The Greatest Night in Pop Almost Didn’t Happen

Only at Sundance can one have a front row seat to gems being dropped by one of the most revered recording artists in the industry.  Lionel Richie, who hit Sundance for the first time, shared historical nuggets from that infamous night on January 28, 1985, when dozens of the largest names in music industry descended upon A&M Studios (now Henson Studios) in Hollywood.

You know the song, but do you know the whole story? When industry leaders and activists like Harry Belafonte first envisioned bringing the biggest names in music together for African famine relief, the dream for music to change the world was never stronger. In a time before email, cellphones, and the internet, “We Are the World” gathered an incredible assortment of artists that even nearly 40 years later seems unreal. With infectious energy and rare footage, director Bao Nguyen and co-songwriter Lionel Richie take you to those days and that special night.

Many of the artists who were there that legendary evening include and are not limited to Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Smokey Robinson, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Loggins, Dionne Warwick, and Huey Lewis, who  reminisce alongside musicians, engineers, and production crew about one of the most storied nights in music history.

Imagine prepping to host the American Music Awards and the recording for “We are The World” simultaneously.  It would be a daunting task for most of us, but for Richie, who almost phoned the late Dick Clark (producer of  the American Music Awards) to bow out. Even though the artists were asked to check their egos at the door many were more vulnerable than egotistic.  Watching artists like Huey Lewis, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen have their heart on their sleeve reveals a softer, more humanistic side to artists who most think are perfection.  Yet, it is their imperfections that make them all the brilliant musicians that we have loved for decades.

What struck me the most was how many artists we have been lost since like Tina Turner, Waylon Jennings, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Ray Charles and Harry Belafonte to name a few. Not to mention hearing some vocals in their rawest form, like Michael Jackson reminds us of an amazingly gifted artist he was.

The Greatest Night in Pop in 2024 would be impossible due to restrictions that exist with internet permissions, streaming, insane schedules , etc.  Luckily for us, lightning in a bottle was captured beyond the recording and will now live forever for future generations to witness how artists tapped into their humanity for the greater good.