2010Released
6:56

Did You Know?

Interesting facts and trivia about We Are the World 25 for Haiti. By Songfacts®.

This is a remake of the benefit single for victims of famine in Africa in 1985. The new version was recorded in support of Haitian earthquake relief. Prior to the quake that devastated the country on January 12, 2010, Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie had planned to organize a re-recording of "We Are the World" on January 28, 2010 - the 25th anniversary of the original recording of the song. However, because of the disaster these plans were postponed. The new version of the song was recorded on February 1, 2010 with proceeds initially going to the newly formed charity We Are the World Foundation LLC, before being distributed to Haiti.

Added to the original song's inspirational lyrics are a newly penned hip-hop break penned by LL Cool J that makes reference to the Haitian earthquake. "Mr. [Quincy] Jones just called me and asked me if I would take a shot at writing the hip-hop section or the rap section of the song," LL Cool J told MTV News. "And I took a shot at it and recorded it."
Will.i.am and Kanye West also wrote another section of the rapped middle eight. The whole rap section starts with Cool J and Snoop Dogg and Will.i.am and Xzibit and West and Lil Wayne, then goes into Will.i.am and West trading lines with each other.

Here are the artists who took part: Akon, India.Arie, Patti Austin, Tony Bennett, Justin Bieber, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Ethan Bortnick, Brandy, Jeff Bridges, Zac Brown, Kristian Bush, Natalie Cole, Harry Connick Jr., Kid Cudi, Miley Cyrus, Snoop Dogg, Drake, Earth Wind & Fire, Faith Evans, Melanie Fiona, Jamie Foxx, Sean Garrett, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Groban, Anthony Hamilton, Keri Hilson, Julianne Hough, Jennifer Hudson, Enrique Iglesias, LL Cool J, Randy Jackson, Taj Jackson, Taryll Jackson, TJ Jackson, Al Jardine, Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas, Janet Jackson, Kanye West, Nick Jonas, Rashida Jones, Gladys Knight, Adam Levine, Jimmy Jean Louis, Benji Madden, Joel Madden, Mary Mary, Katharine McPhee, Jason Mraz, Mya, Jennifer Nettles, Orianthi, Freda Payne, Pink, A. R. Rahman, Nicole Richie, Raphael Saadiq, Carlos Santana, Nicole Scherzinger, Isaac Slade, Trey Songz, Musiq Soulchild, Jordin Sparks, Barbra Streisand, T-Pain, Robin Thicke, Rob Thomas, Usher, Vince Vaughn, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Will.i.am, Anne Wilson, Brian Wilson, Nancy Wilson, BeBe Winans, Lionel Richie, Wyclef Jean, Celine Dion, Quincy Jones, RedOne, Ricky Minor.

A couple of quick tid-bits:
At 83 years old, Tony Bennett was the elder statesmen on the recording, while 15-year-old Justin Bieber who opened the song was the youngest.
Miley Cyrus is the only artist to feature on both this song and the "Everybody Hurts" Haiti benefit singles.

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Song Analysis

Key, BPM (tempo) and time signature of We Are the World 25 for Haiti.
EKey
MajorMode
4/4Time Signature
66BPM

Album

The album We Are the World 25 for Haiti is released on.

Released By

The record label that has released We Are the World 25 for Haiti.
We Are The World Foundation
(C) 2010 We Are The World Foundation

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