I'm talking mostly about the beginning of the video with all of the actors (there's a lot of people!), the period clothing, the way it feels like something out of the roaring '20s, the bits of dialogue, the colors, the musical excerpts, the editing, etc. Doesn't this seem like a lot of work for a video, especially an intro to a video? Why do you think that is?

Well if u think THATS over-produced, what do u think of Thriller then?????

The thing I dont understand is his hair is 2 different styles in that video!! During the skit in the beginning at the train station his hair is one style and in the actual video its a completely different style!! Shows lack of continuity, in my opinion!!

I think the 2 hair styles are a great ideea for a video.
What I don't understand is what is the conection between the intro and the video itself.

In one scene, Diamond & Pearl and Prince are licking cream from each other fingers!! Thats the only connection I can see!!

It seems "over-produced" with those extras you mention when taken out of its original context and played as a single video. It was, of course, taken from the Diamonds and Pearls video in which these extras work as segues between the songs. On the whole video, they don't seem out of place - if you just play Cream on its own then it doesn't entirely make sense.

i wouldn't say 'over-produced' - i'd say maybe poorly or weirdly produced. i don't know why that whole train station scene gets tacked on to the cream video, when it seems to have precious little to do with the song or the imagery. it's true - prince looks completely different in the train station scene. even if it's on purpose, it's kind of a 'WTF?!' moment. i think the whole 'diamonds & pearls' longform video thing was part of that whole wretched period where prince was making videos for everything and trying to release as much of it as possible, whether it made any sense or not...of course, i still love the 'gett off' and 'willing and able' videos.

Actually, it was very well produced IMO (great look/wardrobe/sets, enough extras). But the little acting bits @ the top were either poorly directed or intentionally (& annoyingly) over the top. They take away from what's otherwise an excellent vid IMO...

Oh, and I love him in that coat w/ that hair

CalhounSq said:

true - i mean, it looks like they had the very best cinematography that money could buy, but there was still no context to what was going on, and nothing to tie it to the video. i guess the idea's just to not think too hard about it, because it's just a dumb pop music video.

Anxiety said:

Yea, if we start to think too hard about storylines in videos they'd pretty much ALL be ruined

Maybe the train station had to do w/ "riding the train", being taken to another place/time, the women who didn't get to ride wanted to ride REAL BAD, etc. I dunno, I just like it

I love the intro. Very slick, if rather pointless to non-fans I guess. There is a little continuality after the "cream" video when prince walks up some steps with the game boyz and diamond and pearl. Then the journalists run after him in that long flowing white coat, remember that?

Then no more trian station scenes? Sorta like at the end of "partyman" when the video says "it ain't over yet" or something like that? Yet more unfinished ideas.....

Prince really cared about his videos between "batdance" and "7".....

Most pointless segue in a prince video? The one where Levi, Tommy B, Sonny t and Michael are in a little prison after "sexy mf" video. I love that bit. Funny stuff.....

"who's this prince"? U get that sample in the superior "N.P.G" mix on the "cream" maxi single.

Who are those 2 guys who dance around trying to mack on diamond and Pearl?

Prince's attempt to spruce up his videos a bit and make them more than just performane vids?

Anxiety said:

WILLING AND ABLE -- the video on the D&P collection was a true gem. The revamped "live" version was just plain kick-ass. Even Tony M. sounds good (did I just write that?). I made myself a digital audio track of the video version of that song so I could have it handy...love it.

When I said "over-produced" I didn't mean in comparison to other people's videos -- I meant for Prince it is one of his most over-produced videos -- I mean, there's a lot of people involved in this thing! Anyway, thanks for the responses -- several of them make sense.

Gold319 said:

Well, how long do you think the train ride was? Maybe Prince spent the whole ride putting his hair up?

Snap said:

yea....that video probably has every paisley employee and npg member + some of their relatives

Snap said:

That doesn't take away from the fact that it's still a good video.

Snap said:

Maybe "over-produced" is the wrong term - properly produced might be better I like this one & D&P, they look pretty good IMO

You got me there!

CalhounSq said:

i often wondered the same thing...interesting to find out that it was part of a larger them that was used within the Diamond & Pearl's VHS release? is that wat it was? Are all the videos tied together ala JJRN1814? But then, at least the begining of Miss U MUCH actually worked as a stand alone...The Cream stuff just came off unexplained.....

sosgemini said:

I'd have to check out the video to remember, maybe they were all part of a bigger storyline. I remember the running from photogs @ the beginning of D&P in the same stylized manner. But I'd have to find that tape

There's more? I need D&P video!!!!! I love it, especially the part where reporter asks: There are rumours that you are having an affair with Prince..?
Pearl: Yes./Diamond : No.
The girls look at each other
Pearl: No./Damond: Yes!
Seriously cracks me up. I love the whole train station scene with that silly woman and the businessman and the silly fan girls ("I'll have a creeeeeaaaam soda!). And it always makes me happy to see the face Prince does after he licked Pearl's finger and before he drinks his coffee. He is so cute.
And of course I love the whole video. The dancing is great, and Prince has a really nice outfit. Plus he smiles a lot in that video.
Sirah

Isn't Mayte one of the woman who says "i'll have a cream soda" etc?.....

Is she? not the one ordering cream soda, and not the one ordering fresh strawberries with cream either IMO. There was a third girl who was silent, maybe she's her? I don't know...
-S-

yeah, thats who I mean! U cannot remember it word by word. Anyway how old was she the? Er anyway.....

That bit is so corny yet I like it.

"no, i'm on a diet"