We Are the World

==Notable live performances==
"We Are the World" has been performed live by members of USA for Africa on several occasions both together and individually. One of the earliest such performances came in 1985, during the rock music concert [[Live Aid]], which ended with more than 100&nbsp;musicians singing the song on stage.<ref name="Live Aid TDC">{{cite news|url=http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG/1985/07/22&EntityId=Ar00400|title=Live Aid|last=Kutner|first=Michael|date=July 22, 1985|newspaper=The Daily Collegian|access-date=July 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408162724/http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG%2F1985%2F07%2F22&EntityId=Ar00400|archive-date=April 8, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Live Aid touches hearts, pockets">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Tp0RAAAAIBAJ&pg=4070,4458956&dq=we-are-the-world|title=Live Aid touches hearts, pockets|last=Linder|first=Lee|date=July 14, 1985|newspaper=The Gainesville Sun|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> Harry Belafonte and Lionel Richie made surprise appearances for the live rendition of the song.<ref name="Live Aid provided reunions of 60's bands">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/15/arts/live-aid-provided-reunions-of-60-s-bands.html?&pagewanted=2|title=Live Aid provided reunions of 60's bands|last=Palmer|first=Robert|date=July 15, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> Michael Jackson would have joined the artists, but was "working around the clock in the studio on a project that he's made a major commitment to", according to his press agent, Norman Winter.<ref name="Michael Jackson project kept him from concert">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/17/arts/michael-jackson-project-kept-him-from-concert.html?n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FSubjects%2FM%2FMusic|title=Michael Jackson project kept him from concert|date=July 17, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref>

An inaugural celebration was held for US President-elect [[Bill Clinton]] in January 1993.<ref name="A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/18/us/the-inauguration-a-grand-beginning-inaugural-week-begins-with-pomp-and-populism.html|title=A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism|last=Apple|first=R. W.|date=January 18, 1993|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> The event was staged by Clinton's Hollywood friends at the [[Lincoln Memorial]] and drew hundreds of thousands of people.<ref name="A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism" /> [[Aretha Franklin]], [[LL Cool J]], [[Michael Bolton]] and [[Tony Bennett]] were among some of the musicians in attendance.<ref name="A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism" /><ref name="A Musical Smorgasbord; 2 Concerts Gel Sounds Of America">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/19/us/the-inauguration-a-musical-smorgasbord-2-concerts-gel-sounds-of-america.html|title=A Musical Smorgasbord; 2 Concerts Gel Sounds Of America|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=January 19, 1993|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> Said Jones, "I've never seen so many great performers come together with so much love and selflessness."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Archerd |first=Army |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117862112?refCatId=2 |title=Jones says 'Whoopi' as comic comes to rescue – Entertainment News, Army Archerd, Media |magazine=Variety |date=January 18, 1993 |access-date=August 16, 2011}}</ref> The celebration included a performance of "We Are the World", which involved Clinton, his daughter [[Chelsea Clinton|Chelsea]], and his wife [[Hillary Clinton|Hillary]] singing the song along with USA for Africa's Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.<ref name="A Grand Beginning; Inaugural Week Begins With Pomp and Populism" /> ''The New York Times''{{'}} [[Edward Rothstein]] commented on the event, stating, "The most enduring image may be of Mr. Clinton singing along in 'We Are the World', the first President to aspire, however futilely, to hipness."<ref name="Vox Pop, The Sound Of Politics">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/14/arts/classical-view-vox-pop-the-sound-of-politics.html|title=Vox Pop, The Sound Of Politics|last=Rothstein|first=Edward|date=February 14, 1993|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref>

As a prelude to his song "[[Heal the World]]", "We Are the World" was performed as an interlude during two of Michael Jackson's tours, the [[Dangerous World Tour]] (1992–1993) and the [[HIStory World Tour]] (1996–1997), as well as Jackson's performance at the [[Super Bowl XXVII halftime show]] in 1993. Jackson briefly performed the song with a chorus at the 2006 World Music Awards in London, which marked his last live public performance. Jackson planned to use the song for his [[This Is It (concert residency)|This Is It]] comeback concerts at [[the O2 Arena]] in [[London]] from 2009 to 2010, but the shows were cancelled due to his sudden death.

[[Death of Michael Jackson|Michael Jackson died]] in June 2009, after suffering a cardiac arrest.<ref name="death MSNBC">{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/michael-jackson-s-life-cut-shockingly-short-wbna31552029|title=Singer Michael Jackson dead at 50-Legendary pop star had been preparing for London comeback tour|publisher=[[Today.com]]|date=June 25, 2009|access-date=June 25, 2009}}</ref> [[Michael Jackson memorial service|His memorial service]] was held several days later on July 7, and was reported to have been viewed by more than one billion people.<ref name="Who Is Michael Jackson Memorial Performer Shaheen Jafargholi?">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/07/07/who-is-michael-jackson-memorial-performer-shaheen-jafargholi/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709232105/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/07/07/who-is-michael-jackson-memorial-performer-shaheen-jafargholi|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2009|title=Who Is Michael Jackson Memorial Performer Shaheen Jafargholi?|last=Harris|first=Chris|date=July 7, 2009|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> The finale of the event featured group renditions of the Jackson anthems "We Are the World" and "[[Heal the World]]".<ref name="Who Sang 'We Are The World' At Michael Jackson Memorial?">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1615545/20090708/jackson_michael.jhtml|title=Who Sang 'We Are The World' At Michael Jackson Memorial?|last=Anderson|first=Kyle|date=July 8, 2009|publisher=MTV|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> The singalong of "We Are the World" was led by Darryl Phinnessee, who had worked with Jackson since the late 1980s.<ref name="Who Sang 'We Are The World' At Michael Jackson Memorial?" /><ref name="Michael Jackson memorial: 'We Are the World,' 'Who's Lovin' You' and the final performances">{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/07/michael-jackson-memorial-we-are-the-world-whos-loving-you-and-the-final-performances.html|title=Michael Jackson memorial: 'We Are the World,' 'Who's Lovin' You' and the final performances|last=Powers|first=Anne|date=July 7, 2009|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> It also featured co-writer Lionel Richie and Jackson's family, including his children.<ref name="Who Sang 'We Are The World' At Michael Jackson Memorial?" /><ref name="Michael Jackson memorial: 'We Are the World,' 'Who's Lovin' You' and the final performances"/> Following the performance, "We Are the World" re-entered the US charts for the first time since its 1985 release. The song debuted at number 50 on ''Billboard''{{'s}} [[Hot Digital Songs]] chart.<ref name="'We are the World' in charts after Jackson tribute">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSTRE56D6M220090716|title='We are the World' in charts after Jackson tribute|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=July 16, 2009|work=Reuters|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref>