Approximately 80 of music’s biggest names gathered on February 1, 2010 to remake the 1985 charity classic “We Are The World,” in an effort to raise funds for earthquake-ravaged Haiti. “We Are The World: 25 For Haiti” made its debut during the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Friday night — but at least one music notable would have liked to see the anthem remain “untouched.”
“I know everybody is gonna take this wrong: ‘We Are the World,’ I love it, and I understand the point and think it’s great. But I think ‘We Are the World’ is like [Michael Jackson’s] ‘Thriller’ to me. I don’t ever wanna see it touched,” rap mogul Jay-Z told MTV.com at the “2 Kings” dinner during NBA All Star Weekend in Dallas on Saturday night.
“I’m a fan of music. I know the plight and everything that’s going on in Haiti. I applaud the efforts: [Millions have been raised] through text [donations] to Haiti,” Hov continued. “So I appreciate the efforts and everything, but ‘We Are The World’ is [musically] untouchable like ‘Thriller’ is untouchable. Some things are just untouchable. It was a valiant effort, but for me, it’s gonna be untouchable.”
Carly Simon has launched a competition seeking the first official video to accompany her chart-topping 1972 song, “You’re So Vain.” For nearly 40 years, the pop singer/songwriter has remained tight-lipped about one of music’s biggest mysteries: Who is the narcissistic subject of the tune?
Don Fieger, rocker and lead singer of the ’70s/’80s pop-rock band The Knack, has died.
The Detroit native, best remembered for the 1979 hit “My Sharona,” died at his Woodland Hills, California home Sunday after a six year battle against lung cancer spread to his brain, The Knack’s manager, Jake Hooker, told The Associated Press.
The Queen of Miami, Gloria Estefan, is spearheading an effort to bring together a host of Latin singing stars for a Spanish language re-recording of Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie’s “We Are The World.” Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Jon Seceda, Paulina Rubio, and Shakira are among the artists expected to contribute vocals to the charity single, which will benefit Haitian earthquake relief. Gloria has already had the song translated and titled it “Somos El Mundo,” according to Hissip.com. The recording will take place next Friday. Last month, the singing legend co-hosted the “Unidos Por Haiti”, Spanish for: United For Haiti, a five-hour commercial free live special dedicated to raising funds for the earthquake victims in Haiti through the American Red Cross.
This has absolutely nothing to do with “We Are The World,” but I simply can’t talk about Gloria Estefan without thinking of this:
In honor of the 25th anniversary of the groundbreaking charity single “We Are the World,” original producers Quincy Jones & Lionel Richie have given the song a makeover — with the help of 80 entertainers — to raise money for earthquake survivors in Haiti. You can help relief efforts in the poverty-stricken nation by downloading the contemporary take on this classic at World25.org, on iTunes, or on YouTube.