'We Are the World' Remake: THE Reason to Watch the Opening Ceremonies

By Sam Brand Posted Feb 12th 2010 05:00PM

Canadians Nelly Furtado, Sarah McLachlan and Bryan Adams will all reportedly step onto the stage at tonight's Vancouver Winter Olympics opening ceremonies. But if you're like us, then you're not going to watch (or DVR) the celebratory puck-drop merely to catch a handful of crooning Canucks (OK, maybe if Neil Young were performing). And it's not about Lindsey Vonn sashaying down an indoor track in a sweat suit, either. Tune in tonight to see the "We Are the World" remake. It just might be worth your time...

For one, the music video will be the the most star-studded moment of the entire Winter Olympics.

Recorded on Feb. 1 (a day after the Grammys) and set to be broadcast at an undisclosed point during NBC's 7:30-11:30 p.m. ET telecast, "We Are the World – 25 for Haiti" features at least 75 singing stars (30 more than the original).

It's your chance to see Lil Wayne, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand and Nicole Richie in the same room. That's like putting the jocks, nerds, hippies and goths at the same lunch table. This event is must-see TV.

And word is the late great Michael Jackson is making an appearance tonight – he's reportedly singing a duet with Janet Jackson. No way Canada can trump that posthumous cameo (though word is there will be a Terry Fox showing at the Opening Ceremonies).

What's more? "We Are the World – 25 for Haiti" features your favorite rappers... singing! LL Cool J, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes and others will be aiming at high notes, and, if we know anything about rappers, they'll be going astray. (Fine, they'll be getting some help from Auto-Tune, and unfortunately, none will get a solo, but we still want to see them sing for the skies.)

And the song features Celine Dion, Canada's top dog diva who may or may not make an appearance at the Opening Ceremonies. We'll take the guarantee.

Director Paul Haggis ('Crash,' 'In the Valley of Elah) suggests a particular 15-year-old is the real reason to catch the performance. Justin Bieber was "remarkable," Haggis tells MTV News. "He opened his mouth, and my god the quality of that voice... and the presence he has, and the confidence..."

Catch the three-and-a-half minute "We Are the World" remake on TV this evening or download the seven minute "uncut" version when it becomes available on iTunes later tonight.

Tags: celine dion, CelineDion, earthquake, haiti, justin bieber, JustinBieber, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, olympics, opening ceremony, OpeningCeremony, we are the world, we are the world 25 for haiti, we are the world remake, WeAreTheWorld, WeAreTheWorld25ForHaiti, WeAreTheWorldRemake, winter olympics, WinterOlympics

Comments

(38)

Monday 22 February

By vera

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I CAN SING LIKE THEM. I HAVE A TALENT TOO, WHY NOT ME.CALL ME PEOPLE.BYE EVERYBODY, KING OF POP RIP.LOVE

Friday 12 February

By Mary

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the original is so much better than this one.

By mickey

I'm glad they told me Kayne West would be there. Now I'll be sure to watch something else.

By Declined

Guys...the original of anything is always better BECAUSE it's the original. I will be watching it to keep an open mind, and maybe it will be great...but not better than the original.

By Ebo

Ok, I think you are being kinda rude, Sam. Some people (like myself) are actually very excited to watch the ceremonies tonight...and we don't need an American spectacle like the "We are the World" remake to get us to watch. Don't just assume that we couldn't care less about anything else in the Olympics like you.

Saturday 13 February

By Glenn

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WELL THANKS TO NBC AND THE STUPID OLYMPICS,,,
WHERE I LIVE DID NOT GET TO SEE THE NEW
WE ARE THE WORLD,,,
THE HELL WITH THE OLYMPICS, NBC AND HAITI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Gustavo

Lil Wayne, Hanna Montana, The Jona Brother, Justin Bever, and Kanye West it's ruin, I'll stick with the original.

By biancamarz

Oh my god.... that was just..... awful..... terrible.... when you remake a song as important as that one... and butcher it so badly.... I have lost ALL faith in this music industry... that was so bad....

By Soph

This is pathetic. Why, why, why did you mess with the best song/video every made? I wouldn't donate a nickel to any cause based on this pathetic mess as my inspiration.

By Brandy

I cannot believe anyone could take such an incredible song and totally destroy it! It would have been better to just re-release the original for Haiti. The remake is just awful!

By Dean

It was a stupid song then and its still a stupid song today.

By alex

ive heard it, i promise to donate if they never play it again, horrible

Friday 19 February

By Peglegpeg

Please.............Lets get over it! You are not the world, never were, never will be. You sicken me. I will not support anyone singing that stupid song. You have millions of dollars go do something with it besides making us suffer through listening to your crap.

By Jahn N.

I would donate to Haiti, many times over before I bought this song. Horrible and terrible song, out of sync with the video and the producers made a point of not including anyone from the original. Why was Michael Jackson in the video, he is gone, you can stop adding him into everything.

By Mark

The remake was pure crap. They added rap to it. They had some 13yr kid. Not one singer from the orginal was even in it. I saw part of it and I'm glad that I did not see it all.

By shar

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It was not good....very disappointed. The Michael/Janet part was so off.
Perhaps they rushed it too much.

By David

Disappointed. It seemed to lack the passion of people like Ray Charles, the spirit of Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper and Bruce Springsteen.
Nope, sorry....this one fell flat.

By ocalasinglguy4u

I just puked in my mouth.....

By mwb

Wow.......Me too, Twice.

By gracie

I thought it was horrible. They ruined it several ways. Some of the solos were good but the rest didnt even look like they were in sync with each other. And RAP....really?? Didn't care for the Lil Wayne moment.

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