The vast majority of people are holed up inside their homes, waiting for the coronavirus to pass. It’s depressing, honestly, this forced but necessary distance.
Whenever I’m feeling a bit down or questioning humanity, I look up the “We Are The World” video from 1985, which was recorded by an all-star cast of legendary performers to benefit the African continent. Check it out:
Did it make you cry? It gets me every time.
The song was written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, who were joined by nearly 40 other performers including Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Kenny Rogers, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and so many others.
25 years later, in 2010, a new age of artists recorded the song to support the people of Haiti, following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that shattered homes and lives. Take a look:
“We Are The World 25 For Haiti” involved many more solo performers and members of the chorus than the original. Some of the stars you probably recognized include Adam Levine, Barbra Streisand, Carlos Santana, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, Pink, Snoop Dogg and so many others.
These songs bring me joy not only because the lyrics are beautiful, but because they demonstrate that good can come from collective action.
Tens of millions of dollars were raised by each campaign and an enormous amount of good resulted from that charity. While a couple of feel-good videos won’t solve the current crisis, it’s still nice to get our mind off the present for a minute.
Stay safe and healthy out there, my friends.
