It’s such a coincidence. Last night, I was watching some video clips of We Are The World on YouTube, and this morning the first thing I saw on tv was news of the death of Michael Jackson.I noticed that all the news casters spoke about his achievements like Thriller, Moonwalk and that bizarre incident where he held his baby son outside a hotel window; but none of them mentioned his pivotal role in co-writing and singing the song, We Are The World in 1985. I am sure, his fame must have played a part in bringing together a group of the most famous pop artistes of America, who were told to ‘check their ego at the door’, and spend several grueling hours to produce the song for USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa).
"The considerable profits from the enterprise went to the USA for Africa Foundation, which used them for the relief of famine and disease in Africa and specifically to the 1984-85 famine in Ethiopia .....
USA for Africa also held a benefit event, Hands across America, which approximately seven million people held hands in a human chain for fifteen minutes along a path across the continental United States. Participants paid ten dollars to stand in line and the money raised was used to fight hunger and homelessness in Africa.
The combined revenues raised from the sales of "We Are the World" and Hands Across America was almost $100 million.” (From Wikipedia)
7 comments:
I first heard about Michael Jackson when he appeared as part of the "Jackson 5" when their music was aired over Rediffusion Singapore.
Their hits in early 1970 such as "A-B-C" and "I'' Be There" show us the wide repertoire of this group. Michael Jackson was one of the successful products with the Motown sound; others included Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Supremes, Sly & The Family Stone, etc. This was the time American music triumph over the British music.
We are the world,
We are the children,
We are the ones who make a better place for you and me ...
Something like that. This is one of the best song I've heard.
RIP Michael Jackson. Whatever so-called 'eccentricity' people say you have, you truly have left a great world legacy behind.
We've lost the biggest Pop star in human history.He's left us an important musical legacy and tell me who isn't or wasn't jaw-dropped by his dancing and moonwalking?This isn't the time to evoke controversy and scandal.His children,family,friends and fans are suffering so one should start throwing stones.First Farrah Fawcett and then Michael Jackson...its been a sad week.
May they both Rest In Peace.
Correction - One should NOT start throwing stones.
I was never a Jackson fan but recognise his achievement but what a shame that there was no-one it seems to look after his real interests in these later years. Warren Zevon did a song about Elvis referring to his 'regicidal friends' and I can't help thinking of that when I read about the doctors, lawyers, promoters who put this frail man up for 50 concerts in England - completely crazy and it seems that the strain of preparation for this may have led directly to his early demise.
They did a special on CNN today and will air it again tomorrow as well, on Michael Jackson, and the making of "We are the world" and his pivotal role in it was mentioned.
50 concerts? Yes. That's really crazy; esp. since his concerts are super-high-energy type. Furthermore, he is no longer young man.
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