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Quincy Jones died on November 3 at the age of 91. Yet his greatest achievement, “We Are the World,” lives on.
Supergroup USA for Africa’s charity single was produced by Jones and released on March 7, 1985. The show featured the biggest music stars of the time, including Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Bob Dylan, etc
In clips shown from the recording process, Jones’ genius can be seen hard at work. In a clip, Jackson can be heard singing the song before others like Cyndi Lauper join in.
RIP Quincy Jones, who produced this iconic song “We Are The World!! Also, this discussion about Michael Jackson’s face when he had to sing with singers in the bathroom blew my mind 😂😂😂!! pic.twitter.com/MIdQTZhqCS
— Van (@vanman_1000) November 4, 2024
In another clip, Jones can be heard reassuring a clearly uncomfortable Dylan as he records his part of the song.
“Okay! Okay!” He can be heard saying at the end of Dylan’s set.
In another clip, Richie and Stevie Wonder can be heard harmonizing as they sing the song before other artists join in. The music is taken from this mix and it allows each artist’s voice to shine.
Although the song continued to receive mixed reviews from critics, it ultimately remained one of the most popular due to its pure star presence and chart performance. The song is said to have created an atmosphere in which musicians from around the world felt inclined to create songs that addressed humanitarian concerns. Additionally, the song shows that musically and racially diverse musicians can work together effectively and creatively.
“We Are the World” reached number 1 in most countries where it charted, including the United States. It went on to be certified 4x Platinum for sales equivalent to 4,000,000 units and has sold over 20 million units globally.
TagsMichael JacksonQuincy JonesLionel Richie