U.S.A. For Africa - We Are The World (1985) (Official Video) (HQ 16:9)

"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by
the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson
and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian
for the album We Are the World. With sales in excess of 20 million
copies, it is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold 10
million (or more) copies worldwide.
Following Band Aid's "Do They
Know It's Christmas?" project in the UK, an idea for the creation of an
American benefit single for African famine relief came from activist
Harry Belafonte, who, along with fundraiser Ken Kragen, was instrumental
in bringing the vision to reality. Several musicians were contacted by
the pair, before Jackson and Richie were assigned the task of writing
the song. Following several months of working together, the duo
completed the writing of "We Are the World" one night before the song's
first recording session, in early 1985. The last recording session for
the song was held on January 28, 1985. The historic event brought
together some of the most famous artists in the music industry at the
time.
The song was released on March 7, 1985, as the only single from
the album. A worldwide commercial success, it topped music charts
throughout the world and became the fastest-selling American pop single
in history. The first ever single to be certified multi-platinum, "We
Are the World" received a Quadruple Platinum certification by the
Recording Industry Association of America. However, the song garnered
mixed reviews from journalists, music critics, and the public. Fans
enjoyed hearing racially and musically diverse recording artists singing
together on one track, and felt satisfied in buying "We Are the World",
knowing that the money was going to charity. Other individuals,
including many commentators in the rock press, were disappointed that
the song did not challenge listeners as to why famines occur in the
first place, and felt that the lyrics were self-aggrandizing.
Awarded
numerous honors—including three Grammy Awards, one American Music
Award, and a People's Choice Award—the song was promoted with a
critically received music video, a home video, a special edition
magazine, a simulcast, and several books, posters, and shirts. The
promotion and merchandise aided the success of "We Are the World" and
raised over $63 million for humanitarian aid in Africa and the US.
Following
the devastation caused by the magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake in Haiti on
January 12, 2010, a remake of the song by another all-star cast of
singers was recorded on February 1, 2010. Entitled "We Are the World 25
for Haiti", it was released as a single on February 12, 2010, and
proceeds from the record aided survivors in the impoverished country.