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A Song Called Wally: the epitaph of Prince's breakup with Susannah Melvoin
Now where I come from
We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be Our clothes, our hair, we don't care It's all about being there... | |
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"He thought it was practically a sin to be depressed" she remembered. Many other associates have observed that Prince -not only in his relationships, but even in his music -is cryptic and unrevealing of his deepest feelings. "His music is very passionate, but he doesn't let himself open up emotionally" observed Marylou Badeaux. "And look at the way he's dealt with women in his life- he's not able to get emotional. He just keeps it on the level of sex play."
i don't know about the rest of u, but i think that the above quote was a riduculous and uneducated assessment to make regarding Prince and his emotions. i don't know of anyone that wants to make their deepest inner feelings and emotions extremely public, there are feelings one is willing to share and others that one wants to keep private. Thouroughly allowed and extremely SANE! Secondly,OBVIOUSLY Prince opens up emotionally maybe not to every woman's liking because Prince didn't drop at their feet with complete adoration. Just because alot of the women Prince dated, romanced and had sex with, but weren't the ones he was looking to spend his entire life with doesn't mean that he isn't expressing himself emotionally, he just isn't sharing all of his deepest feelings. And thats still healthy. And i don't know about u , but i write and find it very Cathartic to write and then tear it up or destroy it, because i worked out my feelings with ink and paper. Where as Prince worked out his feelings and emotions in music and then destroyed it. All very sane and wholistic. And emotionally inelligent. | |
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ahh Wally ....the prince's fans Holy Grail...someday | |
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What a shame. www.arjunmusic.com
www.myspace.com/arjunmusic www.cdbaby.com/arjuntunes ARJUN: funk-indie-rock-jazz-groove trio just released their debut album entitled, "Pieces" Instrumental heavy grooves and improvisation. | |
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Hey it's 2009, I think he's gotten over it by now-Geez. | |
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Why couldn't he have done this with "Jughead" and "Right The Wrong"? (Pun intended.) | |
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... | |
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suomynona said: Why couldn't he have done this with "Jughead" and "Right The Wrong"? (Pun intended.)
 Whenever U say that U can't, that's when U need 2 be tryin' | |
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cherrymoongirl said: ...
 Is this from a book or something?yeah the chapter and book are right under the pic of Wendy & Susannah Now where I come from
We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be Our clothes, our hair, we don't care It's all about being there... | |
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ReginaCarman said: "He thought it was practically a sin to be depressed" she remembered. Many other associates have observed that Prince -not only in his relationships, but even in his music -is cryptic and unrevealing of his deepest feelings. "His music is very passionate, but he doesn't let himself open up emotionally" observed Marylou Badeaux. "And look at the way he's dealt with women in his life- he's not able to get emotional. He just keeps it on the level of sex play."
i don't know about the rest of u, but i think that the above quote was a riduculous and uneducated assessment to make regarding Prince and his emotions. i don't know of anyone that wants to make their deepest inner feelings and emotions extremely public, there are feelings one is willing to share and others that one wants to keep private. Thouroughly allowed and extremely SANE! Secondly,OBVIOUSLY Prince opens up emotionally maybe not to every woman's liking because Prince didn't drop at their feet with complete adoration. Just because alot of the women Prince dated, romanced and had sex with, but weren't the ones he was looking to spend his entire life with doesn't mean that he isn't expressing himself emotionally, he just isn't sharing all of his deepest feelings. And thats still healthy. And i don't know about u , but i write and find it very Cathartic to write and then tear it up or destroy it, because i worked out my feelings with ink and paper. Where as Prince worked out his feelings and emotions in music and then destroyed it. All very sane and wholistic. And emotionally inelligent. I don't fully agree, I think on a personal level you can do that to a degree. When we realize that our gifts are not just for us but moreso for others, u look at it differently. What if Michaelangelo worked out his frustrations on they Sistine Chapel and then destroyed it. I know I know..he was commissioned to do that work. But still.. I think this topic goes hand in hand with the topic of Old Friends 4 Sale. The original was very expressive and deep and emotional, whereas the later release in my opinion was very safe and newsletterish. Now where I come from
We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be Our clothes, our hair, we don't care It's all about being there... | |
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The book was actually pretty good. The Wally story was memorable, mainly because of the S.Rogers descriptions. Check her out on the internet now. See what she is studying and doing, very interesting stuff.
Whenever U say that U can't, that's when U need 2 be tryin' | |
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Dayclear said: Hey it's 2009, I think he's gotten over it by now-Geez.
oh course But it's human nature that people have regrets But Wendy & Susannah have joined him on stage at a show here and there to do a song just in the last 5 years. And according to (St.)Paul Peterson & Alan Leeds there is talk of Prince doing a song or 2 with the Family 2.0 which includeds Susannah They have some really nice music coming out, which sound like the Family album music 2009. Now where I come from
We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be Our clothes, our hair, we don't care It's all about being there... | |
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ReginaCarman said: "He thought it was practically a sin to be depressed" she remembered. Many other associates have observed that Prince -not only in his relationships, but even in his music -is cryptic and unrevealing of his deepest feelings. "His music is very passionate, but he doesn't let himself open up emotionally" observed Marylou Badeaux. "And look at the way he's dealt with women in his life- he's not able to get emotional. He just keeps it on the level of sex play."
i don't know about the rest of u, but i think that the above quote was a riduculous and uneducated assessment to make regarding Prince and his emotions. i don't know of anyone that wants to make their deepest inner feelings and emotions extremely public, there are feelings one is willing to share and others that one wants to keep private. Thouroughly allowed and extremely SANE! Secondly,OBVIOUSLY Prince opens up emotionally maybe not to every woman's liking because Prince didn't drop at their feet with complete adoration. Just because alot of the women Prince dated, romanced and had sex with, but weren't the ones he was looking to spend his entire life with doesn't mean that he isn't expressing himself emotionally, he just isn't sharing all of his deepest feelings. And thats still healthy. And i don't know about u , but i write and find it very Cathartic to write and then tear it up or destroy it, because i worked out my feelings with ink and paper. Where as Prince worked out his feelings and emotions in music and then destroyed it. All very sane and wholistic. And emotionally inelligent. ----- Co-sign. He worked out his feelings in the song and got rid of it. It was not for the public to hear. In addtion, Susan Rogers misses the whole issue of culture. In the African-American world a lot of problems are taken to God not to a shrink. This is good sometimes and sometimes bad but I can totally understand P thinking it a sin to be depressed. | |
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Makes me think of the song "Willie" by Joni Mitchell. Wonder if that is what he was really thinking of. "Just 'cause them little ol' church boys sit up in the church on Sunday it don't make them no Christian, just like sitting up in a garage every Sunday don't make you a car." (Ghetto Fabulous - Tyka Nelson)
Crimson and Clover is a beautiful treasure! | |
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laurarichardson said: ReginaCarman said: i don't know about the rest of u, but i think that the above quote was a riduculous and uneducated assessment to make regarding Prince and his emotions. i don't know of anyone that wants to make their deepest inner feelings and emotions extremely public, there are feelings one is willing to share and others that one wants to keep private. Thouroughly allowed and extremely SANE! Secondly,OBVIOUSLY Prince opens up emotionally maybe not to every woman's liking because Prince didn't drop at their feet with complete adoration. Just because alot of the women Prince dated, romanced and had sex with, but weren't the ones he was looking to spend his entire life with doesn't mean that he isn't expressing himself emotionally, he just isn't sharing all of his deepest feelings. And thats still healthy. And i don't know about u , but i write and find it very Cathartic to write and then tear it up or destroy it, because i worked out my feelings with ink and paper. Where as Prince worked out his feelings and emotions in music and then destroyed it. All very sane and wholistic. And emotionally inelligent. ----- Co-sign. He worked out his feelings in the song and got rid of it. It was not for the public to hear. In addtion, Susan Rogers misses the whole issue of culture. In the African-American world a lot of problems are taken to God not to a shrink. This is good sometimes and sometimes bad but I can totally understand P thinking it a sin to be depressed. Maybe not, but being right there being his engineer helping him actually create the song then destroy it was probably really difficult for her. We most likely don't understand her position and relation with Prince. She was his engineer from before Purple Rain till Lovesexy. She was privey to things we could only imagine. Plus being African-American has nothing to do with it. That is a religous issue that whites & blacks share. In the African American community a lot of problem are handled with the fist, with sleep, with food, with God, with alcohol, with weed, with the dance floor, with sex... guess what? Just like everyone else. Being depressed is not a sin. Even Jesus was depressed in the garden because of what he had to face. Now where I come from
We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be Our clothes, our hair, we don't care It's all about being there... | |
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OldFriends4Sale said: cherrymoongirl said: ...
Is this from a book or something?yeah the chapter and book are right under the pic of Wendy & Susannah ah. yes, there it is. thank you.  | |
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laurarichardson said: ReginaCarman said: i don't know about the rest of u, but i think that the above quote was a riduculous and uneducated assessment to make regarding Prince and his emotions. i don't know of anyone that wants to make their deepest inner feelings and emotions extremely public, there are feelings one is willing to share and others that one wants to keep private. Thouroughly allowed and extremely SANE! Secondly,OBVIOUSLY Prince opens up emotionally maybe not to every woman's liking because Prince didn't drop at their feet with complete adoration. Just because alot of the women Prince dated, romanced and had sex with, but weren't the ones he was looking to spend his entire life with doesn't mean that he isn't expressing himself emotionally, he just isn't sharing all of his deepest feelings. And thats still healthy. And i don't know about u , but i write and find it very Cathartic to write and then tear it up or destroy it, because i worked out my feelings with ink and paper. Where as Prince worked out his feelings and emotions in music and then destroyed it. All very sane and wholistic. And emotionally inelligent. ----- Co-sign. He worked out his feelings in the song and got rid of it. It was not for the public to hear. In addtion, Susan Rogers misses the whole issue of culture. In the African-American world a lot of problems are taken to God not to a shrink. This is good sometimes and sometimes bad but I can totally understand P thinking it a sin to be depressed. This is the same culture that buys $300 sneakers or big screen televisions before food, medicine & books. There's room for improvement. Especially if what Prince considers is worth the public's hearing is crap like Jughead. Furthermore, it didn't stop him years later from releasing songs like Papa or Wasted Kisses. It's a shame that this song was lost. | |
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Wow. This may have been THE turning point in Prince's art. Trashing a song is atypical of someone who stores everything in his vault, and to do so because it was TOO HONEST? That's the death of artistic integrity. Self-censoring the truth. And he didn't just stash it away. He ruined it, then erased it out of existence. After a standoff with his engineer. It goes to show just how much Susannah, Wendy and Lisa meant to him. It seems like his love and need for them were so great it offended his sense of independence. He refused to show how strongly he felt about them. In the moment of truth, he succumbed to pride.
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padawan said: Wow. This may have been THE turning point in Prince's art. Trashing a song is atypical of someone who stores everything in his vault, and to do so because it was TOO HONEST? That's the death of artistic integrity. Self-censoring the truth. And he didn't just stash it away. He ruined it, then erased it out of existence. After a standoff with his engineer. It goes to show just how much Susannah, Wendy and Lisa meant to him. It seems like his love and need for them were so great it offended his sense of independence. He refused to show how strongly he felt about them. In the moment of truth, he succumbed to pride.
Had Prince released Wally--and by extension, pursued that vein of total vulnerable honesty, he might have charted a completely different path for himself. It may have opened the door to truly confessional songwriting, made Prince take a deeper look at himself. Could've even patched things up with Susannah. Broadened him emotionally and morally, to accept loss and human weakness. At the very least it would have brought to sharper relief the choice that lay before him: Love or power. Trust and commitment, or the empty joys of celebrity. Imagine if Prince rearranged his priorities to value the people closest to him over his own freedom, over music itself. Imagine how it would have affected his spirituality. Imagine Prince's art evolving while rooted in a solid foundation of love and friendship... Imagine, as he suggests on 'Forever in My Life,' if Susannah actually saved his soul... He might have surpassed 1999, Purple Rain, and Sign o' the Times three, four, five times over. We must not negelect the fact that the greatness of this song is built upon one persons opinion. Could time and nostalgia have influenced her opinion of a song she heard in one session? Perhaps Prince destroyed the song because he simply thought it was 'crap'. Maybe, the version he destroyed wasn't even the original version. Who knows? there could be 5 versions of Wally in existence which pre-date the session with Susan Rogers. We just can't say. Sure does make for an interesting story in his career though. | |
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padawan said: Wow. This may have been THE turning point in Prince's art. Trashing a song is atypical of someone who stores everything in his vault, and to do so because it was TOO HONEST? That's the death of artistic integrity. Self-censoring the truth. And he didn't just stash it away. He ruined it, then erased it out of existence. After a standoff with his engineer. It goes to show just how much Susannah, Wendy and Lisa meant to him. It seems like his love and need for them were so great it offended his sense of independence. He refused to show how strongly he felt about them. In the moment of truth, he succumbed to pride.
Had Prince released Wally--and by extension, pursued that vein of total vulnerable honesty, he might have charted a completely different path for himself. It may have opened the door to truly confessional songwriting, made Prince take a deeper look at himself. Could've even patched things up with Susannah. Broadened him emotionally and morally, to accept loss and human weakness. At the very least it would have brought to sharper relief the choice that lay before him: Love or power. Trust and commitment, or the empty joys of celebrity. Imagine if Prince rearranged his priorities to value the people closest to him over his own freedom, over music itself. Imagine how it would have affected his spirituality. Imagine Prince's art evolving while rooted in a solid foundation of love and friendship... Imagine, as he suggests on 'Forever in My Life,' if Susannah actually saved his soul... He might have surpassed 1999, Purple Rain, and Sign o' the Times three, four, five times over.  | |
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Great thread. You know, I have that book and I've never read it. The title of the book is totally wrong, from my point of view. P hasn't fallen. He's still alive making and producing music.
Peace & Stay Funky [Live4Love] ... 
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PurpleLove7 said: Great thread. You know, I have that book and I've never read it. The title of the book is totally wrong, from my point of view. P hasn't fallen. He's still alive making and producing music.
It is disheartening that that emotional expression was put into something attainable like music and then "destroyed" or erased but that's out man, ain't it. He's been in love and been out of love but our man has grown up. Love is different when you grow up. Or perhaps I should say "mature". It's actually a good book Don't let the title get you I did when it first came out, and then by mistake read a piece without knowing it was the Rise and Fall of Prince And it turned out to be really good. The guy who wrote it is a fan. Prince did go thru a dark time...which some people actually don't come back from. Many famous musicians went thru similar times and lost their lives. But FALL doesn't mean END. And when I read the end, the book was shedding light on his (possible)RISE. I think the book went up to the year 1999 Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic And for many people artistically Prince was on really shaky ground. Now where I come from
We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be Our clothes, our hair, we don't care It's all about being there... | |
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padawan said: Wow. This may have been THE turning point in Prince's art. Trashing a song is atypical of someone who stores everything in his vault, and to do so because it was TOO HONEST? That's the death of artistic integrity. Self-censoring the truth. And he didn't just stash it away. He ruined it, then erased it out of existence. After a standoff with his engineer. It goes to show just how much Susannah, Wendy and Lisa meant to him. It seems like his love and need for them were so great it offended his sense of independence. He refused to show how strongly he felt about them. In the moment of truth, he succumbed to pride.
Had Prince released Wally--and by extension, pursued that vein of total vulnerable honesty, he might have charted a completely different path for himself. It may have opened the door to truly confessional songwriting, made Prince take a deeper look at himself. Could've even patched things up with Susannah. Broadened him emotionally and morally, to accept loss and human weakness. At the very least it would have brought to sharper relief the choice that lay before him: Love or power. Trust and commitment, or the empty joys of celebrity. Imagine if Prince rearranged his priorities to value the people closest to him over his own freedom, over music itself. Imagine how it would have affected his spirituality. Imagine Prince's art evolving while rooted in a solid foundation of love and friendship... Imagine, as he suggests on 'Forever in My Life,' if Susannah actually saved his soul... He might have surpassed 1999, Purple Rain, and Sign o' the Times three, four, five times over. WOW Padawan!! You really summed up the possibilities That was awesome Now where I come from
We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be Our clothes, our hair, we don't care It's all about being there... | |
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3121 said: padawan said: Wow. This may have been THE turning point in Prince's art. Trashing a song is atypical of someone who stores everything in his vault, and to do so because it was TOO HONEST? That's the death of artistic integrity. Self-censoring the truth. And he didn't just stash it away. He ruined it, then erased it out of existence. After a standoff with his engineer. It goes to show just how much Susannah, Wendy and Lisa meant to him. It seems like his love and need for them were so great it offended his sense of independence. He refused to show how strongly he felt about them. In the moment of truth, he succumbed to pride.
Had Prince released Wally--and by extension, pursued that vein of total vulnerable honesty, he might have charted a completely different path for himself. It may have opened the door to truly confessional songwriting, made Prince take a deeper look at himself. Could've even patched things up with Susannah. Broadened him emotionally and morally, to accept loss and human weakness. At the very least it would have brought to sharper relief the choice that lay before him: Love or power. Trust and commitment, or the empty joys of celebrity. Imagine if Prince rearranged his priorities to value the people closest to him over his own freedom, over music itself. Imagine how it would have affected his spirituality. Imagine Prince's art evolving while rooted in a solid foundation of love and friendship... Imagine, as he suggests on 'Forever in My Life,' if Susannah actually saved his soul... He might have surpassed 1999, Purple Rain, and Sign o' the Times three, four, five times over. We must not negelect the fact that the greatness of this song is built upon one persons opinion. Could time and nostalgia have influenced her opinion of a song she heard in one session? Perhaps Prince destroyed the song because he simply thought it was 'crap'. Maybe, the version he destroyed wasn't even the original version. Who knows? there could be 5 versions of Wally in existence which pre-date the session with Susan Rogers. We just can't say. Sure does make for an interesting story in his career though. All those things are possible But being a woman(the memory) and his engineer for the 1980's going to the studio because he called at 2am working with him (and band) and hearing things we will never? I think I believe her. Remember, the song was based upon the (firing) of Wendy & Lisa and the end of his relationship with Susannah. So the timing couldn't have been 2 far off. Now where I come from
We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be Our clothes, our hair, we don't care It's all about being there... | |
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I think the significance of Susannah's impact on Prince music should be brought out.
Now where I come from
We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be Our clothes, our hair, we don't care It's all about being there... | |
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wow I wish y'all could leave it alone this was years ago.. Don't forget Midnight Soulstice with DJ Pari and Mr. Felty http://wrir.org This Friday "Dancefloor Jazz" | |
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OldFriends4Sale said: PurpleLove7 said: Great thread. You know, I have that book and I've never read it. The title of the book is totally wrong, from my point of view. P hasn't fallen. He's still alive making and producing music.
It is disheartening that that emotional expression was put into something attainable like music and then "destroyed" or erased but that's out man, ain't it. He's been in love and been out of love but our man has grown up. Love is different when you grow up. Or perhaps I should say "mature". It's actually a good book Don't let the title get you I did when it first came out, and then by mistake read a piece without knowing it was the Rise and Fall of Prince And it turned out to be really good. The guy who wrote it is a fan. Prince did go thru a dark time...which some people actually don't come back from. Many famous musicians went thru similar times and lost their lives. But FALL doesn't mean END. And when I read the end, the book was shedding light on his (possible)RISE. I think the book went up to the year 1999 Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic And for many people artistically Prince was on really shaky ground. In truth I did thumb thru it ...  Peace & Stay Funky [Live4Love] ...
~* NPG Member 4 Life *~ | |
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IAintTheOne said: wow I wish y'all could leave it alone this was years ago..
wow Just let people enjoy their experience Nobodies hurting Prince or demanding he go back and repent It's Prince history it is what it is Now where I come from
We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be Our clothes, our hair, we don't care It's all about being there... | |
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