The new we r tha wirld

I just saw the rap-ed up and hip-hop-ed new version of we are the world.

The song is typical of today's music industry, rather than showing talent and writing songs that are new, the artists (if you can call them that) instead just rearrange a current song and then over sample it, change a few lyrics, and call it a remix.  The only artist I saw in the entire damn video that I would gladly pay to see was Tony Bennet.  Lil' Jon couldn't even be bothered to take out his grills, and they even went so far as to use a clip of Michael Jackson singing in the original version, alongside his plasticized sister in the current version.  Didn't look right with Livia on the Sopranos, and it does not look right here, either.

Since we are the world did so much to bring peace to Africa, stop famine, end wars and extinguish poverty there, I can only imagine the tremendous effect it will have on Haiti.  The funniest bit was Jamie Fox asking everyone to give, no matter how big or how small.  He then returned to his $10.5 million, 17,000 square foot home and took a dip in his Olympic-sized swimming pool, bowled a game at his indoor alley, and visited the guests staying in his several guest homes.

 

Don't get me wrong, I don't begrudge any of these (ahem) artists the fruits of their labor.  We pay absolutely retarded amounts to entertainers and athletes in this country, but they also are paid according to the contracts they make, and they earn what the market will bear.  Whether what they produce has any tangible value isn't what I am arguing about, my point is that in this case, not only did they not create anything, they also didn't improve on the original. 

 

To be clear, 99% of these folks don't take money out of their pocket for this stuff--their foundations do.  Brangelina donated $1 million to Haiti relief, from their foundation.  Not money from their pockets, just money they raised from other friends and such for them to dole out on causes they deem worthy.

Multi-gozillionaires asking me to give as much as I can just pisses me off.

 These are the pepole who cut the original.  (People I consider talented and artists in bold).  Finally, I must also add this caveat.  I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket.  However, that doesn't mean I can't tell the difference between Bob Ross and Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni.  Bob could paint, but Michelangelo could truly create.

Producer:
Quincy Jones
Soloists (in order of appearance)
Lionel Richie
Stevie Wonder
Paul Simon
Kenny Rogers
James Ingram
Tina Turner
Billy Joel
Michael Jackson
Diana Ross
Dionne Warwick
Willie Nelson
Al Jarreau
Bruce Springsteen
Kenny Loggins
Steve Perry
Daryl Hall
Huey Lewis
Cyndi Lauper
Kim Carnes
Bob Dylan
Ray Charles
Chorus:
Dan Aykroyd
Harry Belafonte
Lindsey Buckingham
Mario Cipollina
Johnny Colla
Sheila E.
Bob Geldof
Bill Gibson
Chris Hayes
Sean Hopper
Jackie Jackson
La Toya Jackson
Marlon Jackson
Randy Jackson
Tito Jackson
Waylon Jennings
Bette Midler
John Oates
Jeffrey Osborne
Anita Pointer
Ruth Pointer
Smokey Robinson 

 

And the We R tha wirld 25 version...

Producers:
Quincy Jones
Lionel Richie
Soloists:
Justin Bieber
Nicole Scherzinger
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Nettles
Josh Groban
Tony Bennett
Mary J. Blige
Michael Jackson (Zombie) (He was a fruitcake, but a damn talented one.  Kinda like Prince.)
Janet Jackson
Barbra Streisand (Sorry babs.  You peaked with Yentil.)
Miley Cyrus
Enrique Iglesias (Julio, maybe.  Enrique, notsomuch.)
Jamie Foxx
Wyclef Jean
Adam Levine
Pink
BeBe Winans
Usher
Janet Jackson
Celine Dion
Orianthi
Fergie
Nick Jonas
Toni Braxton
Mary Mary
Isaac Slade
Lil Wayne
Carlos Santana
Akon
T-Pain
LL Cool J
Will.i.am
Snoop Dogg
Busta Rhymes
Swizz Beatz
Iyaz
Kanye West

Chorus
Patti Austin
Bizzy Bone
Ethan Bortnick, Not just an artist, but a prodigy and a Maestro.
Jeff Bridges (The Dude?  Really?)
Zac Brown
Brandy
Kristian Bush
Natalie Cole (But her dad was WAY better)
Harry Connick Jr.
Hayden Panettiere
Kid Cudi
Faith Evans
Melanie Fiona
Sean Garrett
Tyrese Gibson
Anthony Hamilton
Keri Hilson
Julianne Hough
India.Arie
Randy Jackson
Taj Jackson
Taryll Jackson
TJ Jackson
Joe Jonas
Jordin Sparks
Al Jardine
Jimmy Jean-Louis
Joe Jonas
Kevin Jonas
Gladys Knight
Benji Madden
Joel Madden
Katharine McPhee
Jason Mraz
Mýa
Freda Payne
A. R. Rahman
Raphael Saadiq
Trey Songz
Musiq Soulchild
Jordin Sparks
Robin Thicke
Alex Williams
Rob Thomas (Army Brat!)
Vince Vaughn
Ann Wilson
Brian Wilson
Nancy Wilson