Not only is it hard to get P to talk during interviews as it was during his first one with Dick Clark. Je just held a lolipop in his mouth and used his fingers. It's also come times when he's speachless. There was this awards show around 93 when I believe Prince performed The Purple Melody. Not only that all the artists at the end were singing. The Passed the mic to Princ ehe just pulled another lolipop out of his mouth and didn't say anything.

Maybe he doesn't like talking in public, i know I don't

fluid said:

Wgoops I quoted myself. But does anybody know why?

fluid said:

It seems he started off his career by making a decision not to 'chatter' in interviews to be more cool, and different. He also uses silence to keep people at a distance. And, I'd say he's also genuinely shy with public speaking anyway, so maybe a combination of these things.

fluid said:

i understand that. i'm a very quite person and there are times i'd like to say things, but suddenly everything i was thinking i can't get out quick enough, or shy, or i am tonguetied, basically speechless. And i made Deans List in College. Do u know how frustrating that is. i understand that to the T!!!!!

May I beg to differ?

I don't know them all and I don't remember them all but I know there are a lot of interviews with him and imo he does talk plenty. And yes, there are also some interviews in which he doesn't say anything.

He seems like a person who can chat your ears of during a nice evening out if he's in the mood and the topic fits him.

He seems shy when having to get up in front of people in smokings and gala dresses because they will be watching every move of him and they don't think like Purple koolaid fams....
My guess is that he didn't say anything in the beginning because he would shut down and maybe say strange things and we all know that

fluid said:

Prince didn't have a lollipop in his mouth at the Dick Clark show.

I think that for people that spend a lot of time thinking, and listening to their hearts, as I'm sure Prince does....when we are having a spontaneous conversation...it may be difficult to get deep and sincere...and so breif comments are intended to keep it short and to the point...There is a time and a place for opening a personal view.

Prince did have a lolipop on American Bandstand. WHen asked how many years in the business or how old he was he just used his fingers and said nothing. But I want to know why he didn't say anything on that award show. He was like upset.

fluid said:

I've seen that interview a billion times and Prince was NOT sucking on a lollipop.

KidaDynamite said:

no he wasn't sucking on a lollipop. and people make out like he was a lot less wordy than he was.

though i will say he was totally
[Edited 3/10/08 16:56pm]

fluid said:

Dez Dickerson explains in his book, 'My Time With Prince' that Prince came up with the idea of not responding to Clark's questions, shortly before the show. It's clear that he and the band considered it a dumb idea.

I suspect that Prince was clearly uncomfortble at times in trying to express himself in interviews and a decision was taken early in his career (sensible in my view) to refrain from press interviews. It was a good publicity move because, lacking the quotes and reliant on the music, the press filled the vacuum by building a mystique around his persona which added to the intrigue. He was always going to be vulnerable to wacky tabloid stories too, but that happens anyway.

The incident when Prince used the lollipop was with Quincy Jones and others singing 'We Are The World' at the 22nd American Music Awards in 1995. Jones was quoted afterwards as having referred to Prince in less than complimentary terms.

.
[Edited 3/10/08 17:00pm]

He's just not comfortable enough yet with the public to babble on like he does when he's having a romantic dinner with Larry.
[Edited 3/10/08 16:59pm]

KidaDynamite said:

I JUST watched it about thirty seconds ago. No lolly. And he did talk, Dick asked him several questions that he DID answer.Have you seen it, fluid?
He was just saying dumb stuff like "yes...no...alot" I think the only proper sentence he said was "they wouldn't let me produce it"
God, that interview was like a dog in a sweater: wrong and unnecessary but too damn cute to criticize.

langebleu said:

Yep! That was the lillipop incident. Quincy was holding a mic and extended it out towards 'P's' mouth so that he could sing along. 'P' then took out a lollipop from his mouth and moved it towards 'Q's' mouth. Clearly he did not want to sing that song.

i just think he must get really nervous.
i wonder if his mind is in overdrive most of the time, & prob thinks 2 deeply?

could it b he finds all tht deepness hard 2 express - i mean, heck! he sings/talks in riddles at the best of times!
He knows it which is y he answers slowly & deliberately in his interviews.
he's seems more confident in his later interviews - i don't think it's such a big deal 4 him now.
he defo looks more relaxed.

the bandstand footage was a bit uncomfortable 2 watch...the poor host!
when prince thrust his hand up i thought he was gonna deck the bloke!
i swear i saw him flinch...
& there was NOT a lollipop in sight. trust me. i would have noticed.

If I leave my front door open would u come and visit me?
Just 2 slander my name hopin'
that I would pack my bags and leave...
If I did would u remember
2 feed the dove and clean the cage?
And never count in front of the children
lest they die of old age

I don't really know y we have 2 go r separate ways
Whether or not we grow after the seeds r sown
Only time can say...

Can I offer u baklava
or a bagel with cream cheese?
Will we say grace 2 r father
holding hands down on r knees?
R we better off just fighting?
U on ur side, me on mine
R the words that eye keep writing...
only pearls b4 the swine?

What makes men claim that u're a friend
when u're not at all?
They knock u down and then,
they lift u up again, just 2 c u fall...
But like a bird I'll keep on singing...
a song that never leaves ur mind
If nothing else u've taught me one thing...
"Never cast ur pearls b4 the swine"

I don't blame him, then or now!

'He who talks doesn't know, he who knows doesn't talk'

Lao-tse (deep dude)

fluid said:

No he didn't.

He was holding his guitar. There is no sign of a lollipop during the interview on American Bandstand.

fluid said:

You know how many facts you got wrong here? That's is why he doesn't speak much. Just more material to misquote.

There was some interview with Dick CLarke and he had a lolipop and used his fingers for numbers.

I heard the Quincy Jones incident was about Warner Bros.

Dance said:

Here we go Prince is moody. He talks when he wants to. Im pretty sure we have all done that at some point in our lives. I love the mystique, Prince, keep it up!

fluid said:

No. Just...just no..
That's exaggerating, he only did the finger thing ONCE and there was no lollypop. He DID answer questions, but he was just saying yes or no, etc.

CherrieMoonKisses said:

for some reason when u say that i get a picture in my head of certain types of parents who defend their childs indolent behaviour because its easier than admitting that they are bad parents or that there could possibly be anything wrong with their offspring lol...sort of like some of those kids and parents from willy wonka and the chocolate factory that either ended up ass up, bloated and blue as a blueberry, shrunk and stretched, fat getting sucked up a tube or covered in garbage.

fluid said:

No he didn't, he had the lollipop for 'We are the World' .

Short And RUDE!

Some people just don't care to blab their heads off 24/7.

He doesn't need to talk...his songs pretty much say it all!LOL