Song of the Day: January 30, 2024

Remember back when I didn't have three very awesome jobs, I was in a serious life depression, and I used to share music I was digging on this site that two people ever visit?

Well, life is good and I stay busy, but I thought I'd bring back an exclusive, once-in-a-decade Song Of The Day post to evoke those days. Also, this one is just SO GOOD.

Last night at dinner, the family sat down to watch the Netflix documentary on the recording of the smash 1985 single "We Are The World." Everyone who was anyone in the mid-80s (well, except for Madonna and Prince) was involved in this recording, which was marketed both to promote and provide funding for the hunger crisis in Africa.

The documentary is called "The Greatest Night In Pop" and it tells the story of how 40-plus musicians in their prime spent a whirlwind nine-hour recording session right after the 1984-85 American Music Awards creating what would eventually become one of the best-selling singles of all time.

There are many memorable moments in the 96-minute documentary, from encounters between Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson's numerous pets to Waylon Jennings walking out of the session after Stevie Wonder suggested including African phrases in the song to cater to a more global audience.

Without a doubt, however, my absolute favorite moment in the session came after the all-star chorus was finished recording, and producer Quincy Jones made sure to recognize then-living legend Harry Belafonte for his pioneering work in using music to advance social causes.

Al Jarreau, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and others then led the who's-who group of singers in an impromptu singing of Belafonte's signature single "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" as a tribute to the legendary singer and social justice advocate.

The following clip was surely used in the documentary, as it was recorded as part of the song's Grammy, VMA, People's Choice, and AMA-winning music video. The specific clip, however, seems to come from a newscast after the song's release. Before watching, know that the assembled artists take until around the 42 second mark to really get going, and around the 1:14 mark to really get in sync:

Among my favorite highlights: In a song that is described on its Wikipedia page as "a traditional Jamaican folk song," you may expect the less-pigmented superstars in the ensemble to not be as enthusiastic participants. Case in point Bob Dylan, who the documentary paints as someone who was having trouble finding his groove throughout the session until he was essentially isolated during his solo recording moment.

However, I have to shout out Kenny Rogers clapping along enthusiastically during Jarreau and Wonders' verses, and singing loudly and proudly at every repetition of "Daylight come and me wanna go home." Considering what happened with another country star involved in the recording (as previously mentioned), it's absolutely worth noting Rogers' apparently unbridled allyship in this moment.

As for Jarreau, the documentary notes that he was sufficiently inebriated during the session ("He was celebrating," said one of the interview subjects, I believe Lionel Richie), so it makes total sense that after an initial pseudo-power struggle with Motown legend Smokey Robinson, Jarreau took over as the lead verse-singer in the group, and enthusiastically so.

The undeniable highlight of the jam session, however, is when Stevie Wonder takes over singing of the verses. "If you have too much, y'all have to stay," one of my all-time musical icons sings, "because you'll have to be driven home by me or Ray [Charles]!".

If you know anything about Wonder or Charles, this line will make you roll on the floor in laughter. Also, note Robinson's reaction just a beat or two later.

I'm not 100 percent positive, but based on the documentary USA For Africa may still be using proceeds from this song to eradicate hunger in the third-world. So if you wouldn't mind streaming We Are The World a few million times on your favorite platform, you might be able to make a difference in the world!

That's it for this one. For my long-time Universe fans, I'm trying to get an NFL post up before the Super Bowl so stay tuned!

Peace and love to all.

-Clayton

Post-publication note 1: It is an all-time dream of mine to be included in something like this. Not with that caliber of music star, I am totally aware that will never happen. But with any certain group. I got close to it last year, but I still think it could have been better.