What 1985 charity song inspired "He Needs a Kidney"?

“He Needs a Kidney” was inspired by the 1985 charity song “We Are the World.”

The song appears in “Kidney Now!”, the season-three finale of 30 Rock. Jack Donaghy’s father, Milton Greene, needs a kidney donor, so the characters stage a celebrity-filled charity performance asking for help. The number deliberately adopts the grand, earnest style of “We Are the World” while replacing its global humanitarian message with an intensely specific plea for one kidney.

“We Are the World” was released in 1985 by USA for Africa and became one of the best-known charity singles in popular music. 30 Rock’s version was written by Jeff Richmond, the show’s composer and an executive producer. Its exaggerated sincerity is strengthened by appearances from musicians including Cyndi Lauper, Elvis Costello, Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Adam Levine and the Beastie Boys.

The song is an original parody rather than a cover or alternate title for the 1985 recording. After the episode aired, NBC released the performance through iTunes, with proceeds directed to the National Kidney Foundation.