<P> However, because of the devastation caused in Haiti, these plans were postponed . Phillips said that Jones had called Lionel and said, "this is what this song is written for, as a fundraising vehicle for causes, tragedies, catastrophes like this . Why don't we take over the process, call our friends, and actually do this?" Lionel understood the urgency of Haiti, and in January 2010, it was agreed that "We Are the World" would be re-recorded to help benefit Haiti, similar to how the original recording helped famine relief in Africa . Richie commented, "Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a hit record to make someone decide to save a life . I want this song to be the battle cry again . Every once in a while, you have to wake the world up . We slept right through Katrina . If we are not a socially aware culture, we're going to fail ." </P> <P> The new version of the song was recorded on February 1, 2010, in a session lasting 14 hours . Eighty - five musicians were reportedly involved in the song's recording, which was held in the same place as the original, at Henson Recording Studio on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles, California . Also similar to the 1985 process, some of the participating musicians were already in Los Angeles to attend an awards ceremony: the 52nd Grammy Awards . Jones said of the recording session, "It was a big challenge . It takes a serious army and serious emotional architecture . I've never seen such a diverse group of people, and they came for the right reasons ." The recording process brought together diverse artists, with the oldest being 83 - year - old Tony Bennett and the youngest being 9 - year - old Ethan Bortnick . </P> <P> The new version features updated lyrics and music, such as a rap segment including LL Cool J, will.i.am, Snoop Dogg & 7 others pertaining to Haiti, described as a "Greek chorus extension", which was written by will.i.am . Other writers included Kanye West, Jones and LL Cool J. Lionel Richie and Jones revealed that Michael Jackson's sister Janet duets with her late brother, as per a request from their mother, Katherine . In the official video, there is archive footage of Michael Jackson from the original 1985 recording . Richie said that he agreed with Katherine's request, commenting, "It made me feel more secure about this . We definitely felt a void . He's the other parent (to the song)." The production team for the song included Humberto Gatica, RedOne, Mervyn Warren, Patti Austin and Rickey Minor . RedOne said that it took a week to create the new arrangement for "We Are The World 25 For Haiti". He commented that he wanted to keep the "class of the original one" and did not want to "mess it up, because it's too good ." He noted that he wanted to make the song "sound more now and current" while keeping the originals "whole chord progressions, the feeling and the vibe, but brought fresher sounds that are more now ." </P> <P> Haitian - American musician Wyclef Jean also serves as a producer . In addition, Wyclef Jean sings the first line of the second chorus in Haitian Creole . Richie said new artists were selected for the song so the song could be aimed at a new audience, commenting, "We have a familiar song that kids learn in school . Why not bring in Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers and let them address the issues?" adding that "It was designed so that we wouldn't have any of the originals there, so that we could pass on the baton to the next generation". Phillips said that the producers received 80 percent of the people they wanted as recording artists for the song . In addition to Jean, Haitian actor Jimmy Jean - Louis, most famous for playing The Haitian on Heroes, appears in the chorus . </P>

Who sang in we are the world for haiti