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USA for Africa Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
USA for Africa Quizzes, Trivia

USA for Africa Trivia

USA for Africa Trivia Quizzes

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4 quizzes and 56 trivia questions.
1.
  We Are The World (The Album)    
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
For Ethiopian famine relief, a star-studded single named "We Are The World" was released in 1985. The song was followed by an album of some of the biggest selling music artists of the era. Can you match their song on the "We Are The World" album?
New Game, 10 Qns, GBfan, Sep 14 25
New Game
GBfan gold member
Today!
0 plays
2.
  USA for Africa- the Solo Careers   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about some of the solo careers and other projects from members of the super group USA for Africa. USA for Africa recorded the song "We Are the World" to raise money for African famine relief.
Easier, 10 Qns, workisboring, Mar 29 12
Easier
workisboring gold member
452 plays
3.
  We Are The World    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Music has always touched my life. But this music video and song was so inspiring to watch! I was surprised there was no quiz on this. I hope you like my quiz on "We Are The World!" Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, LuvsthatTrivia, Jul 14 07
Average
LuvsthatTrivia
1171 plays
4.
  We Are The World Vocalists    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Many artists participated in the United Artists for Africa effort. Can you name the vocalists who sang the lyrics from the following lines of the hit song?
Average, 10 Qns, dd1988, Jul 14 07
Average
dd1988
1375 plays
5.
  "We Are The World" - The Event   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
On the January 28, 1985, following a music awards ceremony, a group a talented musical superstars gathered at a recording studio. Their purpose was to produce a fund raising single that would provide financial support to famine-stricken Ethiopia.
Difficult, 10 Qns, AirBossJohnson, Aug 24 09
Difficult
AirBossJohnson
554 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Acording to the documentary hosted by Jane Fonda, how many artists participated?

From Quiz "We Are The World"





USA for Africa Trivia Questions
1. One of the writers of the song "We Are the World" was part of a singing group with his brothers. His 1982 album was one of the highest selling albums of all time. Who is this singer?

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was one of the co-authors of the song "We Are the World." He had success as a solo artist and with his brothers in the group the Jackson 5. At the time of his death in 2009, he gave to over 40 charities.

2. What Texas born country star sang "We can't go on pretending day by day"?

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Kenny Rogers

Rogers won the favorite country male artist in 1985. He beat Hank Williams Jr. and Ricky Skaggs. Kenny Rogers performed a solo version of this song at a 1986 concert.

3. USA for Africa was inspired by a British super group called Band Aid. Who was the only singer to be a part of both USA for Africa and Band Aid?

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Bob Geldof

The British super group recorded a song for an anti-poverty effort in Ethiopia called "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats was the only person to be a part of both USA for Africa and Band Aid.

4. Which duo member sang "It's true we'll make a better day just you and me"?

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Daryl Hall

John Oates was not asked to record a solo for the song. Daryl Hall was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2005.

5. What was the name that the super group of popular musicians were billed as for this recording?

From Quiz "We Are The World" - The Event

Answer: USA for Africa

The group name "USA for Africa" actually stood for United Support of Artist for Africa.

6. What also happened on this date?

From Quiz We Are The World

Answer: 12th Annual American Music Awards

All of these happened on 28 January but different years. After the Award ceremony, the artists gathered to record the video and recorded until the early morning of the next day. The group was determined to record the song! The Superbowl was in 1985. The Thornbirds won in 1984. "The Wiz" was in 1979.

7. Two members of USA for Africa collaborated with others to record "That's What Friends Are For," a song for AIDS research. Which two USA for Africa members worked on this project?

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick

Gladys Knight and Elton John also sang on "That's What Friends Are For." This song became a number one single and raised money for AIDS research.

8. This pop monarch sang "We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving" the first time it is heard in the song.

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Michael Jackson

While the other artists were at the American Music Awards, Michael recorded a guide vocal track the night of the recording session. Stevie Wonder also sings this line later in the song.

9. How many members of the legendary Jackson family participated in the recording session?

From Quiz "We Are The World" - The Event

Answer: seven

Pop superstar Michael Jackson was a co-writer of the song, and sang one of the rotating lead vocals. Michael was joined by his four brothers, Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, and Marlon, with whom he performed with as the "Jackson 5", Michael's youngest brother, Randy and his sister, LaToya. All but Michael participated as contributing vocalist.

10. Who wrote the song?

From Quiz We Are The World

Answer: Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson

Lionel and Michael wrote this 1985 award winning song which won Grammys including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The record sold 800,000 copies in the first weekend! Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen and Bob Dylan were soloists.

11. Which member of USA for Africa, and activist, is best known for singing "The Banana Boat Song"?

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Harry Belafonte

Dubbed the "King of Calypso," Harry Belafonte's signature song was "The Banana Boat Song." During his career Belafonte was also active in political, humanitarian and civil rights activism.

12. This country music icon sang "As God has shown us by turning stone to bread"

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Willie Nelson

The Bible clearly states that Jesus, when tempted to turn stones to bread, refused. This can be found in the book of Matthew. Waylon Jennings alledgedly left the studio due to a lyric dispute.

13. Who was the first female vocalist to sing one of the rotation lead solo vocals?

From Quiz "We Are The World" - The Event

Answer: Tina Turner

Tina's solo came on the eight line of the song when she sang, "We're all a part of God's great big family." Tina also sang line ten of the song in a duet with Billy Joel, proclaiming, "You know love is all we need." Tina's solo followed solo's by Lionel Ritchie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, and James Ingram, and duets by Lionel Ritchie and Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon and Kenny Rogers.

14. Who was the first soloist?

From Quiz We Are The World

Answer: Lionel Richie

Lionel started out this masterpiece, which is why most people remember the first line of the song as well.

15. Which two members of USA for Africa originally record the song "Endless Love"?

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

"Endless Love" was originally recorded for Motown Records by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross in 1981. This song was covered by Kenny Rogers, Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey.

16. What music diva sang the lyrics "Well, well, well, let's realize that a change can only come"?

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper was asked to remove her jewelry during the recording because it jingled when she stepped up to the microphone. She graciously complied.

17. Quincy Jones produced and conducted the performers for this historic recording session. What advisement did Jones express in the invitations to the artist?

From Quiz "We Are The World" - The Event

Answer: Check your ego at the door

The instrumental tracks were recorded ahead of time and sent out to the interested musicians. With each tape, he sent a letter that stated they should "check their ego at the door". When the artist arrived in the studio, there was a piece of tape on the floor for each person to stand on, arranged around six microphones in a semi-circle. The session did not go without incident. In one incident reported on a "VH-1 Pop-Up Video", Waylon Jennings left the recording session due to a dispute over the lyrics. The dispute started when Stevie Wonder announced that he would like to substitute a line in Swahili. After a few rehearsals, a full-fledged creative conflict broke out after Bob Geldof pointed out that Ethiopians did not speak Swahili. Michael Jackson then proposed to keep his original line "Sha-lin, Sha-lingay", but after a few rehearsals, it too ran into opposition because it doesn't have a meaning. Eventually, Al Jarreau cried, "we can make a meaning" and came up with "One world, our word", which was changed one last time to, "One world, our children".

18. Which member of USA for Africa recorded the song "Born in the USA" which was a commentary about the poor treatment of veterans of the Vietnam War?

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen released "Born in the USA" in 1984. The song was mistakenly believed to be patriotic and was briefly used by Ronald Reagan in the 1984 Presidential Campaign.

19. This R&B/soul artist sang these opening words: "There comes a time when we heed a certain call"?

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Lionel Richie

The song "We Are The World" was written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson. Richie hosted the American Music Awards in 1985, which took place just hours before the recording session.

20. How many soloists were there?

From Quiz We Are The World

Answer: 21

Twenty-one soloists consisted of the following artists (in singing order): Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jurreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan and Ray Charles.

21. This legendary headliner sang the lyrics "We're all a part of God's great big family"?

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Tina Turner

Tina Turner toured with Lionel Richie in 1984 as his opening act. In 1985, she won the favorite solo female R&B/soul artist at the American Music Awards.

22. The "We Are The World" recording was distributed on which record label?

From Quiz "We Are The World" - The Event

Answer: Columbia Records

Columbia Records donated their manufacturing and distribution cost to the effort. "We Are The World" hit the stores on Tuesday, March 7, 1985, and all 800,000 copies sold out before the end of the weekend.

23. Who sings duets towards the end with Stevie Wonder?

From Quiz We Are The World

Answer: Bruce Springsteen

Bruce's performance was so moving to see! He gave 200% to this song and it shows in the video and in the record! Bruce was born on September 23, 1949. is also one of my favorite performers. His hits include: "Dancing in the Dark" (1984,) for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male, which is one of many Grammy awards he has won. "Streets of Philadelphia" (1994) was a amulti-winner for Bruce. He won an Academy Award for as well as a Grammy for Song of the Year, Rock Song of the Year, Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo, and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television. This was in the move "Philadelphia" (1993). In 2001, he also earned an Emmy Award as well. Bruce devotes a great deal of his time to worthy causes and "We are the World" is just one of them.

24. Which member of USA for Africa voiced "The Balladeer" character on the television show "The Dukes of Hazzard?"

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Waylon Jennings

"The Dukes of Hazzard" was an American television comedy that aired from 1979-1985. The premise of the show was the adventures of the Duke family from Hazzard County, Georgia. Waylon Jennings lent his voice to be the show's narrator/balladeer.

25. This band frontman sang "But if you just believe there's no way we can fall".

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Huey Lewis

Huey Lewis and the News also had a song appear on the "We Are The World" LP. The song was "Trouble In Paradise."

26. Who originated the idea of this particular fund raising event?

From Quiz "We Are The World" - The Event

Answer: Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte originally wanted to put together a benefit concert featuring black musicians to raise money for Africa. Ken Kragen thought an American version of "Band Aid" would be a better idea. He then contacted one of his clients, Lionel Ritchie, with the idea. Lionel's wife talked to Stevie Wonder's wife and arranged to line him up for the song. Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie wrote the song.

27. Which member of USA for Africa performed on an episode of "Saturday Night Live" a few weeks after the attacks on New York City in 2001?

From Quiz USA for Africa- the Solo Careers

Answer: Paul Simon

Paul Simon was a musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" on September 29, 2001. This was the first episode of "Saturday Night Live" to air after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Paul Simon opened the show by singing "The Boxer" on stage with New York City policemen and firefighters standing by his side.

28. What Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer sang "Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life".

From Quiz We Are The World Vocalists

Answer: Paul Simon

Twice Simon was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame: once for his involvement in Simon & Garfunkel and again for his solo efforts.

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Last Updated Sep 14 2025 12:16 PM
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