I was quite angry Prince ruined the song "Planet Earth" with this weak shitty out of age bontempi keyboard bridge.

So I put the song into "audacity" free software and delete the part I strongly dislike.

Now the song is perfect, and really sounds as it was written and composed this way.

Is it a crime to do that ?

Now the first title track of the album is "01 Planet Earth [edit]" and lasts 4:55 minutes.
[Edited 8/18/07 3:34am]

Do U mean I'm crazy ?

No way

I just bought a Picasso but I'm not too fond of the left end. So I'm gonna get my scissors and fix it

First I have to say that bridge didn't annoy me at all like it did to you but...

I must admit your edit works fine. Very radio friendly

Good work

Yes... but if I'd get scissors to fix a Picasso, I'd ruin the only unique original piece and this would be totally idiot. I agree !

I did not change the original song, it still exist as Prince published it !

But now it also exists in a shorter (and better for my ears at least) version.

It's a kind of remix ?

What do U think about ?



(Ooooops our answers crossed each other, thanx anyway !)
[Edited 8/18/07 4:23am]

Looks like it's not only my org that's working funny

PANDURITO said:

That reply made me

musicolog said:

Gimme five, man. I did that as well. I guess great minds think alike?

Nobody really cares, or knows you did it until you said it, why would it be a crime?

whenever i get around to updating my Prince singles/best of comp. (last time was 2004), this is exactly what i'm going to do.


i've made many, many, many edits of Prince songs. there's nothing illegal about it unless you're selling it to someone. or putting it up for mass download.

Raze said:

Of course I knew it's not really a crime... but it's the first time I really feel the ...need (?) to fix a song ! How showy I am !

May you give examples of songs you edited ? In which way you did ?

I've edited down a few songs, but always kept the original versions too.

• Sexy MF: made a version without the "she came, where? There, oh!"
• Zannalee: took out "see you tomorrow, big ass"
• Everyday Is A Winding Road: I edited out the LG part
• Daisy Chain: took out the rap section in the middle
• Xpedition: took out the baby crying at the end
• Sensual Everafter: took out the Vader voice in the beginning (this is the only Rainbow Children track I did that to)

I'm sure there are a few other ones too.

You can do whatever you want as long as it's for your own listening and you don't distribute it. Some people here say you just can't sell it - that is of course true but you can't distribute it free either.

I was just thinking, that's not a lot of editing for as large as his catalog is!

Most of what I do would be considered making playlists or compilations.

• Purple Rain: made a version that follows the movie soundtrack (including The Time, Modernaires, and Apollonia 6)
• Purple Rain: made a version that is just Prince, but includes all the B-Sides (did that for most of his 80's albums, when the B-Sides were album quality)
• Lovesexy/The Black Album: made a dark/light compilation
• The Gold Experience: added songs back in to match more of the earlier tracklistings (Days Of Wild, Interactive, Ripopgodazippa, Acknowledge Me).

There are a lot more, but you get the idea. It's interesting to take the same songs and reflow them to make something new!

Se7en said:

Well... If I follow U so Planet Earth was not my first editing. I mean cut a word or add a fade out to better match into a compilation is very light editing. But get rid of a 2 minutes bridge or rap section is far more transforming the song.

Interesting idea about lovesexy and the black album, dark/light... I felt the black album as the third part of Sign'O the times.

I tried as U did 2 complete the Gold Experience, never being sure of the correct track-list. Even heard about silver/platinum experience...

Just another evidence of P's music inspires us !

(sorry 4 my poor english)
[Edited 8/19/07 5:39am]

musicolog said:

Well, let's see. I edited Tony M. out of the "My Name Is Prince" edit. I edited out the Department of Homeland Security verse from "Call My Name".... oh, god, there are really too many. I took something out of about 1/2 or 2/3 of them that made it to the set. They're too complicated to explain off the top of my head.

musicolog said:

Oh yes, genius. Well done. Oooo... and why don't you remove that silly guitary bit at the end too?

Sheesh...
[Edited 8/19/07 15:26pm]

its not illegal..... just the same as making mashups with accapella's isnt illegal otherwise they wouldnt openly release them on alot of promotional copies etc. just as long as you're not making money off them then thats fine

misty2k said:

Please don't sound injurious... it's all about fun and humor here isn't it ?

The real question is : why did he put that bridge into that song since it perfectly works without, growing tension until the climax guitar solo and screams... ???

Well a bridge, why not ? But why a so poor melody and so ugly keyboard sounds ? ok it's just my opinion, and i don't pretend my own truth to be universal ! But to my ears that bridge breaks down the strength and emotion of the song.

Have fun with the album version, which I respect. Lemme have "my" fun with "my" edited version ?



By the way did he play it live ? How did he re-arrange it ?

imagine prince face reading this thread.

electrorock said:

I wondered this... that's why I talked about a crime ? I know he spent hours recording that bridge...

...but maybe he could finally agree ? That's why I'd like to know how he plays it "live".

Another example is "the word". I'm not fond of the album version, way too neutral for me. But there's a very hispanic live version, that works incredibly well ! Because of "real" instruments with many people on stage...

musicolog said:

so true!
get on the boat live with GRUPO FANTASMA was unbelivable!

No I do this all the time to songs.

musicolog said:

Sorry Musicolog, you are right, I did come across a bit sniffy didn't I? My bad.

Trying to think how I treat songs of which I am not find, I guess I just hit "skip"... I think for me it's a question of all-or-nothing. I am so in awe of talented musicians and creative types that I don't feel able to make my own amendments to someone elses work. I can only do that if I can do better.

This is a pretty weak analogy as I am a "Business Analyst" so, within my field of expertise, I can act as critic and editor and make changes to a report or document. I am also pretty talented when it comes to putting on make-up (bear with me here) so I feel able to say "That lipstick doesn't suit her" or "That eyeliner does her no favours"... because I believe I can do better.

When it comes to music though, I can't play a note or write a tune so I'm just not qualified to make edits to a musicians work.

May I ask, in a non-sniffy way, are you a musician?


Dee

P.S. LOL. Two lines are stuck in my head after writing the above...
1) "Tell me, am I qualified?" (from International Lover)
2) "You'll... you'll like them, they're musicians" (from the Segue before 2 Nigs United 4 West Compton)

misty2k said:

Well if the song were that bad I could skip it also, but here is my problem : in its original version I really dig/love/adore Planet Earth ...at 75% ! Why skip it all, when U can just skip the little annoying (to me at least) part ?

Well I'm not a professionnal musician but I do play little things on guitar, and music is a big part of my life - ok it sounds so naïve to say that but nevertheless, true.

Now I really understand your point of view...

...and still proudly claim I did a good job with the song !


Oooops do I lack humility ?


Peace & Harmony

musicolog said:

Nice... now I understand yours too and that's cool.

No worries about the humilty thing. You should hear me brag about the way I do my eyes to look a bit like Kiwi Fruit... no seriously, it looks cool as anything. I might even do them that way at one of the up-coming O2 shows.

LOL... and as one final point, if Junior Vasquez was allowed to get his hands on Thieves in the Temple and make that gosh awful "Thieves in the House Mix" then I don't see any real harm in you chopping a bit out of Planet Earth.

Consider yourself acquitted of all crime as far as I am concerned. In the mean-time I hope Mr Vasquez served time for his act of musical heracy!