I watched the documentary about We are the World. Brilliant stuff!
Of course I knew the song and what it stood for, but I never realized what a logistic nightmare it was to put all of that together. Nowadays? everyone does their part at home, you organize a Zoom conference, everyone sends their files and that's it. But back then? everyone had to be there in person.
I didn't even know it was Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson to have written the song. I just assumed it was a random author that conceived the song upon request of whoever organize the thing, I didn't know it was mostly Michael Jackson's work (and Richie of course!).
Fascinating moment in time, I know nothing about Lionel Richie aside the fact that he exists, but I already have respect for him and what he pulled out. Going off the American Music Awards and straight into an all nighter to make anybody who mattered back then sing a song.... wow! also, his emotion at the end, remembering decades after the fact the magic that happened that night.... "Michael Jackson was right there singing. Bruce Springsteen was over there" etc.... and him being moved.... he knew he pulled off something historical.
Also, now we finally know why Bob Dylan finished into memes for his out of place blank stares
(it was a moment where only singers with higher voices would sing, so he remained silent, of course the internet translated that into him faking his way through it).