Was the story about Clive Davis / High project true?

Today was the first time I heard the full version of High (the song). I had the edit version for years...after about 2 mins you get "NPG audio, getting you high ya'll." Today I just heard the full version (I've had it for a while) and I think I like the edit version better. He seems to ruin a lot of songs...making them too long (Ex: If eye was the man in Ur life).

prime said:

what story?

the album would of probably finished princes career, im glad he scrapped it and did rainbow children instead!

Peace on the other hand culd of been still released as an npg album

i like all of those "high"/"chocolate invasion"/"slaughterhouse" tracks, however you want to label the songs he was working on at that time. it was totally a mixed bag, but i can even appreciate the stinkers because that output seemed so eclectic to me. MUCH moreso than what ended up on RAVE.

RumAndRaisin said:

What do mean "What Story"? I didn't ask Ur feelings about the album or how you thought it would turn out....I was asking if the High project true...was Clive Davis and P working together again in 2001/2?

prime said:

No one knows. From what I've read, High was supposed to be released around the same time as TRC, but was replaced. He then decided to release the trax via the NPGMC. As for working with Clive, I have never heard if he was trying to work with him again.

prime said:

i doubt it was true

Golden Parachute was about Clive Davis. This was a song that was floating around the HIGH era.

Anxiety said:

Me too. I dug the HIGH stuff.

I'm pretty sure their relationship started/ended with the Rave project. I think both Prince and Clive Davis had really high hopes for that album, and under Clive's wing I think it would've been promoted properly.

I remember the very large Rave poster in Times Square, as well as the Grammy appearance (introducing TLC) and the TGRES video. Add to that all the guest appearances on that album (Eve and Gwen being the highlights) and you had some real potential.

All it took was some corporate buyout and mergers, and that album fell through the Arista cracks (much like Emancipation did when EMI was bought). And since Prince moves onto new projects quickly anyway, it died.

Was Golden Parachute about him? Could be, but I honestly think it's about ALL of the record execs he's worked with over the years.

Se7en said:

It was the Mtv VMA's...

prime said:

You're right - thanks! I just remember him in the blue suit, introducing TLC (who always seemed like a female Prince tribute band to me) and it was the year 1999 and he didn't perform 1999. All that in just under a minute LOL.

High was a scheduled album due or release in Summer 2000. This is after Prince fell out with Arista and Clive Davis over the flop of Rave.

Tracks:

High
My Medallion
Vavoom
Sex me, sex me not
Golden Parachute
When Will We B Paid
Gamillah
Supercute
Underneath the Cream
Daisy Chain
Silicon
U make my sun shine
When I lay my hands on U

I think is is ok as a pop album, and would fit in well with the whole Musicology, 3121, Planet Earth progression, but I'm glad he dropped it. The rainbow children was far superior.

The "albums" Chocolate Invasion" and "Slaughter House" are nothing more that made up compilations to get more cash out of fans. I never consider them real albums. they are just a "greatest hits" of the music club.

joyinrepetition said:

Wrong...."Golden Parachute" is about Warner Brothers. Come on, the logo for "WB" is a "golden parachute"



"17 years old, misled by so-called parachute"

SquirrelMeat said:

I really think "Vavoom" would have been a HUGE hit if promoted properly (even today). It's got a progressive pop sound that radio loves.

prime said:

There is no edit of 'High'. The only reason the version you've had so far was
short was becasue it was lifted from the first NPG Ahdio show (like a radio
broadcast) and Prince faded the track out and talked over the ending. The whole
show featured introductions and talking inbetween tracks, with Prince using his
slowed down 'Tora Tora' voice. As for Clive Davis, I've never heard any story
about him being involved with the High album.

daPrettyman said:

I've always preferred High to Vavoom!

I have also regarded both the albums as compilations of singles of the time, rather than deliberate albums, The sequencing and styles of the tracks don't seem to fit together right!

I got the same impression when I first heard Planet Earth! It seems to feel like the 3rd in the trilogy!!!

daPrettyman said:

i guess that makes sense, but i always thought the WB logo was a shield.

daPrettyman said:

Golden Parachute's is what they a severance package to top level employees when they let them go. It's not even close to being the WB sheild. Listen to the lyrics and learn grasshopper.

joyinrepetition said:

I have listened (and read) the lyrics. It's all about his time at WB and how they screwed them. The word "boot" symbolizes how they kicked him in the ass...not about firing him. If you think about it, they didn't fire him, he QUIT his job. Besides, Clive was not in the picture at that time. (BTW...the WB logo is a shield, but does resemble a parachute).

Hey! {x2}
(Hey)

Golden parachute

Do U wanna - golden parachute {x4}

Here's 50 million dollars - go'n leave us alone
(Do U wanna, do U wanna - golden parachute)
In appreciation 4 all the creations we now own - do U wanna?
(Do U wanna, do U wanna - golden parachute)
U brought us jazz, rhythm & blues, hip-hop
Even soul, ohh, golden parachute (Do U wanna - golden parachute)
2 own every piece of intellectual property - this is our goal
(Do U wanna, do U wanna)
Oh, yes it is (Golden, golden)
Golden, golden, golden gold
(Do U wanna - golden parachute)

Here's 50 million dollars, 2 go along with this boot!
(Do U wanna, do U wanna - golden parachute)
Just keep your mouth shut, and never tell of the plan
2 conquer and control the very soul of man
(Do U wanna, do U wanna)

Do U wanna - golden parachute
Oh oh oh oh oh! (Do U wanna, do U wanna - golden parachute)

This is a tribute 4 all your accomplishments (Golden parachute)
The design of a system that allows 4 tax breaks and benefits
(Golden parachute)
Sugar, do U wanna? (Do U wanna - golden parachute - do U wanna)

17 years old, misled by so-called parachute
Down this cold road (Do U wanna)
Into this web of deception (Spiders and snakes and bears)
Money made but never spent, never mentioned (Golden parachute)
Ah let's make a toast, 2 the host, 2 the man with the most (Do U wanna)
They worship U, all up under U, applauding (Golden parachute)
One who in truth created nothing, nothing
In essence, a fraud

Golden parachute {repeats till end}
[Edited 4/4/08 9:48am]

daPrettyman said:

The NPGMC site made reference to Clive Davis and Golden Parachute. There were refering to the common term golden parachute, as in:

Definition

A clause in an executive's employment contract specifying that he/she will receive large benefits in the event that the company is acquired and the executive's employment is terminated. These benefits can take the form of severance pay, a bonus, stock options, or a combination thereof.

The lyrics point to the song being about Clive Davis, who Prince had just had a falling out with at the time as Clive took his "golden parachute" from Arista, without informing Prince. Prince went to Arista for Rave because Clive was there.

The Lyrics are:

Hey! {x2}
(Hey)

Golden parachute

Do U wanna - golden parachute {x4}

Here's 50 million dollars - go'n leave us alone
(Do U wanna, do U wanna - golden parachute)
In appreciation 4 all the creations we now own - do U wanna?
(Do U wanna, do U wanna - golden parachute)
U brought us jazz, rhythm & blues, hip-hop
Even soul, ohh, golden parachute (Do U wanna - golden parachute)
2 own every piece of intellectual property - this is our goal
(Do U wanna, do U wanna)
Oh, yes it is (Golden, golden)
Golden, golden, golden gold
(Do U wanna - golden parachute)

Here's 50 million dollars, 2 go along with this boot!
(Do U wanna, do U wanna - golden parachute)
Just keep your mouth shut, and never tell of the plan
2 conquer and control the very soul of man
(Do U wanna, do U wanna)

Do U wanna - golden parachute
Oh oh oh oh oh! (Do U wanna, do U wanna - golden parachute)

This is a tribute 4 all your accomplishments (Golden parachute)
The design of a system that allows 4 tax breaks and benefits
(Golden parachute)
Sugar, do U wanna? (Do U wanna - golden parachute - do U wanna)

17 years old, misled by so-called parachute
Down this cold road (Do U wanna)
Into this web of deception (Spiders and snakes and bears)
Money made but never spent, never mentioned (Golden parachute)
Ah let's make a toast, 2 the host, 2 the man with the most (Do U wanna)
They worship U, all up under U, applauding (Golden parachute)
One who in truth created nothing, nothing
In essence, a fraud

Golden parachute {repeats till end}

The song even makes reference to the tax breaks. Clive was convicted of Tax fraud, but got away with 5 of the charges as Tax breaks.

I believe the 17 year old the song refers to is Alicia Keys, who Clive signed at 17 to Arista, and took with him to his J label.

Prince was 19 when he signed to WB.

SquirrelMeat said:

Maybe so...who knows.

daPrettyman said:

I don't think we'll ever know for sure, Prince don't want a law suit on his hands!

I have been wearing "Golden Parachute" out ... I love that song (I wish it ended better) but it is my jam....

"Golden Parachute" is indeed a reference to Clive Davis, and the way he exited
Arista via a 'golden parachute' just when Prince needed him there to help with
the promotion of the Rave album (the album died after Clive left). It's got
nothing to do with WB.

BorisFishpaw said:

Thanks Boris and SquirrelMeat for the backup. This song is very easy to see how it makes referrence to Clive Davis.

I like many of the tracks from this particular era. He was taking chances and having fun with the music. Also much of it was sort of electronic sounding which I liked a lot. I actually prefer that output over the last 3 albums, which I like.

SquirrelMeat said:

I don't consider them actual albums, but to me they seemed to flow nicely as though it was a thought to put htem out with those arrangements via The CHocolate Invasion Box Set.

mentalist said:

The Chocolate Invasion Flows nicely I think

I agree that The Chocolate Invasion actually works pretty well as an album.
In fact it could be seen as the final incarnation of 'High' as it's virtually uses
the same group of songs.

I prefer the spirit in High over the negativity and schmaltz in TRC, With a few tweaks this project would have been better than Musicology, 3121 and PE, perhap it already is.