The #1 song in America the week of April 13, 1985, was a charity single that sold more than 20 million copies, becoming the eighth best-selling single of all time worldwide. I’m referring, of course, to ‘We Are the World,’ a song conceived as a way to raise money for and awareness of the famine in Africa.
‘We Are the World’ was written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson and performed by a laundry list of music stars. The song featured so many big names that it’s easier to list the major 80s icons who weren’t there: namely, Prince and Madonna.
Prince declined the invitation because he didn’t like the idea of recording in a room full of other people, and Richie didn’t want to make an exception. Prince did end up contributing his own single to the corresponding album.
Madonna wasn’t invited to the party, because Richie wanted Cyndi Lauper in the lineup and felt the two would be redundant (now that’s a crazy take, and one he regrets to this day).
I learned those facts from an entertaining Netflix documentary titled The Greatest Night in Pop, which is worth checking out if you have any nostalgic interest in this song.
Despite its massive sales, ‘We Are the World’ spent just four weeks atop the Hot 100. It was beaten out in week five by, you guessed it, Madonna.
There comes a time when we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
Oh, and it’s time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
[Verse 2: Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel]
We can’t go on pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of God’s great big family
And the truth, you know
Love is all we need
[Chorus: Michael Jackson, Diana Ross]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true, we’ll make a better day
Just you and me
[Verse 3: Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau]
Well, send them your heart so they’ll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
And so we all must lend a helping hand
[Chorus: Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
Oh, there’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true, we’ll make a better day
Just you and me
[Bridge: Michael Jackson, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes]
When you’re down and out, and there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe, there’s no way we can fall
Well, well, well
Let us realize, oh, that a change can only come
When we stand together as one (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
[Chorus: Choir]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true, we’ll make a better day
Just you and me
[Chorus: Choir, Bob Dylan]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true, we’ll make a better day
Just you and me
[Chorus: Choir, Bob Dylan, & Ray Charles]
We are the world (We are the world)
We are the children (We are the children)
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving (So let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true, we’ll make a better day
Just you and me
Alright, let me hear you
[Chorus: Choir, Ray Charles]
We are the world (We are the world)
We are the children (Yeah, we are the children)
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving (Let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true, we’ll make a finer day
Just you and me
Come on, y’all, let me hear you
[Chorus: Stevie Wonder & Bruce Springsteen]
We are the world (We are the world)
We are the children (We are the children)
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving (So let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true, we’ll make a better day
Just you and me, yeah, yeah
[Chorus: Stevie Wonder & Bruce Springsteen]
We are the world (We are the world)
We are the children (We are the children)
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving (So let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
Yeah, we’re saving our own lives
It’s true, we’ll make a better day
Just you and me
[Chorus: Choir]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true, we’ll make a better day
Just you and me
[Chorus: James Ingram & Ray Charles]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true, we’ll make a better day
Just you and me
Thank you
[Chorus: Choir]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true, we’ll make a better day
Just you and me
Meet Me In Montauk 
That was a cool documentary about the recording of this song.
love the Madonna kicker 😊 I agree It was a great documentary!