Documentary Sheds Light on the Making of ‘We Are the World’ Charity Single

Thirty-nine years ago, a historic recording session took place in Los Angeles with music legends coming together to create the charity single ‘We Are the World‘ for African famine relief. Artists like Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel, and many more gathered to make music history. Now, a new documentary titled ‘The Greatest Night in Pop’ gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at this iconic recording session.

Producer Julia Nottingham describes the film as a celebration of creativity and collective humanity. The documentary features interviews with Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Loggins, Dionne Warwick, and more, offering fresh insights into the memorable night at A&M Studios in 1985.

Director Bao Nguyen beautifully recreates the atmosphere of the recording session by filming the interviews inside the iconic studio where the magic happened. With never-before-seen footage and audio from journalist David Breskin, the film captures the dynamics and drama in the room, providing a deeper understanding of the collaborative process.

‘The Greatest Night in Pop’ doesn’t shy away from revealing some of the less glamorous moments, such as Al Jarreau having a bit too much wine or Bob Dylan feeling out of place and needing Stevie Wonder‘s guidance. The documentary also explores how Cyndi Lauper accidentally prolonged the session with her jangling jewelry and showcases Prince’s willingness to contribute with an isolated guitar solo.

The film paints an honest picture of the recording session, highlighting the challenges along the way, while also emphasizing the sense of unity and family that emerged from the experience. From Lionel Richie’s role as a peacemaker to Quincy Jones reminding everyone to check their egos at the door, the documentary captures the magic and complexity of the night.

‘The Greatest Night in Pop’ also delves into the activism of Harry Belafonte, who raised awareness about the famine in Ethiopia and was present at the recording session. The documentary reveals how Belafonte received a spontaneous serenade from the exhausted but joyful artists as they sang a version of ‘Banana Boat.’

The film unveils interesting details, including Kenny Loggins suggesting Huey Lewis replace Prince in the solos after Michael Jackson. It also touches on the moment when Stevie Wonder proposed singing some lyrics in Swahili, which was met with resistance from Waylon Jennings. Ultimately, the idea was dropped after realizing Swahili wasn’t spoken in Ethiopia.

‘The Greatest Night in Pop’ digs into the events leading up to the recording, highlighting how Jackson and Richie were still working on the song just 10 days before the session. The decision to record that particular night was made to coincide with the American Music Awards, where Richie was hosting and performing.

Despite initial doubts, Cyndi Lauper’s boyfriend advising her to skip the session, and the unique challenges faced during the recording, the charity single ‘We Are the World’ became a monumental success. The documentary captures the camaraderie and dedication that went into the project and serves as a reminder of the power of art for great causes.

As the music industry and technology have evolved, it is uncertain whether a similar recording session with music superstars could ever happen today. Nevertheless, ‘The Greatest Night in Pop’ hopes to inspire artists to continue using their creativity for meaningful purposes.