30th July 2009

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we are the world. figuratively.

For those of you who remember your SAT analogy skills:

Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” : 20th Century U.S. History : : The “We Are the World” video : 1980’s Pop Culture & Celebrities

Just look at the cast list: 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 (from Journey, obvs), Daryl Hall (of the great Hall & Oates), Huey Lewis (sans The News), Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, and Bob Dylan. You can even catch glimpses of Dan Akroyd, Bette Midler, Tito Jackson, and a partridge in a pear tree in the back. But I’ll let the vid speak for itself…

Favorite moment? HANDS DOWN The Boss’s hecka-impassioned appearance at 2:12. Makes me laugh every time.

I wouldn’t dream of tarnishing such a beautiful musical moment with a tactless follow-up video.

In opposite land.

Oops. The Springsteen impersonator (0:48)? Somehow, EVEN BETTER than the real Springsteen. At least in that capacity.

Um, and Japanese Cyndi Lauper (1:28)? Spectacular.