Being born in 1982, I never actually knew the origins of this song, which was released in 1985. Nevertheless, it accompanied me through my childhood and I'm sure even kids today have heard of it. Somehow the rhythm, the lyrics, the music have turned this song into a timeless classic that to me, has never really been surpassed by any other similar genres that appeared recenty, such as the 2005 Hand-In-Hand 手牵手during the SARS epidemic.

Like I've said before, this song always gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it. It's that touching.

Did some background research on this song and made some interesting discoveries to the origins of this song.

• 1984年，非洲埃塞俄比亞發生飢荒。為援助饑民，美國歌手以稍早英國群星合唱的〈Do They Know It's Christmas〉公益單曲為藍本，組成USA For Africa，推出合唱歌曲《We Are the World》，專輯版稅捐作賑災用途，迴響極為熱烈，並募得鉅款。流風所及，世界各地多有仿效者。

In 1984, to raise funds to help famine-relief efforts in Ethiopia, American singers gathered to form a supergroup of popular musicians called USA For Africa, following in the footsteps of an earlier effort by British singers who recorded a charity single "Do they Know It's Christmas". USA For Africa recorded and released a single "We Are the World" which received overwhelming success and gathered an enormous amount of funds. Because of its success, there were many similar efforts made around the world.

• 1985年，恰逢台灣光復（結束日本殖民統治）40周年；1986年則是「世界和平年」。「明天會更好」的創作初衷，即是模仿《We Are The World》「群星為公益而唱」的形式，呼應世界和平年的主題、並紀念台灣光復40週年。

1985 marked the 40th anniversary of Taiwan's independence from Japanese colonial rule. Also, 1986 was also the Year for World Peace (literal translation). Hence, drawing inspiration from "We Are the World", 明天會更好 was written to commerate both the anniversary and the Year for World Peace.

• 「明天會更好」邀集的華人歌手跨越不同地域、不同唱片公司，打破了簽約的限制。專輯製作單位以「明天基金會籌備會」的名義，邀集台灣當時最知名的唱片公司包括飛碟、喜瑪拉雅、新格、歌林、滾石、鄉城、寶麗金、麗歌等參與這張專輯，並由各家唱片公司競標發行權。專輯售出的盈餘，係由後來標得專輯發行權的藍與白唱片公司捐給中華民國消費者文教基金會，為消基會籌募新台幣600萬元的基金，作為公益之用。

Chinese singers from different countries under different recording companies were invited for the song, a breakthrough as it meant that this also broke the boundaries of recording contracts. The production company pitched itself as 「明天基金會籌備會」and invited some of the most successful recording companies to be part of the project. These companies were also invited to bid for the rights to release the album. The recording company Blue and White (literal translation) later gained the rights, and donated all the earnings from the album to the Consumers' Foundation, Chinese Taipei. A sum of 6 million NT were donated to charity.

• 根據當時參與的創作人回憶，這首歌的作詞者之所以多達七位，是因為羅大佑的歌詞版本被認為「主題意識過於灰色消極」，不能全盤採用。錄唱前夕，主辦單位邀集許多音樂界、文化界人士，各自貢獻詞句，以羅大佑的版本為主，逐句修潤，纔共同完成最終的歌詞定稿。

According to the accounts of songwriters who were involved, as many as 7 lyricists were involved. This was because Luo Dayou's original version was seen to be too "dark and gloomy and hence rather discouraging". In the night before the actual recording, the organizers gathered many prominant figures from the music and cultural industries to contribute to the writing of the lyrics. Luo Da You's original lyrics were to remain with amendments made to individual phrases. This resulted in the final product - the timeless clasic 明天會更好.



明天會更好

蔡琴：輕輕敲醒沈睡的心靈　慢慢張開你的眼睛
余天：看看忙碌的世界是否依然孤獨的轉個不停
蘇芮：春風不解風情　吹動少年的心
潘越雲：讓昨日臉上的淚痕　隨記憶風乾了

甄妮：擡頭尋找天空的翅膀　候鳥出現它的影迹
李建復：帶來遠處的饑荒無情的戰火依然存在的消息
林慧萍：玉山白雪飄零　燃燒少年的心
王芷蕾：使真情溶化成音符　傾訴遙遠的祝福

(Chorus)
黃鶯鶯：唱出你的熱情　伸出你的雙手
讓我擁抱著你的夢　讓我擁有你真心的面孔
費玉清：讓我們的笑容　充滿著青春的驕傲
爲明天獻出虔誠的祈禱

陳淑樺：誰能不顧自己的家園　抛開記憶中的童年
娃娃：誰能忍心看那昨日的憂愁　帶走我們的笑容
王夢麟：青春不解紅塵　胭脂沾染了灰
李佩菁：讓久違不見的淚水　滋潤了你的面容

(Chorus)
洪榮宏：唱出你的熱情　伸出你的雙手
讓我擁抱著你的夢　讓我擁有你真心的面孔
讓我們的笑容　充滿著青春的驕傲
爲明天獻出虔誠的祈禱　
　　　　　　　　
齊豫：輕輕敲醒沈睡的心靈　慢慢張開你的眼睛
鄭怡：看看忙碌的世界是否依然孤獨的轉個不停
江慧：日出喚醒清晨　大地光彩重生
楊林：讓和風拂出的音響　譜成生命的樂章

(Chorus)
合唱：唱出你的熱情　伸出你的雙手
蘇芮：讓我擁抱著你的夢　讓我擁有你真心的面孔
齊秦：讓我們的笑容　充滿著青春的驕傲
余天：讓我們期待著明天會更好　

Were you able to recognize all the singers?