Unsong: We are the World by U.S.A. for Africa (Side A) - 351

It’s 2025, and somehow, We Are The World is about to turn 40 years old. Time is a cruel joke.

This week and next we'll be taking a deep dive into one of the biggest charity singles ever recorded. You know the one—Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan looking completely lost, and a very questionable Cyndi Lauper fashion choice.

We cover:

• How this song was written in 10 days and recorded in one night (because the American Music Awards made it convenient).
• The absolute chaos of the recording session, including Lionel Richie trying to stay awake, Prince ghosting everyone, and Stevie Wonder insisting on singing in Swahili.
• Michael Jackson’s home studio, which included a chimpanzee, a Mynah bird that mimicked his voice, and a giant snake that terrified Lionel Richie.
• Why some artists hated the song, including Cyndi Lauper comparing it to a Pepsi commercial and Billy Joel thinking nobody actually liked it.
• What happened to the money, how We Are The World avoided Band Aid’s mistakes, and why Live Aid overshadowed it in the end.

We also attempt to answer some crucial questions:
Would a song like this even work today?
Why does Quincy Jones always have the best stories?
Has Bob Dylan ever looked more uncomfortable?

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Timestamps & Highlights

00:00 – Intro & Banter: Vikings, language learning, and Michael Christen (who?).
02:00 – Patreon Plug: Give us money, or at least send the pod to a mortal enemy.
06:47 – How "We Are The World" Came Together: The American Music Awards gave them a deadline, and chaos followed.
16:54 – Artists Who Hated It (or Rejected It): Prince, Madonna, and Billy Joel’s existential crisis.
27:20 – Michael Jackson’s Bizarre Recording Habits: A chimp, a bird, and a snake walk into a studio…
36:00 – The Chaotic Recording Session: Bob Dylan, Huey Lewis, and why Quincy Jones had to babysit 40 superstars.
47:00 – Stevie Wonder’s Swahili Suggestion: This actually happened.
54:00 – What Happened to the Money?: How We Are The World handled charity better than Band Aid.
1:06:30 – Live Aid & The Aftermath: How this song shaped charity singles forever.
1:18:00 – Final Thoughts & Outro: The legacy of We Are The World, and who we’d put on a modern version.

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Join the Conversation!

• Which solo line would you claim if you were forced to sing on We Are The World?
• Should Bob Dylan have just walked out?
• Would a charity single like this even work in 2024?

Tell us what you think, share the episode, and tag us if you’re spreading the good word.

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