Celine participates in "We Are The World 25" song for Haiti

[Céline's Blues]

Amazing Mary J Blige, she should replace Celione! RIGHT NOW!

[Kristinaz]

Cannot wait to see the full thing on Friday!

[celinesounds]

I thinks Mary is going to sing to the remix only

[Kristinaz]

Anyone catch ET tonight there is new Celine footage from the final version.

[Kristinaz]

It just repeated and it def sounds like a whole different take then the promos we heard I hope someone recorded it.

ETA: it's from a different part of the song she's doing rifts

Edited February 11, 2010 at 08:12 AM by Kristinaz

[Ronny83]

Michael & Janet Jackson Duet in We Are the World

By: Roger Friedman // Wednesday February 10, 2010

 

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 versio 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 www.world25.org. And the group has already made a deal with You Tube for a channel so that donors can see their money at work in Haiti. Director Paul Haggis’s crew will be posting clips constantly of World25 putting the money to good use.

http://showbiz411.blogs.thr.com/2010/02/10...-are-the-world/

 

WE ARE THE WORLD'S ODD GREEN MEN EXPLAINED

 

The presence of strange green men who joined the stars of the WE ARE THE WORLD revamp in the studio has been explained - karaoke fans will get the chance to be them when the long-form video of the song is released.

Director Paul Haggis is using the latest technology to create a promo, which music fans will be able to insert themselves into at home - and belt out the charity anthem alongside their heroes.

To do this, the Crash director had two people - dressed head to toe in bright green - stand among the likes of Celine Dion, Natalie Cole and Barbra Streisand.

Haggis explains, "It was one of the executive producer's idea to put these two figures in the video so that people at home could go on and put themselves, singing in there. It'll be in the longer version that we put out for home video.

"People can actually digitise themselves in, singing We Are The World with all the rock stars."

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story...plained_1131739

Edited February 11, 2010 at 08:15 AM by Ronny83

[Prince Whiskers]

Wow, delusional Crackney fans thinking the part should have gone to her. She can't BLOW anymoooooooore.

I know , I said something but wish I wouldnt but I am not deleting it mwahaha. xx

They act like it's still 1992.

 

But I agree with the Whitney crazies on one count: Celine's pitch is all ovah the place. Compare that clip to the making of Map to my Heart. Some difference.

[CSCfan]

Music Legends Gather to Record 25th Anniversary Version of “We Are The World”

 

With Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones and a collection of the biggest music names around, the scene at the Henson Recording Studios on Monday evening harked back to the day 25 years ago, when legends like Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper and Billy Joel gathered to record Michael Jackson’s heartfelt hit for famine relief. OK! takes a peek behind the scenes as today’s hottest musicians make history…

 

Apart from Lionel and Quincy, there were no returnees from the original hit, out of the 80-plus celebrities singing “We Are the World: 25 for Haiti”, reports USA Today.

 

The song’s original lyrics have been tweaked by Lionel, and Black Eyed Peas rapper will.i.am wrote a rap “Greek chorus” extension while Wyclef Jean will apply a Haitian lilt to the track.

 

Although the turnout exceeded expectations with singers including Pink, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson, Céline Dion and Barbra Streisand, others like Taylor Swift had scheduling conflicts and Janet Jackson will be added remotely.

 

Meanwhile, Entertainment Tonight’s Mary Hart, who was the only TV host allowed into the recording (tune in to the show tonight to see her behind-the-scenes access), says that Jamie Foxx was using his Flip camera to record the event.

 

She also reveals that the late Michael Jackson will be included in the new recording. “Lionel Richie is thrilled with the turnout of stars from Pink to Jamie Foxx,” she says.

 

Barbra Streisand is performing a solo and Mary says, “Quincy Jones is in total control again.” Of Lionel and Quincy: “They say the intensity is 50 times greater than 1985.”

 

Other music stars who were spotted streaming into the studio include: Kanye West, Tony Bennett, Beach Boy Brian Wilson, Snoop Dogg, Jeff Bridges, LL Cool J, lucky 15-year-old Justin Bieber, producer Sean Garrett, Wyclef Jean, Jason Mraz, Enrique Iglesias, Wedding Crashers actor Vince Vaughn, Robin Thicke, Akon, Enrique Iglesias, will.i.am, Reba McEntire, Brandy, Josh Groban, Rob Thomas, T-Pain and the Zac Brown Band.

 

“I’m honored Q [Quincy Jones] asked me to be a part of it and I hope people enjoy it,” LL Cool J said outside.

 

 

Here’s the complete list of the other artists participating in the epic charity event:

•Carlos Santana

•Sugarland

•Natalie Cole

•India.Arie

•Mary Mary

•BeBe Winans

•Tyrese Gibson

•Raphael Saadiq

•Keri Hilson

•Heart

•Pink

•Miley Cyrus

•Jordin Sparks

•Katharine McPhee

•Patti Austin

•Usher

•The Fray

•Nicole Richie

•Ethan Bortnick (9-year-old prodigy pianist)

•Taj Jackson

•Freda Payne

•Lil Wayne

•Harry Connick Jr.

•Bizzy Bones (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony)

•Orianthi (This Is It guitarist)

•Rickey Minor (American Idol music director)

•Adam Levine

•Earth Wind & Fire

•Jonas Brothers

•Nicole Scherzinger

•Julianne Hough

•Melanie Fiona

•Mya

•Anthony Hamilton

•Gladys Knight

•Joel Madden

•Benji Madden

•Musiq Soulchild

•Randy Jackson

•Kid Cudi

•Trey Songz

•Taryll Jackson

•T.J. Jackson

•Drake

•Faith Evans

•Rashida Jones

•Al Jardine

•A.R. Rahman (Oscar winner, “Jai Ho”)

 

Behind the Scenes at The Star-Studded “We Are the World” Studio Session

 

With Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones and a collection of the biggest music names around, the scene at the Henson Recording Studios on Monday evening harked back to the day 25 years ago, when legends like Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper and Billy Joel gathered to record Michael Jackson’s heartfelt hit for famine relief. OK! takes a peek behind the scenes as today’s hottest musicians make history…

 

Apart from Lionel and Quincy, there were no returnees from the original hit, out of the 80-plus celebrities singing “We Are the World: 25 for Haiti”, reports USA Today.

 

The song’s original lyrics have been tweaked by Lionel, and Black Eyed Peas rapper will.i.am wrote a rap “Greek chorus” extension while Wyclef Jean will apply a Haitian lilt to the track.

 

Although the turnout exceeded expectations with singers including Pink, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson, Céline Dion and Barbra Streisand, others like Taylor Swift had scheduling conflicts and Janet Jackson will be added remotely.

 

A few figures clad head-to-toe in green were planted amid the celebrities so that, through green-screen technology, fans later will be able to insert themselves into the video online.

 

Check out the day’s highlights:

 

•Barbra Streisand struggled to get the correct emphasis on her solo lines which she taped repeatedly. Finally she asked the engineer, “are you getting the right sound? It’s faster than the original, isn’t it?”

 

Longtime Quincy Jones collaborator Patti Austin stepped in to coach her, singing along at one point, and saying, “That’s smokin’! Do it just like that!”

 

•Jordin Sparks felt a bit left out: “There’s a lot of inside jokes, and I’m like, I don’t get it.” But, she’s delighted to be involved with the song, “I wasn’t born yet [when "We Are the World" was first released], but the song has had a huge impact on me,” says the “Tattoo” singer. “They’ve changed it up a little bit, so it’s a new version with a little more — I hate this word — but swag.”

 

•Justin Bieber, 15, was too busy crushing on Nicole Scherzinger to worry about singing the opening verse. “It was hard to take my eyes off her, she’s so gorgeous,” he gushed.

 

•Brandy was impressed with Snoop Dogg’s singing voice: “To hear him sing in key and with vibrato is pretty cool,” she said.

 

•Lil Wayne was a little starstruck. “I’ve never been involved in something like this,” he said. “I feel blessed (but) I was like, what am I doing? My mother just wanted me to take Gladys Knight’s picture.”

 

•Josh Groban said the day was a “party”. “It feels like the first day at camp,” he said. “The 10-minute breaks become, ‘So what are you working on?’ So many of us are fans of the people around us. It’s a party in there.”

 

•Wyclef Jean is co-producer but he understands that fans of the original won’t want to hear too many changes. “When you have a classic, you don’t want to touch it,” he says, adding that the remake will be “a big version”. He added: “I feel like a kid in a candy store,” he says. “The first time I heard [Lionel's] “All Night Long”, I was 15, working at a Burger King (and) barely spoke English.”

 

•Vince Vaughn is playing coy about his part in the song. What did he actually contribute? “Nope!” he said, “you don’t want the pink little spoon. You want the whole sundae. You’re going to have to wait for it.”

 

Turning serious he explained why he got involved: “Music is the highest art form,” he said. “Music can take you the farthest, the fastest emotionally. All songs on some level are prayers. To come and say a prayer with all these very talented people tonight was a great thing to do.”

 

•Nicole Richie, who was in the chorus, brought two-year-old daughter Harlow, cradled by dad Joel Madden of Good Charlotte. Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden, Joel’s twin brother, also participated. Nicole was 3 when she was in the studio with her dad during the original recording.

 

•Céline Dion can’t forget the reason why the event took place: “People are having a great time singing that song even though it is a tragedy,” she said. “We are feeling every word of it. We will make a difference. We’re enjoying ourselves because we want to change what’s going on. People are very touched to be there.”

[JP]

Anyone catch ET tonight there is new Celine footage from the final version.

I did. I'll do the video!

[Céline's Blues]

I’m happy to say in the final cut the Canadian witch nailed it, @ 3:12:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAAiQ66wOhA

 

Clear and effortless like on Falling Into You. At least when she’s trying she can, oh yes, she can. Still can.

Edited February 11, 2010 at 05:40 PM by Céline's Blues

[Davey84]

I’m happy to say in the final cut the Canadian witch nailed it, @ 3:12:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAAiQ66wOhA

 

Clear and effortless like on Falling Into You. At least when she’s trying she can, oh yes, she can. Still can.

 

that note reminded me of Don't save it all for x-mas day

 

sebbie... did you ever doubt her?? :P

[fyoung98]

When they say "We all know Celine BELTS it out....." are they being nice ? Forgive my naivete. Just doesn't sound like there is a positive connotation to that word.

[Peppercorn1991]

Wow she sounded great!

 

kev

[Céline's Blues]

I’m happy to say in the final cut the Canadian witch nailed it, @ 3:12:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAAiQ66wOhA

 

Clear and effortless like on Falling Into You. At least when she’s trying she can, oh yes, she can. Still can.

 

that note reminded me of Don't save it all for x-mas day

 

sebbie... did you ever doubt her?? :P

 

In the state in which she is now - aka “FILL MY BANK ACCOUNT SUCKERS…I MEAN FANS” - we all better do, Dejvej! :clap: :clap:

[popstar60]

In the final cut she's just PERFECT! Who could ever doubt she would be the best? Her voice is powerful and sounds like in the best days of the 90's! There's nothing else to say.

[rodrigo_alka]

can't waaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiit !!! hehehe

[René 2]

perfect !!!

[Celinedusolei]

Barbra, Jimmy Jean-Louis (The Haitian from "Heroes") and Celine.

 

http://www.accidentalsexiness.com/wp-content/gallery/jimmy-j-we-are-the-world/img_1026.jpg

 

You find it!!!

 

 

 

love the look !!! she looks gorgeus !

[Kristinaz]

eeek 24 hours to go till we see the full thing. Thanks to whoever capped the ET video! I didn't have time to set up my dvr. Though it will be recording all day tomorrow so I'll for sure have the song.

[reamary]

It will air in Finland between Saturday and Sunday night, at 00.20, on Nelonen.

[CelineDionFan710]

they are showing this at the olypmics tonight!

[zuv]

Will the song be available on itunes today??

[PatrickDion22]

they are showing this at the olypmics tonight!

 

I know, I cannot wait. I love the Olympics and Celine. so tonight will be incredible!! Btw, I love your profile pic!!

[VinnyT.]

"We Are the World - 25 for Haiti" will premiere in 3D on NBC prior to the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Spearheaded by Quincy Jones, producer, and Lionel Richie, co-writer, of the 1985 philanthropic anthem "We Are The World," "WOTW-25" was recorded on Feb. 1 in the same L.A. studio as the original 25 years earlier (Henson Recording Studios, formerly A&M Recording Studios). Jones and Richie served as executive producers and producers, in collaboration with executive producers Wyclef Jean, Randy Phillips and Peter Tortorici; producers Humberto Gattica and RedOne; and co-producers Rickey Minor, Mervyn Warren and Patti Austin.

 

Proceeds from the project will benefit the Haitian earthquake relief efforts and the rebuilding of Haiti. Downloads will be available on iTunes, and through a partnership with YouTube, the video will be viewable on the "We Are the World 25" YouTube Channel. Billboard spoke with Phillips, president/CEO of AEG Live, about the project and what viewers can expect.

 

Billboard: How did you come to be involved with "We Are The World-25?"

 

Randy Phillips: I came in because Lionel Richie, who I manage, asked me to. Originally a group of guys including (original WOTW producer) Ken Kragen … had an idea to re-cut "We Are the World" that was called Live 25. Lionel and Quincy were very lukewarm about it because they felt that what happened 25 years ago was iconic and they did everything they could for Africa at that time, and they didn't feel re-cutting the song really made any sense. Basically, Lionel didn't really want to do it, and we kind of let it die by not issuing the publishing license, because Lionel owns the copyright along with Michael Jackson's estate. That was in November/December. They had gotten Visa on board as an underwriter of that effort, and I think they were going to try and premier it at the World Cup.

 

Then Haiti happened and that pretty much changed everything. Quincy called Lionel and said, "this is what this song is written for, as a fundraising vehicle for causes, tragedies, catastrophes like this. Why don't we take over the process, call our friends, and actually do this?" And because Lionel understood the urgency of Haiti, he agreed to do it.

 

BB: Talk about the talent booking process.

 

RP: Tisha Fein had been on board for the original idea (to re-cut WOTW as Live 25), so Quincy kept Tisha as the talent booker, and she was already in contact with a ton of people. When you're doing these things, one person tells you an act's in, another person says they aren't, it's always a fluid thing until you get there. All of these things come together like that, much of it at the last minute. [barbra] Streisand came in the day before. Of the list we went after, I'd say we ended up with 80% of the people we wanted.

 

It was a mad dash to pull it all together. When Lionel came to me, remember, there was Quincy and he had no infrastructure. So I met with key executives at AEG, they all volunteered to work on it, and then it was a 24/7 effort to work for gratis. Visa stayed in the deal even when it changed to Haiti because they felt so strongly about it, and picked up all of the hard costs and also provided millions of dollars in media.

 

What will be premiering right before the opening ceremonies of the Olympics is a 3:15 version of a 7:37 piece. NBC gave us the time, and Visa took the 30 seconds before for Lionel and Quincy to intro the piece, and that was a paid spot.

 

BB: What about the longer version?

RP: The seven-minute version will be broadcast worldwide simultaneously on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. PST on networks all around the world, about 120 networks. The tagline is "download to donate." There will be options of audio for $1.29, video for $1.99, or both for $2.99. All of that money is going straight to Haiti, there will be very little admin costs off the top. All of this is going to a charity we just created, and then the board will determine how to get it in the hands of the people as fast and directly as possible.

 

BB: Will there be a physical product?

 

RP: Yes, we're talking to Target about handling the physical product, 10 days to two weeks after the digital release.

 

BB: Any comment on the controversy surrounding the booking of this project, primarily reports that you said acts would be participating that had not committed?

 

RP: The truth is I wasn't that involved in the booking, other than making a few phone calls to artists I was close to, like Jamie Foxx, who I've worked with in the past, and Justin Bieber, who I work with now as his tour promoter. This happens all the time when you're putting one of these multi-act charity benefits together, people are in, people are out, schedules change. When you're doing something as noble as this, why is their any controversy at all? People want to take shots, but what a thing to take a shot at. If you're going to take a shot at people who are doing this, or me personally, do it when I'm doing something to make money, not when I'm doing something for free to help a country where we have over 150,000 dead and God knows how many more maimed.

 

BB: Can you tell me anything about the performances?

 

RP: It opens with Justin Bieber doing the Lionel Richie line, then Jennifer Hudson and he harmonize, then it goes from a Jennifer Hudson solo to Jennifer Nettles. The way it works is a star will do a line, then harmonize with the next star. You have Jennifer with Josh Groban, then Mary J. Blige, then into Toni Braxton harmonizing with Mary.

Then the chorus is Michael Jackson from the original version paired with Janet Jackson. After that, it's Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion singing together.

The rap section is staggering. One part was written by LL Kool J and Quincy and the other was written by Will I. Am and Kanye. It starts with LL and Snoop and Will and Xzibit and Kanye and Lil Wayne, then it goes into Will and Kanye trading lines with each other.

 

We're hoping that this not only raises significant amounts of money across the world, but that it also keeps the awareness of Haiti in the public eye. That was really one of the purposes of it, because a song like this will live on and on.

[CelineDionFan710]

they are showing this at the olypmics tonight!

 

I know, I cannot wait. I love the Olympics and Celine. so tonight will be incredible!! Btw, I love your profile pic!!

 

 

thank you. you are so kind. cant wait for the olmpics either.

[Ronny83]

Just saw this on Twitter:

 

justinbieber

 

wow. just found out my guy Lionel Richie will be on OPRAH 2day talking about WE ARE THE WORLD and they are showing my clip from the song!!!

Maybe they will show Celine's clip, too.

 

[Ronny83]

 

At the very end you can hear Celine's part.

[popstar60]

I don't like her "wooh wooh wooh wooh" at the begining, I don't like the way she pronounces them! But it's very powerful.

[CelineDionFan710]

ET was amazing. cant wait to see it tonight!

[Claudette]

I think she sings ''Well well well...'' not ''Wooh wooh wooh wooh''.

 

Thanks for the video. She sounds good. I cannot wait for the full song!

Edited February 12, 2010 at 09:24 PM by Claudette