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Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Lionel Richie

0 votes

Stevie Wonder

4 votes

Paul Simon

1 votes

Kenny Rogers

0 votes

James Ingram

0 votes

Tina Turner

0 votes

Billy Joel

0 votes

Michael Jackson (First Chorus)

1 votes

Diana Ross

1 votes

Dionne Warwick

1 votes

Willie Nelson

2 votes

Al Jarreau

0 votes

Bruce Springsteen

1 votes

Kenny Loggins

0 votes

Steve Perry

1 votes

Daryll Hall

1 votes

Michael Jackson (Bridge)

1 votes

Huey Lewis

1 votes

Cyndi Lauper

2 votes

Kim Carnes

0 votes

Bob Dylan

1 votes

Ray Charles

6 votes

Stevie Wonder/Bruce Springsteen (Duet)

2 votes

The Whole Chorus Singing Together

0 votes

Willets Point Mar 30 2022 04:38 PM

Inspired by the always excellent Hit Parade podcast, what are the best vocal performances on the charity megasingle "We Are the World" by USA For Africa? [YOUTUBE]9AjkUyX0rVw[/YOUTUBE]

MFS62 Mar 30 2022 05:40 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Ray Charles, for providing the counterpoint vocals. But I'm also giving some props to John Oates, Bette Midler and others who humbly sang backup without soli. Later

Fman99 Mar 31 2022 05:07 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Dan Aykroyd really carried this ensemble. Ironically I just heard this during the cool down at my most recent Orange Theory workout after not hearing it for a super long time. Good calming background music for the post workout stretch. I'll have to listen again and decide.

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 31 2022 06:33 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

I voted for Willie, not sure why. It's just, his voice so distinct from all the others. Dionne Warwick is a close 2nd. Worst vocalist in that one is probably Springsteen, he chews the scenery

Fman99 Mar 31 2022 07:26 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: I voted for Willie, not sure why. It's just, his voice so distinct from all the others. Dionne Warwick is a close 2nd. Worst vocalist in that one is probably Springsteen, he chews the scenery Agreed, and they gave him multiple spots to do it. I'd have been happy to see someone else in that second part of his where he duets with Stevie.

TransMonk Mar 31 2022 07:42 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Honestly, the Brits kicked the crap out of the US on this one with "Do They Know It's Christmas". IMO, the George Michael/Simon LeBon/Sting/Tony Hadley/Bono blended verse beats all of the USA4A lines.

Edgy MD Mar 31 2022 08:04 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

"DTKIC?" is a much stronger song. The saving grace here was Quincy Jones' production. I thought I was the only voter who went for Michael, who was in the peak of his powers here, but then I saw that there was a second vote for Bridge Michael Jackson. We're splitting votes!

A Boy Named Seo Mar 31 2022 08:34 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Sure, morning sex is great, but have you ever started your day with 7 minutes of "We are the World"? Ray definitely stands out under the extra spotlight. I thought Diana Ross following Michael into that first chorus at 1:30 was very strong. But I ask you, friends, who did more with two little lines than the velvet-voiced Steve Perry?? And +1 for Willie being Willie, complete with his off-beat timing and billy goat falsetto. Shots of Dylan grumbling are still hilarious even after seeing them meme-ified countless times. And the first glimpse I had of Dan Aykroyd, I thought it was Dwight Schrute's dad or something. Love the brown suit, Dan. But the person who made me want to listen to more of them RIGHT NOW!!!! was Stevie Wonder so I will now go on a Stevie deep-dive and he will share my 3 votes with Diana and good ol' Steve P. PS - I love how the video ended with the lyrics to the chorus displayed on screen, like we hadn't all just heard them 8 billion fucking times. Great stuff, Willets!

Marshmallowmilkshake Mar 31 2022 08:41 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Had to go with Ray! Some serious star power in the chorus who didn't get a solo line. Lindsey Buckingham!

Edgy MD Mar 31 2022 08:59 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

=Marshmallowmilkshake post_id=87965 time=1648737665 user_id=119]Some serious star power in the chorus who didn't get a solo line. Lindsey Buckingham!

How about Quincy leaving Harry Belafonte on the back burner with Elwood Blues? Huge dis'!

Willets Point Mar 31 2022 01:17 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Actually, Harry Belafonte organized USA for Africa and out of humility, I guess, did not give himself any solos. Reading this thread I got the idea that Belafonte dueting with Ray or Stevie would've sounded really spectacular.

TransMonk Mar 31 2022 01:22 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

I think Huey Lewis shines in his delivery.

TransMonk Mar 31 2022 01:30 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

=MFS62 post_id=87935 time=1648683643 user_id=60] But I'm also giving some props to John Oates, Bette Midler and others who humbly sang backup without soli.

Agreed. Who else is in there without solos? Sheila E., The Jacksons (minus Janet it seems), The Pointer Sisters, The News, Akroyd (Canadian).

Benjamin Grimm Mar 31 2022 01:58 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

I had to vote for Ray Charles. If I could sing like him, I'd make everyone in the world kiss my ass. And Diana Ross is one beautiful lady.

A Boy Named Seo Mar 31 2022 01:59 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

=TransMonk post_id=87996 time=1648754539 user_id=71] I think Huey Lewis shines in his delivery.

+1

Edgy MD Mar 31 2022 02:06 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

=TransMonk post_id=87996 time=1648754539 user_id=71] I think Huey Lewis shines in his delivery.

There's a clip out there of the recording of that Michael/Huey/Cyndi/Kim bridge that's pretty funny because Steve Perry and Darryl Hall are in the background, bored silly used to being the ones who make other people wait. And Lionel is acting as vocal director in a ten-thousand-dollar casual suit.



Found it. You have to jump ahead about to about 2:30 if you want to skip the lead-in chorus.



[YOUTUBE]dwEOOgv5unE[/YOUTUBE]



Also, some poor engineer is dispatched to tell Lauper that they've been tearing apart the board looking for the source of some noise interference and it turns out that it's her bracelets.

Edgy MD Mar 31 2022 02:13 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Poor Bob does pass after pass, and folks are trying to tell him that he's almost got it, but he's used to decades of people blowing smoke up his ass and he knows he's turding it and says so. [YOUTUBE]1UfVmJBF-OY[/YOUTUBE]

Frayed Knot Mar 31 2022 02:30 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

A Boy Named Seo wrote: =TransMonk post_id=87996 time=1648754539 user_id=71] I think Huey Lewis shines in his delivery. +1

Being totally indifferent to Huey Lewis his whole career (I even saw his band 'Clover' open for Dave Mason and Bob Welsh many moons ago) I've recently come to the conclusion that Huey

would be a great guy to hang out with on Karaoke night. He'd totally be the best guy in the bar and everybody would forever after try to coax him into breaking out in song during the office

Christmas party.

I've just never found his songs (I assume he writes them) to be even remotely interesting. So it's a shame that I cringe over hearing a guy who sings so well whenever a HL&tN song comes

on ... but I do.





And, yeah, while I've yet to summon up the courage to re-listen to the above song, Ray Charles is virtually always the best singer in any room he's in.

TransMonk Mar 31 2022 02:44 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Edgy MD wrote: Found it. You have to jump ahead about to about 2:30 if you want to skip the lead-in chorus. [YOUTUBE]dwEOOgv5unE[/YOUTUBE] That's gold. Watching Steve Perry and Kenny Loggins tell Huey he needs to go higher...ha! Easy for you guys to say. Michael Jackson was doing social distancing almost 40 years before COVID. They would never do it this way today. Each artist would put their line into a laptop (or cell phone) and email it to a central engineer who would make it all sound right with digital magic.

Marshmallowmilkshake Mar 31 2022 02:53 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

The Live Aid version is a hoot because Patti LaBelle secures a microphone and does not share. She is out there absolutely howling into this thing for the remainder of the song. Patti grabs the mic at 2:51. She might still have it. [YOUTUBE]/00OeznNG4hM[/YOUTUBE]

A Boy Named Seo Mar 31 2022 02:59 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Frayed Knot wrote: A Boy Named Seo wrote: =TransMonk post_id=87996 time=1648754539 user_id=71] I think Huey Lewis shines in his delivery. +1 Being totally indifferent to Huey Lewis his whole career (I even saw his band 'Clover' open for Dave Mason and Bob Welsh many moons ago) I've recently come to the conclusion that Huey would be a great guy to hang out with on Karaoke night. He'd totally be the best guy in the bar and everybody would forever after try to coax him into breaking out in song during the office Christmas party. I've just never found his songs (I assume he writes them) to be even remotely interesting. So it's a shame that I cringe over hearing a guy who sings so well whenever a HL&tN song comes on ... but I do. And, yeah, while I've yet to summon up the courage to re-listen to the above song, Ray Charles is virtually always the best singer in any room he's in.

I'm firmly in the demographic with all the NPR cool dad indie snobs, but I love putting on Huey. His 80s brand of pop 'n roll was FUNNNNNNNNNNN

A Boy Named Seo Mar 31 2022 03:33 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Edgy MD wrote: Poor Bob does pass after pass, and folks are trying to tell him that he's almost got it, but he's used to decades of people blowing smoke up his ass and he knows he's turding it and says so. [YOUTUBE]1UfVmJBF-OY[/YOUTUBE] That was fantastic to watch, he looked so uncomfortable. I don't think he did the same take twice.

Willets Point Mar 31 2022 05:13 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Another bit of trivia: the line Huey Lewis sings was originally assigned to one of the most notorious no-shows of the night, Prince. That would mean that Michael would've been singing the lead-in to Prince.

Willets Point Mar 31 2022 05:18 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

=TransMonk post_id=87997 time=1648755035 user_id=71] =MFS62 post_id=87935 time=1648683643 user_id=60] But I'm also giving some props to John Oates, Bette Midler and others who humbly sang backup without soli.

Agreed. Who else is in there without solos? Sheila E., The Jacksons (minus Janet it seems), The Pointer Sisters, The News, Akroyd (Canadian).


Smokey Robinson, Waylon Jennings, Bob Geldof, and Jeffrey Osborne.

Fman99 Mar 31 2022 06:34 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

There are a bunch of strong moments. I was the other voter who put in for the MJ bridge. I like Cyndi Lauper here, too, she's over the top but too cute for me to be bothered by it. Steve Perry sounds great here, also, as do many of them. But Ray & Stevie are clearly the best of the best.

Willets Point Mar 31 2022 08:19 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Edgy MD wrote: Found it. You have to jump ahead about to about 2:30 if you want to skip the lead-in chorus. [YOUTUBE]dwEOOgv5unE[/YOUTUBE] That's gold. Watching Steve Perry and Kenny Loggins tell Huey he needs to go higher...ha! Easy for you guys to say. Michael Jackson was doing social distancing almost 40 years before COVID. They would never do it this way today. Each artist would put their line into a laptop (or cell phone) and email it to a central engineer who would make it all sound right with digital magic. I want a reunion of The Bridge People. It's weird to hear MJ on the demo and then MJ live, and then MJ deciding the demo is good enough so I'm going to go stand by this wall.

A Boy Named Seo Apr 01 2022 09:04 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Thoughts On The Song -I love how these dudes all need lyric sheets for the 7 words they each have to memorize -Man, poor Cyndi sure seems to lap Dylan for worst vocal performance. And she is very married to that "whoa whoa whoa" build up. -How hard is Darryl Hall over-singing his part every goddamn time? Tranquilo, my dude. -I love around 3:00 when the Bridge People are all singing so in unison (and so off-key) trying to hit that last note on "stand together as ONEEEEEEEE". They are merely flawed humans afterall. It's great. -Huey rocks -MJ's takes are all carbon-copy perfect takes -Steve Perry is fuggin great at singing stuff

Johnny Lunchbucket Apr 01 2022 09:24 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Dere's tawking in dere

Edgy MD Apr 01 2022 01:28 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

USA for Africa Participants and Their "Women of Post-Punk/Power-Pop/New Wave" Rankings 8: Cyndi Lauper 147: Kim Carnes 155: Tina Turner 255: Sheila E. 308: Anita Pointer 336: Ruth Pointer 344: June Pointer 352: Bette Midler 396: Diana Ross Unranked: La Toya Jackson, Dionne Warwick I feel sad — like Toya and Dionne got really burned by the judges here.

Edgy MD Apr 01 2022 01:40 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

=TransMonk post_id=87997 time=1648755035 user_id=71] =MFS62 post_id=87935 time=1648683643 user_id=60] But I'm also giving some props to John Oates, Bette Midler and others who humbly sang backup without soli.

Agreed. Who else is in there without solos? Sheila E., The Jacksons (minus Janet it seems), The Pointer Sisters, The News, Akroyd (Canadian).

Apparently, Rebie and Jermaine were also MIA.

Edgy MD Apr 01 2022 04:38 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

A Boy Named Seo wrote: -I love how these dudes all need lyric sheets for the 7 words they each have to memorize It's a Quincy Jones session. Those are the full charts, man. A Boy Named Seo wrote: -I love around 3:00 when the Bridge People are all singing so in unison (and so off-key) trying to hit that last note on "stand together as ONEEEEEEEE". They are merely flawed humans afterall. It's great. Huey does a great job coming up on the spot with a harmony phrase or two to give Kim's tagline the climax it deserves, but unfortunately, he can't land the performance of it. Amazingly, he has the grace to shrug it off. If a session was starting and stopping over me missing my pitch, and I was not only in front of a roomful of big-shot singers waiting on me, but following Michael Jackson who is perfect EVERY SINGLE TIME, in a range that most men have trouble touching, I'd be mortified.* But Huey is all "Let's give it another try," clenching his fist soulfully each time when he comes in. When the throaty-throaty Huey and Kim duo finally nail it, it's like an awesome dream come true for Lionel, but unfortunately, the tape isn't rolling. https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/screen-shot-2022-04-01-at-6.41.43-pm.png> * Of course, the guy was apparently as flawed as anybody in the room. More than most, probably.

Willets Point Apr 01 2022 05:29 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

To be fair, MJ had been rehearsing the song for a couple of days and recorded the demo, while everyone else just showed up after the AMAs, was handed a sheet of music, and told to get to work.

Edgy MD Apr 01 2022 09:00 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

So, I count 44 performers. If you've got come up with your own team of 44 — all Americans, all 1985ers — to do battle in a charitable throwdown, who do you go for? I'm thinking: [list=1] [*]Prince [*]Matt Fink [*]Bobby Z. [*]Lisa Coleman [*]Brown Mark [*]Wendy Melvoin [*]Madonna [*]Barbra Streisand [*]Billy Gibbons [*]Dusty Hill [*]Frank Beard [*]Eddie Van Halen [*]Alex Van Halen [*]David Lee Roth [*]Michael Anthony [*]J.C. Mellancamp [*]Dee Snider [*]Michael Stipe [*]David Byrne [*]Sade [*]Anne Wilson [*]Nancy Wilson [*]Johnny Cash [*]John Fogarty [*]Run [*]DMC [*]Jam Master J. [*]Don Fucking Henley [*]Peter Fucking Cetera [*]Stevie Nicks [*]Joan Jett [*]Belinda Carlisle [*]Jane Wiedlin [*]Kathy Valentine [*]Gina Schock [*]Charlotte Caffey [*]Susanna Hoffs [*]Vycki Peterson [*]Ric Ocasek [*]Benjamin Orr [*]Dolly Parton [*]Pat Benatar [*]Stevie Ray Vaughn [*]Art Garfunkle [/list] Let's play some hockey.

Willets Point Apr 01 2022 10:14 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Impressive work getting Jane Wiedlin back with The Go-Go's just three months after she'd quit the group!

Edgy MD Apr 02 2022 08:53 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

She's show up if invited to Alternative World USAfA, though, wouldn't she? I'm thinking our alternative world session is overseen by Burt Bacharach.

Willets Point Apr 02 2022 10:12 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

1. Paul Westerberg 2. Tommy Stinson 3. Bob Stinson 4. Chris Mars 5. Kool Rock-Ski 6. Buff Love 7. Prince Markie Dee 8. Laurie Anderson 9. Lou Reed 10. Joey Ramone 11. Johnny Ramone 12. Dee Dee Ramone 13. Richie Ramone 14. Greg Norton 15. Grant Hart 16. Bob Mould 17. Frank Zappa 18. Yoko Ono 19. Leonard Cohen (token Canadian) 20. Frank Sinatra 21. Tony Bennet 22. Ray Parker, Jr. 23. Deniece Williams 24. Patti Labelle 25. Patty Smyth 26. David Crosby 27. Stephen Stills 28. Graham Nash (token Brit) 29. Neil Young (has a house in California) 30. Michael McDonald (how is it possible that there was a recording session in Southern California in the 1980s and Michael McDonald wasn't present?) 31. Christopher Cross 32. Shannon 33. Laura Branigan 34. Peabo Bryson 35. El DeBarge 36. Chaka Khan 37. Wynonna Judd 38. Naomi Judd 39. Ricky Bell 40. Michael Bivins 41. Bobby Brown 42. Ralph Tresvant 43. Ronnie DeVoe 44. Aretha Franklin

Willets Point Apr 02 2022 10:32 AM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

They would never do it this way today. Each artist would put their line into a laptop (or cell phone) and email it to a central engineer who would make it all sound right with digital magic. I figured that "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" (2010) would've been done this way but they actually got all 85 (!) artists together in the same studio as the original recording.

Edgy MD Apr 02 2022 01:28 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

Good point about Michael McDonald. What a huge dis'!

Willets Point Apr 02 2022 02:24 PM Re: Very Important Poll: Who Are the Ones Who Make a Brighter Day?

I mean, you figure he just lingered around studios waiting for a session to start and then jumped in to sing backing vocals!