It’s been forty years since the musical world came together for one of the most iconic songs in history. “We Are the World” united the biggest stars from pop, rock, jazz, and R&B for a cause. Now, it’s been remastered and re-released to celebrate forty years of the song’s message of hope, unity, and generosity.
The anthem was written in 1985 by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson. Legendary producer Quincy Jones brought together over 40 artists to “amplify underrepresented voices and inspire collective global action,” according to the USA for Africa website. It would become the fastest-selling record in music industry history, raising over $100 million for humanitarian aid in response to the Ethiopian famine. It also put the crisis into the collective consciousness.
“For me, ‘We Are the World’ is a gift that keeps on giving and is a powerful teaching tool for generations to come,” Lionel Richie shares on the song’s milestone. “When Michael and I wrote the song 40 years ago, we never imagined the power it would have then for the world. Having those talented artists walk through the studio door that night, band together to change the world will never be replicated.”
The music video, which showcases the magnitude of talent that went into its creation, has also been remastered.
“We Are the World” features everyone from Bob Dylan to Stevie Wonder to Diana Ross to Bruce Springsteen. With so many egos working together, things could get dicey, but Jones nipped that in the bud with a simple sign on the door at A&M Studios:
“Leave Your Ego at the Door.”
The song is written in E major and utilizes the Synclavier, an early digital synthesizer, to create the iconic intro’s mix of bells and horns. Check out Kevin Maloney demonstrating the creation of the intro and its sound palette in this video with Anthony Marinelli.
The instrumentation then expands to include drums, bass, piano, and more keyboards. Each line of the verse is traded between singers, with the final line of each verse being sung in harmony. Michael Jackson and Diana Ross share the first chorus. Part of the brilliance of the arrangement is that it gives each performer space to bring out their own personality. “We Are the World” is over seven minutes long, but the dynamic of each performer makes it seem shorter than it is.
The chorus is repeated for over half of those seven minutes, but Jones used a tried-and-true tool to keep momentum: modulation. After four minutes, the song uses a C7 chord to move the key up a half step to F major to freshen up the mantra.
“We Are the World” has come and gone from the mainstream since its creation, but its impact has endured for all four decades.
“To date, more than 500 African organizations across 21 African countries have received grants from USA for Africa, supporting programs in health, agriculture, environmental sustainability, refugee recovery, institutional development, and support for women and children,” the organization states.
Follow along with the sheet music for “We Are the World”:
