Getting dozens of music’s biggest acts in one room to record the legendary 1985 charity single"We Are the World"was no easy feat.
On Tuesday, Netflix unveiled the trailer forThe Greatest Night in Pop, a new documentary chronicling the complicated writing and recording process behind crafting “We Are the World” through the eyes of several musicians who lived it:Lionel Richie,Bruce Springsteen,Cyndi Lauperand more.
The Bao Nguyen-directed film utilizes both archival footage and new interviews to tell the story of how Harry Belafonte enlisted Richie, 74, andMichael Jacksonto write the benefit anthem to raise funds for African famine relief.
Netflix’s ‘The Greatest Night in Pop’.Courtesy of Netflix
Courtesy of Netflix
Writing the song was one accomplishment, but then came the task of getting every single artist in the same studio for the now-iconic “We Are the World” recording session on Jan. 25, 1985.
“The greatest artists of a generation came together to save some lives, but we only had one night to get this right,” says Richie in the film’s trailer, throughout which he recalls experiencing a “full-on fight” and “so many disasters.”
Also appearing inThe Greatest Night in PopareSmokey Robinson, Kenny Loggins,Dionne Warwickand Huey Lewis, all of whom featured on the song.
The documentary will make its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 19 before it becomes available to stream on Netflix starting Jan. 29.
Lionel Richie in Cambridge in June 2023.C Brandon/Redferns
C Brandon/Redferns
Richie and Jackson’s composition also proved beneficial for the cause, making a whopping $63 million in sales.
During a 2016 interview at a Grammy Week event titledArts & Ideas: Conversations @The Wallis,the Commodores musician recalled some of the chaos that went into the creation of “We Are the World.”
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“I’m at Michael’s house trying to write ‘We Are the World,’ and his dog is barking, and his Mynah bird is yelling ‘Shut up’ [repeatedly at the dog]. I see albums falling over. I look again and see more falling over and there’s an albino python [coming toward me]. I will admit I was screaming like a white woman,” said Richie at the time, perBillboard.
He continued, “Michael goes, ‘Oh my God, Lionel. There he is, he wants to play with you.’ I know you want a spiritual tale about how we brought this song you, but that’s how it was for three days.”
source: people.com
