In honor of tonight’s historic Stand Up to Cancer television show, to be aired simultaneously on ABC/CBS/NBC, we must look back at previous landmark charity songs.

The feature song tonight, appropriately titled, “Just Stand Up!“, is performed by an all-female cast: Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood. The song is powerful and emotional, but lacks the monster potential of the 80’s charity hits. It’s too smooth for me, but at least its for a good cause. We’ll see how the performance goes tonight. Buy it on iTunes. It’s #78 on the Billboard 100.

Do They Know It’s Christmas?: British song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 specifically to raise money for relief of 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia. The original version was released by Band Aid on December 3, 1984. The song was the biggest selling in UK chart history until 1997 when “Candle In the Wind” took over. George Michael and Duran Duran just make it happen. One of the top 5 Christmas songs, IMO.

We Are the World: 1985 song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced and conducted by Quincy Jones and recorded by a supergroup of popular musicians billed as USA for Africa. The charity single was intended to raise funds to help famine-relief efforts in Ethiopia, which experienced unusual drought in 1984/1985. This baby was popular – it was the bestselling single of the year. I love it!

We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day
Just you and me

Amazing cast. (list from Wikipedia):