Spirit Of The Forest Video - 1989 (Joni Mitchell, XTC, Brian Wilson, etc, etc, etc...)

Amy Sky, Belinda Carlisle, Bonnie Raitt, Brian Wilson, Brother Beyond, Chris Rea, David Gilmour, Deborah Harry, Donna Gaines, Fish, James Osterberg, Jon Anderson, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, Kim Wilde, Lacy J. Dalton, Louise Goffin, Mr. Mister, Olivia Newton-John, Richard Starkey, Richie Havens, Rita Coolidge, Sam Brown, Steve Van Zandt, Taylor Dayne, The Escape Club, Thomas Dolby, XTC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOxUm1_5LeA

brian wilson at 50 seconds in...so beautiful.

omg, the 80s!

http://i.imgur.com/CXLebIJ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/4hneGkQ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/zmbkVjY.jpg

debbie harry's all "wtf am i doing here"
http://i.imgur.com/trLZSTs.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MPdPVCl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/7Jtsfvb.jpg

until 3 minutes ago i had no idea that a record exists where Fish and Joni sing consecutive lines and now i don't know how i feel about this

first I've ever heard of this either... would have sworn it was a parody if it didn't have so many recognizable people. doesn't even have a Wikipedia page, but I guess it must have succeeded since we still have forests today

there's a contemporary press release here: http://www.rip-her-to-shreds.com/archive_press_others_spiritoftheforest.php

apparently "Gentlemen Without Weapons" featured Kenny Young of "Under the Boardwalk"/Fox/Yellow Dog fame

Wow, great find.

Iggy Pop off his lip syncing cue

LOL Little Steven, wtf?!??!

OH, OH, OH, OH, OH, OH, OH, - Belinda Carlisle, Bonnie Raitt, Rita Coolidge, Olivia Newton-John, Louise Goffin, Shikisha, Sam Brown, Kim Wilde, Donna Summer, Debbie Harry, Taylor Dayne, B52's, Dolette Mcdonald.

I HEAR THE CRY OF THE YANOMAMI - Fish
THE KOOKABURRA AND THE GOLDEN MONKEY - Joni Mitchell, Olivia Newton-John
THOUSANDS OF ACRES UP IN SMOKE EVERY DAY - Ringo Starr
MILLIONS OF SPECIES FADIN' AWAY - Belinda Carlisle, Bonnie Raitt

INDIAN CHANT - Caraja

Sloth cameo

Undoubted good cause aside, it has to be said that this is a perfectly dreadful record. It sounds like three or four totally unconnected songs stuck together randomly (which it probably is). The transition between the first verse and chorus is particularly WTF!

Where the hell was Sting? Seems like the kind of thing he was born to do.

also would expect to see michael mcdonald here, maybe hall and oates

I think the guys singing ad libs at the end is the vocalist on Walk the Dinosaur?

Wow, this is terrible, and I'll be singing it all day.

Countdown to an oral history piece ...

(Huh, this all-Canadian one was on the youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJN3u1wAWIk)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tears_Are_Not_Enough#Solo_vocalists_.28in_order.29

Gordon Lightfoot
Burton Cummings
Anne Murray
Joni Mitchell
Dan Hill
Neil Young
Bryan Adams
Corey Hart
Bruce Cockburn
Liberty Silver
Geddy Lee (Rush)
Mike Reno (Loverboy)
Oscar Peterson

Chorus members:

Paul Anka
Liona Boyd
John Candy
Tom Cochrane (Red Rider)
Tommy Hunter
Martha Johnson
Eugene Levy
Frank Mills
Kim Mitchell
Paul Shaffer
Graham Shaw
Jane Siberry
Sylvia Tyson
Barry Harris
Catherine O'Hara
Wayne St. John

Written by Bryan Adams, Jim Vallace and David Foster

Pretty sure of all the people in the mix, Jon Anderson is the only one who would totally write a song like "Spirit of the Forest" of his own volition.

Any of these without Joni Mitchell?

Yeah, I'd be curious to see a scorecard of who did the most of these things in the 80's...

What's up with Joni's body language during the delivery of her line? Weird

I think the guys singing ad libs at the end is the vocalist on Walk the Dinosaur?

― blonde redheads have more fun (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Sunday, October 23, 2016 4:17 PM (five hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah, it's Sweet Pea Atkinson!

"NO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WERE USED ON THIS RECORD" (from the press release) seems an odd boast, I guess they're not including drum machines and synths?

it was all the music of the trees

... played by howler monkeys

I keep wanting to write "monkey call solo" but not sure what I'm hearing. Lots of animal noises on this.

this is amazing.

and dang Debbie Harry lookin super fine

How cool would it be if Becker snarled in a lyric about hitting on adolescents on 10th Ave

"NO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WERE USED ON THIS RECORD" (from the press release) seems an odd boast, I guess they're not including drum machines and synths?

Also from the press release: "The song "Spirit of the Forest", is created entirely with natural sounds sampled into a Fairlight."

hmmm, a Fairlight counts as an musical instrument imo

what a terrible song

scott otm: re brian wilson though

That Fish guy is weird. I'm convinced no one outside of the UK has ever heard Marillion. And I've heard Marillion but I think the prog police come flash the Men in Black memory eraser thing after you listen.

Much better version of that all-Canadian We Are the World wannabe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS138NuLRzU

The comments are great, as people are earnestly debating what is better, this, We Are the World or Do They Know It's Christmas.

Colin Moulding given an extraordinary amount of screen time considering a) he's not famous, b) he's not a babe, and c) he's just in the chorus.

Who's the star quarterback harmonizing with Partridge there?

Shittiest earworm.

I love the idea of all these geniuses - Joni, Kate, etc. - signing off on this total POS.

Oh wait, I see: it's the dude from Mr Mister. What an odd pairing.

Josh OTM

Oh wait, I see: it's the dude from Mr Mister. What an odd pairing.

Fun fact: Mr. Mister's drummer, Pat Mastelotto, played drums on Oranges and Lemons.

Oh shit! So possible that he was in the chorus maybe, as part of both bands?

Yeah, I'd be curious to see a scorecard of who did the most of these things in the 80's...

And so you shall!

From the following all-star charity singles, both famous and obscure:

Artist - Song - Year - Cause

• Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas 1984 - 1984 - African famine
• Artists United Against Apartheid - Sun City - 1985 - Anti-apartheid
• Northern Lights - Tears Are Not Enough - 1985 - African famine
• USA for Africa - We Are the World - 1985 - African famine
• The Crowd - You'll Never Walk Alone - 1985 - Bradford City stadium fire
• Ferry Aid - Let It Be - 1987 - Sinking of Herald of Free Enterprise ferry
• Band Aid II - Do They Know It's Christmas 1989 - 1989 - African famine
• Various Artists - Ferry Cross the Mersey - 1989 - Hillsborough football stadium disaster
• Rock Aid Armenia - Smoke on the Water - 1989 - Armenian earthquake
• Spirit of the Forest - Spirit of the Forest - 1989 - Rainforest
• Voices That Care - Voices That Care - 1991 - African famine
• Various Artists - Perfect Day - 1997 - Children in Need
• Artists for Children's Promise - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It) - 1999 - Children's Promise
• Artists Against AIDS Worldwide - What's Going On - 2001 - AIDS & Sept. 11
• Band Aid 20 - Do They Know It's Christmas 2004 - 2004 - African famine
• A Tribute to John Peel - Ever Fallen in Love (With Somebody You Shouldn't've) - 2005 - Amnesty Internations
• One World Project - Grief Never Grows Old - 2005 - Asian tsunami
• Artists Stand Up to Cancer - Just Stand Up! - 2008 - Stand Up to Cancer
• Helping Haiti - Everybody Hurts - 2010 - Haiti earthquake
• Artists for Haiti - We Are the World 25 for Haiti - 2010 - Haiti earthquake
• The Justice Collective - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - 2012 - Hillsborough football stadium disaster
• Band Aid 30 - Do They Know It's Christmas 2014 - 2014 - Ebola
• Various Artists - Love Song to the Earth - 2015 - Climate change
• Various Artists - Hands - 2016 - Orlando nightclub shooting

With the most appearances at 6, it's the inevitable...

- 6 -
Bono - Do They Know It's Christmas 1984
Bono - Sun City
Bono - Perfect Day
Bono - What's Going On
Bono - Do They Know It's Christmas 2004
Bono - Do They Know It's Christmas 2014

- 5 -
Mary J. Blige - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
Mary J. Blige - What's Going On
Mary J. Blige - Just Stand Up!
Mary J. Blige - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
Mary J. Blige - Hands
Paul McCartney - Let It Be
Paul McCartney - Ferry Cross the Mersey
Paul McCartney - Do They Know It's Christmas 2004
Paul McCartney - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Paul McCartney - Love Song to the Earth

- 4 -
Boy George - Do They Know It's Christmas 1984
Boy George - Let It Be
Boy George - What's Going On
Boy George - Grief Never Grows Old
David Gilmour - Smoke on the Water
David Gilmour - What's Going On
David Gilmour - Spirit of the Forest
David Gilmour - Ever Fallen in Love (With Somebody You Shouldn't've)

- 3 -
Bob Geldof - Do They Know It's Christmas 1984
Bob Geldof - We Are the World
Bob Geldof - Do They Know It's Christmas 2004
Bonnie Raitt - Sun City
Bonnie Raitt - Spirit of the Forest
Bonnie Raitt - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
Brian Wilson - Spirit of the Forest
Brian Wilson - Grief Never Grows Old
Brian Wilson - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
Chris Martin - What's Going On
Chris Martin - Do They Know It's Christmas 2004
Chris Martin - Do They Know It's Christmas 2014
Fergie - Just Stand Up!
Fergie - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
Fergie - Love Song to the Earth
Holly Johnson - Let It Be
Holly Johnson - Ferry Cross the Mersey
Holly Johnson - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Jon Bon Jovi - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
Jon Bon Jovi - Everybody Hurts
Jon Bon Jovi - Love Song to the Earth
Leona Lewis - Just Stand Up!
Leona Lewis - Everybody Hurts
Leona Lewis - Love Song to the Earth
Lionel Richie - We Are the World
Lionel Richie - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
Lionel Richie - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
LL Cool J - Spirit of the Forest
LL Cool J - What's Going On
LL Cool J - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
Miley Cyrus - Just Stand Up!
Miley Cyrus - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
Miley Cyrus - Everybody Hurts
Natasha Bedingfield - Do They Know It's Christmas 2004
Natasha Bedingfield - Just Stand Up!
Natasha Bedingfield - Love Song to the Earth
Robbie Williams - Do They Know It's Christmas 2004
Robbie Williams - Everybody Hurts
Robbie Williams - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

- 2 -
Adam Clayton - Do They Know It's Christmas 1984
Adam Clayton - Sun City
Afrika Bambaataa - Sun City
Afrika Bambaataa - Spirit of the Forest
Al Jarreau - We Are the World
Al Jarreau - Voices That Care
Angelique Kidjo - Do They Know It's Christmas 2014
Angelique Kidjo - Love Song to the Earth
Bananarama - Let It Be
Bananarama - Do They Know It's Christmas 1989
Beverley Knight - Do They Know It's Christmas 2004
Beverley Knight - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Beyoncé - What's Going On
Beyoncé - Just Stand Up!
Bob Dylan - Sun City
Bob Dylan - We Are the World
Britney Spears - What's Going On
Britney Spears - Hands
Bruce Springsteen - Sun City
Bruce Springsteen - We Are the World
Bryan Adams - Tears Are Not Enough
Bryan Adams - Smoke on the Water
Celine Dion - Voices That Care
Celine Dion - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
Chris Rea - Do They Know It's Christmas 1989
Chris Rea - Spirit of the Forest
Clarence Clemons - Sun City
Clarence Clemons - Voices That Care
Cliff Richard - Do They Know It's Christmas 1989
Cliff Richard - Grief Never Grows Old
Daryl Hall - Sun City
Daryl Hall - We Are the World
Elton John - Perfect Day
Elton John - Ever Fallen in Love (With Somebody You Shouldn't've)
Errol Brown (Hot Chocolate) - Let It Be
Errol Brown (Hot Chocolate) - What's Going On
Francis Rossi (Status Quo) - Do They Know It's Christmas 1984
Francis Rossi (Status Quo) - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
Gary Moore - Let It Be
Gary Moore - Grief Never Grows Old
Gerry Marsden - Ferry Cross the Mersey
Gerry Marsden - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Glenn Tilbrook - Let It Be
Glenn Tilbrook - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Gwen Stefani - What's Going On
Gwen Stefani - Hands
Herbie Hancock - Sun City
Herbie Hancock - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
Iggy Pop - Spirit of the Forest
Iggy Pop - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
Jackson Browne - Sun City
Jackson Browne - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
Jeffrey Osborne - We Are the World
Jeffrey Osborne - Voices That Care
Jennifer Lopez - What's Going On
Jennifer Lopez - Hands
Joey Ramone - Sun City
Joey Ramone - Spirit of the Forest
John Oates - Sun City
John Oates - We Are the World
Jon Anderson - Spirit of the Forest
Jon Anderson - Grief Never Grows Old
Joni Mitchell - Tears Are Not Enough
Joni Mitchell - Spirit of the Forest
Kate Bush - Let It Be
Kate Bush - Spirit of the Forest
Keith Richards - Sun City
Keith Richards - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
Kenny Rogers - We Are the World
Kenny Rogers - Voices That Care
Keren Woodward (Bananarama) - Do They Know It's Christmas 1984
Keren Woodward (Bananarama) - Let It Be
Kim Wilde - Let It Be
Kim Wilde - Spirit of the Forest
Kylie Minogue - Do They Know It's Christmas 1989
Kylie Minogue - Everybody Hurts
Little Steven Van Zandt - Sun City
Little Steven Van Zandt - Spirit of the Forest
Lou Reed - Sun City
Lou Reed - Perfect Day
Marc Jordan - Tears Are Not Enough
Marc Jordan - Spirit of the Forest
Mariah Carey - Just Stand Up!
Mariah Carey - Everybody Hurts
Mark Knopfler - Let It Be
Mark Knopfler - Voices That Care
Mark Owen (Take That) - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
Mark Owen (Take That) - Everybody Hurts
Midge Ure (Ultravox) - Do They Know It's Christmas 1984
Midge Ure (Ultravox) - Do They Know It's Christmas 2004
Mike Read - Let It Be
Mike Read - Grief Never Grows Old
Monica - What's Going On
Monica - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
Nicole Scherzinger - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
Nicole Scherzinger - Love Song to the Earth
Paloma Faith - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Paloma Faith - Do They Know It's Christmas 2014
Pink - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
Pink - Hands
Quincy Jones - We Are the World
Quincy Jones - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
Randy Jackson - We Are the World
Randy Jackson - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
Ray Barretto - Sun City
Ray Barretto - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
Rick Parfitt (Status Quo) - Do They Know It's Christmas 1984
Rick Parfitt (Status Quo) - It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)
Rick Wakeman - You'll Never Walk Alone
Rick Wakeman - Grief Never Grows Old
Ringo Starr - Sun City
Ringo Starr - Spirit of the Forest
Roger Taylor (Queen) - Smoke on the Water
Roger Taylor (Queen) - Do They Know It's Christmas 2014
Ruby Turner - Let It Be
Ruby Turner - What's Going On
Shane MacGowan - Perfect Day
Shane MacGowan - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Sheryl Crow - Just Stand Up!
Sheryl Crow - Love Song to the Earth
Skye Edwards (Morcheeba) - Perfect Day
Skye Edwards (Morcheeba) - Do They Know It's Christmas 2004
The Christians - Let It Be
The Christians - Ferry Cross the Mersey
The Edge - Sun City
The Edge - What's Going On
The Nolans - You'll Never Walk Alone
The Nolans - Let It Be
Tony Hicks (The Hollies) - You'll Never Walk Alone
Tony Hicks (The Hollies) - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
Usher - What's Going On
Usher - We Are the World 25 for Haiti
Zak Starkey - Sun City
Zak Starkey - You'll Never Walk Alone

Fun fact: Mr. Mister's drummer, Pat Mastelotto, played drums on Oranges and Lemons.

― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, October 23, 2016 10:14 PM

Oh shit! So possible that he was in the chorus maybe, as part of both bands?

― hardcore dilettante, Sunday, October 23, 2016 10:43 PM

Seems likely. Oranges & Lemons was recorded in L.A. in 1989, "Spirit of the Forest" was at least partially recorded in L.A. in the same year.

in the middle all of a sudden there are all these brazilian singers but i didn't see a list of names anywhere. looks like djavan is there.

i totally missed that the jungle brothers were in the chorus but now i see them in the video when i freeze frame.

Vocals – Africa Bambaata*, Amy Sky, Andy Fairweather-Lowe*, Big Country, Bruce Foxton, David Clayton-Thomas, Dolette McDonald, Fleetwood Mac, Gentlemen Without Weapons, It Bites, Johnnie Warman*, Jungle Brothers, LL Cool J, Lenny Kravitz, Lisa Bonet, Marc Jordan, Michael De Barre*, Plasmatics, Raging Hormones, Shikisha, The B-52's

https://www.discogs.com/Spirit-Of-The-Forest-Spirit-Of-The-Forest/release/2822225

looks like rita lee and gal costa and gilberto gil among others
xpost

xpost wtf, all those people are in the chorus? Maybe that explains why I recognized Big Country's drummer but then thought, nah, why would he be there?

They should have had the guy from Jackyl do a chainsaw solo.

Wonder how much of the participation on that scorecard above was some sort of community-service sentence-reduction plea bargain...

Good work, Hideous Lump, by the way!

Wonder how many people were forced to watch it as some sort of community-service sentence-reduction plea bargain.

Here's the full lineup for Spirit of the Forest, which I cobbled together from the 8 different releases listed at Discogs. The main list of names comes from the front cover art of the single (including some specifics as to which members of certain groups are actually present--e.g. Fleetwood Mac represented by Mick Fleetwood and Billy Burnette).

The Brazilian singers are only listed on the back cover.

Afrika Bambaataa
Amy Sky
Andy Fairweather-Lowe
Andy Partridge
Belinda Carlisle
Big Country (Mark Brezezicki)
Bonnie Raitt
Brian Wilson
Brother Beyond (Nathan Moore)
Bruce Foxton
Chris Rea
Colin Moulding
Dave Gregory
David Clayton-Thomas
David Gilmour
Deborah Harry
Djavan
Dolette McDonald
Donna Summer
Fish
Fleetwood Mac (Mick Fleetwood, Billy Burnette)
Gal Costa
Gentlemen Without Weapons
Gilberto Gil
Iggy Pop
It Bites (Frank Dunnery)
Ivan Lins
Johnnie Warman
Jon Anderson
Joni Mitchell
Jungle Brothers
Kate Bush
Kim Wilde
Lacy J. Dalton
Lenny Kravitz
Lisa Bonet
Little Steven Van Zandt
LL Cool J
Louise Goffin
Marc Jordan
Marisa Monte
May East
Michael De Barre
Mr. Mister (Richard Page)
Ney Matogrosso
Olivia Newton-John
Plasmatics
Raging Hormones
Renato Russo
Richie Havens
Ringo Starr
Rita Coolidge
Rita Lee
Sam Brown
Sandra De Sa
Shikisha
Taylor Dayne
The B-52's
The Escape Club (Trevor Steele)
The Ramones
Thomas Dolby
Was (Not Was)

Honestly surprised there's no Sting there.

There's that dude that looks a little like Sting, close enough.

Renato Russo

Scanned this as Renee Russo which tbh wouldn't really be that unbelievable in this case

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ilN_ndi_BA

I somehow wasn't prepared for the hilarity of Fish's (nor Steve Van Zandt's) appearance even though I'd already been pre-warned by this thread.