Lionel Richie Says It's Time To Bring Back 'We Are the World' For Coronavirus Victims

Mar 23, 2020 by apost team

Singer Lionel Richie suggested on Monday that the song We Are the World should be brought back to promote resilience and as encouragement amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“There’s a choice we’re making, we’re saving our own lives.” Those are the words sung in the chorus of We Are the World, the song originally by Michael Jackson who co-wrote it with Lionel Richie. It was remade 10 years ago into a collaborative charity song to raise funds for the 2010 Haiti Earthquake.

Speaking with PEOPLE, Richie says:

“That line came about as Michael and I were sitting there talking. We said, you can either say, 'I’m saving my life' or ‘We’re saving our lives’ . 'We Are the World' is a statement we wanted to make. What do we do to save our own?”

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Richie, like many people around the world, is social distancing and staying home. “We are all hunkered down. Family is the key to this. It is the soother,” he says. He also shared his thoughts about the passing of his friend and mentor Kenny Rogers. “I must admit, every once in awhile, God has to do something to get us back on track,” he says.

This month marks 35 years since the song was released. Richie says that he and his team didn't want to do much about the song initially, as he felt it was inappropriate given the current climate.

"But the message is so clear,” he says. Richie says that since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, he has thought about writing a different song just for this situation. “But every time I try and write another message, I write those same words,” he explained.

Richie has been tweeting messages about 'staying safe and healthy' while also promoting American Idol where he is currently a judge.

Do you think there should be another remake of We Are the World? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and be sure to pass this along to your friends and family.