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Michael Jackson had hilarious reaction while recording ‘We Are The World’ as fans point it out years later
Nearly 40 years after its release, the internet is once again captivated by behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the iconic charity single 'We Are The World'.
The cameras captured a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of some of the biggest musical legends of the 1980s, united in a Los Angeles studio to record a moving anthem aimed at raising funds for famine relief in Africa. The session would go on to create one of the most memorable moments in music history.
Penned by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, the song was completed the night before the first recording session on January 21, 1985.
'We Are The World' went on to win four Grammy Awards and become a global hit, but the story behind its creation is now getting renewed attention thanks to the Netflix documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, which features never-before-seen footage.
The documentary, as its synopsis puts it, "chronicles the massive undertaking to assemble the world’s most impressive supergroup in a world before cell phones and email."
But if smartphones and social media had existed back then, it’s likely the stars might have been a little more self-conscious about their facial expressions, especially with cameras rolling.
One face in particular has gone viral: Michael Jackson. Unintentionally, the King of Pop became the subject of memes, thanks to his hilarious and revealing reactions to his fellow singers.
During one memorable moment in the studio, Jackson (surrounded by some of the most talented voices of the time) couldn’t hide his thoughts when certain performers took the mic. After delivering one of his own flawless lines, Jackson suddenly stops swaying to the music and adopts a deadpan expression as he listens to the next vocalist.
That vocalist? Huey Lewis, frontman of Huey Lewis and the News. He stepped in to sing the line: “But if you just believe, there’s no way we can fall,” which had originally been written with Prince in mind. Based on Jackson’s expression, it seems he didn’t think Lewis quite lived up to expectations.
Later, Lewis joins Cyndi Lauper and Kim Carnes for a harmony, and again, Jackson’s subtle (but shady) facial reaction suggests he wasn’t exactly impressed. Daryl Hall can even be seen in the background covering his ears, leaving fans to wonder what it must’ve sounded like inside the booth that night.
Adding to the awkwardness, more behind-the-scenes footage shows Jackson telling Lauper: “Sounds like people are talking or laughing or something every time you sing.”
Despite a few bumpy vocal moments, the project ultimately succeeded in creating something historic.
Alongside Jackson, Richie, Lauper, and Lewis, the all-star ensemble included Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Dionne Warwick – all lending their voices to 'We Are The World', a song that continues to resonate decades later.