Printable I just got finished reading possessed yesterday, I was not at all pleased with the book, it's like everyone is saying the author was pissed off with Prince and was not open-minded about his views. Yes I did learn quite a few things that I didn't know about Prince's music like who certain songs were written for, I found that interesting. I feel in the long run that Alex Hahn was giving his own opinion and we all entitled to that. Never will a book give justice for hard core Prince fans until a book is written by a dedicated fan. Peace and B wild fellow Prince fans, one person's opinion is still his opinion whether we agree or disagree. | |
- E-mail - orgNote -  Report post to moderator |
Aerogram said: BartVanHemelen said: Aerogram said: BVH said: Snore... We know where he'll end up because we are there right now. It's an inevitable conclusion, but it is supported by numerous events. And there is a lot of new info, especially when it comes to the pattern that has emerged that showed that Prince's current religious zeal was there from early on. The "new info" brings nothing new and your conclusion that Prince's "religious zeal" was there early on is superficial. You could take a lot of us in our late teens and catch us in our early 40's, and discover we went from a superfioial rejection of certain values when we were defining ourselves to reclaiming of those same values once we've reached a "certain age". You've obviously not read the book. Maybe I read the "bootleg" version? Aerogram said: Man, the reason you are always the target of a lot of critique is that you are a zealot in your own right. You are categorical 99,999 % of the time. That's about the same % as me being right. The difference is that it doesn't take me YEARS to admit to something being shit or overrated. I'm well aware you think you're right all the time. You share that trait with rather unsavory historical figures, but let's not name them. Aerogram said: You always insist its wall-to-wall crap. Even your darling Alex finds something good to say about The Rainbow Children, coincidentally about a song you treated as "crap" -- The Work Part I ("Yes Prince, we know you can imitate James Brown!" was your initial reaction). Hilarious! So I'm wrong if I don't like anything at all. I'm sick of the pathetic clutching at straws that so many Prince fans mistake for "support" of their artist -- "yeah, it's shit, but at least it's not as shit as earlier works". You've been saying that you're sick of it for over half a decade, but you still visit Prince sites, still get the boots, still buy the records, still take on fans who disagree with your flat assessments. Maybe you should ask yourself why you are so fascinated by what makes you sick -- there's probably a medical term for it. Aerogram said: As for WB's comments on NEWS, I didn't see them. Have you seen me actually praise ONA Piano or even Xpectation? I've defended Prince's right to do these low-key projects and indulge in "jazz", but I'm not a big fan of the records, just like I'm not an inconditional fan of any Prince records that came out after Lovesexy. As per usual: completely missing the point. Probably like you think I didn't read the book just because I don't interpret it *exactly* like you. Don't you see a pattern here? You think you're right all the time and give terse little "missing the point" answers when someone doesn't adhere to your dogma. You are not too different from the average Bible Belt Televangelist. Prince is your Satan, which is quite fitting considering you've thoroughly demonized him almost to a pathological degree. Aerogram said: This reminds me that I don't remember seeing Hahn put TRC's jazz emphasis in proper biographical context. Unless I skipped a page, there's nothing in there that even alludes to Prince parents -- who, of course, were both jazz musicians when they met -- who were ill around the time TRC was recorded and who would die within months of each other. Ever noticed that the Joni Mitchell cover Prince dedicated to his father on ONA Piano has the "drink a case of u" line all over it? That would have been relevant if it weren't the case that Prince has performed that song countless times during his career regardless of the health of his parents. The inclusion of the song has probably far more to do with offering fans a "treat" -- "finally an officially released cover of this song!" -- much like the inclusion of some fan favorites during the Celebration and ONA tour. It's "look at me I'm such a real artist I'm covering Joni Mitchell!" muso stuff. How nice of you to expose your enormous bias once again in such a clear fashion. Firstly, songs and even individual performances can be dedicated. However, you've demonized Prince to the extent you are unable to see any sincerity in what he does even when it comes to his own recently deceased father. Secondly, Prince has covered everyone from the Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin in a career empassing a quarter of a century. It's highly unlikely that he has that "look at me" stance at this point simply for covering a song, and you would realize this if you had not demonized him. [This message was edited Wed Jun 4 5:31:08 PDT 2003 by Aerogram] --- Co-Sign on everything you said Aerogram. You are always on point. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I'm currently reading Possessed because I've read all the other books. I'm on chapter three. The most interesting thing to me was Prince's behavior toward WB about having a Executive Producer. Did Prince not know if WB wanted to they could have canceled his contract and called it a day with his career? Many artists works have sat on shelves for years, were never released by record companies. That control attitude is not good for anyone.
I hung out with the NPG in June 1995. These guys actually hid from Prince in the train cafe around the corner from the old Glam Slam because they didn't want to go back to the hotel and watch the concert they just performed and get critiqued on it. I along with two of my friends were witnesses to the scene when Prince drove up in his limo and pulled down the window looking into the restaurant windows while Hayes, Bland and Magoo who were sitting at our table all ducked underneath it. Their behavior speaks volumes about Prince's controlling and perfectionist behavior. Perfection does not exist on this physical plane (a level of existence, consciousness, or development). | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Aerogram said: The worst example of Hahn's sympathy toward his sources is probably when he describes Anna Garcia being taught to play the drums by Prince. After she's left alone and starts improvising, Prince appears to tell her "that's enough!". Incredibly, Hahn presents this as just another example of Prince's insanely competitive nature. How about Anna, like most people who just picked up drum sticks, was making more noise than music and getting on Prince's nerves?
Yup, another great example of how pitiful a writer Hahn is. In fact, the above even gives me doubts about how Hahn fuctions as a lawyer! Or are we to believe that he would cross-examine Sheila E., pointing out that as she wasn't present at the Anna Garcia jam session, she has no right to presume that Anna wasn't playing her out of the park! Coz how the hell, given the above anecdote, has Prince been able to put up with Sheila all these years? I just dunno! If you enjoyed the book for whatever reason, then fair enough, I certainly don't have a problem with that... ...however, if you're going to set up a website promoting it, or constantly post in its defence... could you at least have a go at an argument for it, and not just agree with three words of the book's leaning ('Prince lost it'). And why not deal with the numerous points given regarding how amateur the whole thing was, rather than go off on a (hilarious!) tangent dealing with previous posts of those who point out Hahn's too-numerous-to-mention inadequacies? | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
It's funny that repetitive negativity about Prince sells, if a true fam knew what was in the book, then why did they buy it? ER'body gettin rich at Prince's expense. Open a club and call it Prince!!!!! [This message was edited Sat Jun 7 7:12:32 PDT 2003 by SummerRain] | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Printable