“We Are The World” Remake Has Every Musician You Like—Including Daft Punk?

Becky Bain | February 2, 2010 10:43 am

Looks photoshopped, doesn’t it? Incredibly, it’s the real deal. More than 75 artists, from Barbara Streisand to Kanye West to Justin Bieber, hustled over to the Jim Henson Co. recording complex in Hollywood yesterday to record the “We Are The World” remake. The song will air on NBC February 12, during the opening ceremony of the Olympics. But you don’t have to wait til then—after the jump, check out a preview of the music industry’s finest in the studio, and a complete list of those involved… including some surprise names.

Check out photos and video of the stars filing into the studio at the links. And here’s a first look at the recording in progress, aired on ABC News:

Justin Bieber acts much older than his age (especially when he’s hitting on Beyoncé), but we forget he’s only 15-years old and basically a novice to the biz. The teen with legions of fans proved how big a fan he is by tweeting his excitement while recording “We Are The World”:

Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden may be several years Bieber’s senior, but he still was a big enough of a fanboy to tweet his experience meeting his musical idols during the recording:

Whoa, whoa, whoa—Daft Punk is involved? No one told us this re-recording would have a laser light show to go with it.

Daft Punk’s involvement may still be up in the air (we hear they’re still looking into that whole Max Weinberg thing), but in case you’re trying to keep up at home, here is a list of artists confirmed for the song:

* Carlos Santana * Sugarland * Natalie Cole * India.Arie * Mary Mary * Bebe Winans * Tyrese Gibson * Raphael Saadiq * Keri Hilson * Heart * Pink * Miley Cyrus * Jordin Sparks * Katharine McPhee * Patti Austin * Usher * The Fray * Nicole Richie * Ethan Bortnick (9-year-old prodigy pianist) * Taj Jackson * Freda Payne * Lil Wayne * Harry Connick Jr. * Bizzy Bones (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony) * Orianthi (This Is It guitarist) * Rickey Minor (American Idol music director) * Adam Levine * Earth Wind & Fire * Jonas Brothers * Nicole Scherzinger * Julianne Hough * Melanie Fiona * Mya * Anthony Hamilton * Gladys Knight * Joel Madden * Benji Madden * Musiq Soulchild * Randy Jackson * Kid Cudi * Trey Songz * Taryll Jackson * T.J. Jackson * Drake * Faith Evans * Rashida Jones * Al Jardine * A.R. Rahman (Grammy winner, “Jai Ho”) * Jason Mraz * Akon * Jennifer Hudson * Enrique Iglesias * Toni Braxton * Lady Gaga * Justin Bieber * Celine Dion * T-Pain * Trey Songz * Kanye West * Tony Bennett * Beach Boy Brian Wilson * Snoop Dogg * Jamie Foxx * Jeff Bridges * LL Cool J * Wyclef Jean * Vince Vaughn * Robin Thicke * Akon * will.i.am * Reba McEntire * Brandy * Josh Groban * Rob Thomas *  Zac Brown Band * Barbra Streisand

There’s a few out-of-left-field choices in the mix, including actors Rashida Jones, Nicole Richie and Vince Vaughn. Of course, Rashida Jones and Nicole Richie are the daughters of Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie, the two musicians who originally wrote the track, so that explains their involvement. Now anyone have any idea what Vince Vaughn was doing there?