We Are The World for Haiti

If you’ve been watching TV these past few days, then I am sure you have already seen the video. I mean We Are The World Haiti, the new version of the iconic fund-raising all-star charity recording for U.S.A. Aid for Africa in 1985. It was recorded again to benefit the victims of the earthquake in Port-au-Prince last Jan.12.

Quincy Jones arranged and produced the composition by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and 45 of the biggest names in pop music sang it together. That the massive gathering was meant to help alleviate hunger made it all the more meaningful and the results doubly powerful.

And talk about coincidences. The first We Are The World was done 25 years ago almost to the day, Jan. 28, 1985 after the American Music Awards, and Feb. 1, 2010 after this year’s Grammys and they were both recorded in the same Hollywood studio. The big difference between the two is that an astounding rap portion was added to the new one. This has LL Cool J, will.i.am, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit and Lil Wayne. Then of course, also, a different set of stars turned up to sing for this one.

Seventy-five big names did their bit for 2010.Among them were Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Usher, Enrique Iglesias, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Jeff Bridges, Randy Jackson, Justin Beiber, Harry Connick Jr., Pink, Tony Bennett, Akon, Natalie Cole, Fergie, Wyclef Jean, the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Nicole Scherzinger, Toni Braxton, Vince Vaughn and many more.

1985 had Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Huey Lewis & the News, Darryl Hall & John Oates, James Ingram, the Jackson Five, Al Jarreau, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Bette Midler, Kenny Rodgers, Kenny Loggins, Harry Belafonte, Steve Perry, Smokey Robinson, Paul Simon, Tina Turner and Dionne Warwick.

Harry who initiated the project because he wanted to help the hungry in Africa and Sir Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats whose Band Aid recording of Do They Know It’s Christmas provided the inspiration for We Are The World and other similar ventures by the music industry.

Lionel did not sing again but came to help put the stars through their paces. Michael did though. The finished recording and video kept his solo portions. One shows Michael singing along with his sister Janet. It was a sweet moment in the stunning video that also showed touching footage of the people of Haiti singing and dancing to the music amidst the devastation.

You can help Haiti and own a copy of this great moment by downloading the video and the audio from the Net. $2.99 gets you both and very cent goes to Haiti.

Speaking of Janet, the youngest and most successful Jackson sibling, next to Michael, of course, has released a two-disc greatest hits package titled Janet Jackson The Best. Come on for the fans is Make Me, a new recording. But for those who remember how this girl made one hit after another in the ‘80s and ‘90s, there are also 33 of her global No. 1 sellers.

And you know that Janet does have a lot of No. 1 sellers. Covered are 20 years of successes that began with her 1986 album Control to her latest, last year’s Discipline. This is an excellent set with all of the cuts remastered and digitized. The sound is absolutely amazing. Besides, one listen and I am sure you will also say this girl really knows how to make music that is timeless. Her songs have not aged one bit. They sound as current as when they were first released.

Take a look at this list of songs, which by the way are presented in their chronological order in the CDs: What Have You Done For Me Lately, Nasty, When I Think Of You, Control, Let’s Wait A While, The Pleasure Principle, Diamonds, Miss You Much, Rhythm Nation, Escapade, Alright, Come Back To Me, Black Cat, Love Will Never Do Without You, The Best Things In Life Are Free, That’s The Way Love Goes, If, Again, Because Of Love, Any Time Any Place, Scream, her only duet with Michael, Runaway, Together Again, I Get Lonely and bonus track Whoops Now, plus others.