Lionel Richie - 0:26 Stevie Wonder - 0:39 Paul Simon - 0:43 Kenny Rogers - 0:53 James Ingram - 0:59 Tina Turner - 1:06 Billy Joel - 1:13 Michael Jackson - 1:19 Diana Ross - 1:32 Dionne Warwick - 1:48 Willie Nelson - 2:02 Al Jarreau - 2:09 Bruce Springsteen - 2:15 Kenny Loggins - 2:21 Steve Perry - 2:28 Daryl Hall - 2:36 Huey Lewis - 2:48 Cyndi Lauper - 2:54 Kim Carnes - 3:02 Bob Dylan - 3:48 Ray Charles - 4:27 “We Are the World” Chorus (alphabetically) Dan Aykroyd Harry Belafonte Lindsey Buckingham Mario Cipollina Johnny Colla Sheila E. Bob Geldof Bill Gibson Chris Hayes Sean Hopper Jackie Jackson La Toya Jackson Marlon Jackson Randy Jackson Tito Jackson Waylon Jennings Bette Midler John Oates Jeffrey Osborne The Pointer Sisters Smokey Robinson “We Are the World” Instrumentalists David Paich - synthesizers Michael Boddicker - synthesizers, programming Paulinho da Costa - percussion Phil Collins - percussion Louis Johnson - synth bass Michael Omartian - keyboards Greg Phillinganes - keyboards John Robinson - drums Quincy Jones -- conductor
@@AnthonyMinsky correct, and prince and madonna turned down the chance. waylon left early before it was completed. a lot of behind the scenes stuff if you read up on it.
Quincy told everyone, " Leave your egos at the door." And you can see they did just that. There's a documentary of the making of these incredible moments. I know you would love it. No of these amazing people took a penny for doing this. An alarming rate of people in Africa were dying. With no rain their crops had failed. I'll never forget this time. ☮️♥️
Unfortunately, the myth is far better than the reality. They were notoriously behaving badly at the recording. Some of them were even on the phone with their agents complaining about how they didn’t get a big enough part to sing and threatening to walk out. A few described the lavish excess of food catered as sickening given the cause they were supporting. It was a far cry from the recording they were trying to emulate/one-up of “Do They Know it’s Christmas” in England a few months earlier. The “documentary” was designed for promotion, not accuracy. It’s a shame, because that is how it should have been.
@@videovoidtv Why was it racist? It meant that many in Africa, who were suffering, wouldn't be enjoying what others were during a Christmas celebration (food, gifts, etc.). So, while many are celebrating Christmas festivities, others in Africa were starving and going through hardships. It didn't mean that they literally didn't know about Christmas.
@@azedel7151 Dude. the idea isnt racist. But a song wondering if a bunch of people who don’t celebrate Christmas, know if it’s christmas… It sounded racist or eurocentric even back then. It was a punchline as soon as it came out. Imagine “do they even know its Ramadan” lol
This was all done in ONE night, AFTER the American music awards. All of these artists got together at the prodding of Lionel Ritchie, who actually HOSTED the Awards show that night. The song was put together and produced the next day. Also, the first time it was played on the radio, EVERY radio station across the country, and many around the world played it at the EXACT same time. I still remember where I was as a 15-year-old when I heard it. There has never been anything like it. I love seeing your enthusiasm and appreciation for this music that we older ones grew up on. Well, I'm 53 so yea I guess I'm a LITTLE older lol.
Yes you are so right , I too can remember when it premiered , incredible just incredible and yes every radio plus MTV when they were still Music TelevVision they all played it at same time around the world , simply magical ,,
This is not JUST a song. This song brought the WORLD together and saved thousands upon thousands of African lives. This song, and everything it stands for, is LEGEND
One of many. The UK's Band Aid did it first with "Do They Know It's Christmas (Feed The World)" with all the UK artists. They were the ones who started the musical movement for Africa. After the US's "We Are The World" came Canada's "Tears Are Not Enough." All went on and continue to go on raising monies to assist Africa with these songs' royalties. All of the subsequent fund raisers "Live Aid" "Farm Aid" and so on stemmed from these fund raising song compilations.
Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson wrote the song. They recorded it directly after the American Music Awards.They recorded through the night. 😊 💐 💐💐 Of course you got Quincy Jones 😅 Bruce Springsteen is the growly guy. James Ingram is the “taking us to church “ guy. 😊❤
I am someone that NEVER leaves comments... but I have to say seeing you react to this video with such respect and love really brought me JOY so I HAD to let you know. I wish more young(er) people could be more like you and give "old" music a chance. It made me so happy seeing you enjoy this song because I was born in 1976 and this song was a huge part of my childhood and actually got to experience it when it came out. Even my hispanic parents who didn't speak a word of English loved this song. When you said this felt like a Quincy Jones song you made me laugh cause I knew you were in for a surprise LOL! You definitely know your stuff! But how can you not be SURE that was Cyndi Lauper?! Lol!! Thanks again for your reaction... I LOVED IT!! ❤
I can understand why she wouldn't know a lot of the white artists but I was a bit disappointed that she didn't know Bob Dylan. I thought everyone knew him LOL
You don't even know how big this was britt. It was when everyone came together when needed, it was when our country did things positive for people and countries. When this song hit the radio, my school stopped everything and played this over the PA system. That's how it was back in 80s. Wish you could have experienced that time in this country
Girl, THESE artists were the top selling and most popular artists at the time. I was a teenager when this song came out and it was played constantly on the radio. It is ICONIC. I felt so old when you didn't know "The Boss" Bruce Springsteen .... :(
YES, I am feeling old too, people who never heard of "Feed the World" or "USA for Africa". Today, it seems to me, people are so egocentric, with all the catastrophies in our world, that a few million deads in Africa is of no interest. PEACE
I’m so happy someone else listed the artists in a comment so I didn’t have to lol. This gathering, this song, this CAUSE is so iconic that I am always sad when people don’t understand it or know the artists who contributed. I’m glad some of the younger reactors are finding and listening to this. Perhaps another generation will recognize this for the important event it was then and still is today.
To be fair, I was a teen in the 80s and I always thought Springsteen was severely overrated. Don't bother calling me names. I'm allowed my opinion. I did love The E-Street Band though.
@@LincolnHawk-bk5yr Why would I call you names? You are indeed allowed to have an opinion ... and we all don't have to agree on everything. I was a teen in the 80's myself and Springsteen was BIG and he had some great songs but he certainly was never my favorite artist. Who didn't like Clarence???
Girl, yes it was a massive moment in history!! You have no idea, it was HUGE!! Every single person in that room was a mega star (the handsome guy with the growly, raspy voice is Bruce Springsteen) and every one of them checked their ego at the door and came together to do this fundraiser and it raised many millions of dollars to help feed communities in Africa during one of the worst droughts/famines in recent history. I'm 58, I've seen this so many times and I still get super emotional any time I see it. Great reaction!
@@nadeansimmons226 live aid and other concerts were different from this event right here for one special reason... They were all scheduled events, this was not a scheduled event this was a spur-of-the-moment thing!!! Try to get 50 musicians and artists together today after an awards event or a dinner or whatever, which is what happened here, and have them be able to put their egos in check and do something like this!! I'm not sure you would be able to, but I'd love to see it happen!!
Chuckled a bit when she did not recognise Bruce, she made a couple of reactions of him a few months back. Must be one of the most recognisable voices on the planet.
@@bernardsalvatore1929 Band Aid was actually pulled together very quickly. It definitely wasn’t scheduled. It was amazing to get the artists together for We Are the World, but they were all in town for the event. I doubt they would have come anywhere close to this kind of participation if people had to actually travel there for it. I think the “egos in check” story is a lovely one. Unfortunately, it doesn’t reflect the reality of artists throwing tantrums and calling their agents because they didn’t get a big enough part to sing. Or the apparent backstabbing on songwriting. I appreciate what they created and I respect the impact it had on people. I don’t think we need the fiction to do that.
Healthy amount??? She knew maybe 30% of the black singers and 1% of the white singers. She has a lot of catching up to do, especially not knowing who Bruce Springsteen is. Lol
@kristianberg4264 Yikes. You shouldn't be so hung up on race. In contrast to other young reactors, her recognition was impressive. As for recognizing them based on race... 1. The black singers were generally more famous and recognizable. Lionel, Stevie, MJ, and Ray Charles are still among the most recognizable singers ever. My WHITE wife didn't recognize most of the white guys, either. And she's 41! 2. Do you think maybe, just maybe, cultural influence had something to do with it? Like, MAYBE she was more familiar with certain artists because her parents listened to them growing up? And MAYBE they listened to those particular artists because they catered to their particular demographic?
@@kristianberg4264 "especially not knowing who Bruce Springsteen is." ---------- That's because she's only reacted to 2 of his songs and in one of them, he's real old.
GR8 Reaction!!! "We Are The World" is a charity song released in 1985 by USA for Africa, a supergroup of renowned musicians. The song's meaning is to promote unity, compassion, and aid for African famine relief. It was made as a collaborative effort, with iconic artists coming together to raise awareness and funds for those in need. The purpose of the song was to use its popularity and reach to inspire global solidarity and support humanitarian efforts, making a positive impact on the lives of the affected people.
As a guy who spent his childhood in rural africa and allways wished the world was more equal I loved this song and purpose when it came out... Fast forward a couple decades I realize it didn't change a thing. Looking back at it just feel like getting retold an empty promises and false hopes...
It was a reaction to "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid here in the UK a few months earlier. American pop singers decided they wanted to do something similar. There were a few American singers on Do They Know It's Christmas, such as Jodie Watley from Shalamar.
To give an idea of just how big this was in the 80s, in a four month period after release the single made $10.8 million in sales, $1.3m in direct donations, and over $45m in merchandise sales, with a majority of that going directly to humanitarian aid. Adjusted for inflation that's over $160 million today. I lived in western Africa around this time and can confirm that the level of poverty was insane. Average wage for live-in domestic jobs (maid, cooks, nannies, etc) was $30 per month plus a mattress (all help slept in the same room) -- and that was a good job relative to the norm. We were told in all seriousness that if you were going to be in an accident it was better to kill a person than a goat, because a goat is the livelihood of an entire family.
@ajs41. Correct. Band Aid was a similar charity supergroup featuring mostly UK artists, raising funds for the Ethiopian famine relief effort, released before Xmas in 1984. This was then followed up by the now legendary Live Aid concerts, which Britt should definitely react too, if she hasn't done so already.
And the original documentary from the time (hosted by Jane Fonda) has even more footage that Netflix chose not to use. Bits of Billy Joel and Ray Charles that is well worth seeing...
I fell Exactly the same… so Very Sad how the World has become in comparison to these Greats ‘checking their Egos” in order to make such an Impact Worldwide!!! ♥️🙏🎶♥️
Britt! Girl! This is a bigger deal than you know! I was in high school when this came out. I remember it being a HUGE deal. This was probably the biggest collection of music icons and stars in one room, at one time, that EVER existed. It was fun seeing you recognize and get excited for those you DID know. I’m sure that someone in your comments is going to list all the singers. You’re going to kick yourself for not recognizing several! Yeah, they were huge too! My CHALLENGE to you, here it is: Make another short video update to this one and listen to it again with the names of everyone. Enjoy it with knowing whose all in the room. Then, go do a reaction to every one you didn’t recognize! You’ll have a blast!
Her reaction made me cry. I can remember this event like it was yesterday. If we could only get people to come together like this again. I can always pray and dream that this will be possible again one day.
I'm late Gen X. I remember when this happened. And every time I see later generations discover this it fills my heart. This was one of the last times that that mega artists set their egos aside and said "we need to do this". I remember it happening. And I cry every time. This was unparalleled and can NEVER be replicated today.
Of COURSE it can be replicated. Other than that it was a novel idea at the time, there's no reason why today's artists _can't_ assemble musically for a cause similar to this, with all royalties going to fund whatever cause the song is supporting.
May I interject something here without causing a third world war or a firestorm. There's not an instance anywhere in Scripture where God turned Stone to bread. The only correlation between bread and Stone is when Jesus was fasting 40 days in the desert Satan came to him and said if you are the son of God then turn the stones to bread. A lot of people may find that to be a petty observation but it's not in observation it is just the facts.
Hey Britt, we understand the emotions you are going through. The children of the 70s and 80s were fortunate enough to go through the same when this was released and go through the same chills even now every time we watch this video.
I dare say that children of the 40s, 50s, and 60s were also fortunate to witness this once-in-a-lifetime performance. I know I (50s/60s child) experienced it the same way.
1985 it was a rare year indeed. Have not seen the likes since, we knew things were bigger than us, we tried anyway. Too much weakness, just plain fragility in the masses today. I long for the world I grew up in, I try to instill the strength of heart we had in my own children so they will not fear things that are bigger than them and try too. 🤞
That was your very first taste of The Boss - Bruce Springsteen. He is a legendary artist who’s still putting on 3 hour concerts at 73 years old. I encourage you to start with the official video for Born to Run and explore from there. Enjoy!
Without a doubt Britt, your reaction to this amazing song that went worldwide was the best reaction I have ever seen from anyone . I have seen thousands of songs and reactions and you top the lot with this one. You are right about music and it's power to bring people together.
I was a teenager when this came out. I was in high school & and didn't have much money. For Christmas, I bought 25 vinyl 45 (the single) and gave the records to everyone for Christmas, where I could contribute to help Africa. I know it was very small in the scheme of things.
The growly guy is Bruce Springsteen who was at the pinnacle of his popularity when this was filmed. In the mid-1980s there was a drought in Africa that resulted in many people dying (especially in Ethiopia). This record raised more than $50 million for famine relief. A few months before a similar event took place in London with a lot of (mostly) British stars called "Band Aid" and they sang "Do They Know It's Christmas". The following summer a huge concert was held at the same time in London and Philadelphia called "Live Aid". The guy who came up with the idea for all of this was a singer named Bob Geldof. He was the lead singer of a band called The Boomtown Rats. Queen Elizabeth knighted him for his efforts.
@Brittreacts you should check out Bruce Springsteen “The River” video from The River Tour 1980, it will really give you a sense of how he had such a prominent part in this song. His storytelling through verse hit people where they’ve never been hit before. This might sound weird but it was just so American, so relatable. He showed people the passion in their own humdrum lives. He may have been the Walt Whitman of his day.
This whole concept was created by two British singers, Bob Geldoff and Midge Ure. It started with the British song "Do they know it's Christmas?" by Band Aid and was followed quickly by the American "We are the world" by USA for Africa. Obviously there was the Live Aid concert which took place at Wembley in London and JFK in Philadelphia. Phil Collins famously played early at Wembley then flew by Concorde to the USA and also played at JFK!
I was a teenager when this song came out. I remember that magic day of March 28 1986 when over 6000 radio stations all over the world, played this song simultaneously,. I remember I was in school in Italy and our teacher made us standing up and sing along the radio. She told us that in the same moment, all over the world, people was doing the same thing, so it was like, singing together in unison. It is been really emotional. This song should be the best song of the Human History. It is been made for charity, it is been made with heart and soul. All those Legends went for free to create this magic. People like Lionel Richie, Cindy Lauper and many others, went straight to the studio in late evening, right after finished to record the American Music Awards, just to create this workart. All of them were tired but they did all for free. Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson made a masterpiece. To whoever didn't already do, I suggest to go to watch the documentary. It is been hosted by Jane Fonda. It is an amazing documentary where you see behind the scene. You can see the solo of the singers. You can hear the first version of the song singed by Michael Jackson where he sing: We are the World, sha la, We are the Children, sha la... Guys, watch that documentary. Bless from Italy.
I had this on 45, had the sweatshirt and remember every middle and high school choir doing this song. It was a great experience and everyone felt like they were actually helping others.
I loved, loved LOVED this reaction. Many reactors who have not heard this song or seen the video before generally do not recognize the artists which tends to dilute the effect. It was such a joy seeing your face as you recognized a large majority of them. And 💐 for the Quincy Jones call!!! 👏🏻
I was absolutely impressed with how many people Britt knew. Quincy Jones impressed me the most. Having grown up during this period, I absolutely knew who he was - his name was everywhere - but couldn’t pick him out of a crowd because of his predominately “behind the scenes” role.
There is a great "making of" video out there that you should watch on your own time. It tells how this all came together, shows all the celebs hanging out during the taping and interacting, and the numerous takes to make this happen. One thing Quincy Jones made clear: check your ego at the door, no matter how much "star power" you have. IMO one of the greatest collabs of all time.
@raymondcarver476 I don't know about "today" but don't forget, or look up if you have not heard it "Voices that Care" the song and group are the same title, they came together at the beginning of the Gulf War, it was another great collab!
Bruce Springsteen seems to have been ahead of the game on checking those egos at the door. No fancy car or chauffeur. The man we call The Boss showed up in his old pickup truck, parked it across the street, and walked right in, ready to get to work for the sake of others.
I think that great artists often respect each other or are in awe - they too have their heroes - the ego thing could be concerning the limited time - many may be perfectionists - but they would have to fall in line to succeed . To make it possible for Quincy Jones to be able to work with their input - - Maybe I'm wrong.
From the moment you first said "Quincy Jones," I knew you were going to recognize a lot of the artists and have a genuine appreciation for what they were trying to do! You DESERVE those flowers, young lady!
Britt: great reaction! I have a personal connection to this song, so let me explain. I was 20 years old in 1985, when this song was originally released (March 1985 to be specific). Yes, it was to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia at the time. On Saturday July 13th, 1985, there was a "simulcast concert" called "Live Aid", between London's Wembley Stadium and the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, PA at the time. Basically, many of the performers you see (and many that are not in this video), performed in the concert in London in the afternoon (EST), and then after they were done, they passed the torch to the concert at the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, PA for their performance. I was an English exchange student in NYC that summer and attended the concert in Philadelphia. Yes, I was there! I lived it! I cannot relay in words how extraordinary and joyful the whole day was. A Canadian couple (who have since passed away (RIP)), gave my friend and I two tickets (for free) in NYC, as they had to fly back to Canada and could not make it. So, we took the Greyhound bus to Philly the day before. The face value of the ticket was ($120 each - $350 today). When we got to Philly, we were offered $1500 ($4200 today), for each ticket. We did not sell, even though we were broke students on an exchange program. The concert was amazing and insane! When they let us into the JFK stadium in the late afternoon (all 100,000 of us, yes 100,000!), we could see the live concert from England's Wembley Stadium, on a huge screen in the stadium. That really pumped us up. After about an hour, Sir Bob Geldof (one of the organizers and musician) appeared on the big screen from London and said, "Philadelphia, please take it away and have a great show!" We all screamed and lost our minds. At that point, the great Lionel Richie appeared on stage (in front of us), and said something like, "Philadelphia, how are you doing?" Yes, we screamed again, and the show begun. One of the amazing things that happened that day has to do with the British recording artist Phil Collins. Collins was in London and performed at Wembley Stadium. We saw his performance on the big screen in Philly. Unbeknown to us (after his performance), he got on a plane (the supersonic Concorde - 3-hour flight from London to NYC) and performed on stage at the JFK Stadium halfway through our concert! It blew our minds. When her first walked onto the stage in Philly, none of us believed it was him, given the fact that he had just been in London a few hours ago. It only when he took the mic and said something to the effect of, "hello Philadelphia, I just thought I would hop over on the Concorde from London and join you here." Yes, we lost our minds again! All 100,000 of us screamed in unison! Amazing. To this day, it is the greatest concert/public gathering I have ever attended. There were so many people from everywhere there. It was very festive, and almost felt like attending the Olympics. We also had a sense at the time, that music history was being made, in part because a "simulcast" had never been put together like that across two countries and aired "live" like that in the music business. It was truly a first! There was also so much hope that the huge amounts of money raised would truly help those in need and make the world a better place by eliminating hunger in Ethiopia and more broadly everywhere else. By the way, I still have the two ticket stubs from 1985 in my possession. I have not researched if I could get a pretty penny for it on Ebay or elsewhere. But I will continue to hold onto it. I look at it once in a while, and all those great memories come back. I was glad to be part of the experience! Thanks for reading my story, and hope this gives you a clearer picture of what it was like, for those of us who were there for real. Enjoy! Cheers, Sam.
Delightful? Pausing the song every 5 seconds to give a 2 minute commentary is anything but delightful. I get that she was excited and genuinely touched by this song but all that stoppage was unnecessary.
Me too . Plus her willingness to embrace an variety of talents different from what she was exposed too in her upbringing. she has so much content in just an year i may never catch up but my favourite is her reaction to Shania Twain That don't impress me much.
Flying back to the US at the end of Desert Storm, they played this song and Whitney's National Anthem on repeat. This old hillbilly Marine Corps vet cried what had to be a million tears. Already emotionally wound up, this song and her singing the National Anthem just broke me down completely. If only the people in today's society could come together like that group of super stars. Amazing things could be accomplished. Speaking of amazing, Britt darlin, you stand alone in the reaction video category. No one else comes close. Your reactions and facial expressions are simply heart melting and priceless. Wishing nothing but the best for you and the family. Good luck and God bless. Semper Fi
@@helenmalina799 You are quite welcome. Serving our country was a great honor and privilege for me. Thank you for the respect shown to our military. Have a great night.
What a fun reaction! The joy on your face with each recognized artist was lovely, you should watch your reaction for a smile and I am sure someone will list all of the artists that you didn't recognize.
Likely one of the greatest musical moments in history. You have that much talent in one room, singing together and...wow, I get the chills every time because it is a masterpiece.
It is indeed Quincy Jones leading on it. Shorter gentleman next to Kenny is Paul Simon Deep voiced gentleman immediately after is James Ingram After Tina Turner, it's Billy Joel The handsome man you mentioned with the raspy voice is Bruce Springsteen The one who looked familiar soon after is Steve Perry, legendary lead singer for Journey After the "choir" part, that's Bob Dylan - he was one of the organizers
Thank you for mentioning who all she didn’t recognize. Steve Perry is one of my favorites. He did good with single music and with Journey. Billy Joel is practically iconic with so many hits he has, like they all do. Bob Dylan also has a unique sound
Sweetheart, when I feel down I look for a reaction video to this song. Your reaction blows me away. You are more knowledgeable than most who see it. I can't tell you how sad it makes me when young black people don't know their heritage. These great artists are so much of this old white guys life... and your reaction is so joyful. Thank you.
Oh how lucky are you! Now you get to dive into the HUGE library of songs for each and every artist your seeing!!! This was an enormous hit back in the day. All egos put aside to make it. My favorite moment is Stevie and Bruce!!! Looking forward to MANY more killer reactions from you!!! Peace.
Absolutely! Stevie Wonder’s silk and honey with Bruce Springsteen’s leather and grit, brought passionately by each, both contrasts and compliments beautifully.
This moment will sadly never happen again. These are not just artists, they are superstars all of them! Without question my favourite musical moment in history! 😍
I love the pairing of these artists, you couldn't imagine how wonderful they could harmonize considering how diverse their voices were. So beautiful to see them working toward a common goal to uplift humanity.
I haven't listened to this is a long time and it's just as powerful today as it was in 1985. Incredible performance by all the artists. working together. Real voices, no auto-tune, pure talent. :)
Africa was suffering a tremendous drought and lots of people were dying. This song was a call for funds to help feed the people of Africa. Learn about Paul Simon, Huey Lewis, Hall and Oats, Kim Karnes, Steve Perry and the rest. I loved Dionne, Diana, Stevie, Lionel as well. I listened to them all as a young teenager.
Your right to tear up. These artists were some of the best ever. And they were the realest of them all. And extremely talented. I know everyone of these artists now. Well not personally but I know there voices and can feel their hearts beating to this song, for hope. Such a great song, and the best version of it.
I'm impressed with how many of the artists you recognized. Everyone there were well-known, talented artists. I always get emotional when I see this. Amazing!
OMG, your face is so expressive. I just love watching reactions to this song when the reactor has an idea about who most of these stars are. It is such a let down when you watch a reaction and the person has zero clue who any of them are. There will NEVER be a collection of talent such as this in one room again. Ever.
Hands down, your reaction is the best! The way you lit up with each person you recognized..... delightful. USA for Africa raised around 60 million just with this songs sale. Total, they raised around 75 million. My understanding is, after an awards show, they were asked/gathered to perform the song. That's why you see some of them holding papers. This was done somewhat, on the fly. Someone realized they needed more, after most had left, so Bruce Springsteen handsome guy, Stevie and Ray, who were still around, filled in to give the more that was wanted.
OMG... Thank you for sharing this moment with us out here... so much emotion. I was 17 when this came out and I'm a mushy, emotional kind of guy, so this is the kind of classic from my youth years that may bring blank eyes and even crying reflexes just hearing the song start playing... And then sharing YOUR sweet emotions from hearing it for the first time now. Just wow! Thanks again! ❤
as you see them sing in order- I HOPE I GOT IT RIGHT * Lionel Richie 0:50 * Stevie Wonder 0:59 * Paul Simon 1:06 * Kenny Rogers 1:11 * James Ingram 2:51 * Tina Turner 2:56 * Billy Joel 3:02 * Michael Jackson 3:10 * Diana Ross 6:18 * Dionne Warwick 7:03 * Willie Nelson 7:11 * Al Jarreau 8:37 * Bruce Springsteen 8:43 * Kenny Loggins 8:51 * Steve Perry 8:56 * Daryl Hall 9:03 * Huey Lewis 9:35 * Cyndi Lauper 9:39 * Kim Carnes 9:48 * Bob Dylan 11:46 * Ray Charles 12:47 * Stevie Wonder & Bruce Springsteen 15:30 * Bruce Springsteen 15:58 * James Ingram 17:02 * Ray Charles 17:27
I post this song and video on my social media all the time, and no one sees it. This was my era of music and it was amazing to see all these people come together to help others in need. This is what we need today. No more hate and diversity. We need to stop letting a small group divide all of us. The voices in this video were my world and the ones we lost are turning over in their graves right now.
I remember when this came out and was all over the radio. I thought to my self that this song needs to be in everyones heart. If everyone on the planet took this onboard it would end all the wars and famine because there would be enough to rise up against tyranny and the global elites.
Your reaction was so spot on…this was a singular moment in music history, couldn’t be repeated these days, they wouldn’t even be able to agree on a date, today, right? 😂
In the 80's WE didn't yell racist/ racism at each breeze of the wind. I was in high school when this song hit & we were all on the same page. We all had friends (genuine friends) of whatever race and we Cared about each other. Looking at where we are NOW is Sickening and more sad than I can express here. 😔 😢 It Was A Better Time To Live In The 80's For All Of Us 😕
Please, the 80s were such a racist time. If you didn't hear people playing the race card it was because you weren't paying attention or because minorities weren't given a microphone to express themselves as they can now. We were not "all together" back then. I'm sure this song is inspiring and seeing all these voices singing in harmony is such an idealist moment in pop culture but there's a difference between nostalgia and fantasy. Part of why this was powerful then and now is that the world needs more of this. It definitely wasn't a better time then with regard to race relations, civil rights, etc. We have come so far from then. And we still have a long way to go. We need anthems like this today.
The Funk still sounds like " still in the funk.". Sorry to disagree with u, but the 80's were a better time .. Unfortunately ur weren't paying attention to who was in the room.. We're all it the worse racist world right now. Instead of being together there are to many ppl that want to keep separated in this day n age to the point that it's sickening... it's destroying the world,at least there was hope back then..That hope has vanished today..
@@gailcalderone5229 You must have been living in a very different part of the U.S. (or in another country). I lived in multiple parts of the country during the 80s and it was far more racist than today. I’m not saying we’ve solved the problem of racism at all. But there was such a separation in the 80s. It was widely unacceptable for people of different races to date. I knew many white people who would never even consider dating a white person who had ever dated or hooked up with a Black person. But, of course, such things were only said behind closed doors. Social groups and neighborhoods were very segregated. And people could be truly heinous to keep it that way. In the early 80s MTV wouldn’t even play black artists. CBS Records had to threaten to remove all of their artists from the channel just to get them to play Michael Jackson. And Madonna got her contract with Pepsi cancelled overnight because of the number of black people in her video and its provocative anti-racist sentiment. And of course the fact that she kissed a black man in the video. The landscape of music started to change in the late 80s, but it only meant that white teenagers began imitating black music (rap and hip-hop), culture, slang, dance, clothing, etc. without the least bit of interest in why or how it evolved. I’m not saying we’ve solved racism. We’ve got a lot of problems. But it’s not correct to say racism is worse. Though its certainly more discussed and out in the open. I agree that it is sickening and destructive. But it’s not new or unique to this day and age.
As far as I'm concerned,this is all B.S. if ppl want to stay separate,,then do it...Tired of ppl yelling Racism at a snap of of finger.. I'll say no more...
Anyone is school, remembers this, we were all required to sing it as a school wide choir to contribute our voice to this. Ask your mom, I bet she knows the words and the melody. As a side note, I think this was the last time all the Jackson siblings recorded together. So many legendary voices in this.
I remember doing that in elementary school. I went to a Detroit public school and there were a lot of activities surrounding this topic back then. I remember a drawing contest that everyone had to submit to thar would be gathered into a book as a fundraiser and mine was among a few from my school selected. I didn't fully understand it of course, I just knew there were kids like me starving in Africa to the point they had distended stomachs, so that was incorporated into my drawing. I must have been 7 or 8 years old.
Does anyone else remember on March 28, 1986 at 10:15 am EST when this song played on every radio station across the country at the same time??!! I sure do. That’s how big this song was. The only sad point is, as I understand the story, Prince did not perform because Michael Jackson was going to be there and they didn’t get along.
I still tear up every time I watch this video. I was 24 when this came out. What a different world it was back then. It was fun to watch you fan girl over it. :)
It’s like a band of angels singing! I’m so privileged to have grown up in the 80’s with this caliber of talent! I well remember this beautiful song and the hope that it invokes!
On the day it came out. Every radio station played it at the same time and named the artist as the sang. Notice I said sang, not sung. There was a sign over the studio door that said “check your egos at the door”. This was done after the Grammys. There’s also a behind the scenes video. In case you’re curious. Loved this reaction. Felt it to be so sincere!!! Thank you Brit Brit!!!!!
This song definitely had a positive impact. But, unfortunately, it seems that most of the artists didn’t read that sign over the door. The behind the scenes video is the same kind of thing we see for movies that are designed for promotion, not accuracy. It’s worth reading what individual participants had to say about it. It’s not a pretty picture. Lot’s of bickering. Some artists were even calling their agents and threatening to walk out because they weren’t given a big enough part. Sorry to burst the bubble.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your reaction girl. So Glad to see you getting surprise and Happy recognising your singers. And the ones that you did not recognize, did you check them out????
The idea for "We Are the World" started from Harry Belafonte, after he heard European artist do something similar the Christmas before. He approached Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers who go on board to push the project forward. Most of the initial recording were done in Kenny Roger's studio. They then brought in Michael Jackson who wrote the song along with Lionel Richie and they brought in Quincy Jones to help with the production. All of the main recording was done in one night, they brought in all the artist to the A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood, immediately following the American Music Awards. They posted a sign at the door to the studio that read "Check your egos at the door". Also, you should know that this was done a second time 25 years later in 2010, you should check out - We Are The World 25 For Haiti - Official Video - ua-cam.com/video/Glny4jSciVI/v-deo.html
@@tcanfield So true Thomas, unfortunately he is really only shown briefly in the video, but yeah most people don't respond or say anything when he is shown. Nor do they seem to notice he is standing next to Dan Aykroyd {known better for being a comedian than a singing artist}
If you don't get chills from this, you need to check your puls, this is a video everyone should see a least once in their life time!! I remember when the song first came out .... it was very emotional then and every time since. It's so nice to see someone that gets just how epic and truly rare something like this collaboration is.
In 1985, as a preschooler watching "We Are the World" on TV, I remember being thrilled to see all the famous singers get together to end famine in Africa. I would love to see similar projects initiated today.
Countries across the world had sent money to relieve the famine in Africa but sadly little of the money reached the people in need. This effort brought the problem to the lovers of music everywhere and could not be ignored. A remarkable gathering of artists. I’m old enough to recognize them all!
It’s certainly an incredible gathering that really touched people. But it was the (smaller) gathering of artists in England who recorded “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” that first brought the problem of famine in Africa to music lovers. It was number one in 13 countries. This was the American follow-up after the success of the original fundraiser song for Africa.
@@Y_.R Geldof's "Band-Aid" was indeed the first in 1984, though it was originally a complete flop. It wasn't until the re-release in November of 1995 that it started to really take off.
It hit differently in different regions. In the U.K. it went straight to number one on the charts and stayed their for 5 weeks. It was the fastest selling single in UK chart history at the time. It sold a million copies in the first week in the UK and 3 million by the end of the month. It also hit number one on the charts of 13 other countries. It only sold 2.5 million in the U.S. during the first month because it got a lot less airplay. Though, the radio station I listened to in North Carolina played it a lot. I bought it, as did a number of my friends. So it went multi platinum in the first month (December 1984). I wouldn’t call it a flop.
@@Y_.R I realize that. My point was the "music industry" was trying to tap into the donation potential of the quarter of a billion people in the United States (at that time), and not just the 55 million in the UK. It's about numbers and how to bridge that cultural divide.
That was Bruce Springsteen, a legend of rock music and one of the best live performers of all time. Do yourself a favor and check out his 2009 Superbowl halftime show. It was incredible.
Britt, you are correct. This collaboration was put together by Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie. You have been right on the money throughout this song! This will never be duplicated again, sadly, as 4 of these icons have passed away. You CANNOT replace Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Tina Turner, and James Ingram! At least we have this music video to remind us of their impact on the music industry and the world. The world music industry should be doing more of this to raise money and awareness to so many other causes! Loved your reaction Britt!👍👍❤❤
@@lydmarl.475 Harry Belafonte was the person who started this. This was actually his idea. He was such a kindhearted, civically minded man, and so gorgeous!! The King of Calypso!!
I guess I will never tire of this. What a great collaboration. The highest caliber of modern artists, put together by the very best, gives me goosebumps each and every time I listen to and watch this. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, too. It was great to see your reaction!
I was 12 when this came out. And while I kinda understood its significance (for both the cause and for the collaboration of all these legends and popular artists), I didn’t *appreciate* it as a kid. Now I recognize how incredibly special this was, and it does get me emotional. Some of the best harmonization work you’ll hear. And the guy with the gritty voice is Bruce Springsteen and the dude with the mullet you recognized is Steve Perry from Journey.
I was 12 when this song came out, and it was Ev-er-y-where. It transcended genre. Classical musicians and country fans and hard rock punks would all sing it. It felt like every choir from elementary schools to universities to professional operas sang it that year. The trivia behind the song is inspiring. The outtakes are amazing, including Ray and Stevie singing "The Banana Boat Song" TO Harry Belefonte who's standing on the top riser.
yess THAT is an amazing and fun clip of like 15 min or so right? Before we saw the video a lot of people were wondering who's voices were in what order other than the distinctive ones like M Jackson and I always get HUey Lewis and Kim carnes, and of course THE great CIndy Lauper when she reaches that hi note
Oh my gosh! I just looked up “The Banana Boat Song” and it was great! I’ve always loved the song but seeing the group spontaneously singing it, with Harry Belafonte in the back row looking kind of amazed, was so much fun. Thanks for sharing the info.
Girl, I cry EVERY TIME I see this! I was ten years old when it was first released! It was SO amazing, and pure magic the way it all came together so well! ❤️
I was a teenager when they did this song. It was great! I thought recently how lovely it would be if today's musicians would get together for something like this . There's also Do They Know It's Christmas Time. You should watch that one.
I was 10 months old when this song was released! I remember hearing stories from my parents that this song was everywhere and instilling the message "See? We can work together, even if we disagree on other crap" into me. This song embodies that message and I try to listen to it at least once a year.
JUST caught your reaction and Babygirl, your reaction to seeing M. J. was PRICELESS!!! This was made in 1985 and it was to be help the people of Africa with Food, Clothes, Housing, Health and Education. There is also a video showing the making of this video. I am 53 and I also broke down when M. J. passed. I can not tell you how impressed I am that you know many of the artists present. You should also check out Band Aid and their song " Do They Know It's Christmas Time", this was organized by Bob Geldoff for the people of Ethiopia. Then later in 2014, they did a remake of this song with current artists as well as some of the originals. They also have a video of the making of this as well. I hope you listen and enjoy a part of History💖🌜⭐🌛💖
I've watched a lot of people react to this song recently and I have to give you props! You're the only one I've seen that realized this was a charity effort!!! Plus you recognized way more than most people. There was a remake of this song for Haiti relief but it doesn't even come close to the quality of this song and the amount and caliber of the stars.
You should listen to Somos El Mundo, which was done later that same year by a lot of iconic Latin artists (and even some Haitians). It is a much, much better - and the rap is incorporated so much more effectively.
OK, I watched it. Although I only recognized 4-5 artists , I agree it is so much better! Lots of people that understand how to perform real music! Thanks for the recommendation!
I applaud your enthusiasm when you discover music that has been part of my entire life. Sometimes I even tear up when I see you get it! I grew up with 60s 70s 80s and even 90s and music has been the torch that guided me through the good bad and ugly times. So enjoy as you dive into the past. ~Jimmy
This is making me emotional on SO many levels. I was SO achingly young when this song was recorded. Nothing like it had ever been done. So many of these artists have transitioned. Most of my family was alive and well. Just WOW! A great way to get my day going. 😊💛
when you say nothing like this had ever been done you must have not known this was the American artists response to band aid do they know its christmas which ultimately lead to LIVE AID
I’m glad you enjoyed this Britt. This was technically the first super band. I absolutely loved this because a lot of my favorite singers were in it (especially Huey Lewis, the one singing with Cyndi Lauper). My dad worked on this as one of the camera utility guys. He said it was crazy getting this all put together. I remember getting ready for school and him just getting in from it. They were there all night and well into the morning. I remember him telling me about how the night went. The Netflix documentary on this confirmed everything he told me and was a nice blast from the past. He’s actually in the documentary in the beginning and at the end (he’s wearing a brown vest, smoking a cigarette while wrapping cable).
There are enough fantastic singers that you don’t know to have another six months of reactions. Such a special moment in time. It’s a hopeful thing to see such appreciation for the music that came before this generation. Keep doing what you’re doing.
You are right, it is like a time capsule. They all got together for one night after the AMA's and recorded all night. What a wonderful result! I love your enthusiasm. Thanks for the reactions.
Girl love this reaction. There is actually a behind the scenes of making this video. It is so cool. How they came together after the grammys and were told to leave their ego at the door.
De las mejores reacciones y la más auténtica que he visto. Incluso es genial como reconoces a varios y te sorprendes, hasta soltando datos interesantes jaja Saludos desde Perú 🇵🇪
Loved your genuine reaction ❤ I'm a few years older than you, and this was my childhood anthem. I'm glad you recognized most of the artists, even though I was surprised you don't know who Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen was. But this was, and still is, one of the greatest collabs of all times. Could not happen today.
Someone who was only 28 at the time this came out, and who has watched several of these reactions, I want to thank you for knowing who many of these artists were. I am a new subscriber. Thank you Britt. Your mom sounds like an amazing woman, and so glad you thanked Jesus. You are am amazing woman.
I love your reaction to this. I am obsessed with this song for the second time in my life after watching the Netflix documentary. I am Gen X. I have been watching Millennials and Gen Z react to this song all night. I'm feeling really connected to y'all right now. I'm happy you're feeling it.
Lionel Richie - 0:26
Stevie Wonder - 0:39
Paul Simon - 0:43
Kenny Rogers - 0:53
James Ingram - 0:59
Tina Turner - 1:06
Billy Joel - 1:13
Michael Jackson - 1:19
Diana Ross - 1:32
Dionne Warwick - 1:48
Willie Nelson - 2:02
Al Jarreau - 2:09
Bruce Springsteen - 2:15
Kenny Loggins - 2:21
Steve Perry - 2:28
Daryl Hall - 2:36
Huey Lewis - 2:48
Cyndi Lauper - 2:54
Kim Carnes - 3:02
Bob Dylan - 3:48
Ray Charles - 4:27
“We Are the World” Chorus (alphabetically)
Dan Aykroyd
Harry Belafonte
Lindsey Buckingham
Mario Cipollina
Johnny Colla
Sheila E.
Bob Geldof
Bill Gibson
Chris Hayes
Sean Hopper
Jackie Jackson
La Toya Jackson
Marlon Jackson
Randy Jackson
Tito Jackson
Waylon Jennings
Bette Midler
John Oates
Jeffrey Osborne
The Pointer Sisters
Smokey Robinson
“We Are the World” Instrumentalists
David Paich - synthesizers
Michael Boddicker - synthesizers, programming
Paulinho da Costa - percussion
Phil Collins - percussion
Louis Johnson - synth bass
Michael Omartian - keyboards
Greg Phillinganes - keyboards
John Robinson - drums
Quincy Jones -- conductor
And wasn’t it written by Michael and Lionel? Anybody else?
@@AnthonyMinsky correct, and prince and madonna turned down the chance. waylon left early before it was completed. a lot of behind the scenes stuff if you read up on it.
How did Dan Aykroyd get in on this?
@@chris-bi1fn Prince & Madonna turning it down, cool trivia 🙂
@@chriscostelloe8942Probably bacause of the Blues Brothers-movie? 😊
Quincy told everyone, " Leave your egos at the door." And you can see they did just that. There's a documentary of the making of these incredible moments. I know you would love it. No of these amazing people took a penny for doing this. An alarming rate of people in Africa were dying. With no rain their crops had failed. I'll never forget this time. ☮️♥️
That VHS tape with the song and the documentary was everywhere. I grew watching it like every day.
Unfortunately, the myth is far better than the reality. They were notoriously behaving badly at the recording. Some of them were even on the phone with their agents complaining about how they didn’t get a big enough part to sing and threatening to walk out. A few described the lavish excess of food catered as sickening given the cause they were supporting. It was a far cry from the recording they were trying to emulate/one-up of “Do They Know it’s Christmas” in England a few months earlier. The “documentary” was designed for promotion, not accuracy. It’s a shame, because that is how it should have been.
@@Y_.R Except “do they know it’s christmas in Africa” is racist af lol.
@@videovoidtv Why was it racist? It meant that many in Africa, who were suffering, wouldn't be enjoying what others were during a Christmas celebration (food, gifts, etc.). So, while many are celebrating Christmas festivities, others in Africa were starving and going through hardships.
It didn't mean that they literally didn't know about Christmas.
@@azedel7151 Dude. the idea isnt racist. But a song wondering if a bunch of people who don’t celebrate Christmas, know if it’s christmas… It sounded racist or eurocentric even back then. It was a punchline as soon as it came out. Imagine “do they even know its Ramadan” lol
Managing to get Bob Dylan on there was nothing short of miraculous! That man would skip his own birthday party.
😂😂😂😂😂
And well done to him. He must have felt that it was a very important cause to be there.
True. He was a no-show at the George Harrison tribute
Damn right.🙂
Except Prince... He wouldn't come unless he could have his own room. Quincy (or Lionel) said no so he didn't come.
This was all done in ONE night, AFTER the American music awards. All of these artists got together at the prodding of Lionel Ritchie, who actually HOSTED the Awards show that night. The song was put together and produced the next day. Also, the first time it was played on the radio, EVERY radio station across the country, and many around the world played it at the EXACT same time. I still remember where I was as a 15-year-old when I heard it. There has never been anything like it. I love seeing your enthusiasm and appreciation for this music that we older ones grew up on. Well, I'm 53 so yea I guess I'm a LITTLE older lol.
Me too, 55 now this was special, but even more so now that I look back
This was 1985. They raised millions to help feed starving people in Ethiopia after a severe drought. The guy with the raspy voice is Bruce Springsteen
Yes you are so right , I too can remember when it premiered , incredible just incredible and yes every radio plus MTV when they were still Music TelevVision they all played it at same time around the world , simply magical ,,
This is not JUST a song. This song brought the WORLD together and saved thousands upon thousands of African lives.
This song, and everything it stands for, is LEGEND
Given current events, we need more of this right here.
One of many. The UK's Band Aid did it first with "Do They Know It's Christmas (Feed The World)" with all the UK artists. They were the ones who started the musical movement for Africa.
After the US's "We Are The World" came Canada's "Tears Are Not Enough." All went on and continue to go on raising monies to assist Africa with these songs' royalties.
All of the subsequent fund raisers "Live Aid" "Farm Aid" and so on stemmed from these fund raising song compilations.
They made this recording to sell it and T-shirts to make money for Food For African people ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Good lord, there's nothing Americans love more than re-writing history.
yeaaa.....this brought the world together.............🤣
Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson wrote the song. They recorded it directly after the American Music Awards.They recorded through the night. 😊 💐 💐💐 Of course you got Quincy Jones 😅 Bruce Springsteen is the growly guy. James Ingram is the “taking us to church “ guy. 😊❤
After the American Music Awards. (80s geek here!)
@@NoCanDu thank you 😊
And the whole thing was Harry Bellefonte's idea.
@@edprzydatek8398 Oh Wow, I didn’t know that. ♥️
Thanks for this list!!
I am someone that NEVER leaves comments... but I have to say seeing you react to this video with such respect and love really brought me JOY so I HAD to let you know. I wish more young(er) people could be more like you and give "old" music a chance. It made me so happy seeing you enjoy this song because I was born in 1976 and this song was a huge part of my childhood and actually got to experience it when it came out. Even my hispanic parents who didn't speak a word of English loved this song. When you said this felt like a Quincy Jones song you made me laugh cause I knew you were in for a surprise LOL! You definitely know your stuff! But how can you not be SURE that was Cyndi Lauper?! Lol!! Thanks again for your reaction... I LOVED IT!! ❤
I can understand why she wouldn't know a lot of the white artists but I was a bit disappointed that she didn't know Bob Dylan. I thought everyone knew him LOL
cyndi Lauper , It brings life to the song where the voice is raised yes yes and tells us to do it We are the world.
Harry belafonta got them together
You don't even know how big this was britt. It was when everyone came together when needed, it was when our country did things positive for people and countries. When this song hit the radio, my school stopped everything and played this over the PA system. That's how it was back in 80s. Wish you could have experienced that time in this country
It was so amazing growing up during the 80's and being alive during this. The country needs to get back to that.
Girl, THESE artists were the top selling and most popular artists at the time. I was a teenager when this song came out and it was played constantly on the radio. It is ICONIC. I felt so old when you didn't know "The Boss" Bruce Springsteen .... :(
YES, I am feeling old too, people who never heard of "Feed the World" or "USA for Africa". Today, it seems to me, people are so egocentric, with all the catastrophies in our world, that a few million deads in Africa is of no interest. PEACE
It's fine...I'm 18 and Springsteen is my life, I'm also from China
I’m so happy someone else listed the artists in a comment so I didn’t have to lol. This gathering, this song, this CAUSE is so iconic that I am always sad when people don’t understand it or know the artists who contributed. I’m glad some of the younger reactors are finding and listening to this. Perhaps another generation will recognize this for the important event it was then and still is today.
To be fair, I was a teen in the 80s and I always thought Springsteen was severely overrated. Don't bother calling me names. I'm allowed my opinion. I did love The E-Street Band though.
@@LincolnHawk-bk5yr Why would I call you names? You are indeed allowed to have an opinion ... and we all don't have to agree on everything. I was a teen in the 80's myself and Springsteen was BIG and he had some great songs but he certainly was never my favorite artist. Who didn't like Clarence???
Girl, yes it was a massive moment in history!! You have no idea, it was HUGE!! Every single person in that room was a mega star (the handsome guy with the growly, raspy voice is Bruce Springsteen) and every one of them checked their ego at the door and came together to do this fundraiser and it raised many millions of dollars to help feed communities in Africa during one of the worst droughts/famines in recent history. I'm 58, I've seen this so many times and I still get super emotional any time I see it. Great reaction!
Bruce is the best!!!
BandAid came first and was just as massive. It led to the Live Aid concert
@@nadeansimmons226 live aid and other concerts were different from this event right here for one special reason... They were all scheduled events, this was not a scheduled event this was a spur-of-the-moment thing!!! Try to get 50 musicians and artists together today after an awards event or a dinner or whatever, which is what happened here, and have them be able to put their egos in check and do something like this!! I'm not sure you would be able to, but I'd love to see it happen!!
Chuckled a bit when she did not recognise Bruce, she made a couple of reactions of him a few months back. Must be one of the most recognisable voices on the planet.
@@bernardsalvatore1929 Band Aid was actually pulled together very quickly. It definitely wasn’t scheduled. It was amazing to get the artists together for We Are the World, but they were all in town for the event. I doubt they would have come anywhere close to this kind of participation if people had to actually travel there for it. I think the “egos in check” story is a lovely one. Unfortunately, it doesn’t reflect the reality of artists throwing tantrums and calling their agents because they didn’t get a big enough part to sing. Or the apparent backstabbing on songwriting. I appreciate what they created and I respect the impact it had on people. I don’t think we need the fiction to do that.
It's refreshing to see a young person recognize a healthy amount of singers for once.
Healthy amount??? She knew maybe 30% of the black singers and 1% of the white singers. She has a lot of catching up to do, especially not knowing who Bruce Springsteen is. Lol
@kristianberg4264 Yikes. You shouldn't be so hung up on race.
In contrast to other young reactors, her recognition was impressive.
As for recognizing them based on race...
1. The black singers were generally more famous and recognizable. Lionel, Stevie, MJ, and Ray Charles are still among the most recognizable singers ever. My WHITE wife didn't recognize most of the white guys, either. And she's 41!
2. Do you think maybe, just maybe, cultural influence had something to do with it? Like, MAYBE she was more familiar with certain artists because her parents listened to them growing up? And MAYBE they listened to those particular artists because they catered to their particular demographic?
Paul Simon
@@kristianberg4264Oh chill. She gets triple bonus points for pulling that Quincy Jones nugget out.
@@kristianberg4264 "especially not knowing who Bruce Springsteen is."
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That's because she's only reacted to 2 of his songs and in one of them, he's real old.
It breaks my heart when people don't recognize the amazing James Ingram! He left us way too soon and was an amazing singer!
@lmKatiesBrouther - AGREED! James Ingram was amazing!!! I love James Ingram!!
how about not recognizing bruce springsteen and bob dylan, my heart broke 🙂 I may be too old ...
I recognize him right away love his voice
I don’t remember him. What songs did he sing that were played on the radio?
@@wendymacraild5204I don’t remember him. What songs did he sing?
GR8 Reaction!!! "We Are The World" is a charity song released in 1985 by USA for Africa, a supergroup of renowned musicians. The song's meaning is to promote unity, compassion, and aid for African famine relief. It was made as a collaborative effort, with iconic artists coming together to raise awareness and funds for those in need. The purpose of the song was to use its popularity and reach to inspire global solidarity and support humanitarian efforts, making a positive impact on the lives of the affected people.
As a guy who spent his childhood in rural africa and allways wished the world was more equal I loved this song and purpose when it came out... Fast forward a couple decades I realize it didn't change a thing. Looking back at it just feel like getting retold an empty promises and false hopes...
It was a reaction to "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid here in the UK a few months earlier. American pop singers decided they wanted to do something similar. There were a few American singers on Do They Know It's Christmas, such as Jodie Watley from Shalamar.
To give an idea of just how big this was in the 80s, in a four month period after release the single made $10.8 million in sales, $1.3m in direct donations, and over $45m in merchandise sales, with a majority of that going directly to humanitarian aid. Adjusted for inflation that's over $160 million today.
I lived in western Africa around this time and can confirm that the level of poverty was insane. Average wage for live-in domestic jobs (maid, cooks, nannies, etc) was $30 per month plus a mattress (all help slept in the same room) -- and that was a good job relative to the norm. We were told in all seriousness that if you were going to be in an accident it was better to kill a person than a goat, because a goat is the livelihood of an entire family.
@@ajs41 Yeah, initiated by Bob Geldof
@ajs41. Correct. Band Aid was a similar charity supergroup featuring mostly UK artists, raising funds for the Ethiopian famine relief effort, released before Xmas in 1984.
This was then followed up by the now legendary Live Aid concerts, which Britt should definitely react too, if she hasn't done so already.
The greatest choir ever assembled. There’s a new Netflix documentary on how this came to be
And the original documentary from the time (hosted by Jane Fonda) has even more footage that Netflix chose not to use. Bits of Billy Joel and Ray Charles that is well worth seeing...
@@thesolitaryadventurer I was unaware of that thank you
I watched the Netflix one. Great history. To get those mega stars to stay all night to cut a hit, amazing!
Except for Bob Dylan. His voice is nails on a chalkboard.
It was great to see that...have to do a reaction to that!
Even after all these years, I still can’t watch this without tearing up. It’s amazing.
Sobbing!
Same! 🥲
Agreed
I fell Exactly the same… so Very Sad how the World has become in comparison to these Greats ‘checking their Egos” in order to make such an Impact Worldwide!!! ♥️🙏🎶♥️
Yep, been through several boxes of tissues 😂
Why is it that people don't recognise Paul Simon. Just one of the most influential song writers of the 20th century
Underrated as hell nowadays.
I think that most people “just call him Al”😏
@@iammicah895lol 😄
@@iammicah895only if he can call you Betty.
@@TheGenXInfluencer 😂
I was a teenager during the 80s and i feel so blessed for this...
Because WE KNEW that was THE MOMENT .
Britt! Girl! This is a bigger deal than you know!
I was in high school when this came out. I remember it being a HUGE deal. This was probably the biggest collection of music icons and stars in one room, at one time, that EVER existed. It was fun seeing you recognize and get excited for those you DID know. I’m sure that someone in your comments is going to list all the singers. You’re going to kick yourself for not recognizing several! Yeah, they were huge too!
My CHALLENGE to you, here it is:
Make another short video update to this one and listen to it again with the names of everyone. Enjoy it with knowing whose all in the room. Then, go do a reaction to every one you didn’t recognize! You’ll have a blast!
It was except for Band Aid.
That came first about 2 years before.
@@neilgayleard3842 Do They Know It's Christmas? 3 months before this
@@julianmallach348yep, BandAid, USA for Africa, LiveAid and then FarmAid. What a beautiful time to love music.
Her reaction made me cry. I can remember this event like it was yesterday. If we could only get people to come together like this again. I can always pray and dream that this will be possible again one day.
I'm late Gen X. I remember when this happened. And every time I see later generations discover this it fills my heart. This was one of the last times that that mega artists set their egos aside and said "we need to do this". I remember it happening. And I cry every time. This was unparalleled and can NEVER be replicated today.
Of COURSE it can be replicated. Other than that it was a novel idea at the time, there's no reason why today's artists _can't_ assemble musically for a cause similar to this, with all royalties going to fund whatever cause the song is supporting.
@@sadee1287 it's not that they couldn't-it's that they wouldn't. Too many inflated egos around today.
Nope it can't
Hold up... Do yall not know that they DID remake it!?
@arroyod100 yes, they did remake it but NOT with this caliber of Mega super stars of that era.
Willie Nelson’s line is the line that gets me every time. The vocal arranger deserves every flower that can be given
May I interject something here without causing a third world war or a firestorm.
There's not an instance anywhere in Scripture where God turned Stone to bread.
The only correlation between bread and Stone is when Jesus was fasting 40 days in the desert Satan came to him and said if you are the son of God then turn the stones to bread.
A lot of people may find that to be a petty observation but it's not in observation it is just the facts.
Willie didn't write the song.
Hey Britt, we understand the emotions you are going through. The children of the 70s and 80s were fortunate enough to go through the same when this was released and go through the same chills even now every time we watch this video.
I dare say that children of the 40s, 50s, and 60s were also fortunate to witness this once-in-a-lifetime performance. I know I (50s/60s child) experienced it the same way.
1985 it was a rare year indeed. Have not seen the likes since, we knew things were bigger than us, we tried anyway. Too much weakness, just plain fragility in the masses today. I long for the world I grew up in, I try to instill the strength of heart we had in my own children so they will not fear things that are bigger than them and try too. 🤞
That was your very first taste of The Boss - Bruce Springsteen. He is a legendary artist who’s still putting on 3 hour concerts at 73 years old. I encourage you to start with the official video for Born to Run and explore from there. Enjoy!
Saw him in concert a few weeks back in London. You are correct...he played for 3 hours covering songs throughout his decades in music!
Saw him recently and man the guy is still a force of nature on the stage.
Nope! Dancing in the dark!!
The poor man came down with a peptic ulcer and had to cancel the rest of his tour.
Funfact... he wrote "fire" for the pointersisters❤
Without a doubt Britt, your reaction to this amazing song that went worldwide was the best reaction I have ever seen from anyone . I have seen thousands of songs and reactions and you top the lot with this one. You are right about music and it's power to bring people together.
I was a teenager when this came out. I was in high school & and didn't have much money. For Christmas, I bought 25 vinyl 45 (the single) and gave the records to everyone for Christmas, where I could contribute to help Africa. I know it was very small in the scheme of things.
The growly guy is Bruce Springsteen who was at the pinnacle of his popularity when this was filmed. In the mid-1980s there was a drought in Africa that resulted in many people dying (especially in Ethiopia). This record raised more than $50 million for famine relief. A few months before a similar event took place in London with a lot of (mostly) British stars called "Band Aid" and they sang "Do They Know It's Christmas". The following summer a huge concert was held at the same time in London and Philadelphia called "Live Aid". The guy who came up with the idea for all of this was a singer named Bob Geldof. He was the lead singer of a band called The Boomtown Rats. Queen Elizabeth knighted him for his efforts.
@Brittreacts you should check out Bruce Springsteen “The River” video from The River Tour 1980, it will really give you a sense of how he had such a prominent part in this song. His storytelling through verse hit people where they’ve never been hit before. This might sound weird but it was just so American, so relatable. He showed people the passion in their own humdrum lives. He may have been the Walt Whitman of his day.
Bob Geldof also played Pink in Pink Floyd's The Wall.
If you love the depth of Billy Joel’s songwriting, you need to check out Springsteen too.
Bruce was a huge score to be here too, especially when this was done. As also shown by how big of a part he had. Loved everything about this!
This whole concept was created by two British singers, Bob Geldoff and Midge Ure. It started with the British song "Do they know it's Christmas?" by Band Aid and was followed quickly by the American "We are the world" by USA for Africa. Obviously there was the Live Aid concert which took place at Wembley in London and JFK in Philadelphia. Phil Collins famously played early at Wembley then flew by Concorde to the USA and also played at JFK!
Bob Geldof is Irish...not British.
@@liambegley1739 You live and learn...
Don't forget the metal version with Ronnie James Dio " We Are Stars" by Hear n Aid.
@@waynesmith8079 The famine was bad and I was happy at the time that more and more people got involved. Now we need react vids to them all :)
don't forget "Tears are not enough" by Norther Lights (Canadian)
I was a teenager when this song came out. I remember that magic day of March 28 1986 when over 6000 radio stations all over the world, played this song simultaneously,. I remember I was in school in Italy and our teacher made us standing up and sing along the radio. She told us that in the same moment, all over the world, people was doing the same thing, so it was like, singing together in unison. It is been really emotional. This song should be the best song of the Human History. It is been made for charity, it is been made with heart and soul. All those Legends went for free to create this magic. People like Lionel Richie, Cindy Lauper and many others, went straight to the studio in late evening, right after finished to record the American Music Awards, just to create this workart. All of them were tired but they did all for free. Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson made a masterpiece. To whoever didn't already do, I suggest to go to watch the documentary. It is been hosted by Jane Fonda. It is an amazing documentary where you see behind the scene. You can see the solo of the singers. You can hear the first version of the song singed by Michael Jackson where he sing: We are the World, sha la, We are the Children, sha la... Guys, watch that documentary. Bless from Italy.
I had this on 45, had the sweatshirt and remember every middle and high school choir doing this song. It was a great experience and everyone felt like they were actually helping others.
correction... March 1985 actually.. not 1986.
I was singing with you, my friend.
I'm sobbing right now. This song represents what world should be about. Makes me really emotional
I loved, loved LOVED this reaction. Many reactors who have not heard this song or seen the video before generally do not recognize the artists which tends to dilute the effect. It was such a joy seeing your face as you recognized a large majority of them. And 💐 for the Quincy Jones call!!! 👏🏻
I was absolutely impressed with how many people Britt knew. Quincy Jones impressed me the most. Having grown up during this period, I absolutely knew who he was - his name was everywhere - but couldn’t pick him out of a crowd because of his predominately “behind the scenes” role.
Loved this reaction!
There is a great "making of" video out there that you should watch on your own time. It tells how this all came together, shows all the celebs hanging out during the taping and interacting, and the numerous takes to make this happen. One thing Quincy Jones made clear: check your ego at the door, no matter how much "star power" you have. IMO one of the greatest collabs of all time.
It's too bad Waylon Jennings couldn't follow his advice. The story is he left the recording session early because he didn't want to sing in Swahili.
I have seen the making of. It is a must see. The way this was put together, and in such a short amount of time, is just amazing.
@raymondcarver476 I don't know about "today" but don't forget, or look up if you have not heard it "Voices that Care" the song and group are the same title, they came together at the beginning of the Gulf War, it was another great collab!
Bruce Springsteen seems to have been ahead of the game on checking those egos at the door. No fancy car or chauffeur. The man we call The Boss showed up in his old pickup truck, parked it across the street, and walked right in, ready to get to work for the sake of others.
I think that great artists often respect each other or are in awe - they too have their heroes - the ego thing could be concerning the limited time - many may be perfectionists - but they would have to fall in line to succeed . To make it possible for Quincy Jones to be able to work with their input - - Maybe I'm wrong.
From the moment you first said "Quincy Jones," I knew you were going to recognize a lot of the artists and have a genuine appreciation for what they were trying to do! You DESERVE those flowers, young lady!
Quincy produced it, Harry Belafonte came with the idea, MJ and Lionel wrote the song.
Britt: great reaction! I have a personal connection to this song, so let me explain. I was 20 years old in 1985, when this song was originally released (March 1985 to be specific). Yes, it was to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia at the time.
On Saturday July 13th, 1985, there was a "simulcast concert" called "Live Aid", between London's Wembley Stadium and the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, PA at the time. Basically, many of the performers you see (and many that are not in this video), performed in the concert in London in the afternoon (EST), and then after they were done, they passed the torch to the concert at the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, PA for their performance.
I was an English exchange student in NYC that summer and attended the concert in Philadelphia. Yes, I was there! I lived it! I cannot relay in words how extraordinary and joyful the whole day was. A Canadian couple (who have since passed away (RIP)), gave my friend and I two tickets (for free) in NYC, as they had to fly back to Canada and could not make it. So, we took the Greyhound bus to Philly the day before. The face value of the ticket was ($120 each - $350 today). When we got to Philly, we were offered $1500 ($4200 today), for each ticket. We did not sell, even though we were broke students on an exchange program.
The concert was amazing and insane! When they let us into the JFK stadium in the late afternoon (all 100,000 of us, yes 100,000!), we could see the live concert from England's Wembley Stadium, on a huge screen in the stadium. That really pumped us up. After about an hour, Sir Bob Geldof (one of the organizers and musician) appeared on the big screen from London and said, "Philadelphia, please take it away and have a great show!" We all screamed and lost our minds. At that point, the great Lionel Richie appeared on stage (in front of us), and said something like, "Philadelphia, how are you doing?" Yes, we screamed again, and the show begun.
One of the amazing things that happened that day has to do with the British recording artist Phil Collins. Collins was in London and performed at Wembley Stadium. We saw his performance on the big screen in Philly. Unbeknown to us (after his performance), he got on a plane (the supersonic Concorde - 3-hour flight from London to NYC) and performed on stage at the JFK Stadium halfway through our concert! It blew our minds. When her first walked onto the stage in Philly, none of us believed it was him, given the fact that he had just been in London a few hours ago. It only when he took the mic and said something to the effect of, "hello Philadelphia, I just thought I would hop over on the Concorde from London and join you here." Yes, we lost our minds again! All 100,000 of us screamed in unison! Amazing.
To this day, it is the greatest concert/public gathering I have ever attended. There were so many people from everywhere there. It was very festive, and almost felt like attending the Olympics. We also had a sense at the time, that music history was being made, in part because a "simulcast" had never been put together like that across two countries and aired "live" like that in the music business. It was truly a first! There was also so much hope that the huge amounts of money raised would truly help those in need and make the world a better place by eliminating hunger in Ethiopia and more broadly everywhere else.
By the way, I still have the two ticket stubs from 1985 in my possession. I have not researched if I could get a pretty penny for it on Ebay or elsewhere. But I will continue to hold onto it. I look at it once in a while, and all those great memories come back. I was glad to be part of the experience!
Thanks for reading my story, and hope this gives you a clearer picture of what it was like, for those of us who were there for real. Enjoy!
Cheers, Sam.
Your reaction is delightful! This 77 year old spent a lifetime listening to these artists. Have fun discovering each and every one of them. ❤
Delightful? Pausing the song every 5 seconds to give a 2 minute commentary is anything but delightful. I get that she was excited and genuinely touched by this song but all that stoppage was unnecessary.
Just enjoy her joy..
I just love this woman's totally natural, spontaneous reactions.
thank you!!
She is one of my favorites, and when my day is just totally shot... I pull her reaction to Kenny Rogers' version of LADY ❤🎉😊
Me too . Plus her willingness to embrace an variety of talents different from what she was exposed too in her upbringing. she has so much content in just an year i may never catch up but my favourite is her reaction to Shania Twain That don't impress me much.
I agree she gives a truly honest reaction in every video.
she reminds me of Cedrics girlfriend on the Steve Harvey show, that genuine innoce natural beauty vibe...
Flying back to the US at the end of Desert Storm, they played this song and Whitney's National Anthem on repeat. This old hillbilly Marine Corps vet cried what had to be a million tears. Already emotionally wound up, this song and her singing the National Anthem just broke me down completely. If only the people in today's society could come together like that group of super stars. Amazing things could be accomplished. Speaking of amazing, Britt darlin, you stand alone in the reaction video category. No one else comes close. Your reactions and facial expressions are simply heart melting and priceless. Wishing nothing but the best for you and the family. Good luck and God bless. Semper Fi
Thank you for service.
@@karenlkvm You are quite welcome. It was an honor and privilege to serve our nation and people.
Thank you for your service, Sempre Fi 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🙏❤️
@@helenmalina799 You are quite welcome. Serving our country was a great honor and privilege for me. Thank you for the respect shown to our military. Have a great night.
Bruce Springsteen is still catching eyes with that "Tougher than the rest" look.
😂
A friend of mine had said he looked constipated but I can see "Tougher Than The Rest." Steve Perry or Daryl Hall would come close.
What a fun reaction! The joy on your face with each recognized artist was lovely, you should watch your reaction for a smile and I am sure someone will list all of the artists that you didn't recognize.
you could definitely hear the excitement in your voice too! This is now one of my favorite reactions from you.
Likely one of the greatest musical moments in history. You have that much talent in one room, singing together and...wow, I get the chills every time because it is a masterpiece.
And pretty much nothing changed, ''cause they aren't the top1%.
Bette Midler was also there. In the background, singing with everyone. The TALENT that is Bette Midler, never had a "solo" like the others....WOW!
It is indeed Quincy Jones leading on it.
Shorter gentleman next to Kenny is Paul Simon
Deep voiced gentleman immediately after is James Ingram
After Tina Turner, it's Billy Joel
The handsome man you mentioned with the raspy voice is Bruce Springsteen
The one who looked familiar soon after is Steve Perry, legendary lead singer for Journey
After the "choir" part, that's Bob Dylan - he was one of the organizers
Thank you for mentioning who all she didn’t recognize. Steve Perry is one of my favorites. He did good with single music and with Journey. Billy Joel is practically iconic with so many hits he has, like they all do. Bob Dylan also has a unique sound
Sweetheart, when I feel down I look for a reaction video to this song. Your reaction blows me away. You are more knowledgeable than most who see it. I can't tell you how sad it makes me when young black people don't know their heritage. These great artists are so much of this old white guys life... and your reaction is so joyful. Thank you.
Oh how lucky are you! Now you get to dive into the HUGE library of songs for each and every artist your seeing!!! This was an enormous hit back in the day. All egos put aside to make it. My favorite moment is Stevie and Bruce!!! Looking forward to MANY more killer reactions from you!!! Peace.
Absolutely! Stevie Wonder’s silk and honey with Bruce Springsteen’s leather and grit, brought passionately by each, both contrasts and compliments beautifully.
Yes, you nailed it. It isn't just a mix of races, it is a mix of genres, a mix of generations, even a mix of media. Not just singers, but actors.
Actors? If you mean Dan Ackroyd, he was actually half of the Blues Brothers, but I agree. Definitely not in the same class as these mega stars.
This moment will sadly never happen again.
These are not just artists, they are superstars all of them!
Without question my favourite musical moment in history! 😍
I love the pairing of these artists, you couldn't imagine how wonderful they could harmonize considering how diverse their voices were. So beautiful to see them working toward a common goal to uplift humanity.
I haven't listened to this is a long time and it's just as powerful today as it was in 1985. Incredible performance by all the artists. working together. Real voices, no auto-tune, pure talent. :)
Africa was suffering a tremendous drought and lots of people were dying. This song was a call for funds to help feed the people of Africa. Learn about Paul Simon, Huey Lewis, Hall and Oats, Kim Karnes, Steve Perry and the rest. I loved Dionne, Diana, Stevie, Lionel as well. I listened to them all as a young teenager.
A terrible famine due to drough and civil war. Over 250,000 people starved to death.
Your right to tear up. These artists were some of the best ever. And they were the realest of them all. And extremely talented. I know everyone of these artists now. Well not personally but I know there voices and can feel their hearts beating to this song, for hope. Such a great song, and the best version of it.
I have seen nine of these artists live in concert. Those of us of a certain age were spoiled rotten with affordable access to great concerts.
Go back and listen closely to every lyric Springsteen sings. His voice, and soul are incredible. Bruce was my man for years… in my dreams.
I'm impressed with how many of the artists you recognized. Everyone there were well-known, talented artists. I always get emotional when I see this. Amazing!
OMG, your face is so expressive. I just love watching reactions to this song when the reactor has an idea about who most of these stars are. It is such a let down when you watch a reaction and the person has zero clue who any of them are. There will NEVER be a collection of talent such as this in one room again. Ever.
Hands down, your reaction is the best!
The way you lit up with each person you recognized..... delightful.
USA for Africa raised around 60 million just with this songs sale. Total, they raised around 75 million.
My understanding is, after an awards show, they were asked/gathered to perform the song. That's why you see some of them holding papers. This was done somewhat, on the fly.
Someone realized they needed more, after most had left, so Bruce Springsteen handsome guy, Stevie and Ray, who were still around, filled in to give the more that was wanted.
OMG... Thank you for sharing this moment with us out here... so much emotion. I was 17 when this came out and I'm a mushy, emotional kind of guy, so this is the kind of classic from my youth years that may bring blank eyes and even crying reflexes just hearing the song start playing... And then sharing YOUR sweet emotions from hearing it for the first time now. Just wow! Thanks again! ❤
as you see them sing in order- I HOPE I GOT IT RIGHT * Lionel Richie 0:50
* Stevie Wonder 0:59
* Paul Simon 1:06
* Kenny Rogers 1:11
* James Ingram 2:51
* Tina Turner 2:56
* Billy Joel 3:02
* Michael Jackson 3:10
* Diana Ross 6:18
* Dionne Warwick 7:03
* Willie Nelson 7:11
* Al Jarreau 8:37
* Bruce Springsteen 8:43
* Kenny Loggins 8:51
* Steve Perry 8:56
* Daryl Hall 9:03
* Huey Lewis 9:35
* Cyndi Lauper 9:39
* Kim Carnes 9:48
* Bob Dylan 11:46
* Ray Charles 12:47
* Stevie Wonder & Bruce Springsteen 15:30
* Bruce Springsteen 15:58
* James Ingram 17:02
* Ray Charles 17:27
I post this song and video on my social media all the time, and no one sees it. This was my era of music and it was amazing to see all these people come together to help others in need. This is what we need today. No more hate and diversity. We need to stop letting a small group divide all of us. The voices in this video were my world and the ones we lost are turning over in their graves right now.
I remember when this came out and was all over the radio. I thought to my self that this song needs to be in everyones heart. If everyone on the planet took this onboard it would end all the wars and famine because there would be enough to rise up against tyranny and the global elites.
Your reaction was so spot on…this was a singular moment in music history, couldn’t be repeated these days, they wouldn’t even be able to agree on a date, today, right? 😂
In the 80's WE didn't yell racist/ racism at each breeze of the wind. I was in high school when this song hit & we were all on the same page. We all had friends (genuine friends) of whatever race and we Cared about each other. Looking at where we are NOW is Sickening and more sad than I can express here. 😔 😢 It Was A Better Time To Live In The 80's For All Of Us 😕
Please, the 80s were such a racist time. If you didn't hear people playing the race card it was because you weren't paying attention or because minorities weren't given a microphone to express themselves as they can now. We were not "all together" back then. I'm sure this song is inspiring and seeing all these voices singing in harmony is such an idealist moment in pop culture but there's a difference between nostalgia and fantasy. Part of why this was powerful then and now is that the world needs more of this. It definitely wasn't a better time then with regard to race relations, civil rights, etc. We have come so far from then. And we still have a long way to go. We need anthems like this today.
The Funk still sounds like " still in the funk.". Sorry to disagree with u, but the 80's were a better time .. Unfortunately ur weren't paying attention to who was in the room.. We're all it the worse racist world right now. Instead of being together there are to many ppl that want to keep separated in this day n age to the point that it's sickening... it's destroying the world,at least there was hope back then..That hope has vanished today..
@@gailcalderone5229 You must have been living in a very different part of the U.S. (or in another country). I lived in multiple parts of the country during the 80s and it was far more racist than today. I’m not saying we’ve solved the problem of racism at all. But there was such a separation in the 80s. It was widely unacceptable for people of different races to date. I knew many white people who would never even consider dating a white person who had ever dated or hooked up with a Black person. But, of course, such things were only said behind closed doors. Social groups and neighborhoods were very segregated. And people could be truly heinous to keep it that way.
In the early 80s MTV wouldn’t even play black artists. CBS Records had to threaten to remove all of their artists from the channel just to get them to play Michael Jackson. And Madonna got her contract with Pepsi cancelled overnight because of the number of black people in her video and its provocative anti-racist sentiment. And of course the fact that she kissed a black man in the video.
The landscape of music started to change in the late 80s, but it only meant that white teenagers began imitating black music (rap and hip-hop), culture, slang, dance, clothing, etc. without the least bit of interest in why or how it evolved.
I’m not saying we’ve solved racism. We’ve got a lot of problems. But it’s not correct to say racism is worse. Though its certainly more discussed and out in the open. I agree that it is sickening and destructive. But it’s not new or unique to this day and age.
That's because we didn't have UA-cam and couldn't call out racism like we do now. The 80s were just as bad as now
As far as I'm concerned,this is all B.S. if ppl want to stay separate,,then do it...Tired of ppl yelling Racism at a snap of of finger.. I'll say no more...
These are all of the best singing together. Paul Simon is the 1st one you didn’t know (of Simon and Garfunkel fame).
This was such a huge deal. This was the world coming together to help the children of Africa. It was a huge. 💖💖💖
Your response was exactly the right way everyone should respond when watching this the first time. Exactly right. ❤
Anyone is school, remembers this, we were all required to sing it as a school wide choir to contribute our voice to this. Ask your mom, I bet she knows the words and the melody. As a side note, I think this was the last time all the Jackson siblings recorded together. So many legendary voices in this.
Turns out most of the Jackson siblings were there. Rebbie, Janet, and Jermaine were not.
I remember doing that in elementary school. I went to a Detroit public school and there were a lot of activities surrounding this topic back then. I remember a drawing contest that everyone had to submit to thar would be gathered into a book as a fundraiser and mine was among a few from my school selected. I didn't fully understand it of course, I just knew there were kids like me starving in Africa to the point they had distended stomachs, so that was incorporated into my drawing. I must have been 7 or 8 years old.
Does anyone else remember on March 28, 1986 at 10:15 am EST when this song played on every radio station across the country at the same time??!! I sure do. That’s how big this song was. The only sad point is, as I understand the story, Prince did not perform because Michael Jackson was going to be there and they didn’t get along.
I still tear up every time I watch this video. I was 24 when this came out. What a different world it was back then. It was fun to watch you fan girl over it. :)
I was 8 when this came out and a song we heard everywhere. Growing up in the 80s i took great music for granted and didn’t realize it comes and goes.
It’s like a band of angels singing! I’m so privileged to have grown up in the 80’s with this caliber of talent! I well remember this beautiful song and the hope that it invokes!
Ugh I love all the textures in voices and different levels of emotion each artist put in their delivery… it’s like a rollercoaster
Yep, it's so great. All those unique voices and styles yet blending so perfectly.
On the day it came out. Every radio station played it at the same time and named the artist as the sang. Notice I said sang, not sung. There was a sign over the studio door that said “check your egos at the door”. This was done after the Grammys. There’s also a behind the scenes video. In case you’re curious. Loved this reaction. Felt it to be so sincere!!! Thank you Brit Brit!!!!!
This song definitely had a positive impact. But, unfortunately, it seems that most of the artists didn’t read that sign over the door. The behind the scenes video is the same kind of thing we see for movies that are designed for promotion, not accuracy. It’s worth reading what individual participants had to say about it. It’s not a pretty picture. Lot’s of bickering. Some artists were even calling their agents and threatening to walk out because they weren’t given a big enough part. Sorry to burst the bubble.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your reaction girl. So Glad to see you getting surprise and Happy recognising your singers. And the ones that you did not recognize, did you check them out????
The idea for "We Are the World" started from Harry Belafonte, after he heard European artist do something similar the Christmas before. He approached Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers who go on board to push the project forward. Most of the initial recording were done in Kenny Roger's studio. They then brought in Michael Jackson who wrote the song along with Lionel Richie and they brought in Quincy Jones to help with the production. All of the main recording was done in one night, they brought in all the artist to the A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood, immediately following the American Music Awards. They posted a sign at the door to the studio that read "Check your egos at the door".
Also, you should know that this was done a second time 25 years later in 2010, you should check out -
We Are The World 25 For Haiti - Official Video - ua-cam.com/video/Glny4jSciVI/v-deo.html
Thanks for the info ! Ironic how Harry never gets noticed by various reactors. Guess you have to be a certain age to know about him.
If you know about Harry Belafonte, it doesn’t really come as a surprise. He was such a great humanitarian, supporter and activist for many causes.
@@tcanfield So true Thomas, unfortunately he is really only shown briefly in the video, but yeah most people don't respond or say anything when he is shown. Nor do they seem to notice he is standing next to Dan Aykroyd {known better for being a comedian than a singing artist}
PERFECT
Oscar winning reaction.
Exactly what I was hoping for
If you don't get chills from this, you need to check your puls, this is a video everyone should see a least once in their life time!! I remember when the song first came out .... it was very emotional then and every time since. It's so nice to see someone that gets just how epic and truly rare something like this collaboration is.
Your reaction is wonderful, totally genuine and viceral, I really congratulate you for giving us this version of the best of the 80s
Girl I was was 14 when this was made and I appreciated every artist in this….incredible…I really hope this can happen again and again!
In 1985, as a preschooler watching "We Are the World" on TV, I remember being thrilled to see all the famous singers get together to end famine in Africa. I would love to see similar projects initiated today.
Countries across the world had sent money to relieve the famine in Africa but sadly little of the money reached the people in need. This effort brought the problem to the lovers of music everywhere and could not be ignored. A remarkable gathering of artists. I’m old enough to recognize them all!
It’s certainly an incredible gathering that really touched people. But it was the (smaller) gathering of artists in England who recorded “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” that first brought the problem of famine in Africa to music lovers. It was number one in 13 countries. This was the American follow-up after the success of the original fundraiser song for Africa.
@@Y_.R Geldof's "Band-Aid" was indeed the first in 1984, though it was originally a complete flop. It wasn't until the re-release in November of 1995 that it started to really take off.
It hit differently in different regions. In the U.K. it went straight to number one on the charts and stayed their for 5 weeks. It was the fastest selling single in UK chart history at the time. It sold a million copies in the first week in the UK and 3 million by the end of the month.
It also hit number one on the charts of 13 other countries. It only sold 2.5 million in the U.S. during the first month because it got a lot less airplay. Though, the radio station I listened to in North Carolina played it a lot. I bought it, as did a number of my friends.
So it went multi platinum in the first month (December 1984). I wouldn’t call it a flop.
@@Y_.R I realize that.
My point was the "music industry" was trying to tap into the donation potential of the quarter of a billion people in the United States (at that time), and not just the 55 million in the UK. It's about numbers and how to bridge that cultural divide.
The netflix documentary on this, Greatest Night in Pop Music is fabulous!
Great!
That was Bruce Springsteen, a legend of rock music and one of the best live performers of all time. Do yourself a favor and check out his 2009 Superbowl halftime show. It was incredible.
He was known as The Boss.
yes, and he has a huge loyal fanbase. I grew up in the 80s, but his fans from the beginning....goodness. lol
Britt, you are correct. This collaboration was put together by Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie. You have been right on the money throughout this song! This will never be duplicated again, sadly, as 4 of these icons have passed away. You CANNOT replace Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Tina Turner, and James Ingram! At least we have this music video to remind us of their impact on the music industry and the world. The world music industry should be doing more of this to raise money and awareness to so many other causes! Loved your reaction Britt!👍👍❤❤
Not to forget Al Jarreau, Harry Belafonte, Kenny Rogers, even some of the Pointer sisters….
@@lydmarl.475 Harry Belafonte was the person who started this. This was actually his idea. He was such a kindhearted, civically minded man, and so gorgeous!! The King of Calypso!!
No chance of modern ‘stars’ doing something like this because (1) they have no talent (2) they have greedy egos
I guess I will never tire of this. What a great collaboration. The highest caliber of modern artists, put together by the very best, gives me goosebumps each and every time I listen to and watch this. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, too. It was great to see your reaction!
You said it, how can you not feel some type of emotion with all the extraordinary talent present, gives you chills and tears.
I was 12 when this came out. And while I kinda understood its significance (for both the cause and for the collaboration of all these legends and popular artists), I didn’t *appreciate* it as a kid. Now I recognize how incredibly special this was, and it does get me emotional. Some of the best harmonization work you’ll hear. And the guy with the gritty voice is Bruce Springsteen and the dude with the mullet you recognized is Steve Perry from Journey.
I was 12 when this song came out, and it was Ev-er-y-where. It transcended genre. Classical musicians and country fans and hard rock punks would all sing it. It felt like every choir from elementary schools to universities to professional operas sang it that year. The trivia behind the song is inspiring. The outtakes are amazing, including Ray and Stevie singing "The Banana Boat Song" TO Harry Belefonte who's standing on the top riser.
yess THAT is an amazing and fun clip of like 15 min or so right? Before we saw the video a lot of people were wondering who's voices were in what order other than the distinctive ones like M Jackson and I always get HUey Lewis and Kim carnes, and of course THE great CIndy Lauper when she reaches that hi note
Oh my gosh! I just looked up “The Banana Boat Song” and it was great! I’ve always loved the song but seeing the group spontaneously singing it, with Harry Belafonte in the back row looking kind of amazed, was so much fun. Thanks for sharing the info.
Of course "Do they know it is Christmas" came first, but damn the musical world really did step up.
Girl, I cry EVERY TIME I see this! I was ten years old when it was first released! It was SO amazing, and pure magic the way it all came together so well! ❤️
I was a teenager when they did this song. It was great! I thought recently how lovely it would be if today's musicians would get together for something like this . There's also Do They Know It's Christmas Time. You should watch that one.
I was 10 months old when this song was released! I remember hearing stories from my parents that this song was everywhere and instilling the message "See? We can work together, even if we disagree on other crap" into me. This song embodies that message and I try to listen to it at least once a year.
JUST caught your reaction and Babygirl, your reaction to seeing M. J. was PRICELESS!!! This was made in 1985 and it was to be help the people of Africa with Food, Clothes, Housing, Health and Education. There is also a video showing the making of this video. I am 53 and I also broke down when M. J. passed. I can not tell you how impressed I am that you know many of the artists present.
You should also check out Band Aid and their song " Do They Know It's Christmas Time", this was organized by Bob Geldoff for the people of Ethiopia. Then later in 2014, they did a remake of this song with current artists as well as some of the originals.
They also have a video of the making of this as well.
I hope you listen and enjoy a part of History💖🌜⭐🌛💖
I've watched a lot of people react to this song recently and I have to give you props! You're the only one I've seen that realized this was a charity effort!!! Plus you recognized way more than most people. There was a remake of this song for Haiti relief but it doesn't even come close to the quality of this song and the amount and caliber of the stars.
You should listen to Somos El Mundo, which was done later that same year by a lot of iconic Latin artists (and even some Haitians). It is a much, much better - and the rap is incorporated so much more effectively.
ok I will. Thanks!
@@jamesrawlins735
OK, I watched it. Although I only recognized 4-5 artists , I agree it is so much better! Lots of people that understand how to perform real music! Thanks for the recommendation!
I applaud your enthusiasm when you discover music that has been part of my entire life. Sometimes I even tear up when I see you get it! I grew up with 60s 70s 80s and even 90s and music has been the torch that guided me through the good bad and ugly times. So enjoy as you dive into the past. ~Jimmy
This is making me emotional on SO many levels. I was SO achingly young when this song was recorded. Nothing like it had ever been done. So many of these artists have transitioned. Most of my family was alive and well. Just WOW! A great way to get my day going. 😊💛
Same here, sister. What an era for music. Class of '75, here. And you?
when you say nothing like this had ever been done you must have not known this was the American artists response to band aid do they know its christmas which ultimately lead to LIVE AID
@@lisawall3386 Class of '81.💛
@@stevecorcoran1674 I stand corrected. Nothing like this had ever been done in AMERICA. 😊💛
glad you finally took my advice and finally did this song.... your reaction is legit real!
In this room were some of the greatest musical talents, legends, and for some reason, Dan Aykroyd.
He had a number 1 album with the Blues Brothers. If I'm not mistaken it was a top seller of the year the movie came out. Who knew
He was there to rep Canada
I never even knew he was involved until right this second and I was 15 when this came out. LOL
@@hallowdemoslasher489He used to be pretty big as part of the Blues Brothers.😂
He had the same agent as many of the other stars and was invited.
I’m glad you enjoyed this Britt. This was technically the first super band. I absolutely loved this because a lot of my favorite singers were in it (especially Huey Lewis, the one singing with Cyndi Lauper).
My dad worked on this as one of the camera utility guys. He said it was crazy getting this all put together. I remember getting ready for school and him just getting in from it. They were there all night and well into the morning.
I remember him telling me about how the night went.
The Netflix documentary on this confirmed everything he told me and was a nice blast from the past. He’s actually in the documentary in the beginning and at the end (he’s wearing a brown vest, smoking a cigarette while wrapping cable).
There are enough fantastic singers that you don’t know to have another six months of reactions. Such a special moment in time. It’s a hopeful thing to see such appreciation for the music that came before this generation. Keep doing what you’re doing.
You are right, it is like a time capsule. They all got together for one night after the AMA's and recorded all night. What a wonderful result! I love your enthusiasm. Thanks for the reactions.
Girl love this reaction. There is actually a behind the scenes of making this video. It is so cool. How they came together after the grammys and were told to leave their ego at the door.
De las mejores reacciones y la más auténtica que he visto. Incluso es genial como reconoces a varios y te sorprendes, hasta soltando datos interesantes jaja Saludos desde Perú 🇵🇪
Loved your genuine reaction ❤ I'm a few years older than you, and this was my childhood anthem. I'm glad you recognized most of the artists, even though I was surprised you don't know who Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen was. But this was, and still is, one of the greatest collabs of all times. Could not happen today.
This is your best reaction yet Brit❤
Just watching your excitement, being emotional 😢and just appreciate great music and memories
Someone who was only 28 at the time this came out, and who has watched several of these reactions, I want to thank you for knowing who many of these artists were. I am a new subscriber. Thank you Britt. Your mom sounds like an amazing woman, and so glad you thanked Jesus. You are am amazing woman.
I love your reaction to this. I am obsessed with this song for the second time in my life after watching the Netflix documentary. I am Gen X. I have been watching Millennials and Gen Z react to this song all night. I'm feeling really connected to y'all right now. I'm happy you're feeling it.
You and me both!