skywalker said:

...but since my input in the thread was based on the original post, I guess you were ignoring the main point of the discussion.





I think Prince wanted to go in a more heavy and masculine direction to appeal to the, then, younger crowd into rap, etc... I'd argue that the "all male version" of the NPG was inspired by that desire rather than the other way around.

However, lets keep this on track: We're talking about the writing partnership and influence - the "sound" as produced in song-writing, on record and in live performances. I don't think anyone has contributed as much on all levels as W&L (and the other members of the Melvoin/Coleman family.)

Prince obviously understands this as we have his dedication "In This Bed I Scream" as a statement.

NouveauDance said:

Special? Yeah right! Regardless who started the topic, the fact remains that the Prince, Wendy, and Lisa topic always generated highly interest with enormous replies in the past.
Maybe the reason why people aren't participating this time around because it is a rehash topic. Okay, even though the title is different, and that people are more civilized discussing about it despite subjective viewpoints, still the topic has been done over and over again. Over the last two years as a registered poster, I since lost track of how many the P/W/L threads had been produced. Shit, I am suprised the mods hasnt yet create a Prince/Wendy/Lisa forum. And as always it ends with the same conclusion: an another endless thread with people maintain one or more of the three basic of opinions:
*Lisa and Wendy's influence during that period was special and Prince's most creative period. And some of the people even goes as far as saying that Prince was at his best when they was around as a team.
*Lisa and Wendy's inflence during that period has damage Prince's funkiness temporarily and didn't like their influence on ATWIAD and Parade.
*Or people didn't give a fuck they just love ATWIAD and Parade because...thats Prince.

I am not saying that is always the case but most time it is. At least the majority of the groups I mentioned above all agreed that P/W/L had their own band during that period, but at the same time that doesn't mean it was well-received by everyone.
I dont mean to sound rude but I think many people on the org has already express their feelings regarding the importance of Lisa and Wendy's songwriting and the influence they had on Prince's music. I heard there are over 3 million posts on the org server and I don't think that you should have a problem finding out people's opinion about this issue, past or recent.

But from my perspective, I don't mind participated in recycled topics because at the beginning it can be fun and so exciting, but at the same time those topics does get tiresome relative quickly and thats when I change back to the lurking mode.
[Edited 2/16/06 11:00am]

skywalker said:

You are obviously referring to sound in a more limited fashion than I am, see previous posts. Song-writing is most certainly a part of the equation. The most important part, imo. When someone refers to the Minneapolis Sound they aren't just referring to the performance.




I think anybody that Prince has played with over any length of time will become an influence but no one else has had such a direct contribution and immediate effect as W&L (and family). Who else was completing songs for Prince? ...going into his vault and reworking tracks on their own? ... having their own music used on Prince's own albums?

NouveauDance said:

It all about taste majority of time nothing to do with some hidden agenda.

dewalliz said:

I was poking fun at myself, it wasn't a serious comment. (Well, maybe a little serious!!! )

NouveauDance said:

I know a sense of humor when I see one.

dewalliz said:

Sometimes it's hard to tell on the net.

I really think they (W&L) influenced Prince in a really positive way.

I always think it's a great case of opposites attract. Like Freddie Mercury and Brian May in Queen.

Prince is the STAR in this trio and they are quite happy to let it be this way. I think this is so refreshing and why it's such a magical combination.

If you think about it it's also quite rare.

OdysseyMiles said:

It should be noted that the shirt that QuestLove is hiding under that jacket says "Prince, Bobby, Fink, Mark, Wendy & Lisa"...You KNOW which side of the fence he is on, LOL!

NouveauDance said:

No offense, but I always thought you were a female
lately your posts seems to infer you were a lesbian... but I never assumed male.

gargamelgibson said:

i think it's the avatar. i always he/she was a woman!

LisasBrush said:

Don't under estimate Dez's impact on P's early career. His impact was HUGE. Dez gave P more courage in the fashion area as well as blending rock more in his music.

blackguitaristz said:

andre too wouldnt you say?

blackguitaristz said:

I definitely don't. I was responding to a post with a list of names.

blackguitaristz said:

Dez was a HUGE influence -- which really surprised me after reading his book, but I don't doubt that most (if not all) of what he's say is true.

Great thread, by the way. I wish someone would compile this sort of thing into a book someday, accompanied with interviews, ASCAP info, and the like.

blackguitaristz said:

That is so true. One thing about me is I always give Andre and Dez there props. They both influence Prince especially on rock and funk part. Thats what I am trying to say, Prince received influences from many places.

dewalliz said:

agreed!!

dewalliz said:

I would think that Andre was a big influence early on in Prince's career. Wasn't there, also, talk that Do Me, Baby was - at least partly - Andre's composition? I, too, seem to recall comments that he was more involved in For You than was officially indicated but I can't remember where I originally heard that.

pepper7 said:

I think this is quite true. W&L seemed quite happy to share ideas and contributions without ego getting in the way. I think it's safe to say that they understood how Prince operated and didn't try to interfere with that process too much. Otoh, I can certainly understand why they eventually grew weary of not being properly credited (like contributing to Purple Rain but getting credit on Computer Blue, which they had no real input in) for certain major contributions. Even when Power Fantastic showed up on The Hits/The B-Sides their credits were missing despite the track having been based on a W&L composition.

jtfolden said:

gargamelgibson said:

///

RE: Dez & Andre - I completely agree. They contributed to the sound and image, and wrote a few songs, but I don't think (correct if wrong) if they ever contributed more than bits here and there to songs. I don't think anyone else other W&L though had such a developed writing partnership, or edging more and more to a partnership.

I think you can definately see Andre and Dez's influence in the Dirty Mind-1999 albums/era.

I also liked Levi Searcer Jr's contribution to the music writing and production in the late 80s/early 90s.

WaterUdrink said:

In light of your request, I have appended my signature and public profile to make it clear that I am "not trying to take anything away from Prince by pointing out the contributions Wendy and Lisa made to his music."

LisasBrush said:

see? now was that so hard??

WaterUdrink said:

I'm glad you appreciate it!

LisasBrush said:

Yes And now I would like to pay you back.

One would have to be deaf and blind not to hear and see the difference in Prince with Wendy & Lisa in the Brits band. So I give them their props.

WaterUdrink said:

Very cool.
Myself, I haven't seen it yet.