Today I Learned: That All Star Tribute was NOT for 9/11

The other day that I was gathering my thoughts and reflecting on my feelings on the seventeenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, I was reminded of an "All Star Tribute" song and video that debuted back on MTV & VH1 (back when they still played music videos). If you don't remember it, it was Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" sung by some of the biggest names in music at the time. The song and video featured Bono, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera, Destiny's Child, Nelly, Fred Durst (!) the guy from Staind, the Backstreet Boys and many more. Check out the video and try not to transport back to 2001.

Well, when played it, I (confidently) told Lisa that it was a tribute for the 9/11 attacks. Halfway through watching the video, Lisa was like "Joanna, I don't think that was for 9/11." And I. WAS. SHOOKETH! It wasn't for 9/11... it was to benefit AIDS programs in Africa and impoverished countries! And I should have known, Bono was the one who basically is coordinating it! Bono is known for a lot of his philanthropic work that includes campaigning for third-world debt relief and the AIDS pandemic.

After watching the video and clearly seeing that it was for AIDS awareness, I felt a fool! All these years I really thought it was a tribute for 9/11. Had I been a victim of the Mandela Effect? I had to do some research! I'm not all that crazy because according to the WIkipedia:

"On October 30, 2001, a group of popular recording artists under the name "Artists Against AIDS Worldwide" released an album containing multiple versions of "What's Going On" to benefit AIDS programs in Africa and other impoverished regions... The song was recorded shortly before the September 11, 2001 attacks, and it was decided afterwards that a portion of the song's proceeds would benefit the American Red Cross' September 11 fund as well."

See, I knew that 9/11 was involved in it somewhere! It was a scary time and I think this song was what needed as comfort which is why I think I associated it mostly to 9/11. See if you can try to name all the artists in the song!