day |
| | |So let’s start giving… |
|3:34-4:00 |Chorus |We are the World |
| | |We are the Children |
| |(Tthe unmistakable voice of Bob Dylan at 3:47.) |We are the ones who make a brighter day |
| | |So let’s start giving… |
|4:00-7:00 |Chorus – modulates up one key (pitch sounds higher) |We are the World |
| | |We are the Children |
| |The chorus repeats eight more times. |We are the ones who make a brighter day |
| | |So let’s start giving… |
| |Improvised vocals can be heard by Bob Dylan, Ray | |
| |Charles, James Ingram and, Bruce Springsteen can be | |
| |heard; the various artists take turns alternating | |
| |solo lines with the chorus and with each other; the | |
| |song fades during the last chorus at 7:00. | |
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