didnt he write nothing compares 2 u for susannah too? I would certainly say this was a watershed period for prince - and susannah was a constant troughout that - whichever other women came and went.

I agree with the threadstarter.

But was it, because of that relationship, that he wrote his best material? Or was he 'on a roll' in that period of his life, and that brought him 'the girlfriend'? (the chicken-egg thing...).

By the way, i really disagree with some people here who say he was writing his most mature material when he was with Mayte.

The songs he recorded and release during his time with Susannah (parts of the Parade album, the Dream factory, Sign of the Times) are, lyrically, among his most honest and 'human' ones.
He sings about selfdoubt, the complications you fase within a relationship, the complexity of men - women friendships etc.

When it comes to the 'Mayte'-years i always felt they were a step back for him lyrically. Mayte often appearing in his lyrics as the withgoing 'pixie' he could both guide and idolise.
More of a dreamlike, streamlined fairytale of a 'relationship' then the 'reality' of strong women of flesh and blood he was dealing with in his lyrics on Sign of the Times.
[Edited 6/20/08 7:01am]

CrozzaUK said:

no he wrote it 4 one of his assistants who had just lost her father. tho in the liner notes 4 the family album it says written for jerome. in interviews at that time, jerome was playing it off like he lost someone.

L4OATheOriginal said:

Where was it said that it is about his assistant's father? That doesn't seem to make much sense as the lyrics are about the break-up of a (romantic) relationship; asking if they could try again, etc.

simm0061 said:

is it romantic feelings or can it b interupted of having a relationship with ur a parent that wasn't what one would have really wanted?

the lyrics "all the flowers that u planted in the back yard all died when u went away" could b interputed as, and i belive her name was Karen something, on the day of her father's death, all the flowers died as well.

L4OATheOriginal said:

I did hear somewhere that it was written after one of his assistants left(either temporarily or permanently) - an ode to her. Maybe her father died and she took time off for that and Prince's missing her is what he was writing about...? Karen Krattinger was his assistant up until 1990 or so...

I just don't see it as being about the loss of a parent. Do you remember where you read that?

simm0061 said:

i belive in one the numerous books on prince that i have. sorry can't recall the name of the book at the moment. but since karen was still his assistant in 1984/85 it's more plausabile 2 say that it was about her father rather than her leaving his employment

L4OATheOriginal said:

Unless she was just away for a short period time (i.e. to mourn her dad) and came back. I have all the books too and I just don't remember reading that - it is going to bug me now - will have to try to try to look it up.

simm0061 said:

i wonder if it's in the dmsr book by per nielsen

L4OATheOriginal said:

Nope, just checked, didn't see it there. In the liner notes of greatest hits and b-sides maybe...(?)only I lent that to someone and can't check right now!!
Darn, you! This is gonna bug me all day!!

[Edited 6/20/08 10:36am]

simm0061 said:

didn't u know it was my job 2 bug people?

L4OATheOriginal said:

I guess Nothing Compares 2 U!!

simm0061 said:

that's the sweetest thing somone has said 2 me 2day thank u

L4OATheOriginal said:

Unless she was just away for a short period time (i.e. to mourn her dad) and came back. I have all the books too and I just don't remember reading that - it is going to bug me now - will have to try to try to look it up.

carlcranshaw said:

Not quite! - At least P and M had a relationship. MJ was trying to convince the world that he is into women - there's no question that P is into women and was into Mayte

simm0061 said:

ok got it! From Per Nielsen's review of the Family Album:
http://www.housequake.com...the_family

'“Nothing Compares 2 U” is a song about a man who regrets the break-up that occurred between him and his girl. However, there is nothing in the song to explain why the woman was so incomparable or why she left in the first place. The reason for this is that Prince wanted to focus on the feeling of heartbreak, as opposed to telling a detailed story of a particular break-up. Inspiration for the song came from Sandy Scipioni, Prince’s personal assistant since 1980. They weren’t in a romantic relationship, but Prince missed her when she had to go away one day very suddenly when her father died.'

I can get on with my day now.

vivid said:

I mean in the respect that a very forced effort was made.

It seemed like "Hey folks, THIS is the love of my life. I've had no others."

rusty1 said:

Don't forget about "The Beautiful Ones". ...Prince's "best" material and his "most beautiful" material are two different things. Besides, one could easily argue that Prince wrote his best when he was with Vanity. Word is that he wrote possibly his best song ever, When Doves Cry, about Susan. Susan from Vanity 6, not Susanah. Point is, while Prince was "with" Susanah, he was also "with" other women at the same time. Just like he was with Vanity, Susan and Jill all at the same time. And no telling how many other women he was with when he wasn't touring. Women that haven't been glorified as Prince women. Women we know nothing about. He could have written Adore or The Beautiful Ones about some chic named Nancy Mcadoo for all we know.

rusty1 said:

Don't forget about "The Beautiful Ones". ...Prince's "best" material and his "most beautiful" material are two different things. Besides, one could easily argue that Prince wrote his best when he was with Vanity. Word is that he wrote possibly his best song ever, When Doves Cry, about Susan. Susan from Vanity 6, not Susanah. Point is, while Prince was "with" Susanah, he was also "with" other women at the same time. Just like he was with Vanity, Susan and Jill all at the same time. And no telling how many other women he was with when he wasn't touring. Women that haven't been glorified as Prince women. Women we know nothing about. He could have written Adore or The Beautiful Ones about some chic named Nancy Mcadoo for all we know.

blackguitaristz said:

carlcranshaw said:

Not quite! - At least P and M had a relationship. MJ was trying to convince the world that he is into women - there's no question that P is into women and was into Mayte

blackguitaristz said:

blackguitaristz said:

Your post made me lol, because my first name is Nancy. But I DOUBT that Prince would ever write a song about me. Maybe in my dreams, perhaps.

blackguitaristz said:

Amen! I am so tired of this overly romanticized view of Prince's relationship with Susannah. He was at a very successful and creative period in his life when he was with her, so you cannot directly attribute the songs to her. Also, he was not exclusive with her. Another thing is that we don't know that all of those songs were written when he was with Susannah - they might have already existed in some way. Finally, if she was all that to him why did he move her into her own place just months after they moved in together? I am sure that he had feelings for her like any woman he has had a relationship with. However, she was just one of the many relationships he has had. At the end of the day, when you look at it their relationship didn't even last that long.

--spelling edit--
[Edited 6/20/08 12:58pm]

Honey said:

You're name must be Nancy. Sorry for the name check.