During an episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live," Lionel Richie shared that he and other celebrities overlooked Madonna and Cyndi Lauper when they were considering artists for the iconic track "We Are the World." Kimmel brought up their absence while discussing Richie's new Netflix documentary "The Greatest Night In Pop," which delves into the creation of the song. He questioned whether there was a debate about inviting either Cyndi Lauper or Madonna to participate in the project.
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During his interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," the host, aged 56, brought up Cyndi Lauper and Madonna in reference to Lionel Richie's new Netflix documentary, "The Greatest Night In Pop," which explores the creation of the iconic song. Kimmel questioned whether there was a dilemma between inviting Cyndi Lauper or Madonna to participate in the project. He further pressed on why it had to be a choice between the two artists.
Lionel Richie, aged 74, responded to the question, acknowledging it as one of the most intriguing queries. He emphasized the limited singing time they had, merely half a line each. Richie reiterated the importance of recognizable voices given the brief duration. Additionally, he mentioned the uncertainty surrounding Cyndi Lauper's participation at the time.
According to the pop star, he approached Lauper, aged 70, who expressed uncertainty due to her boyfriend's doubts about the song's potential success. Despite this, Richie advised her not to miss the session, which Kimmel acknowledged as good advice. Later, Lauper attended the session and delivered a stellar performance. Richie emphasized the importance of having a recognizable voice for the song's brief lines, noting Lauper's distinct sound. Kimmel remarked that they made a mistake by not including both Lauper and Madonna.
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The late-night host's remark caught the attention of the "American Idol" judge, prompting Richie to concede that Kimmel did indeed have a valid point. "I'm going to say this now on national and international television. You're right, you're right," Richie acknowledges. "We made a mistake."
Despite Richie's admission, the track, which boasts the talent of numerous icons including Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, and others, is celebrated as one of the greatest songs ever created.
The song proceeded to sell an astounding 20 million copies, with proceeds benefiting African famine relief.
"I believed a crucial aspect of the narrative was the anticipation and organization of the event," stated "Greatest Night in Pop" director Bao Nguyen to The Post.
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