Bob Dylan’s Voice
My wife and I recently sat down to watch "The Greatest Night in Pop," a terrific documentary that recounts the night in 1984 when the most influential Pop artists recorded the hit single" We Are the World." We marveled at the unprecedented gathering of talent that came together to sing a song meant to inspire famine relief. Among these legendary voices were Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Ray Charles, Cindi Lauper, and 40 other internationally known artists. The film included interviews with some of the artists who helped produce the song and behind-the-scenes footage from the night when it was recorded 40 years ago.
A section of the documentary stands out for me. At one point, the camera falls on Bob Dylan's face during the rehearsal. At that moment, he looked like you or I might look if we had to sing a solo standing next to Steve Perry or Tina Turner. Bob Dylan looked highly uncomfortable. It was clear to him that he was singing next to voices with the power of jet engines while having a voice with the power of crop duster. He was also well aware that not only was he surrounded by iconic voices, he was surrounded by artists who had finely tuned ears. In 1984, Dylan had already had an illustrious career, and it was entirely appropriate for Bob Dylan to participate in a project like this. Still, it was evident that his voice wasn't a natural fit with the choir surrounding him. The old Sesame Street song comes to mind, "One of these things is not like the others..."
And then something magical happens. Bob looks over at Stevie Wonder and says, "Stevie, can you play it one time?" and reaches out for help. Stevie Wonder quickly responds to help him off to the side of the main rehearsal area. Stevie then does something remarkable: He mimics Bob Dylan's voice and sings the part to help illustrate how to make the arrangement work. Along with the encouragement of Quincy Jones and Lionel Ritchie, they make it work while preserving the essence of Dylan's voice.
It's now a matter of recorded history; Bob Dylan can be heard singing, "There's a choice we're mak-ehn, we're savin' our own lahves, it's true we' make a bedduh day, just yoou'en me!" and then, the song kicks up a level with an epic 1980s key change.
One of the worst feelings in the world is being in an environment where you're supposed to contribute but don't fit in. I know what it feels like to have skills, talents, and even perspectives that are not shared in a group. It’s hard to be on a team that’s difficult to relate to. Diversity and collaboration look great on paper, but neither happens naturally or comfortably. I have no magic wand to make the awkwardness of diversity and collaboration go away. I've had to learn to be brave enough to be myself.
Having a unique voice in a talented choir takes courage. The flip side of this idea is that it's also courageous for a choir to make space for singers who contribute differently. I love Stevie Wonder's brilliance in recognizing Bob Dylan's talent and helping him navigate a musical challenge in an incredibly gracious way.
In a world full of big egos, choose to be Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder! Don't be afraid of asking for help, and be generous when a colleague asks you for it.
Thanks for reading, friend; I hope this encouraged you.
BONUS: I was curious: If “We Are The World” was recorded today, which artists would be included in the recording? I asked Google Gemini and here is it’s response.
It's impossible to say for sure who would be included, but if "We Are the World" were recorded today, it would likely feature a mix of established A-listers and rising stars across different genres, similar to the original. Here's a guess at what it might look like:
Pop: Beyonce, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish
Rock: Bruce Springsteen (though he was on the original!), Jack White, P!nk, Kendrick Lamar (could bridge rap and pop)
Country: Dolly Parton (a legend who wasn't on the original), Blake Shelton, Kacey Musgraves
Global: BTS (a massive international group), Angelique Kidjo (from Benin), J Balvin (from Colombia)
This is just a prediction, and there are many other worthy candidates!