\u00a0The New \u201cWe Are the World\u201d\u00a0 song.\u00a0 Haiti Version.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 Sequels are hard to pull off, especially when the original was such an overwhelming success.\u00a0\u00a0 I write this with hesitation as I know how much work Lionel Richie must have put forth (not to mention how many gigantic egos to juggle) in order to produce the new video.\u00a0\u00a0 Watching it, however, brings about a glaringly different perspective.\u00a0 Not sure if it\u2019s a sad commentary on the music scene of today, or just the fact that I relate to a different generation musically speaking. I\u2019d like to think I am somewhat objective to the matter as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0The piece is called \u201cArtists for Haiti\u201d and that\u2019s where the first incongruence starts.\u00a0 If you\u2019re going to have a title that begins with \u201cArtists,\u201d then why are you throwing random bubble-gum puppets who can\u2019t write a song, compose music, or play an instrument?\u00a0 To compound this, you have the inevitable issue that it will undoubtedly\u00a0be compared to the original.<\/p>\n
\u00a0And yes, there is an original.\u00a0 It featured some of the greatest musicians who appealed to a cross-over of generations with careers spanning several decades.\u00a0 Basically, a group that was comprised of legends in Rock and Roll, R &B, Pop, and Country.<\/p>\n
A list that featured , Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Paul Simon<\/em>, and Bob Dylan<\/em> from the Singer Songwriter Category.\u00a0 Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder<\/em>, and Lionel Richie<\/em> from the R&B, Michael Jackson<\/em> (the King of Pop back then), Kenny Rogers<\/em> & Willie Nelson<\/em> from Country.\u00a0 They even threw Steve Perry of Journey for his unique vocal talents.\u00a0 (The list goes on\u2026\u00a0)<\/p>\n \u00a0 Watching the new version brings about mixed emotions.\u00a0 On the one hand, you have your wallet out to help the people of Haiti. On the other hand, after watching the new video, you\u2019re tempted to put your wallet back in your pocket.<\/p>\n It sort of reminds you of the NBA \u201cDream Team\u201d in 1992.\u00a0 It was called the Dream Team because it would be a dream to see Magic, Bird, and Jordan play together.\u00a0 Then they decided to piggyback off of the original Dream-Team to use the marketing angle to sell future \u201cDream Teams.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Future \u201cDream Teams\u201d resembled more of a nightmare consisting of ball-hogging, vastly overpaid, self-absorbed players contributing to the debacle that was the U.S. Team that lost to Greece a few years ago.\u00a0 After losing to that Greek team without any recognizable players, they learned their lesson.\u00a0 Now, they just call it \u201cUS Men\u2019s basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n Same scenario here.\u00a0 Why not just write a NEW Song for Haiti?\u00a0 Something completely different and unique onto its own?\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t be compared to the original, and it\u2019d present even more of the flavor of the people in the current video.\u00a0 At that point, you could try and suspend your disbelief to think \u00a0that this current cast actually cares.\u00a0 You may even get over the Michael Jackson flashback that is solely put in there to appeal to your sense of nostalgia and create hysteria.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0You have to ask the intriguing question:\u00a0 If Michael Jackson hadn’t died last year, would the current alive version of Michael Jackson have been asked to be in this?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Well, something to ponder.<\/p>\n \u00a0I suppose if you had never\u00a0seen\u00a0the original, or if you\u2019re unfamiliar with Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, The Boss (Bruce), Billy Joel, and Paul Simon, then the new version will suit you fine.\u00a0 If you\u2019re familiar, then that feeling you have in the pit of your stomach, it\u2019s also known as nausea.\u00a0<\/p>\n Misguided or not, it\u2019s my belief that generally artists are compassionate and empathetic people.\u00a0 Therefore, I do believe that the original cast did care to make a difference.\u00a0 Some members of the new cast look like people who were told by their teams of advisors this\u2019d be a good photo opportunity.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0The new version contains some artists but it also contains a whole bunch of questionable people that shake up your bullshit detector harder than the earthquake which shook Haiti.\u00a0 Your reaction well may be: \u00a0 \u201cSeriously? \u00a0You\u2019re kidding me, right?\u00a0 \u00a0These are the pretentious people trying to convince me to donate money? The ones who\u2019d ask their manager or a member of their entourage to throw a trench coat over a Haitian if they actually saw one?”<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0 “Hey!\u00a0 He was looking at me in a creepy way\u2026\u2026.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And really, who wants a homeless starving Haitian staring at you when you’re snorting fine grade cocaine?\u00a0 Total Buzz-kill.<\/p>\n Anyhow, if you\u2019re musically inclined and can appreciate more than what\u2019s just popular at the given moment, you can compare and contrast the two videos for yourself.<\/p>\n \u00a0The Original Video Meant to Raise Awareness for Africa:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0