不論其死前名聲如何低落，Michael Jackson（1958-2009）的音樂成就絕對會讓他在史上留名。這點是無庸置疑的。
除了他的唱片銷售紀錄迄今還無人能匹敵之外，還有一項成就值得一提。那是在1985年，Michael Jackson與Lionel Richie合寫了一歌，破天荒匯聚了當時美國一堆流行音樂大牌歌手一同錄音灌唱，藉以替當時非洲衣索比亞飢荒難民募款。那首歌雖然歌詞與旋律都很簡單，但是對各界造成的震撼卻是不小。
猶記得我當時雖然年紀小，但在電視上看到其MTV時，馬上就被那種大陣仗給震懾住了。再仔細聆聽每位獨唱歌手之獨特的嗓音與詮釋，更覺與旋律配合得恰如其分。今日因追憶Michael Jackson而重拾聆聽，除了感動依舊之外，竟還能琅琅上口幾句。這才讓我回想起，原來那時連我這種有一搭沒一搭地亂聽西洋流行音樂的人，都有被這個曲子感動到去認真記歌詞，一邊聽錄音帶、一邊偷偷練習這首歌。這可真是不得了的一件事啊！
歌詞：We are the World
There comes a time when we heed a certain call (Lionel Richie)
When the world must come together as one (Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder)
There are people dying (Stevie Wonder)
Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life (Paul Simon)
The greatest gift of all (Paul Simon/Kenny Rogers)
We can't go on pretending day by day (Kenny Rogers)
That someone, somehow will soon make a change (James Ingram)
We're all a part of God's great big family (Tina Turner)
And the truth (Billy Joel)
You know love is all we need (Tina Turner/Billy Joel)
We are the world, we are the children (Michael Jackson)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Michael Jackson)
There's a choice we're making, we're saving our own lives (Diana Ross)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Michael Jackson/Diana Ross)
Well, send'em you your heart so they know that someone cares (Dionne Warwick)
And their lives will be stronger and free (Dionne Warwick/Willie Nelson)
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread (Willie Nelson)
And so we all must lend a helping hand (Al Jurreau)
We are the world, we are the children (Bruce Springsteen)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Kenny Logins)
There's a choice we're making, we're saving our own lives (Steve Perry)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Daryl Hall)
When you're down and out there seems no hope at all (Michael Jackson)
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall (Huey Lewis)
Well, well, well, let's realize, oh, that a change can only come (Cyndi Lauper)
When we (Kim Carnes)
stand together as one (Kim Carnes/Cyndi Lauper/Huey Lewis)
Yeah yeah yeah yeah! (Kim Carnes)
We are the world, we are the children (CHORUS)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (CHORUS)
There's a choice we're making, we're saving our own lives (CHORUS)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children (CHORUS)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (CHORUS)
There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Bob Dylan)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Bob Dylan)
We are the world (we are the world) (CHORUS)
We are the children (we are the children) (CHORUS)
We are the ones who make a brighter day (CHORUS)
So let's start giving (so let's start giving) (CHORUS)
There's a choice we're making (CHORUS)
We're saving our own lives (CHORUS)
It's true we'll make a better day (Bob Dylan / CHORUS)
Just you and me (Bob Dylan / CHORUS)
Alright, let me hear you! (Ray Charles)
We are the world (CHORUS)
We are the world (Ray Charles)
We are the children (CHORUS)
Yeah, we are the children (Ray Charles)
We are the ones who make a brighter day (CHORUS)
So let's start giving (CHORUS)
Let's start giving (Ray Charles)
There's a choice we're making (Ray Charles)
We're saving our own lives (Ray Charles)
It's true we'll make a finer day (Ray Charles)
Just you and me (Ray Charles)
Come on now, let me hear you! (Ray Charles)
We are the world (Stevie Wonder)
We are the world (Bruce Springsteen)
We are the children (Stevie Wonder)
We are the children (Bruce Springsteen)
We are the ones who make a brighter day (Stevie Wonder)
So let's start giving (Stevie Wonder)
So let's start giving (Bruce Springsteen)
There's a choice we're making (Stevie Wonder)
We're saving our own lives (Stevie Wonder)
It's true we'll make a better day (Stevie Wonder)
Just you and me, yeah, yeah (Stevie Wonder)
We are the world (Stevie Wonder)
We are the world (Bruce Springsteen)
We are the children (Stevie Wonder)
We are the children (Bruce Springsteen)
We are the ones who make a brighter day (Stevie Wonder)
So let's start giving (Stevie Wonder)
So let's start giving (Bruce Springsteen)
There's a choice we're making (Bruce Springsteen)
Yeah, we're saving our own lives (Bruce Springsteen)
It's true we'll make a better day (Bruce Springsteen)
Just you and me (Bruce Springsteen)
It's true, woah woah woah woah (Stevie Wonder)
We are the world (woah woah woah) (CHORUS)
We are the children (we are the children) (CHORUS)
We are the ones who make a brighter day (CHORUS)
So let's start giving (so let's start giving) (CHORUS)
There's a choice we're making (CHORUS)
We're saving our own lives (CHORUS)
It's true we'll make a better day (CHORUS)
Just you and me (CHORUS)
We are the world (James Ingram)
(We are the world) (Ray Charles / CHORUS)
We are the children (James Ingram)
(We are the children) (CHORUS)
Yes, so! (Ray Charles)
We are the ones that make a brighter day (James Ingram)
So let's start giving (James Ingram)
So let's start giving (CHORUS)
There's a choice we're making (Ray Charles)
We're saving our own lives (Ray Charles)
It's true we'll make a better day (Ray Charles)
Just you and me, hooo hoo (Ray Charles)
We are the world (CHORUS)
Get down! (Ray Charles)
(We are the world) (CHORUS)
We are the children (CHORUS)
Yeah! (Ray Charles)
(We are the children) (CHORUS)
We are the ones who make a brighter day (CHORUS)
So let's start giving (CHORUS)
Alright, need to hear what I'm sayin'! (Ray Charles)
There's a choice we're making (Ray Charles / CHORUS)
We're saving our own lives (Ray Charles / CHORUS)
It's true we'll make a better day (Ray Charles / CHORUS)
Just you and me (Ray Charles / CHORUS)
Alright, I will say it again! (Ray Charles)
We are the world (Ray Charles / CHORUS)
(We are the world) (CHORUS)
We are the children (Ray Charles / CHORUS)
(We are the children) (CHORUS)
[fades out]
讓我們再來聽個1999年的新版本，這次有Pavarotti參與喔！
