The super group song We Are The World sure was something back in 1984… and my instant kneejerk to this new Netflix documentary was “Why?” They had done a “making of” back in 1984 so who cares? Well, it took a few seconds to realize most people haven’t seen that bit of PR and maybe the artists and technicians behind this doc have had (<gulp>) 39 years to think about it (time is the crucible in which we burn).

The doc covers the writing and production of this pop song designed to aid in famine relief in Ethiopia. The inception, the writing of the song, and the logistics of getting all these huge music stars together in one room on one night (helps it was the night of the American Music Awards).

The flick is pretty much headlined by Lionel Richie who looks remarkably young 39 years later… or at least compared to Bruce Springsteen (when did The Boss become an old man?!!? <chooses not to look in mirror>). Cyndie Lauper, Sheila E, Kenny Logins, Huey Lewis and a few others show up for on camera interviews as well.

I wouldn’t say this is a warts ‘n all documentary – it’s pretty much on the side of the stars and the song. But they go into grueling detail about what it was like to have all these egos in one room for ten hours <singing>all night long</singing> into the wee hours of the morning. It goes into detail over every little hiccup, personality tic, joke, and quirk that I think it was trying to simulate how grueling it was in the room by making it a grueling watch.

Which doesn’t mean I didn’t have fun… I did. I just thought the nitty gritty might be going too far. On the other hand, it was a real nice look at how some of these musicians act and perform on a dime.

Also we get to see who felt most out of place, who had trouble singing because he’d just finished his world tour, who had just hosted the AMAs, who stormed off over Stevie Wonder wanting to add a Swahili verse to the song, who wondered why they were singing with Willie Nelson, and so forth. Some of this could be called childish (or worse) but I actually liked the fine print, the personality-driven details.

Good doc… a little exhaustive.

Score: 84