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we are the world video

“We Are the World” is a 1985 charity single and music video recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa to raise money for famine relief in Africa and hunger programs in the U.S., written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones. The official “We Are the World” video shows more than 40 of the era’s biggest stars recording together in one night at A&M Studios in Hollywood and has since become one of the most iconic music charity visuals ever released.

What the video actually shows

  • The main video cuts between the stars at their microphones (solo lines) and wider shots of the all‑star chorus singing “We are the world, we are the children.”
  • Viewers see artists like Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles and others taking turns on lead lines while the rest form a massive choir behind them.
  • Interwoven are close‑ups of emotional performances and Quincy Jones conducting the room, emphasizing the song’s message of unity and shared responsibility.

How and why the video was made

  • The video was filmed during and around the recording session of January 28, 1985, when 45 top American artists gathered after the American Music Awards to record the song in a single marathon night.
  • It was part of a larger fundraising campaign by USA for Africa; sales of the single, the making‑of VHS (We Are the World: The Video Event), and related merchandise ended up raising over 60 million dollars (often cited above 63–75 million) for humanitarian aid.
  • The organizers wanted the visuals to make the charity effort feel real and personal, so the video focuses on faces, collaboration, and the idea of “checking egos at the door” for a common cause.

Key artists you can spot

  • Soloists in the official video include Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan and Ray Charles.
  • In the choir you see a wide mix of pop and rock names: Dan Aykroyd, Harry Belafonte, the Jackson family members, Bob Geldof, Bette Midler, the Pointer Sisters, John Oates, Smokey Robinson and many more.

Different “We Are the World” videos

  • 1985 original: The classic USA for Africa studio video, which is the most watched and historically important version.
  • Making‑of / documentary: Specials like “We Are The World: The Story Behind the Song” and other behind‑the‑scenes footage show rehearsals, vocal takes, and candid interactions between the artists.
  • Anniversary / tribute cuts: Later edits, including a 35th‑anniversary video, remix original footage and live performances to introduce the song to new generations.
  • 2010 “We Are the World 25 for Haiti”: A separate remake with a new lineup to raise funds after the Haiti earthquake, often discussed alongside the original even though it is a different recording and video.

Cultural impact and why it still trends

  • The video helped turn “We Are the World” into a global media event: the song topped charts worldwide, became the fastest‑selling U.S. pop single at the time, and was the first single certified multi‑platinum by the RIAA.
  • It won multiple Grammy Awards, as well as MTV Video Music Awards for its short‑form music video, cementing the clip as a landmark in music‑video and charity‑single history.
  • Decades later, the “We Are the World” video still circulates widely on video platforms and social media whenever global crises reignite interest in large‑scale celebrity charity efforts and nostalgic music moments.

TL;DR: The “We Are the World” video is the star‑packed 1985 USA for Africa studio recording clip that shows over 40 major artists joining in one night to record a charity anthem that raised tens of millions for famine relief and remains a defining charity‑music video to this day.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.