Lionel Richie regretted not inviting Madonna and Cyndi Lauper to the song ‘We Are the World’. Source: Reproduction/YouTube ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’
Singer Lionel Richie revealed that he regrets not having invited singers Madonna and Cyndi Lauper to the recording of the song ‘We Are the World’.
The topic arose after comments about his new documentary from Netflix, ‘The Greatest Night In Pop’, during an appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’.
Richie admitted he made a mistake by not inviting Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. “We only had half a verse to be sung,” he said after being questioned by host Jimmy Kimmel.
“We needed a voice that was easily recognizable […] and she [Cyndi Lauper] had that voice”, commented Richie. He also shared that Lauper wasn’t sure if she would come to the recording because the singer’s boyfriend at the time believed the song wouldn’t be a hit.
‘The Greatest Night In Pop’ is a documentary produced by Netflix that tells the behind-the-scenes story of the recording of the song ‘We Are the World’, written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson.
The song is a collaboration among various American artists to raise funds to combat hunger in Africa, directly inspired by the charitable event Live Aid.
Among the singers are names like Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, and the songwriters Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. ‘We Are the World’ sold 7 million copies in the United States alone.
