We Are the World 25 for Haiti Review

It has been 25 years since Quincy Jones and Lionel Ritchie brought over 40 artists together, including the late, great Michael Jackson, to record "We Are the World" for famine relief in Africa. The chart-topping, multi-platinum song went on to make over $60 million for charity. When suggestions to re-make the song were made just last year, Jones and Ritchie were apparently not so hot about the idea. But the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti this January changed their mind. They originally created the song to help those in need, and what greater need is there right now than for the Haitian people.

Jones and Ritchie brought over 80 artists together to record the song in just one day, at the same Los Angeles recording studio where the original came to life a quarter of a century ago. The official name of the record is "We Are the World 25 for Haiti." Like the 1985 version, the song combines all types of different musicians from all different genres of music. Young artists like Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus share the spotlight with accomplished greats like Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, and Tony Bennett. R&B singers like Mary J Blige, Jamie Foxx, and Usher, pop artists like Pink, Fergie, and Nicole Scherzinger, and rappers T-Pain, Lil Wayne, and Kanye all came together for this great cause.

Academy award-winning Paul Haggis directed the music video, which was released during U.S. coverage of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. The video combines moving images of Haitians rebuilding their homes with footage of the artists as they recorded the song in the studio. Parts of Michael Jackson's performance in the original recording are mixed with his sister Janet Jackson singing. Considering the huge part he played in bringing to life the original song, it was a fitting choice to include the King of Pop in the remake. It is a poignant tribute to the passion MJ had for helping those in need.

"We Are the World 25 for Haiti" has already received a lot of criticism. Many music critics are of the opinion that the re-make just can't measure up to the success of the original version. The inclusion of a new rap verse written especially for Haiti victims and performed by LL Cool J, Will.I.Am, Busta Rhymes and others is controversial. The selection of artists has also been criticized, as well as the use of auto-tune in some parts of the song. In my opinion, the haters need to stop hatin'. The whole point of the record is to donate money for Haiti. The artists that came together for this worthy and important cause represent the biggest and most successful musicians of our time. Many different artists and musical styles were used in order to appeal to a broader audience on a wider scale. Critics may not agree with the way the song was re-made, but they can't argue the fact that these artists will get the job done when it comes to generating money for charity. And at the end of the day, that's what it's all about.

The song is available for purchase online through iTunes and all proceeds go to the newly formed We Are the World Foundation.