Yesterday evening I was watching old videos and in one of these, the Oscars, but I do not remember the year, some famous singers were singing We Are The World;

before there Prince with a lollipop that did not sing, and at some point Quincy Jones handed him the microphone and jokingly Prince his lollipop .... but, why did not want to sing? thanks

ps: sorry my english

Oscar

Maybe because Prince and Quincy have a less than friendly history.

April 12.1985
We Are The World

1.We Are The World
2.If Only For The Moment, Girl
3.Just A Little Closer
4.Trapped
5.Tears Are Not Enough
6.4 The Tears In Your Eyes *
7.Good For Noghing
8.Total Control
9.Little More Love
10.Trouble In Paradise





from the recording 2 the performance Sheila goes from Glamorous Life -> Romance 1600
This song has a strong Purple Rain music feel, most likely written/recorded before the incident that created the Bside Hello

Hello
recorded in the Spring of 1985 Hello is essentially a blow by blow description of the events/evening of the We Are the World session, 4 The Tears In Your Eyes is the song Prince gladly wrote instead. Sheila E attended the We Are The World recording.
background vocals by Lisa Wendy & Jill Jones








1.28.1985 Prince & Jill JonesPermalinkdowntown L.A. on the way 2 Carlos & Charles rest.


Hello (Hello) Hello (Hello) {x3}
I tried 2 tell them that I didn't want 2 sing
But I'd gladly write a song instead
They said OK and everything was cool
Till a camera tried 2 get in my bed (Hello)
My bed (Hello) (Hello)

I was sittin' pretty with a beautiful friend ("Oh darling")
When this man tries 2 get in the car
("Hey Prince, come on, give us a smile, eh?")
No introduction, "How've U been?"
Just - "Up yours! Smile, that's right, U're a star!" (Star)

U call 'em bodyguards but I call 'em my friends
I guess I'm used 2 havin' 'em around
And cameras by nature like rewards
That's the trouble I get when I'm Uptown

I'm not afraid 2 die cuz I know there's a better place 2 go
(Don't be afraid cuz there's a better place 2 go)
I eat what I want, whole wheat toast
(U can eat what U want, anything is cool in moderation)
And I'm happy, and that's 4 sure

We're against hungry children, our record stands tall
But there's just as much hunger here at home
We'll do what we can if y'all try 2 understand
A flower that has water will grow
And a child misunderstood will go
Hello! {x3}
(Hello)

Everybody

Gotta he..., gotta he... he... hello!

I haven't lost my desire
I wouldn't beg U
Instead of playin' deduction of what 2 do
They called me rude often
When I called their hand
They judged me and told me that we're through
"Why can't U be like the others?"
I cried out over and again
"Why can't U learn 2 play by the rules?"
But maybe at last it's the end
Because I am not like others
I'm unique in the respect I'm not U

I know in my heart I would try 2 love U
I wouldn't try 2 hurt U despite all the ways U try 2 hurt me
U call me a fraud, an uncaring wretch
But I'm an artist and my only aim is 2 please
Between U and yours, myself and mine
Isn't life cruel enough without cruel words, cruel words?
U see, words are like shoes
They're just something 2 stand on
I wish U could be in my shoes
But they're probably so high, U'd fall off and die
4 U words are definitely not shoes
They're weapons and tools of destruction
And your time is boring unless U're putting something down
What would life be if we believed what we read
And a smile is just hiding a frown?
Come now, isn't life a little better with a pair of good shoes?

Sad about all the backlash against Prince only because of this event.

This was when the bad blood between Prince and MJ started.

anyway:

4 The Tears In Your Eyes is such a beautiful and catchy song.

IMO this song would have suited perfectly in on the Parade album (instead of Venus De Milo), but Prince was generous back then - and gave it away for We Are The World.

I can't help thinking the We Are The World incident and backlash did hurt Prince's recordsale for a long period of time, some were really angry at him.

how sad that was.

that was from a 10 year anniversary performance from some awards show. I forget which one. But yeah prince was a jerk and just sucked on his lollipop.

I am thinking it was the American Music Awards in 1995?

[Edited 11/8/10 6:47am]

What did USA for Africa actually do for the africans? Did people actually get fed?

^ why not try WikiPedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...tarian_aid

DecaturStone said:

What did USA for Africa actually do for the africans? Did people actually get fed?

yeah it helped. but the weird part is the problems had more to do with corrupt governments than lack of food or distribution.

oscar73 said:

Yesterday evening I was watching old videos and in one of these, the Oscars, but I do not remember the year, some famous singers were singing We Are The World;

before there Prince with a lollipop that did not sing, and at some point Quincy Jones handed him the microphone and jokingly Prince his lollipop .... but, why did not want to sing? thanks

ps: sorry my english

Oscar

It was American Music Awards: 30th Jan 1995

Any excuse he'll ever come up with why he didn't want to sing wouldn't justify his stupid behaviour.

i guess he had his own reasons, he seemed to be making clear a protest by being present but not singing. it had to be an artistic thing?..

it was a naff song, but i think he should have been a good sport & at least sung along at the award show.

4 the tears in your eyes was a beautiful contribution, i like the vid, he looks so good

[Edited 11/8/10 8:05am]

thedance said:

^ why not try WikiPedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...tarian_aid

because:

1) I'm Italian and I have some problem with the english language

2) wikipedia doesn't say why Prince didn't sang in that Show

3) I thinked that you americans knows some gossips that all the world didn't known......

anyway, most importan, thanks to all that have replied to my question.....

god bless.....

w USA

^ hey Oscar - cool, but my reply above was meant for DecaturStone,

You are italian?

good to see you here: I'm danish and also non- native english speaking....

btw..... the 1995 situation was funny imo, I laughed when I saw Prince just wouldn't let Quincy Jones taste the lollipop. Hilarious moment imo.......

thedance said:

^ hey Oscar - cool, but my reply above was meant for DecaturStone,

You are italian?

good to see you here: I'm danish and also non- native english speaking....

btw..... the 1995 situation was funny imo, I laughed when I saw Prince just wouldn't let Quincy Jones taste the lollipop. Hilarious moment imo.......

yes, unfortunately I'm italian.......and It's ok, i understand.....

i remember the Great Michael Laudrup.......oh god what player...

anyway, pls 2 meet u......

oscar

oscar73 said:

Yesterday evening I was watching old videos and in one of these, the Oscars, but I do not remember the year, some famous singers were singing We Are The World;

before there Prince with a lollipop that did not sing, and at some point Quincy Jones handed him the microphone and jokingly Prince his lollipop .... but, why did not want to sing? thanks

ps: sorry my english

Oscar

The video you're referring to is from the 1995 AMA's where received the AMA Award of Merit and they acknowledged the 10th anniversary of WATW.

maybe he didnt like being put on the spot. with all due respect to the project, there's a certain inaneness about someone shoving a microphone in your face, in the name of global concern.

plus, it doesnt help if you dont know the words lol and feel a bit of a twat standing on stage with people who do not occupy the same headspace as you.

prince is a stand alone guy, a maverick, not so good in groups, he'll lead a group, but doesnt feel comfortable being led in a group, or being part of a group, in my opinion.

"we are the world, we are the children, we are the ones who make a brighter day so lets start giving..." - sing it now lol

I'm looking for the piece where he talks about the WRtW incident

Rolling Stone |
Article publication date: April 26, 1985

PRINCE TALKS
BY NEAL KARLEN

He then plugs in a videocassette of "4 the Tears in Your Eyes,"
which he's just sent to the Live Aid folks for the big show.
"I hope they like it," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

Quincy Jones asked him to sing and he offered to write the song.

QJ told him no, the song was already written (by MJ and Lionel Ritchie).

Prince said "How about I put a guitar solo on it?"

QJ said no.

Prince told them he wasnt comfortable singing but he would contribute a song for the album.

QJ said cool.

Prince thought that was it but then he was lamblasted in the media for "no showing" the event...as if he had agreed to go.

Personally, I think he should have just sang like they asked him to, but for them to paint the picture that he chose to go party instead of helping the kids was ridiculous. They made it seem as if he changed his mind at the last minute.

My mom still has the Time (or Life) magazine that had the entire recording session in photos, complete with the lyrics and the name of the singer each lyric was assigned to. Yes...Prince's name was there.

If I remember correctly, Bob Dylan sang Prince's part.

OldFriends4Sale said:

On a side note...

One of my favorite pics.

Jill looks SOOOOOOO CUTE!!!!!

Also...a question.

He was sitting at the AMAs with Susannah...uh, where is she and how did she feel about Miss Jones?

The man's pimp hand was SUPA STRONG!

oscar73 said:

Yesterday evening I was watching old videos and in one of these, the Oscars, but I do not remember the year, some famous singers were singing We Are The World;

before there Prince with a lollipop that did not sing, and at some point Quincy Jones handed him the microphone and jokingly Prince his lollipop .... but, why did not want to sing? thanks

ps: sorry my english

Oscar

is the video on youtube.

PoppyBros said:

oscar73 said:

Yesterday evening I was watching old videos and in one of these, the Oscars, but I do not remember the year, some famous singers were singing We Are The World;

before there Prince with a lollipop that did not sing, and at some point Quincy Jones handed him the microphone and jokingly Prince his lollipop .... but, why did not want to sing? thanks

ps: sorry my english

Oscar

is the video on youtube.

I don't think so.....

DecaturStone said:

What did USA for Africa actually do for the africans? Did people actually get fed?

I saw a comedian once that said "When you see images of these starving children, there are always flies swarming around them. Why don't they just eat the flies?"

I was of course appalled by this remark and probably did not laugh at such a horrible joke. Probably.

squirrelgrease said:

DecaturStone said:

What did USA for Africa actually do for the africans? Did people actually get fed?

I saw a comedian once that said "When you see images of these starving children, there are always flies swarming around them. Why don't they just eat the flies?"

I was of course appalled by this remark and probably did not laugh at such a horrible joke. Probably.

That is just the meanest joke ever!!!!

geo4you said:

squirrelgrease said:

I saw a comedian once that said "When you see images of these starving children, there are always flies swarming around them. Why don't they just eat the flies?"

I was of course appalled by this remark and probably did not laugh at such a horrible joke. Probably.

That is just the meanest joke ever!!!!

I all fairness, there were not a lot of Ethiopian kids in the audience.

squirrelgrease said:

DecaturStone said:

What did USA for Africa actually do for the africans? Did people actually get fed?

I saw a comedian once that said "When you see images of these starving children, there are always flies swarming around them. Why don't they just eat the flies?"

I was of course appalled by this remark and probably did not laugh at such a horrible joke. Probably.

I of course would never have laughed hysterically at Sam Kinison's bit ("See what this is? This is sand! Food won't grow here!") either.

Efan said:

squirrelgrease said:

I saw a comedian once that said "When you see images of these starving children, there are always flies swarming around them. Why don't they just eat the flies?"

I was of course appalled by this remark and probably did not laugh at such a horrible joke. Probably.

I of course would never have laughed hysterically at Sam Kinison's bit ("See what this is? This is sand! Food won't grow here!") either.

I will not insert a spit-take emoticon here after reading that disturbing joke. No way, no how. There is no place for humor on this subject.

DecaturStone said:

What did USA for Africa actually do for the africans? Did people actually get fed?

Either Geldof or Bono wrote an article about the outcome of Live Aid. It was mostly about how politicans slowed down the process, and that once Ethipoia's government had gone through a change in the 90s, it improved. But they both also learned they needed to start using their fame to get in to talk to people of different governments, different political parties, and put hat in hand for money. Bono does as many lectures as he does rock concerts. Nothing wrong with it, it's proven more effective than some small group of people that no one's heard of trying to get some face time with a Senator. All they need to do is have a drink with Bono, if it's of interest to him, he starts making calls and heads off to talk to whoever can make things happen.

They both said they've become more realistic regarding social awareness. Small victories are fine as far as they're concerned. If they approve malaria nets, great. Bono in particular has been nonpartisan. He'll go on Bill O'Reilly, Jon Stewart, even Rush Limbaugh if need be, hang with Bush, Clinton, Obama.. left, right, center, etc. Either he gets a check or a signature from them, or he leaves empty handed.

Bono took his wife to Ethiopia back then and saw all the famine firsthand. Not exactly something you want to take the wife to, then again, she gets to live a posh life and hang with celebs.

StonedImmaculate said:

On a side note...

One of my favorite pics.

Jill looks SOOOOOOO CUTE!!!!!

Also...a question.

He was sitting at the AMAs with Susannah...uh, where is she and how did she feel about Miss Jones?

The man's pimp hand was SUPA STRONG!

Probably no different than Carmen felt about Mayte, or Mayte felt about Nona, and so on and so on...