Ronny said:

Okay I'll bite.

First of all, I don't think you have to be a successful musician to offer an opinion on music. But if you insist, and some of you seem to be insisting, let me step out of character and tell you about my musical background.

I am an award winning nationally broadcast composer of music for film, video and television - though most of it is non-broadcast. If you insist on measuring "success" in dollars, which I think is not always valid, let me say that producers and directors have paid me as much as $2000 to write one minute of music. Sometimes I will write 40 minutes of music for a documentary on Discovery Channel - you do the math. Well, I do give discounts for volume, so that's an exaggeration, but you get the idea.

I started writing music at age nine and if you check my website you will see I am capable of writing classical, rock, funk, jazz, and experimental stuff. Some people say they can write all kinds of music - I don't say it - I do it. I play the piano, violin, bass (not the funky stuff like bassdame though), and guitar.

I studied music composition and theory at Oberlin College, one of the top music conservatories in the country, if not the world. One of my professors was a protege of the world famous composer Arnold Schoenberg, hence my taste for the avant garde.

In the eighties, I accidentally ventured into the pop world and ended up touring with major recording artists other than Prince. My 1991 gig with Prince was but a month long blip in my resume. I toured because it was fun and then I grew out of it. Part of the reason was because I was tired of playing the same songs over and over on the road for other artists. Another part is that although I was signing autographs on the road, I was essentially a hired gun and the income was limited. And yes, I admit, I got frustrated with the way the music business works. The Paisley Park experience was fun but it also was the straw that broke the camel's back.

After 1991 I decided to leave the pop music world and write music for film and television. It was a great move.

With my income as a composer and wise investments, I have amassed at least one million dollars worth of real estate. So yes, I work at home but it's not in an apartment bedroom whatsoever. And I like having my studio at home because sometimes I like to work at 2 am. Musicians - I know you can feel me.

Now that I am financially comfortable, I can do things like produce an indie film, putz around the org, or whatever other crackpot projects I choose to do. It's my perogative.

So the moral of the story is you don't have to be a famous rock star to be a successful musician.

All that being said, I don't consider my musical opinions to be any more valid than anyone else's. In fact, I know that as a trained musician, I might lose perspective. I find Robin's music to be out of the box thinking - and don't misinterpret me - that's a compliment to her music.

And you?

Aww nuts - I didn't catch Prince's SNL performance. I do want to see him in concert - I'm still a fan. It's funny how people seem to expect ex Prince employees to follow Prince's every move.
[Edited 6/10/06 12:59pm]

BlaqueKnight said:

Ottensen said:

i feelthe same way..i would love to participate in something more about music and some of the cool things along that line. i realize the thingds being right now smack of soap opera and people love drama. when i tried to take it in a different direction everyone except true musicians lost interest

PurpleCharm said:

how is that possible!? a strong woman like her would not be run away be words would she, or would she!?

artpal said:

yup yup..thats my girl...and now what? !

artpal said:

I generally lurk your threads because they are so long, and by the time I finish catching up, I have to get off of the computer...

But I just had to say BAM!!! You go girl!!
I love it when some smart azz tries to slam on someone because they misjudged the book by its cover. andget totally slammed!!! Hahaha!!

Love it!
[Edited 6/10/06 20:54pm]

The thread's been a hoot - possibly for the wrong reasons.

I'd like to thank artpal though for giving it a go. Alot of the stuff she posted here and at HQ was really interesting reading. As for Robin, well, she's....mmmmm...a character, yeah thats it...a character! Thanks to bassdame too, hope you both stick around to give a few more insights into purple boy and music in general.

cheers.

bassdame said:

What's your issue with Robin? Maybe the "strong woman" persona was a front. Perhaps you are seeing the "real" Robin.

I'm a having a hard time grasping why you take issue with Robin being offended by the word bimbo.

If you and artpal consider yourselves to be true friends of Robin, then both of you should take your issue with her, directly to her via orgnotes, email or over the phone...and not air it out over the internet.

PurpleCharm said:

hey now:that sentence was meant for robin..she hasnt left us how could she this whole thing is about her. robin is a strong woman shes all that she described herself to be. but that little girl is in there too, and thats the side of her that responded to te bimbo thing. hell all of us were in there together. i was in a band with flytetyme and they called us "hos and bitches"..but that was their thing and after all this time ive moved on from any offense i felt at that label. i was responding more to her attack on liza who as worked so hard with and for robin. the idea of us taking our issues private somewhat defeats the purpose. this is a public forum when you post on a public forum expect public response. otherwise dont post. there are people who have been on this journey even before me. someone begged liza to start this thing and when she did, she was by herself and the slowly but surely at te request and to the delight of people she has found almost all of us. the people who have been on the journey from day one (ex: krystal, blaqueknight, the audience etc) these people have earned the right to be on this very public journey. dont forget we are entertainers, artists, people who thrive on eccentricities and attention. this whole thing makes perfect sense to me. as for robin, she knows me i will always play devils advocate differences of opinion or percieved differences of opinion make life interesting and stimulates conversation. robin and i as ofmoment have still not talked its been what 15 years. that girl has my respect and admiration on certain levels. think of all the women prince has met..robin made enough of an impression on him that not only did he bring her to his bed he also put her in his movie!!she is a fantastic artist has learned to put her music together and define herself whether we like it or not. she is an awesome cook (remember the gumbo) and i have no doubt her child will benefit endlessly from having her as a mother. theres so much that i havent identified that makes her special. i will be the frist to tell you that she has a presence that leaves no doubt that shes in the room. having said all that im not kissing her ass or anyone elses. she know how i deal and she and i clicked because of that. when se came to me she knew that i was not going to bs her. i am still just a woman wh has just as many issues as robin. liza was going to post a part of my interview for her documentary here. i demanded that she not do it. why!? because when its released to public scrutiny i wont be in peoples homes to here the critique, in this forum i would be able to get some serious critique i am not strong enough or brave enough to go down that road. so as an adult if you post public you have to deal with it. if robins spirituality is for her her mother and God then thats where it should have stayed (religion and politics). i just gathered that since she was quoting scripture etc. that this was a subject we could broach. look i dont think she has issues beyond anyone elses i understand (maybe not agree) everything she has posted. we're musicians and artists we dont like everyone else or dream like everyone else. liza and i were having a conversation the other day about aliens and whales..i thought this was an everyday kind of thing. if the way she talks and the things i talk about are labeled as issues then label me that way. and thank you because i wouldnt want to be any other way..thats what made me a dame and thats prince named her power. later any typos run sentences etc., figure it out if not sorry about that pass the popcorn

I don't care 'bout the rest of this. I just wanna hear the juice on Prince!

So the moral of the story is you don't have to be a famous rock star to be a successful musician.

All that being said, I don't consider my musical opinions to be any more valid than anyone else's. In fact, I know that as a trained musician, I might lose perspective. I find Robin's music to be out of the box thinking - and don't misinterpret me - that's a compliment to her music.

And you?


Me, well i'm a long time listener who agrees that you don't have to be a musician to hava an opinion. I'm glad you are successful but I never mentioned anything about money equalling success in terms of music. I askedd how many classics you had written...did you have any 'when you were mine's', 'joy in repetitions', 'nothing compares 2 u', 'when doves' etc in your back catalogue...

One thing is certain, prince surrounded himself with some serious musicians all throughout his career...even the lesser known people were multi-instrumentalists.

bassdame said:

Yup, that's my girl. Always having the courage to speak her mind.

bassdame said:

This reality alone should make all the people who want to trash her and judge her from her character in the movie, realize that Robin is a very interesting woman. Thanks for pointing that out bassdame!
[Edited 6/12/06 7:13am]

Ronny said:

Oh I see. I guess I assumed that when you say "classics" you meant songs that sold millions because they became popular. And millions means dollars. I get you - kinda sorta.

Well, someone just sent me an orgnote saying that her brother used my song "New Little Girl" in a DVD photo album for his newborn baby and said the song brings tears to her eyes. When I performed that song live at a cafe, a poet wrote a poem inspired by that song. Many people have told me it makes them cry. I've seen them wipe tears, so they're not lying. I have received requests for an album because of it. I haven't sold millions of this song, but to me, these reactions are worth a million dollars as far as my creative spirit is concerned. I just want to touch people, and when I do, I feel extremely "successful."

I know - some of you will hate that song. Cool. Hey - like I said - that love hate reaction to me is a good thing. Like Robin's stuff - only admittedly my stuff is not as innovative as hers.

Maybe the moral of the story should be you don't have to write "classics" to be a musical expert.




[Edited 6/12/06 7:57am]
[Edited 6/12/06 7:59am]

prodigalfan said:

Thanks, Prodigalfan!

Krystal666 said:

Given the artwork she's capable of producing, that makes her more interesting in my eyes than qualifying her by who she's had sex with or took on as a svengali for a short period of her life. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'm always drawn to the topics they've discussed about their musicianship, or the ensuing discussions about beauty in today's society as inspired by Artpal's mention of her documentary. I personally like to hear more about the projects the ladies are working on rather than whom they've bedded....every woman has a vagina and can work kegel muscles to enthrall a man, but it sure is a heck of a lot more interesting and impressive for me to hear multi-dimensional women discuss their views on life and art. But then, maybe that's just me....

Ottensen said:

Ottensen said:

It's simply inspiring, truth be told, to hear about people creating with passion.

As for Robin's music, while it's not my cup of tea, it's intensely memorable... isn't this a big reason why people to create, to be remembered? In any case, I'd call it an achievement.

I want to say thanks to Liza and Joni for sharing their experiences with us. It is so not cool for someone to come on here and personally attack them or any other former Prince associate with their posts, after they've shared things we might find interesting or worthwhile - for our benefit, they didn't have to do it.

What do you remember about working with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Joni - any insight into how they approach music, life or work?

plymouthavenuenorth said:

Thanks, you two!

Ottensen said:

Well then you are free to ask them more questions about what interests you...I'm sure there are alot of musicians on here who are interested in the same.

Ottensen said:

i am so feeling this comment.the thing about prince taking her into his bed etc...was just one point. it wasnt really a sexual comment as much as it was a statistical one. you have to have something about you for a major superstar to be attracted to you and act on it. in whatever form that takes obviously shes and the rest of us have so much more to offer, but we would all be in denial if we didnt recognize the vagina and its power. open the door to some other musical topics and im sure we would love to respond. as i said earlier when i took this direction no one seemed as interested. look at the comment that posted right after my "declaration"
later

Krystal666 said:

exactly..hey baby girl

bassdame said:

I wanna hear more about vagina power.

I've pretty muched stayed away from this thread. Not at all because I had no interest, but mainly because it is so lengthy and a quite hard to read at times.

Will someone please explain to Robin/Power how to respond with quotes. Her answers always end up embedded in the question. It makes it really hard to decipher. Please tell her that when responding with a quote she should type her answers AFTER the [/quote]. This will make things much smoother and easier to read, thatis if she does decide to return to the discussion(s).

I LOVE the artwork! I have always wanted to be able to express my self through drawing, but what I have in my head never comes out right on canvas! My son, however, is a budding artist. I am doing everything I can to support and nurture his art/passion. I truly admire Robin's gift of art. Beautiful! Keep up the good work.

Hi Artpal! Hi Krystal!

bassdame said:

Hey girl! Speaking of songs Joni, I wouldn't expect you or Liza to know this but did Robin say there were any songs of Prince's that she inspried or thought were written about her?

Terilicious said:

. This will make things much smoother and easier to read, thatis if she does decide to return to the discussion(s).

I LOVE the artwork! I have always wanted to be able to express my self through drawing, but what I have in my head never comes out right on canvas! My son, however, is a budding artist. I am doing everything I can to support and nurture his art/passion. I truly admire Robin's gift of art. Beautiful! Keep up the good work.

Hi Artpal! Hi Krystal![/quote]

Hi Teri! Happy to see u pop up in this thread. Yes I know what you mean about art....I love art but don't see myself as talented in that area. I love paintings expecialy so it was quite a surprise to find out Robin was talented in that area. She must have taken a long time on that mural.

And I just wanted to say something about Robin's music...it definatly isn't something to put on and groove to and sing along to but it IS interesting. I'm not comparing Robin's music to Prince's but isn't if funny how Prince's music for being as experimental as some of his stuff was, how sexual some of the lyrics and his persona was, how uncomfortable he could make some folks isn't regarded the same way as something like "My truck". Boy that song really doesn't hold back and Robin doesn't seem like a personality to take lightly like Prince. Just funny how when it is a strong woman taking a risk people are somehow more offended. I read once that highly sexual women can be threating to both men and women...somehow I think this is true.

BlaqueKnight said:

So I guess when Marilyn Manson picked his urination groupies he had his interest in their water sports proficiency.

bassdame said:

Bassdame, what do you remember about working with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis? How do they approach music, work in the studio, handle their business, etc.?