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USA for Africa

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Vocalists

The Resume

Why they might be annoying:

    Why was Dan Aykroyd a member? He's an actor and a Canadian.
    Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes' appearance on the record seems to have less to do with their musical relevance in 1985 than with their being clients of agent Ken Kragen, who assembled the group.
    Scheduled vocalists who failed to show up include Linda Ronstadt (came down with the flu), Pat Benatar (concerns about her pregnancy) and Prince (reasons unknown).
    Waylon Jennings walked out of the session during a dispute over the lyrics.
    Stevie Wonder suggested part of the song should be performed in Swahili, until Bob Geldolf pointed out that Ethiopians do not speak Swahili.
    Several of the rockers reportedly threatened to walk out to protest the many 'uncool' pop stars on the record.
    Billy Joel told Rolling Stone magazine, 'I think Cyndi Lauper leaned over to me and said, 'It sounds like a Pepsi commerical.' And I didn't disagree.'
    Considering that there is still famine in Africa, charity records apparently were not a viable long-term solution.

Why they might not be annoying:

    'We Are The World' was recorded the night of the American Music Awards (January 28, 1985) to ensure the maximum number of performers would be available, since most would be in town for the award show.
    Producer Quincy Jones told the singers to 'check your egos at the door.'
    Many of the singers exchanged autographs during the session.
    The threatened rocker walkout fizzled out after Bruce Springsteen said, 'I don't care who is here to record this track, I'm here to help save lives.'
    Prince contributed a previously unreleased track to the 'We Are The World' album to make up for his no-show.
    Over 5,000 radio stations worldwide played 'We Are The World' simultaneously (April 5, 1985 at 3:50 PM, Greenwich Mean Time).
    The record raised $60 million for charity.
    Along with Band Aid, it inspired numerous charity records/concerts in the 80s, such as Northern Lights, Artists Against Apartheid, Farm Aid and Live Aid.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 24 Votes: 29.17% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 8 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 21 Votes: 61.90% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 23 Votes: 39.13% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 23.53% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 40 Votes: 65.00% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 34 Votes: 64.71% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 89 Votes: 78.65% Annoying