The 7 Best 'We Are the World' Parodies of All Time

On Tuesday's Chelsea Lately series finale, a bevy of musical A-listers (everyone from Dave Grohl and, um, Sammy Hagar to Gwen Stefani and Fergie) joined forces for a "We Are the World" parody singalong. With many of the original charity anthem's lyrics altered to be appropriate only for late-night cable TV, the send-up was the perfect send-off for the controversial hostess with the mostess vodka.

But this Chelsea finale skit was just one in a long line of world-infamous "We Are the World" spoofs. While the original 1985 USA for Africa benefit single (penned by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian) was of course well-intentioned and completely serious, it's been fair game in the comedy realm over the past three decades.

Here's the original:

And now, below are pop-culture's seven best "We Are the World" parodies. These are the ones that make a brighter day — with laughter — so let's start watching.

7. The Ramones, "Something to Believe In"

With all of the original Ramones now gone, this irreverent music video (which also parodies the Hands Across America charity stunt of 1986) now seems rather touching. At the time, though, it just seemed liked a much, much cooler version of "We Are the World," with participants like Afrika Bambaataa, the Circle Jerks, John Doe and Exene Cervenka of X, the B-52's, Sparks, Spinal Tap, Weird Al Yankovic, Penn & Teller, and the Untouchables. Twenty-eight years later, Ramones Aid still has our support!

6. Saturday Night Live,"We Are the World 3: Raising Awareness of the 'We Are the World 2' Disaster"

Quincy Jones's "We Are the World 25" remake was supposed to be a serious affair, aimed at raising funds for Haiti earthquake relief — but the song was poorly received in the pop marketplace. Therefore, it was a prime target for a good SNL skewering. "While the original 'We Are the World' brought together stars like Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, and Tina Turner, this new version was a sloppy mess of half-famous randos," said Kenan Thompson, portraying a chagrined Quincy in this hilarious SNL skit from 2010.

5. In Living Color, "Career Aid"

The skit focused on the undeniable, unfortunate fact that many pop stars participate in all-star benefits only to help themselves. Interestingly, Jamie Foxx, who went on to win an Oscar for playing Ray Charles in Ray, portrayed Lionel Richie in "Career Aid"; the role of Ray went to David Alan Grier instead.

4. RuPaul's Drag Race, "Can I Get an Amen?"

This was an actual benefit single, since proceeds from its iTunes sales went to a deserving organization: the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. Season 5's top eight queens weren't lip-synching for their lives, here, either: This singing was LIVE. Sure, some of these contestants probably should've RuPaulogized for their shade-garnering vocals (particularly Jade Jolie, who was told by guest judges the Pointer Sisters and LaToya Jackson to "sashay away" at the end of this episode). But this song does have a lot of heart and humor.

3. The Simpsons, "We're Sending Our Love Down the Well"

The concerned citizens of Springfield teamed up with the always altruistic Sting to help poor Timmy O'Toole, a little boy who'd supposedly (you guessed it) fallen down a well. "Timmy" later turned out to be a hoax perpetrated by Bart Simpson, but the laughs generated by this song were very real.

2. 30 Rock, "Kidney Now!"

On the 30 Rock Season 3 finale, Clay Aiken, Elvis Costello, Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, the Beastie Boys' Mike D and Ad-Rock, Cyndi Lauper (who'd sung on the real "We Are the World"), Steve Earle, Adam Levine, Sara Bareilles, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones, Talib Kweli, Michael McDonald, Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller, Moby, Robert Randolph, and Rachael Yamagata all came together to help Jack Donaghy's long-lost father get a new kidney. This skit harnessed so much star power, we wouldn't be surprised if NBC's switchboard lit up with real phone calls that night, from people wanting to donate real cash.

1. Pulp, "Bad Cover Version"

The venerable Britpop band hired a cast of impostors for this little-seen genius video from 2002, which spoofed "We Are the World's" predecessor, Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Celebrity lookalikes portraying Robbie Williams, Liam Gallagher, Kylie Minogue, David Bowie, George Michael, Bono, Paul McCartney, Bj?rk, Kurt Cobain, Rod Stewart, Meat Loaf, Cher, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Missy Elliott, and even Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker himself were enlisted for this brilliant spoof. Incidentally, the real Jarvis did appear in the video — impersonating Queen's Brian May!

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