The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix: Which Singer Was the Last To Go Home?

Netflix recently released a fascinating documentary about the making of the We Are the World music video. Titled The Greatest Night in Pop, this project shows the time when more than 40 celebrities, including Bob Dylan and Cyndi Lauper, gathered to record a track in one night.

According to Tudum by Netflix, the description of The Greatest Night in Pop reads, “Featuring never-before-seen footage, the film shows how Lionel Richie (who’s also a producer on the film) and Michael Jackson — each of them riding wild successes that year but never having worked together — co-wrote the now iconic song ‘We Are the World.'”

It continues, “Their star power got other major artists of the time on board. The film also features interviews with many of the artists who were there, including Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Smokey Robinson, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Loggins, Dionne Warwick, and Huey Lewis, as well as some of the musicians, engineers, and production crew who made it happen.”

Reports suggest that, among the several singers who were part of this grand project, Diana Ross began crying after the track finished recording. While the rest of the exhausted artists were exiting, the American singer and actress was the last to leave the recording studio.

The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix: Why did Diana Ross cry during the ‘We Are the World’ recording?

A recent Tudum by Netflix report states that Tom Bahler, the creator of the aforementioned track’s vocal arrangement, noticed Diana Ross was crying after the recording concluded. This is when the producer approached her and asked her if she was doing okay. Ross replied that she was overcome with emotions and simply didn’t want the legendary night to end. Tom Bahler recalled, “Quincy said, ‘Diana, are you OK?’ and she said, ‘I don’t want this to be over. It was the sweetest thing I think I ever heard.”

According to Billboard, this project was initially going to be helmed by only four artists: Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Quincy Jones. However, Richie’s ex-manager, Ken Kragen, worked his magic and managed to bring more than thirty artists together.

Furthermore, in a 2016 interview, Lionel Richie recalled a funny incident that took place when he and Michael Jackson were writing the song. He stated, “We Are the World’ and his dog is barking and his Mynah bird is yelling ‘Shut up’ [repeatedly at the dog]. I see albums falling over. I look again and see more falling over and there’s an albino python [coming toward me].”

He ended his statement by saying, “I will admit I was screaming like a white woman. Michael goes, ‘Oh my God, Lionel. There he is, he wants to play with you.’ I know you want a spiritual tale about how we brought this song you, but that’s how it was for three days.”

Who were part of the ‘We Are the World’ music video?

In an era before cell phones and the internet, organizer Ken Kragen managed to bring 46 of the world’s most famous singers together. According to ABC News, some of those who participated in the iconic 1985 event include: