.... those who have not lived the 80s as a teenager like us will never understand what this song means together with another great collaboration that was that of "Band Aid - Do they know it's christmas 1984".... all the our idols singing together.... it makes me cry!

Lionel Richie - 0:26 Stevie Wonder - 0:39 Paul Simon - 0:43 Kenny Rogers - 0:53 James Ingram - 0:59 Tina Turner - 1:06 Billy Joel - 1:13 Michael Jackson - 1:19 Diana Ross - 1:32 Dionne Warwick - 1:48 Willie Nelson - 2:02 Al Jarreau - 2:09 Bruce Springsteen - 2:15 Kenny Loggins - 2:21 Steve Perry - 2:28 Daryl Hall - 2:36 Huey Lewis - 2:48 Cyndi Lauper - 2:54 Kim Carnes - 3:02 Bob Dylan - 3:48 Ray Charles - 4:27 “We Are the World” Chorus (alphabetically) Dan Aykroyd Harry Belafonte Lindsey Buckingham Mario Cipollina Johnny Colla Sheila E. Bob Geldof Bill Gibson Chris Hayes Sean Hopper Jackie Jackson La Toya Jackson Marlon Jackson Randy Jackson Tito Jackson Waylon Jennings Bette Midler John Oates Jeffrey Osborne The Pointer Sisters Smokey Robinson “We Are the World” Instrumentalists David Paich - synthesizers Michael Boddicker - synthesizers, programming Paulinho da Costa - percussion Phil Collins - percussion Louis Johnson - synth bass Michael Omartian - keyboards Greg Phillinganes - keyboards John Robinson - drums Quincy Jones -- conductor

I’m now 68 and this still gets me emotional, such a collaboration and logistical effort by the biggest singers of our day.

Gen X here. I was in the first grade when this song and the video came out on MTV. The entire event went viral before viral was even a pop culture term. I am forever thankful and blessed to have been a child able to experience the 80s & 90s. There truly will never be another time like those again.

You're just watching the dream team of the 80's singers... This is fantastic

The BEAUTIFUL thing about this when it happened was that first off no egos and Quincy allowed EVERYONE to sing in their own distinctive tone and it came off beautifully, such a great moment in time

All the radio stations all over the country played this song simultaneously on the morning of March 28, 1986. I still can remember that special moment!

So many artists, you could go down each rabbit hole and have enough music to last you more than a lifetime

Some of the biggest singers in music history this will never happen ever again so much talent together with a purpose

Stevie and Bruce!! The duet you never you needed!

Go watch “The Making of We Are The World.” You will see that they all went to the studio after the Grammys & worked from like midnight to 8:00am & produced this song together!

I believe this was done right after the Grammy Awards, maybe the American Music Awards. After the show they all went to the studio and stayed up until the next day to record this beautiful song. I have to mention England did a collaboration first for African relief. Their song was, Do They know it’s Christmas.

MJ actually wrote 90% of the song!

I was a teenager in the late 70's and early 80's. THIS is my favorite collaboration PERIOD!! We'll NEVER see thus again. 😢

If I remember correctly, this was aired as a telethon so that people could donate, raising funds to feed the people of Africa during a terrible famine at the time. I do remember the big deal it was and how "everyone left their ego at the door" - it was really a beautiful thing - still is! Enjoyed your reaction to it.

The influence of Quincy Jones is strong. For him to get super star multimillionaires to sing "aah" in the background while someone else sings melody shows his status. I always also though that when everybody learned there was a lead part at the end probably caused some discussions. It shows Ray Charles' status that he was able to do that without complaint.

I absolutely could listen to this every day. A favorite for decades! So glad you’re reacting to this. Pretty soon, you will be able to recognize a LOT of these LEGENDS. Beautiful song….. beautiful message. ❤

There will never be that much talent in one room again. Ever.

The rehersal/recording began at 8:30pm one evening and was completed at 4:30am, the next morning. One take, because attitudes and characters were left outside the door. 64 million was raised.

This video is legendary. Every great singer from my generation gathered in one place to sing for peace. Where did those hopes go.

There's a 50-minute documentary online about how this song came to ge. It was really great to watch how the personalities came together for an all-nighter after the AMA's.

What a glorious time this was. People don't realise that this song reached far and wide. I was a 12 year old in a school in India when we actually rehearsed singing this song for some event.

The singers are Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson. Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie, Nelson, Al Jarreau, Kenny Loggins, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Dan Aykroyd, Harry Belafonte, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof, Sheila E, John Oates, Jackie Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Sean Hopper, Bill Gibson, Johnny Colla, Mario Cipollina, Chris Hayes, Smokey Robinson, Lindsey Buckingham, June Pointer, Ruth Pointer, Anita Pointer, and Waylon Jennings, rip to Michael Jackson, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Ray Charles, Al Jarreau, June Pointer, Anita Pointer and Waylon Jennings

I love this song!! ❤️ especially the Stevie Wonder / Bruce Springsteen collab

We are the world came out in 1985, raising money for Africa.

This was huge when i was a kid in the 80's. It meant so much to us. Also, as therock mentioned, in 1984 a british supergroup called Band Aid did a christmas song that is still a holiday staple called "do they know its christmas". Phill Collins is on the drums in that one. Same premise as this one only it was for anti-famine relief in Ethiopia. Wonderful song and i hope you'll react to that one soon and see if you recognize the artists in Band Aid.

There will NEVER be another decade like the 80s. When people actually cared. Those days are gone. These artist are all legends and amazing people.

I was 9 when this came out in 1985. It was written by Micheal Jackson and Lionel Richie, who gathered famous musicians (and others) to record the song as a benefit for Africa, particularly Ethiopia, which was experiencing a severe famine at the time. (I will never forget the pictures of the starving skeletonlike kids with flies crawling on them. The phrase "Stop wasting food. There are children starving in Africa," which parents often use to git their children to clean their plates, took on an entirely new meaning )..Through the sale of the album, I think they raised about 65 million dollars, which they then donated to various charities that could provide relief. They didn't get any proceeds from it. I used to know all the lyrics, because our music teacher would always have us sing it in class. It always felt special to hear it played.

So many Hall of Famers/Legends on one song

Neverever you will find so many Legends of Music in one Room again, this Song let me always get my Eyes real wet

Others have mentioned "Band-Aid" for "Do They Know It's Christmas", but I want to make a case for "Hear N' Aid" which "Stars", which were the metal starts of the 80's coming together in this manner to help as well. Nobody invited the metalheads to help, so they did it on their own! 🙂

I can not believe that people who do these reactions have no clue who these amazing legends of music are. By the way Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie wrote this so g.

It’s amazing that this song was written and recorded all in one night

They did this right after an award ceremony. No one got paid for their part in this song. It was the creative work of Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson. A few different people worked on it for a few extra days.

There were so many legends in this video. I love this song and always have. There were others in this video that are rarely mentioned but I noticed not only the ones that had solos but there was also the Jacksons, Latoya Jackson, Dan Ackroid with the glasses, singer from Fleetwood Mac, the man who sang Joy and Pain, Smokey Robinson, Pointer Sisters, and Bette Midler as well.

Many years later and this is still as powerful as the first time I heard this An yes this was on cassette back then

All these mega-stars minded the sign posted outside the recording studio entrance: "Leave Your Egos At The Door". This amazing song happened when they did. Thanks for your reaction.

Band Aid came first in the UK in late '84 with 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' (and that led directly into Live Aid) and was followed by USA for Africa with 'We Are the World' and then The Northern Lights in Canada with 'Tears Are Not Enough'.

When this commercial came on during the commercial breaks, before cable happened. This was a bop for a great cause. All brought together by the conductor and producer Quincey Jones

You guys should watch the making of this video. Talk about super stars who r so selfless. The ones not involved in their own parts were suggesting how another group could do their harmony parts. It's amazing. Once in a lifetime and I am so happy to have heard it in my lifetime. So much talent in one place focusing on a greater good.

This was done after a groups of British artists recorded a similar song -- Do They Know It's Christmas?. You should check out the live version of that from the Live Aid concert in 1985. A major lineup of heavy hitters from England and Ireland and a stadium full of people losing their minds.

Quincy Jones put a sign on the enterance, "Leave your egos at the door.".

How could u stop it right when the legendary greatest songwriter ever sang Mr Bob Dylan !

In 1985 American entertainer and social activist HARRY BELAFONTE had the idea to organize the recording of a song including all the generation's best-known music artists. He planned to have the proceeds donated to a new organization called UNITED SUPPORT of ARTISTS for AFRICA (USA for AFRICA). The non-profit foundation would then provide food and relief aid to starving people in Africa "WE ARE THE WORLD" is a CHARITY single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for AFRICA in 1985. It was written by MICHAEL JACKSON and LIONEL RICHIE and produced by QUINCY JONES and MICHAEL O' MARTIAN for the album WE ARE THE WORLD. With sales in excess of 20 million copies, it is the eighth BEST SELLING physical single OF ALL TIME.

This was made after an awards show, all met at the studio, stayed all night. Quincy put a sign on the door that said "check your egos at this door"...the only person that declined was Prince. (From what I've read) And the guy in the glasses is Dan Ackroyd, he wanted to participate! Great reaction guys!

You need to see the British Band Aid song that preceded this "do the know it's Christmas?"

Michael Jackson's idea, Lionel Richie wrote the song and Quincy Jones conducted, arranged and produced it. Everyone volunteered their time to the project.

The most music talent ever put in 1 room in history...FACT.

We had to find a day to bring all these legends together .It wasn't easy realy something will never see again

Great reaction! I will never forget sitting in my college cafeteria and this came on the monitor, and everything seem to stop and all eyes on the monitors when this song played.

Next you must do the, Band-Aid song “Do They Know It’s Christmas”, some of Britain’s and Europe’s stars.

I once heard there was a sign outside the studio that said "leave the ego at the door."

This was done in the middle of the night after all of their concerts were over.

The Bruce and Stevie duet gives me goosebumps every time...just sheer talented singing their hearts out...the combo is incredible.

Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote this song

The song was written mostly by Michael Jackson - with a little support by Lionel Richie - and produced by Quincy Jones.

Back in the 80s when no one cared about color. Miss those days

Many of these singers have passed on. RIP 😍

I can't read all the comments but I've seen it eluded to that the international efforts to relieve the famine in Africa (primarily in Ethiopia) started with British pop and rock stars collaborating around Christmastime with the song "Do They Know It's Christmastime".....this video and song was the American answer to that. The song, "We Are The World", was written by Lionel Ritchie and Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian. In 1985, this culminated in the biggest concert ever put together....sourced on two continents, Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia and featured NUMEROUS musical artists and bands of that time and from the past.....aired on MTV and simulcast on FM radio stations throughout the country (KLOS, in the LA radio market).....it was a magnificent, all-day mega event! My roommates and I watched the entire thing! Later, the following year, a collection of metal stars got together, headed up by Ronnie James Dio, and called "Hear 'N Aid"....made their similar contribution as the first two groups of people, with their song "We're Stars".

@3:08 there is actually a "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" song from 2010.

I'm sitting here watching this and seeing the ones we've lost since this came out.... and now Tina Turner has joined the choir on the other side.

this collaboration is what you get when you have the greatest producer and the greatest singer with a dream. everyone is in

Stevie and Bruce was magical

This was 1985. I had taken my 2 year old to a movie. Back then, there were stores who sold televisions. We came out of the theater and there was a huge crowd in front of the TV store. We walked over to see and this is what was on. It had just been released and everyone was in tears.

" Dont The British artists also did one at the same time for the same cause " Don't they Know It's Christmas, Canadian artist did : Tears are not enough".

It was also said that Prince left because he demanded a solo role. Everyone was told before arriving that egos would not be allowed. Prince was asked to leave.

This so very awesome! Love your reactions.

So glad yall did this one, thank you for sharing your thoughts.

This was really cool to watch alongside u a really cool one to watch is the British concert for Africa from 1985 as well because some very famous musicians played in it as well.

What many people don't know is that this song was the 'US answer' to the UK/IR's worldwide hit 'Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?' some month before With all the Brit-Pop Legends (Sting, Paul McCartney, Bono, P.Collins, Bowie....) You should check out this song too.

The song was done in 1 night after the 1985 Grammys the only time they was able to get all the artist together at 1 time alot of them was up tilll the early morning!

Most of the singers in this video are now gone not sure how many are still around since Harry Belafonte passed away on April 25, 2023

From a time when artists cared about others than themselves. And from my youth. 80s, the best decade in music. 😀

All the money went to the right place. They still go to Africa and build schools and everything.

the guy on the left looks like paul simon if he was a tennis instructor

I graduated HS this yr... Quincy asked everyone , apparently after the Grammy's to come together an do this song... and everyone did... this is just so much talent in one room ... coming together ...37 or 38 yrs ago... it's sad to me... that true change hasn't happened as far as color lines...

They redid this song with modern day artists in 2010. Known as We Are the World 25 for Haiti.

You pointed out the guy in the glasses. It turns out that it's Dan Akroyd who was just doing a delivery to the studio and wound up in the back row for the chorus...lol. Thanks for the review! I watch this at least once every holiday season and yours was the first time this year.

Great reaction.ive loved this song since it came out

They are legendary singer's you will be able to identify 😮 them as long as you dive into the music . Have a blast ❣️ May be in 6 months play the song again, see how you do.

❤ Class of 71❤ living in these area's of the 50s from the big bopper,R.Vallens,60's Beatles,Elvis,Stones,70'sELO,CCR 80's90's etc,to the present 2023/24 its been a great journey to see and hear the entertainment set before everyone.❤😊

I was 9 when this song came out. I had the 45 and probably still do somewhere packed away. This song is my childhood I will never not love hearing this ❤

I get choked up every time I hear this

All proceeds from the worldwide album sales went to the feed the people. All the performers were told by Quincy Jones to check their egos at the door

RIP Kenny, James, Tina, Michael, Al, & Ray. Thank you "for all the love you passed our way". (Stevie Ray Vaughn "Life Without You")

There is a Netflix documentary about the night they made this song called "The Greatest Night in Pop"

Bob Geldof who had the original idea to help the starving of Ethiopia, wrote and sung in the original UK song and can also be seen in the back row contributing by invitation

Michael Jackson did something similar after 9-11. "What more can I give"

Brilliant reaction!! Can i suggest ''Heal The World'' by Michael Jackson or anything from the Dangerous Era?

None of them received a dime. They all flew in from all over the world. They worked through the night. They said they had a great time.

Not only is this the most legendary collaboration of all time was also the one time in history, where they had to record a song with these many artists in one night

Absolutely the best colab in the history of the world. The absolute biggest stars in the world in the 80's was involved in this song. Also if the musicians and us as a society was as united as we all were back then, the world would be such a better place. We are more divided now than ever before. That is why the 1980's was such a great era and time in this great country we live in and this is exactly the meaning of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I wish every single day that we would return to this time and be free and compassionate like this again. No matter the beliefs of these performers they came together for a great cause and stood UNITED and the whole country back then was on board with the meaning of this song and the inspiration that we can be greater than any ones beliefs or lifestyles. I mean we can only hope to get back to what the world and our country was in these great times and era.

This was released in 1985. I was actually on an aircraft carrier in the US Navy, on our way to Mombasa, Kenya when I first heard the song.

I still have this Vinyl 😂❤

This collaboration was in 1985. It was epic. It was done to raise money for humanitarian aid for Africa to combat femine in Ethiopia.This was also the same year, I graduated from high school. Let me just say that the 80s had some of the best music and entertainers. We had the European invasion, with bands such as, Tears for Fears, U2,Air Supply, Eurythmics, Adam Ant, Aha,Billy Idol, Spandau Ballet, Inxs, Duran Duran,Bonnie Tyler,Frankie Goes to Hollywood,Rick Astley, Paul Young, Berlin, Scorpions, Pet Shop Boys, Thomas Dolby, Howard Jones, Thompson Twins, New Order, Flock of Seagulls, Wham,Depeche Mode,Queen, Def Leopard, Culture Club,The Police, The Cure, Simple Minds,Dexys Midnight Runners and so many more. This was also the time of MTV, which occurred in August 1981. A glorious time for the music industry. Just my opinion.

80s is bigger than life

Bob Geldof, a British musician (his band was called. Boomtown Rats) saw news footage of drought and famine stricken Ethiopia. He was moved to do something to help the people of Ethiopia. He got together with Midge Ure of Ultravox, and in the space of less than two months they coordinated musicians, got a song written and recorded it in time for Christmas. The song was called “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The song was a massive hit and proceeds went to help Ethiopia. Watch that video. They grabbed anyone that was in London at the time to sing and record the video. Kool & The Gang happened to be in London and even they are in the video. After seeing what the Brits pulled off, Harry Belafonte decided that the Americans needed to help as well. Collaborating with Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie and MJ, they got to writing. They decided the only way to get all those famous people together was after the American Music Awards show. After the awards they all filed into the music studio to record. The one artist who refused to participate in the video mwas Prince. If you’re wondering how come Whitney Houston isn’t in this, it’s because nobody knew who she was yet. Her first hit came a few months later (although her auntie, Dionne Warwick, is singing in the video.) Famously, there was a sign put on the door saying “check your egos at the door.” We Are The World was a massive hit. The heavy metal community felt snubbed because they weren’t asked to participate. Ronnie James Dio (one of the best voices to ever exist in any genre), put together a heavy metal version called We Are Stars (also worth watching). The union of massive stars to support a cause set the ball rolling for Live Aid, a massive one day music festival on 2 continents. London and Philadelphia were the stages. Live Aid was simulcast on MTV, ABC, and radio stations and other outlets across the globe. This concert paved the way for Farm Aid, which was a gathering of mostly country artists to raise money to help America’s farmers, most of whom live in poverty. There have been updated versions of We Are The World for different causes over the years.

When this originally aired, many, many TV stations left normal broadcasting to air this. We all had the opportunity during this telethon to donate to relieve famine conditions affecting much of Africa. Ethiopia, in particular, had been in the grip of vrop failure and famine for years in a row. The effort resulted in millions donated by average Americans in addition to governmental relief actions. It showed the world what thise who have can do for those who havent without starving themselves.

Forba while I was amazed that theybjad zero reaction to the first 5 singers that appeared. They didn't know lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, and even Kenny Rogers? But then they mentioned these singers and appreciated this great event.

I still have my USA for Africa sweatshirt like the ones they are wearing , telling my age. One of the best videos EVER.