Musical Musings

As I was perusing "Texts From Last Night," as I usually do every day or so, one text had me literally LOL'ing.

The extremely funny text read "(480): Just heard the new ‘We are the world'…Can I get my 10 bucks for Haiti back?"

While the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in January is not what I am laughing at, once you listen to the "We are the World" redo, I guarantee you will want to get on a plane to the 480-area code of Arizona to high-five the author of the text.

Basically, the redo is just plain horrible. Ever heard of the phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it?" Well the 80-something artists behind this song apparently haven't.

But I can't deny the good intentions behind the remake. Reportedly, Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie were planning on redoing the song and performing it on Jan.28 for its 25th anniversary. Once the earthquake hit Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12, the project turned into a charitable effort.

"We are the World" was originally written by Lionel Richie and the late Michael Jackson in 1985. The super-group behind the tune, named USA for Africa, featured such 80s heavyweights as Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel and Tina Turner. The single took home three Grammys, one American Music Award and a People's Choice Award.

Since its release, the original "We Are the World" has raised more than $63 million in revenue and has been named the biggest-selling single of all time. Over half of the total was spent on emergency relief and the balance was used "to support more than 500 different relief, rehabilitation and development projects in 18 different countries in sub-Saharan Africa," according to the We Are the World Foundation.

Recorded at the same studio as the original—Henson Recording Studios, formerly A&M Recording Studios, in Hollywood, Calif.—81 of today's hottest artists leant their vocal talents to the new "We Are the World." And I use the word "talent" very loosely. The remake was also produced by RedOne, Will.I.Am and Haitian-born Wyclef Jean .

The song, which was featured during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics on Feb.12, includes such artists as Pink, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Nick Jonas, Justin Bieber, Jason Mraz, Miley Cyrus, Usher and Kid Cudi. Click here for the complete list of artists.

I was happy to pay 99 cents on iTunes for the single because, while it's not much, it was at least something that I could give for the effort in Haiti. The song, over six minutes in length, features a unique addition of Lil Wayne's synthesized rapping, but overall the single feels rushed and poorly executed.

Musical critiques aside, if the remake of "We Are the World" can meet or exceed the money raised for Africa in 1985, then the whole effort was worth it. While ordinary individuals such as myself have limited ways in which we can contribute to the relief efforts in Haiti, the artists involved in the remake do have the resources available to actually make a difference. And what's a better way to help than doing something you love?

So in conclusion, the remake could have been done better, but how can I really criticize something that is for such a good cause? Such a complicated feeling behind a single is, after all, harder to fit into a witty text than something more straightforward.
To donate, download the song on iTunes, or go here.