Give your money to the Red Cross instead.
Get the fuck outta here wit this bullshit.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631018/20100202/lil_wayne.jhtml
LOS ANGELES — The energy was electric Monday night (February 1) at Henson Studios as more than 80 of music’s biggest stars gathered for a charity remake of “We Are the World” in support of Haitian earthquake relief. “I feel like a kid in a candy store,” Wyclef Jean said, speaking to the press about the idea of remaking such an iconic song, which is getting production help from RedOne and Will.I.Am. “What’s bigger than a contribution is that you lend your voice,” the Haitian native said earlier in the day to his peers while trying to inspire them during the session, which began around 3 p.m. and lasted well into the night.
Among the voices in the 81-member choir were Pink, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Nick Jonas, LL Cool J, Robin Thicke, Celine Dion, Akon, Rob Thomas, Wyclef, Jeff Bridges, Vince Vaughn, Barbra Streisand, Jordin Sparks, Good Charlotte’s Madden brothers, Tony Bennett, Josh Groban, Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber, Jennifer Hudson, Keri Hilson, Jamie Foxx, Tyrese, Katharine McPhee, Sean Garrett, Will.I.Am, Carlos Santana, Melanie Fiona, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, Jason Mraz, Miley Cyrus, Busta Rhymes, Nicole Scherzinger, Nicole Richie, Usher, Julianne Hough, Raphael Saadiq, Zac Brown, India.Arie, “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson, Musiq Soulchild, Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson, Fonzworth Bentley, Kid Cudi, Iyaz, Bizzy Bone, Nipsey Hussle, the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and Al Jardine, Trey Songz, Faith Evans, Mya and Gladys Knight. (Head here for a full list of “We Are the World” participants.) Kanye, wearing a red jacket with sparkling gold crisscross accents, stood center in the front row, between Wyclef and Hudson.
Among the soloists whose sessions were screened for journalists at press time were Bieber, Dion and Groban. Lil Wayne also came out and humbly noted that he recorded the solo originally sung by Bob Dylan. The inspirational lyrics were laid down over a track that had a more modern Southern hip-hop bounce to it. The recording session took place almost 25 years to the day since the original song for African famine relief was recorded. In a statement, Jones said, “Twenty five years ago, the entertainment industry showed the power of community to help our fellow man when we recorded ‘We Are The World’ to bring relief to those suffering from famine in Ethiopia. And while the need to assistant Africa continues, today the country of Haiti is suffering immeasurably from the destruction due to the recent earthquake and is in immediate need of relief that will last long after the television cameras have left. As artists, we have joined together on this 25th anniversary and in the spirit of ‘We Are The World’ to help meet that need.”
“The experience was out of this world,” said Bieber, who sang Lionel Richie’s original opening line. The world premiere of the song’s video will air during NBC’s coverage of the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Friday, February 12. According to a press release from the organizers, both the new version of “We Are the World” and the accompanying video will be available for purchase through a consortium of on-line and retail partners, with all proceeds going directly to the earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti through the We Are The World Foundation, a newly created not-for-profit organization made up of board members Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, Wyclef Jean, Paul Haggis, Randy Phillips and Ambassador Louis Moreno of the Inter-American Development Bank.
I found out about this not to long ago and some of the people on that list made my jaw drop, not in a good way.
I don’t understand two things though, one: they’re supposed to be artists how come they can’t make up a new song instead of butchering a classic? Two: why do they have people like Lil’Wayne on this song anyway when they could have gotten the classic members and include some really good but underrated singers that have yet to get their due?
all of your questions are the right ones. this is a mockery on numerous levels.
Hey Scorp, I listened to it and just as I thought despite giving it a chance, I was proven right. What the hell was that? I know it’s for charity but c’mon son!!!
I’ve not gotten around to listening to this song yet, but I think some of the criticism by music snobs is a bit wrongheaded. I recall the same kind of criticism popping up on a certain message board I used to post on, back around the time of that post-9/11 “What’s Going On?” remake. You had cats saying things like “Nelly Furtado? Fred Durst? Destiny’s Child? This is a disgrace! They should have used Lewis Taylor with MAZE and the Afghan Wigs!” As much of a treat as that might have been for music connoisseurs, it would have defeated the purpose… which is to assemble an array of bankable superstars to raise BANK for a cause.
All that being said: I’m pretty sure this record sucks. But let’s be real: the original was hardly an artistic opus itself. It would have been nice if they had recorded an original composition, but reflexivity and remix is what you get in this postmodern age, yeah?