Saturday, March 13, 2004
"We Are the World," USA For Africa (5/4/85)
Well, what do you say about this record? Sure, it's incredibly schmaltzy, but you can't fault its heart - nor the fairly amazing constellation of stars collected to sing it. "World" was clearly designed by Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, and Quincy Jones (its songwriters and producer, respectively) to be as mass-appeal as possible, to reach total market saturation and raise the most $$ possible for African famine relief. [How else could you explain a single featuring Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, and Kenny Rogers?] And mass-appeal it certainly is; that's the single's downfall. Q's production is, frankly, pretty crappy, nowhere remotely near his usual high standards. Lyrically, it's bathetic. Judging "World" on only its own merits as music, and taking the "cause" out of the equation, the only thing it really has in its favor is its lineup. C
Well, what do you say about this record? Sure, it's incredibly schmaltzy, but you can't fault its heart - nor the fairly amazing constellation of stars collected to sing it. "World" was clearly designed by Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, and Quincy Jones (its songwriters and producer, respectively) to be as mass-appeal as possible, to reach total market saturation and raise the most $$ possible for African famine relief. [How else could you explain a single featuring Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, and Kenny Rogers?] And mass-appeal it certainly is; that's the single's downfall. Q's production is, frankly, pretty crappy, nowhere remotely near his usual high standards. Lyrically, it's bathetic. Judging "World" on only its own merits as music, and taking the "cause" out of the equation, the only thing it really has in its favor is its lineup. C
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