I know Prince got alot of criticism for not singing on We are the World but here is a list (I'm sure I missed some feel free to add) of Artist off the top of my head from the 70's/80's still making music around this time that also didn't sing on We are the world - Madonna, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Cher, Donna Summers, Dolly Parton, Ann Wilson (Heart), Tom Petty, Ray Parker Jr., John Mellencamp, David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Jackson Brown, Maurice White & Phillip Bailey (Earth Wind and Fire) Chaka Kahn, Don Henely, Glenn Frye, Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Peter Cetera, Chrissie Hynde, Steven Tyler, Debrah Harry (Blondie), Belinda Carlisle, Billy Squier,Bob Seger, Dennise Deyoung & Tommy Shaw (Styx), Eddie Money, Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Grace Slick & Mickey Thomas (Starship), Johnny Cash, Laura Branigan, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Rick James, Steve Miller, Ric Ocasek (The Cars), Michael McDonald, Martha Davis (The Motels), Terri Nunn (Berlin), Billy Gibbons & Dusty Hill (ZZ Top).

[Edited 9/19/16 13:46pm]

kpowers said:

I know Prince got alot of criticism for not singing on We are the World but here is a list (I'm sure I missed some feel free to add) of Artist off the top of my head from the 70's/80's still making music around this time that also didn't sing on We are the world - Madonna, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Cher, Donna Summers, Dolly Parton, Ann Wilson (Heart), Tom Petty, Ray Parker Jr., John Mellencamp, David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Jackson Brown, Maurice White & Phillip Bailey (Earth Wind and Fire) Chaka Kahn, Don Henely, Glenn Frye, Robin Zander (Cheap Trick)

yeah i think the percieved rivalry made him not singing on the track/turning it down a big deal but in the context of the fact that he wasnt the only major artist that wasnt there its not that crazy plus he did reach out w/ 4 the tears in ur eyes

Well, it wasn't so much that he didn't sing, but his behavior surrounding the event. He was apparently -- at least according some news stories -- kind of... jerky. But then, he was a 20 something kid at the time, so I was kind of like, "Whatever, who cares, honestly that song sucked monkey balls anyway. lol!"

I'm actually still okay with him saying "Nope, don't want to." It was sappy and really just the most annoying song ever made. Well, one of them anyway. It's not that I don't get what they were trying to do, but I think they all should have pulled a Bono and took their butts over there and done some actual work and put the money they put into that song into, yanno, actual Africa.

I think it had to do with him not participating because he was huge at the time and he ended up going out on the town that night and there was a scuffle with security and a photographer. I'm sure most already know, but the song Hello is about the whole thing.

kpowers said:

I know Prince got alot of criticism for not singing on We are the World but here is a list (I'm sure I missed some feel free to add) of Artist off the top of my head from the 70's/80's still making music around this time that also didn't sing on We are the world - Madonna, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Cher, Donna Summers, Dolly Parton, Ann Wilson (Heart), Tom Petty, Ray Parker Jr., John Mellencamp, David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Jackson Brown, Maurice White & Phillip Bailey (Earth Wind and Fire) Chaka Kahn, Don Henely, Glenn Frye, Robin Zander (Cheap Trick)

As noted, "Hello" covers the "why" of it all.

Some people probably weren't invited just because of the sheer limit of space. However, fucking Dan Aykroyd was up there like a lost maintenance man. Why, I have no idea. -- Lindsey Buckingham was there, but they could have swapped out Nicks with him. I also think some of the older acts could have been left out. With no reflection on them as artists, Harry Belafonte, Al Jarreau, Willie Nelson, Kim Carnes, Smokey Robinson - all could have been left out. Insert Benatar, Jett, Petty, etc. Van Halen was on the 1984 Tour the night of the recording. Madonna was probably rehearsing for the Virgin Tour, which began a couple of months later in 1985. Other artists might have been similarly occupied.

John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson started Farm Aid later the same year. Kool & The Gang (not mentioned by you) were on the original Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas?" single that started it all.

Let's not forget that Hear n' Aid, and Northern Lights were among the other groups of musicians who did the same thing. I am surprised a more R&B group of people weren't assembled to do a song for this purpose.


There's a well-hidden (or not) story about Waylon Jennings, who is still listed on the album and single, being there. But when Stevie Wonder started teaching the group a proposed Swahili backing chorus of "sha-lum sha-lin-gay as an answer back in the chorus, he walked out saying he wasn't going to sing in another language. Other artists protested it too, and they eventually settled on "One world... our children". They said he came back and finished the recording, but I never saw him in the videos.

rogifan said:

I wish the rumors that P didn't participate because he hated the song were true. It really is an awful song.

Perhaps. I've heard that. But at the time, you couldn't get away from it.

If I'm not mistaken, P was expected to participate because the recording session took place directly proceeding the 1985 American Music Awards, on which P performed, and won a slew w/ PR.

.

Then, instead of participating, he went out partying, and his body guard ended up attacked a photographer.

.

Then, he released a song about it.

Mintchip said:

laurarichardson said:

TrivialPursuit said:

kpowers said:

I know Prince got alot of criticism for not singing on We are the World but here is a list (I'm sure I missed some feel free to add) of Artist off the top of my head from the 70's/80's still making music around this time that also didn't sing on We are the world - Madonna, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Cher, Donna Summers, Dolly Parton, Ann Wilson (Heart), Tom Petty, Ray Parker Jr., John Mellencamp, David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Jackson Brown, Maurice White & Phillip Bailey (Earth Wind and Fire) Chaka Kahn, Don Henely, Glenn Frye, Robin Zander (Cheap Trick)

As noted, "Hello" covers the "why" of it all.

Some people probably weren't invited just because of the sheer limit of space. However, fucking Dan Aykroyd was up there like a lost maintenance man. Why, I have no idea. -- Lindsey Buckingham was there, but they could have swapped out Nicks with him. I also think some of the older acts could have been left out. With no reflection on them as artists, Harry Belafonte, Al Jarreau, Willie Nelson, Kim Carnes, Smokey Robinson - all could have been left out. Insert Benatar, Jett, Petty, etc. Van Halen was on the 1984 Tour the night of the recording. Madonna was probably rehearsing for the Virgin Tour, which began a couple of months later in 1985. Other artists might have been similarly occupied.

John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson started Farm Aid later the same year. Kool & The Gang (not mentioned by you) were on the original Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas?" single that started it all.

Let's not forget that Hear n' Aid, and Northern Lights were among the other groups of musicians who did the same thing. I am surprised a more R&B group of people weren't assembled to do a song for this purpose.


There's a well-hidden (or not) story about Waylon Jennings, who is still listed on the album and single, being there. But when Stevie Wonder started teaching the group a proposed Swahili backing chorus of "sha-lum sha-lin-gay as an answer back in the chorus, he walked out saying he wasn't going to sing in another language. Other artists protested it too, and they eventually settled on "One world... our children". They said he came back and finished the recording, but I never saw him in the videos.

I would have replaced Bob Dylan

Him not participating was unremarkable.

What was truely spectacular was that he got up on stage at the AMAs despite not being on the record, then stood there not singing... why even agree to get on stage? Did he think people wouldn't notice him standing there not singing?

Noodled24 said:

Him not participating was unremarkable.

What was truely spectacular was that he got up on stage at the AMAs despite not being on the record, then stood there not singing... why even agree to get on stage? Did he think people wouldn't notice him standing there not singing?

Are you talking about the AMA 1995???? If so that was 10 years after the We are the world recording and that is what I'm talking about.

^ Yes, Quincy Jones and the lolly. I'm not sure what he was thinking. Bloody funny though.

rogifan said:

I wish the rumors that P didn't participate because he hated the song were true. It really is an awful song.

I always assumed that was really a big factor in his decision. Think of how many times he showed up as just a session singer to someone else's song and production..

WhisperingDandelions said:

I always assumed that was really a big factor in his decision. Think of how many times he showed up as just a session singer to someone else's song and production..

That wasn't the point. And 90% of the people there had never worked with Q on anything before, nor even had a sound like Q's production. Sheila E. sure didn't. Neither did Bette Midler, or Hall & Oates, or Huey Lewis & The News, or Cyndi Lauper, or Kim Carnes, or Willie Nelson, or Lionel Richie. The point was to show up and lend one's talent to a greater cause.

kpowers said:

I know Prince got alot of criticism for not singing on We are the World but here is a list (I'm sure I missed some feel free to add) of Artist off the top of my head from the 70's/80's still making music around this time that also didn't sing on We are the world - Madonna, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Cher, Donna Summers, Dolly Parton, Ann Wilson (Heart), Tom Petty, Ray Parker Jr., John Mellencamp, David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Jackson Brown, Maurice White & Phillip Bailey (Earth Wind and Fire) Chaka Kahn, Don Henely, Glenn Frye, Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Peter Cetera, Chrissie Hynde, Steven Tyler, Debrah Harry (Blondie), Belinda Carlisle, Billy Squier,Bob Seger, Dennise Deyoung & Tommy Shaw (Styx), Eddie Money, Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Grace Slick & Mickey Thomas (Starship), Johnny Cash, Laura Branigan, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Rick James, Steve Miller, Ric Ocasek (The Cars), Michael McDonald, Martha Davis (The Motels), Terri Nunn (Berlin), Billy Gibbons & Dusty Hill (ZZ Top).

[Edited 9/19/16 13:46pm]

the whole thing was a bunch a bullshit. i think prince didn't want to do it for several reasons, but, if he didn't want to do it he shouldn't have been piloried and excorciated. People are manipulative, quincy was trying to manipulate him into singing, he said he'd play but that wasn't good enough for q. then, fuckface, what's his name, from the boontown rats? the guy that organized the thing? anyway, i hear he is a grade a asshole in real life anyway and did lots of nasty things in the relationship between michael hutchence and his daughter and girlfriend. Anyway, Prince was what he was, I'd take prince over the average person who does nice shit for his reputation while he's slipping women mickies or whatever behind everyone's back like cosby. Prince was allright.

TrivialPursuit said:

PeteSilas said:

kpowers said:

I know Prince got alot of criticism for not singing on We are the World but here is a list (I'm sure I missed some feel free to add) of Artist off the top of my head from the 70's/80's still making music around this time that also didn't sing on We are the world - Madonna, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Cher, Donna Summers, Dolly Parton, Ann Wilson (Heart), Tom Petty, Ray Parker Jr., John Mellencamp, David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Jackson Brown, Maurice White & Phillip Bailey (Earth Wind and Fire) Chaka Kahn, Don Henely, Glenn Frye, Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Peter Cetera, Chrissie Hynde, Steven Tyler, Debrah Harry (Blondie), Belinda Carlisle, Billy Squier,Bob Seger, Dennise Deyoung & Tommy Shaw (Styx), Eddie Money, Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Grace Slick & Mickey Thomas (Starship), Johnny Cash, Laura Branigan, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Rick James, Steve Miller, Ric Ocasek (The Cars), Michael McDonald, Martha Davis (The Motels), Terri Nunn (Berlin), Billy Gibbons & Dusty Hill (ZZ Top).

[Edited 9/19/16 13:46pm]

the whole thing was a bunch a bullshit. i think prince didn't want to do it for several reasons, but, if he didn't want to do it he shouldn't have been piloried and excorciated. People are manipulative, quincy was trying to manipulate him into singing, he said he'd play but that wasn't good enough for q. then, fuckface, what's his name, from the boontown rats? the guy that organized the thing? anyway, i hear he is a grade a asshole in real life anyway and did lots of nasty things in the relationship between michael hutchence and his daughter and girlfriend. Anyway, Prince was what he was, I'd take prince over the average person who does nice shit for his reputation while he's slipping women mickies or whatever behind everyone's back like cosby. Prince was allright.

First, I think Prince didn't want to sing a Michael Jackson song.

As for the AMA's Prince performed "Billie Jack Bitch" "I Hate U" & "319"... All of which are songs with fairly graphic adult imagery... is it really appropriate for him to then get up and sing "We are the world, we are the children"... no. In the same way we don't ask porn stars to come and do their thing for comic relief.

rogifan said:

TrivialPursuit said:

That wasn't the point. And 90% of the people there had never worked with Q on anything before, nor even had a sound like Q's production. Sheila E. sure didn't. Neither did Bette Midler, or Hall & Oates, or Huey Lewis & The News, or Cyndi Lauper, or Kim Carnes, or Willie Nelson, or Lionel Richie. The point was to show up and lend one's talent to a greater cause.

Meh. Prince was his own man who always did his own thing. Not surprising to me at all that he wouldn't play backup singer to a MJ/Lionel Richie/QJ production. I'm sure some of it was ego. But it never bothered me because I thought the song was incredibly cheesy and that's not one thing I associate with Prince.

i'm sure a lot of it was ego but most of it was that he never went around like that in those days, i honestly don't think he was comfortable in situations like that. those hollywood bullshit type situations.

TrivialPursuit said:

kpowers said:

I know Prince got alot of criticism for not singing on We are the World but here is a list (I'm sure I missed some feel free to add) of Artist off the top of my head from the 70's/80's still making music around this time that also didn't sing on We are the world - Madonna, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Cher, Donna Summers, Dolly Parton, Ann Wilson (Heart), Tom Petty, Ray Parker Jr., John Mellencamp, David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Jackson Brown, Maurice White & Phillip Bailey (Earth Wind and Fire) Chaka Kahn, Don Henely, Glenn Frye, Robin Zander (Cheap Trick)

As noted, "Hello" covers the "why" of it all.

Some people probably weren't invited just because of the sheer limit of space. However, fucking Dan Aykroyd was up there like a lost maintenance man. Why, I have no idea. -- Lindsey Buckingham was there, but they could have swapped out Nicks with him. I also think some of the older acts could have been left out. With no reflection on them as artists, Harry Belafonte, Al Jarreau, Willie Nelson, Kim Carnes, Smokey Robinson - all could have been left out. Insert Benatar, Jett, Petty, etc. Van Halen was on the 1984 Tour the night of the recording. Madonna was probably rehearsing for the Virgin Tour, which began a couple of months later in 1985. Other artists might have been similarly occupied.

John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson started Farm Aid later the same year. Kool & The Gang (not mentioned by you) were on the original Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas?" single that started it all.

Let's not forget that Hear n' Aid, and Northern Lights were among the other groups of musicians who did the same thing. I am surprised a more R&B group of people weren't assembled to do a song for this purpose.


There's a well-hidden (or not) story about Waylon Jennings, who is still listed on the album and single, being there. But when Stevie Wonder started teaching the group a proposed Swahili backing chorus of "sha-lum sha-lin-gay as an answer back in the chorus, he walked out saying he wasn't going to sing in another language. Other artists protested it too, and they eventually settled on "One world... our children". They said he came back and finished the recording, but I never saw him in the videos.

You get the point of what I was saying, not really why Prince didn't want to sing on the song (because it was cheesy or the whole MJ thing or what ever) but more of why he got criticism while alot of other Artist didn't. Yes I KNOW Prince was huge at this time with Purple Rain and the biggest star/icon not involved on the song, I was there at this time, but everyone else I mentioned were big and had millions of fans as well. I'm sure their fans wished they were apart of USA for Africa. Madonna was also huge at this time too. You mention Madonna was "probably" rehearsing for the Virgin Tour, well I'm sure she could have taken one night off for that. Maybe didn't want to work with Cyndi Lauper maybe??? You mentioned some good points like Van Halen being on tour. Maybe many of the other Artist I mentioned were also on tour. Maybe they were not apart of Linonel Richie/MJ/Quincy Jones inner circle so Linonel Richie/MJ/Quincy chose their friends Al Jarreau and Harry Belafonte over more contemporary artist of the time such as Pat Benatar or John Mellencamp. Yes aware of Hear n' Aid, and Northern Lights. Northern Lights was made up of Canadian artist so does not really apply here with Prince. I always liked "Tears are not enough" better than "We are the world". Intersesting fact about Waylon Jennings you mentioned, didn't know why he left. Yes I saw him in the We are the world documentary but by the time to do the song he was gone. Yes didn't mentioned Kool and the Gang because I knew they were involved in Band Aid. Like "Do they know it's Christmas time" the best followed by Northern Lights "Tears are not enough" and last "We are the world". I would loved if Prince would have gotten all these other artist I mentioned "Madonna, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Cher, Donna Summers, Dolly Parton, Ann Wilson (Heart), Tom Petty, Ray Parker Jr., John Mellencamp, David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Jackson Brown, Maurice White & Phillip Bailey (Earth Wind and Fire) Chaka Kahn, Don Henely, Glenn Frye, Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Peter Cetera, Chrissie Hynde, Steven Tyler, Debrah Harry (Blondie), Belinda Carlisle, Billy Squier,Bob Seger, Dennise Deyoung & Tommy Shaw (Styx), Eddie Money, Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Grace Slick & Mickey Thomas (Starship), Johnny Cash, Laura Branigan, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Rick James, Steve Miller, Ric Ocasek (The Cars), Michael McDonald, Martha Davis (The Motels), Terri Nunn (Berlin), Billy Gibbons & Dusty Hill (ZZ Top)" and makes is own song (Yeah I know wouldn't happen but it's more of a "What if"). Would have been a Team Prince vs Team MJ thing. I'm sure Prince would have brought in Morris Day and Patti Labelle as well if he did is own project.

Noodled24 said:

Him not participating was unremarkable.

What was truely spectacular was that he got up on stage at the AMAs despite not being on the record, then stood there not singing... why even agree to get on stage? Did he think people wouldn't notice him standing there not singing?

probably, now i don't know, but probably q trying to finally get him manipulated, and prince didn't go for it. If you knew how he was, why invite him out in the first place, P wasn't having it and it was ok with me.

PeteSilas said:

kpowers said:

I know Prince got alot of criticism for not singing on We are the World but here is a list (I'm sure I missed some feel free to add) of Artist off the top of my head from the 70's/80's still making music around this time that also didn't sing on We are the world - Madonna, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Cher, Donna Summers, Dolly Parton, Ann Wilson (Heart), Tom Petty, Ray Parker Jr., John Mellencamp, David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Jackson Brown, Maurice White & Phillip Bailey (Earth Wind and Fire) Chaka Kahn, Don Henely, Glenn Frye, Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Peter Cetera, Chrissie Hynde, Steven Tyler, Debrah Harry (Blondie), Belinda Carlisle, Billy Squier,Bob Seger, Dennise Deyoung & Tommy Shaw (Styx), Eddie Money, Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Grace Slick & Mickey Thomas (Starship), Johnny Cash, Laura Branigan, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Rick James, Steve Miller, Ric Ocasek (The Cars), Michael McDonald, Martha Davis (The Motels), Terri Nunn (Berlin), Billy Gibbons & Dusty Hill (ZZ Top).

[Edited 9/19/16 13:46pm]

the whole thing was a bunch a bullshit. i think prince didn't want to do it for several reasons, but, if he didn't want to do it he shouldn't have been piloried and excorciated. People are manipulative, quincy was trying to manipulate him into singing, he said he'd play but that wasn't good enough for q. then, fuckface, what's his name, from the boontown rats? the guy that organized the thing? anyway, i hear he is a grade a asshole in real life anyway and did lots of nasty things in the relationship between michael hutchence and his daughter and girlfriend. Anyway, Prince was what he was, I'd take prince over the average person who does nice shit for his reputation while he's slipping women mickies or whatever behind everyone's back like cosby. Prince was allright.

Bob Geldof? Yeah, I've heard so many terrible things about that guy. He just strikes me as slime.

.

Re: Prince and the lollipop at the 1995 AMAs (that somebody else mentioned) he received the Award of Merit that year, and my understanding is that he was up on stage already when they started that little 10-year anniversary sing-along, which was kind of an asshole move. So he didn't actually get up there knowing what he was getting into for the sake of being a jackass. Although even if he did, that shit was funny as fuck, and I'm in the minority who actually like WATW. (Liking that song is like eating McDonald's, you know it's a bad life choice but you do it anyway. If I were still Catholic I'd probably feel shame over it.)

Arbwyth said:

PeteSilas said:

the whole thing was a bunch a bullshit. i think prince didn't want to do it for several reasons, but, if he didn't want to do it he shouldn't have been piloried and excorciated. People are manipulative, quincy was trying to manipulate him into singing, he said he'd play but that wasn't good enough for q. then, fuckface, what's his name, from the boontown rats? the guy that organized the thing? anyway, i hear he is a grade a asshole in real life anyway and did lots of nasty things in the relationship between michael hutchence and his daughter and girlfriend. Anyway, Prince was what he was, I'd take prince over the average person who does nice shit for his reputation while he's slipping women mickies or whatever behind everyone's back like cosby. Prince was allright.

Bob Geldof? Yeah, I've heard so many terrible things about that guy. He just strikes me as slime.

.

Re: Prince and the lollipop at the 1995 AMAs (that somebody else mentioned) he received the Award of Merit that year, and my understanding is that he was up on stage already when they started that little 10-year anniversary sing-along, which was kind of an asshole move. So he didn't actually get up there knowing what he was getting into for the sake of being a jackass. Although even if he did, that shit was funny as fuck, and I'm in the minority who actually like WATW. (Liking that song is like eating McDonald's, you know it's a bad life choice but you do it anyway. If I were still Catholic I'd probably feel shame over it.)

ya, if the things are heard are true, geldoff is the last person who should be calling someone else a "jerk". Like I said before, i'll personally take an honest asshole over someone who's all about appearances any day. another thing i forgot to mention about Prince, he was probably being honest when he spoke about the "hunger at home" he probably skipped plenty of meals growing up and wasn't exactly the prima donna they tried to paint him as.

Arbwyth said:

Bob Geldof? Yeah, I've heard so many terrible things about that guy. He just strikes me as slime.

.

Bob is one of those people who thinks everything he does is sooooo fucking important. He's one of those artists who think more of his own shadow than some people do of his whole person. "But I'm an artist, this is art, take me seriously!"

AfterPrince didn't show up, he said that it would forever be to Prince's shame that he didn't show up. Yet - Prince is dead, and people still love him. Bob's alive and I wonder who ever has his address in their contacts.