Madonna vs. Cyndi Lauper: The Battle of Female Pop Icons
In a recent interview, director Bao Nguyen shed light on the decision to exclude Madonna from the iconic 1985 performance of “We Are the World.” Nguyen revealed that producer Ken Kragen believed Cyndi Lauper already represented the female pop icon of that time. The goal was to have voices that were distinct and represented different genres. This led to Lauper’s inclusion over Madonna, as she served the purpose.
Prince’s Absence: A Room Unfit for His Genius
Nguyen also addressed the absence of Prince from the legendary night. According to conversations with Sheila E., a close friend of Prince at the time, he would not have worked well in that room. The environment wouldn’t have made him comfortable, hence his decision not to participate in the performance.
Sheila E.’s Vulnerable Moment: Feeling Used
The documentary delves into Sheila E.’s role and her feelings of being used to convince Prince to join the performance. Nguyen described it as a vulnerable moment for her, as she opened up about feeling used to get Prince involved. While Lionel Richie had no comments on the matter, Sheila E.’s perspective added depth to the story.
The Challenge of Recreating the ‘We Are the World’ Moment Today
Nguyen expressed his hopes for musicians today to create their own “We Are the World” type of performance. However, he questioned whether there are current icons like those of the past. With the prevalence of social media and the challenges of getting people in a room together, recreating such a moment seems difficult in today’s highly connected but fragmented music industry.
An Inspiration for the Younger Generation
Nguyen hopes that the newly released documentary, titled “The Greatest Night in Pop,” will serve as an inspiration to the younger generation of musicians. He believes that if there’s a will, there’s a way, and that this film can show them the power of collective action and the impact music can have on the world.
The documentary is set to debut on Netflix on January 29th.
