Prince just posted a bunch of malarky on NPGMC about the 'evil' of recording covers, but I'm confused, 'cause ain't he the one that covered no less than 3 songs on Emancipation, and also recently released a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Case of You?"...even altering the title to read "A Case of U"?

I don't understand how he can rant about things that he's currently doing. The little article is also very particular about making changes to the songs that are covered. Um...Like changing the line "just a slob like one of us" to "just a slave like one of us" in Joan Osbourne's "One of Us"? Or the aforementioned title change?

The little guy has always been somewhat inconsistent, but this is PURE HYPOCRACY...someone please either give me an amen, or tell me what I'm missing here... And please limit the personal attacks...I'm just trying to point out a gaping chasm between what's being preached against and done by the same man...

Rashei-

AMEN! I agree that it is TOTAL HYPOCRACY! In Prince's mind, it's OK when HE covers a song, but not when others cover his songs. Cover songs that he performs are "tributes" and when others do his songs they're "rip-offs".

FYI: He did 4 covers on Emancipation (Betcha By Golly Wow, I Can't Make You Love Me, La, La, La Means I Love You, and One Of Us). He also released "Every Day Is A Winding Road" on Rave, and A Case of You thru the NPGMC. He also released a remake of Brick House on Mayte's album, and recorded a version of Shania Twain's "Still the One" which he put a sample of on the website.

Anyway, there are plenty more examples but yes, he is a hypocrite.

Looks like nobody actually comprehended what was written about it.

Supernova said:

AMEN TO THAT!

The man is NOT talkin about covers as you may know. He is talking about the new "artists" taking old music and puttin new drums/lyrics/arrangement to them and selling them as new EX. "alicia keyes - Fallin'" = "James Brown - Its a man's man's man's world"

Now think about that and ACTUALLY process it. There is hardly ANY new music being made today as far as the pop world goes.
[This message was edited Tue Apr 9 19:48:09 PDT 2002 by cbastriani]

Name an N'Sync, Backstreet Boys' or Britney Spears tune that is based on a previous composition... It might not be any good, but there is plenty of original music being written nowadays. Unfortunately, in the BLACK music genres, your assertion holds true.

cbastriani said:

The man is NOT talkin about covers as you may know. He is talking about the new "artists" taking old music and puttin new drums/lyrics/arrangement to them and selling them as new EX. "alicia keyes - Fallin'" = "James Brown - Its a man's man's man's world"


>>But unlike "7" = "Tramp"? Or the "borrowing" of "Mother Popcorn" in "Gett Off"? Or the entirety of "The Work Pt. 1" being a generic James Brown rip off, presented as something NEW?

I love Prince as an artist, but seriously...dude is being a hypocrite...people, including him, cover, take influence, and sometimes, sample or "steal" from other artists. He's one of the MOST talented musicians ever (all around), but let's call it like it is...