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From: towringer
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  • Beautiful.

  • I was ten days old

  • now it is more important than ever for the sentiments raised by this song to be passed down to the next geberation....too many want us to be divided and fall....we can't let them

  • Hell kids today don't even know this existed

  • At my school we joined others on this day......so Beautiful!!

  • 1 year shy 1987 damn.

  • Interesting to note, the music is by one of my favorit bands, TOTO! Present here are Jeff,Mike & Steve Porcaro, Steve Lukather and David Paich! Along with Tom Keane on piano!

  • The line came right down Princeton Avenue Trenton, New Jersey right at my front porch at the time so I helped get them organize that day and stood right by my doorstep.....

  • rogan :)

  • sorry but this is so campy

  • Too bad the UC Davis police department and chancellor don't approve of something like this.

  • lol beerfest

  • Beautiful video. We had a chance to change the world, and almost did it, but we failed. Look at it now. People will watch this video today and say, "Lookit 'dem hippie liberals". We failed.

  • they need to do this again.espically in these times........ someone should do something.

  • I missed this event by about 12 hours.

  • "And when he laughs, I LAUGH, and when he farts, I RUN..."

  • 25 years and this song still gives me goosebumps- what happened to us as a society? and don't blame Obama- he just inherited the whole mess!!!

  • Of course this would look like something out of the 80's, IT WAS FROM THE 80'S!!!

  • I love how to all the celebs video taped it in!!

  • Where is the humanity and unity that there was back in the 80's and all of that? As love this song. Times were so simple. And so understanding. Thanks for bringing this up towringer! Really love this song. Wished that it could had made #1. It only went to #65 on the Billboard chart.

  • i was 6 years old... i remember standing on Roosevelt Blvd. with my mom and i felt something magical when we all held hands and sang... as corny as that might sound... but there was something so peaceful and loving about that simple act.

  • @craftiestcraftstress Not corny at all my friend. Touching!

  • 1:29 I guess Michael Douglas didn't hold on hard enough with his son being in jail now.

  • This is cheesy I know...but wow! This was very moving! What a time this decade was!

  • If there is a remake, please god let there be a better song.

  • Dang - 80's hair! Crockett & Tubbs! Yucko Ono! I remembered this event, but forgot what it was they were actually trying to focus attention on. True story - Michael Jackson did his best to stop this song from being used to promote this event because he felt 'We Are The World' must be the theme song for it. I always thought that was a total dick move on his part.

  • This was done the year before I was born

  • IT'S BORAT @ 2:16 !!!!!!!!!!!

  • I was 14 years old back then and the whole thing of hunger really touch me! I stood in this line in NYC with my Mom as I grew up in NYC. I wish there was a 25th anniversary reunion for this.

  • I was there in N.Y.C. with my boyfriend and a friend. We drove to Hartford from Danbury to to get our badges and literature for the event. Then we took the train to the city, I think. It was really cool! I was 24 then. People were honking and waving. I Stil have the poster they gave us. Later we went to the Hard Rock Cafe and saw Yoko Ono, David Geffen ,and Sean Lennon going in ahead of us. Ah memories.....

  • Stupid event; horrible song.

  • "Join Hands Across America to end hunger."

    Well that worked like a charm.

  • 25 years ago, I stood in this line. I wish there had been a remake or an observance.

  • @towringer ... As did I in Phoenix, AZ ... I-17 and Union Hills Rd...I was 15.

  • @towringer As did I in Phoenix, AZ.. I was 15 years old.. I stood in the line at I-17 and Union Hills Rd.

  • Today,May 25,2011 is the silver anniversary of this event and there was no remake.

  • Wtf might as well go to church if you are looking for a religious experience

  • Is that Michael Bolton singing?

  • Guess what folks... I saw a picture of this in front of a ghetto grocery store in my area today, and not much has changed. Priceless.

  • This song made me cry and with everything that happened here in the south with the tornados(I was affected too ) it would be perfect for now

  • This event was another reason that the 80's were so awesome. We can sure use another event like this again.

  • Execpt for lare gaps in the Western states, Hands Across America was a complete success.

  • This year, marks 25 years to the date that we did this. I was 6 years old and in overpeck park in Leonia, NJ. I didn't know what it was at that time, but now i know.

  • I remember this song back in kindergarten. I was tending Lake Harbin Elementary School in Morrow Georgia and this was a big thing. They made the whole class learn the song and then they did a video for the school with us singing and holding hands in a line.

  • There is one happening in California on April 17th, 2011!

  • Now weneed hands across this World because its starting to fall apart.

    We need Noahs Arche.

  • This should've been a bigger hit..................WHY WASN'T IT?? I'm sure it charted in Billboard's Hot 100, but it didn't crack the Top 40. It was also MUCH better than the self-congratulatory We Are The World. At least both of these (as well as Do They Know It's Christmas) were for good causes........................­..........

  • Hands across america: Grows quicker than your garden does!

  • I was there in my hometown and the atmosphere was just incredible, we held our hands up and for one brief shining moment we were all truly one heart, one mind,one body and one soul.

  • With our bad economy, and all bad things happening in our nation, we can sure use this kind of support to go towards homelessness and hunger within our nation. Any local places from family shelters, city missions, salvation armies, or whatever else can only do so little for their local communities coast to coast. I say all celebrities from movie stars, TV stars, and singers should promote a new Hands Across America fundraiser with millions of people who'd join hands from coast to coast again.

  • I was part of hands across America. It was historical and awesome to see all those people standing up for America.

  • it would be AWESOME IF ALL COUNTRIE WHO COULD WOULD GIVE A SONG LIKE THIS & DONATE ,, THIS world is in peril NOW & if we dont it will get worse...

  • I hope that someday we can do something like this again!!

  • shocks som1 on one end :D

  • I only checked this out because in my drug-addled memory, I could have sworn I saw Harlan Ellison in this bunch. Turns out he participated, but he doesn't show up on this viddy.

  • We should do something like this again, for the same purpose or something else like gang violence.

  • Hey, what about Seattle?

  • michael douglas with his son, who is now in prison.......he raised up in the 80´s

    but destroyed himselfe in the 2000´s.....it´s a fucked up time nowdays....i miss

    the 80´s so much !!!!!!!

  • @1971junkyard: I don't miss the Eighties. "Hands Across America" was happening at the same time Reagan was completely gutting the American middle class and laying the groundwork for the culture of fake prosperity and pervasive bullshit that you have today. Charity campaigns like this were ultimately just part of the bullshit.

  • @mistabobdobolina I DO miss the Eighties. I was in such a cocoon of Hank Moody hedonism that the plight of my fellow man did not affect me. The Eighties were a lie, kind of like the Matrix, but when I saw The Matrix I wondered why any one in his right mind would choose reality? The Eighties were a dream, and videos like this convinced me people cared when in fact they do not. Which is my way of saying I agree with you, but for different reasons. These days, clean and sober, I feel too much.

  • I was 5 year old when I attended it with my family and I'm thankful I was apart of American History.

  • Is that Michael Bolton SInging?

  • @Pookatube No it is Joe Cerisano. Look him up at @Cerisano.com

  • Obama's change he said he was gonna make was for the worse no the better of America. I wish something like this could happen nowadays

  • I was more than a month old when this happened. Wish I could have been part of it. They should do like a 25 year anniversary thing or something

  • Ya it's all President Obama's fault the world is shit and not President Bush or the people who live in the world. Wake up and stick your tea bag in your mouth with your foot.

  • The link from Cal to NY?? By the time this took place the whole country was involved. 

  • I came across pictures i had taken during this in Cocoa Bch Fl. It was amazing to be apart of. I believe it was Memorial day weekend, the beaches were packed. In a matter of SECONDS, it went from people playing, swimming, and tanning, to a human link as far as the eye could see both North & south. The year before this we had the "We Are The World" Campaign. What happened to us? When did we all become so jaded? ):

  • no one can dispute,that america is agreat nation and it is claim that it is responsible for taking a leadership role in this world,then if america is leader,then it must lead by showing good example.then if america is the parent of the world,then it must lead by showing her children( the rest of the world)the way forward.im greatful to the US for liberating my country GREANDA IN 1983,GOD bless americaaand god bless my country grenada.

  • is it just me, or are Asians more for the most part missing?

  • The longest unbroken chain of people was in Illinois.

  • I just got a phone call from my HS biology teacher who just retired... she still had my Hands Across America T-shirt I never recieved .. its still in the plastic!

  • bring this backi was there and it was nice meeting ppl

  • I did this in Anaheim, Ca at Disneyland it was awesome, it was the 80's we had a kick ass President Reagan who loved America!! and we were #1 God was able to be spoken at schools, courts, we had Freedom, now we have Obama who hates America, trashes America, no more God any where, a worthless administration Obama, Gays attacking Marriage, lost jobs, and our Freedom slowly going to Socialism thxs to Obama lets make 2012 the birth of America 1st!!! God 1st!!!! Liberty and Freedom again 2012 do it!

  • @OEKCVB God can still be "spoken" in schools. We still have freedom. Obama does not hate America. Obama is not socialist.

    You are what's wrong with America. You probably think Hands Across America is a bunch of hippy idiots.

  • @bek12 Ha Ha sure pal been drinkin the Obama KOOL aide? Obama is going to be the worst president ever! he isnt even born here, he plays golf and travels cares a less abt unemployment hates our troops celebrates Muslims holidays 80's we had Reagan and a kick ass congress it was America first with Obama we are last

  • @OEKCVB If you're the tea-bagger type that thinks Obama wasn't born in the US, you're an idiot unworthy of conversation. See ya.

  • @TreesOnTheBeach Actually no, but i do believe Obama is not an US citizen and i go believe he favors Mulsims over Americans, his own Pastor of 20 years believes America is a waste and Obama for 20 years had no problem being in church with that nut. Facts are Obama cares zero abt the Usa period and im not the only one or a small group that see this even his own party says Obama is not going to get relected, Democrats are going to get replaced big time here next month you will see

  • @bek12 Obama has done more harm to freedom and liberty he is NOT for america at all dont give me your liberal crap talk dude look around and see whats happening Obama is a joke and will be the worst President ever......vote this Muslim out next year folks no 2nd term for the Obama loser he is

  • @OEKCVB

    HAHAHA are you fucking kidding me, dude? Where do you live? That guy's been in term barely a year and you think he's the worst ever? Americans are so impatient.

    If we're going to pick worsts at this stage, start with the last one. Ask any soldier still alive; they'll tell you who made them lose all their friends and some of their limbs in a pointless war-ILLETERATE George W. Bush. He made me embarrassed to be American for eight years of my life because I spoke English better than him.

  • @miramiros

    And don't say illiterate is spelled wrong. That's part of the joke. If you don't get that, then you must've voted for him.

  • @miramiros have you seen the news lately? or is your head in the sand Operation Iraq freedom is over dude and even Democrats have said thanks to BUSH we won dude i know you and your up in Obamas ass makes you feel better, but give W the respect he deserve and get your facts straight. Iraq was a threat due to Saddam we took Saddam out and we found out he and his wonderful sons were killing people for sport, for fun, for whatever i guess that was ok with you right dumb ass? Obama will do zero lol

  • @OEKCVB

    Where do you get off calling me a dumb ass? You don't know me.

    No, you dumb fuck, actually Saddam Hussein was a distraction from what was really going on. If you remember correctly, after 9/11, the war was declared on the Taliban in Afghanistan (Osama bin Laden-whom we still haven't found). Iraq was later and had nothing to do with what happened here. I agree Saddam was a horrible leader, but it had nothing to do with our war originally & they never found weapons of mass destruction.

  • @miramiros 17 UN resolutions to allow UN inspectors to search his country as part of his treaty with the UN in Desert Storm One remember? pal Saddam invaded another country in 1990 he killed Millions of his own people, he gased innocent women and children Kurds, his sons raped and murdered people at will Saddam made threats he had nuclear weapons he made threats at Israel and the USA he took hostages and held them as human sheilds you act like Saddam was some kind of nice guy he was a cruel man

  • @OEKCVB Get your facts straight? That is good advice, conservative. We invaded Iraq because Bush said they had WMD, but we never found any. So we invaded a country for nothing, got stuck there. Hussein was not a good guy, but we don't invade countries for one reason, then find out there was no reason at all, and just decide, "Oh, well. He was a bad guy anyway. So the new reason is we are 'defending freedom.'"

  • @bek12 Not just Bush over half of the senate and congress and a lot of Democrats believed there was WMD and also saddam said he had them and would use them against Israel, USA and our Allies look i know your a coward and afraid and are one of those Anti-American idiots, thats your loss and IQ i served my country for 8 years with many who were convinced Saddam was a bad guy period, so if anything there is one less asshole in the world. I think your just a goff some silly homer so long putz

  • I hate when people say hat and our lands are in any threat. its not event he military that stops the t terrorists threats.

  • @miramiros Dont forget many Democrats like Clinton and others felt the same way most others felt he had WMDs because he said he had tham and would use them so i know you wanna blame just BUSH but if you knew the whole story you would have seen others felt the same way. All Saddam had to do was coroporate with his own aggrement to allow inspectors in and he said no so what do you think a president should do? say thats ok just keep the threats coming and the murders continue your very silly

  • @ OEKCVB If America's so righteous, saving every place under bad leadership, why do we keep supporting China for not only controlling and torturing their own ppl, but fucking the Tibetans over? Why didn't we protest the Olympics when all that was going on? 'Cause we owe China a shitload of money. Our govn't is not going after bad leaders to do the right thing, unless it benefits us financially.

    We went after Iraq for the oil industry. Saddam sucked, but freeing Iraq was just icing on the cake.

  • @miramiros America is not perfect but its better then a lot of other places my famiky has served in WW2, Korea, and Vietnam, and Desert Storm one China is a dangerous country we are on the brink of war with North Korea are you an American? or a hater? you going some where else now Iraq may have not been the place to go but we would have to had to go there someday because of the threats. BUSH did what he had to do i think Obama will wimp out on N Korea further showing America is weak due to Obama

  • @OEKCVB

    While the war was going on, other countries in the UN were having a hard time deciding if they wanted to support our war, remember?

    I'd rather be seen as weak than violent. Clearly that's just me and clearly you're a male. I must be a hater because there's nothing that makes me so sick as American patriotism when it comes to war but hypocrisy when it comes to the President. And yes, I may be moving to Germany soon because this country doesn't support the arts...that's another story.

  • @miramiros Ok you did make me smile the part about the Arts Europe is so deep in the arts yes you will find that in plenty there i wish you only sucess in life with your passion of Art, i understand your thoughts we both just disagree on the format and thats ok at the end of the day we both are humans, with families and friends we love and care about, i take back my bad words and say im sorry for those choice words, im passionate for the USA and i wish you only good will please call me jeff =)

  • @OEKCVB

    Ok let's call it truce. Thanks for the support, Jeff. I wish you the best as well. -mira

  • @miramiros Sounds great Mira Merry Christmas and a happy safe new year to you! 2011 i wish you nothin but happiness and sucess Jeff =)

  • @ SO LET ME ASK SOMETHING! MY FATHER DESERVED TO DIE ON 9/11 BUT THE SAND FLIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK IN THE STREETS AND DANCE.YOU DONT KNOW HOW OFFENSIVE I FIND THIS OK YOUR RIGHT MY DAD SHOUL HAVE BEEN KILLED WHILE HE WAS WORKING AS A COP AT THE TRADECENTER WELL GUESS WHAT YOU ARE AN ASS!!!!!!!!

  • @TheCallofdutymwf

    Come on, man. You're seriously going to pull that card on me? Where in any of those responses did I write your dad deserved to die? I don't know who the fuck you are.

    I don't think anyone deserves to die; my close friend died in a hit and run this year. It wasn't a terrorist, just a drunk asshole who didn't care.

    If you're going to be mad at anyone, be mad at your govn't for not bringing ur dad's death to justice. Osama bin Laden was responsible & he's still out there!

  • @OEKCVB Another conservative idiot... lol

  • I have the sudden urge to tease my hair, smoke crack and get AIDS.

  • burn in hell barbra streisand

  • I had this EP stored somewhere with it's original 'Hands Across America' cover. Seriously, what happened to humanity nowadays.

  • @nazrae It was all a bubble

  • I always thought Hulk Hogan should have been part of Hands Across America. He could have appeared in the video during the chorus of "see that man over there, he's my brother!" as he said the word "brother" about 15,000 times in all of his promos. It would have made perfect sense to have him appear during that part of the video. Not to mention that 1986 was when Hulkamania was at its peak

  • I totally remember this. I was in the 6th grade at the time.

  • borat @ 2:17

  • @johnnynumbnutz

    I was thinking that! The good ole days!

  • people have turned their hearts into ice,no more feelings and no one cares anymore.tha't sad,we had such a good time when we did that in Dallas.maybe it's not too late,if someone will stand ,maybe the rest will follow!

  • @valvo61 This was just a big stunt, it didn't help anyone. Some little charity, going about its business year after year away from the spotlight, does way more good than splashy one-time-only events like this and Live Aid. A rush of good feelings for the participants is nice, but not the point.

  • @TheSanityInspector One event is not meant to change the whole world. Things like this are done to raise awareness. Look at all the people who remember this, over two decades later.

  • The government's deregulation of corporation that lead to business practices that forced the average person to worry more about him/her self, more then others.

    And those are only the tip of all the things that have contributed to our lose of social conscious

  • A lot of things happened. The backlash to the media inspired term "Political Correctness" Government making it ok to blame those in need for all the country's ills.

  • BTW.

    I participated in Metuchen, New Jersey. It was kinda cool. :)

  • gotta love the Reagan era

  • Just a year away from the silver anniverdary

  • I don't want Kenny Rogers holding my hand.

  • Andy Warhol at 3:59!!

  • Aw. 1986, a time when humans were more sympathetic toward each other.

  • @Eddiespice509 You're so vain. Hands is the measurement of a horse from the withers on down. This event was all about saving the wild mustangs which Washington keeps slaughtering in the name of greed is good. I am sick and tired of humans who think it's all about them. You eat animals don't you? Unforgiven. May you wither on the vine.

  • There were actually protests over this in states that were excluded. PROTESTS, PEOPLE.

  • ...ah, if we could do this today, in these times.

  • Dyan Cannon at 4:21

  • At 4:22, Jeff Bridges. Congrats on finally winning that Oscar!

  • I didn't know Jeff Bridges was in this video too awesome...lol

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  • Who is the lead vocalist in this song? I'd like to see where I can download this song.

  • Joe Cerisano

  • the female harmony part was Sandy Farina she was "Strawberry Fields" in the 1978 musical film produced by Robert Stigwood called "Sargent Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band"

  • Wow...this was one week before my 17th birthday. Those kids are probably in their thirties now. lol

  • this singer sounds like the budweiser singer in those commercials...

  • 2:30 sean lennon & yoko ono

  • okay yeah. this video kinda me tear up.

    But they really should've remade this instead of We Are The World. I really like We are the world, but we cant forget about our counrty. It would be so nice too see them redo this! [:

  • Yeah it would. I'd help.

  • We were told a major celebrity was coming to our town for Hands Across America. It ended up being Peter Tork!!!

  • Picture it: May 25, 1986, Ewing Township, NJ. I'm 11 years old, stuck in a huge traffic jam, headed towards the Jersey Shore for the day with my parents. We figure out why we're stuck. It was the Hands Across America thing. I remember asking my dad if President Reagan was doing the Hand Across America thing. He replied, "Only bleeding heart pinko commie liberals are doing it. It's a fraud." Looking back, it's so funny!

  • @telebambam LOL. Thats an awesome story

  • A MUCH better song than We Are The World.............why wasn't it a bigger hit?? It may have charted in Billboard at the time, but I know it didn't crack the Top 40.

  • I agree. This was a stronger song. I think it just didn't feature as many singing celebreties as We Are The World, thus it wan't as big, but it was definetely a much stronger song.

  • I lived in PA and participated...I was about 6 or 7 years old...I have a 2 year old now

  • I wish I could have participated in this. However, I lived in Michigan at the time and I was too young to drive and go to far away on my own at the time. This line did not go through MI at all.

  • I was a part of this! It was very inspiring. I traveled with 3 friends to Columbus, Oh, about 2 hrs from my home to take part. I ran across my photo album from the trip just the other day, and I have been thinking about it. I am certainly glad I was a part of it.

  • I had totally forgotten about this! Wow. Unfortunately did not participate, but I think this was just an awesome thing, and It think next year for the 25th anniversary, they should try it again! I'd like to think that people aren't as cold as we think, and would have an even better turn out! I know I would do my best to get to a city that it was going through this time!

  • We all need hold hands and show that we care with our lives. I love this music video and makes lot of sense.

  • hey please reply back and tell me the history/more about this it rly seem amazing and y dont they do this again like every year what made 1986 so special im only 16, but i think we should do this again thanks 4 the video! :) please reply back tellin me what it was like an if we could do this again and how

  • MY MOM WAS IN THAT!

  • i was 14 i remember this day for those pl who didnt have someone to hold thier hand they had yellow tape to mark the ppl that was supose to be there..

  • Man, we really were socially conscious in the '80s, weren't we? What the fuck happened?!

  • Music regressed and people followed its lead.

  • @gameshowluvr86 It got all trendy and lost all meaning.

  • @gameshowluvr86 It turned into political correctness in the '90s, which prompted the inevitable backlash.

  • @gameshowluvr86  seems like no one cares anymore

  • @gameshowluvr86 george w happend

  • @TheMunchMaster Amen!

  • @gameshowluvr86 Obama came 2012 make it America 1st again vote Obama out

  • @gameshowluvr86 gangsta rap

  • @gameshowluvr86 I was just thinking that, too. :(

    My guess, and just a guess: new age conservatism.

  • @gameshowluvr86 The majority of the people who participated in this didn't pay the $10 fee to do it - money that was earmarked for the charity that sponsored the event.

  • @vombatidae Really? Ouch...

  • This was one of the best things I could have ever done in my life, I was 19 at the time and to this day I am proud that I did this, we need to stand in this world for each other even if it gets us no where, we all need to look out for each other and be there for all

  • Who sang this song?

  • They were called "Voices of America". It was anonymous ppl.

  • wow harlow looks just like her mom - she's gonna be just as hot! love NR

  • NRichie 3:44

  • omg carlton banks.

  • she is at the 3:44 mark. she is so cute. She has curly light colored hair. she looks as if she is about 6.

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  • 3:45

  • omg..so many oldies..lol

  • 1:09. totally stuart from SNL. =P

  • 4:31