{"id":40343,"date":"2015-04-13T00:00:37","date_gmt":"2015-04-13T07:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.todayifoundout.com\/?p=40343"},"modified":"2015-04-12T22:26:40","modified_gmt":"2015-04-13T05:26:40","slug":"this-day-in-history-april-13th-we-are-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.todayifoundout.com\/index.php\/2015\/04\/this-day-in-history-april-13th-we-are-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"This Day in History: April 13th- We are the World"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Day In History<\/a>: April 13, 1985<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"USA-africa2\"<\/a>On April 13, 1985, \u201cWe are the World<\/a>,\u201d a song recorded by the Who\u2019s Who of \u201880s music royalty billing themselves as \u201cUSA for Africa\u201d, took the number one spot on Billboard\u2019 Hot 100. The single was produced to provide relief for the victims of the devastating famine ravaging Ethiopia. It was the fastest selling single in Billboard history and the first to go multi-platinum.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are the World,\u201d written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, came hot on the heels of \u201cDo They Know It’s Christmas?\u201d Recorded by \u201cBand-Aid,\u201d a group of the biggest British pop stars of the day, and produced by Bob Geldolf, the premise and purpose was to raise awareness and funds for famine relief in Africa. It was released in late 1984.<\/p>\n

\u201cCheck your egos at the door.\u201d Quincy Jones, the producer of the song, preemptively hung this sign outside the studio on the night of the recording session to discourage any diva-like behavior. When you have 46 super-stars used to being the center of attention participating in a group project \u2013 well, no-one could blame Jones for being pro-active.<\/p>\n

By all accounts, everyone played nice during the recording session on January 28, 1985. In fact, a good time was had by (almost) all. There were moments of hilarity when Stevie Wonder volunteered to show Ray Charles to the bathroom, and everyone watched in wonder as the blind lead the blind. When Musical Genius Wonder missed a note during rehearsal, Lionel Richie got a lot of laughs when he asked aloud \u201cIs that even legal?\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of the superstars were meeting their own idols for the first time. When Billy Joel watched his hero Ray Charles enter the studio, he said, \u201cThat’s like the Statue of Liberty walking in.\u201d He was shaking all over when Quincy Jones introduced him to Charles by saying, \u201cRay, this is the guy who wrote ‘New York State of Mind’\u201d (Joel\u2019s homage to Ray.) The two hit it off and later recorded a duet. Ray Charles also inducted Billy Joel into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.<\/p>\n

Bob Dylan wasn\u2019t quite as gracious when Al Jarreau introduced himself by saying, \u201cBobby, in my own stupid way I just want to tell you I love you.\u201d Dylan didn\u2019t even give poor Al a glance and walked away. Dave Breskin of LIFE magazine recounted that Al simply said, \u201cMy idol!\u201d and started sobbing.<\/p>\n

Dylan may have been too cool to talk to Al Jarreau, but it took Stevie Wonder a million tries and infinite patience to coach Mr. Voice of a Generation through his one lousy line.<\/p>\n

By most people\u2019s reckoning, the best part of the song wasn\u2019t even planned. The duet between the gravely-voiced rocker Bruce Springsteen and smooth-as-silk Stevie Wonder gives this song some much needed wow-factor. Even Quincy Jones knew he needed help: \u201cThe energy I needed to conclude had dissipated earlier than I had anticipated. The power of the choir had peaked after two choruses and one change of key.\u201d He managed to use their high-intensity call-and-response for a full minute of the single\u2019s run time.<\/p>\n

Although the logistics of getting the money the record earned to the people it was intended to help turned out to be a nightmare, and some of the cash was never accounted for, it\u2019s safe to say the people singing all had their hearts in the right place. A good portion of the proceeds got to the famished Ethiopians, and even if only a handful of starving children were fed, the intentions were still noble.<\/p>\n

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