I have a question for you "Prince Experts". I feel I am a solid Prince fan, from about back at Controversy days, but still can't figure this one out. Prince had always seems to be very involved in participating and donating to charities. And I had read for the "We are the World" charity event, he wrote his own song and submitted it. I also read he did not participate in the sing. I was fine with that. Thought it was awesome he would create his own song for this charity. But, I'm looking more into his history now and it looks like he attended this sing. He was standing beside Quincy Jones with a sucker in his mouth and not singing. Just standing there and looking very "cocky"... sorry best word I could find. Can anyone provide me with their thoughts or more information on what you think happened? I'd appreciate your input. Thank you!

I think WB forced him to put in an appearance, but he wouldn't do anything. And believe me, people around him in hi own camp were pretty annoyed with him for being a jerk about being there.

rwhiting said:

I have a question for you "Prince Experts". I feel I am a solid Prince fan, from about back at Controversy days, but still can't figure this one out. Prince had always seems to be very involved in participating and donating to charities. And I had read for the "We are the World" charity event, he wrote his own song and submitted it. I also read he did not participate in the sing. I was fine with that. Thought it was awesome he would create his own song for this charity. But, I'm looking more into his history now and it looks like he attended this sing. He was standing beside Quincy Jones with a sucker in his mouth and not singing. Just standing there and looking very "cocky"... sorry best word I could find. Can anyone provide me with their thoughts or more information on what you think happened? I'd appreciate your input. Thank you!

You're thinking of two different events, possibly.

He was invited to the original January 1985 recording but never made it. The recording session took place overnight right after the AMAs that year. People literally went from the award show to the recording studio. (Springsteen drove himself, and parked his jeep across the street, and just walked up. Security didn't know who he was at first.) Prince's side of the story is addressed in the b-side song "Hello".

When the song was revisited on the AMAs (or Grammys?), he was on stage but didn't sing. I can't blame him for that. He wasn't there the first time, why would he sing it 10 years later? He didn't need to make up for anything, nor owed anyone a note.

He talked to Quincy, and asked to submit a song for the album, which was "4 The Tears In Your Eyes". He did want to contribute something. Q was cool with that.

By the way, his part-to-be on the original record was eventually sung by Huey Lewis, in the bridge. It would have been the first (and possibly only) duet between MJ and Prince, since MJ sang on the bridge, too. Huey's solo line was "but if you just believe, there's no way we can fall..." that would have been Prince's line, but the 3 or 4 part harmony at the end of the bridge.

MJ: When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
Prince (Huey): But if you just believe, there's no way we can fall
Cyndi Lauper: Well, well, well, well let us realize that a change can only come
Kim Carnes: When we

All four: stand together as one

During the Purple Rain Tour (and possibly others), Prince had canned food donation setups at most of the shows. A lot of people saw it as a reconciliation to the whole We Are The World fiasco, but it wasn't a fiasco for anyone. It was just negative press. Even Bob Geldof tried to clap back at Prince after it all. "It will be forever to his shame that he did not show up."

SpookyNopetopus said:

I think WB forced him to put in an appearance, but he wouldn't do anything. And believe me, people around him in hi own camp were pretty annoyed with him for being a jerk about being there.

Yeah, but someone's always going to be annoyed with him about something, so to say "believe me..." - we weren't there, and it's a simple go-to to say people were pissed. Prince learned early on that you can't please everyone, so what you want regardless. I can't see WB forcing Prince to do anything, anyway, especially by 1995.

SpookyNopetopus said:

I think WB forced him to put in an appearance, but he wouldn't do anything. And believe me, people around him in hi own camp were pretty annoyed with him for being a jerk about being there.

Thank you. That's about what I expected. He defintely had battles with Warner Brother's. I think it would have looked better if he just didn't show up.

TrivialPursuit said:

rwhiting said:

I have a question for you "Prince Experts". I feel I am a solid Prince fan, from about back at Controversy days, but still can't figure this one out. Prince had always seems to be very involved in participating and donating to charities. And I had read for the "We are the World" charity event, he wrote his own song and submitted it. I also read he did not participate in the sing. I was fine with that. Thought it was awesome he would create his own song for this charity. But, I'm looking more into his history now and it looks like he attended this sing. He was standing beside Quincy Jones with a sucker in his mouth and not singing. Just standing there and looking very "cocky"... sorry best word I could find. Can anyone provide me with their thoughts or more information on what you think happened? I'd appreciate your input. Thank you!

You're thinking of two different events, possibly.

He was invited to the original January 1985 recording but never made it. The recording session took place overnight right after the AMAs that year. People literally went from the award show to the recording studio. (Springsteen drove himself, and parked his jeep across the street, and just walked up. Security didn't know who he was at first.) Prince's side of the story is addressed in the b-side song "Hello".

When the song was revisited on the AMAs (or Grammys?), he was on stage but didn't sing. I can't blame him for that. He wasn't there the first time, why would he sing it 10 years later? He didn't need to make up for anything, nor owed anyone a note.

He talked to Quincy, and asked to submit a song for the album, which was "4 The Tears In Your Eyes". He did want to contribute something. Q was cool with that.

By the way, his part-to-be on the original record was eventually sung by Huey Lewis, in the bridge. It would have been the first (and possibly only) duet between MJ and Prince, since MJ sang on the bridge, too. Huey's solo line was "but if you just believe, there's no way we can fall..." that would have been Prince's line, but the 3 or 4 part harmony at the end of the bridge.

MJ: When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
Prince (Huey): But if you just believe, there's no way we can fall
Cyndi Lauper: Well, well, well, well let us realize that a change can only come
Kim Carnes: When we

All four: stand together as one

During the Purple Rain Tour (and possibly others), Prince had canned food donation setups at most of the shows. A lot of people saw it as a reconciliation to the whole We Are The World fiasco, but it wasn't a fiasco for anyone. It was just negative press. Even Bob Geldof tried to clap back at Prince after it all. "It will be forever to his shame that he did not show up."

I knew if I asked on Prince.org, I would get very good answers. Thanks you!!

It's in the Light book. He didn't want to do it, and they told him to stay in that night, and he basically was watched over for a while, then when everyone watching him left, he went out and his bodyguards got into a bit of trouble.