'We Are the World' Raises Profits, Eyebrows

By PopEater Staff Posted Feb 16th 2010 02:01PM

'We Are the World 25 for Haiti,' a remake of the song originally recorded in 1985 to aid famine relief in Ethiopia, debuted at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The track is packed with star power; a wildly diverse chorus loaned their voices to the charity effort, including Pink, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Nick Jonas, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Jordin Sparks, Snoop Dogg, Jamie Foxx, Miley Cyrus, Randy Jackson, Brian Wilson and Gladys Knight.

The effort has been a monetary success; the recently-formed We Are the World Foundation has made the song available through iTunes, where it reached number one status by Sunday. The video been viewed on YouTube 6.7 million times so far. But some are wondering if this project was the best choice for the relief effort. Watch the video below and see the reasons after the jump...

Jay-Z is among the most famous naysayers. "I think 'We Are the World' is like [Michael Jackson's] 'Thriller' to me," he told MTV. "I don't ever wanna see it touched. Some things are just untouchable. It was a valiant effort, but for me, it's gonna be untouchable."

"I know the plight and everything that's going on in Haiti. I applaud the efforts," he said, and explained that he'd prefer to see a new song written in support of disaster relief. "I have tremendous respect for Quincy Jones. Of course, I think he's genius, as everyone else does. [But] I think it's time for us to make a new [song]. I tried to do that with 'Stranded,' [a collaboration with Rihanna and U2's Bono and the Edge performed at the 'Hope for Haiti Now' telethon]. I didn't try to make 'We Are the World,' but I tried to make our take on how we felt."

We tend to agree - though we're fans of any effort to raise money for this vital cause, the repurposed tearjerker calls to mind Elton John's 'Candle in the Wind,' an elegy to Princess Di originally written for Marilyn Monroe. Some musicians took a different path, rushing to create original material to generate relief funds. Grammy-winning band Linkin Park joined the ranks of celebrities on a mission to support relief efforts in Haiti last month; they released a charity album thrown together with lightning speed, including their own original track. We spoke to Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda about Download to Donate, a compilation of unreleased songs. Shinoda told PopEater exclusively, "I saw the images on the news, and I knew that Music for Relief had to do something."

Revisiting the previously released 'We Are the World' was fine with some, but many fans of the original chimed in online to voice their disapproval. "This version does not hold a candle to the original, which was composed primarily of A-list performers, many who are now in the Rock Hall of Fame," reader JD writes on Rolling Stone's blog.

"The original had individuals. That's the key thing, from the moment the original starts you know who everyone is, very distinct voices," writes Chris.

The New York Times agrees, pointing out that the women in the 2010 talent pool compare (mostly) favorably to their 1985 counterparts, but "there's a major gender gap" in the remake. "Simperers like Adam Levine and Enrique Iglesias appear rather than Stevie Wonder. Usher openly mimics Michael Jackson," writes columnist Jon Pareles. "And there's an Auto-Tuned triumvirate: not just Lil Wayne but Akon and T-Pain as well, all in a row."

Some of the contributors themselves give this genuinely well-intentioned project an uncomfortable vibe. Audio and video footage used of the late Michael Jackson (who co-wrote the song with Lionel Richie in 1985) lend an unsettling air to the track. Lil Wayne's presence is less than wholesome; the rapper was available to record the charitable collaboration, but his sentencing in a weapons possession trial was postponed last week to complete a series of oral surgeries. The sentencing has been rescheduled for March 2, though Lil Wayne is also set to stand trial for drug and weapon charges in Arizona next month.

We at PopEater aren't sure the song was the best choice for the group, but we're willing to concede on two strong points: any major effort to gather funds for this cause is worthwhile, and deeply appreciated - and we're not sure we've ever heard anything as moving as Haitian native Wyclef Jean singing 'We Are the World' in Creole. Love the remake or hate it, just make sure you're supporting the effort to support and rebuild Haiti.

Comments

(456)

Tuesday 16 February

By leroy

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YEAHHHHHH WE ARE THE WORLD..WE ARE THE CHILDREN..BUT I`M FIRST UH UH UH

By rina

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thatwas real dumb how old are you?

By dandd

Who cares who is in the song..its about what the song stand for. And for those people whose reactions are absurd for GOD in the song. DON'T LISTEN TO IT. We need GOD.

By bdyftns

Who said we need 'god.' Where the hell was this 'god' when 200,000 were killed. Oh ya, they made a deal with the devil back in the 1700's. Yikes.

By anetrah5

I agree with Jay- Z 100%!! This song shouldn't have been remade. This was classic written by MJ. There is only one MJ (Michael Jackson)and there will never be another!! RIP MJ, Your Beautiful Spirit lives on!!!!!!!!!!! Love, Ms. Mac

By June

I totally agre with Ms Mac. The song didn't have a strong start with the young man whom I'm sure will improve as he ages.What is an autotune?

By chrishina love

I agree. The song should NOT have been remade. Aside from a handful of A list musicians, most people won't even know who the rest are. It was a classic written from someones heart to help starving children. I feel this was a deliberate attempt by Lionel Richie to bring his name back into the spotlight. My answer is guess what dude. If you are so great...write a whole new song to inspire us all instead of riding the back of a dearly loved and deceased talented songwriter.

By Gerry

I agree, they should never had remake this song....maybe without the rapping it would have been ok, but still they should have left it alone

By mictr1988

The song was written by Michael Jackson AND Lionel Richie NOT just Michael Jackson. Michael is DEAD,...Move on, If Lionel Richie gave his blessing than that's all that matters

By Gm

I saw the video and did not know half the people in it, they should have done a original song.

By Tamdidia

Michael Jackson was all about world help, world unity, world love-this is what he wrote, can you not hear what he is singing? I can see him flipping in his grave at anyone saying using this song to help thousands of suffering is a BAD IDEA, shame on you.!!!!

By Barbara

I agree 110%...Regardless of what has happened in Haiti, that song was from the heart of MJ...it was meant for all and every disaster for all of God's children.As long and beyond as our country last. Our worls is our people.God Bless everyone...

By Danny

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Michael Jackson was a man nothing more. And he is dead. Why do you talk about him as if he was bigger than God nimdelf.! What's wrong with you? !! Michael never praised his maker or wrote any songs about the goodness of God not even for his own sake. Michael will never rise up again but Jesus rose up from the grave and defeated death. Stop this nonsense of worshipping a man. Thats is if you have any fear of Godat all!! Sorry but this had to be said. !

By beteasingu

this song was "OK" it does prove that saying about too many cooks in the kitchen. it doesnt matter how many "stars" are singing, you cant tell. can you imagine if every hard rock singer from aerosmith to zz top made a recording? it would just be noise. except axl rose would forget to show up. HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Wednesday 17 February

By Frankie

Chrishina Love, if you don't know who half the people who performed in this song are it can only be because you have no idea what is popular in the music industry right now. These are all A-listers. As a 21-year-old female I can name almost every individual who sang, from Barbra Streisand to Wyclef Jean, even the guitarists, one of whom was Orianthi, the young women Michael Jackson personally chose to play lead guitar for his 'This Is It' concert tour before he died. I think this was a very good mix of people of all ages and genres, I mean, Josh Groban! I don't understand how people can knock this, I bet it was incredibly fun to do, and it was for a good cause, why is everyone so angry about it, it's just a song.

By jon

One of the few times I agreee with Jay-Z. Maybe a remix and the Janet and Micheal cameo added would have been enough without all the added luggage. Eventhough I love Barbra Streisand and Celion Dion the others were a waste of singing voice and an insult to M J memory. Eventhough it is for a good cause it slightly oversteped its boundries in taste and class for the original. And rap artists had no business in it, or Jaimie Fox amd Kardasahian either.

By MARY

I GROW UP LERANING IF IT AINT BROKIN WHY FIX IT IF SUMTHING IS GD Y REPLACE IT THIS SONG IS STUPID AND OUTRAGES NOTHING MICHAEL JACKSON WOULD APPROVE OF SHAME ON THOSE WHO PUT THESE WUD BE RAPPER SHAME ON U............. U FKED THIS SONG UP

By J

I think M.J. would have loved the remake. M.J. was about love and helping others. He was not vane. He is some where in heaven saying stop it and donate.

By jean

I wish they wouldn't of remade we are the world,the orginal was much better.I don't understand why they feel the need to remake songs,or movies,all they do is take something that was prefectly fine,and mess it up.They should just leave it alone.

By E

Because the so called new "artists" have no real talent! ~sad, but true!

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