We Are the World

==Legacy==
"We Are the World" has been recognized as a politically important song, which "affected an international focus on Africa that was simply unprecedented".<ref name="Garofalo 29"/> It has been credited with creating a climate in which musicians from around the world felt inclined to follow.<ref name="Garofalo 29"/> According to ''The New York Times''{{'}} Stephen Holden, since the release of "We Are the World", it has been noted that movement has been made within popular music to create songs that address humanitarian concerns.<ref name="Pop for Grown-Ups Gathers Momentum">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/27/arts/pop-for-grown-ups-gathers-momentum.html|title=Pop for Grown-Ups Gathers Momentum|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=December 27, 1987|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> "We Are the World" was also influential in subverting the way music and meaning were produced, showing that musically and racially diverse musicians could work together both productively and creatively.<ref name="marsh 519"/> ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'' described the January 28 recording session, in which Quincy Jones brought together a multi-racial group, as being "a major moment in world music that showed we can change the world".<ref name="Black music">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wsoDAAAAMBAJ&q=jackson+%22we+are+the+world%22&pg=PA136|title=Black music|date=November 2005|magazine=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> "We Are the World", along with [[Live Aid]] and [[Farm Aid]], demonstrated that rock music had become more than entertainment, but a political and social movement.<ref name="Politics and a crossbreeding of forms were the trend">{{cite news|title=Politics and a crossbreeding of forms were the trend|last=Palmer|first=Robert|date=December 26, 1985|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref> Journalist Robert Palmer noted that such songs and events had the ability to reach people around the world, send them a message, and then get results.<ref name="Politics and a crossbreeding of forms were the trend" />

Since the release of "We Are the World", and the Band Aid single that influenced it, numerous songs have been recorded in a similar fashion, with the intent to aid disaster victims throughout the world. One such example involved a supergroup of Latin musicians billed as "Hermanos del Tercer Mundo", or "Brothers of the Third World". Among the supergroup of 62&nbsp;recording artists were [[Julio Iglesias]], [[José Feliciano]], and [[Sérgio Mendes]]. Their [[Cantaré, cantarás|famine relief song]] was recorded in the same studio as "We Are the World". Half of the profits raised from the charity single was pledged to USA for Africa. The rest of the money was to be used for impoverished Latin American countries.<ref name="Latin stars sing for hungry">{{cite news|title=Latin stars sing for hungry|date=April 10, 1985|newspaper=Columbia Missourian}}</ref> Other notable examples include the 1989 cover of the [[Deep Purple]] song "[[Smoke on the Water]]" by a supergroup of hard rock, prog rock, and heavy metal musicians collaborating as [[Rock Aid Armenia]] to raise money for victims of the devastating [[1988 Armenian earthquake]],<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20091209111912/http://rockaidarmenia.com/#/content-00-02 'Smoke on the Water' history]", Rock Aid Armenia website. Retrieved July 20, 2016.</ref> the 1986 all-star [[Music of the Philippines|OPM]] single "[[Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo]]", which talked about the optimism the Filipinos needed after the [[People Power Revolution]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sg.style.yahoo.com/tagged/celebrity/blogs/switchingchannels/handog-ng-pilipino-sa-mundo-was-composed-in-three-minutes.html|title=Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo was composed in three minutes|first=Ed|last=Sicam|website=[[Yahoo!]] Life|date=February 25, 2011 |access-date=March 20, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/642589-revisiting-handog-ng-pilipino-sa-mundo|title=Revisiting the People Power hit 'Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo' and the anniversary cover it spawned|first=Saab|last=Lariosa|website=Philstar Life|access-date=March 20, 2022}}</ref> the 1997 [[Star Music|Star Records]] all-star recording "Sa Araw ng Pasko", the 2003 all-star [[Music of the Philippines|OPM]] recording "Biyahe Tayo" which promoted [[Tourism in the Philippines|Philippine tourism]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2004/03/29/244355/invitation-travel|title=An invitation to travel|first=Boy|last=Abunda|website=Philstar.com|access-date=February 12, 2022}}</ref> and its subsequent 2011 remake "Pilipinas, Tara Na!"<ref>https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2011/08/10/pilipinas-tara-na-music-video-to-boost-domestic-tourism/</ref> and the 2009 all-star [[Music of the Philippines|OPM]] recordings "[[Star ng Pasko]]" and "[[Kaya Natin Ito!]]" as a means to provide hope to the survivors of [[Typhoon Ketsana]] (locally known as Ondoy).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pep.ph/news/local/5065/abs-cbn-versus-gma-739s-station-id-which-fared-better | title=ABS-CBN versus GMA-7's station ID: Which fared better? }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pinoyparazzi.net/regine-velasquez-at-ogie-alcasid-abala-sa-malaking-fund-raising-concert/ | title=Regine Velasquez at Ogie Alcasid, abala sa malaking fund-raising concert – Gorgy's Park - Pinoy Parazzi | date=October 13, 2009 }}</ref> Several [[GMA Network]] personalities also recorded another inspirational ballad, "Bangon Kaibigan" in 2013 to provide hope to the survivors of [[Typhoon Haiyan]] (locally known as Yolanda).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/chikaminute/339846/kapuso-stars-lumikha-ng-music-video-na-bangon-kaibigan-para-sa-yolanda-victims/story/ | title=Kapuso stars, lumikha ng music video na 'Bangon Kaibigan' para sa 'Yolanda' victims | date=December 14, 2013 }}</ref>

The 20th anniversary of "We Are the World" was celebrated in 2005. Radio stations around the world paid homage to USA for Africa's creation by simultaneously broadcasting the charity song. In addition to the simulcast, the milestone was marked by the release of a two-disc DVD called ''We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song''.<ref name="Stations pay tribute to 'We Are the World'">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/01/28/stations_pay_tribute_to_we_are_the_world/|title=Stations pay tribute to 'We Are the World'|last=Lewis|first=Randy|date=January 28, 2005|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref> Ken Kragen asserted that the reason behind the simulcast and DVD release was not for USA for Africa to praise themselves for doing a good job, but to "use it to do some more good [for the original charity]. That's all we care about accomplishing."<ref name="Stations pay tribute to 'We Are the World'" /> Harry Belafonte also commented on the 20th&nbsp;anniversary of the song. He acknowledged that "We Are the World" had "stood the test of time"; anyone old enough to remember it can still at least hum along.<ref name="'We Are the World' song celebrates 20 years">{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/we-are-world-song-celebrates-20-years-wbna6870678|title='We Are the World' song celebrates 20 years|last=Gangel|first=Jamie|date=February 5, 2005|publisher=Today.com|access-date=July 22, 2009}}</ref>

On January 29, 2024, a documentary titled ''[[The Greatest Night in Pop]]'', was released on [[Netflix]]. The documentary, which was directed by [[Bao Nguyen (filmmaker)|Bao Nguyen]], chronicles the obstacles and the behind-the-scenes stories that led to the creation of the song. The documentary features new interviews with Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Huey Lewis, Dionne Warwick, Cyndi Lauper and others involved with the song who reflect on the song and its legacy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/29/entertainment/the-greatest-night-in-pop-review/index.html|title='The Greatest Night in Pop' makes a trip down memory lane for you and me|first=Brian|last=Lowry|website=CNN|date=January 29, 2024 |access-date=February 1, 2024}}</ref>