I wonder what Prince thinks about U2, (personally I'm a huge fan of U2 as well)...

A few facts on "Prince and U2":

1) Prince lost to U2 in 1987 at the american Grammys, "Sign "☮" The Times", the Prince masterpiece did not win a Grammy for this year's best album... he lost to U2's "The Joshua Tree". (Looking back, IMO it seems "unfair", cuz SOTT is a lot better, and a lot more varied in styles than Joshua Tree.)

2) Prince later said something like: "give me any of U2's songs and I can easily play that, but U2 can't play "Housequake"". [from memory, not the exact words].

3) a very short clip of Prince is included in the U2 music video to "Even Better Than The Real Thing" from their 1991 hit album "Achtung Baby" (Others included in this video are: The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, George Michael, Sting, Michael Jackson, Sid Vicious, Elvis Presley - maybe more).

4) 30 march 1995, on the "Gold Tour" Bono front singer of U2 was on stage with Prince and the NPG - in Dublin at the club "The Pod". Bono sang the "The Cross" live on stage. Unfortunately Bono did not knew the lyrics and half through the song he forgets what to sing. Embarrassing.

Please correct these "facts" if not accurate.

- Do you know any more facts on "Prince and U2" ???

[Edited 8/22/10 20:19pm]

PS:

U2 are still having world wide top 40 hits,

from the 2000-2010 decade:

Beautiful Day,

Stuck In A Moment you Can't Get Out Of,

Elevation,

Walk On,

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own,

City Of Blinding Lights,

Vertigo,

Get On Your Boots,

while Prince hasen't have a big world wide top 40 hit since 1994's The Most Beautiful Girl In The World.

thedance said:

PS:

U2 are still having world wide top 40 hits,

Who cares! U2 is WAY overrated. If it's a bout the music. I like U2 but they're no Prince in my book. Btw, has anyone seen the It Might Get Loud DVD w/ Jack White, The Edge & Jimmy Page? Well, the only lame person in that documentary was The Edge from U2. Having hits doesn't say shit about the quality of music.. Look @ Brittany Spears or any crap like it.

^ I wouldn't compare U2 to Britney Spears..

I think Prince really felt that he was going to snag Best Album for SOTT. Not only because he obviously thought he had put out the best product among the nominees but also maybe as a late consolation prize for Purple Rain being shut down by Lionel Richie's Can't Slow Down a couple years before. All speculation of course, but yeah, he definitely had a bug in his ass about U2 for a few years after that. He took a swipe at them in the Rolling Stone interview in 1990 but I guess he had relaxed by the time of that Pod duet.

thedance said:

1) Prince lost to U2 in 1987 at the american Grammys, "Sign "☮" The Times", the Prince masterpiece did not win a Grammy for this year's best album... he lost to U2's "The Joshua Tree". (Looking back, IMO it seems "unfair", cuz SOTT is a lot better, and a lot more varied in styles than Joshua Tree.)

2) Prince later said something like: "give me any of U2's songs and I can easily play that, but U2 can't play "Housequake"". [from memory, not the exact words].

4) 30 march 1995, on the "Gold Tour" Bono front singer of U2 was on stage with Prince and the NPG - in Dublin at the club "The Pod". Bono sang the "The Cross" live on stage. Unfortunately Bono did not knew the lyrics and half through the song he forgets what to sing. Embarrassing.

You cannot be dismissive of U2, whether you're a bigger Prince fan, or just dislike U2 in general. The Joshua Tree was a bright, haunting, melodic, and downright awesome record. 1987 was a great year for great music. SOTT was not "a lot better". In fact, I'd have a hard time deciding which one was truly superior. The criteria changes, and so does popular opinions. Both have solidly put their foot down in music history. The difference is that U2 understood the importance of the popularity of that record, and played it as much as they could. Prince lost interest in his little treasure early on, and instead gave us a not-so-real concert movie to tie us over. U2 toured the hell out of their album, and still gave us a new album, and a documentary about the tour. The Joshua Tree years really went well on a few years with the release of Rattle and Hum.

For me, The Joshua Tree deserved to win. The other people in that category were Whitney Houston - Whitney; Michael Jackson - Bad; Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris - Trio; Prince - Sign O' The Times. I think U2 had a clear shot at winning, and deserved it. I'm quite surprised MJ didn't beat them, but it could also be a timing issue, as to when things were released, and what was more prevelant on folks minds. But if memory serves, I remember hearing Joshua Tree and Bad, both in the summer of 1987 in Philadelphia, so - the winner stands.

U2 doesn't need to play "Housequake". Lyrically, U2 pounds Prince into submission, a lot of the time. I don't remember Prince tuning up to "Where The Streets Have No Name" or "One Tree Hill" or "Mothers of the Disappeared". He might have covered a U2 song somewhere along the line, but I've yet to hear it. I think Prince is scared of bands like U2. He should be. They kicked his ass a lot of the time. He didn't really go after that U2 money like he did with that Duran Duran money just a few years prior.

Bono obviously didn't know "the Cross". Not really embarrassing. It's not his song. He did what he could. Prince forgets half his lyrics anyway, so anyone else not knowing is their own thing.

IMO Prince not winning that Album of the Year grammy for SOTT was payback for skipping We Are The World and the negative press he received for being so "reclusive".

Not to mention the first grammy he won in 85...the man walked up with everyone jazzed to finally get to hear him speak. He said..."Thank you" and walked away. My mom told me then that they would never pay him the respect he's due in years to come for being such an ass about these types of things. Turns out she was right, in a way...the man seemingly got no respect for 20 years, not until 2004 when he went into the hall.

Back to U2...I think Bono was well aware that SOTT deserved that award. He gave props to Prince in their acceptance speech saying something like "Music is from the heart...otherwise Prince would be just another song and dance man. But he's not...he's much, much more."

And dont skip on U2! Tha Joshua Tree is a fantastic album. Maybe not as beloved as SOTT to us diehards, but fantastic nonetheless.

that comment about housequake was tacky. Prince's track record on rock covers is not all that great. He made a mess of Whole Lotta Love and Creep.

Joshua Tree was the album of that year. Maybe if Prince wouldnt have given up on SOTT so quickly, toured the US, he would have had cause to complain.

[Edited 8/22/10 22:33pm]

Didnt Bono mention someplace that he has a picture of him and Prince together in his kitchen.. did he mention it in a book? I think it was taken after the Pod gig.

emesem said:

that comment about housequake was tacky. Prince's track record on rock covers is not all that great. He made a mess of Whole Lotta Love and Creep.

Joshua Tree was the album of that year. Maybe if Prince wouldnt have given up on SOTT so quickly, toured the US, he would have had cause to complain.

[Edited 8/22/10 22:33pm]

I Love Prince but gotta agree with you, in reality he doesnt really have the real rock vocals

to cover many classic rock tracks very well. Not saying anything bout his rock guitar ability or performance ability he ranks highly in those but vocally he cant be up there with rockers like Zeppelin and many others. Sure he can do stuff like Bambi pretty good , but thats in his own high voiced style.

Everyone has their limitations and as brilliant as Prince is he has his limitations too.

As for SOTT vs Joshua Tree, in the end people can just say subjectively which they prefer .

I actually love both albums and dont find it easy to say one is so much greater than the other.

Maybe I would overall choose SOTT as better but not by much.

[Edited 8/23/10 3:34am]

purpledoveuk said:

Little know fact but, back in 1995 before talking to the stage together at The Pod, Prince and Bono made a wager; each man bet the other that, over the next 15 years, he could disappear up his own arse through self-importance before the other....it's pretty close to call

its a bit like that isnt it lol

ernestsewell said:

Christ, not this shit again.

zaza said:

ernestsewell said:

You cannot be dismissive of U2, whether you're a bigger Prince fan, or just dislike U2 in general. The Joshua Tree was a bright, haunting, melodic, and downright awesome record. 1987 was a great year for great music. SOTT was not "a lot better". In fact, I'd have a hard time deciding which one was truly superior. The criteria changes, and so does popular opinions. Both have solidly put their foot down in music history. The difference is that U2 understood the importance of the popularity of that record, and played it as much as they could. Prince lost interest in his little treasure early on, and instead gave us a not-so-real concert movie to tie us over. U2 toured the hell out of their album, and still gave us a new album, and a documentary about the tour. The Joshua Tree years really went well on a few years with the release of Rattle and Hum.

For me, The Joshua Tree deserved to win. The other people in that category were Whitney Houston - Whitney; Michael Jackson - Bad; Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris - Trio; Prince - Sign O' The Times. I think U2 had a clear shot at winning, and deserved it. I'm quite surprised MJ didn't beat them, but it could also be a timing issue, as to when things were released, and what was more prevelant on folks minds. But if memory serves, I remember hearing Joshua Tree and Bad, both in the summer of 1987 in Philadelphia, so - the winner stands.

U2 doesn't need to play "Housequake". Lyrically, U2 pounds Prince into submission, a lot of the time. I don't remember Prince tuning up to "Where The Streets Have No Name" or "One Tree Hill" or "Mothers of the Disappeared". He might have covered a U2 song somewhere along the line, but I've yet to hear it. I think Prince is scared of bands like U2. He should be. They kicked his ass a lot of the time. He didn't really go after that U2 money like he did with that Duran Duran money just a few years prior.

Bono obviously didn't know "the Cross". Not really embarrassing. It's not his song. He did what he could. Prince forgets half his lyrics anyway, so anyone else not knowing is their own thing.

I was a huge U2 fan and even thought I don't like theirs recent output, I have to admit that "The Joshua Tree" is better record than SOTT. As Ernest said, U2 don't have to play Housequake. And I bet Prince can't play "Where The Streets Have No Name". There's just that SOMETHING about The Edge's guitar playing that can't be recreated.

Oh please. Any guitarist can play the simple ringing guitar lines of the Edge. And many people are missing the point P was making in referencing Housequake. It is extremely rare for European bands/artists to be able to master Funk/R&B/Soul genres. I've never seen anything more ridiculous than the U2 music documentary in which they are looking for musical legitimacy by walking the streets of Harlem trying to relate to the street musicians and adopt black music forms.

C'mon, can you really see Bono doing a legitimate version of Housequake? Even Bono has described Prince as the genius of our times. And SOTT is a masterpiece, who gives a F about a goddam grammy!

During some of the Gold experience gigs in 1995 Prince made some really mean jokes about Bono beeing drunk on stage.

[Edited 8/23/10 4:22am]

jdcxc said:

Who gives a F about a goddam grammy!

Prince did...obviously.

jdcxc said:

jdcxc said:

zaza said:

ernestsewell said: I was a huge U2 fan and even thought I don't like theirs recent output, I have to admit that "The Joshua Tree" is better record than SOTT. As Ernest said, U2 don't have to play Housequake. And I bet Prince can't play "Where The Streets Have No Name". There's just that SOMETHING about The Edge's guitar playing that can't be recreated.

Oh please. Any guitarist can play the simple ringing guitar lines of the Edge. And many people are missing the point P was making in referencing Housequake. It is extremely rare for European bands/artists to be able to master Funk/R&B/Soul genres. I've never seen anything more ridiculous than the U2 music documentary in which they are looking for musical legitimacy by walking the streets of Harlem trying to relate to the street musicians and adopt black music forms.

C'mon, can you really see Bono doing a legitimate version of Housequake? Even Bono has described Prince as the genius of our times. And SOTT is a masterpiece, who gives a F about a goddam grammy!

The Bee Gees being a clear exception to that.

Prince's point was simply "I can do what they do, they can't do what I do". And he's pretty clearly right about that. Music is such an odd form of entertainment - it's the only area I can think of where versatility isn't rewarded. U2 still has hits, all of their songs are pretty much the same style and played on the same stations.

Prince has a history pushing his audience in different directions, the musical equivalent of Steven Spielberg jumping from Raiders to ET to Poltergeist to Schindler's List, to Jurassic Park to Saving Private Ryan. Spielberg even broke away from the established movie studios and started his own studio. Yet the follow the same formula people - U2, Madonna, etc - continue to get airplay while Prince hasn't had anything other than minor hits in 15+ years.

ernestsewell said:

thedance said:

1) Prince lost to U2 in 1987 at the american Grammys, "Sign "☮" The Times", the Prince masterpiece did not win a Grammy for this year's best album... he lost to U2's "The Joshua Tree". (Looking back, IMO it seems "unfair", cuz SOTT is a lot better, and a lot more varied in styles than Joshua Tree.)

2) Prince later said something like: "give me any of U2's songs and I can easily play that, but U2 can't play "Housequake"". [from memory, not the exact words].

4) 30 march 1995, on the "Gold Tour" Bono front singer of U2 was on stage with Prince and the NPG - in Dublin at the club "The Pod". Bono sang the "The Cross" live on stage. Unfortunately Bono did not knew the lyrics and half through the song he forgets what to sing. Embarrassing.

You cannot be dismissive of U2, whether you're a bigger Prince fan, or just dislike U2 in general. The Joshua Tree was a bright, haunting, melodic, and downright awesome record. 1987 was a great year for great music. SOTT was not "a lot better". In fact, I'd have a hard time deciding which one was truly superior. The criteria changes, and so does popular opinions. Both have solidly put their foot down in music history. The difference is that U2 understood the importance of the popularity of that record, and played it as much as they could. Prince lost interest in his little treasure early on, and instead gave us a not-so-real concert movie to tie us over. U2 toured the hell out of their album, and still gave us a new album, and a documentary about the tour. The Joshua Tree years really went well on a few years with the release of Rattle and Hum.

For me, The Joshua Tree deserved to win. The other people in that category were Whitney Houston - Whitney; Michael Jackson - Bad; Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris - Trio; Prince - Sign O' The Times. I think U2 had a clear shot at winning, and deserved it. I'm quite surprised MJ didn't beat them, but it could also be a timing issue, as to when things were released, and what was more prevelant on folks minds. But if memory serves, I remember hearing Joshua Tree and Bad, both in the summer of 1987 in Philadelphia, so - the winner stands.

U2 doesn't need to play "Housequake". Lyrically, U2 pounds Prince into submission, a lot of the time. I don't remember Prince tuning up to "Where The Streets Have No Name" or "One Tree Hill" or "Mothers of the Disappeared". He might have covered a U2 song somewhere along the line, but I've yet to hear it. I think Prince is scared of bands like U2. He should be. They kicked his ass a lot of the time. He didn't really go after that U2 money like he did with that Duran Duran money just a few years prior.

Bono obviously didn't know "the Cross". Not really embarrassing. It's not his song. He did what he could. Prince forgets half his lyrics anyway, so anyone else not knowing is their own thing.

SOTT was alot better, as Purple Rain was alot better than Lionel Richie. None of the artist that u listed could have been more versatile @ that time & P was still producing other acts as well. He was absolutely right, they could never do something like Housequake. Ernest ur always looking for a reason 2b a prick!

BEAUGARDE said:

ernestsewell said:

You cannot be dismissive of U2, whether you're a bigger Prince fan, or just dislike U2 in general. The Joshua Tree was a bright, haunting, melodic, and downright awesome record. 1987 was a great year for great music. SOTT was not "a lot better". In fact, I'd have a hard time deciding which one was truly superior. The criteria changes, and so does popular opinions. Both have solidly put their foot down in music history. The difference is that U2 understood the importance of the popularity of that record, and played it as much as they could. Prince lost interest in his little treasure early on, and instead gave us a not-so-real concert movie to tie us over. U2 toured the hell out of their album, and still gave us a new album, and a documentary about the tour. The Joshua Tree years really went well on a few years with the release of Rattle and Hum.

For me, The Joshua Tree deserved to win. The other people in that category were Whitney Houston - Whitney; Michael Jackson - Bad; Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris - Trio; Prince - Sign O' The Times. I think U2 had a clear shot at winning, and deserved it. I'm quite surprised MJ didn't beat them, but it could also be a timing issue, as to when things were released, and what was more prevelant on folks minds. But if memory serves, I remember hearing Joshua Tree and Bad, both in the summer of 1987 in Philadelphia, so - the winner stands.

U2 doesn't need to play "Housequake". Lyrically, U2 pounds Prince into submission, a lot of the time. I don't remember Prince tuning up to "Where The Streets Have No Name" or "One Tree Hill" or "Mothers of the Disappeared". He might have covered a U2 song somewhere along the line, but I've yet to hear it. I think Prince is scared of bands like U2. He should be. They kicked his ass a lot of the time. He didn't really go after that U2 money like he did with that Duran Duran money just a few years prior.

Bono obviously didn't know "the Cross". Not really embarrassing. It's not his song. He did what he could. Prince forgets half his lyrics anyway, so anyone else not knowing is their own thing.

SOTT was alot better,

That is all personal opinion. I ,also, prefer Joshua Tree over SOTT.

Also, I notice every other month there is a thread spitting venom at U2. I am not sure I understand the hate. Bono brings up Prince a lot and is always heaping praise on him. A few quotes:

"These white rock stars, they think they're authentic, and that Prince is just some sort of showbiz Christmas tree. But he has more soul in his little finger than a whole harbor full of these rock bands."

Bono talks about meeting Prince in the early 90s and asking him about the word "slave" written on his face:
"There's no excuse in the twentieth century for intelligent people signing a deal they don't understand. That said, Prince deserves the best deal in the world because he is the best in the world. He's Duke Ellington to me!"

[Edited 8/23/10 6:21am]

BEAUGARDE said:

ernestsewell said:

You cannot be dismissive of U2, whether you're a bigger Prince fan, or just dislike U2 in general. The Joshua Tree was a bright, haunting, melodic, and downright awesome record. 1987 was a great year for great music. SOTT was not "a lot better". In fact, I'd have a hard time deciding which one was truly superior. The criteria changes, and so does popular opinions. Both have solidly put their foot down in music history. The difference is that U2 understood the importance of the popularity of that record, and played it as much as they could. Prince lost interest in his little treasure early on, and instead gave us a not-so-real concert movie to tie us over. U2 toured the hell out of their album, and still gave us a new album, and a documentary about the tour. The Joshua Tree years really went well on a few years with the release of Rattle and Hum.

For me, The Joshua Tree deserved to win. The other people in that category were Whitney Houston - Whitney; Michael Jackson - Bad; Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris - Trio; Prince - Sign O' The Times. I think U2 had a clear shot at winning, and deserved it. I'm quite surprised MJ didn't beat them, but it could also be a timing issue, as to when things were released, and what was more prevelant on folks minds. But if memory serves, I remember hearing Joshua Tree and Bad, both in the summer of 1987 in Philadelphia, so - the winner stands.

U2 doesn't need to play "Housequake". Lyrically, U2 pounds Prince into submission, a lot of the time. I don't remember Prince tuning up to "Where The Streets Have No Name" or "One Tree Hill" or "Mothers of the Disappeared". He might have covered a U2 song somewhere along the line, but I've yet to hear it. I think Prince is scared of bands like U2. He should be. They kicked his ass a lot of the time. He didn't really go after that U2 money like he did with that Duran Duran money just a few years prior.

Bono obviously didn't know "the Cross". Not really embarrassing. It's not his song. He did what he could. Prince forgets half his lyrics anyway, so anyone else not knowing is their own thing.

SOTT was alot better, as Purple Rain was alot better than Lionel Richie. None of the artist that u listed could have been more versatile @ that time & P was still producing other acts as well. He was absolutely right, they could never do something like Housequake. Ernest ur always looking for a reason 2b a prick!

Just because I prefer The Joshua Tree over SOTT, does it mean I'm a prick too? I dislike one thing - when somebody accuses someone because of musical preferences, taste or whatever.

Bono respects the hell out of Prince. He has been quoted numerous times with some of the most positive words I've ever seen one rock star speak of another's talent.

BEAUGARDE said:

SOTT was alot better, as Purple Rain was alot better than Lionel Richie. None of the artist that u listed could have been more versatile @ that time & P was still producing other acts as well. He was absolutely right, they could never do something like Housequake. Ernest ur always looking for a reason 2b a prick!

There's only one prick on this thread, and I'm responding to him.

ernestsewell said:

Havent I read a thread like this before? zzzzzzz.........

u2 collectively r better than prince.

sad but true.

zaza said:

jdcxc said:

Oh please. Any guitarist can play the simple ringing guitar lines of the Edge. And many people are missing the point P was making in referencing Housequake. It is extremely rare for European bands/artists to be able to master Funk/R&B/Soul genres. I've never seen anything more ridiculous than the U2 music documentary in which they are looking for musical legitimacy by walking the streets of Harlem trying to relate to the street musicians and adopt black music forms.

C'mon, can you really see Bono doing a legitimate version of Housequake? Even Bono has described Prince as the genius of our times. And SOTT is a masterpiece, who gives a F about a goddam grammy!

Yeah, anybody can play it, but it sounds like shit. You don't know how hard it is to play with delay settings like The Edge's.

Hahahaha - I've read some bollocks in my time on the .org, but this really is up there with the best of them! Can you even play guitar?! Actually, I think you've answered that question in your post above

Mindflux said: