Out of all the songs Prince wrote, I think Tyka said last week approximate 984; I wonder was Prince when he wrote "1999"... On a plane, driving around Minneapolis, woke up from sleeping, on the toilet, lol, vacationing, in LA, in NY, etc. etc. haha

Thought some interviewer or book may have asked this question.?

[Edited 12/1/16 14:12pm]

Anybody have any knowledge of Prince being ask this?

"The sky was all Purple there was people running everywhere"

One of the baddest lines ever written could be describing a event in Revelation...

Astasheiks said:

Out of all the songs Prince wrote, I think Tyka said last week approximate 984; I wonder was Prince when he wrote "1999"... On a plane, driving around Minneapolis, woke up from sleeping, on the toilet, lol, vacationing, in LA, in NY, etc. etc. haha

Thought some interviewer or book may have asked this question.?

[Edited 12/1/16 14:12pm]

He talked about this song in an interview or two. Saying people around him were really bugging out about the Y2K thing, which inspired the song. Also another documentary I think with an early manager or bandmate - sorry am sleepy can't recall specifically - but he said that Prince rehearsed with the Time, then would come to rehearse with the Revolution, then play a gig, and an after show and then came back to reheasal the next day and was like hey guys, check this out, and puts in the tape and it's the beginning of 1999. So I feel like it was definitely wherever he called home during 1983.

the sky was all purple, is about Judgement day...

it's so easy to pick that up, imo...

thedance said:

the sky was all purple, is about Judgement day...

it's so easy to pick that up, imo...

Agreed, blood is red, sky is blue, red + blue = purple. Bleeding sky, A theme revisited in Purple Rain.

TheEnglishGent said:

It was recorded at his studio in Kiowa Trail. He had spent the day rehearsing The Time, Vanity 6 and his own band.

well it's more of a song about the fear of the bomb in the cold war world,
which prince cleverly mixed with religious imagery. to me it is, anyway.

i mean, don't forget, this was 1982, it was a different world in many ways.

Madhouseman knows

He talks about writing that song and how he came to write it in the Larry King Interview from 1999

ForeverPaisley said:

Astasheiks said:

Out of all the songs Prince wrote, I think Tyka said last week approximate 984; I wonder was Prince when he wrote "1999"... On a plane, driving around Minneapolis, woke up from sleeping, on the toilet, lol, vacationing, in LA, in NY, etc. etc. haha

Thought some interviewer or book may have asked this question.?

[Edited 12/1/16 14:12pm]

He talked about this song in an interview or two. Saying people around him were really bugging out about the Y2K thing, which inspired the song. Also another documentary I think with an early manager or bandmate - sorry am sleepy can't recall specifically - but he said that Prince rehearsed with the Time, then would come to rehearse with the Revolution, then play a gig, and an after show and then came back to reheasal the next day and was like hey guys, check this out, and puts in the tape and it's the beginning of 1999. So I feel likel it was definitely wherever he called home during 1983.

Most people didn't start talking about the Y2K thing until 1999, "1999" , the song was written in or rather release in 1982; so Y2K couldn't inspired the song. In other words, nobody was talking about Y2K in 1982...

Astasheiks said:

ForeverPaisley said:

He talked about this song in an interview or two. Saying people around him were really bugging out about the Y2K thing, which inspired the song. Also another documentary I think with an early manager or bandmate - sorry am sleepy can't recall specifically - but he said that Prince rehearsed with the Time, then would come to rehearse with the Revolution, then play a gig, and an after show and then came back to reheasal the next day and was like hey guys, check this out, and puts in the tape and it's the beginning of 1999. So I feel likel it was definitely wherever he called home during 1983.

Most people didn't start talking about the Y2K thing until 1999, "1999" , the song was written in or rather release in 1982; so Y2K couldn't inspired the song. In other words, nobody was talking about Y2K in 1982...

They're not talking about the Y2K computer apocalypse, they're talking about the superstitious astrology/numerology morons who think that the change of the millinium was going to mean something. It's the same type of people who thought the world was going to end in 2012 because of the Mayan calendar, who feel that "super moons" cause earthquakes, etc...

steakfinger said:

Astasheiks said:

Most people didn't start talking about the Y2K thing until 1999, "1999" , the song was written in or rather release in 1982; so Y2K couldn't inspired the song. In other words, nobody was talking about Y2K in 1982...

They're not talking about the Y2K computer apocalypse, they're talking about the superstitious astrology/numerology morons who think that the change of the millinium was going to mean something. It's the same type of people who thought the world was going to end in 2012 because of the Mayan calendar, who feel that "super moons" cause earthquakes, etc...

Yup - it was a Nostradamus thing, not a Y2K thing.

We know what the song is"about"

The inquiry was where did he record it/ what gave him the inspiration "at that time" to talk about revelation, the end.

bluegangsta said:

It was recorded at his studio in Kiowa Trail. He had spent the day rehearsing The Time, Vanity 6 and his own band.

There is something about that Kiowa Trail property. When I first went to Chanhassen in June, I made sure that my wife and I went over to see the "Peace and Love Gate" and to just view the property. As I stood there looking through the gate at the grounds I was just in awe of all the legendary recordings that happened there.

When I came back in Septemeber for the Revolution show, I made sure to take my daughters over too so we could snap a pic and try to explain that they were standing on "musical sacred ground".

I'll miss that gate the next time I go to MN, I hope they take it and display it at Paisley.

JediNationReloaded said:

bluegangsta said:

It was recorded at his studio in Kiowa Trail. He had spent the day rehearsing The Time, Vanity 6 and his own band.

There is something about that Kiowa Trail property. When I first went to Chanhassen in June, I made sure that my wife and I went over to see the "Peace and Love Gate" and to just view the property. As I stood there looking through the gate at the grounds I was just in awe of all the legendary recordings that happened there.

When I came back in Septemeber for the Revolution show, I made sure to take my daughters over too so we could snap a pic and try to explain that they were standing on "musical sacred ground".

I'll miss that gate the next time I go to MN, I hope they take it and display it at Paisley.

I think you mean the "Mercedes and Love Gate," because they totally screwed up that peace symbol.

Genesia said:

JediNationReloaded said:

There is something about that Kiowa Trail property. When I first went to Chanhassen in June, I made sure that my wife and I went over to see the "Peace and Love Gate" and to just view the property. As I stood there looking through the gate at the grounds I was just in awe of all the legendary recordings that happened there.

When I came back in Septemeber for the Revolution show, I made sure to take my daughters over too so we could snap a pic and try to explain that they were standing on "musical sacred ground".

I'll miss that gate the next time I go to MN, I hope they take it and display it at Paisley.

I think you mean the "Mercedes and Love Gate," because they totally screwed up that peace symbol.

you KNOW what I meant.. lol

Back to the original question..

I'm assuming it was at the Kiowa Trail house.

I remember a story about Prince waking up Jill Jones at the Kiowa Trail house and having himself, Dez and Jill record the opening lines together, it not working and the separating them and making musical magic. I'm probably missing parts of this story but I'm assuming it was at Kiowa Trail.

Also, watch that 1999 CNN interview with Larry King, Prince addresses the song in that too.

Genesia said:

probably listening to "Aja"

databank said:

Madhouseman knows

lol. Thanks! According to Prince and those around him, they were watching a special about Nostradamus and it really hit home.

“We were sitting around watching a special about "1999," and a lot of people were talking about the year and speculating on what was going to happen. And I just found it real ironic how everyone that was around me whom I thought to be very optimistic people were dreading those days, and I always knew I'd be cool. I never felt like this was going to be a rough time for me. I knew that there were going to be rough times for the Earth because of this system is based in entropy, and it's pretty much headed in a certain direction. So I just wanted to write something that gave hope, and what I find is people listen to it. And no matter where we are in the world, I always get the same type of response from them.”

The song was likely recorded in his home studio on July 14, 1982 according to my notes.

I don't know if that answers 'where was he'. He was in his home studio if that solves anything.

Alexandernvrmind said:

Genesia said:

Yup - it was a Nostradamus thing, not a Y2K thing.

NHe sings "you cant from revelations no" "you better tell it to a Ronald Reagan Momma.... say party!" I am stunned at some of the response in this thread...just stunned. [Edited 12/5/16 21:45pm]

sing it for your nation yall..telephone ringin momma

not tell it to Ronald Reagan

.

[Edited 12/6/16 19:31pm]

steakfinger said:

Astasheiks said:

Most people didn't start talking about the Y2K thing until 1999, "1999" , the song was written in or rather release in 1982; so Y2K couldn't inspired the song. In other words, nobody was talking about Y2K in 1982...

They're not talking about the Y2K computer apocalypse, they're talking about the superstitious astrology/numerology morons who think that the change of the millinium was going to mean something. It's the same type of people who thought the world was going to end in 2012 because of the Mayan calendar, who feel that "super moons" cause earthquakes, etc...

I assume your response is to "ForeverPaisley", because he or she was the one saying Y2K inspired the song 1999.

[Edited 12/7/16 13:08pm]

JediNationReloaded said:

Back to the original question..

I'm assuming it was at the Kiowa Trail house.

I remember a story about Prince waking up Jill Jones at the Kiowa Trail house and having himself, Dez and Jill record the opening lines together, it not working and the separating them and making musical magic. I'm probably missing parts of this story but I'm assuming it was at Kiowa Trail.

Also, watch that 1999 CNN interview with Larry King, Prince addresses the song in that too.

Which to dig in deeper... Did he write the lyrics and music all at the same time? For example, one band ex band member from The Revolution said he always had a pad to write lyrics (like on planes and hotels while on tour) I wonder which was his normal way of doing Song, that is ... Write lyrics and then put music to go with the lyrics OR Make music and then put some lyrics to go with the music OR while writing the lyrics he hears the music simutaneoulsy to go with the lyrics???

luvsexy4all said:

probably listening to "Aja"

You mean Steely Dan's "Aja"?

funkaholic1972 said:

luvsexy4all said:

probably listening to "Aja"

You mean Steely Dan's "Aja"?

yes...that line "sue me" was probably lifted from their song

luvsexy4all said:

funkaholic1972 said:

You mean Steely Dan's "Aja"?

yes...that line "sue me" was probably lifted from their song

"I cried when I wrote this song, sue me if I play too long..." (Deacon Blues).

Steely Dan is one of my favorite artists and I like the idea that Prince might have listened to their music and got some inspiration.

funkaholic1972 said:

luvsexy4all said:

yes...that line "sue me" was probably lifted from their song

"I cried when I wrote this song, sue me if I play too long..." (Deacon Blues).

Steely Dan is one of my favorite artists and I like the idea that Prince might have listened to their music and got some inspiration.

In an interview, Jesse Johnson said he introduced music by the Mama and the Papas to Prince and that the begining of Monday Monday is similar to the beginning of 1999

madhouseman said:

databank said:

Madhouseman knows

lol. Thanks! According to Prince and those around him, they were watching a special about Nostradamus and it really hit home.

“We were sitting around watching a special about "1999," and a lot of people were talking about the year and speculating on what was going to happen. And I just found it real ironic how everyone that was around me whom I thought to be very optimistic people were dreading those days, and I always knew I'd be cool. I never felt like this was going to be a rough time for me. I knew that there were going to be rough times for the Earth because of this system is based in entropy, and it's pretty much headed in a certain direction. So I just wanted to write something that gave hope, and what I find is people listen to it. And no matter where we are in the world, I always get the same type of response from them.”

The song was likely recorded in his home studio on July 14, 1982 according to my notes.

I don't know if that answers 'where was he'. He was in his home studio if that solves anything.

Wow cool thx. But waitasec, did u actually get to interview Prince himself for your book or is this from an interview he gave?