About four decades ago, the music world saw one of the most exciting moments of camaraderie and generosity from highly celebrated stars with the recording of the charity single, “We Are The World,” written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. The song, which was part of a coordinated effort to raise funds for famine relief in Africa, brought together music legends like Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, and Cyndi Lauper, among many others. The project, which was organized by Harry Belafonte and produced by Quincy Jones, quickly achieved commercial success, selling millions of copies worldwide and garnering over $80 million for humanitarian aid.
Despite the numerous big names in the musical world that lent their voices to the project, Prince, who was at the time a star in his own right, was noticeably absent. The reason the singer distanced himself from the project has always been a subject of discussion, with many speculating that it was nothing more than the rumored Prince and Michael Jackson’s feud that kept him away.
Why was Prince absent during the production of “We Are The World”?
@thejasminebrandIt’s been 40 years since “We Are the World” was recorded by an all-star group of artists like Michael Jackson, who co-wrote the song, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, and Bruce Springsteen, raising over $80 million for charity. But one major figure was notably absent from the historic session: Prince. 👀 ______ A new report claims that while the “Kiss” crooner is speculated to have turned the gig down due to his then rivalry with fellow pop star Michael Jackson, he was also allegedly upset about his role in the single. ______ Prince’s longtime engineer, Susan Rogers, recently recalled a conversation with producer Quincy Jones, where Prince allegedly asked if he could play guitar on the track, but was turned down. This refusal reportedly led to Prince opting out of participating altogether. ______ The timing was curious—Prince had just delivered a legendary performance of “Purple Rain” at the American Music Awards hours before the recording session began. However, despite being in town, he chose not to attend. Rumors swirled that he was too ill, but those were later debunked as false. ______ Speculations still persist that Prince’s absence had to do with his ongoing rivalry with Michael Jackson. The two pop icons had shared a complicated relationship, particularly after Jackson’s “Thriller” eclipsed Prince’s “1999” in sales. A now-legendary 1983 onstage confrontation at a James Brown concert only heightened their tensions. ______ Some believe Prince didn’t want to face Jackson or be overshadowed again, while others say he simply disliked the song. Revolution guitarist Wendy Melvoin suggested Prince found “We Are the World” “horrible.” ______ Why do you think Prince ultimately decided not to be on the track? 🤔 ✍🏾: Kay Johnson♬ original sound – The Jasmine Brand
When the call went out for artists to participate in the historic “We Are the World” recording in 1985, Prince was among the first names considered, as the organizers, including Quincy Jones and Ken Kragen, believed that his involvement would elevate the project. Initially, he agreed to attend the recording session but later decided against it. Reports suggested that he was uncomfortable sharing the spotlight with so many other artists, most especially Michael Jackson, while others speculated he was hesitant to participate in a group effort that might tamper with his individuality.
Prince’s longtime engineer, Susan Rogers, revealed that The Purple One declined the invitation after he was refused the opportunity to play guitar on the iconic track. His former manager, Bob Cavallo, later explained that Prince was deeply conflicted; even though he wanted to participate in the project, he didn’t want to be part of a chorus because he wanted to stand out. However, on the night of January 28, 1985, when dozens of music legends gathered at A&M Studios in Los Angeles to record the iconic anthem, Prince was a no-show despite persuasion from different people. The solo line originally intended for him was instead performed by Huey Lewis.
Prince and Michael Jackson’s alleged feud
While Prince’s decision to skip the recording may have been influenced by his desire to maintain his artistic independence, many believe his strained relationship with Michael Jackson played a very significant role. The two had crossed paths before, at a James Brown concert in 1983, where an event that many claim to be the reason for their shared feud. During the concert, Prince was invited onstage to join the duo of Brown and Jackson but unfortunately suffered a performance mishap, which included him being unable to play the guitar handed to him as it was strung left-handed, as well as his eventual shameful fall off the stage.
Although many are of the opinion that Jackson, who was at the peak of his Thriller fame, allegedly felt threatened by Prince’s rising star and thus intentionally humiliated him, there are also stories that the King of Pop found the event funny and was always amused by the clip, which he eagerly shared with his guests just to get a good laugh. This incident is often regarded as the key moment that fueled the feud, which may have influenced Prince’s decision to avoid collaborative projects with the late Jackson.