We Are the World - 25 Year Later

**DBZ** · 02-13-2010, 10:43 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glny4jSciVI

Thoughts?

Hardly seems fair to critique given the impetus behind this, but nevertheless, comparisons to the original are unavoidable.

Honestly, I wasn't particularly moved by this version...at all, really. Maybe it's because the original left such an indelible mark on pop culture, that anything would pale in comparison.

But regardless, it came off feeling like a giant PR stunt. It seemed like every actor and musician was in this, and of course all the big names each get their "moment" in the spotlight, replete with heavy autotune backing them up.

What say you?

**MOIJTO** · 02-13-2010, 02:00 PM

It sucked!

And once again a bunch of no headed rockheads will run out and buy this crap.

**Karina1974** · 02-13-2010, 03:02 PM

Typical in that it follows the general rule of original vs. remake patterns:

Sorry... nice try, but it was already done right the first time around.

**shah** · 02-13-2010, 04:23 PM

the aim is really noble, but listening to Enrique, wailing Wyclef, or autotuned Lil Wayne and Akon was a bit too much...I hope it will raise a lot of funds for the earthquake victims, but the final result does not really live up to expectations (btw, the same happened imho to Band Aid 20 whose "Do They Know It's Christmas" couldn't really be compared to the original version from 1984...)

**PDilemma** · 02-13-2010, 05:29 PM

I found it painful. Celine over-singing (like always), all the rapping thrown in so those people could have their moment in the spotlight and a lot of untalented annoying poppets like Jonases and Miley Cyrus...ouch.

**orbitz** · 02-13-2010, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by MOIJTO

It sucked!

And once again a bunch of no headed rockheads will run out and buy this crap.

If the proceeds go to charity then why the hate?

**pilgrimsoul** · 02-13-2010, 06:51 PM

Steaming pile of caca. Seriously, indescribably BAD. I understand now why Beyonce decided not to take part...only wish Barbara Streisand had declined as well. What an embarrassment!

**duane** · 02-13-2010, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by DBZ

Thoughts?

NOT!

**Anita18** · 02-13-2010, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by shah

the aim is really noble, but listening to Enrique, wailing Wyclef, or autotuned Lil Wayne and Akon was a bit too much...I hope it will raise a lot of funds for the earthquake victims, but the final result does not really live up to expectations (btw, the same happened imho to Band Aid 20 whose "Do They Know It's Christmas" couldn't really be compared to the original version from 1984...)

And what was with the echo effect on everybody? Jennifer Hudson needs no more help with reverberation! It sounded SO cheap!

**MOIJTO** · 02-13-2010, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by orbitz

If the proceeds go to charity then why the hate?

After they pay who, what and where?

**DBZ** · 02-13-2010, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by shah

the aim is really noble, but listening to Enrique, wailing Wyclef, or autotuned Lil Wayne and Akon was a bit too much...

Oh, god...Enrique and Wyclef.

Soon as I heard Enrique's vibrato I flashbacked to that awful, melodramatic music vid he did with Jennifer Love Hewitt. Can that guy ever sing without sounding like he's trying to seduce you? Haiti doesn't need your "sexy" voice, Enrique.

And Wyclef...wow...I'm not too familiar with his music, but does he normally sing this way? His sheep "honking" was so distracting it was comical.

Also, did anyone spot Vince Vaughn in the crowd? Was he this version's Dan Aykroyd, or something? I kept thinking, "WTF is he doing there?"

**silverstars** · 02-14-2010, 12:14 AM

I think that the fact that it's going to charity is great...

...but I absolutely hated it. The lead singer from the Pussycat Dolls?! Miley Cyrus?! ENRIQUE?! I think that they would have been better off re-releasing the original as some sort of special charity package or something.

Sometimes I wonder why they pick who they do for these charity albums. I think that it's such a great idea to do it, but a lot of times it seems like they pick out the most talentless people possible or just go for the big names over actual talent (although they got Barbra to do this...I wonder how they managed that?). I remember they did something like this with John Lennon's songs a few years ago and my friend bought it for me as a gift. I liked that the money was going to charity, but the second I put the CD in and heard Avril Lavigne signing "Imagine," I just couldn't deal with it....

**Carmen Ovsiannikov** · 02-14-2010, 01:23 AM

Originally Posted by DBZ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glny4jSciVI

Thoughts?

Hardly seems fair to critique given the impetus behind this, but nevertheless, comparisons to the original are unavoidable.

Honestly, I wasn't particularly moved by this version...at all, really. Maybe it's because the original left such an indelible mark on pop culture, that anything would pale in comparison.

But regardless, it came off feeling like a giant PR stunt. It seemed like every actor and musician was in this, and of course all the big names each get their "moment" in the spotlight, replete with heavy autotune backing them up.

What say you?

Okay, I don't feel quite so badly now. I was thinking the same thing, that the new version doesn't compare to the original and IMO certain singers in particular almost seemed to be trying to upstage the others. ITA about it coming off as a PR opportunity for those involved.

I do tell myself that at the end of the day no matter why the new "We are the World" was done or how the singers handled their parts the important thing is the money being raised for the relief efforts in Haiti.

**nubka** · 02-14-2010, 01:52 AM

I thought it was AWFUL...

The original is waaaaaaaaaaay better!

**Angelskates** · 02-14-2010, 02:06 AM

They should have done a special artistic CD cover on the original CD; more people would buy that I think.

**JamieSix** · 02-14-2010, 02:23 AM

AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL!!!!!! Lil' Wayne with the shitty Autotune that has recently ruined music and real singing, Justin Bieber opening the song

stupid rap part that shouldn't have been there (I love hip-hop but it just should NOT have been there!), Wyclef Jean's screaming... all I heard was crap crap crap.... except for the Janet/Michael duet, Celine Dion, and... that's about it.

**PrincessLeppard** · 02-14-2010, 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by nubka

I thought it was AWFUL...

The original is waaaaaaaaaaay better!

And the original sucked. It shouldn't have been hard to do better. And yet...

**Rex** · 02-14-2010, 04:05 AM

Originally Posted by PrincessLeppard

And the original sucked. It shouldn't have been hard to do better. And yet...

It was not the best of songs. With all those different vocal styles and such, it was always a bit of a mish-mash to me. It lacks vocal harmony. The new version isn't much better.

**duane** · 02-15-2010, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by PrincessLeppard

And the original sucked...

Tell me about it!!

But as bad as the original was, the huge number of A-List stars was impressive. Other than Prince (who reportedly was to do a duet with MJ but backed out at the last minute), nearly every elite artist at the time participated. 25 years later, we have old-timers, has-beens, who-dats, and how-comes (as in...they're famous?? How come?)

**skaternum** · 02-15-2010, 03:41 PM

I thought it was no worse than the original.

There were some rough parts in it, but overall it was about as well done as the original. I found the MJ dubs to be quite disconcerting and just tacky.

As for the complaints about who sang, consider these stellar participants from the original 25 years ago:
Dan Ackroyd
Kim Carnes
Sean Hopper
Mario Cipollina
Latoya Jackson
Willie "Warble All Over The Place" Nelson

If those folks don't make you scratch your head, why should you be bothered by Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber?

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