We Are The World is perhaps the most famous charity song in the world, however there are other songs that talk about Apartheid, racial segregation, and famine being these the most famous:
1.- Sun City.
In 1985, Steve Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen's guitarist, founded the macro group Artists United Against Apartheid, integrated by internationally renowned artists such as Miles Davis, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Geldof, U2, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Bobby Womack, Bonnie Raitt, Clarence Clemons, Darlene Love, Daryl Hall, Daryl Hannah, David Ruffin Jr, Eddie Kendricks, George Clinton, Gil Scott-Heron, Herbie Hancock, Jackson Browne, John Oates, Keith Richards, Lou Reed, Nona Hendryx, Pat Giraldo, Pete Townshend, Peter Garrett, Peter Wolf, Ray Barretto, Ringo Starr, Ron Carter, Ron Wood, Ruben Blades, Run-DMC, Ravi Shankar, Stanley Jordan, Stiv Bators, Zak Starkey, and many others.
The project began with the recording of the song Sun City, although the project expanded and ended up as a complete album, with versions of songs provided by the groups for the cause. The song that gave the album its name, Sun City, would be composed by Van Zandt.
The name referred to a resort built in the South African Bantustan of Bofutatsuana (recognized as an independent state by the South African government at the time). As a result, the resort allowed activities prohibited on South African territory, such as the opening of casinos and strip clubs.
The opposition from the cultural world to operate in this complex indirectly made it the center of criticism of the South African government.
The allusion to Sun City in this song serves to present the South African problem of Apartheid. One part of the song says: "It's time for some justice, it's time for the truth" and another says: "23 million can't vote because they're black".
2.- Stars.
In the northeast of Africa in Ethiopia, in 1984 there was a devastating famine, the drought that year reached the magnitude of a real tragedy when there was no rainfall for almost 24 months, which caused the loss of many crops and a drastic reduction in food production.
In May 1985, artists from the metal community gathered at A&M Record Studios in Hollywood, California, to participate in the recording of this legendary single, which would be released along with a documentary video in an attempt to end the famine that was ravaging Africa and other parts of the world.
"Stars" by Hear N' Aid, is the 1985 charity single that brought together most of the most relevant heavy metal musicians of the time under the leadership of Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath, Rainbow).
The song begins like this:
Who cries for the children?
I do
The singers of this one are: Ronnie James Dio, Dave Meniketti (Y&T), Rob Halford (Judas Priest), Kevin DuBrow (Quiet Riot), Eric Bloom (Blue Oyster Cult), Paul Shortino (Quiet Riot, Rough Cutt), Geoff Tate (Queensryche), Don Dokken (Dokken).
On guitar solos are Craig Goldie (DIO and Giuffria), Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister), Vivian Campbell (Dio), Brad Gillis (Night Rangers and Ozzy Osbourne's band), Neal Schon (Journey), George Lynch (Dokken), Yngwie Malmsteen (Alcatrazz), Vivian Campbell, Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot), Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser (Blue Öyster Cult), and Dave Murray and Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden on the track's rhythm base.
On backing vocals on the track are Vince Neil (Mötley Crüe), Tommy Aldridge (Ozzy Osbourne), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge/King Kobra), Vinny Appice (Dio), Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.), Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P. ), Mick Mars (Mötley Crüe), Michael McKean (aka David St. Hubbins of Spinal Tap), Ted Nugent, Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot), Harry Shearer (aka Derek Smalls of Spinal Tap), Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge) and people from the bands Rough Cutt, Dokken and Giuffria.
3.- Do they know it's Christmas?.
It is difficult to know which was the first charity song in history, but it is possible to identify Do they know it's Christmas? as the first to become a hit.
In 1983 some television reports highlighted the famine in Ethiopia which shocked the UK. Bob Geldof was deeply affected and met with Ultravox singer Midge Ure and agreed to work together on a charity album.
Geldof called all the contacts he had and put together the impressive list of musicians that appear on the song Do they know it's Christmas? This impromptu group was called Band Aid.
A host of famous musicians from Britain and Ireland came to the recording studio, including Sting , George Michael , Bono of U2 , Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran , Paul Weller , Boy George , Status Quo , Phil Collins , Paul Young, members of Spandau Ballet , Kool & The Gang , Big Country , Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
In the UK the song reached number 1 and remained there for five weeks during the 1984 Christmas vacations, grossing a total of £8 million within twelve months of its release.
It became the best-selling single in UK chart history at the time and was the best-selling song of the decade in the UK.
This is my proposal in the #threetunetuesday initiative promoted by 
