“I didn’t really know much about the making of the song,” admits The Greatest Night in Pop director Bao Nguyen of 1985’s star-studded Ethiopian famine relief hit “We Are the World.” “You just make these assumptions about how things are made because it just happens. But when you think now of 46 great artists getting together to make that, it would be really impossible for that to happen now.”
Whether or not the superstars of 2024 could or would come together like the hit makers of the Reagan Era did in America and the UK almost 40 years ago is debatable. What is a fact is that Nguyen’s latest documentary is debuting today at the Sundance Film Festival just a few days short of when U.S.A. for Africa recorded the Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson penned tune in a studio in Los Angeles. It is also a fact that, after a total of four Sundance screenings,...
Whether or not the superstars of 2024 could or would come together like the hit makers of the Reagan Era did in America and the UK almost 40 years ago is debatable. What is a fact is that Nguyen’s latest documentary is debuting today at the Sundance Film Festival just a few days short of when U.S.A. for Africa recorded the Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson penned tune in a studio in Los Angeles. It is also a fact that, after a total of four Sundance screenings,...
- 1/19/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has shared the trailer for an upcoming documentary about the making of the 1985 charity single “We Are the World.”
Directed by Bao Nguyen, The Greatest Night in Pop tells the story of how 46 of music’s biggest stars came together in a single day to record one song that would become a global sensation in the truest sense of the phrase. As Lionel Richie explains in the trailer, he and Michael Jackson co-wrote “We Are the World” after Harry Belafonte called him directly to ask if he could write a song to raise money for hunger relief in Africa.
The Greatest Night in Pop compiles footage of that day in Jim Henson’s studio, where Richie’s newly-assembled supergroup recorded the song live — for better or for worse. The Grammy-winning track featured the voices of just some of the biggest stars of the era, including Bruce Springsteen, Smokey Robinson,...
Directed by Bao Nguyen, The Greatest Night in Pop tells the story of how 46 of music’s biggest stars came together in a single day to record one song that would become a global sensation in the truest sense of the phrase. As Lionel Richie explains in the trailer, he and Michael Jackson co-wrote “We Are the World” after Harry Belafonte called him directly to ask if he could write a song to raise money for hunger relief in Africa.
The Greatest Night in Pop compiles footage of that day in Jim Henson’s studio, where Richie’s newly-assembled supergroup recorded the song live — for better or for worse. The Grammy-winning track featured the voices of just some of the biggest stars of the era, including Bruce Springsteen, Smokey Robinson,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Film News
R&b superstars Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak have joined forces to form a duo called Silk Sonic. The single “Leave The Door Open,” off their album “An Evening with Silk Sonic,” has so far been tremendously popular, recently topping the Billboard Hot 100. But while their continued commercial success seems all but certain, one question does remain: what are their Grammy chances? Let’s look at some past supergroups to see how the recording academy has reacted to them and what that might mean for this new dynamic duo.
The Highwomen
This critically acclaimed all-female supergroup consists of Grammy winners Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, and Natalie Hemby. The country and Americana quartet released their debut album in late 2019 to great reviews. As for the Grammys, they surprisingly only got one nom for Best Country Song for “Crowded Table,” which they eventually won against bigger hits like Miranda Lambert...
The Highwomen
This critically acclaimed all-female supergroup consists of Grammy winners Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, and Natalie Hemby. The country and Americana quartet released their debut album in late 2019 to great reviews. As for the Grammys, they surprisingly only got one nom for Best Country Song for “Crowded Table,” which they eventually won against bigger hits like Miranda Lambert...
- 4/17/2021
- by Jaime Rodriguez
- Gold Derby
Thirty-five years after Lionel Richie blessed us with “We Are the World,” the American Idol judge has released an updated version of his feel-good anthem with the help of some iconic contestants of seasons past.
The new rendition made its TV debut during Sunday’s Idol finale, as the Top 11 of Season 18 — Arthur Gunn, Dillon James, Francisco Martin, Grace Leer, Jonny West, Jovin Webb, Julia Gargano, Just Sam, Louis Knight, Makayla Phillips and Sophia James — joined an impressive list of previous winners and finalists.
More from TVLineJimmy Kimmel Honors Frequent Live! Guest Fred Willard in Tribute EpisodeLost Quiz: How Well...
The new rendition made its TV debut during Sunday’s Idol finale, as the Top 11 of Season 18 — Arthur Gunn, Dillon James, Francisco Martin, Grace Leer, Jonny West, Jovin Webb, Julia Gargano, Just Sam, Louis Knight, Makayla Phillips and Sophia James — joined an impressive list of previous winners and finalists.
More from TVLineJimmy Kimmel Honors Frequent Live! Guest Fred Willard in Tribute EpisodeLost Quiz: How Well...
- 5/18/2020
- TVLine.com
In the run-up to Back to the Future's 30th anniversary on July 3, Digital Spy presents a week of special features celebrating the time-travel classic.
Has it really been 30 years since Back to the Future first arrived in cinemas? The '80s classic is one of those films that stands firm under repeat viewings, retaining its humour, heart and on-point performances from Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd and co. Simply put, there isn't a frame out of place in Back to the Future.
Though Robert Zemeckis's film still feels as fresh as ever, the world has changed dramatically across the three main periods the Back to the Future series spans. Digital Spy digs deep into the history books to find out how the world looked in 1955, 1984, and where we are now.
-1955-
Movies
Marty sweeps to victory at the Oscars, winning for Best Picture, Director and Actor
James Dean...
Has it really been 30 years since Back to the Future first arrived in cinemas? The '80s classic is one of those films that stands firm under repeat viewings, retaining its humour, heart and on-point performances from Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd and co. Simply put, there isn't a frame out of place in Back to the Future.
Though Robert Zemeckis's film still feels as fresh as ever, the world has changed dramatically across the three main periods the Back to the Future series spans. Digital Spy digs deep into the history books to find out how the world looked in 1955, 1984, and where we are now.
-1955-
Movies
Marty sweeps to victory at the Oscars, winning for Best Picture, Director and Actor
James Dean...
- 7/1/2015
- Digital Spy
It's hard to bet on the future, but of this I'm certain: Three decades from now, I'll still know every lyric to "We Are the World."
Released 30 years ago this week, the chart-topping charity single occupies at least as much space in my brain as my second-grade teacher (who made our class sing it repeatedly) and my first Sony Walkman (purchased around the time of its release).
News: Pop Songs Meant For Other Singers
"We Are the World" wasn't just a pop-culture event; it was a bona fide movement. Inspired by the success of Band Aid's 1984 charity release, Do They Know It's Christmas?, entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte came up with the idea to record an American track for famine relief in Africa.
Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian produced the song, which was penned by two of the biggest musicians at the height of their fame: Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. More than 45 other...
Released 30 years ago this week, the chart-topping charity single occupies at least as much space in my brain as my second-grade teacher (who made our class sing it repeatedly) and my first Sony Walkman (purchased around the time of its release).
News: Pop Songs Meant For Other Singers
"We Are the World" wasn't just a pop-culture event; it was a bona fide movement. Inspired by the success of Band Aid's 1984 charity release, Do They Know It's Christmas?, entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte came up with the idea to record an American track for famine relief in Africa.
Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian produced the song, which was penned by two of the biggest musicians at the height of their fame: Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. More than 45 other...
- 3/6/2015
- Entertainment Tonight
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