<P> The song begins with a man asking a young boy to define such words as bigotry, segregation, and hatred (to which the boy says he doesn't know); he says that prejudice is "when someone's sick". Following that is a soundbite of a drill sergeant leading a platoon into training, along with gunfire sound effects, after which are snippets of the two songs--both as recorded by The Blackberries, a session recording group . Interspersed are excerpts of speeches by John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, the eulogy (given by Ted Kennedy) after Robert's assassination, and Martin Luther King, Jr., and soundbites of news coverage of each one's assassination . The ending of the song is a reprise of the introduction . </P> <P> "What the World Needs Now is Love / Abraham, Martin and John" rose to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1971, and was Clay's only Top 40 hit . </P> <P> "What the World Needs Now is Love" has been used in many film soundtracks, notably Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice and For the Love of Fred (used as the film's closing theme song in both), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, My Best Friend's Wedding, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Hot Shots!, Happy Gilmore, and Forrest Gump . In the Danish zodiac porn comedy I Jomfruens tegn (1973), an extended version is used for the hardcore underwater orgy that ends the film . </P> <Ul> <Li> In April 1968, Cilla Black released a rendition of the song on her third studio album Sher - oo! which was a Top 10 hit on the UK album chart . </Li> <Li> In June 1968, following the shooting of Robert Kennedy but before he died (approximately 26 hours), the Jackie DeShannon version was played over and over on Los Angeles radio stations as an audio vigil . This also continued for a few days following his death . </Li> <Li> The first few notes of the song have also been used as a toteboard cue for the annual The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon . </Li> <Li> A recording by Des O'Connor featured in episode #3.1 ("The Early Birds") of The Good Life . </Li> <Li> A shortened version of the title is used in a biography of Burt Bacharach and Hal David by Robin Platts . </Li> <Li> It was featured in the fourth season of Beverly Hills, 90210, in the episode "Twenty Years Ago Today". </Li> <Li> In the Philippines, it was also used as the theme song of an event dubbed as Close - Up Lovapalooza to break the record of most people kissing simultaneously in 10 seconds to celebrate Valentine's Day . </Li> <Li> Jessica Mauboy sang "What the World Needs Now Is Love" on Australian Idol in 2006 . </Li> <Li> American experimental band Mr. Bungle covered the song live at least twice in 2000 . </Li> <Li> Alec Baldwin sang a part of the song in the episode "Somebody to Love" of 30 Rock while playing a piano, as his soon to be lover CC walked down the stairs at the party which they met . </Li> <Li> It was a top 5 song in American Idol season 2 in 2003 . </Li> <Li> Two versions of the song, one performed by Burt Bacharach himself, were played near the end of the film Austin Powers in Goldmember . </Li> <Li> The song was covered by Jad Fair and Daniel Johnston on the album It's Spooky, with revised lyrics, referencing crack houses and Satanism . </Li> <Li> Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode used to play it as the last song for his DJ sets in 2004 . </Li> <Li> The song was used as the unofficial theme tune of the improvised BBC One drama series True Love (TV series), being played at the beginning of the episode, and at the end when the credits rolled . </Li> <Li> In 2010, Connecticut musician Michael Occhionero used the song during the fade out of his song "Hey! Mr .", which includes samples of "Paperback Writer" and "Mr. Tambourine Man". </Li> <Li> In 2013 Australia's Got Talent R&B soul singer Leon Lee performed his rendition of the song which received a lot of praises from all judges on the show . </Li> <Li> On July 7, 2014, SiriusXM's Ron and Fez show opened with the cast singing the song in a sarcastic manner to support recently fired co-worker, Anthony Cumia who was terminated on allegations of racism . </Li> <Li> The cast of Glee covered the song in the sixth episode of their sixth season, "What The World Needs Now". They serenaded characters Santana and Brittany in an attempt to support their upcoming wedding . </Li> <Li> Pop Idol winner Will Young covered the song in late 2015 as part of a World Wildlife Foundation Awareness campaign . </Li> <Li> On July 27, 2016, an all - star ensemble of Broadway vocalists performed the song at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, as a protest against gun violence . </Li> <Li> On March 24, 2017, the song was added and recorded by Missi Hale for the film The Boss Baby . </Li> </Ul>

Who sang what the world needs now is love