I'm totally digging all 3 singers. I say leave them where they are. They add more soul and multiple layers to performances/recordings. And I'm sure they're even better Live. On that note, praying that Prince brings them with the band to the States very soon!!

Peace.

I don't know the other two, but Shelby's voice is all over the place including my goddamn nerves I tried to give that woman a pass,,,,but damn.

The again, hiring a decent female vocalist who's not overly annoying has not been one of Prince' strengthes,,,,,and no, I never liked Rosie Gains' voice either.

agree!

All these shit cabaret JW singers need to be shown the door.

bashraka said:

Is it time for Prince to eshew background singers altogether? Yes, the Shelby, Liv and Elisa can most certain sing and have great abilities to create great vocal harmonies, but they don't offer anything substantive to his recorded music and artistry. It seems like Prince is bored with this group and is too spineless to fire them. It's just hard to believe that Prince did one of the most excitng and musically challenging tours of his career in One Nite Alone and has traded that for a band that has become this side of stale.

What about the fact that Prince gives the girls several spotlights each night makes you think he's bored of them? Projecting your own thoughts onto Prince doesn't make your argument stronger.

TwiliteKid said:

bashraka said:

Is it time for Prince to eshew background singers altogether? Yes, the Shelby, Liv and Elisa can most certain sing and have great abilities to create great vocal harmonies, but they don't offer anything substantive to his recorded music and artistry. It seems like Prince is bored with this group and is too spineless to fire them. It's just hard to believe that Prince did one of the most excitng and musically challenging tours of his career in One Nite Alone and has traded that for a band that has become this side of stale.

What about the fact that Prince gives the girls several spotlights each night makes you think he's bored of them? Projecting your own thoughts onto Prince doesn't make your argument stronger.

Exactly.

If Prince were bored with them, they'd be gone. Simple as that.

I agree about Shelby, but Elisa just re-joined Prince. I love her voice on his music.

This thread failed as soon as i read the OP say Prince was too spineless to fire some one.

And for the record... i enjoy when p has quality singers backing him up or offering new voices to much of the music he likes to play.

Bashy,

Shelby, Liz and Elisa, make great harmony together as Prince's backup singers, and it is obvious Prince is happy with them. Don't worry, you'll be okay.

[Edited 7/28/10 12:46pm]

eireboy34 said:

agree!

All these shit cabaret JW singers need to be shown the door.

Speaking of shit, It's in alot of your posts I.e. rubbish. you must like shit. If you like, I'd be more than happy to show You the door to this place. No need to bring their religion into any discussion as I am sure you don't know any of them personally. It's one thing to say you don't care for them, entirely another to be insulting. Get some positivity y don't you!?

I can live with them but Cora and Josh have 2 go. They add ZERO 2 prince and his music.

ZERO.

If that is Shelby J. at the end of "Sticky Like Glue" I say let her stay around just a little while longer. I believe that Prince likes to have a soulful voice around him sometimes in the vein of Chaka Khan or Aretha Franklin (example Rosie Gaines and Boni Boyer). Certainly these women are not in the same hemisphere vocally (when Chaka or Aretha were in their prime) ,but there is obviously an attraction to this sound for Prince. He may tire of it but he seems to come back to it. I remember him doing a rendition of "Sweet Thing" with Chaka Khan in London around the time of New Power Soul and he calls her the "voice of life". That says a lot.

[Edited 7/28/10 13:21pm]

I might not care too much for Liv and Elisa but I'd definitely get rid of Shelby, Josh and Cora. But VERY especially Shelby.

That'd be doing a real good favour to Mankind.

Graycap23 said:

I can live with them but Cora and Josh have 2 go. They add ZERO 2 prince and his music.

ZERO.

It surprises me to hear you say that. The one time I have seen them with Prince, they were fantastic.

Shelby was great too.

Shelby is absolutely spoiling the New Morning experience for me...

I wish she had a 200-year vacation. I can stand her screams. I can't conceive anyone can. Including herself.

Graycap23 said:

I can live with them but Cora and Josh have 2 go. They add ZERO 2 prince and his music.

ZERO.

I thought I was the only one who felt that way. They are just "there" to me.

vitriol said:

I might not care too much for Liv and Elisa but I'd definitely get rid of Shelby, Josh and Cora. But VERY especially Shelby.

That'd be doing a real good favour to Mankind.

I think Shelby has a great voice, but she OVERSINGS way too much for my taste.

They are alright, but Shelby is no Sheila E, and the chances of him getting female singers and musicians on the level of Cat, Jill Jones, WendynLisa and even Rosie are looking thin. The band seems to be turning into some middle of the road touring soul revue.

Huggiebear said:

They are alright, but Shelby is no Sheila E, and the chances of him getting female singers and musicians on the level of Cat, Jill Jones, WendynLisa and even Rosie are looking thin. The band seems to be turning into some middle of the road touring soul revue.

the singers and Larry and Maceo.

the great thing about Prince's performances and lineups in the 80's and 90's is that he took his influences and transformed them into something different and his own. now he's just putting on a soul revue straight out of the 70's.

at least he's reclaiming his own sound on record.

I think they add a fresh new sound to the mega hit album 20TEN. Prince has finally found use of there voices together. Hearing them on the new versions of Mountains & 1999 live proved that they finally have struck magic in their harmonies with Prince. I say keep them. Plus Shelby brings out a fun side in Prince I haven't seen in years since Wendy & Lisa were fired. He looks so relaxed while he is around her. Speaking of Wendy & Lisa. Shelby J, Liv Warfield & Elisa harmonies rival theres on 20TEN. I'm sorry to disappoint U Wendy & Lisa diehard fans there harmonies are better than theirs now & tighter.... Shelby sounds better with a quartet.

^Shelby sounds better with her mouth shut and 200000 miles from where I happen to be.

BigDaddyHQ said:

This thread failed as soon as i read the OP say Prince was too spineless to fire some one.

seriously! Prince has no trouble changing band members

At one point I was sick of Shelby because I felt as if her voice overpowered and was more prevalent than Prince's in some songs (Chelsea Rodgers, for example), but I am just now starting to like her. I love love love the harmonies on 20Ten. When executed properly, her voice sounds excellent with Prince's. I'd prefer this soulful trio of background singers rather than some flavor-of-the-week cute-looking wispery-sounding chicks like the twins.

NDRU said:

BigDaddyHQ said:

This thread failed as soon as i read the OP say Prince was too spineless to fire some one.

seriously! Prince has no trouble changing band members

Ain't that the truth Ruth!

I like the back up singers. Shelby's voice is strong when Prince's voice is soft and Liv & Elisa add harmonies that pull it all together.

Do what you do, I'm loving it!

Huggiebear said:

. . . getting female singers and musicians on the level of Cat, Jill Jones . . .

Why wish that on anyone?

the entire band needs to go

CJBabyDaddy said:

Huggiebear said:

. . . getting female singers and musicians on the level of Cat, Jill Jones . . .

Why wish that on anyone?