LadyZ

Believe it or not, Friday is the 20th anniversary of the release of We Are the World. I remember it like it was yesterday. To commemorate the occasion and in the spirit of world-wide charity, a DVD will be released and the proceeds will benefit victims of the tsunami in Asia.

Here is a link to the article and a link to the full-length video segment that aired this morning on the Today Show. Be sure to view the video. It's a great behind the scenes story!

Today Show - We Are the World

Another article:
We Are the World’ marks 20th anniversary with DVD to support tsunami victims

A disaster continents away inspires a raft of pop and rock stars to band together and try to help.
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That scenario, playing out now following the devastating tsunami that swept over large parts of Asia on Dec. 26, is the same one that led to a historic gathering of musical talent 20 years ago this week.
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That’s when Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles and 40 other high-profile pop musicians met at A&M Studios in Hollywood to record “We Are the World,” the U.S. answer to the African famine that had inspired a bevy of U.K. artists to stage Live Aid.
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To mark the wide-ranging and ongoing impact of “We Are the World,” Friday’s 20th anniversary will be marked by a mass playing of the all-star single at 11 a.m. on radio stations around the world

In addition, on Feb. 1 a two-DVD set about the making of the single and the video and the USA for Africa nonprofit group that grew out of those efforts will be released.
The purpose “in releasing the DVD and doing what we’re doing with radio next Friday isn’t to say, ‘‘Gee didn’t we do a wonderful job 20 years ago’ and pat ourselves on the back,” said Ken Kragen, veteran artist manager who helped spearhead “We Are the World.” “The purpose is to use it to do some more good (for the original charity). That’s all we care about accomplishing.”
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The recording generated more than $63 million.
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The most fascinating part of the “We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song” DVD package for music fans may be the recording-session outtakes embedded in the documentary, providing extended, previously unreleased looks at some key performers, among them Dylan and Springsteen.
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For instance, viewers can see an extra nine or 10 minutes of these artists working through their parts during rehearsals. The footage includes an unusual “coaching” session for Dylan.
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“What happened there is that Bob is a very shy person,” said Kragen. “He wasn’t the only artist unnerved; other artists were so in awe of all the people there, it was not easy at first. So Dylan starts to do his solo, but he doesn’t sound anything like Bob Dylan. At that point, Lionel (Richie) clears the studio except for (producer) Quincy Jones, Stevie, himself and Bob. One by one, they sit down at the piano and each one does his Bob Dylan impression. ... They’re not teaching him the song but how to sound like Bob Dylan.”

*Maxi*

These 20 years have flown by quickly, I too remember it like it was yesterday.

I'll might buy it, but I will buy the Live Aid DVD first.

MalloryKeaton

Wow, 20 years already? My brother had to sing that song in the fourth grade(1986-1987). He hated the song. I liked the song.

*Maxi*

I liked it too.

LadyZ

I haven't seen the DVD out on store shelves yet. Has everyone clicked the video link above? It's an interesting clip.

*Maxi*

I read the article/interview, very interesting. I will check the clip out later.

*Maxi*

I hope there won't be a remake of this song with other artists (like it was done with Do They Know It's Christmas). I haven't heard any such rumours though, so I guess/hope they won't.

LadyZ

I agree. The originals of both are timeless.

I like the 80's spirit of giving that embodied Live Aid/We Are the World/Do They Know it's Christmas. Now it's pretty mainstream. Whenever there is a crisis, songs are made, concerts are planned, and celebrities hit the airwaves to help out.

*Maxi*

Yeah, it had a unique feeling to it during the eighties.