independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Music: Non-Prince > Why wasn't Madonna on "We Are the World"?
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Page 4 of 5 <12345>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Reply #90 posted 10/24/11 8:40am

scriptgirl

avatar

Bob Dylan has a godawful singing voice. Nails on a chalkboard

"Lack of home training crosses all boundaries."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #91 posted 10/24/11 9:22am

daPrettyman

avatar

1sotrue said:

daPrettyman said:

She didn't get a solo. lol Madonna wouldn't have either. There are several people in that choir that had questionable voices...Jackie Jackson, Randy Jackson, John Oates, the other band member of Huey Lewis and the News, Little Steven, Dan Akyroid and others.

People forget to mention Bette Midler being there she was deserving of a solo part than Kim Carnes. To me it was nothing more than a popularity contest. If your career was hot you got a solo if not you were part of the choir. Does anyone know if Barbara Streisand was invited?

I think she was, but for some reason couldn't participate.

**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••-
U 'gon make me shake my doo loose!
http://www.twitter.com/nivlekbrad
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #92 posted 10/24/11 9:30am

scriptgirl

avatar

Kim Carnes was definitely not hot by that point in time

"Lack of home training crosses all boundaries."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #93 posted 10/24/11 9:43am

VinnyM27

avatar

SoulAlive said:

chamber said:

Madonna was still becoming "Madonna" when that thing was being assembled. My guess is that she wasn't invited. if she cared about being snubbed, then I'm sure she got a kick out of the fact that "Crazy For You" bumped "We Are the World" out of the #1 spot.

there's the answer smile

What's amazing to me is,how many 'big' names either weren't invited or chose not to be a part of it...

Aretha Franklin

Luther Vandross

Patti LaBelle

Donna Summer

Rick James

QUincy Jones was the producer....you know why Donna wasn't there! I was thinking it might have had something to do with the fact that she was taking a break to raise a family, but she was likely in the middle of "Cats Without Claws" still.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #94 posted 10/24/11 10:09am

daPrettyman

avatar

scriptgirl said:

Kim Carnes was definitely not hot by that point in time

She kinda was still hot at the time. Her solo albums were not doing well, but she had 2 hit AC singles in 84. "What About Me" with Kenny Rogers and James Ingram (went to number one on the AC chart) as well as "Make No Mistake, He's Mine" with Barbara Streisand (which went to number 8 on the AC chart.

**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••-
U 'gon make me shake my doo loose!
http://www.twitter.com/nivlekbrad
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #95 posted 10/24/11 10:36am

scriptgirl

avatar

Kim dueted with James Ingram-say what?

Were Quincy and Donna not getting along?

"Lack of home training crosses all boundaries."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #96 posted 10/24/11 12:48pm

Timmy84

^ Recording sessions during the Donna Summer album production was reportedly rough.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #97 posted 10/24/11 1:09pm

MidniteMagnet

avatar

Timmy84 said:

^ Recording sessions during the Donna Summer album production was reportedly rough.

Aside from 2 cuts, that album is a hot mess. I sold my copy last year for some big bucks on Amazon!

"Keep in mind that I'm an artist...and I'm sensitive about my shit."--E. Badu
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #98 posted 10/24/11 1:16pm

Timmy84

MidniteMagnet said:

Timmy84 said:

^ Recording sessions during the Donna Summer album production was reportedly rough.

Aside from 2 cuts, that album is a hot mess. I sold my copy last year for some big bucks on Amazon!

Yeah it's not strong enough for me from the cuts I heard. Only "Protection" and "Finger on the Trigger" stood out.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #99 posted 10/24/11 1:21pm

SoulAlive

Timmy84 said:

^ Recording sessions during the Donna Summer album production was reportedly rough.

The problem was...Donna was pissed because her I'm A Rainbow 2-LP set was rejected by her label.So she feels that she was forced to go back into the studio to make a 'replacement album' with a producer that she wouldn't have chosen.She was also pregnant at the time.This crazy situation created alot of drama in the studio.For the first time in her career,Donna didn't have alot of control over her own album.She basically had to sit back and allow Quincy to make all the decisions.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #100 posted 10/24/11 1:26pm

Timmy84

SoulAlive said:

Timmy84 said:

^ Recording sessions during the Donna Summer album production was reportedly rough.

The problem was...Donna was pissed because her I'm A Rainbow 2-LP set was rejected by her label.So she feels that she was forced to go back into the studio to make a 'replacement album' with a producer that she wouldn't have chosen.She was also pregnant at the time.This crazy situation created alot of drama in the studio.For the first time in her career,Donna didn't have alot of control over her own album.She basically had to sit back and allow Quincy to make all the decisions.

Donna also felt trapped by her record label. I think it's crazy because while her life was controlled while on Casablanca she was at least allowed to be creative in the studio, with Geffen, since she was one of the first artists there, they didn't really know what to do with her. In fact I bet they dissed Moroder as old news and was the reason Donna kept being tagged as a "disco artist" when technically Moroder was producing dance-infused pop for her. Relegating her to the R&B format - something Donna herself wasn't entirely comfortable with (like Tina later on) - was not the right decision.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #101 posted 10/24/11 1:29pm

HotGritz

avatar

Neither was that country music dude John Denver and neither were Run DMC lol Travesty!

I'M NOT SAYING YOU'RE UGLY. YOU JUST HAVE BAD LUCK WHEN IT COMES TO MIRRORS AND SUNLIGHT!
RIP Dick Clark, Whitney Houston, Don Cornelius, Heavy D, and Donna Summer. rose
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #102 posted 10/24/11 1:32pm

SoulAlive

Timmy84 said:

MidniteMagnet said:

Aside from 2 cuts, that album is a hot mess. I sold my copy last year for some big bucks on Amazon!

Yeah it's not strong enough for me from the cuts I heard. Only "Protection" and "Finger on the Trigger" stood out.

I think it's Donna's best album of the 80s lol It was refreshing to finally hear her in an R&B setting."Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)" is the funkiest single she ever did.It sounded right at home on R&B stations alongside Cameo,Rick James and others.I love the frantic,relentless production,which forces Donna to hang on for dear life.

"(If It) Hurts Just A Little" is excellent.I would have chosen this to be the second single.Catchy and infectious,this is pure Quincy Jones.

"Love Is Just A Breath Away" recalls the work she did with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte.It's moody and mesmerizing with a stunning vocal by Donna.The production is intentionally cold and robotic.Great song!

"Protection" (written by Bruce Springsteen) is the most convincing rock song that Donna has ever done.Under different circumstances,this would have been a Top 10 pop smash.

"Mystery Of Love" and "The Woman In Me" (which is a truly sexy song) are also great.The only clunker on the album is "Livin' In America".It has a wonderful message but it sounds silly and overblown with that kid's choir at the end.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #103 posted 10/24/11 1:33pm

Timmy84

daPrettyman said:

1sotrue said:

daPrettyman said: People forget to mention Bette Midler being there she was deserving of a solo part than Kim Carnes. To me it was nothing more than a popularity contest. If your career was hot you got a solo if not you were part of the choir. Does anyone know if Barbara Streisand was invited?

I think she was, but for some reason couldn't participate.

Didn't Kim's career peak by that point? I don't recall her having a big hit as big as Bette Davis Eyes.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #104 posted 10/24/11 1:35pm

Timmy84

SoulAlive said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah it's not strong enough for me from the cuts I heard. Only "Protection" and "Finger on the Trigger" stood out.

I think it's Donna's best album of the 80s lol It was refreshing to finally hear her in an R&B setting."Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)" is the funkiest single she ever did.It sounded right at home on R&B stations alongside Cameo,Rick James and others.I love the frantic,relentless production,which forces Donna to hang on for dear life.

"(If It) Hurts Just A Little" is excellent.I would have chosen this to be the second single.Catchy and infectious,this is pure Quincy Jones.

"Love Is Just A Breath Away" recalls the work she did with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte.It's moody and mesmerizing with a stunning vocal by Donna.The production is intentionally cold and robotic.Great song!

"Protection" (written by Bruce Springsteen) is the most convincing rock song that Donna has ever done.Under different circumstances,this would have been a Top 10 pop smash.

"Mystery Of Love" and "The Woman In Me" (which is a truly sexy song) are also great.The only clunker on the album is "Livin' In America".It has a wonderful message but it sounds silly and overblown with that kid's choir at the end.

lol I'm kinda shocked how little R&B radio plays her. I think off the top of my head the only songs they play from her nowadays is "Love to Love You Baby" (guess because that song got some funk elements in it), "Last Dance", "Bad Girls" and "She Works Hard". But it's odd they don't play "Finger on the Trigger" anymore or even her straight funky R&B number, "Dinner with Gershwin" (the first Donna song I ever heard) anymore.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #105 posted 10/24/11 1:35pm

SoulAlive

Timmy84 said:

SoulAlive said:

The problem was...Donna was pissed because her I'm A Rainbow 2-LP set was rejected by her label.So she feels that she was forced to go back into the studio to make a 'replacement album' with a producer that she wouldn't have chosen.She was also pregnant at the time.This crazy situation created alot of drama in the studio.For the first time in her career,Donna didn't have alot of control over her own album.She basically had to sit back and allow Quincy to make all the decisions.

Donna also felt trapped by her record label. I think it's crazy because while her life was controlled while on Casablanca she was at least allowed to be creative in the studio, with Geffen, since she was one of the first artists there, they didn't really know what to do with her. In fact I bet they dissed Moroder as old news and was the reason Donna kept being tagged as a "disco artist" when technically Moroder was producing dance-infused pop for her. Relegating her to the R&B format - something Donna herself wasn't entirely comfortable with (like Tina later on) - was not the right decision.

Donna was the first artist signed to Geffen Records and I think she made a mistake.The label was brand new,just starting out and they didn't have alot of experience/success with someone like Donna.Most of the other acts were pop and rock.In 1980,she was the hottest female artist in the business.She could have went with Motown,Arista,Warner Bros....any other label.I still wonder why she chose Geffen.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #106 posted 10/24/11 1:36pm

Timmy84

SoulAlive said:

Timmy84 said:

Donna also felt trapped by her record label. I think it's crazy because while her life was controlled while on Casablanca she was at least allowed to be creative in the studio, with Geffen, since she was one of the first artists there, they didn't really know what to do with her. In fact I bet they dissed Moroder as old news and was the reason Donna kept being tagged as a "disco artist" when technically Moroder was producing dance-infused pop for her. Relegating her to the R&B format - something Donna herself wasn't entirely comfortable with (like Tina later on) - was not the right decision.

Donna was the first artist signed to Geffen Records and I think she made a mistake.The label was brand new,just starting out and they didn't have alot of experience/success with someone like Donna.Most of the other acts were pop and rock.In 1980,she was the hottest female artist in the business.She could have went with Motown,Arista,Warner Bros....any other label.I still wonder why she chose Geffen.

I wonder if anyone has her biography. Maybe leecappella can explain it...

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #107 posted 10/24/11 1:53pm

NDRU

avatar

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

I think she was, but for some reason couldn't participate.

Didn't Kim's career peak by that point? I don't recall her having a big hit as big as Bette Davis Eyes.

that's why she only got to sing "...WHEN WE!!!" smile

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #108 posted 10/24/11 1:59pm

Timmy84

NDRU said:

Timmy84 said:

Didn't Kim's career peak by that point? I don't recall her having a big hit as big as Bette Davis Eyes.

that's why she only got to sing "...WHEN WE!!!" smile

lol

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #109 posted 10/24/11 3:33pm

daPrettyman

avatar

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

I think she was, but for some reason couldn't participate.

Didn't Kim's career peak by that point? I don't recall her having a big hit as big as Bette Davis Eyes.

Check my post 94. Kim's peak was with "Betty Davis Eyes," but she was still pretty popular at that time.

"Betty Davis Eyes" was her biggest hit, but her 2nd biggest hit was the remake of The Miracles "More Love."

**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••-
U 'gon make me shake my doo loose!
http://www.twitter.com/nivlekbrad
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #110 posted 10/24/11 6:46pm

madsgreat

Probably Jealousy by the other Artists lol plus didn't Madonna's Crazy for You knock "We Are the World" off the top spot.So justice was served biggrin

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #111 posted 10/24/11 7:28pm

scriptgirl

avatar

If I was Donna, I would have gone to Warners. And whoever said it was right re about black radio not playing Donna. Why that is, I don't know. maybe she was seen as more of a "White" artist due to disco? You never hear any class her in with the great, rnb divas.

"Lack of home training crosses all boundaries."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #112 posted 10/24/11 7:58pm

Timmy84

scriptgirl said:

If I was Donna, I would have gone to Warners. And whoever said it was right re about black radio not playing Donna. Why that is, I don't know. maybe she was seen as more of a "White" artist due to disco? You never hear any class her in with the great, rnb divas.

To those not in the know about Donna's background, they assume she was a foreigner from Germany when she was really a Bostonite from the Dorchester district. Plus her voice was not easily classified - no matter what the American Music Awards said - as a typical "R&B/soul" voice for some reason though like many R&B/soul musicians, she was vocally raised in church.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #113 posted 10/24/11 8:01pm

dalsh327

SoulAlive said:

Timmy84 said:

Donna also felt trapped by her record label. I think it's crazy because while her life was controlled while on Casablanca she was at least allowed to be creative in the studio, with Geffen, since she was one of the first artists there, they didn't really know what to do with her. In fact I bet they dissed Moroder as old news and was the reason Donna kept being tagged as a "disco artist" when technically Moroder was producing dance-infused pop for her. Relegating her to the R&B format - something Donna herself wasn't entirely comfortable with (like Tina later on) - was not the right decision.

Donna was the first artist signed to Geffen Records and I think she made a mistake.The label was brand new,just starting out and they didn't have alot of experience/success with someone like Donna.Most of the other acts were pop and rock.In 1980,she was the hottest female artist in the business.She could have went with Motown,Arista,Warner Bros....any other label.I still wonder why she chose Geffen.

She was being told she was being ripped off by her record company, and everyone in the music biz knew David Geffen. Casablanca was kind of waning by then anyway. It's like asking why John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Peter Gabriel decided to sign (Neil had a well publicized falling out with Geffen).

Supposedly Justin Timberlake is signing on to play Casablanca exec Neil Bogart.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #114 posted 10/24/11 8:09pm

Timmy84

dalsh327 said:

SoulAlive said:

Donna was the first artist signed to Geffen Records and I think she made a mistake.The label was brand new,just starting out and they didn't have alot of experience/success with someone like Donna.Most of the other acts were pop and rock.In 1980,she was the hottest female artist in the business.She could have went with Motown,Arista,Warner Bros....any other label.I still wonder why she chose Geffen.

She was being told she was being ripped off by her record company, and everyone in the music biz knew David Geffen. Casablanca was kind of waning by then anyway. It's like asking why John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Peter Gabriel decided to sign (Neil had a well publicized falling out with Geffen).

Supposedly Justin Timberlake is signing on to play Casablanca exec Neil Bogart.

I think Donna had heard through the grapevine that John was gonna sign with them so she wanted to sign on those premises. I'm almost sure she admired the Beatles growing up.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #115 posted 10/24/11 8:15pm

dalsh327

scriptgirl said:

If I was Donna, I would have gone to Warners. And whoever said it was right re about black radio not playing Donna. Why that is, I don't know. maybe she was seen as more of a "White" artist due to disco? You never hear any class her in with the great, rnb divas.

Island would have been the best label to go to. David Geffen threw a bunch of money towards the artists to sign up. Chris Blackwell made a deal that if they agreed to take less money in royalties for the recordings, they would own their master tapes. They wound up owing U2 money, and U2 wound up with 10 percent stake in the company, plus a 60 million dollar signing bonus to stay on. Blackwell had sold the company off by then, so U2 were in a really good position.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #116 posted 10/24/11 8:17pm

Timmy84

Didn't Geffen offer Donna like $5 million? That was the most lucrative deal then until Diana's $20 million deal with RCA the next year.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #117 posted 10/24/11 8:20pm

badujunkie

avatar

if you havent noticed in the past, gee, 30 years, M hasn't really seemed to enjoy performing with TALENTED, UNIQUE, ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT, KILLER VOICES, OR EXCEPTIONALLY YOUNGER FEMALE CONTEMPORARY STARS (bar Britney and Xxxtina's tongues in her mouth)

she doesn't perform with her peer superstars. unless MJ were still alive, that's the only one she would have (as a collaboration, not as part of a chorus)

it's just never been her thing to want to perform musically in the company of "musician's musicians" as they say...

I'll leave it alone babe...just be me
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #118 posted 10/24/11 9:02pm

dalsh327

NDRU said:

Was she at the American Music Awards that year? I think WATW happened partly because all those artists were there for that show or the Grammys or whatever it was.

BUt yeah in retrospect, having La Toya and Randy--not to mention Dan Akroyd!!--and not Madonna seems a bit of a mistake

As far as I know Prince was the only one who was invited and said no. Madonna might not have even been invited. They've written that people were turned away. It was at what's now the Jim Henson studio, the same facility Charlie Chaplin built.

The way the music was, it made sense they were going to pick a mostly older crowd to sing on the single.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #119 posted 10/24/11 9:05pm

Timmy84

badujunkie said:

if you havent noticed in the past, gee, 30 years, M hasn't really seemed to enjoy performing with TALENTED, UNIQUE, ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT, KILLER VOICES, OR EXCEPTIONALLY YOUNGER FEMALE CONTEMPORARY STARS (bar Britney and Xxxtina's tongues in her mouth)

she doesn't perform with her peer superstars. unless MJ were still alive, that's the only one she would have (as a collaboration, not as part of a chorus)

it's just never been her thing to want to perform musically in the company of "musician's musicians" as they say...

I agree. It's not her style at all.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Page 4 of 5 <12345>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Music: Non-Prince > Why wasn't Madonna on "We Are the World"?