If you’ve watched any of the coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver — especially the Opening Ceremonies — chances are you’ve seen the remake of “We Are the World” which was done in support of Haiti.
The video, kicks off at 1:30:
\
Now, where do I start with this… How about the beginning? You’re trying to get donations for Haiti, and, most likely, you’d like those donations to come from people with money. So, to kick it off with Justin Beiber. Most adults are probably watching and saying, “Who is that girl with the boyish haircut?” Seriously, Justin Bieber to start it off?!?
Next up, you have Jennifer Hudson (I’ve never been a fan of her screaming), but regardless of her talents, she’s paired up with Nicole Scherzinger of Pussycat Dolls. Scherzinger had two successful albums with the PCD before leaving to release her solo album. You remember that solo album, right? It was released in… oh yeah, it was never released.
It picks up a little with a toned-down Jennifer Nettles and powerful Josh Groban… Tony Bennett, Mary J. Blige… and then you get Janet, er, Michael, er… one of the Jacksons. Barbra Striesand…
Um, Miley Cyrus? Really? Teens can’t even pay their cell phone bills but you want them to donate to Haiti? And then we get Jamie Foxx and a screaming Wyclef Jean?
Adam Levine, Pink… Usher, Celine Dion… a quick guitar riff by Orianthi… Fergie sings… Toni Braxton…
Then it goes downhill again. Lil Wayne singing with Autotune – now it’s a fucking joke, right? Jamie Foxx imitating Ray Charles again? Seriously, Jamie? You won an Oscar, let’s move on…
Freakin’ T-Pain?! OK… I give up. Seriously. People should donate to Haiti for the sake of the people in that country, but not because these people ruined a classic song from my youth.
I don’t mind the breakdown with LL Cool J, Will.i.am, Kanye, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes…. I just thought that where the original used talented singers, this one failed… The original had Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson… It was bound not to meet such a high mark. They should have started fresh and done a new song.
UPDATE: Jay-Z doesn’t like it either.
This article appears in Feb 9-15, 2010.
Your opinion is your right, and so is mine: your opinion sucks.
I appreciate the comment – why not let me know what you think is so great about the new version of the song? Maybe start by defending the talent of Miley Cyrus and artists who use Autotune – I”d love to hear it.
I could not agree with you more….this version was awful and as soon as Lil Wayne came into the picture I threw my hands up and said “DONE!”. I know they mean well and I support the cause, but seriously, they could have done much better in artist choice.
I also in the beginning I had NO IDEA who Justin Beiber is???? (I’m in my mid 20’s) and felt like they disrespected a lot of other artists that deserved to have that opening.
The remake is a complete abomination. I think you were actually a bit too kind in your article.
The “needy” in this video are not the people of Haiti, but the majority of the “artists” in this bizarre menagerie of starving artists. Sticking Michael in was pure pandering — an attempt to spare any shred of dignity in this remake horror flick.
The lyrical phrase “We’re saving our own lives” has never been more clear. Unfortunately, a few years of “life” have been chopped off the reputations of nearly all these singers.
After I listened to it — twice, because I couldn’t understand why my ears were bleeding the first time around — I thought to myself, “if I could somehow transform sounds like those into cottony threads I’d weave a roll of toilet paper and make better use of it all!”
This remake was geared more towards a younger generation. I am 16, and although a part of that generation I am, I was not completely impressed. There were too many singers and their solos not cohesive enough. Justin Bieber singing the opening was not appropriate, but I felt better after hearing JHud follow him. I don’t feel she is a screamer. She is my favorite artist, her voice is pure, powerful, and raw.