*Have you been racking your brain trying to figure out why Jay-Z isn’t a part of the “We Are the World 25″ remake for Haiti?
Well, to put it bluntly, Hova says he wasn’t interested because he doesn’t do remakes. Explaining further, he says that nothing, even if it’s filled with star-studded ensemble, could ever come close to the original song.
“I know everybody is gonna take this wrong: ‘We Are the World,’ I love it, and I understand the point and think it’s great. But I think ‘We Are the World’ is like [Michael Jackson's] ‘Thriller’ to me,” he told MTV at the annual “2 Kings” dinner during NBA All-Star weekend. “I don’t ever wanna see it touched.”
“I’m a fan of music. I know the plight and everything that’s going on in Haiti. I applaud the efforts: [Millions have been raised] through text [donations] to Haiti. So I appreciate the efforts and everything, but ‘We are the World’ is [musically] untouchable like ‘Thriller’ is untouchable. Some things are just untouchable. It was a valiant effort, but for me, it’s gonna be untouchable.”
Jay-Z also said he rather make a new song instead of messing with what’s considered a classic.
“As everyone knows, I have tremendous respect for Quincy Jones. Of course, I think he’s genius, as everyone else does. [But] I think it’s time for us to make a new [song]. I tried to do that with ‘Stranded,’ [the song Jay, Rihanna and U2's Bono and The Edge premiered at the 'Hope for Haiti Now' telethon]. I didn’t try to make ‘We Are the World,’ but I tried to make our take on how we felt”
If for some reason you haven’t seen the We Are the World 25 for Haiti’ video, check it out HERE.
…Ya know, he makes a lotta sense…I heard the re-make and, and, and, the sh1t sounds terrible…Some of the muthafuccers chosen to sing, WTF?…Haiti deserved it’s own song…All those creative minds and that’s what they came up with?….I also applaud the effort..but c’mon, now…Are they intending to sell this…How come Clef didn’t write sumthing?…One other thing Jay dosen’t do re-makes…He just “SAMPLES” like crazy…NY?…You can’t tell me that I’m not hearing love on a two way street in that joint…
why this new eur website so dayum confusing. i cant have azz figure out how to even post a comment, not to mention post it correctly. dayum.
Dayum, huey…WTF you been man?…I hope this is a sign of the rest of the muthafuccers coming back on-site…
Huey, you can say ASS now, so that’s a plus.
Huey, you found MOTHER!!!
About time!!! LMBAO! Whaddup playa?
Me and my girlfriend…ain’t that like a remake (Tupac)?
I am not a Jay-Z fan, but I must co-sign with him on this. I know music is died right along with Michael Jackson, but SURELY someone could’ve written something new. Celine Dion needs to have her neck wrung for messing up Cindy Lauper’s part of the song!! Jamie Foxx, while ya played the hell out of the role in “Ray,” ya ain’t REALLY Ray Charles!!!
I too am not a fan of Jay-Z. But I have to agree with him. A new song should have been written by the younger generation and they could have re-released the original “We Are the World” to aid in the efforts for Haiti.
bootane bootus, this new fangled eur crap got me all fucced up,, couldnt even log in , had to go through the eur gambino family and have them mother fuccers cut my finger halfway off fo they would let me back in the fam.
Huey, bro it’s me touch26 (changed my name because folk kept f-ing up my gender). I’m going to go on record saying that this site is getting a lot of undue hatred. It’s pretty kool now that I’ve taken the time to become familiar with it. Does anyone else reading this agree??
I agree with Jay-Z, the remake of the song gets two thumbs downs.
I wasn’t crazy about the original and hearing the remake just reminded me why. This remake is just plain terrible, no ifs, ands, buts about it.
I didn’t like the original either NOR do I consider it a classic. But, I applauded the effort of the artists and the intent behind the song.
I agree with Jay. A new song should have been made. It’s 25+ years later, there’s a new crop of musical superstars who in no way musically match those who originally recorded the song. No matter how hard Quincy and Lionel tried, there is NO way to duplicate what went down the night the original was recorded. Folks need to leave well enough alone.
I totally understand where these artists are trying to do but as stated previously, Q & Richie should have let sleeping dogs lie. Anyway, I hope it does raise alot of money and that it goes to help the Haitian victims. I remember that there was a big controversy with USA For Africa and that most of the money did not go to African charities in Ethiopia as planned.
The song’s terrible, but the purpose of it should be the main focus. Jay-z is just so into himself that he didn’t want to have his name involved with this train-wreck. LOL!!
I think they should’ve done a new song too. However, I sorta like the redo…
He really needs to be truthful and say that he and Beyonce were’t asked to be features on the song so he just came up with this excuse. I will admit that the remake was not that incredible, but it is what they had and it is what they chose to do, so be supportive of the efforts or just say nothing at all.