As of: February 6, 2024, 12:39 p.m
By: Astrid Kistner
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Short coaching: Huey Lewis (left) lets Michael Jackson (right) sing his song lines to him.
© Photo: Netflix
STREAMING TIP The great Netflix documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop” describes the creation of the global hit “We are the World” and sends viewers breathless through the night.
At the end there are a few tears: from Diana Ross, because she can't believe that this magical night is over.
And with Lionel Richie, because he actually managed to weld 46 superstars together into one big musical family for a few hours to record the global hit “We are the World”.
A fundraising song for famine relief in Africa, it sold well over 20 million copies in 1985 and has earned $80 million since its release.
The great Netflix documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop” describes the adventurous creation of the song and takes the audience on an incredible night.
One night, one chance
“Check your ego at the door!” is written on the note that bandleader Quincy Jones pinned to the front door of the music studio.
It is January 28, 1985. The day on which the American Music Awards are presented in Los Angeles.
Above all, it is the perfect opportunity to bring the greatest artists of the time into a studio after the gala.
Snapshot in the studio: The biggest stars met in 1985 to record “We are the World”.
© Photo: Netflix
Music legends in a race against time
Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Dionne Warwick, Cyndi Lauper, Huey Lewis, Al Jarreau, Bette Midler, Kenny Rogers and many other great colleagues remain just a few Hours until dawn to record the song co-written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.
Stars - very approachable and vulnerable
Managers and assistants must stay outside that evening.
“There was no room for that.
“We ended up recording the video for ‘We are the World’ at the same time,” remembers Lionel Richie in the documentary.
Without the protection of the entourage, the superstars suddenly seem very approachable, vulnerable, almost insecure.
“My God, my knees were shaking,” Huey Lewis remembers.
And Al Jarreau washes down his nervousness with so much wine that by 3 a.m. he's struggling with his lines.
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Never-before-broadcast archive footage
Why Cyndi Lauper ultimately has to take off her tons of costume jewelry and Bob Dylan's studio is evacuated at short notice is all revealed in the 96 extremely fascinating minutes of "The Greatest Night in Pop."
Deceased stars, lovingly remembered in the credits, come to life in these never-before-released archive footage.
Bao Nguyen's Netlfix documentary is a journey back in time to the 1980s.
Into a world that didn't yet know cell phones or emails, but in which the clock ticked quite loudly that night.
But it is also proof that music and people who make it with their hearts can survive all times.