1985 Timeless Anthem of Hope Hit No. 1 41 Years Ago Today

Carly SilvaMon, April 13, 2026 at 4:34 AM UTC

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On this day in music history, one of the most successful charity singles ever written rose to the top of the music charts.

Exactly 41 years ago on April 13, 1985, "We Are the World" by USA for Africa, reached the summit of the BillboardHot 100, where it stayed for four straight weeks. It became the fastest-selling pop single in history at the time, and was the first song to be certified multi-Platinum by the RIAA.

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"We Are the World," was recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa, made up of over 20 of the biggest stars in music, with the hope of raising funds for famine relief in Africa. Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones, the song was recorded in January 1985, and soon became an anthem of unity and hope across the globe.

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It featured solos from a wide range of the industry's superstars, including Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Dionne Warwick and many, many others.

Released on March 28, 1985, the song took less than a month to hit No. 1 on the Hot 100, sold over seven million copies and raised more than $80 million to support humanitarian efforts across Africa.

The following year, "We Are the World" was nominated for four Grammy Awards at the 1986 ceremony. It won in all four categories it was nominated, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Group and Best Music Video.

On the 25th anniversary of "We Are the World" in 2010, more industry icons remade a new version of the iconic track to raise money for earthquake relief in Haiti. Recorded after the death of Jackson, they kept his original chorus in the song, adding in layered vocals from his sister,Janet Jackson.

The remake also featured returning artists like Wonder, Warwick, and Richie, plus a wide variety of other artists, ranging from Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus to Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand. Other singers who contributed to the 2010 track include Jamie Foxx, Pink, Tony Bennett, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige and many more.

Related: 1966 Rock Ballad Named One of the 'Best Songs of All Time' Became an Anthem of Bittersweet Love

This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”