Today in The Music of New Coke, USA for Africa’s “We Are the World”, the American music community’s fundraising response to famine and drought in the Horn of Africa and the number one song in the US when New Coke was released.

Probably because it speaks to my sometimes (read: always) cynical nature, but I remember the Doonesbury series on the event more than I do the actual song.  Watching the video just now, I had completely forgotten Steve Perry had a solo.  Huey Lewis pumps his arm here just like he would later that summer when he sang “The Power of Love” on the BACK TO THE FUTURE soundtrack.

So not much has changed.  People are still starving in Africa and we’re still fiddling about with Coke formulations, celebrating when it is Kosher Coke season.