“When we heed a certain call.” – USA For Africa

I heeded my call to watch “The Greatest Night in Pop” this week newly released on Netflix, because of course I would, and plus I was fascinated. Fascinated by the original footage. Fascinated by the logistics (pre-cell phone after all). Fascinated by the old soundbites from the artists, and the new interviews with Lionel, Huey, Cyndi, Bruce, and Kenny (Loggins). I would have loved more of this particularly if they could have lined up some of the others with memories from that night like Steve Perry, Billy Joel, Hall & Oates, and/or even Willie Nelson or Paul Simon to add their perspectives. 

I was an 8th grader on the verge of 14 years of age when the song and video were released in March of 1985. I didn’t know anything about famine in Africa. I barely knew where Africa was on my world globe that spun in circles and sat neatly on the corner of my desk in my bedroom in Norman, Oklahoma. All I knew of world starvation I had learned from the numerous Sally Struthers commercials that would come on my little television late at night interrupting whatever show I was intently tuned into for the next several minutes. If I recall though, 17 cents a month would feed 1,000 children for 2 years*

(* numbers were not verified and may not be 100% accurate)

Of course a few months earlier in December of 1984, a group of famous musicians from across the pond had formed Band-Aid and released “Do They Know Its Christmas (Feed the World)?,” which in turn inspired Harry Belafonte to want to do the same in America with the best the U.S. had to offer in talent. He reached out to Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson to write a song, which got the ball rolling on what was to become USA For Africa.  

In the documentary, you get to see Paul Simon digging on John Denver, and Waylon Jennings walking out (yes, Waylon was there). There was an impromptu autograph session, and there was Al Jarreau (and his bottles of wine) starting a serenade of Harry Belafonte with Harry’s signature song “Day-O.” You get to see poor Bob Dylan looking totally lost and out of place until Stevie Wonder hilariously comes to his rescue, and we also get to see Quincy Jones scolding Lionel Richie and Stevie like school kids for not focusing. There is all of the anxiety and pressures that go along with the solo performances (Huey Lewis admits his nerves) and all confined to one space and one very specific timeframe.  Why wasn’t Prince there (they saved a line for him) and what about Madonna? All good questions. All answered in this 96 minute documentary that features some very tender moments as well including at the end of the all-night session when they focus on Diana Ross who was the last artist to leave the studio, and then another nostalgic moment when Lionel reminisces about “his house.” 

If you like documentaries and you like 80’s pop music and everything that goes along with those two things, then check your ego at the door and give a watch to “The Greatest Night in Pop.”

“We’re all a part of God’s great big family
And the truth, you know, love is all we need.”

If you’d like a refresher on the song and video, then here you go. It topped music charts throughout the world and became the fastest-selling U.S. pop single in history. Written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson (where were you Stevie???), “We Are the World” won four Grammy Awards, one AMA and received a Quadruple Platinum certification becoming the first single to be certified multi-platinum.

If you bought the single back in 1985 or anytime since then or donated money to the organization, then thank you for trying to be part of a solution to ending hunger in Africa, which has apparently eclipsed $100MM in donations since 1985.

And as always, thanks for reading.

sincerely,

the80’s