Ok here we go once again. I just finished watching Gwen Stefani on Ellen and learned that “Holler Back” is currently the number one song in America. Is the song all that…? No. Is she all that…? No. But she is hot, there’s something very sexy about her. Now you may be asking; what does Prince have to do with all of this… Gwen gets a big A+ for effort and originality. She is talented. And what did we get as a collaboration? Two very forgettable songs. The same goes for Sandra St. Victor, Sheryl Crow, and so many others. I do hope if this Panama thing is real, that Prince will actually allow others their own artistic freedom in actually COLLABORATING as opposed to him bulldogging the whole project. OK I’m done venting and lamenting; back to the ass kissing of how great the Musicology Tour was etc.

FanofDaFascist said:

I'm new to all this.At 40 yrs. of I just got onto the internet 2 months ago.So I apologize if I tread over old Prince subjects. The point you bring up is the reason I don't listen to his new music. The R&B station I listen to usually plays a song from Prince's new album's and in my opinion they always sound so unispiring. I'm always amazed how much I liked and still like his old stuff.I would like to like his new stuff. I don't think that I've ever liked any other artist's work as much as his & yet I haven't any thing currently that comes close to blah...blah..blah.This includes collaborate efforts.I appreciate being able to get this off my chest & I promise that I won't bring it up on this, a FAn site.

Prince always has a singular vision for his songs - he can see the whole thing laid out in his mind, that's why he just gets on and does it all himself. It would take more time to explain to someone what he wants than it does for him to just do it. I think that's why he doesn't collaborate well, especially in duets. To truly collaborate, you have to throw ideas back and forth - I reckon he just gets frustrated with the slowness of the people he's supposed to be working with, and just finishes the songs himself, so it always ends up sounding like a solo Prince song.

I mean, I can't think of a truly balanced duet Prince has done. Probably his most famous is 'U Got The Look' but really Sheena only sings the chorus.

Saying that, I quite like 'So Far, So Pleased' it's got a great guitar bit in the middle, it's a jolly rock song. Gwen's voice doesn't come through so much, it almost sounds like Prince had finsihed the song already and just got Gwen to add some overdubs. Probably true of Sherly Crow on 'Baby Knows' too, and Kate Bush on 'My Computer'.

'Waiting Room' is a pretty strange song, not being a great fan of No Doubt I don't know whether it is more typical of their work or Prince's. I know he remixed their original tracks, how much musically it is still their song or Prince's I don't know.

metalorange said:

First off...Kate Bush is on "My Computer"? LOL! I had no idea. Well the main thing I was thinking of when I wrote this was what I had read about how he basically stole Sandra St. Victors "Soul Sanctuary" and refused to actually do any studio work with her. That was her song. I totally agree with you about Stefani's, and Crow's input on those songs; he basically just wanted them to sing the loops. But God, would it kill him to actually COLLABORATE with someone? In actuality, the only person that I've known him to physically collaborate with in studio is George Clinton. What's the matter? P thinks he's too good to sit down with anyone else?

FanofDaFascist said:

WHERE did you read that??? Is this really true? I never knew that! I like that song a lot. Did Prince REALLY steal this song? The musical genuius??? Sorry about the sarcasm but it is really getting to be disheartening to hear how many songs created by other people that Prince "finished". (won't go as far as say "steal" because yeah, I drink the Purple Koolaid too. )

FanofDaFascist ranted:

I just want a lover like any other
What do I get
I only want a friend who will stay to the end
What do I get

What do I get
Oh oh what do I get
What do I get
Oh oh what do I get

I'm in distress I need a caress
What do I get
I'm not on the make I just need a break
What do I get

What do I get
Oh oh what do I get
What do I get
Oh oh what do I get

I only get sleepless nights
Alone here in my half-empty bed
For you things seem to turn out right
I wish they'd only happen to me instead

What do I get
Oh oh what do I get
What do I get
Oh oh what do I get

[Solo]

What do I get
Oh oh what do I get
What do I get
Oh oh what do I get

I only get sleepless nights
Alone here in my half-empty bed
For you things seem to turn out right
I wish they'd only happen to me instead

What do I get
Oh oh what do I get
What do I get
Oh oh what do I get

I just want a lover like any other
What do I get
I only want a friend who will love to the end
What do I get

What do I get
Oh oh what do I get
What do I get
Oh oh what do I get

Well let me tell you now
I get no love
I get no sleep at nights
I get nothing that's nice
I get nothing at all
At all,at all,at all
At all,at all,at all
Cos I don't get you

--the buzzcocks, "what do i get?"...one of the many unofficial theme songs for the displeased prince fan.

prodigalfan said:

Purple Kool Aide...You going to Waco lol. Yeah it's in the book "Possessed" by Alex Hahn. He didn't really steal it but he didn't give her the input she thought she would get. She did get co writer credits so "stole" is an overstatement on my behalf; but an injustice all the same. "...She received in the mail a copy of a song he had built around some of her lyrics". "In a rather difficult phone conversation, she explained (to Prince) that she had misunderstood the type of collaboration he wanted."
"I don't think either of us should have to work in a vacuum" she told him.
"Well, I work best in a vacuum" Prince responded.
"Well what kind of a vacuum are we talking about here - a Kenmore or an Acme?" she asked, trying to determine the level of isolation and distance Prince required when he "collaborated" with other musicians.
"Acme" he responded without hesitation. - Taken from Possessed by Alex Hahn.
What a PRICK Prince can be.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Hey Dansa I've been quiet for quite a few months now. I thought you were worried about me So my "displeased" post for 2005 was composed. Who knows maybe this will be the only one for the whole year

His collaborations rarely go well. Though I have to say, his choices of collaborations are about as confusing as his choices for guests at his 3121 parties.

He's collabed with Madonna,Gwen,Crow,and some others that have been half baked. OK Eve was a good collab. Most of the vocal collab have been the worst.

Rarely has he gotten with George. He's only Jammed with Lenny. WHat about Bootsy, Q-tip, JB (though he's old now), Santana, Macy, Erika, D'angelo, Ursula Rucker? Etc?

He seems to go for the popular names and his music has suffered when he does.

I love Waiting Room

that druming is so nice and their voices melt so well together
before I sold Rock Steady I made sure to copy that song.