Which version do you prefer? Being 3 years old when the original came out and never having heard it, I had assumed the version on The Hits was the only version. I remember hearing the original version and just not liking the faster pace of it. I prefer the newer version with its slow and haunting moodiness.

Since I knew the "We are the world" version first when it came out. I like that version best. That being said, I like the Hits version too.

purpledoveuk said:

Didn't realise there were multiple versions...don't care for it myself due to the religious theme

When I learned the lyrics to the song, I had no idea about its context. To me, it just fit the imagery of Prince and the Revolution (tears, sadness, devotion, etc). It wasn't until I was an adult and actually took the time to figure out WTF I was singing along to. It could've been a racist manifesto for all I knew.

@Purpledoveuk: There's the We Are The World version, and the LiveAid video version, the latter of which ended up The Hits/The B-Sides. It was with only Wendy & Lisa playing on it, whereas the former version was a 'full band' version.

It's definately a Purple Rain era song, even though when seen in video fashion Prince & Wendy had the short look already, looked like Lisa had on Prince's the Beautiful Ones (PRmovie) coat

ernestsewell said:

...the former version was a 'full band' version.

No,the original wasn't a "full band version".

Prince recorded it alone in a mobile truck on Feb.2,1985.

Wendy and Lisa added their voices to the track later in Feb. at Sunset Sound.

Before you try and school someone you should take a few classes yourself.

Either that or learn to use the search engine...

vault4sale said:

ernestsewell said:

...the former version was a 'full band' version.

No,the original wasn't a "full band version".

Prince recorded it alone in a mobile truck on Feb.2,1985.

Wendy and Lisa added their voices to the track later in Feb. at Sunset Sound.

Before you try and school someone you should take a few classes yourself.

Either that or learn to use the search engine...

You see the marks around "full band", right? Stop being a ridiculous fool and try to read. It's a full band SOUND, not some unplugged version like the video.

It's never been a big favorite. I enjoy it sometimes, but the music is a little unpleasant to my ear at times.

Was recorded the day after my first Prince concert (Purple Rain Tour) in the New Orleans, Superdome. Feb. 1985. Attendance for that show was 70,000. If i woulda known he was gonna record 4 the tears in your eyes the next day, I would have hid out in the Dome bathrooms. I was 16. The good old days!

Just heard the song a couple of months ago...def the live aid version...Wendy and Lisa's harmonies r so beautiful...I heard a snippet of the "We r the World" version and even though I heard just a few seconds..he sounds so hoarse and I dont like the faster pace either...the live aid version is much more emotional.

purpledoveuk said:

Always have to laugh at the "...and the dumb understand" line. Not very PC

I always thought he was referring to mutes with that comment rather than unintelligent people.

Spinlight said:

djdaffy1227 said:

Since I knew the "We are the world" version first when it came out. I like that version best. That being said, I like the Hits version too.

Me too,

I prefer the original too.

Efan said:

It's never been a big favorite. I enjoy it sometimes, but the music is a little unpleasant to my ear at times.

i feel the same. i've tried to like it but it just doesn't do much for me

I definitely prefer the We r the world version.

I prefer the We Are The World version. Prince looking like a wet rat in the video doesn't help my listening experience with the other version. There is also a boot out there with him doing the song on the Purple Rain tour, I think it was the Los Angeles show. I think that is with the full band (no full band and quotes either)!

I have to say I prefer the slower version....it is more poignant to me! The faster version is cool too, it just seems more fittingly with the slower beat following the lyrics.

I likve the slower version from Live Aid/Hits B-Sides. I think the slower pace goes well with the lyrics. It's probably one of the more simpler songs in terms of lyrics that Prince has ever written that deals with God and spirituality. I'm not a religious fanatic, but did go to Catholic school for 12 years and as soon as I heard the lyrics I was like wow someones been reading the Beatitudes. Pretty awesome.

at the wet rat comment!

[Edited 9/22/10 13:21pm]