I was listening to the 12' of hello at work. The line "There's just as much hunger here at home". Made perfect sense to me. We have tried for so many years try to be the heros of the world when there's problems. What about our own homefront?

So my question to you is: Did you think Prince was being an asshole at the time, or trying to prove a point? A lot of industry people thought he was a real big jerk for not singing. Although Sheila E. was present. Just like him not performing live at the USA for Africa concerts. He just gave a video "4 The Tears In Your Eyes". (Great song!)

I'll be honest, at the time I thought Prince made a bad move not performing w/ everyone. But now many years later I can see his reason why.

Strangely enough--I was reading an old mag article on the REAL reason he didn't do the session.

I never heard this before---he was bailing out a paparazzi photogragher!

Kinda odd--this is from MUSICIAN '88.

[This message was edited Mon Nov 11 17:24:39 PST 2002 by Heavenly]

Simply put he didnt want to be part of the decadence & star schmoozing and pat-on-the-back stuff that went with the whole thing.
Just look at the difference between the We R the World footage and the Do they know it Christmas footage.
U know they consumed $250,000 worth of Champagne at the recordign of We are the World!!!
Ironically don'tcha think We Are The World is more appropriate for a theme song for U.S.A Foreign policy?

Lets be honest now. There was no real reason. He was just 2 shy to be with all the other artist/stars. He is a control freak. Would prince sing on a other mans song with no saying in it. He wants to control the whole recording proces.

He probably wanted no part because We are the World sucked

I have a few ideas why Prince did not participate in We Are The World . . .

1) At the time, he was just too full of himself. He was just coming off Purple Rain, and his stardom was still climbing. He did not want to participate, because in his mind he probably thought he was better.

2) He would never sing in an ensemble cast - especially one that was orchestrated by Michael Jackson. Unless Prince is in control (or unless he is the center of attention) he won't do it. I say that because when he is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, he will have to perform in the jam session (it's tradition) - but he'll be in the spotlight.

3) Prince does not sing well with others. He has his own style (many times recorded as multiple layers) that doesn't blend with other voices. Think about it: how many of his duets (not just songs where they take turns singing, but actually sing together) are good?

4) Just plain Controversy. Maybe he knew that not going would somehow give him more publicity.

And I believe that the whole "just as much hunger here at home" speech (even though is IS true) was simply him trying to back-pedal and save some face.

Band-Aid really was a monumental event, and to this day that song gives me chills. The voices all blend together, and they just seem to be on another level than We Are The World. WATW seemed to be a copycat, and a poorly done one at that.

It is better, in hindsight, that he didn't do it. Nobody involved in WATW is remembered for that event - it was a novelty.

i've always thought his actions were due to the fact that charity is supposed to be anonymous. At least according to the Bible. If you are getting free publicity due to your involvemnt with a charity, you are in a sense using that charity to gain something for yourself. I think Prince has always done a lot of charity work, only in privacy.

SexualSuicide said:

Im kind of glad he didnt sing on it..shpws his rebel side at the time..and it wasnt becaue of his excuse that he was intimidated by all the 'talent' ..he just ddint want to sing a sing written by someone else, namely MJ and lionel. He sent his emissary Sheila E to represent..just as if he was a godfather etc...and yeah he had already given to the cause of hunger in the U.S., given to the Marva Colliins fund etc..Princ e did right on his own without all the back pating of those celebrities. Besides, the likes of LaToya and others were on the record too--I mean wtf? Plus we got a great song by prince out of him not being on it.

Heavenly said:

Well because he went to carlos n Charlies that night and photogs jumped in his car snappin photos etc pulling some bullshit..apparazzi just jumpin in hi s limo etc ..and his bodyguard popped their asses one! It isnt like they went out terrorizing Sunset Strip.

Persian said:

And the video..Michael Jackson gets his own spot where they pan from his shiny shoes all the way up to is made up face like he's the special one--USA for Africa my ass.

Se7en said:

He doesn't have to. See John Fogerty and Solomon Burke. Neither performed, and they're only the two I know of off the top of my head. Even Michael Jackson, apparently because of reported foot problems, didn't perform in the jam session.


"Love Bizzare," "You Make My Sunshine," "1000 Hugs & Kisses," "U Got The Look."

Personally I don't like the last one, but that's because I don't like the song, not necessarily because the duet didn't work. Prince sounds excellent dueting in these songs.

The controversy over the whole We Are The World was complete bullshit. It's not like Prince was the only recording artist that wasn't there, he just happened to be "hot" at the time so the story flew much faster than it would have otherwise. Showing up at a recording session isn't the only way to be altruistic. In fact, other ways are more preferable.

SexLovely said:

True on this! Even RUN-DMC got praise for their set--most bands were in top form on this day ( except Dylan and Keith Richards band co.). And this performance put U2 over the top and they along with Queen became legends when Bono umped offstage to help a girl who was being crushed and ended up saving and dancing with her in the melee'...(even though I cant stand U2! and they suck). But Prince and Co. could have ripped shit. He ws on UTCM and Parade projects at this time so Im not sure if the Live Aid crowd would have been as open to tha material and him not doing the PR tour stuff anymore.

Supernova-

Perhaps what you and I consider "duets" differs. To me, it's where 2 voices share the spotlight - in real time - together.

There are only 3 Prince songs that I consider duets: Take Me With U, Arms Of Orion, and Madonna's Love Song -- the latter 2 being quite poor, IMO. (Take Me With U is great though).

The others - and this is MY opinion - are not true duets. They take turns singing - and maybe one performs backup vocals - but do you consider them actual duets?

Now, having said this, how do you think Prince would have performed on We Are The World? Strongly? Poorly?

And about the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame:

You're right. He doesn't technically have to, but I feel it would be a mistake not to.

His induction next year is about him, not record labels, not radio play, but about him and his accomplishments.

To not perform at the induction ceremony would just prove how arrogant he can be. TO perform would prove that he's above the BS and ready to be taken seriously again.

Prince was, and remains, an idiot in his decision making and career moves.

I could type a list, but who could be bothered to read it all?

Se7en said:

I was going by your quote here:
"Prince does not sing well with others. He has his own style (many times recorded as multiple layers) that doesn't blend with other voices... Think about it: how many of his duets (not just songs where they take turns singing, but actually sing together) are good?"

Of course all the songs I mentioned aren't the same in terms of vocal arrangement, but in all those songs I mentioned both singers are doing some things that constitute duets. Either they're trading verses, and/or harmonizing, e.g. "A Love Bizzare." He's also doing a call and response with Sheila's vocals, along with the shadowing he's doing with their vocal harmonizing. "U Make My Sunshine" and "U Got The Look" ARE definitely duets in the traditional sense. He and Angie Stone's voices complement each other's completely. I don't know how anyone could think Prince's voice doesn't blend well with others when listening to those songs, but to each their own.


He would have sounded MUCH better than Springsteen, Dylan and Cyndi Lauper. But what's done is done. It's all academic. I don't wish he would have been there.

Btw, the weak vocalist in "Take Me With U" is Appledumpling, not Prince. Matter of fact, he made her sound more tolerable than she would have been without him.

imnotsayinthisjust2bnasty said:

This is correct of Prince. It has to be done for the right reason--not for publicity.

I Have a few ideas why The P didn't do We Are the World:

1. MJ

2. It sucked

3. MJ

4. It sucked

5. To make a point

6. MJ

7. It sucked

8. bailed out his bodygaurd

9. MJ

10. It sucked

11. Cindy Lauper...


MJ

'nuff said.

chookalana said:

You get a 4 lol rating for that one!

imnotsayinthisjust2bnasty said:

So on that VH1 special put together by Prince that video I saw of Prince handing out jackets to little kids was anonymous?

I must say...I saw Cyndi Lauper - when she didn't have to be the "stereotype" the industry laid on her - performing songs from her Hat Full of Stars album, live at First Avenue. She is a very talented song-writer and vocalist - her portrayal of the crazy and colorful Lauper was what was expected of her if she wanted any backing by the record companies. If you like jazz, check her out - for real

http://www.cyndilauper.co...hname=hfos

Kudos to Cyndi

I think that it's good that he didn't do it. Even if the point he was trying to make was to save face, it's a damn good one! Why is it that we in the U.S. help everybody but ourselves? Isn't there something wrong with the picture that we are the babysitters of the rest of the free world?

I think he didn't contribute because he just didn't want to. Whether he doesn't like singing in a group, whether he thought the song sucked or whether he prefers anonymous contributions is his own business. Is performing due to public pressure doing it for the right reasons? I don't think so.

By this point we should all realise that Prince doesn't go with the flow. He doesn't follow the celebrity herd, he speaks minimally to the press, he avoids awards presentations and the like, etc. That's how he likes it, and good on him for doing his business his way.

Here's a little trivia about the "We Are The World" song...


***Originally,Stevie Wonder was supposed to write this song but he was busy recording his 'In Square Circle' album.So Quincy asked Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie to write the song instead.

***"We Are The World" has sold more copies than any other single in history.

***At the entrance to the recording studio,Quincy placed a sign on the door that said "CHECK YOUR EGOS AT THE DOOR".Perhaps this is the REAL reason Prince didn't do it?

I remember reading an interview with Prince about this. He said that the reason was that he felt intimidated being on a stage/in a studio with so many other talented people, many of whom he respected/idolized and felt that he wouldn't be able to contribute that much or some such.

When approached about it, he said he didn't want to sing, but he'd be willing to play guitar on the track, but Quincy declined his offer.

So, he offered up 4 The Tears In Your Eyes as a cut for the album.

Whether this was the real reaseon or not, I guess it's plausible and gave him a way to save some face.

I'm glad he didn't join in. The song is so sacharine and maudlin and I did see it as more self-promotional than anything.

The absolute coolest part, however, was the following year at one of the award shows (was it the Grammy's?) when they had the big sing-along at the end of the show. Prince was standing in the front row of the stage, not singing, just sucking on his lollipop. Quincy shoved a microphone in his face trying to get him to sing. Prince popped the sucker out of his mouth and shoved it in Quincy's face like, "Want a lick?" Absolutely hilarious!

Theres a Prince interview on CD where he explains that he was intimidated by being around so many great musicians, which is supposedly why he decided to contribute a song on his own.

I think thats the polite excuse.

Prince could have flat out clocked the whole thing for being phony right off the bat, but until the public had a chance to witness it and see it for themselves, I think Prince would have got labeled an asshole. Instead he bowed out politely and let things run their course. Besides, the single we got from it is better, and a bit more sincere and personal than We Are The World.

DavidEye said:
***"We Are The World" has sold more copies than any other single in history.




Until Elton John re-did his own song "Candle In the Wind" for Princess Diana..

Now THAT song has sold more copies that any other single...

MJ

'nuff said.

chookalana said:[quote]DavidEye said:
***"We Are The World" has sold more copies than any other single in history.


...and I don't know a single soul that owns a copy.