As we all know most of the artist who sang on that song came directly from the American Music Awards, so if you weren't there you missed out. I'm sure many artists would have love to participate in the event (and sure some others didn't want to or couldn't because of other commitments at the time). With that said pick 5 artist from that era who you would have love to be apart of We Are The World (OK Prince***** You can pick Prince but still pick 5 others as well) Don't pick artists that came after USA For Africa such as Whitney Houston (who didn't become popular until later in the year) Mariah Carey, Tracy Chapman, Bruce Hornsby and so on. OK here is a list of artist still recording music around that time (and if I missed some one feel free to add them to the list) - Aretha Franklin, Barbara Streisand, Barry Manilow, Belinda Carlisle (The Go-Go'), Teri Nunn (Berlin), Billy Squier, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt, Chaka Khan, Carly Simon, Carole King, Cher, Christopher Cross, Crystal Gayle, Dan Fogelberg, David Lee Roth, Deniece Williams, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Don Henley, Don McLean, Donna Summer, Maurice White & Phillip Bailey (Earth Wind And Fire), Eddie Money, Eddie Rabbitt, Eric Carmen, George Benson, George Jones, Gladys Knight, Glenn Frey, Greg Kihn, Irene Cara, Jackson Browne, James Brown, James Taylor, Jennifer Warnes, Joan Jett, John Denver, John Fogerty, Johnny Cash, Juice Newton, Laura Branigan, Linda Ronstadt, Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Madonna, Meat Loaf, Melissa Manchester, Michael Sembello, Mickey Thomas & Grace Slick (Starship), Dale Bozzio (Missing Persons), Morris Day, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, Kelly Keagy & Jack Blades (Night Ranger), Patti LaBelle, Patty Smyth (Scandal), Pat Benatar, Peter Cetera (Chicago), Peter Wolf (J. Giles Band), Prince*****, Rindy Ross (Quarterflash), Ray Parker Jr, Rick James, Rita Coolidge, Roberta Flack, Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Ronnie Milsap, Roy Orbison, Sammy Hagar, Stephanie Mills, Stephen Bishop, Steve Miller, Stevie Nicks, Brian Setzer (Stray Cats), Tommy Shaw & Dennis De Young (Styx), David Byrne (Talking Heads), Teena Marie, The Beach Boys, Ric Ocasek & Benjamin Orr (The Cars), Michael McDonald, Ann Wilson (Heart), Martha Davis (The Motels), Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Tom Petty, Toto, Billy Gibbons & Dusty Hill (ZZ Top), Debbie Harry (Blondie), John Mellencamp, Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Don Barnes (38 Special), Gene Simmons & Paul Stanely (Kiss),

El DeBarge

Eddy Grant

Billy Ocean

automatic said:

Madonna(Strange she wasn't asked. She was at the 1985 AMAs. I get the feeling she wasn't respected by them at the time.) Janet Jackson (She wasn't huge in 85 but still had two albums and siblings on the song) Christopher Cross Ray Parker Jr. George Michael I don't want Prince on the song. I prefer the song he gave them for the album 4 The Tears In Your Eyes. [Edited 7/31/21 4:41am]

Yeah I would like to know the back story of Madonna not being there. Janet Jackson, hey why not since most of MJ brothers and sisters were there. Yeah I'm tossed up with Prince being on the song, we are so use to him not being on the song. I heard that Prince was to sing the Willie Nelson portion of the song.

I should have mentioned in my descripition that it was USA for Africa so all the artist were Americans that's why I did not mentioned Elton John, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury and David Bowie (by the way those would be my 5 picks for adding to Band Aid). So my mistake. Anyway here are my 5 picks, (and wow it's hard because I like all the artist I mentioned) Bob Seger, Peter Cetera, Pat Benatar, Ann Wilson (Heart) and Michael McDonald.

kpowers said:

kpowers said:

I should have mentioned in my descripition that it was USA for Africa so all the artist were Americans

Bob Geldolf was on both Band Aid & USA For Africa. There were a few Americans on the Band Aid song too (members of Kool & The Gang, Jody Watley)

MickyDolenz said:

kpowers said:

I should have mentioned in my descripition that it was USA for Africa so all the artist were Americans

Bob Geldolf was on both Band Aid & USA For Africa. There were a few Americans on the Band Aid song too (members of Kool & The Gang, Jody Watley)

Well Bob Geldolf did not sing on the song and I know he a part of organizing the project, but all the artist were Americans. Yup I know about Kool & the gang & Jody Watley being a part of Band Aid. I have a feeling they were there in London at the time and asked to be a part of it, kind of how Dan Aykroyd just happened to be at the studio at the time and was asked if he would like to be a part of the project.

kpowers said:

Well Bob Geldolf did not sing on the song and I know he a part of organizing the project, but all the artist were Americans. Yup I know about Kool & the gang & Jody Watley being a part of Band Aid. I have a feeling they were there in London at the time and asked to be a part of it, kind of how Dan Aykroyd just happened to be at the studio at the time and was asked if he would like to be a part of the project.

I have the We Are The World album and 12" single and Bob is listed as one of the singers. He didn't do a lead part on either song, if that's what you're talking about. He's in the video too.

kpowers said:

At that point,they didn't take Madonna seriously.Everyone thought she would be 'over' in a few months.Funny how things worked out,huh?

it's interesting that Donna Summer wasn't asked.She was friends with Michael and a few years earlier,Quincy produced her album

and how are you gonna do a big song like this without the Queen of soul on it?! shame on them for not inviting Aretha!

SoulAlive said:

MickyDolenz said:

kpowers said:

Well Bob Geldolf did not sing on the song and I know he a part of organizing the project, but all the artist were Americans. Yup I know about Kool & the gang & Jody Watley being a part of Band Aid. I have a feeling they were there in London at the time and asked to be a part of it, kind of how Dan Aykroyd just happened to be at the studio at the time and was asked if he would like to be a part of the project.

I have the We Are The World album and 12" single and Bob is listed as one of the singers. He didn't do a lead part on either song, if that's what you're talking about. He's in the video too.

If you are talking about the documentary yup Bon Geldolf was there (so were a lot of other people), He gave a nice speech and that was about it. It was a nice gesture to give him credit. You know who they also gave credit to on being a part of the chorus, Waylon Jennings who left prior to the recording session.

automatic said:

kpowers said:

I should have mentioned in my descripition that it was USA for Africa so all the artist were Americans that's why I did not mentioned Elton John, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury and David Bowie (by the way those would be my 5 picks for adding to Band Aid). So my mistake. Anyway here are my 5 picks, (and wow it's hard because I like all the artist I mentioned) Bob Seger, Peter Cetera, Pat Benatar, Ann Wilson(Heart) and Michael McDonald.

I would love to have heard Ann Wilson's powerful vocals lended to this song! Great choice! She's a favorite of mine.❤

Yup her and Pat Benatar IMO had the greatest voices in rock during that time. I chose Peter Cetera because he has such a unique voice, no one sounds like him. Love Bob Seger's raspy soulful voice. Speaking of soulful voice, Michael McDonald. Honestly I wish they would have wrote two more different songs over the years and include the artist I mentioned, that would have been nice and would raise more money for charity.

SoulAlive said:

At that point,they didn't take Madonna seriously.Everyone thought she would be 'over' in a few months.Funny how things worked out,huh?

OK first of all we all know Madonna has been a diva over the years. But at the time she was a 20 something year old just starting to get on the music scene. The people behind the We Are The World project should have check their ego's and invited her to participate. If she showed up it would show she was willing to be a team member for a good cause. I'm prettty sure if she was there she would of done her part, and a missopportunity for other artist to get a chance to meet and see what she is really like in person. Don't know if I would giver her a lead part.

Nile Rodgers Reveals Why Madonna Was Excluded From ‘We Are The World’

Nile Rodgers has revealed that Madonna was not invited to perform on the ‘We are the World‘ charity single because some of her peers felt that she did not deserve a spot on its lineup.

Madonna wasn’t invited to sing on the recording and it was a slap in the face because everybody was in Los Angeles for the American Music Awards and it was really sort of not nice. I know she felt bad.

Nile shared the story during an interview with SIRIUSXM and explained that he felt that there was no real need to exclude her from the track because she, like all of its performers, was in town at the time