http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040428.wprinc28/BNStory/Entertainment/



BREAKING NEWS

POSTED AT 12:06 PM EDT Wednesday, Apr. 28, 2004

Prince finds a home in Toronto

Canadian Press


Jacksonville, Fla. — It might make some sense if Prince, the cooler-than-cool funk/rock superstar whose career is suddenly in serious revival mode, had found happiness at 45 settling down in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Paris or London.

But Toronto?

"I love Toronto," Prince said late Tuesday in an exclusive interview with The Canadian Press after a wild two-hour concert in this north Florida city. It was the 21st stop of a tour he's loathe to call a comeback — because, he insists, he's never truly been gone.

"It's cosmopolitan," he said. "There's all sorts of different kinds of people everywhere you go in Toronto, there's all sorts of great music, great restaurants, great night spots that don't respond to a lot of American playlists and have playlists which I really dig. It's a real melting pot in every sense of the word."

Prince is married to Toronto-born Manuela Testolini. The couple spends "a lot of time" in Toronto, where they own a home in an upscale north-end neighbourhood and where he recorded his recently released album, the critically acclaimed Musicology.

The CD jacket features the diminutive Prince in front of the gleaming Toronto skyline at night, and includes at least one veiled reference to the street where he lives that he asked not be pointed out "in case any crazies show up at my door."

But it's not simply romantic love that attracts Prince to his wife's hometown. The Minnesota native likes the frigid winters — "it's worse in Minneapolis," he laughs — he likes Canadian songstress Nelly Furtado, and most of all he likes

Canada's tendency to ignore the American recording industry, obviously an alluring quality to a man who famously scrawled the word "slave" across his cheek in the 1990s in a protracted dispute with his record company over creative and financial control of his music.

"Musicology is the first record I've recorded in Toronto and I can really feel the difference. It has a completely unique sound that came from the total disregard for what's happening in American music, and for the workings of the American music industry. It doesn't sound like anything else that's out there right now," Prince said.

He's also a fan of the Toronto institution known as Speaker's Corner, a City-TV show that features everyday citizens in a tiny video booth opining on everything from politics to lost love.

"I love Speaker's Corner!" says Prince, dressed in black and sporting shaded spectacles in his candlelit dressing room. "I just love the idea of it. I am so tempted when I go by to stop the car and go into the booth and say what I have to say."

Relaxed and charming even after a frenetic show that saw him writhing on the stage during some of his guitar solos, the recent Jehovah's Witness convert seems serene these days. That's in stark contrast to the apparently angry man referred to simply as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince until four years ago.

He acknowledges he's at peace now that he's got complete control over his music, but points out he's never stopped churning out his brand of exuberant, rock 'n' roll-tinged funk.

He doesn't deny, however, that his phenomenal opening number at this year's Grammy Awards with R and B superstar Beyonce seems to have the masses clamouring for a full-fledged Prince resurrection.

That hasn't been by design on his part, he insists — it's just been all about the timing.

"I get asked every year to play at the Grammys," he says. "This year I did it because I have an album out that I want to promote and a concert tour that I want to promote. My fans have always come out."

The tour comes to Toronto in July for two shows, and tickets have sold out rapidly in every city where they've gone on sale.

Prince is amused. But he adds he's delighted if he's now introducing young music fans to some quality funk and R and B.

"To us, this doesn't feel like anything new — we've been playing the same show for awhile. It's me — I'm just doing what I always do and what I love to do. But someone has to do this, because no one else is. The music is such a treasure, so celebratory and joyous, and no one's doing it anymore — I'm happy to keep it going."

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040428.wprinc28/BNStory/Entertainment/



BREAKING NEWS

POSTED AT 12:06 PM EDT Wednesday, Apr. 28, 2004

Prince finds a home in Toronto

Canadian Press


Jacksonville, Fla. — It might make some sense if Prince, the cooler-than-cool funk/rock superstar whose career is suddenly in serious revival mode, had found happiness at 45 settling down in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Paris or London.

But Toronto?

"I love Toronto," Prince said late Tuesday in an exclusive interview with The Canadian Press after a wild two-hour concert in this north Florida city. It was the 21st stop of a tour he's loathe to call a comeback — because, he insists, he's never truly been gone.

"It's cosmopolitan," he said. "There's all sorts of different kinds of people everywhere you go in Toronto, there's all sorts of great music, great restaurants, great night spots that don't respond to a lot of American playlists and have playlists which I really dig. It's a real melting pot in every sense of the word."

Prince is married to Toronto-born Manuela Testolini. The couple spends "a lot of time" in Toronto, where they own a home in an upscale north-end neighbourhood and where he recorded his recently released album, the critically acclaimed Musicology.

The CD jacket features the diminutive Prince in front of the gleaming Toronto skyline at night, and includes at least one veiled reference to the street where he lives that he asked not be pointed out "in case any crazies show up at my door."

But it's not simply romantic love that attracts Prince to his wife's hometown. The Minnesota native likes the frigid winters — "it's worse in Minneapolis," he laughs — he likes Canadian songstress Nelly Furtado, and most of all he likes

Canada's tendency to ignore the American recording industry, obviously an alluring quality to a man who famously scrawled the word "slave" across his cheek in the 1990s in a protracted dispute with his record company over creative and financial control of his music.

"Musicology is the first record I've recorded in Toronto and I can really feel the difference. It has a completely unique sound that came from the total disregard for what's happening in American music, and for the workings of the American music industry. It doesn't sound like anything else that's out there right now," Prince said.

He's also a fan of the Toronto institution known as Speaker's Corner, a City-TV show that features everyday citizens in a tiny video booth opining on everything from politics to lost love.

"I love Speaker's Corner!" says Prince, dressed in black and sporting shaded spectacles in his candlelit dressing room. "I just love the idea of it. I am so tempted when I go by to stop the car and go into the booth and say what I have to say."

Relaxed and charming even after a frenetic show that saw him writhing on the stage during some of his guitar solos, the recent Jehovah's Witness convert seems serene these days. That's in stark contrast to the apparently angry man referred to simply as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince until four years ago.

He acknowledges he's at peace now that he's got complete control over his music, but points out he's never stopped churning out his brand of exuberant, rock 'n' roll-tinged funk.

He doesn't deny, however, that his phenomenal opening number at this year's Grammy Awards with R and B superstar Beyonce seems to have the masses clamouring for a full-fledged Prince resurrection.

That hasn't been by design on his part, he insists — it's just been all about the timing.

"I get asked every year to play at the Grammys," he says. "This year I did it because I have an album out that I want to promote and a concert tour that I want to promote. My fans have always come out."

The tour comes to Toronto in July for two shows, and tickets have sold out rapidly in every city where they've gone on sale.

Prince is amused. But he adds he's delighted if he's now introducing young music fans to some quality funk and R and B.

"To us, this doesn't feel like anything new — we've been playing the same show for awhile. It's me — I'm just doing what I always do and what I love to do. But someone has to do this, because no one else is. The music is such a treasure, so celebratory and joyous, and no one's doing it anymore — I'm happy to keep it going."

"I love Speaker's Corner!" says Prince, dressed in black and sporting shaded spectacles in his candlelit dressing room. "I just love the idea of it. I am so tempted when I go by to stop the car and go into the booth and say what I have to say."

OK so who's gonna figure out what the veiled reference to the street he lives on is?

Now he is dissin Minny!

sonicfreak said:

Bridal Path.

freakebear said:

He quotes the street name on 'call my name'.

What?? He already has a bully pulpit- it's called npgmc.com.
Maybe he needs his own public access show so he can do some real Alice Coltrane-style preachifying.

OK so who's gonna figure out what the veiled reference to the street he lives on is?

The CD jacket features the diminutive Prince in front of the gleaming Toronto skyline at night, and includes at least one veiled reference to the street where he lives that he asked not be pointed out "in case any crazies show up at my door."

so theres a street on toronto called bridal path?! i thought it was a reference to carrying your wife through the door of your home for the first time. ie hes singing about when they first got married.

anyway, whats odd is how he goes the new record is nothing like whats happening right now, but life o the party goes into a complete missy elliot style breakdown. i like that bit but i dont know why he's done it. i'd love ot know cos its obviously a reference to missy musically somehow. maybe a compliment. hopefully we'll find out someday!

a clear reference to the Bridle Path

Funny years ago he said all these same things about Minnesota and Chanhassen.... he would NEVER EVER leave!!!!! Loved the people, loved the climate..... geez!!!!!
He changed his tune alot!!!!!

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040428.wprinc28/BNStory/Entertainment/



BREAKING NEWS

POSTED AT 12:06 PM EDT Wednesday, Apr. 28, 2004

Prince finds a home in Toronto

Canadian Press


Jacksonville, Fla. — It might make some sense if Prince, the cooler-than-cool funk/rock superstar whose career is suddenly in serious revival mode, had found happiness at 45 settling down in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Paris or London.

But Toronto?

"I love Toronto," Prince said late Tuesday in an exclusive interview with The Canadian Press after a wild two-hour concert in this north Florida city. It was the 21st stop of a tour he's loathe to call a comeback — because, he insists, he's never truly been gone.

"It's cosmopolitan," he said. "There's all sorts of different kinds of people everywhere you go in Toronto, there's all sorts of great music, great restaurants, great night spots that don't respond to a lot of American playlists and have playlists which I really dig. It's a real melting pot in every sense of the word."

Prince is married to Toronto-born Manuela Testolini. The couple spends "a lot of time" in Toronto, where they own a home in an upscale north-end neighbourhood and where he recorded his recently released album, the critically acclaimed Musicology.

The CD jacket features the diminutive Prince in front of the gleaming Toronto skyline at night, and includes at least one veiled reference to the street where he lives that he asked not be pointed out "in case any crazies show up at my door."

But it's not simply romantic love that attracts Prince to his wife's hometown. The Minnesota native likes the frigid winters — "it's worse in Minneapolis," he laughs — he likes Canadian songstress Nelly Furtado, and most of all he likes

Canada's tendency to ignore the American recording industry, obviously an alluring quality to a man who famously scrawled the word "slave" across his cheek in the 1990s in a protracted dispute with his record company over creative and financial control of his music.

"Musicology is the first record I've recorded in Toronto and I can really feel the difference. It has a completely unique sound that came from the total disregard for what's happening in American music, and for the workings of the American music industry. It doesn't sound like anything else that's out there right now," Prince said.

He's also a fan of the Toronto institution known as Speaker's Corner, a City-TV show that features everyday citizens in a tiny video booth opining on everything from politics to lost love.

"I love Speaker's Corner!" says Prince, dressed in black and sporting shaded spectacles in his candlelit dressing room. "I just love the idea of it. I am so tempted when I go by to stop the car and go into the booth and say what I have to say."

Relaxed and charming even after a frenetic show that saw him writhing on the stage during some of his guitar solos, the recent Jehovah's Witness convert seems serene these days. That's in stark contrast to the apparently angry man referred to simply as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince until four years ago.

He acknowledges he's at peace now that he's got complete control over his music, but points out he's never stopped churning out his brand of exuberant, rock 'n' roll-tinged funk.

He doesn't deny, however, that his phenomenal opening number at this year's Grammy Awards with R and B superstar Beyonce seems to have the masses clamouring for a full-fledged Prince resurrection.

That hasn't been by design on his part, he insists — it's just been all about the timing.

"I get asked every year to play at the Grammys," he says. "This year I did it because I have an album out that I want to promote and a concert tour that I want to promote. My fans have always come out."

The tour comes to Toronto in July for two shows, and tickets have sold out rapidly in every city where they've gone on sale.

Prince is amused. But he adds he's delighted if he's now introducing young music fans to some quality funk and R and B.

"To us, this doesn't feel like anything new — we've been playing the same show for awhile. It's me — I'm just doing what I always do and what I love to do. But someone has to do this, because no one else is. The music is such a treasure, so celebratory and joyous, and no one's doing it anymore — I'm happy to keep it going."

this is a JW joke waiting to happen. any volunteers?

sonicfreak said:

Wasn't it the Canadian press that has already given his exact address of his house in Toronto?

What does his majesty mean "crazies" on his doorstep? You mean the "crazies" who paid $300 to attend his celebration in broken down, abandoned Paisley Park with the ceiling plaster falling on their heads and no air conditioning?

I think Canada's great so I'm glad Prince appreciates the country, but - one day when he moves on to his next wife, he'll be "in love" with her hometown/state/country then and say all the same sort of things he's saying now about Canada.

He did the same thing with Mayte and Spain, now it's Mani and Canada. Prince's "love" for something never lasts. (except his love for music)

SquarePeg said:

Too funny!

OK so who's gonna figure out what the veiled reference to the street he lives on is?