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Thread started 06/23/15 1:28pm

ComeHereLetMeC
utYourHair

'We are the World'--the night Prince's Purple Reign ended


“I believe that moment [Prince's choice to go to Carlos and Charlie's nightclub instead of the 'We are the World' recording session] is what made people ambivalent about his greatness. When you get negative press going, you need twenty years for people to stop reflecting on it. And if guys like Springsteen or whoever are talking about how great he is, like they used to, it would add to the legend. But instead, everybody kind of backed off, like, ‘What the fuck kind of idiot is he that he would go to some dance club instead of just going there and singing two lines in the song?’”


“It was horrible. He had us go to Carlos and Charlie’s and have a fucking party. I remember it perfectly, thinking, ‘This is so wrong. This is so wrong.’ We were embarrassed. Everybody in the band was horrified. And that’s where it felt like, there’s something shifting here, where he’s getting nasty. The entitlement—it was almost like a kid with too much candy.” -Wendy


The only one in the history of the music industry to turn their back on Quincy Jones and every major recording artist of the time is unfortunately Prince. In my opinion, that's why Lionel Ritchie's 'Can't Slow Down' won the grammy for best album over 'Purple Rain' because every Prince turned his back on all of them. Purple Rain should have won 10 grammys (it had 10 nominations) and would have broken Michael Jackson's record of 8 grammys for 'Thriller', but Prince disrespected every other rock star with his stint after the AMAs (when they recorded We are the World). Prince was right, he should have played guitar on the song, but all he had to do was sing Michael Jackson's second verse. His head was blown up too big with the success of Purple Rain... that's why it's taken all these years to get Prince back in the music industry's good graces... it was the night his life and career as the Purple Great One ended.


"Prince did not appear in the big USA for Africa video because he was busy bailing out his bodyguards after they beat up some of his fans outside of a Hollywood restaurant.”


To read the full article:

https://medium.com/cuepoi...0babc363b9

Excerpted from:

"Let’s Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain" Alan Light
Published by Atria Books. Copyright © 2014

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Reply #1 posted 06/23/15 1:45pm

Dandroppedadim
e

don't agree. prince has the right to choose. end of. also who the fuck wants to be up quincy jones and lionel ritchies asshole. prince is a rebel and will always buck the trends of the industry.

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Reply #2 posted 06/23/15 1:45pm

PurpleSkipper5
8

Ahh bloody who cares.
[Edited 6/23/15 13:46pm]
”The people that will end up defining ‘Hate Speech Laws’ are the very people you don’t want to define the Hate Speech Laws” — Jordan B Peterson
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Reply #3 posted 06/23/15 2:44pm

KoolEaze

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Those folks that blasted him for not participating should go fuck themselves. Prince gave them a song, he wrote it from his hear while on tour, and he´s not obliged to take part in phony charity events. He does his charity work very discretely.

I bet all the money that all those who took part donated in their lifetime does not even come close to the donations and good deeds that Prince has done in secret over the decades. MJ was probably the only one who did a lot for charity. It´s stupid that the press picked on Prince and to this day still mentions that event in articles about him. That whole project was a farce to begin with.

Prince´s only fault was his honesty.

Fucking hypocrites!

" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #4 posted 06/23/15 2:45pm

KoolEaze

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As far as I´m concerned, the Purple Reign never ended.

It depends on how you look at it.

" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #5 posted 06/23/15 2:52pm

ComeHereLetMeC
utYourHair

KoolEaze said:

As far as I´m concerned, the Purple Reign never ended.

It depends on how you look at it.

For me too brother, for me too!!... but I'm talking about commercial success with radio airplay as the marker but then again, that can be argued...I just wish he would have won 10 grammys that year to argue the mj vs prince thing at the time...

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Reply #6 posted 06/23/15 2:55pm

ComeHereLetMeC
utYourHair

KoolEaze said:

Those folks that blasted him for not participating should go fuck themselves. Prince gave them a song, he wrote it from his hear while on tour, and he´s not obliged to take part in phony charity events. He does his charity work very discretely.

I bet all the money that all those who took part donated in their lifetime does not even come close to the donations and good deeds that Prince has done in secret over the decades. MJ was probably the only one who did a lot for charity. It´s stupid that the press picked on Prince and to this day still mentions that event in articles about him. That whole project was a farce to begin with.

Prince´s only fault was his honesty.

Fucking hypocrites!

there is no one in the world who was more charitable than Michael Jackson...I think he donated hundreds of millions but your right, he made his donations publicly known

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Reply #7 posted 06/23/15 3:03pm

warning2all

There was no right or wrong about singing that cheesy song--it was only a choice.

Prince is a shy guy- thats an uncomfortable environment for anyone shy. Who are we to judge a shy guy in those circumstances- plus he donated a song in the process--so people need to let it go.

Prince has never been that popular compared to many because of his general unlikeability. "Purple Rain" was just too awesometo ignore.
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Reply #8 posted 06/23/15 3:13pm

terrig

I remember at the time there were also alot of stories how money from these kinds of showboat charity efforts never made it to those in need, i believe reading somewhere that Prince was opposed to that kind of misappropriation, but I could be remembering it incorrectly.

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Reply #9 posted 06/23/15 3:13pm

NorthC

Bob Dylan chose to participate in this We Are the World thing and it was one of the most embarassing moments of his whole carreer. And he took Ron Wood & Keith Richards with him. But, in time, both Bob and The Stones came back strong. And where is Jacko now? tombstone
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Reply #10 posted 06/23/15 3:18pm

kae510

I don't remember where i read an article much later on that these same musicians/artists of We Are The World that were blasting Prince, they were actually drinkin Champagne , eating Caviar & gettin high all through that session . Who can be inspired through all of that nonsense ?

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Reply #11 posted 06/23/15 3:23pm

KoolEaze

avatar

kae510 said:

I don't remember where i read an article much later on that these same musicians/artists of We Are The World that were blasting Prince, they were actually drinkin Champagne , eating Caviar & gettin high all through that session . Who can be inspired through all of that nonsense ?

Prince, on the other hand, wrote his contribution (For the Tears in Your Eyes) while on tour, sipping on some warm Pepsi Cola from a can, eating a salami sandwich. Both were from the lunch boxes of the workers at the venue.

" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #12 posted 06/23/15 3:25pm

scorp84

This rehashed thread always ends one of two ways: "MJ vs Prince" or "We Are The World" sucked anyway". Enough already. It served its purpose by raising awareness and lots of money. The backlash was inevitable had he showed up that night or not.
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Reply #13 posted 06/23/15 3:43pm

bobzilla77

I kind of appreciate why Wendy would have thought it was unseemly to go have a lavish party on a night when everyone else was participating in a big charity event. When all the dool kids are doing something, you want to be part of that too.

But the idea that there is anything "shameful" or disrespectful about not participating in a giant celebrity circle jerk for the cameras is really laughable.

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Reply #14 posted 06/23/15 7:21pm

thedance

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We Are The World.. we are the children..???

What an awful song, imo........ lots and lots of cheese..... lol biggrin

I am glad Prince wasn't in this Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie show.


Still the best song on the album is "4 The Tears In Your Eyes" by Prince & The Revolution.

The rest on the album are so poor, it sucks. wink

Prince 4Ever. heart
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Reply #15 posted 06/23/15 7:28pm

thedance

avatar

it sure backfired with a lot of negativity, towards Prince.

it sure was hurting Prince's career also, a backlash was created.

well done Mr Jackson.... yeah I think I blame the Jackson camp for this set up..

It sure did not help on the sales figures on Prince albums in the years to come (back then 85-87).

I remember a lot of people thought Prince was a huge prick for not showing up.

I thought Prince did the right thing, back then Prince could do nothing wrong imo. cool

Prince 4Ever. heart
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Reply #16 posted 06/23/15 8:00pm

controversy99

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I remember a lot of people not caring about this at all. That's my main memory.

Where were Mick Jagger, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Parker Jr., and Rick James? -- to name a few other major stars not on that song.
"Love & honesty, peace & harmony"
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Reply #17 posted 06/23/15 8:13pm

SoulAlive

Yes,Prince did experience a slight backlash over this,but it wasn't just because of this one incident.Throughout 1985,he did alot of "weird" things that people just couldn't understand.

He showed up at Elizabeth Taylor's house for dinner,but he insisted that his bodyguards inspect her house before he entered.Taylor was pissed and went to the media with this story."I asked him,did you think I hired assasins?!" eek

He cussed out a young fan who asked him for an autograph.

He had his bodyguards beat up a photographer who got too close to him.

Things were getting so out of hand that even The Gap Band had to comment on it biggrin Their 1985 video "Disrespect" is clearly directed at Prince.

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Reply #18 posted 06/23/15 10:54pm

EroticDreamer

He wouldn't be Prince if he showed up for that.

Plus if he did show up we wouldn't have Hello and it's better remix.

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Reply #19 posted 06/24/15 12:01am

ComeHereLetMeC
utYourHair

SoulAlive said:

Yes,Prince did experience a slight backlash over this,but it wasn't just because of this one incident.Throughout 1985,he did alot of "weird" things that people just couldn't understand.

He showed up at Elizabeth Taylor's house for dinner,but he insisted that his bodyguards inspect her house before he entered.Taylor was pissed and went to the media with this story."I asked him,did you think I hired assasins?!" eek

He cussed out a young fan who asked him for an autograph.

He had his bodyguards beat up a photographer who got too close to him.

Things were getting so out of hand that even The Gap Band had to comment on it biggrin Their 1985 video "Disrespect" is clearly directed at Prince.

OMG you're a star! I had never seen nor heard of this song and it's hilarrrrious how much they dog Prince in their video... when they show him as the size of people's shoe's being chased by a purple whale on the piano--amazzzing! Thanks SoulAlive! Prince did disrespect the entire industry taking the saying 'true artists don't worry about others opinions' to a whole other level.

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Reply #20 posted 06/24/15 1:03am

Blixical

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Prince has been wise to avoid singing on any track written by or involving Michael Jackson, and as a Prince fan, I deeply from the very bottom of my stone cold black heart thank him.

We are the World was a huge, annoying joke. Prince gave them a song [4 the Tears in Ur Eyes] and was quite clear with them that he didn't not want to sing on the album's title track.

Big name stars at the time like Rick Springfield, David Lee Roth, Joan Jett, Billy Ocean, and Olivia Newton John didn't make appearances on the track, either. Although Prince was arguably the biggest name in pop at the time, I don't get why he should be chastised for not singing on thet track.

Additionally, Prince has given to numerous charities in a more low key manner, to include inner city school projects and community development projects. He just didn't need to be praised and glorified publically for doing so.

In the end, Prince has been relatively generous to various charities. He reserves his stingyness, rath, and unadulterated ire for his fans instead.


/

[Edited 6/24/15 1:04am]

มีเพียงความว่างเปล่า rose 只有空虚 rose Dim ond gwacter rose 만 공허함이있다 rose 唯一の虚しさがあります wilted There is only the void.
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Reply #21 posted 06/24/15 2:42am

Rebeljuice

One thing is for sure, Live/Band Aid made a lot of wealthy African dictators a lot more wealthy. If you want to donate to African causes, find the people working on the ground and give to them directly. These marathon donor programs and global charities dont work. The money filters through too many sticky fingers.

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Reply #22 posted 06/24/15 3:02am

Vannormal

He made a choice which led to the great "4 the tears in your eyes" + a great performance of that song !

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves. And wiser people so full of doubts" (Bertrand Russell 1872-1972)
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Reply #23 posted 06/24/15 3:49am

Neversin

avatar

KoolEaze said:

Those folks that blasted him for not participating should go fuck themselves. Prince gave them a song, he wrote it from his hear while on tour, and he´s not obliged to take part in phony charity events. He does his charity work very discretely.

I bet all the money that all those who took part donated in their lifetime does not even come close to the donations and good deeds that Prince has done in secret over the decades. MJ was probably the only one who did a lot for charity. It´s stupid that the press picked on Prince and to this day still mentions that event in articles about him. That whole project was a farce to begin with.

Prince´s only fault was his honesty.

Fucking hypocrites!



http://prince.org/msg/7/371376

Neversin.

[Edited 6/24/15 3:51am]

O(+>NIИ<+)O

“Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man's?”

- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
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Reply #24 posted 06/24/15 4:27am

udo

avatar

  • Did 'we are the world' really change anything? Mean anything? Solve any problem?
  • Does P singing 90% hits signify anything?

If you answer those maybe you know more.

Pills and thrills and daffodils will kill... If you don't believe me or don't get it, I don't have time to try to convince you, sorry.
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Reply #25 posted 06/24/15 5:57am

BartVanHemelen

avatar

Oh goody, a rehash from October 2014.

© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for
your use. All rights reserved.
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Reply #26 posted 06/24/15 8:33am

NorthC

Rebeljuice said:

One thing is for sure, Live/Band Aid made a lot of wealthy African dictators a lot more wealthy. If you want to donate to African causes, find the people working on the ground and give to them directly. These marathon donor programs and global charities dont work. The money filters through too many sticky fingers.


You're right, but I don't think a lot of people realized that back then. All we saw was starving people. No one knew that the famine was used as a weapon of war.
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Reply #27 posted 06/24/15 9:19am

databank

avatar

Awesome excerpt, I really have to read this book!

Regarding the WATW fiasco, OK maybe going to a club wasn't the smartest thing and the bodyguard incident was really bad luck, but I always thought P had done the right thing not singing (I didn't know he'd offered to play the guitar). I mean seriously, I wouldn't have gone either, those charity songs are just embarrassing artistically speaking. P was too underground, too artyfarty -no matter how successful- to be a part of that IMHO, he would just have been outta place. And people's outrage is ridiculous, as if anyone was obligated to do such a thing. I like what Susan says about the sleepless night without food vs. champagne and caviar lol

A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
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Reply #28 posted 06/24/15 9:39am

Genesia

avatar

Rebeljuice said:

One thing is for sure, Live/Band Aid made a lot of wealthy African dictators a lot more wealthy. If you want to donate to African causes, find the people working on the ground and give to them directly. These marathon donor programs and global charities dont work. The money filters through too many sticky fingers.


exclaim

We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #29 posted 06/24/15 9:57am

MarcelS67

SoulAlive said:

Yes,Prince did experience a slight backlash over this,but it wasn't just because of this one incident.Throughout 1985,he did alot of "weird" things that people just couldn't understand.

He showed up at Elizabeth Taylor's house for dinner,but he insisted that his bodyguards inspect her house before he entered.Taylor was pissed and went to the media with this story."I asked him,did you think I hired assasins?!" eek

He cussed out a young fan who asked him for an autograph.

He had his bodyguards beat up a photographer who got too close to him.

Things were getting so out of hand that even The Gap Band had to comment on it biggrin Their 1985 video "Disrespect" is clearly directed at Prince.

Oooh that was great, Uncle Charlie and the gang were pretty funny, never seen this.

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Forums > Prince: Music and More > 'We are the World'--the night Prince's Purple Reign ended