Rappers, actors, and singers including Pink, Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, and Barbra Streisand recorded a new modern version of “We Are The World” for the victims of last month’s Haitian earthquake exactly 25 years after the song raised awareness of famine in Africa.
None of the 70 participants were invited — they volunteered their talent to record at the same Hollywood studio under the same oversight of Quincy Jones and the song’s co-writer, Lionel Richie.
Singer Natalie Cole said; “As celebrities, we’re fans of one another, so we’re all looky-looing in there, and getting autographs and numbers.”
The people who seemed to receive the most attention and the most stares were Streisand, Celine Dion, and Tony Bennett. The opening line, originally sung by Richie, was sung by one of the newest teenage heartthrobs, Justin Bieber.
In addition to Kanye West, several other rappers got some attention as well including Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Drake, LL Cool J, and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.
As Quincy Jones explains, the reason rappers are being used as well as singers is that they are rock ‘n’ roll to a lot of people today and are the modern-day equivalents of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, or Paul Simon.
Look for the music video and the song to go on sale online and in retail stores soon.

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