One of the most short-sighted critiques I've seen in a long time is the one concerning whether the new "We Are the World" should have been made. Jay-Z is being widely quoted as saying that the original 1985 version is so good, so peerless, that he doesn't "ever wanna see it touched".
I can understand the feeling. I still cringe a little every time I hear someone other than the Beatles do a Beatles song, anyone other than the Supremes try "You Can't Hurry Love." This applies to movies, too. The remakes of "The Getaway" and "The Manchurian Candidate" don't hold a candle to the originals.
And there's no doubt that the original "We Are the World" is much better than the current remake - better in incandescent artists, for sure. Who can compare with Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, the list goes on and on.
But that's not the point, is it. The point of both "We Are the Worlds" was to focus attention on and raise money for highly worthy causes. If the new "We Are the World" is only good, or even great, in comparison to the 1985 version which was greater, actually, the greatest, why should whatever good the new version can do be eliminated?
There is pain, hurt, evil in the world aplenty. The forces of light have all they can do to keep the flood of darkness at the gates. Why turn away a valuable ally, even it's lesser than the original?
It's often said the good is the enemy of the great - meaning that selection of the good can preempt or shortcircuit the great. But the maxim does not apply in this case. The new "We Are the World" in no way diminishes the original - if anything, it calls attention to how superb the original still is. And the new version has the benefit of literally adding to the chorus. Those who bravely gave perfection another try deserve our thanks not our critique and certainly no one's derision.
1 comment:
"We are the World", classic song! I'm not sure though I like the fact it's going to be remade. That song defined a generation back in the 1980's and it just seems that this current generation is just borrowing way too much from things from the past, instead of inventing their own ideas.
Like you brought up Paul, movie remakes. There are some things begging for new beginnings, like Star Trek, or Batman for instance. I personally wouldn't mind seeing a Star Wars remake, with Avatar like special effects (and of course in 3-D since EVERYTHING seems to be headed down that path lately). But some stuff just shouldn't be touched and others may say that remaking the likes of Star Wars, E.T., Close Encounters would be outright blasphemy!
I'm leaning that way with "We are the World" simply because that was a part of my childhood. It made me aware at a young age how important it is to care for others more than yourself. Those people that sang the song then are irreplacable. But, could I see Fergie, Justin Timberlake, Britney, Miley, and so many others singing it now, as homage to the first one? Possibly. This generation of young people would like it and relate to it more than they would pop singers who are old, dead or dying. Plus it might help to open their eyes to what is truly going on in our world today that does need our assistance, much the same way it did for me way back when.
It's just hard to determine sometimes how you feel about an icon. But hey, it worked with Star Trek. Chris Pine was a great Captain Kirk. So why not give "We are the World" a shot too? Wanting to remake it speaks volumes on the soundness and transcendentalness the song portrayed when it was originally written and performed.
Let's just refrain from remaking Short Circuit please, that one DOESN'T need to happen.:)
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