The Greatest Night in Pop (2024)
Genre: Documentary / Music
Duration: 96 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Bao Nguyen
Stars: Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder
IMDb score:
7,9 (16.146)
Releasedate: 19 January 2024
The Greatest Night in Pop plot
"The untold story behind "We Are the World.""
On January 25, 1985, dozens of the biggest names in music gathered in a Los Angeles studio. They then recorded a song for African famine relief that would change global pop history. This documentary chronicles the enormous undertaking of putting together the world's largest supergroup in a world before cell phones and email. That group of artists, led by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, came from different worlds but united to record “We Are the World.” The film features never-before-seen footage from the early planning stages, including the writing sessions with Jackson and Richie, and a look inside the famous studio where the song was recorded.
Actors and actresses
Self
Self
Self
Self
Self
Self
Self
Self
Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)
Reviews & comments
james_cameron
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- 7060 messages
- 9825 votes
Great documentary about the making of the benefit song We Are The World on January 25, 1985, when dozens of the biggest names in music secretly gathered in a studio in Los Angeles. I've always thought it was a bullshit song, but this documentary has given me more respect for it. What a special collaboration, incredible. The archive images are nothing less than magical, with many beautiful disarming moments between the diverse artists. A unique documentary about a unique event.
Translated from Dutch · View original
mjk87 (moderator films)
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- 14596 messages
- 4552 votes
Very nice to see, yes. When, after a minute, Lionel Ritchie sat down on a chair, I thought I was watching another documentary with mainly talking heads. Fortunately, that wasn't too bad (and Ritchie is really enthusiastic about it, which makes a difference).
The documentary works best when it simply shows something, in this case a lot of incredibly fascinating and fun moments behind the scenes with great artists who are just people and also with their insecurities. But also wonderful to see such a big star Michael Jackson who is constantly working on the song in a very professional manner or a Stevie Wonder as cement in the group. The entire run-up and design and all the difficulties involved, however logical in retrospect, are also interesting to see.
Contrary to some other commenters here, I think that song is a pretty strong song. Also because of the different voices that complement so naturally. This documentary shows that a lot of thought has been given to this and that someone has been specially flown in to help with this. Very nice. Rounded up 4.0*
Translated from Dutch · View original
N00dles
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- 633 messages
- 2308 votes
Nice documentary about the creation of We are the world, the famous hit single that ultimately led to the solution to famine and a strong, economically independent Africa.
No, but seriously, it is special to see that so many top artists came together at the time to do this and were willing to voluntarily pull an all-nighter to make it happen. Bob Geldof's strong impromptu speech beforehand contributed to the feeling of 'this is what we do it for'.
The fact that the session was plagued by some technical defects, insecure singers, overly confident singers who insisted on Swahili in the lyrics (looking at you, Stevie Wonder) and many re-takes was also interesting. In that respect it is a miracle that it still worked.
The song may not be to everyone's taste, and may be a bit sentimental (what do you want with Lionel Richie and MJ as songwriters), but still, it is a unique highlight of the '80s.
Unfortunately, quite a few of these people have already passed away, but it was also cool to see some artists from the past have their say about how they experienced it.
3.5*
Translated from Dutch · View original
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