It's funny the things we remember, but I can still clearly see The Mom's and me at Kmart in line to buy the LP single of "We Are The World." I was 6-years-old when that was released...and we played the shit out of it in our little Anaheim apartment. I'm sure I never quite understood the meaning of the song and what they were trying to do with it. All I knew is there was Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder and Cyndi Lauper all on one song. And that was enough for me. But I do remember that eventually, it opened up the dialogue for my cousins and I to know that not everyone was as fortunate as we were. On the real, though, I loved that song. And I tell you all this as a set up for how much I completely hate the new crap version they just released. This isn't about Haiti...(God bless those poor people and may they for real get their shit together soon.) This is about the blasphemous reproduction of something that should have never been touched. Back in '85, when the original was released, there was something magical about it...I mean YouTube that shit, for God's sake. There's Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick, Bruce Springsteen...even Bob fucking Dylan.
I bought the new version (a) because the money goes to Haiti and (b) without listening to it. So, I wasn't sure what I was going to be getting. As soon as I heard fucking Justin Bieber start it off, I instantly wished I'd just sent money straight to some other organization. As if that wasn't bad enough, they throw in Lil' Wayne, Akon and T-Pain...all on auto-tune. WHAT THE FUCK!!!! There is no place for auto-tune on this song! And then the lame-ass b-list rapping section. FOR REAL?! LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes are the best you could do? Oh, and then Wyclef's wailing! And why give the Pussycat Dolls chick a solo...just an absolute mess. This is just a travesty. The original "We Are The World" is the sappiest piece of 80's music ever written. It should have stayed there. Look at all the people on the re-make...someone could have written a new song. I tell ya...somethings are just not right.