Thursday, March 28, 2024

Michael & Janet Jackson Duet in We Are the World

Share

Less than 48 hours before “We Are the World 25″ premieres on the Olympics, I can tell you that the finished version has a duet of sorts with Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.

It comes at the midpoint of the Quincy Jones produced record. Just like in the original version from 1985, Michael sings the bridge, with Janet joining in. The vocal and the video of Michael are taken from the original version of the record. On the new video, Michael’s image pops up from the old video, followed by Janet’s from the new one.

“It’s very emotional,” says an insider. The finished version was played today in its entirety just for the production staff.

I am told that leads and single lines are heard from Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Kanye West, Gladys Knight, Miley Cyrus, Lil Wayne, and T Pain. Apparently there’s a smash solo vocal by Pink. Justin Bieber, 15, sings the opening lines.

A three-minute version will be heard during the Olympics. Following that, a longer version will be available on iTunes.

More importantly, the new website for the single has gone live at World25.org. And the group has already made a deal with YouTube for a channel so that donors can see their money at work in Haiti. Director Paul Haggis’ crew will be posting clips constantly of World25 putting the money to good use.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
spot_img

Read more

In Other News