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IMDbPro

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

  • TV Movie
  • 1985
  • 35m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
948
YOUR RATING
Dan Aykroyd, Bette Midler, Harry Belafonte, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Bob Geldof, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Willie Nelson, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Lindsey Buckingham, Kim Carnes, Ray Charles, Mario Cipollina, Johnny Colla, Sheila E., Bill Gibson, Daryl Hall, Chris Hayes, Dan Hill, Sean Hopper, James Ingram, Jackie Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, Al Jarreau, Waylon Jennings, Cyndi Lauper, Huey Lewis, Kenny Loggins, John Oates, Jeffrey Osborne, Steve Perry, Anita Pointer, June Pointer, Ruth Pointer, Kenny Rogers, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, The Pointer Sisters, Hall & Oates, Huey Lewis & The News, and USA for Africa in We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song (1985)
DocumentaryMusic

In 1984, British and Irish pop stars united for the cause of Ethiopian famine relief as Band Aid. The following year, the Americans did the same as USA for Africa. This is how it happened.In 1984, British and Irish pop stars united for the cause of Ethiopian famine relief as Band Aid. The following year, the Americans did the same as USA for Africa. This is how it happened.In 1984, British and Irish pop stars united for the cause of Ethiopian famine relief as Band Aid. The following year, the Americans did the same as USA for Africa. This is how it happened.

  • Director
    • Tom Trbovich
  • Writer
    • Mikal Gilmore
  • Stars
    • Jane Fonda
    • USA for Africa
    • Dan Aykroyd
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    948
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Tom Trbovich
    • Writer
      • Mikal Gilmore
    • Stars
      • Jane Fonda
      • USA for Africa
      • Dan Aykroyd
    • 7User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 win & 4 nominations total

    Photos22

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    Top cast54

    Edit
    Jane Fonda
    Jane Fonda
    • Self - Host
    USA for Africa
    • Themselves
    Dan Aykroyd
    Dan Aykroyd
    • Self
    Harry Belafonte
    Harry Belafonte
    • Self
    Kim Carnes
    Kim Carnes
    • Self
    Ray Charles
    Ray Charles
    • Self
    Bob Dylan
    Bob Dylan
    • Self
    Sheila E.
    Sheila E.
    • Self
    Bob Geldof
    Bob Geldof
    • Self
    Hall & Oates
    Hall & Oates
    • Themselves
    Daryl Hall
    Daryl Hall
    • Self
    James Ingram
    James Ingram
    • Self
    Michael Jackson
    Michael Jackson
    • Self
    Al Jarreau
    Al Jarreau
    • Self
    Billy Joel
    Billy Joel
    • Self
    Louis Johnson
    • Self - Bassist
    Quincy Jones
    Quincy Jones
    • Self - Conductor
    Cyndi Lauper
    Cyndi Lauper
    • Self
    • Director
      • Tom Trbovich
    • Writer
      • Mikal Gilmore
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews7

    8.0948
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    Featured reviews

    10andresberto

    A beautiful documentary

    This is a beautiful documentary. I love the narrative, the interviews, the sequences and how they present each artist. It transports you in those years and i love the atmosphere. I appreciate a lot the fact that it focuses on the main protagonists of we are the world. The direction is very good, the photography and the soundtracks are one of my favourites of all time. The nostalgic 80s are represented very well. Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper, Rau Charles, so many artists that have written beautiful songs.
    10FridayGal

    Their Heart's in the Right Place

    We were so young and so naive. We pulled together and knew it would make a difference, or at least we hoped it would. I hope we have learned one thing, but I'm not sure we have. This has recently been seen by the US sending Skittles in the food boxes to Gaza. Skittles? Maybe we have not learned yet that evil exists. Evil and corruption are all around us and good intentions do not always work without a plan, a real plan. We have seen this over and over in the years since this well-meaning song. Where's the money going? Who is handling the distribution? What guarantees do donors have that the money is getting to the true recipients? Who are the feet on the ground who know the needs and work with the people? Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Haiti, Gaza - have we learned anything?
    10sonyachitti

    We are the World

    Even 20 years after its release, We are the World continues to make my hair rise! The passion, dedication, harmony and sheer beauty of the song makes it a complete anthem and it should go down in history and a world anthem altogether. Congratulations Quincy Jones and every other artist who performed the track. I wait for another. I hadn't watched the video in a while, but I saw it strangely on MTV today and I decided to go back to my old music videos and watch this one. It was incredible, I listened to it repeatedly and was awestruck each time. The spirit of togetherness and harmony amongst the artists makes the experience worth it, every single time. Keep up the good work USA for Africa!
    krissykadoodle

    1985 has noteworthy memories

    While reliving a pleasurable journey can be, ummm, emotional...We Are the World's energy and upbeat effort to create an autonomous entity to benefit another nation in crisis was a scratch on the surface. From Bangladesh several years before We Are...1985, Live Aid, and yes, even Hands Across America whose anniversary is quickly approaching, Farm Aid and other offshoots, from then to now...twenty some years later, almost an entire year since Live 8 and One, makes me wonder what happened to all the good intentions behind so many initial steps along the way.

    Including the faltering steps of my feet right in my own back yard. Across a street, a fence, across a nation, across the planet...maybe it's time we all took a walk.

    While "We Are The World" may be praise worthy for the accomplishments through multiple powers there are other works worth remembering from 1985 for their "artistic" agendas as well. Take a trip back to Foreignor's "I want to know what love is" floats in circles around me...must it take disasters and droughts to bring this world together.
    8kschneid

    Springsteen, Dylan, and others...

    Nice documentary of the making of this most famous song/video. The highlight for me had to be the Stevie Wonder/Bruce Springsteen duet in the middle of the song. The songs essence and passion is evident during this section of the performance. I do wish Cyndi Lauper and other pop singers didn't have such a large role in this performance, but it's good overall.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This song was recorded in an all-night recording session immediately after the American Music Awards.
    • Quotes

      Huey Lewis: [discussing the word change in the song lyrics] "Better"? No, no, "brighter". It's gonna be "brighter", now.

      Stevie Wonder: "Better" has more bite.

    • Connections
      Edited from USA for Africa: We Are the World (1985)
    • Soundtracks
      We Are the World
      (uncredited)

      Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie

      Performed by USA for Africa

      • Soloists: Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan and Ray Charles

      • Other performers: Dan Aykroyd, Harry Belafonte, Lindsey Buckingham, Mario Cipollina, Johnny Colla, Sheila E., Bob Geldof, Bill Gibson, Chris Hayes, Sean Hopper, Jackie Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, Waylon Jennings, Bette Midler, John Oates, Jeffrey Osborne, Anita Pointer, June Pointer, Ruth Pointer and Smokey Robinson

      Produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian

      Conducted by Quincy Jones

      Associate Producer: Tom Bähler

      Engineered by Humberto Gatica, assisted by Larry Fergusson and Khaliq Glover

      Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering

      Executive Production Assistant: Madeline Randolph

      Production Assistants: Pam Small, Steve Ray and Mark Ross

      Production Coordinator: Jolie Levine

      Copyists: Doug Dana and Tom Brown

      Roadies: David Bowers, Ed Simeone and Claudio Ordenes

      Vocal Choir Arrangements: Tom Bähler, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson

      Solo Vocal Choreography: Quincy Jones and Tom Bähler

      Synthesizer Arrangements: David Paich, Michael Omartian, Quincy Jones, John Barnes, Michael Boddicker and Ian Underwood

      Rhythm Arrangements: Quincy Jones and John Barnes

      Synthesizer Programming: John Barnes, Michael Boddicker and Steve Porcaro

      Synclavier Programming: Kevin Maloney and Mark Ross

      Oberheim-8 Programming: Marcus Ryles

      Musicians: Tom Bähler, John Barnes, Michael Boddicker, Paulinho Da Costa, Humberto Gatica, Louis Johnson, Michael Melvoin, Michael Omartian, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, Greg Phillinganes, John Robinson, Marcus Ryles, Ian Underwood

      Clappers: James Ingram, Cathy Worthington, Greg Phillinganes, Marcel East, Khaliq Glover, Elaine Phillinganes, Karla Phillinganes and Mark Ross

      ©1985 Mijac Music (BMI) and Brockman Music (ASCAP)

      (P) 1985 United Support of Artists for Africa

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 28, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • We Are the World
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Golin-Malley Productions
      • Ken Kragen Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $65,000,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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    Dan Aykroyd, Bette Midler, Harry Belafonte, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Bob Geldof, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Willie Nelson, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Lindsey Buckingham, Kim Carnes, Ray Charles, Mario Cipollina, Johnny Colla, Sheila E., Bill Gibson, Daryl Hall, Chris Hayes, Dan Hill, Sean Hopper, James Ingram, Jackie Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, Al Jarreau, Waylon Jennings, Cyndi Lauper, Huey Lewis, Kenny Loggins, John Oates, Jeffrey Osborne, Steve Perry, Anita Pointer, June Pointer, Ruth Pointer, Kenny Rogers, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, The Pointer Sisters, Hall & Oates, Huey Lewis & The News, and USA for Africa in We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song (1985)
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    By what name was We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song (1985) officially released in Canada in English?
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