'We Are the World' is Still Well Known 36 Years Later

Today marks the 36th anniversary of the song "We Are The World" being recorded. It was January 28th, 1985 when the song "We Are The World" came to be. It was a collaboration of Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, and Quincy Jones.

According to Wikipedia, "We Are the World" is a song and charity song originally recorded by the super group USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Jackson and Richie and produced by Jones and Michael Omartian for the album "We Are The World".

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With sales in excess of 20 million copies, it is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold 10 million or more copies worldwide. In case you have forgotten, here is the list of artists who were a part of this iconic song.

Dan Aykroyd
Harry Belafonte
Lindsey Buckingham
Kim Carnes
Ray Charles
Bob Dylan
Sheila E.
Bob Geldof
Hall and Oates
James Ingram
Jackie Jackson
LaToya Jackson
Marlon Jackson
Michael Jackson
Randy Jackson
Tito Jackson
Al Jarreau
Waylon Jennings
Billy Joel
Cyndi Lauper
Huey Lewis and the News
Kenny Logins
Bette Midler
Willie Nelson
Jeffery Osborne
Steve Perry
The Pointer Sisters
Lionel Richie
Smokey Robinson
Kenny Rogers
Diana Ross
Paul Simon
Bruce Springsteen
Tina Turner
Dionne Warwick
Stevie Wonder
Michael Boddicker - Synthesizers, Programming
Paulinho da Costa - Percussion
Louis Johnson - Bass
Quincy Jones - Producer
Michael Omartian - Keyboards, Producer
Greg Phillinganes - Keyboards
John Robinson - Drums

The recording of the song did not come without controversy. A little know fact, again according to Wikipedia, about the recording is that Stevie Wonder announced that he would like to substitute the "sha-lum sha-lin-gay" sound for a line in Swahili. At that point, Waylon Jennings left the recording studio and never returned. Jennings allegedly felt that no "good ole boy" ever sang in Swahili. A heated debate ensued, in which several artists rejected the suggestion.

The "sha-lum sha-lin-gay" sound ran into opposition as well and was subsequently removed from the song. The participants eventually decided to sing something meaningful in English instead.

Apparently, way too many egos in one place 36 years ago today on January 28, 1985.

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