| "We Are The World" Shows Community Unity: The | | | | meetings in Scotland? As far as which event |
| Good... | | | | generated the most impact, the jury is still out. |
| On April 5, 1985, 5,000 radio stations across Africa, | | | | Unfortunately, the high-level 'G-8' meetings shifted |
| North America, Asia, China, and Europe simultaneously | | | | focus, albeit briefly away from the positivism of "Band |
| played "We Are the World," a song that was written | | | | Aid 20" due to terrorist bomb attacks in London. |
| by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. The song was | | | | Remarkably, the show went on with simultaneous |
| produced by the legendary Quincy Jones and | | | | broadcast of artists' performances from around the |
| revolved around a simple idea: to unite American | | | | world. The CD version quickly sold 200,000 copies...it |
| recording artists and help raise money for the poor | | | | included the fastest-selling single of the year on it. Over |
| and less fortunate famine relief victims in one of | | | | two dozen international artists united including Bob |
| Africa's most remarkable lands, Ethiopia. | | | | Geldof (he gets around), U2's Bono (a long-time |
| This kind gesture was initialized by Calypso music | | | | activist), Dido, Nigel Godrich, Chris Martin, and Ultravox's |
| legend, Harry Belafonte, who first contacted the head | | | | Midge Ure--another key player in the program. |
| of the United Support of Artists for Africa foundation, | | | | Let's get a quick glimpse of a few other 'intentional |
| Ken Kragen. Kragen then reached out to Lionel Richie, | | | | acts of kindness' that the music community collectively |
| whose wife passed the idea on to Stevie Wonder the | | | | made towards solving dilemmas like cancer, America's |
| following day. Then music's best, Quincy Jones, signed | | | | impoverished farming industry, and famine in Africa. |
| on as producer and brought in Michael Jackson. The | | | | We'll take a close look at how fragile the gift of life |
| rest is history. | | | | can actually be in this unruly continent, then we'll be on |
| As America's "We Are the World" propelled up | | | | our way deep into its villages to see up close and |
| Billboard's charts, the other songs on the top five | | | | personal what the '411' is on African tribal music and |
| singles list were "One More Night" by Phil Collins, | | | | the people that made it, in the motherland. |
| "Crazy for You" and "Material Girl" by Madonna, and | | | | Similar projects to "We Are the World" and "Band Aid" |
| "Nightshift" by The Commodores. The "We Are The | | | | made their way to the music market including "Live for |
| World" song was recorded on January 28, 1985 on the | | | | Life" and "Farm Aid," the latter being an annual event |
| evening of the American Music Awards, which was a | | | | spearheaded by country music icon Willie Nelson. |
| smart way to guarantee that the top recording acts | | | | Kicked off in September of 1985 in Champagne, Illinois, |
| would be present. Sure enough, others quickly followed | | | | this fundraising event included the peoples' own John |
| suit, and before long, the list of supporting acts had | | | | Mellencamp, who busted onto the music scene in the |
| grown to include over three dozen celebrities such as: | | | | early 80s with a 'Cougar' scratched in between his first |
| Dan Aykroyd Jackie Jackson Cyndi Lauper Kenny | | | | and last names. He also wrote "a little diddy about |
| Rogers | | | | Jack and Diane"--a song about trying to make it in the |
| Harry Belafonte LaToya Jackson Kenny Loggins | | | | heartland. Estimates indicate this fundraiser generated |
| Diana Ross | | | | over $20 million for farmers in America by showcasing |
| Lindsay Buckingham Marlon Jackson Bette Midler Paul | | | | a live concert and studio tracks. |
| Simon | | | | The goal of "Farm Aid" was to help keep creditors |
| Kim Carnes Michael Jackson Willie Nelson Bruce | | | | from foreclosing on family-owned farms. An assorted |
| Springsteen | | | | music lineup included Country, Blues and Rock |
| Ray Charles Randy Jackson John Oates Tina Turner | | | | performances by the likes of Neil Young and Dave |
| Bob Dylan Tito Jackson Jeffrey Osborne Dionne | | | | Matthews. This event was commemorated in 2005 |
| Warwick | | | | with a 20 year anniversary concert held in Tinley Park, |
| Sheila E. Al Jarreau Steve Perry Stevie Wonder | | | | Illinois. Between the very first concert and this one, |
| Bob Geldof Waylon Jennings The Pointer Sisters Huey | | | | annual events took place in cities as diverse as Austin |
| Lewis | | | | (Texas), Columbus (Ohio), Lincoln (Nebraska) and even |
| Darryl Hall Billy Joel Lionel Richie & | | | | in America's heartland of Indiana and Iowa. Additional |
| James Ingram Quincy Jones Smokey Robinson The | | | | cities like New Orleans, Seattle, and Virginia also |
| News | | | | contributed by hosting some of these benefit concerts. |
| CBS Records' Columbia and Epic labels had the bulk | | | | The purpose of the "Live for Life" album was to raise |
| of contributing artists. The song's opening developed | | | | funds for cancer prevention and treatment. It was |
| from a basic raw phrase, and then its chorus evolved | | | | released on I.R.S. Records in 1986, and distributed by |
| into an international anthem of the world. Dropping the | | | | MCA Records. Executive producer Miles Copeland |
| music down was the first phase of production. They | | | | supervised the project; other great names on the |
| accomplished this at the studio by capturing the | | | | album included Ian and Stewart Copeland, Bob Marley |
| instrumental performances of musicians into the | | | | (who ironically died of the disease May 5, 1981), R.E.M., |
| studio's multi-track recording system. The lyrics were | | | | The Alarm, General Public, Sting, The Bangles, Oingo |
| later added to the instrumental as the song | | | | Boingo, The Go-Go's, Squeeze, and Derek Holt. |
| progressed. | | | | Over the subsequent years to come and into the new |
| Producer Quincy Jones turned three days of | | | | millennium, many music releases followed analogous |
| pre-production work with Lionel Richie and Michael | | | | paths to address urgent medical issues. In 2001, fashion |
| Jackson into a recording session of less than three | | | | maverick Chuck Navasky and Radio Records |
| hours, by advising artists in advance to "check their | | | | released "One Less Tear--Brothers & Sisters |
| egos at the door." As this unforgettable recording | | | | United In The Fight Against Cancer," featuring songs by |
| session transpired, the performers did their parts, | | | | a widely assorted list of artists and celebrities including: |
| leaving Richie and Jones in the studio tightening up the | | | | Nellie Briles Trevor Johnson Ricochet |
| track until the following morning. Recorded in | | | | Carol Chase C. Danny Lewis Eric Rigler |
| Hollywood's A&M Studios, all of the artists were | | | | Robin Cole Ryan Marshall Dale Russell |
| arranged choir-style with a half-dozen microphones in | | | | Coppola Tia McGraff Hal Schaefer |
| place for the song's chorus. | | | | Tony Curtis Olivia Newton-John Kevin Sharp |
| In a little over a month after its recording, "We Are the | | | | Dawn Vince Neil Mark Slaughter |
| World" arrived in stores. Needless to say, Harry | | | | Cahal Dunne Wesley Oliver Gabriella Weiser |
| Belafonte's dream parlayed itself into a music industry | | | | L.C. Greenwood Jim Peterick Stacey Woodson |
| phenomenon when between Thursday, March 7 and | | | | Ken Griffey, Sr. Cathy Richardson Donnie/Johnny Van |
| Sunday March 10, 1985, over 800,000 copies were | | | | Zant |
| sold. Entering the Billboard singles chart at #21, it | | | | Other luminaries jumped on the bandwagon. Here's the |
| became the fastest-rising Billboard #1 single in 10 years. | | | | beauty of this project to me: many talented people |
| In less than a decade, the Commodores' front man | | | | committed their time to help in assembling a truly |
| Lionel Richie scored his eighth #1 single by writing "We | | | | inspirational music CD. All proceeds from the CD were |
| Are the World." | | | | donated to cancer research. Some good people |
| Although a fierce bidding war for the release of the | | | | stepped up for this mission to help battle a bad |
| record probably took place between record | | | | disease. It was the right thing to do, and so was |
| companies like Motown (Lionel Richie's label) and Epic | | | | another previous, multi-cultural musical event: the 1985 |
| (Michael Jackson's), Columbia Records won out; it was | | | | effort of "Live Aid" concerts that assisted in reducing |
| Epic's sister company, and a division of CBS Records | | | | the catastrophic famine in Ethiopia during the mid 80s. |
| (part of the CBS conglomerate). | | | | The "Live Aid" event was broadcasted from London, |
| To comprehend the significance of the bidding wars, | | | | England, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It featured an |
| just figure in the economics. By the new decade, CBS | | | | all-star lineup that showcased 16 hours of |
| would go on to be sold to the Sony Corporation for $2 | | | | performances by 60 acts. Unfortunately, reports |
| billion. Sony recouped its investment within a year | | | | surfaced that not all of the funding went for good. |
| thanks to chart-topping hits by acts like Mariah Carey, | | | | Some donations were diverted to finance the |
| Luther Vandross, Jermaine Dupri's So So Def | | | | operations of a dictator who used the money to |
| releases...and Michael Jackson, also known to some as | | | | reclaim land, causing an estimated 100,000 people to |
| the 'King of Pop.' | | | | lose their lives. |
| By mid-May, Columbia presented a check to the | | | | We should always remain mindful when huge amounts |
| United Support of Artists for Africa Foundation in the | | | | of money are given to seemingly innocent people |
| amount of $6.5 million, which was only two months | | | | through the Internet. Fraud happens! Donations should |
| after the initial release date. Additional sales netted | | | | be well thought out and require the utmost attention |
| more than 7 million singles and nearly 4.5 million albums. | | | | before possible victims dig into their bank accounts to |
| Within a year, media and product sales generated | | | | give away money. Widespread Internet fraud has |
| over $40 million. | | | | been used to support terrorists in Nigeria and other |
| Though "We Are the World" wasn't first, it was | | | | regions of the world. This happens in much the same |
| America's version of the United Kingdom's "Band Aid." | | | | way that other Internet 'spammers and scammers' |
| The key here is that each release brought light to the | | | | attempt to separate people from their money. |
| issue of starving Africans doing whatever they could | | | | Regardless of the few negative aspects that tagged |
| to cling onto life. But today, does its impact continue to | | | | along, socially uplifting projects such as "We Are The |
| make a difference? Would there still be widespread | | | | World," "Band Aid," "Live for Life," "Farm Aid," and "One |
| social issues like these? I'm curious how many people | | | | Less Tear--Brothers & Sisters United In The Fight |
| have answers to these questions. | | | | Against Cancer" all displayed the power of good |
| BAND AID | | | | people uniting for a worthwhile cause. As for the "Live |
| Like I just pointed out, the "We Are the World" | | | | Aid" event, organizer Bob Geldof was determined to |
| conglomeration was an American form of the UK's | | | | make a difference, and that's what he did by |
| "Band Aid," a project that began its recording phase | | | | orchestrating events of this magnitude. |
| several months prior to America's efforts, on | | | | Coinciding with the 2005 three day 'G-8' superpower |
| November 25th 1984. "Band Aid" was released on | | | | summit in Scotland around America's July 4th |
| December 3rd, just in time to cash in on holiday music | | | | Independence Day celebration, the 20th anniversary of |
| sales. It's no secret that most of the industry's products | | | | "Live Aid" held worldwide fundraisers to reduce |
| are sold around the holiday season. | | | | poverty in Africa. This summit gathered leaders of the |
| "Band Aid" was a premier musical fundraising project | | | | world's wealthiest and most powerful nations to play |
| that assisted the needy people in Africa. It featured | | | | golf, eat expensive food, drink some bubbly, and be |
| performances that came from almost four dozen | | | | merry (well, maybe not in that order). Some time was |
| mostly British recording artists and producers including | | | | also allotted to ponder the issues that affected the |
| Midge Ure (Ultravox), who composed the melody and | | | | 'have mores' (capitalism), the 'have-nots' (3rd world |
| music tracks to the lyrics of Boomtown Rats member | | | | famine, poverty), and both groups (health, terrorism, |
| and event organizer, Bob Geldof. Also in the lineup | | | | global warming and weather conditions). The G-8 |
| were Duran Duran, Sting, Paul Young, and The Culture | | | | summit aimed to address these important issues and |
| Club's Boy George. Other British acts signed up, and a | | | | try to come up with a strategy to manage them. |
| few American recording artists popped up too--like | | | | As mentioned before, a momentary lapse of reason |
| Jody Watley, formerly of R&B group Shalamar | | | | caused the focus of this high-powered convention to |
| and Kool & The Gang members Robert 'Kool' Bell, | | | | be diverted as a series of terrorist bomb attacks |
| James 'JT' Taylor, and Dennis Taylor. | | | | raised havoc throughout London. The blessing here is |
| There was a void of any major American Pop/Rock | | | | that each event (the G-8 summit and concerts) still |
| artists, thus initiating the U.S.A. for Africa's "We Are the | | | | happened, thereby sending a message to terrorists |
| World." Band Aid's ensemble of recording artists | | | | declaring "we may be scarred, but we're not scared." |
| performed a touching song called "Do They Know It's | | | | British Prime Minister Tony Blair's proposal to eliminate |
| Christmas?" This inspirational composition reminded | | | | the debt of the world's poorest countries was a grand |
| many of their blessings at a poignant time of the year. | | | | plan to pitch at the summit. It included proposals to |
| Project organizer Bob Geldof must have been proud | | | | double developmental aid to Africa with the hope of |
| to see the fruits of his labor turn into sales of over 3 | | | | giving it a genuine opportunity at world trade in a global |
| million copies in Britain, making it the biggest-selling single | | | | market. This all sounded good because it alerted |
| at that time. With sales of one million units in the first | | | | everyone as to how much attitudes really have |
| week alone, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" assumed | | | | changed since the 1500s United Kingdom society. |
| the position of being the fastest-selling single of all time | | | | The last time a summit like this took place was in 1998 |
| in the U.K. | | | | and it was hosted by the aforementioned British Prime |
| Another case of famine hit Ethiopia in 1989 that led to | | | | Minister Tony Blair in Birmingham, England. On the |
| another outreach of love by empathetic British music | | | | same days that politicians performed lip-service for the |
| people: "Band Aid II." Produced by the hit-making Stock | | | | people and the press at the G-8 meetings, countless |
| Aitken Waterman, a part of the 17 acts included: | | | | musicians were delivering amazing performances |
| Bananarama | | | | simultaneously, through multiple broadcasts from |
| The Bros | | | | opposite hemispheres. Since its 1975 inception in |
| Cathy Denis | | | | France, the summit meetings have taken place in |
| Kylie Minogue | | | | different locations around the world. Canada joined in |
| The Pasadenas | | | | 1976 and by 1998, Russia came on board. |
| Chris Rea | | | | Concerts in support of the 2005 landmark event were |
| Cliff Richard | | | | held in Berlin, Canada, Johannesburg, London, Moscow, |
| Lisa Stansfield | | | | Paris, Philadelphia, Rome and Tokyo. Some of the |
| Technotronic | | | | superstars featured throughout the years included U2's |
| These artists and others banded together with the | | | | Bono, Mariah Carey, Run-DMC's DMC, The Who's |
| hope of putting a lid on reoccurring monstrosities such | | | | Roger Daltrey, Destiny's Child, Duran Duran, Faith Hill, |
| as starvation and poverty in Africa. Despite these | | | | Madonna, Paul McCartney, Will Smith, Sting and Stevie |
| magnificent efforts, today there are still folks that | | | | Wonder. It even brought out Microsoft's Bill Gates. Bill |
| contemplate amongst themselves: do events such as | | | | brought his band XDP (Xtreme Deep Pockets), and did |
| "Band Aid" or "Band Aid II" continue to hold an impact | | | | a cover version of Pink Floyd's "Money." Just kidding |
| some 15 years ("Band Aid II") and 20 years ("Band | | | | folks! From time to time, I have to make sure you're |
| Aid") after the fact? Was it all still influential by the | | | | paying attention. Back on a serious note, the presence |
| November 2004 release of "Band Aid 20" (a benefit | | | | of Bill Gates put his philanthropic side in plain view to |
| for famine relief in Sudan's Darfur region) and 2005's | | | | the masses...and people were taking notes. |
| 'Group of 8' or 'G-8' superpower 3-day summit | | | | |