We Are the World - The Story Behind the Song (1985)

A dream that became a song... an event... and a worldwide movement! See the making of a milestone as 45 of the biggest names in American popular music combine to record a song to help alleviate the suffering of starving millions in Africa and America. Narrated by Jane Fonda, this program provides a behind-the-scenes look at the night of January 28, 1985, to provide more than a moving collection of words, pictures and music - it's a living piece of history.

We Are the World - The Story Behind the Song

Loved the product and was very happy with the speedy service from Amzon. Great job!!! April 23, 2008

Heartwarming...

I finally purchased this DVD and I really enjoyed watching it. I think it's interesting how this was all arranged and how well they all worked together to get it done. Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie should have been filmed a lot more for DVD because they wrote the song, but I loved the footage of Michael practicing his part. Even after all this time, it was still very enjoyable. April 16, 2008

A MUST HAVE!

Do you remember what you were doing when this video came out? This was a historical moment and I'll never forget where I was when I first saw it. It was quite powerful! I love the extras. Buy it! Buy it! April 12, 2008

Great Behind-The-Scenes...

This is a great behind-the-scenes look at one of the biggest musical events of the twentieth century.

The documentary WE ARE THE WORLD: THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG (on dvd #1) is narrated and hosted by Jane Fonda and appears to have been made shortly after the historic recording session, which happened on January 28, 1985. Showing the celebrities arriving, meeting and greeting, and of course the recording of the song "We Are The World," as well as pre-writing and arrangement stages that took place days before(between Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones), viewers get a fly-on-the-wall experience of what went on that night.

It really is remarkable to see so many artist from different generations and musical styles combining forces for a greater cause. Where else would you see Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Kenny Rogers, The Pointer Sisters, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, and Ray Charles, among many others, singing together on one song? The documentary shows the actual breakdown of the recording of the chorus parts, the solos and the very short rehearsal sessions that took place that one night. The recording was done in three parts: the chorus, the line of solo artists that we see in the video, and additional solos by artists that were included after. The actual edited music video is also included.

On dvd #2 there is a ten-year anniversary documentary/interview with Harry Belafonte and this is curious to watch. As another reviewer pointed out, during this documentary Belafonte continues to point out how he got the idea and wanted to do something about the famine plaguing Ethiopia etc., but never once does he mention Bob Geldof. For those of you who remember that time, it was Bob Geldof (BOOMTOWN RATS) and Midge Ure(ULTRA-VOX) who started this whole thing with the song "Do They Know It's Christmas" that had many British singers/musicians(as well as American artists Jody Watley and Kool & the Gang and Irish band U2) contributing their talents and collaborating on that single. The British/Irish/American supergroup was called "BAND AID" and was created to help with relief aid to those starving in Ethiopia. The single "DO THEY KNOW..." was released in December 1984 and went to number one almost a month and a half before WE ARE THE WORLD was recorded.

It really has nothing to do with the enjoyment of watching these documentaries or saying which was better BAND AID or USA FOR AFRICA...and really small potatoes in the grand scheme of things...it's just a little troubling to see someone taking credit for a historic event without even mentioning Geldof or Band Aid (who historically were the pre-cursors to "We Are The World"). The documentary also includes the problems that happened with logistics and controversy of why some of the aid money never reached its destination that surrounded USA FOR AFRICA and talks about HANDS ACROSS AMERICA.

Additional footage is also included on dvd #2 including a live 1986 "American Music Awards" performance of WE ARE THE WORLD; Belafonte, Jackson, Richie and Jones accepting various awards for the song; and the "Live Aid" concert performance of that song. Also included is a booklet that gives an hour-by-hour play-by-play description of the recording session, which is a reprint of a 1985 LIFE magazine cover story.

Unless you actually remember this moment in time, or perhaps a huge fan of one of the artists who appear on WATW, this might not be enjoyable to watch. May 15, 2007

It's the best

Seeing this song and the making of it (behind the scenes) reminds me of the good things about my generation, the best things. Admitedly we did spawn the "me generation" but once in a while we did rock the establishment, we accelerated the end of the Vietnam conflict, and we did do some good altruistic things. This song and the USA for Africa cause and artists like Bob Dylan are testimony to that. May 13, 2007

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