i just checked princevault but they have no info about other people on the song
except for prince himself.

to me it always sounded like wendy/lisa, especially the bit that goes:

how far from heaven must we go before the wind of change will blow and show..

everybody stop fighting, everybody make love..

maybe i'm just hearing things because i couple the musicology era to the duet
between prince and wendy on "reflection", as performed on tv.

it also seems like the kind of message song that he would ask them for input on,
considering. kinda like 'in this bed eye scream'.

did it every come to light who is on backing?

so, no one?

IstenSzek said:

dodger said:

IstenSzek said:

so, no one?

I've just listened on headphones out of pity for your thread... . There is definitely some female vocals in there and you may be right, I guess it could be W&L. Rhonda and Candy were around then so they could be possibities

I think it's Rhonda too.

thedoorkeeper said:

Most likely it's Rhonda because it sounds like her talking on the black,white,straight,gay breakdown or it could be both Rhonda and Candy. I don't know how you could think it's W&L. Any Prince fan would know their voices without a doubt.

[Edited 10/30/16 11:11am]

dodger said:

IstenSzek said:

so, no one?

I've just listened on headphones out of pity for your thread... . There is definitely some female vocals in there and you may be right, I guess it could be W&L. Rhonda and Candy were around then so they could be possibities

rhonda and candy? sounds about right i think.

OperatingThetan said:

thedoorkeeper said:

UNITED STATES OF DIVISION was recorded in 2004 - why would you think it could be Wendy & Lisa on background vocals?

Wendy & Lisa are on the 'Planet Earth' album released in 2007 and Prince performed Reflection live on TV with Wendy in 2004, along with a performance at The Brits with both Wendy & Lisa in 2006. Given that, I'd say it's quite possible.

dbpdexter said:

Most likely it's Rhonda because it sounds like her talking on the black,white,straight,gay breakdown or it could be both Rhonda and Candy. I don't know how you could think it's W&L. Any Prince fan would know their voices without a doubt.

first, the spoken vocals on the breakdown are different in tone and timbre from the ones
that are on the background singing vocals.

second, see the above post, W&L were around between '04 and '07 and they might have
worked on more songs with prince than what we know now.

but, after reading the bolded part, i guess i'm not a good fan i've only been around
since 1988, for every single scrap of music prince released either in stores or online.

but i guess you're right, if i'm a prince fan i would know their voices. so i'm not a fan

IstenSzek said:

paulludvig said:

IstenSzek said:

first, the spoken vocals on the breakdown are different in tone and timbre from the ones
that are on the background singing vocals.

second, see the above post, W&L were around between '04 and '07 and they might have
worked on more songs with prince than what we know now.

but, after reading the bolded part, i guess i'm not a good fan i've only been around
since 1988, for every single scrap of music prince released either in stores or online.

but i guess you're right, if i'm a prince fan i would know their voices. so i'm not a fan

A lot of people thought W&L sang background vocals on Planet Earth based on the sound. Turned out it was The Twins

not true fans, none of them

IstenSzek said:

dbpdexter said:

Most likely it's Rhonda because it sounds like her talking on the black,white,straight,gay breakdown or it could be both Rhonda and Candy. I don't know how you could think it's W&L. Any Prince fan would know their voices without a doubt.

first, the spoken vocals on the breakdown are different in tone and timbre from the ones
that are on the background singing vocals.

second, see the above post, W&L were around between '04 and '07 and they might have
worked on more songs with prince than what we know now.

but, after reading the bolded part, i guess i'm not a good fan i've only been around
since 1988, for every single scrap of music prince released either in stores or online.

but i guess you're right, if i'm a prince fan i would know their voices. so i'm not a fan

I thought it was common knowledge that Wendy was involved in this track - but the only things I can find written about it are from you, IstenSzek, from 2004 and me from 2007!

[Edited 10/31/16 12:35pm]

leecaldon said:

IstenSzek said:

first, the spoken vocals on the breakdown are different in tone and timbre from the ones
that are on the background singing vocals.

second, see the above post, W&L were around between '04 and '07 and they might have
worked on more songs with prince than what we know now.

but, after reading the bolded part, i guess i'm not a good fan i've only been around
since 1988, for every single scrap of music prince released either in stores or online.

but i guess you're right, if i'm a prince fan i would know their voices. so i'm not a fan

I thought it was common knowledge that Wendy was involved in this track - but the only things I can find written about it are you from you, IstenSzek, from 2004 and me from 2007!

i've just looked this up and i'm going jeez, that was a long time ago.