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[[quoteright:350:[[Music/WeAreTheWorld https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/we_are_the_world_7.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:At its time, this was a Who's Who of the Music Industry]]

->''"Good intentions and charity work are all admirable, but they don't make an awful song any less awful."''
-->-- '''WebVideo/ToddInTheShadows'''

There are some big problems in the world, and this song is here to remind you that you really ought to be doing something about them, with vivid descriptions of the problem and a call to action. Often the recourse of artists who feel like they should be using their worldwide fame to make a positive impact on the big problems faced by charitable organizations -- or in other cases, just a powerful subject for a good song.

A more cynical potential motivation that's often suggested/joked about is that the performers don't care as much (if at all) about the cause in question as they are about the goodwill this can engender with the public and press.

Don't be surprised if the music video has a number you can call to donate today, or if the publisher elects to donate a portion of all album proceeds to a relevant charity. Also a popular choice for commercials soliciting charitable donations. This type of song was particularly popular in The80s, when it was common to round up whole choruses of name musicians to sing one song in support of a cause; the hammy, earnest performances that often end up being mocked. Or rounding up an ensemble of name musicians to perform at one big charity event, such as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Aid Live Aid]] in 1985. In fact, it may be on the verge of becoming a DiscreditedTrope: WebVideo/ToddInTheShadows pointed out in his review of the 2010 "We Are the World" remake that it was hard to take the whole production seriously since the original had been so often parodied after its release in 1985.

Compare ProtestSong, which is generally a specific protest against some specific event or practice and is more about social or political change than encouraging participation in existing charity work. See also {{Supergroup}}, when well-known performers join up to collaborate on regular musical projects.

----
!!Examples:

* Music/MichaelJackson has [[Music/DangerousAlbum "Heal the World"]], [[Music/{{Bad}} "Man In The Mirror"]], and (to some extent) [[Music/HistoryPastPresentAndFutureBookI "Earth Song"]].
* Music/PhilCollins: "Another Day in Paradise", "Colors", and "Long Long Way to Go"
* Music/{{Genesis|Band}}: "Music/LandOfConfusion" (the climax of the video, which features ''Series/SpittingImage'' puppets, parodies the "all-star choir" concept with one made up of celebrity caricatures).
* Exposé: "Tell Me Why".
* Declan Galbraith: "Tell Me Why" (different song from Expose's).
* Music/BlackEyedPeas' "Where Is The Love?" and its Music/FlightOfTheConchords parody "Think About It".
* "Charity" from [[Music/PDQBach Peter Schickele's]] ''Go for Broke''.
* "Do They Know It's Christmas?", co-written by Bob Geldof (of Boomtown Rats) and Midge Ure (of Ultravox) and originally performed by Band Aid, was the first of the "Charity Supergroup" songs. Two remakes, though less popular than the original, both took the Christmas #1 slots for 1989 and 2004 (the latter was the last non-[[Series/TheXFactor X-Factor]] Christmas #1 until 2009), while a third in 2014 may prove that there's still a little life left in the charity supergroup.
* "Music/WeAreTheWorld", which followed on from Band Aid's success, and likewise sought to help.
** Co-writer/performer Music/MichaelJackson tried to follow this not only with the solo songs mentioned above, but with "What More Can I Give" at the TurnOfTheMillennium, which also enlisted a high-profile chorus of performers. It [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_More_Can_I_Give didn't work out too well]].
* "Hands Across America" came from the same writers as "We Are the World".
* Music/ElvisPresley: "In the Ghetto".
* Bruce Hornsby and the Range: "The Way It Is".
* In France, the charity Les Restaurants du Coeur, which gives food to the needy, is indissociable of the song and concerts from the sort-of band ''Les Enfoirés'' (lit. "The Bastards").
* ''Website/TheOnion'''s A.V. Club took a snarky look at these with the Inventory list "[[http://www.avclub.com/articles/we-care-a-lot-14-overblown-charityadvocacy-songs-b,2217/ 14 Overblown Charity/Advocacy Songs Besides 'We Are the World']]".
* "Room In Your Heart" is a song performed by Beaker and Dr. Honeydew as they try to get Scrooge to donate to charity in ''Film/TheMuppetChristmasCarol''. It was [[CutSong cut from the actual movie]] (and wasn't even filmed), but does appear on the soundtrack album.
* At the first Comic Relief USA benefit show in 1986, Music/WeirdAlYankovic and Creator/RichardBelzer performed an original rap song, "Cut the Grief with Comic Relief", that humorously approached the topic of helping the homeless.
* Music/LoreenaMcKennitt's "Breaking the Silence" for Amnesty International.
* "Tears Are Not Enough", by Northern Lights, Canada's response to "We Are The World".
** The Québec music industry also produced an entirely French-language charity single titled ''Les yeux de la faim'' ("The Eyes of Hunger"), which featured a young Music/CelineDion. By contrast, "Tears Are Not Enough" contained only a few lines of GratuitousFrench and was otherwise entirely in English.
* "Stars", by Hear 'n Aid, HeavyMetal's response to "We Are the World" (which didn't enlist metal performers for its all-star chorus).
* "Doctor in Distress", by Who Cares?, a supergroup of mid-level celebrities unsuccessfully trying to save the original run of ''Series/DoctorWho''. (The profits actually went to cancer research.)
* There are several notable examples in CountryMusic:
** "One Big Family" (1985), created for the Heart of Nashville foundation to benefit the homeless. The featured artists were Roy Acuff, Rex Allen Jr., Lynn Anderson, Eddy Arnold, Chet Atkins, Bobby Bare, Lane Brody, T. Graham Brown, Little Jimmy Dickens, Karen Taylor-Good, Dobie Gray, Sonny James, Music/GeorgeJones, The Kendalls, Dave Kirby, Neal Matthews, Music/KathyMattea, O.B. [=McClinton=], Ronnie [=McDowell=] (who also wrote the song with Mike Reid and Troy Seals), Music/LorrieMorgan, Colleen Peterson, Webb Pierce, Boots Randolph, Jerry Reed, Jeannie C. Riley, Ronny Robbins, Ray Sawyer, Troy Seals, Jeannie Seely, Rick Schulman, Gordon Stoker, Music/TanyaTucker, Mack Vickery, Porter Wagoner, Duane West, Bergen White, Leona Williams, and Faron Young. According to [[http://musicweird.blogspot.com/2017/03/country-musics-we-are-world.html this]] blog entry, the song was a TroubledProduction due to Creator/RCARecords and MCA Nashville forbidding their artists from appearing on the song.
** "Tomorrow's World" (1990), a multi-artist single honoring the 20th anniversary of Earth Day. Notable for being co-written by Kix Brooks before he gained fame as one-half of Music/BrooksAndDunn. The artists on the song were Lynn Anderson, Butch Baker, Shane Barmby, Billy Hill, Suzy Bogguss, Kix Brooks, T. Graham Brown, the Burch Sisters, Holly Dunn, Foster & Lloyd, Music/VinceGill, William Lee Golden[[note]]then-recently fired from Music/TheOakRidgeBoys[[/note]], Highway 101, Shelby Lynne, Johnny Rodriguez, Music/DanSeals, Les Taylor[[note]]who had just left the band Exile[[/note]], Pam Tillis (who also wrote the song), Mac Wiseman, and Kevin Welch.
** "Hope" (1996), honoring the T.J. Martell Foundation for cancer research. It featured John Berry, Terri Clark, Music/VinceGill, Music/FaithHill, Music/TracyLawrence, Little Texas, Neal [=McCoy=], Music/TimMcGraw, Lorrie Morgan, Music/MartyStuart, Music/TravisTritt, and Music/TrishaYearwood.
** "What If", by Music/RebaMcEntire in 1997. Money made by the single went to the Salvation Army.
** "One Heart at a Time" (1998), a charity single for cystic fibrosis. It featured Music/GarthBrooks, Billy Dean, Faith Hill, Neal [=McCoy=], Michael [=McDonald=], Music/OliviaNewtonJohn, Victoria Shaw (who also wrote the song), and Bryan White.
** Garth's own "We Shall Be Free" is also an example. It's also a benevolent ProtestSong.
* "Self Destruction" by the Stop the Violence Movement. Headed by Music/KRSOne, the song featured many [[BigApplesauce New York-based]] rappers addressing rampant black-on-black violence in big cities.
** West Coast rappers responded with their own multi-rapper collaboration "We're All In The Same Gang", which had the same premise but centered on gang violence.
* Artists United Against Apartheid's "Sun City", organized by Steve Van Zant of [[Music/BruceSpringsteen The E Street Band]], combines the charity supergroup style of Band-Aid and USA for Africa with a ProtestSong; the assembled rock and rap stars pledged, via the song's lyrics, not to perform at segregationist UsefulNotes/{{South Africa}}n resorts like Sun City, as they believed that doing so would be tantamount to accepting what [[UsefulNotes/TheApartheidEra the apartheid regime]] was doing.
* "Voices That Care", organized by record producer David Foster, featured a group of actors, singers and athletes supporting the American troops fighting in the 1991 Gulf War, which happened to end on the very day the song's video released. The profits were given to [[UsefulNotes/TheRedCross the International Red Cross]]. Music/CelineDion was prominently featured despite having only "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" under her belt at that point as a U.S. hit.
* Subverted: the 1997 all-star remake of Music/LouReed's "Perfect Day" wasn't originally intended as a charity single, but it was well-received enough to be released as one anyway. Proceeds went to Series/ChildrenInNeed.
** Played straight with the 2014 SpiritualSuccessor [[Music/TheBeachBoys "God Only Knows"]], which actually ''was'' created as a Children In Need single. (But not the official 2014 Children In Need single, that honor went to a SoOkayItsAverage Gareth Malone-produced cover of Music/{{Avicii}}'s "Wake Me Up".)
* Kirk Franklin's ''Nu Nation Project'' is a Charity Motivation ''Album'', created to benefit the congregations of churches lost in fires. Its lead single "Lean On Me" ([[SimilarlyNamedWorks an original composition, not the Bill Withers song]]) featured solos by [[Music/{{U2}} Bono]], Music/MaryJBlige, Music/RKelly and Crystal Lewis; a remix included as a HiddenTrack added the voices of En Vogue, Music/NewEdition, K-Ci and Jojo, Divine, Music/BoyzIIMen, Dru Hill, Xscape and Music/DestinysChild.
* Music/BobDylan's ''Music/ChristmasInTheHeart'' isn't directly about a charity cause, but the earnings of the album went directly to charity.
* The ''Series/{{Glee}}'' cover of "Last Christmas" has similar origins, as it was originally released as a benefit for the Grammy Awards' music education programs (and a year before their ChristmasEpisode, no less).
* The entire album ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana,_Princess_of_Wales:_Tribute Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute]]'' counts as this as it was assembled and released mere months after Diana's sudden death, and proceeds went to a fund established in her memory. Curiously absent from the release is Music/EltonJohn's "Candle In The Wind 1997/Something About The Way You Look Tonight", also released to benefit the fund, which is the last charity single ever to top the American singles chart (the 2010 "We Are the World" came close, peaking at #2).
* Being a fictional 1980s pop band ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}} And The Holograms'' has a few of these. "People Who Care" is their most popular. Their rival band, The Misfits, avidly hates these types of songs and generally hates how Jem always sings about romance and ThePowerOfFriendship.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edJPNCjyBzY Echo Der Mädchen]] by the Swiss Artists for Unicef is unique in that it is not at all schmaltzy or glurgy in any form and diminishes any call-to-action in its lyrics. It's mainly just a tearjerker.
* In late 2016, the first release on the newly relaunched Creator/ChrysalisRecords was a CoverVersion of "[[Music/TheRollingStonesBand You Can't Always]] [[Music/LetItBleed Get What You Want]]" credited to Friends of Jo Cox (a [[UsefulNotes/BritishPoliticalSystem Labour Party MP]] who'd been assassinated earlier that year). Participants included Music/KTTunstall, Music/DavidGray, Ricky Wilson of Music/KaiserChiefs, Steve Harley, and [=MP4=] (a band consisting of [=MPs=] from several parties), and the proceeds went to a charitable foundation established in Cox's name.
* Randy Stonehill and Phil Keaggy's "Who Will Save the Children?"
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OZdwX0mMtU Let the Music Heal Your Soul]]" by Bravo All Stars, which features Touché, The Boyz, Caught in the Act, The Moffatts, Music/{{Scooter}}, Music/AaronCarter, Music/BackstreetBoys, Mr. President, Music/NSync, Squeezer, [[Music/JasminWagner Blümchen]], R'n'G and Gil. The proceeds were donated to the [[https://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/ Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Foundation]].
* Music/NewKidsOnTheBlock with "This One's for the Children", a single from their 1989 [[ChristmasSongs holiday album]]. The proceeds were donated to United Cerebral Palsy.
* A variation occurs with 'The Money Song' from ''Theatre/AvenueQ'', which promotes the more selfish reasons for giving to good causes (such as the general good feeling you get from it, or the chance of impressing someone you like). After all, in the end, one's reasons for making charitable donations matter less than the fact that they're giving at all. As part of the song, the cast members go out to collect money from ''the audience'', justified in-universe as being a whip-round for Kate's dream of building a school for monsters. In reality, these donations are sent to a local charity after the show; for instance, the original Broadway show sent them to 'Broadway Cares[=/=]Equity Fights AIDS'.
-->''When you help others,\\
You can't help helping yourself!''
* ''Nordeste Já'' (Northeast Now) was a single featuring two songs: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IBF1aikHS8 "Chega de Mágoa"]] (No More Heartache) e [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWBA8URskxI "Seca D'Água"]] (Water Drought). They were sung by Criação Coletiva (Collective Creation) which featured '''''155''''' Brazilian artists.
* ''Spirit Of the Forest'', which was organized by the rainforest conservation organization Earth Love Fund which was founded by music producers Vic Coppersmith-Heaven and Kenny Young (Young also wrote the song) alongside music composer Nick Glennie-Smith. The single features two versions of the song (three if you count the instrumental version):
** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpaou1tnKOQ 12 A version]] has the solos performed by Chris Rea, Mr. Mister, {{Music/XTC}}, [[Music/PinkFloyd DavidGilmour]], Music/BrianWilson, Music/JoniMitchell, Music/RingoStarr, [[{{Music/Marillion}} Fish]], Music/BelindaCarlisle, [[Music/BlondieBand Deborah Harry]], Music/BonnieRaitt, Music/KateBush, Steven Van Zandt (aka Little Steven from Music/BruceSpringsteen's E Street Band), [[Music/{{Yes}} Jon Anderson]], Sam Brown, Escape Club, Music/OliviaNewtonJohn & Louise Goffin. The music video of this version debuted on the television special ''Our Common Future''.
** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH7k9VSnaxc 12 AA version]] keeps Rea, Goffin and Anderson, but replaces the other artists with Music/IggyPop, Music/TheRamones, Music/DonnaSummer, Music/ThomasDolby, Music/WasNotWas, Music/KimWilde, Taylor Dayne, Brother Beyond, Richie Havens, Rita Coolidge & Lacy J. Dalton.
** The chorus for both versions consists of Music/LLCoolJ, Africa Bambaata, Music/TheB52s, Plasmatics, Shikisha, Music/FleetwoodMac, Gentlemen Without Weapons (aka Vic, Kenny and Nick themselves), Amy Sky, Dolette [=McDonald=], Music/BigCountry, It Bites, Michael Des Barres, Marc Jordan, Lisa Bonet, Music/LennyKravitz, Andy Fairweather-Lowe, Jungle Brothers, Raging Hormones, Johnnie Warman, [[Music/TheJam Bruce Foxton]] & David Clayton-Thomas. Both versions also feature a verse in Portuguese sung by famous Brazilian artists like Gilberto Gil, Sandra De Sá, Ivan Lins, Renato Russo, Gal Costa, Ney Matogrosso, Marisa Monte, Rita Lee & Djavan.
* "Earth", an Earth Day song written by Music/LilDicky and featuring him and Music/JustinBieber, Music/ArianaGrande, Music/{{Halsey}}, [[Music/PanicAtTheDisco Brendon Urie]], Music/WizKhalifa, Music/MileyCyrus, Music/KatyPerry, Music/EdSheeran, and several others, seems to be a parody at first: a colorful CGI music video with family-unfriendly lyrics and characters such as marijuana and HPV, as well as [[CastingGag Casting Gags]] (such as the Australian Music/{{Sia}} being cast as a kangaroo, and Grande as a zebra[[note]][[PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy "Am I black or am I white?"]][[/note]]), it is a charity single for the Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio Foundation, which funds efforts to curb climate change.
* Music/MarvinGaye's song "What's Going On" is a prime candidate for this:
** There's the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPCqCHJKSuM 1988 version]] by Live Aid Armenia; later renamed Rock Aid Armenia; which was released in aid of those suffering from the 1988 Armenian earthquake. It features Aswad, Errol Brown, Richard Darbyshire, Gail Ann Dorsey, Boy George, David Gilmour, Nick Heyward, Mykaell S. Riley, Labi Siffre, Helen Terry, Ruby Turner, Elizabeth Westwood and the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra.
** There's the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOTELUlLynQ 1994 version]] by Music Relief '94, released in memory of the Rwandan genocide. It features C. J. Lewis, Andrew Roachford, Yazz, Aswad, Edwin Starr, Peter Cunnah of D Ream, Kim Appleby, MAD Jones of BAD, Rozalla, Tony Di Bart, Paul Young, Paul Carrack, Angie Brown of Ramona 55, Jimmy Ruffin, Omar Lye-Fook, Apache Indian, Worlds Apart, Kaos, The Pasadenas, Gus Isidore, Jools Holland, Mark King of Level 42, Nik Kershaw, Larry Adler and Dannii Minogue.
** And finally the 2001 version by Artists Against AIDS Worldwide. The maxi single [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k6yTJUVXqQFUcLVAbywmpw6Z6CLiocmmc features 9 versions]] of it. Noteworthy versions include:
*** The Dupri Original Mix, which had 2 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9az2JAQZoU music]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2hPhILxez8 videos]]. This version was sung by Music/{{NSYNC}}, Aaron Lewis, Music/AliciaKeys, Music/BackstreetBoys, Bono, Music/BritneySpears, Music/ChristinaAguilera, Music/DarrenHayes, Music/DestinysChild, Music/{{Eve|Rapper}}, Fred Durst, Music/GwenStefani, Ja Rule, Music/JenniferLopez, Jermaine Dupri, Music/MaryJBlige, Michael Stipe, Music/{{Nas}}, Music/{{Nelly}}, Music/NellyFurtado, Nona Gaye and P. Diddy.
*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuC_avP_wkE The London Version]] sung by Bono and Chris Martin.
*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwP1pHYDM0I Fred Durst's Reality Check Mix]] version, sung by Elijah Blue, Perry Farrell and Scott Weiland.
*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TWJZwcKmBc Mick Guzauski's Pop Mix]] version, sung by Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Bono, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Darren Hayes, Destiny's Child, Jagged Edge, Justin Timberlake, Michael Stipe, Monica, Nelly Furtado, Nona Gaye, Pat Monahan, TLC and Usher.
*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2TErfNSF90 Dupri R&B Mix]] version, sung by *NSYNC, Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Eve, Gwen Stefani, Ja Rule, Jagged Edge, Jennifer Lopez, Jermaine Dupri, Lil' Kim, Mary J. Blige, Monica, Nas, Nelly, Nelly Furtado, Nona Gaye, P. Diddy, TLC and Usher.
*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svdsofcxnuk The Neptunes This One's For You Mix]] version, sung by Angie Martinez, Da Brat, Fabolous, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Noreaga, Queen Latifah, Royce Da 5'9" and Sonja Blade.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poAVDRa0DFY U Will Know]], from the soundtrack of the 1994 movie ''Jason's Lyric'', sung by Black Men United, consisting of: Aaron Hall, After 7, Al B. Sure!, Boyz II Men, Brian [=McKnight=], Christopher Williams, D.R.S., D'Angelo (who also wrote the song), Damion Hall, El [=DeBarge=], Gerald [=LeVert=], H-Town, Intro, Joe, Keith Sweat, Lenny Kravitz on guitar, Lil' Joe (from The Rude Boys), Portrait, R. Kelly, Silk, Sovory, Stokley (lead singer of Mint Condition), Tevin Campbell, Raphael Wiggins and Dwayne Wiggins (from Tony! Toni! Toné!) and Usher. Proceeds were donated to the United Negro College fund, the Rewind Relief fund and the Children's Defense fund.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saEpkcVi1d4 Hey Hey Rise Up]]", the first new music recorded by Music/PinkFloyd (specifically David Gilmour and Nick Mason, with two other backing musicians) since 1994, was released in April 2022 to benefit humanitarian efforts in Ukraine after the Russian invasion. The song was created around an a cappella performance of "''Oi u luzi chervona kalyna''" ("Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow"), a Ukrainian folk/resistance song from the World War I era, by Andriy Khlyvnyuk of the Ukrainian band Boombox. Khlyvnyuk, credited as a featured artist, had cut short his band's American tour to return to fight for his homeland, and performed the song in military wear.
* The 2009 BBC Series/ChildrenInNeed Medley was basically a "who's who" of the British cartoon industry, with some American toons as well. It featured ''WesternAnimation/RoaryTheRacingCar'', ''WesternAnimation/FifiAndTheFlowertots'', ''WesternAnimation/TheWombles'', ''Series/InTheNightGarden'', ''WesternAnimation/AngelinaBallerina'', ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'', ''Series/{{Bagpuss}}'', ''WesternAnimation/BobTheBuilder'', ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'', ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'', ''WesternAnimation/PostmanPat'', ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', ''WesternAnimation/FiremanSam'', ''WesternAnimation/CamberwickGreen'', ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Pingu}}'', ''Series/{{Teletubbies}}'', ''Series/TheSootyShow'', ''WesternAnimation/TheKoalaBrothers'', ''WesternAnimation/PeppaPig'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Rubbadubbers}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/Paddington1975'' amongst others, singing a variety of songs mashed together.
* Following the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Haiti_earthquake 2010 Haiti earthquake]], producer Bob Ezrin organized a supergroup of prominent Canadian music artists to perform a cover of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB7L1BIDELc&ab_channel=YoungArtistHaitiVEVO Wavin' Flag]] to benefit relief efforts in Haiti. Artists featured on the track included: K'naan, Music/NellyFurtado, Sam Roberts, Music/AvrilLavigne, Pierre Bouvier, Tyler Connolly, Kardinal Offishall, Jully Black, Music/{{Lights}}, Deryck Whibley, Serena Ryder, Jacob Hoggard, Emily Haines, Hawksley Workman, Music/{{Drake}}, Chin Injeti, Pierre Lapointe, Elisapie Isaac, Ima, Esthero, Corb Lund, Bob Ezrin, Fefe Dobson, Nikki, Yanofsky, Matt Mays, Justin Nozuka, and Music/JustinBieber.
* In 2020, a supergroup of Canadian musicians by the name of [=ArtistsCAN=] recorded [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=athd5_CW_z0&ab_channel=ArtistsCANVEVO a cover of Bill Withers' "Lean On Me"]] to raise money for the Canadian Red Cross during the Covid-19 pandemic. Participating artists included Music/BryanAdams, Jann Arden, Music/JustinBieber, Music/MichaelBuble, Fefe Dobson, Scott Helman, Shawn Hook, Music/AvrilLavigne, [[Music/RushBand Geddy Lee]], Marie-Mai, Music/SarahMcLachlan, Johnny Orlando, [[Music/MarianasTrench Josh Ramsay]], Music/BuffySainteMarie, Tyler Shaw, Walk Off the Earth, Donovan Woods, and Olivia Lunny, as well as a surprise cameo by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself.

!!Parodies:
* Music/{{Chumbawamba}} released a [[FilkSong filk]] of "Let It Be" under the pseudonym of "Scab Aid," a parody of Music/TheBeatles's work with Ferry Aid. It featured such lyrics as:
-->This manufactured sympathy, drowing in hypocrisy\\
Smiles to clinch the deals to boost the sales\\
All the owners of the printing presses\\
And popstars crying phony tears\\
Nothing bleeds like the hearts of the millionaires\\
For the charts and the state machine\\
Consumers of the world agree\\
Nothing sells like disaster, let it be
* "We're Sending Our Love Down the Well" from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'''s episode "Radio Bart", which featured Krusty the Clown, his good friend Music/{{Sting}}, and a host of Springfield-associated luminaries such as Sideshow Mel and the Capital City Goofball.
* ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' had two cold openings spoof these. Recurring characters of the period, led by FrankensteinsMonster (Creator/PhilHartman), sang "Fire Bad!" in response to the Rodney King riots of 1992. When Michael Jordan first retired from basketball in 1993, the cast spoofed such acts as Music/TheB52s and Music/TheProclaimers with a medley of their hits rewritten to beg him to return to the sport; the real Music/{{Aerosmith}} pitched in with a "Dream On" rewrite.
** They also did a parody of the new version of We Are The World and its overproduction: Amongst the group were Music/{{Rihanna}}, Music/LadyGaga, Music/AdamLambert, and Music/WillieNelson with others
** Another parody used the format (one of the singers was [[Music/TheGratefulDead Jerry Garcia]], played by Chris Farley), but the subject of the song was explaining the intricacies of Clinton's Whitewater scandal, so it was less charity-driven and more Public Service Announcement-driven.
** And ANOTHER one, but this time with Music/MichaelBolton and cast for a special cause, ''Musicians for Free-Range Chickens,'' produced in part by "Whoopi Goldberg" (played by Creator/ChrisRock).
* An ''[[Series/InLivingColor In Living Color!]]'' parody of "We Are the World" featured the cast as musicians who were either has-beens (i.e. Yoko Ono) or struggling with financial problems at the time (Willie Nelson); the song was asking the listeners to support ''them''.
* The video for Music/{{Pulp}}'s "Bad Cover Version" is a parody of the "Do They Know It's Christmas" video, featuring celebrity impersonators of noted musicians performing the song.
* "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en" by North American Hallowe'en Prevention Initiative, a one-off SuperGroup featuring [[Music/ArcadeFire Win Butler and Régine Chassagne]], Music/{{Feist}}, Music/{{Beck|Musician}}, [[Music/YeahYeahYeahs Karen O]], [[Music/{{Sparks}} Russell Mael]], and [[Music/SonicYouth Thurston Moore]], among many others. Oddly enough, it's both a parody of charity singles ''and'' an actual charity single itself: All proceeds went to UNICEF.
* On ''Series/ThirtyRock'', Jack has a brilliant idea to record a generic charity song to have in readiness for the next natural disaster to scoop the other networks. Jenna touchingly sings "That thing that happened/was so sad/we can't believe it was so bad/when the stuff we know occurred..." Unfortunately, they air it hurriedly on news of the devastation of a small island that turns out to be Creator/MelGibson's vacation compound.
** Another episode has Jack learning that his newly discovered father Milton Greene needs a kidney transplant and that he's not a suitable donor: Using his connections and clout in the entertainment industry, he ends up getting a group of famous musicians to record "He Needs A Kidney", a charity song with the unusually specific aim of finding a kidney donor for just one person. The song, which featured real musicians such as Music/SherylCrow, Music/ElvisCostello, {{Music/Moby}}, and two-thirds of Music/BeastieBoys, was released as a digital download after the show aired, with proceeds going to the National Kidney Foundation.
* "We Are the Children of the World" from Creator/TerryGilliam's ''Film/TheImaginariumOfDoctorParnassus''. It's the theme tune of a charity that supports children in third world countries; after all, [[spoiler: their organs are ripe for harvesting for the benefit of wealthy Westerners]].
* "[[http://www.snarkrocket.com/blog-archives/2006/05/napster_bad_sue_all_the_world.html Sue All the World]]" from ''WebAnimation/NapsterBad'', featuring Music/{{Metallica}}, Music/{{Eminem}}, Music/DrDre, Music/{{Madonna}}, Music/EltonJohn, [[TalkingPoo Nutty McShithead]] [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and]] Music/SherylCrow.
* "[[http://www.africafornorway.no/ Radi-Aid]]" is a Norwegian parody of this, mocking simplistic and patronising charity appeals for "pathetic Africans" by urging Africans to donate radiators to help freezing children in Norway.
* ''Film/WagTheDog'' features a brief USA For Africa parody called "American Dream", staged by the White House spin-doctor to drum up support for a non-existent war against Albania, just before the election.
* ''Film/Bruno2009'' ends with the titular CampGay organizing an all-star charity song for...well, any worthy cause will suit his needs; the song is really about how awesome Bruno is. Features appearances by Music/EltonJohn, Music/SnoopDogg, [[Music/{{U2}} Bono]], [[Music/GunsNRoses Slash]], and [[Music/{{Coldplay}} Chris Martin]]!
* Music/WeirdAlYankovic's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGM8PT1eAvY&list=PLGbwKffY2xoKTszTk57KAuLY26xAClErq&index=37 Don't Download This Song]]", mocking DigitalPiracyIsEvil.
* ''Webcomic/GarnetAndGure'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZfEXpRXMtg This animated short]] ends with a "We Are the World" parody, entreating listeners to help wipe out the zombie virus.
* WebVideo/TheFilmRenegado ended his [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video1338_El_Santos_vs_La_Tetona_Mendoza_2012_Review.aspx fourth anniversary special]] with "Don't You Know It's Ad-Blocker?"
* ''Series/SpittingImage'' spoofed "We Are The World" and "Do They Know Its Christmas" in 1985 with "We're Scared Of Geldof", where it is implied that most of the people gathered to sing for charity are only there because they are terrified of saying no to Bob Geldof.
--> ''We're scared of Bob, we're really frightened''\\
''And every time we hear that Irish voice our sphincters all get tightened!''
* The music video of Music/TheRamones "I Want Something To Believe In" also spoofs charity singles.
* ''Series/SonnyWithAChance'' once had a "We Are The World"-esque ensemble number about skinny pants syndrome (loss of blood flow in the legs due to wearing ridiculously tight pants). It was also a parody of a Disney Channel charity song that played it straight.
* The ending credits of ''Film/DickieRobertsFormerChildStar'' has a parody charity single [[AdamWesting featuring actual former child stars]].
* Straddling the line between parody and an actual Charity Motivation Song is Brett Dommino's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnH4KTWmz7s How to Make a Hit Charity Single]]." While it makes fun of the tropes in these types of songs forwards and backwards, it actually was used to raise money for Usefulnotes/ComicRelief.
--> '''Brett Domino:''' So we need the lyrics to say "donate your money to Comic Relief" without literally saying those words.\\
'''Steven Peavis:''' Unless...we ''do'' literally say those words.
* Creator/SamAndMickey's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfa93dDflyw A Rap For A Cause]]" has [[PissTakeRap Piss-Take Rappers]] "Yas-money and B-dizzle"[[note]][[Franchise/{{Bratz}} Yasmin]] and Franchise/{{Barbie}}[[/note]] try to endorse 11 different charities (and corporate sponsor Diet Snapple) by listing several societal issues, with varying degrees of importance.
* Music/{{Ylvis}} produced a song titled "Sammen Finner vi Frem," which gathered a ton of famous Norwegian artists in the same room to raise money for... an information sign in Averøy, Norway. It features, among other things, a German tourist who didn't know where to drive due to the lack of information.
* "We Care A Lot" from ''Music/FaithNoMore'' registers a TakeThat against these:
--> We care a lot! About starvation and the food that Live Aid bought
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': Parodied in the WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail "bottom 10". As an example of his number 2 pet peeve, "Songs that try to pass off la la's, na na's, and doot do's as legit lyrics", Strong Bad gives the example of Limozeen's "Feed the Childrens". It's apparently a charity song with a chorus made entirely of scatting, in a parody of "Do They Know It's Christmastime?".
-->''Na na, la la la\\
Hey hey, doo-doot doo!\\
Na na, la la la\\
Hey hey, doo-doot doo!\\
Na na, la la la\\
Hey hey, doo-doot doo!''\\
(''Cue RecordNeedleScratch'')\\
'''Strong Bad:''' Ugh, what were they ''thinking''? More like, "We had to feed ''our'' childrens, so we made this terrible song."
* The ''WebVideo/{{Unraveled}}'' episode "[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Bowser's]] military hierarchy" ends with one of these, "We Are The Toads" by Polygons for Peace[[note]]BDG and his coworkers from [[https://www.polygon.com/ Polygon.com]][[/note]], done to protest against [[WhatMeasureIsAMook the loss of innocent mook life]] (especially after BDG [[ItMakesSenseInContext uncovers how Mario is a war criminal]]).
* The ''WebVideo/ScottTheWoz'' episode "The Commercial Failure" ends with Scott and his friends making a song called "Just Buy the Game" to make sure no game gets left behind, regardless of its quality. It soon goes south when Scott's friends begin threatening violence against people who don't buy the games, forcing Scott to step in and change the lyrics into not buying games you should, but buying games you want.
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