"We Are The World" 2010 Version Set For Olympic Debut
The 2010 version of "We Are The World" to benefit Haiti relief is coming together in Los Angeles, California and should be ready for an Olympic debut. TMZ.com stationed cameras outside the Jim Henson studios on Monday and posted video clips from the studio session on Tuesday morning. Artists like Celine Dion, Akon, The Jonas Brothers, Lionel Richie, and Wyclef Jean can all be seen working on the song. The video for "We Are The World" 2010 will premiere during the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Olympics on Friday, February 12th on NBC. Wyclef Jean talks about the importance of the project, saying, quote, "When you see me, and you see that little kid in Haiti, that's really me if I never got the chance to make it to America...it might not mean much but let me explain to you what's bigger than a contribution...is the fact that you lend your voice."
Stars seen walking into the Jim Henson studios on Monday afternoon included Harry Connick Jr., Sugarland, Justin Bieber, Orianthi, and Kanye West. The "L.A. Times" music blog posted a photo from the session that showed Toni Braxton, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, actor Jeff Bridges, country duo Sugarland, Barbra Streisand, Jason Mraz, and actor Vince Vaughn singing in unison. The present-day Jim Henson Studios is actually the site of the original A&M Studios soundstage where the original "We Are The World" was recorded on January 28th, 1985 -- meaning that the 2010 version was filmed on the very same stage. The video was directed by "Crash" director Paul Haggis while the music portion was produced by Quincy Jones, who was also at the helm of the original recording 25 years ago.
Other stars reportedly in attendance for the "We Are The World" recording included:
Miley Cyrus; Jennifer Hudson; Joel Madden with daughter Harlow; Will.i.am; Enrique Iglesias; Brandy; Keri Hilson; Snoop Dogg; Swizz Beatz; Jamie Foxx; Pink; Pussycat Doll Nicole Sherzinger; "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson; Carlos Santana; Lil Wayne; Josh Groban; Robin Thicke; Kid Cudi; Jordin Sparks; A.R. Rahman; LL Cool J; T-Pain; Busta Rhymes; Jermaine Jackson; Haitian actor Jimmy Jean Louis of "Heroes"; Benji Madden; Katharine McPhee; Freda Payne; Tony Bennett; Adam Levine; Nicole Richie; Isaac Slade of The Fray; Philip Bailey, Maurice White, and Verdine White of Earth Wind & Fire; actor Tyrese Gibson; India.Arie; Beach Boys Al Jardine and Brian Wilson; Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band; and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony member Bizzy Bone. |