1985: The Night They Recorded "We Are the World" — 24 Legends, Then and Now

Hollywood, January 28, 1985. The American Music Awards are over, but nobody goes home. One by one, the biggest voices in American music walk into A&M Studios, past a sign taped to the door: "Check your ego at the door." One night. One song: "We Are the World." They called themselves USA for Africa. A handheld camera moves through the studio, finding them between takes. With every face, forty-one years fold in and out. Then — and now. One of them had hosted the awards show a few hours earlier. One had to take off her jewelry because the microphone kept picking it up. One wasn't sure how to sing his line — until a friend sat down at the piano and sang it for him, as him. One was better known for chasing ghosts than for singing. And six of them are no longer with us — this one is for them, too. In order of appearance: Lionel Richie · Stevie Wonder · Paul Simon · Kenny Rogers · Tina Turner · Billy Joel · Michael Jackson · Diana Ross · Dionne Warwick · Willie Nelson · Bruce Springsteen · Kenny Loggins · Steve Perry · Huey Lewis · Cyndi Lauper · Kim Carnes · Bob Dylan · Ray Charles · Bette Midler · Sheila E. · La Toya Jackson · James Ingram · Dan Aykroyd · Quincy Jones Whose voice gave you chills the first time you heard it? Tell us below. — An AI-created fan tribute: an imagined look at that night, not archival footage. Both the "then" and the "now" are artistic recreations. This video is not affiliated with or endorsed by USA for Africa. All names and likenesses belong to their respective owners and estates. The music in this video was also created with AI. Whether it will be released as a standalone track has not yet been decided — thank you for your understanding. #WeAreTheWorld #USAforAfrica #ThenAndNow