According to MTV.com, Richie told Oprah how Michael Jackson would be included in the song and video.
He said:
We have Michael singing that exact part [the chorus] and Janet singing along with him.
Without further ado, here is the video along with a few comments from me underneath:
– Justin Bieber sings Lionel’s intro?
– Is that Nicole “The Terminator” Scherzinger singing next to Jennifer Hudson?
– Putting MJ and Janet together was very classy and cool. I’m proud of how they included him.
– Babs Streisand? Tony Bennett? I guess they had to average out the age because of Bieber and Miley Ray Cyrus.
– I think Enrique Iglesias had a hard time escaping our love.
– I think they should’ve had Jamie Foxx do Brother Ray’s memorable part.
– I get Wyclef being a part of the song, but they should’ve told him to save the “someone please call 911” voice.
– I thought Stevie Wonder came back for round two, but it was really Adam Levine.
– I’m surprised Pink wasn’t singing in the air and twirling around.
– Lionel: “Hey Usher, see, what we want you to do is do Huey Lewis’ part.” Usher: “Who is Huey Lewis?”
– Thankfully, I didn’t enlarge the video, or else Fergie’s face would’ve made me fall out of my chair. As it was, I only hid my eyes.
– Nicole “The Terminator” Scherzinger gets two parts? Is Lionel gettin’ that?
– Look at Toni Braxton with the 1980s skater hair-cut. Someone un-broke her heart.
– In the case of Lil’ Wayne, this time I approve of the Auto-tune.
– In the case of Akon, I don’t approve of the Auto-tune. Dude can sing a little bit.
– In the case of T-Pain, well, I would’ve rather seen MC Hammer on the track.
– Well, I guess I got my wish with Jamie singing Brother Ray’s part.
– I love that Uncle L, future of the funk, is leading the hip hop section. But um, where’s Kanye? And is that Tyrese with the rappers? Black Ty?
– Ok, there’s Kanye, but what is will.i.am doing standing with Kanye. Dude can’t hold Kanye’s jockstrap in a suit case.
There it is. I thought Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie did a really good job with the song, blending the original with some hip hop, and Wyclef’s Haitian sound.
