There Comes a Time

When we heed a certain call

When the world must come together as one.

Twenty-five years ago, a group of the best-known pop, country, and r&b artists gathered at a recording studio following the American Music Awards to record a song that would raise money to help the millions of needy people in Africa.  Singers like Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie. Bruce Springsteen, Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers, Harry Belafonte, Willie Nelson, and stars like Dan Aykroyd in all 43 superstars from numerous genres were part of U.S.A for Africa.

Recently, a large group of today’s artists and some who have been around for a bit, gathered at the same recording studio to record an updated version of “We are the World” (including a hip-hop bit) to benefit the relief efforts of the devastation caused by the Haitian earthquakes.  I don’t see many repeaters aside from Janet, Tito, and Randy Jackson.  Janet will be performing the solo parts recorded by her late brother.  Today’s pop stars like Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Celine Dion, and Rob Thomas   joined with Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Harry Connick, Jr., Josh Groban plus Faith Evans, Gladys Knight and Vince Vaughn?  An astonishing 78 artists on one recording… the ego in the studio must have been great.  Hopefully not only will the recording be sucessful artistically but also help the relief effort in Haiti.

For those of you too young to remember the original or for those of us who have not seen the once (now twice) in a lifetime gathering here it is.  The new version is set to be released during the Olympics on NBC.