“We Are the World 2010″ for Haiti nets 80+ artists!
Last Monday, February 1, 2010, more than 80 artists and performers convened at the Jim Henson Studios (formerly A&M Studios) in Hollywood, California to remake one of the world’s top-selling songs for the benefit of the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti.
Now on its 25th year since it was first recorded in 1985 in the same studio by the likes of Michael Jackson (who co-wrote it with Quincy Jackson), the song “WE ARE THE WORLD” will be utilized again for a noble purpose.
The event, dubbed as “We Are the World – 25 years for Haiti” or “We Are the World 2010” drew in a good mix of singers, rappers and a few actors in what is for most of them a proud moment.
Wyclef Jean, a native Haitian says that he feels like a kid in a candy store, stressing that “What’s bigger than a contribution is that you lend your voice.” He added that the boy in one of the photos from the Haiti earthquake aftermath could be him if he wasn’t able to get into America.
The new version carries a Southern hip-hop bounce to it and includes rap, furnished by the rappers group led by Black-Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am. He is joined by T-Pain, Kanye West, Bizzy Bone, Kid Cudi, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Drake, Mann, Nipsey Hussle, Busta Rhymes and Swizz Beatz.
The solo spots are performed by 15-year old Justin Bieber (who sings the opening lines performed by Lionel Richie in the first version); Celine Dion (doing the difficult Cyndi Lauper part); Josh Groban (assisgned to the Kenny Rogers and Paul Simon duet); and, Lil Wayne (doing Bob Dylan’s part) among others.
Janet Jackson will be singing the lines of Michael Jackson in a separate recording of this “We Are the World 2010” version.
The other performers who made up the 81-strong choir: Jordin Sparks, Faith Evans, Harry Connick Jr., Earth Wind & Fire, Enrique Iglesias, Natalie Cole, Pink, Barbra Streisand, Miley Cyrus, Carlos Santana, Brandy, Melanie Fiona, The Jonas Brothers, Jennifer Hudson, Mya, Tyrese Gibson, Tony Bennett, Julianne Hough, Katherine McPhee, Ann & Nancy Wilson (Heart), Keri Hilson, Best New Artist Grammy winner Zac Brown, Jason Mraz, Indie.Arie, Mary Mary, Rob Thomas, Usher, Nicole Sherzinger of Pussycat Dolls, the Fray’s Isaac Slade, child prodigy pianist Ethan Bortnick, Maroon 5′s Adam Levine, and actors Jeff Goldblum, Jeff Bridges and Vince Vaughn.
The “We Are the World – 25 Years for Haiti” video which will be filmed in 3D together with the song will premier at the Opening Night Ceremonies of NBC’s Winter Olympics coverage.
Both the new version of “We Are the World” and the accompanying video will be available for purchase through a consortium of on-line and retail partners, with all proceeds going directly to the earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti through the We Are The World Foundation, a newly created non-profit organization made up of board members Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, Wyclef Jean, Paul Haggis, Randy Phillips and Ambassador Louis Moreno of the Inter-American Development Bank.
Thanks to Kevin Mazur for the photos of “We Are the World 2010″.
About Bariles
Bariles is a Filipino word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants. The city boasts of the only “Tuna Festival” in the world celebrated every September 5 in commemoration of its charterhood anniversary. Bariles is also the alias of this blog's author who would like nothing than to write about his beloved city by the bay and share it with his kababayans from all over. He has worked throughout Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea. Currently, he devotes his time, beauty, and talent in the fields of Communications, Marketing and Media. He is also the unofficial leader of the "Soccsksargen Bloggers", a motley group of online journalists who share a common goal to share what's true, good, progressive and beautiful about their region and her people.