To say I’m not a fan of charity songs is putting it lightly. It’s not just that the songs are bland, but they often seem more like promotion for the acts involved rather than promotion for the causes they are supposed to support. The biggest example is 1985′s “We Are The World,”? which, to many, is one of the worst records ever recorded. Having this song chart with other records was a major mistake since people bought other records for the actual quality.
Still, USA for Africa organizers were so happy to announce that it was one of the biggest selling singles ever. Since “We Are The World,” we’ve had more charity disasters such as “Hands Across America,”? “Voices That Care,”? and music’s most disastrous single ever, Elton John’s “England’s Rose.”? Elton John’s record, released immediately after the death of Princess Diana, came across as an exploitation of Princess Diana’s death rather than a charity single. After all, calling the song a charity record, having people buy it for that purpose, and then using those sales to promote it as a “number one hit” not only left a bad taste, but it was the only way Elton could ever score a hit at the time.
Now, Madonna enters the Charity Hall of Fame (or Shame) with “Hey You”? and when this record arrived in my email box, I really didn’t want to listen to it. Madonna’s last album, Confessions on a Dancefloor, sold over ten million copies worldwide. Her tour in support of the album was the most successful tour ever by a female artist. Her recent clothing line for H&M has been a major success, despite mixed reviews. So why does she have to do the charity gig now?
I was even more disappointed when I read that the song was produced with Pharrell Williams. He’s a good producer, but Madonna has always been ahead of the game rather than jumping on the hit bandwagon. What’s next, Madonna and Justin Timberlake? Oops! It looks like that’s already happening. Anyhow, I hesitantly gave the song a spin and was surprisingly hooked the first time.
“Hey You”? is about helping make the world a better place. She sings, “Hey you, don’t you give up/It’s not so bad, there’s still a chance for us,”? at the opening and towards the end, sings the clichA
Sticky & Sweet 
Tom Munro 
Revolver 
Hope For Haiti 
Sticky & Sweet 
Madonna - Celebration 
Madonna - Celebration
Madonna - Celebration
Madonna - Celebration
Madonna - Celebration 
I Am Because We Are 
Filth and Wisdom 
I Am Because We Are 
Miles Away 
Sticky & Sweet 
Madonna Confessions 
Madonna 2009 
Give It 2 Me 
Give It 2 Me 
Hard Candy 
Hard Candy 
4 Minutes 
4 Minutes 
this just aint madonna, no wonder it’s free!! no more political songs.
I think most people don’t like Madonna to sing ballad. This kind of song is similar to the ones in American Life album. No wonder that album sales was not so great.
Having said that, this song works for me and it actually moves me. Something about her voice and the melody that is just very typical Madonna. It works everytime, for me at least.
Some people are more into her upbeat material. For me, track like I Love New York is simply very bad. However, it still rocks to see her singing it in the concert. She may not always satisfy her fans everytime and all the time. But she will still be our Madonna that can surprise us with cool and catchy song sooner or later. That is why we all love Madonna
I was madly awaiting for “Her Madgesty’s” very next move after the bouncy COAD & unfortunatelly I had to face this almost awfull song. I agree that SHE knows, this is not one of her great moments, but only a creative intermission before the big surprise with (Oh!) Timbaland & (Golden Touch) Justin.
September is not far away for the new “M” !!!
But I cannot stand her in other political songs …
PS: “M” I-LOVE-YOU.-
It is obvious you really do not like that song…
but for me it is really NOT her worst song ever 
there are still people out there who like it 
Of course it is not Hung Up, Jump, Vogue, Like A Prayer, etc. but it is not her worst song… it is a different side of Madonna and I am happy she decided to do something else and trying something else. If you decide to vomit next time, I advice to take a pill next time 
Thx Claudio
) Take care as well 
Cool Kristin,
to further clarify my point I think that in many cases we can talk about personal preferences and, where there are people that like something there are as many that don’t… this is part of our human nature..
Though, while I agree this is often the case, unfortunately I don’t think we can use this excuse here; the fact that so many people in this forum (clearly big Madonna’s fun and only ready to triumph to a new song) don’t like the song should give us an idea on what the general public will say…
I personally don’t like ‘we are the world’ I just think it is a much better song then this… and my point was ‘we are the world’ was released in the mid 80′s when such type of trashy music would sell…
Also Madonna, during that time, had a few ‘Trashy’ tracks but we all liked them (including me) and I am sure it would not be the same nowadays.
Anyway nice talk, I am glad at least somebody had some vibes from this track
Take Care and Best of Luck to you
I understand … but there are also many people that like that song
) It is so different of what Madonna has done so far, and in her case I really like changes, and this one was a very nice one. I truly like that song. TRULY !!!! And I truly missed something like that on THe Dancfloor album, cause for me there are few songs I would replace withis one 
)
) For me it is very boring, but I am sure even then people were thinking that this song would change the world, the behaviour of people, I think there is no song healing the world, and open eyes of people . Sadly, even not the Madonna´s Hey You… though I love it 
) And though I would love to help to change,…. well, I guess you understood what I was trying to say with my poor English 
)
And u know, actually, there is no song in this world, sang by Madonna or not, that all the people would like. There is always someone who like and who doesn´t like that specific song… E.G. you consider We Are The World as a good song … hmmm, me really not.
it´s not a really good song but some friends of mine who are not madonna´s friend told me that this was was actually a good track!
so…anyway now I ve been listening the song and there´s part very prince that is kind of cool.
this is the worst Madonna song, EVER! i almost vomited… and yes, i love Madonna, have since i was a wee lad, but that does not make her superhuman. she can write a bad song or two. and this one just happens to be the worst of them all… sorry. i was over the singer/songwriter thing years ago and it’s old. move on Madonna, you do that best.
Kristin,
Everything has a reason in Madonna’s word and there must be one behind this disaster, she is a maniac when it comes to planning, she knows exactly what she wants, how she wants it and how to make it right; the fact she has not done it in this occasion must have a
Dear Claudio
Don’t forgat Madonna is the QUEEN and every song she makes is great and it goes to your heart.
And if you don’t like this song it don’t means that it’s a bad song.
Claudio, I understand and respect your decission of not liking the track of course .. but I felt bit confused of how you talk for Madonna “I am sure Madonna knows this is a bad track ” … would be interested in Madnna´s answer if you tell her this into her eyes
)
Question: Would u dare ?
)
Hi Kristin,
well I am just a bit serious… I struggle to understand why she has done it, it is clear to everybody (in and out of the music business) that this is a bad track also, people must have adviced her on that… hence I am looking for a justification as she must have known…
Hey You is a good song, but i dnt think its one of her best. But its still way better than most songs being produced now. Madonna is awesome!
I have to admit that the first time I heard the song I hated it. yeah, it was the first time that I listened and didn’t like a Madonna song. I felt disapointed, but I listened the song once again, and again, and again…and I’m learning to like it.
I make mine the words from an amizing portuguese poet, Fernando Pessoa: “primeiro estranha-se, depois entranha-se”
I can’t really translate it, but is something like: first it is strange, then it is deep. something like that, but it does not make sense in english. =)
Claudio, YES!!
You can´t be serious with your last sentence, Claudio…?
… well it didn’t work for me AT ALL and I am sure this applies to many of us; it feels like one of the first Madonna’s songs she used to make as album
Madonna rocks….’Hey You’ great song…great vocals…I love Madonna.
the song hey you it’s beautiful!!!!