We Are The World - Haiti

[Music Head]

a great cause of course, but nowhere near the impact of the original.
Was ok till they stuck that rap crap and distorted vocals in there.
They even dug up MJ for the cause.

YouTube - We Are The World 25 For Haiti - Official Video

[Music Head]

one time I can agree with Jay-Z

from starpulse



Rap superstar Jay-Z turned down the opportunity to join Quincy Jones' star-studded remake of We Are The World - because he didn't want to touch the classic.

Legendary producer Jones teamed up with Lionel Richie, who recorded the original 1985 hit with Michael Jackson, and recruited a host of artists including Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Wyclef Jean, Janet Jackson, Usher, Lil Wayne and Nick Jonas to raise money for the Haiti earthquake relief effort.

The Empire State of Mind hit-maker was personally invited by Jones to take part in the charity single, but, while he is supportive of the cause, he decided against it because he considers the track to be musically "untouchable" - like the King of Pop's Thriller.

Jay-Z tells MTV.com, "We Are the World is like Thriller to me. I don't ever wanna see it touched. I'm a fan of music. I know the plight and everything that's going on in Haiti. I applaud the efforts: (Millions have been raised) through text (donations) to Haiti. So I appreciate the efforts and everything, but We are the World is (musically) untouchable like Thriller is untouchable. Some things are just untouchable. It was a valiant effort, but for me, it's gonna be untouchable."

[abrocks22]

i really respect what jay z is saying and to a point, i agree. watching the song remade was just not really doing it for me musically, but i definitely support the cause.

good efforts?

[Music Head]

from rolling stone

Since the Winter Olympics debut of “We Are the World 25 for Haiti,” featuring Lil Wayne, Pink, Kanye West, Fergie and 80 more singers, over 6.5 million people have watched the Paul Haggis-directed video on its official YouTube page. With its modern take on the original track’s production and a new rap interlude, the new version of the iconic 1985 charity single is drawing mixed reaction from all corners of the Internet — 67,000 comments have already been posted on YouTube and Rolling Stone’s blog lit up with responses after the song’s premiere during Friday night’s opening ceremony in Vancouver.

One of the most famous voices in the mix is Jay-Z, who told MTV that the original version was too sacred to him. “I think ‘We Are the World’ is like [Michael Jackson's] ‘Thriller’ to me. I don’t ever wanna see it touched.” He added, “Some things are just untouchable. It was a valiant effort, but for me, it’s gonna be untouchable.”
Rolling Stone readers‘ main critique is that the new lineup doesn’t boast enough high-profile rockers. “This version does not hold a candle to the original which was composed primarily of A-list performers, many who are now in the Rock Hall of Fame,” JD writes. “The original had individuals. That’s the key thing, from the moment the original starts you know who everyone is, very distinct voices,” adds Chris.

Lionel Richie’s response? “What’s a classic? To the next generation, it’s just an old song,” he told USA Today. “Why not bring in Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers and let them address the issues? We can pass the baton and empower the next generation to take up arms and have a legacy with this.”

Readers also griped over the track’s use of Auto-Tune (Akon, T-Pain and Lil Wayne’s vocals all feature the studio hallmark) and the addition of the rap interlude, which the producers referred to as a “Greek chorus.” Richie tells USA Today rockers were the voice of opposition in the original, but “Now the radicals and bad boys and messengers are rappers. We had to add that to give it freshness.”

Despite the critiques, readers praised Pink, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige and Celine Dion’s solos, the touch of originality Kanye West added to the track and the too-brief, heartwarming moment where Michael and Janet Jackson sing side by side. “OK, Pink killed it. Awesome and somewhat unexpected. Celine Dion, incredible. It was tasteful to leave Michael Jackson in it too,” writes T Bone.