Article : Prince Opens Up About His Youth

April 24, 2009


It's hard to believe, but even the supremely cool being known as Prince was teased as a child, in an shining example of how not to judge a book by its cover.

"The first thing I did is,” Prince tells PBS' Tavis Smiley in a new interview. “I went into [my]self and I taught myself music. My father left his piano at the house when he left and I wasn’t allowed to play it when he was there because I wasn’t as good as him so when he left I was determined to get as good as him."

And practice he did, laying the foundation for his future rock star status by perfecting his talent, until people started treating him differently.

"I taught myself how to play music and I just stuck with it and I did it all the time and sooner or later people in the neighborhood heard about me and they started to talk about me and it wasn’t in the teasing fashion, it was more like, 'Wow look what he can do...' Once I got that support from people that I believed I could do anything," he reveals.


http://www.okmagazine.com...view/13714

most here knw this and have for years

don't those folks that teased him feel like as*holes now!

It's not a surprise about him being teased. Pretty common knowledge.

Far too often some do forget that he has worked and sacrificed to get where he is today. Props To You, Prince.

I can't wait to see the rest

I miss him in interviews. I try to get a lot out of the music cuz he prefers it that way. But there's something about what he says, how he says things... and to know his present state of mind through speech really interests me

Just another piece to the puzzle that surrounds the riddle and the enigma is wrapped around

The instant I heard Gold’s first note, it became Prince’s mark on my soul: a tattoo I wear with pride.
Prince is Dreamy, gives my Life that Pop and 2 the industry, he’s Royalty.

*****This is nothing new*****


Smooches;)

Oh...lovely. Somebody coasts off someone else's interview. Now, there's great journalism.

The first time I read about Prince teaching himself how to play the piano was in Per Nilsen's "Documentary" book.

Also, in that same book, Per spoke about how he taught himself to play the "Batman" theme song, which Prince himself later confirmed in that interview with Oprah in 1996 and again in 2004 with Rove McMannus.

In 1999, he talked about teaching himself the piano on the "Rave" DVD.

Ten years later, he's at it again.

I don't know why he's telling folks this story again.

Maybe Tavis wasn't aware of him being able to do this.

That said, I can't wait to check out the entire interview with Prince and Bria Valentene.

anc282 said:

The first time I read about Prince teaching himself how to play the piano was in Per Nilsen's "Documentary" book.

Also, in that same book, Per spoke about how he taught himself to play the "Batman" theme song, which Prince himself later confirmed in that interview with Oprah in 1996 and again in 2004 with Rove McMannus.

In 1999, he talked about teaching himself the piano on the "Rave" DVD.

Ten years later, he's at it again.

I don't know why he's telling folks this story again.

Maybe Tavis wasn't aware of him being able to do this.

That said, I can't wait to check out the entire interview with Prince and Bria Valentene.

anc282 said:

The first time I read about Prince teaching himself how to play the piano was in Per Nilsen's "Documentary" book.

Also, in that same book, Per spoke about how he taught himself to play the "Batman" theme song, which Prince himself later confirmed in that interview with Oprah in 1996 and again in 2004 with Rove McMannus.

In 1999, he talked about teaching himself the piano on the "Rave" DVD.

Ten years later, he's at it again.

I don't know why he's telling folks this story again.

Maybe Tavis wasn't aware of him being able to do this.

That said, I can't wait to check out the entire interview with Prince and Bria Valentene.

Tavis' interviews will be full of softballs. Come on, Prince did a fund-raiser concert for dude's foundation. And -- I guess to P's credit -- gave heavily on top of that.

Tavis will remain appreciative, and I'd be surprised if his show's interviews with Prince reflect anything in the neighborhood of objectivity.

JayJai said:

Maybe he's considerin newbies like moi who didn't kno this...maybe

The Ol skoolers already know this. There are other things that went on in his life as a child that would make a grown man sit down and cry, like when he said he used to sit outside of McDonald's just so he could smell the food. But he's better now.
[Edited 4/26/09 5:15am]

Prince should write some new opening music for Tavis!

Dayclear said:

The Ol skoolers already know this. There are other things that went on in his life as a child that would make a grown man sit down and cry, like when he said he used to sit outside of McDonald's just so he could smell the food. But he's better now.
[Edited 4/26/09 5:15am]

Yes, they made mention of this in a British documentary called "Prince Rogers Nelson." The guy who mentioned it was one of the journalists for "Rolling Stone" magazine.

Most entertainers who talk openly about their past will repeat the same stories and sometimes provide new details. And why shouldn’t they when they are asked about the seminal events in their life over and over? By definition, these can’t change much. He’s not going to say that no, it wasn’t the teasing that made him work even harder at learning music, but the time his father ate the last of the vanilla ice cream and his desire to seek revenge in besting him at piano.

The interview looks promising. The frames are a good sign -- he first started wearing those during the SOTT period. They seem to signal an intent to be extra serious. Maybe that will show up in the rest of the Tavis piece.

mzsadii said:

Far too often some do forget that he has worked and sacrificed to get where he is today. Props To You, Prince.

moussemaker said:

Well it might be the same story, but it's definitely with new details. I've never heard Prince nor anyone else for that matter, ever mention Andre Cymones' brother Eddie. I didn't even know he had a brother. Prince said that he was entirely indebted to him. Referred to him as one of his teachers. I'd say this is new news and very significant information. I doubt anyone else here has ever heard these details before!

Man, he sure is coming clean on things lately. What's up with him?

Dayclear said:

nurseV said:

Dayclear said:

Man, he sure is coming clean on things lately. What's up with him?

Eventually we all have to

ernestsewell said:

nurseV said:

Eventually we all have to

Why does he HAVE to? He could die tomorrow, and we've live in nothing but a land of conjecture about Prince. If he REALLY wants to come clean and be real and all reflective and shit like he said on Tavis, then he needs to write a book. Dig deep, be real, don't be mystic, and don't put a bunch of 's all around it. Just tell the story.