Sundance: Greatest Night in Pop & We Are the World

Los Angeles on January 28, 1984, the world's top musicians banded together to record "We Are the World." Photo: Sundance Institute (Netflix) Greatest Night in Pop

PARK CITY, Utah — “We are the World” is one of the greatest pop songs of all time. It became the fastest selling US single in history, making it Quadruple Platinum.

In the 1980’s, Lionel Ritchie, Michael Jackson, and Quincy Jones organized a feat that had never been done before. They asked the world’s top recording artists and musicians to band together to record a song to help raise over $68 million for humanitarian aid in Africa.

We Are the World was recorded in one late night … or early morning. Michael Jackson, Lionel Ritchie, and Stevie Wonder had written the song prior to recording. A group of organizers reached out to every major artist to join the recording session. The hardest part was organizing a time for everyone to get together and record. The recording session took place after the 1985 American Music Awards. By 8 am the next morning, Quincy Jones and the recording crew had enough to piece together an amazing pop song.

We Are the World musicians included: Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Sheila E, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Daryl Hall, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan, and Ray Charles. Waylon Jennings made an appearance, but left at some point mid way through the evening, due to funny circumstances. Additionally, Stevie Wonder steals the show with some hilarious moments.

This movie is a nostalgic documentation of an amazing part of history. Director, Bao Nguyen, had directed ‘Be Water,’ an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on Bruce Lee. He worked with Lionel Ritchie to gather old footage and recall all of the hilarious and heartfelt moments that took place on that monumental night.

The Greatest Night in Pop will be available to stream on Netflix on January 29, 2024.