Thanks for posting the excerpt, Benni. I don't think I've read this prior to now. This interview was never published until 04/24/2016 (after Prince's death). I suspect that is why the article refers to him as Prince instead of The Artist or TAFKAP or . Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/24/prince-people-hear-sex-in-my-songs-interview-1997-top-of-the-pops-magazine.

.......

Sun 24 Apr 2016 04.00 EDTLast modified on Fri 1 Dec 2017 23.32 EST

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Prince performs The Holy River on the 28 February 1997 edition of Top of the Pops. Photograph: TOTP

benni said:

This was an interview from 2/27/97, just 4 months after they lost their son:


His good humour is as intoxicating as it is surprising. In the past two years, he’s faced record company wrangles, falling sales, waning interest and, in October 1996, the loss of his child. Known only as Boy Gregory, the son of Prince and his wife, Mayte Garcia, lived for just a few days after being born with a skull deformity known as Pfeiffer syndrome.


“That time has been the most traumatic of my life,” Prince acknowledges, “but contrary to what has been said about me, I feel very positive. I believe God has a plan. Everything that happens, there’s a reason for it.”


But surely, what plan, what reason can there be behind the death of a few-days-old child? “There are so many ways to look at things,” he replies softly. “And I would never use the words, ‘they’re gone’. They will always come back you see,” he adds, never once dropping his gaze.


While he rarely talked about it, or acknowledged it publically, he was dealing with the death of his son and grieving. No two people ever grieve the same. And the way one grieves is a very personal and internal process. When a tragedy strikes someone we care about, I think we, ourselves, personalize that process and view it from the lense of how we believe we would have handled the same event and then project those feelings on to the one we care about and believe they must feel the same way.

I believe this was the last time they appeared together publicly.

amethyst68 said:

Is that Prince and Mayte as young children (obviously digitally combined because they were like 15-16 years apart in age)?

amethyst68 said:

Emancipation album liner notes. I love this.

My sister made this one

206Michelle said:

Is that Prince and Mayte as young children (obviously digitally combined because they were like 15-16 years apart in age)?

amethyst68 said:

Emancipation album liner notes. I love this.

Always thought that was cute!

magdalena32 said:

206Michelle said:

This is such a sweet snippet of them! Does anyone know when in 1996 this event took place?

December, I believe. Not sure of the exact date. It’s a 2min news clip having to do with their charity (love4oneanother). He played a free show for some inner city kids. They also gave out coats.

Where can I find the entire newsclip?

Latin posted the following on this thread: http://prince.org/msg/7/452799

Article: PRINCE Lets ‘The One’ MAYTE GARCIA Take the Reins on His Video

Source: OF4S, http://prince.org/msg/7/3...&pg=1, reply #27.

Source: OF4S, http://prince.org/msg/7/3...?&pg=2, reply #47.

[Edited 3/17/18 20:44pm]

Source: OF4S, http://prince.org/msg/7/3...?&pg=2, reply #39

My favorite photo of them and they didn't know it was being taken.

Vogue Espana October 1999

Source: OF4S, http://prince.org/msg/7/3...&pg=3, reply #75

Source: OF4S, http://prince.org/msg/7/3...&pg=4, reply #99

206Michelle said:

Source: OF4S, http://prince.org/msg/7/3...&pg=3, reply #75

The jacket with the coins. She talks about it in her book! I think he had one made in many colors. I've been looking for a pic. Thanks for sharing.

Source: OF4S, http://prince.org/msg/7/3...&pg=1, reply #2

I don't know if Prince wrote this song about Mayte. However, it is from the album that she inspired. It's one of my favourite songs off of the album.

.

And God Created Woman

.

Oh, oh

In a deep sleep I fell
And the music starts 2 swell
One of my ribs He took and it shall be
Bone of my bones (Bone of my bones)
And God created woman

And we were naked and did not care
There's a time 2 take and a time 2 share
2 in love all around and all aware
Flesh of my flesh (Flesh of my flesh)
And God created woman

Temptation sweet and so much (Sweet and so much)
Surely die if neither one of us shall ye touch (Shall ye touch)
Then again we could die from the rush (Rush)
Heart of my heart (Heart of my heart)
And God created woman (Woman)

Oh (oh), woman (woman)
My, my, my… woman

In my darkest hour I find
Many serpents who have lied (Lies)
Given half the chance still I'd run 2 your side (Run 2 your side)
Love of my love (Love of my love)
God created woman (Woman)

And if I never see U again
It's alright, 4 I am guilty of no sin
They can have U but I'll have your love in the end
Soul of my soul (Soul of my soul)
God created woman {x3} (Woman {repeat})

Flesh of my flesh
Soul (Woman)
Soul (God created, God created woman)
God created, God created woman {x2}
Yeah, God created woman

Here's one of the beautiful songs from Emancipation that Mayte inspired.

.

Dreamin' About U

If the wind blew every petal from Ur precious red rose
Would U B afraid of what U'd find inside?

When I'm alone in my room
I can't stop dreaming about U, dreaming about U
When I'm alone in my room
I can't stop dreaming about U, dreaming about U
And every time I do what I need 2 do
I can't stop dreaming about U, dreaming about U

Revolving around every word that is spoken
Like the planets around the sun
I want U
Ur tongue is a great persuader
Yeah, U got me sold
And when I'm alone in my room just watching a rose
I dream about U, I dream about U

When I'm alone in my room, yeah
I can't stop dreaming about U
When I'm alone in my room, baby, baby
I can't stop dreaming about U, dreaming about U
And every time I do what I need 2 do
I can't stop dreaming about U, dreaming about U

When my sane twin reigns
Claiming Ur aim is 2 maim my subconscious into being with U
I dream about U
Betting on the notion that if my lustier twin prevails
Like the ruins of Rome, I'll lie helpless at Ur feet
Yeah, when I'm alone
I dream about U, I dream about U

I dream about U, baby
When I'm alone in my room
I dream about U, my baby
I dream about U, U, U

(And here we stand)
And here we stand amidst Ur core (U)
Like the petals on this rose I adore (U)
The inside (The inside)
If the inside is kind
Kind in a sense that one would come from all
And the wish that U wish will come true if U call
But if not, (U will fall) U will fall
And I'll still B alone (Just dreaming about U)
With this ball in my stomach just dreaming about U (Dreaming about U)

Source: OF4S, http://prince.org/msg/7/404680?pg=2, reply #52

206Michelle said:

Photos from Maytes book

amethyst68 said:

My favorite photo of them and they didn't know it was being taken.

Beautiful moment captured.

206Michelle said:

Rock and Folk, January 1997

Once again speaking about Mayte's inspiration, the Artist explained that "She is so young and spiritual in her way of making her way quietly through life's many ups and downs. She only has one goal: to bring me back home at the end of the day. She inspires everything I write now, which explains that when I get a new musical idea, I don't need to write it down anymore. I often hear the chorus and verses directly in my head...But for the first time I'm not afraid of forgetting anything, because everything I write is inspired by Mayte. If my inspiration is pure, I just need to remember what she said at some point and immediately the melody comes back to me."

amethyst68 said:

Rock and Folk, January 1997

Once again speaking about Mayte's inspiration, the Artist explained that "She is so young and spiritual in her way of making her way quietly through life's many ups and downs. She only has one goal: to bring me back home at the end of the day. She inspires everything I write now, which explains that when I get a new musical idea, I don't need to write it down anymore. I often hear the chorus and verses directly in my head...But for the first time I'm not afraid of forgetting anything, because everything I write is inspired by Mayte. If my inspiration is pure, I just need to remember what she said at some point and immediately the melody comes back to me."

That's very powerful! He was so open with her.Thanks for posting

amethyst68 said:

dodger said:

pinkcashmere23 said:

I associated those lyrics with Mayte as well.I didn't know that they were in her book.

Yes that line is printed near the beginning in between 2 paragraphs which made me wonder if she’d heard the song or someone pointed the line out to her. Probably the latter

On what page of her book are the lines from Tictactoe. I looked but am not finding them.

'If u ever get the chance 2 travel back 2 ancient dance
Tell this balletina that I wish her well & happy romance'

dodger said:

When I first heard Tictacto I wondered if the lines:

.

'If u ever get the chance 2 travel back 2 ancient dance
Tell this balletina that I wish her well & happy romance'

.

were a reference to Mayte and then they were printed in her book so maybe she or someone close to her thought the same.

Here are the lyrics to TICTACTOE. (The song is an enigma to me. I'm having a hard time making sense of it.)

.

Source: http://princessmayte.tumb...ded-prince

.......

I still have not been able to find pictures of the entire wedding program, but I did find the text here: Coincidence or Fate?, http://prince.org/msg/7/100705

.

Whilst in the deepest sleep-- Mayte reminded that before he set off
2 live his 1st life on earth, they should devise a plan so that he would one
day
recognize her as his true soulmate. This was the plan-

4 their last lives on earth she
will choose the name PRINCESS
Mayte and he
-the name PRINCE.

They will pick fathers with the same
1st name- JOHN.

Her middle name will be his father's 1st
name and middle initial combined- JAN-
NELL as in JOHN L.

Prince's mother's name is Mattie DELL.

Mayte's mother is names NELL.

And Prince's last name was NELSON as in NELL'S son.

They agreed that Mayte's family would one day bring her 2
see Prince perform a concert in Barcelona, Spain, and then again
somewhere in Germany.

Prince 1st sees Mayte standing with her mother, Nelly, out-
side the arena in Germany.

He jokingly remarks 2 Rosie Gaines with whom he is con-
versing at the time, "look Rosie, there's my future wife!"

Neither he nor Rosie take the remark seriously

[Page 2]

Nelly convinces Mayte 2 show Prince a tape of her bellydancing at a local show
Nelly knows that once he sees her daughter move...

They give a videotape 2 one of Prince's dancers - Kirk, whose last name
happens 2 be JOHNSON as in JOHN'S son.

He hurriedly brings the tape 2 Prince and after one glance... Mayte and
Prince become friends.
Like sister and brother, they will always stand up 4 each other against any
adversary.

[Page 3]

Soon Mayte joins the New Power Generation, and often asks
Prince 2 visit her family in Puerto Rico.
He promises her one day he will.

Although a long time coming, the day he keeps his promise, it will
change his life 4 ever.

His most recent album at that time- will be a collection of love
songs, mostly written 4 and about
Mayte.


[Page 4]

And it will pose an interesting
dilemma: The album's title is an
unpronounceable heiro-
glyph that merges the
male and female
sex symbols

And it will pose an interesting dilemma: The album's title
is an unpronounceable hieroglyph that merges the male and
female sex symbols 2gether.

[Yes, that text is repeated]

Thus creating something that
although Prince will use many times before, will
now seem 2 represent 2 him - the perfect love.


[Page 5]

All alone, staring at the ocean,
he implores the heavens 4 an
answer-

"What is the symbol?

What does it really
mean?"

A voice says 2
him, "It's your name.

Much
has been said
about Prince's
decision 2 change
his name 2 this
unpronounceable
symbol, but some-
times freedom moves
in mysterious ways
and in the end it's
"whatever peanut
butter's your jelly."


[Page 6]
Most understanding
of all is Mayte-
his true soulmate,
who will simply
say with a smile,
"[Eye] never called
U Prince anyway."

Coincidence
or
Fate?

[Back cover]
Fate.

[Edited 3/18/18 13:35pm]

[Edited 3/18/18 17:23pm]