In 1985, Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson co-wrote “We Are The World,” a song aimed at raising funds to combat famine in Ethiopia. The ambitious project saw Richie inviting some of the most famous musicians of the time, including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, and others. However, Richie has recently revealed a regret about the project – not inviting Madonna to participate.
In a conversation with host Jimmy Kimmel, Richie confessed that Madonna was not included because they needed voices that were immediately recognizable, something they didn’t find in the “Like a Virgin” singer. Consequently, Madonna was replaced by Cyndi Lauper, although Lauper’s participation was also initially uncertain.
As Richie revealed in the interview, there were doubts about whether Lauper would join the project. However, she eventually showed up and made an amazing contribution. Richie did not elaborate on why they did not use both voices, but Kimmel shared his opinion that not including Madonna was a mistake, which Richie agreed with.
These revelations come shortly after the premiere of “The Greatest Night in Pop,” a Netflix documentary that offers an intimate view of the creation of “We Are The World.” The documentary sheds light on some of the challenges faced during the recording, including frictions caused by Lauper’s participation and her reluctance to sing the song.
Indeed, Lauper admitted that filming was complicated due to the noise from her bracelets and necklaces, and she had to rehearse for several extra hours due to her duet with Kim Carnes not creating the desired harmony. Despite these challenges, “We Are The World” became a resounding success and an anthem of peace and unity, despite the creative decisions that ruled out certain artists.