Lyrics: Michael Jackson &; Lionel Ritchie

One day we will listen to a call (lionel richie Leonard Ritchie)

When the world must be united (lionel richie Leonard Rich &; Stevie Wonder)

Someone is dying (Stevie Wonder stevie wonder)

Oh, it's time to lend a helping hand (paul simon)

The best gift (paul simon paul simon/kenny rogers kenny rogers)

We can't pretend day after day (kenny rogers). Kenny rogers)

Someone, someone will make a change soon (James Ingram)

We are all members of God's family (tina turner tina turner)

And the truth (Billy Chow, Billy Joe)

You know that love is all we need (tina turner tina turner/Billy Chow Billy Joel)

(Chorus)

We are the world and we are children.

We are the people who make tomorrow better. Let's start giving (Michael Jackson)

There is a choice we are making again, and we are saving our own lives again (Diana Ross, Diana Ross)

Really, just you and me, we will create a better day (Michael Jackson/Diana Ross Diana Ross)

Well, send them your heart and let them know that someone cares about you (dionne warwick)

Their life will be the best and free (dionne warwick, Dion Warwick/Willie Nelson, Willie Nelson)

As God showed when he turned stone into bread (Willie Nelson)

So we must all lend a helping hand (Al Juro)

(Chorus repeats)

We are the world and we are children (Bruce Springsteen)

We are the people who make life better (Kenny Logis). Rogers).

There is a choice that we "re-make". We "re-save our own lives" (Steve Perry)

Really, just you and me, we will create a better day (Daryl Hall)

)

When you are down and out, there seems to be no hope (Michael Jackson)

But if you believe we can't fail (Huey Lewis Hugh Lewis)

Ok, ok, ok, let's realize that change will only come (Cyndi Lauper)

When we (Kim Carnes Carnes Kim)

United as one (Kim Carnes/Cyndi Lauper/Huey Lewis)

In the mid-1980s, Britain launched "Band Aid" to raise funds and sang for Ethiopia in Africa, which triggered the music action of "America for Africa". As early as 1970s, pop rock musicians had a childlike innocence. On August 197 1, the concert "For Bangla Desh Desh" held at Madison Airport in new york, USA, paid attention to the hunger and fear of children in the third world in advance.

1985 Belafonte, a satirical singer, movie star and humanitarian, was deeply moved after watching a TV documentary about how an Australian doctor took care of starving Ethiopian children, and decided to do something.

Belafonte first contacted Ken Kragen, a socially responsible entertainment manager. According to Kragen's idea, a record can be made with the Ethiopian benefit performance of pop singer * * *, and the slogan is "Do they know that Christmas is coming?" Kragen singers Lionel Ritchie and Kimberly Rogers signed up first, followed by Michael Jackson and stevie wonder.

Belafonte and Kragen called their passion project "USA for Africa", and with the help of artists, they assigned Michael and Ricky to write songs together. Quincy Jones signed on as coordinator and conductor. At the same time, Kragen mobilized other leading figures in the music industry. /kloc-More than 0/00 artists signed up, and only 40 were selected, including: Bruce spain, billy joel, Tina Dai Lun, diana ross, willie nelson, paul simon, ray charles, Cindy Laube, Dionyse Warwick and Betty Midler.

In Michael's small room full of mannequins, dolls, costumes, toys and medical toys, Michael and Ricky spent a week (or three hours) writing a song "We Are the World". During this period, most of the time was spent persuading Michael to get rid of his favorite boring song "Sala Sala Hey" (Jones later succeeded in getting Michael to give up this sentence in the recording stage).

1985 65438+1On October 28th, the stars filed into the recording studio, and many of them came directly from the scene of the American Music Awards Evening held that night. There is a sign in front of the recording studio: "Please check your identity at the door."

This is completely unnecessary, and the stars who come here are also star fans. If the stars are bright, then Michael is dazzling in the sun. Diana ross, who collected signatures everywhere in the crowd, said that other singers were in awe of Michael. Belafonte said: "Most singers just met at the American Music Awards, but at that time they competed with each other, enjoyed themselves and were narcissistic. At this time, their hearts have been purified. "

In the afternoon 1 1 start recording. As only a few stars sang solo, Jones decided to record the chorus first. "I know no one will leave before the solo," he said, "but it will be different after the solo."

The camera also filmed the whole singing process, and prepared to release the video of "One World" as planned. When singing, everyone acted in unison, except Michael, who insisted on flying solo as a star and asked for a special plastic performance. Prince is even worse than Michael in the invitation list. He never showed up. )

"One World" was published in1March, 985, and it was known as the musical prosperity of that year. In the next eight months alone, the song raised $40 million. However, at this time, different opinions appeared. Several participants questioned why less than 65,438+0/3 of the fund-raising was really used to help the hungry Ethiopian people when the Ethiopian people voluntarily and selflessly contributed their artistic wealth.

If Michael thinks that money is a little slow to reach people who need it, he doesn't show this view. In any case, "One World" is always included in the best-selling single, which has won numerous awards and is still dazzling.