<P> The song proved popular with both young and old listeners . The public enjoyed hearing a supergroup of musicians singing together on one track, and felt satisfied in buying the record, knowing that the money would go towards a good cause . People reported they bought more than one copy of the single, some buying up to five copies of the record . One mother from Columbia, Missouri purchased two copies of "We Are the World", stating, "The record is excellent whether it's for a cause or not . It's fun trying to identify the different artists . It was a good feeling knowing that I was helping someone in need ." </P> <P> According to music critic and Bruce Springsteen biographer Dave Marsh, "We Are the World" was not widely accepted within the rock music community . The author revealed that the song was "despised" for what it was not: "a rock record, a critique of the political policies that created the famine, a way of finding out how and why famines occur, an all - inclusive representation of the entire worldwide spectrum of post-Presley popular music". Marsh revealed that he felt some of the criticisms were right, while others were silly . He claimed that despite the sentimentality of the song, "We Are the World" was a large - scale pop event with serious political overtones . </P> <P> "We Are the World" was recognized with several awards following its release . At the 1986 Grammy Awards, the song and its accompanying music video won four awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Music Video, Short Form . The music video was awarded two honors at the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards . It collected the awards for Best Group Video and Viewer's Choice . People's Choice Awards recognized "We Are the World" with the Favorite New Song award in 1986 . In the same year, the American Music Awards named "We Are the World" "Song of the Year", and honored organizer Harry Belafonte with the Award of Appreciation . Collecting his award, Belafonte thanked Ken Kragen, Quincy Jones, and "the two artists who, without their great gift would not have inspired us in quite the same way as we were inspired, Mr. Lionel Richie and Mr. Michael Jackson". Following the speech, the majority of USA for Africa reunited on stage, closing the ceremony with "We Are the World". </P> <Dl> <Dt> Vinyl Single </Dt> </Dl>

Who were the singers for we are the world