Netflix’s documentary The Greatest Night In Pop tells the origin of the song “We Are The World” and the process of recording, and the inspiration for it was Band Aid’s 1984 song “Do They Know It’s Christmas”. Back in the 1980s, various musicians from different backgrounds, bands, and with different styles joined forces for different charity events and singles, the most notable ones being “Do They Know It’s Christmas” and “We Are The World”, the latter the subject of the Netflix documentary The Greatest Night In Pop.
Directed by Bao Nguyen, The Greatest Night In Pop tells the story of “We Are The World”, from how the project started, the inspiration behind it, how all the artists were recruited (and which ones couldn’t be brought on board, as well as which ones left during recording), and the process of recording the song in just one night. The inspiration behind “We Are The World” was another charity song, “Do They Know It’s Christmas”, and though both songs had the same purpose and were motivated by the same issue, they were different in more than one way.
Every Singer & Musician Featured On 1985’s “We Are The World” & What The Supergroup Achieved
“We Are The World” was a groundbreaking single from the American supergroup USA For Africa, including several of the most prolific artists of the era.
Band Aid’s 1984 Song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Featured Mostly Irish & British Singers
In 1984, musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure put together a project to raise money for the famine in Ethiopia. According to Melody Maker magazine, Geldof started to recruit musicians, and the first ones to join were Sting and Duran Duran’s lead singer Simon Le Bon, with the rest of the band joining later on. Geldof became confident in being able to recruit more of the biggest names in British pop at the time and made sure they all provided their services for free.
Geldof and Ure ended up creating the supergroup Band Aid, formed mainly by British and Irish musicians, including George Michael, Bono, Phil Collins, Sara Dallin, and Boy George. Geldof has revealed that only three artists turned him down but never revealed who, and those who couldn’t make it to the recording sent messages of support that appeared on the B-side, and among them were Paul McCartney and David Bowie.
Geldof and Ure realized that their next big challenge was coming up with a song that could be recorded and released in time for Christmas, and once they had it, producer Trevor Horn allowed them to use his studios for free for 24 hours. In addition to providing vocals, some of the artists that took part in Band Aid and “Do They Know It’s Christmas” recorded different instruments, such as Phil Collins (drums) and John Taylor (bass guitar).
How Much Money Band Aid Raised & How It Compares To USA For Africa
“Do They Know It’s Christmas” was released on December 3, 1984, and stayed at the #1 spot on the UK Singles Chart for five weeks. “Do They Know It’s Christmas” became the fastest-selling single in UK chart history after selling a million copies in the first week, though it was later dethroned by Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997”. In the end, “Do They Know It’s Christmas” raised £8 million for Ethiopia within a year, and its success led to the benefit concert Live Aid in 1985, which is said to have raised more than $140 million (via The Guardian).
“We Are The World” was released on March 7, 1985, and became the fastest-selling U.S. pop single in history. “We Are The World” raised more than $63 million (equal to around $227 million today after adjusting for inflation). A new version of “We Are The World” to raise funds for Haiti after the 2010 earthquake was recorded and released in February 2010, and though another version for the COVID-19 pandemic was suggested, it was never recorded.
