Hey All,
So I was flipping the channel last night, and turned to The Tavis Smiley Show on PBS, which airs 11p on the west coast. All of a sudden I see pics of Prince on the screen! I thought, oh my, is he on Tavis Smiley tonight? Anyway, he wasn't, lol, but rather the photogropher of 21 nights Randee St. Nicholas. Tavis brought up the fact the some critics were saying that the pics looked too polished, etc....I'm glad I saw part of it because she's known Prince for a long time, and explained that the pics were taken at random and that Prince looks like he does in the pics the majority of he time. She also said that she's seen Prince perform many times, and she thought that have gave the best show of his life in New York recently. Tavis also mentioned that the book is on the NY Times bestseller's list..

There is probably some video of the interview on line, at PBS, or The Tavis Smile Show. I'll be checking since I didn't see the whole interview....

I think he overshot on the book sales predictions (or someone did).....Only a chick could feed a man's ego enough to pull that one off!!! Please Randee.... your photography is lame....IMO. You made him a cartoon...and there was no really special effort put into the lyrics and poem(s). The music is good but way over-rated... the pics got the most effort and she's lying through her teeth...
"that's what he really looks like" yeah after photoshop. Such an insult. I hope Prince doesn't really think we are that stupid....
Unfortunately he looses both ways... he's either
1. way off point with his fans.
2. listening to some people that don't have his best interest in mind....

Though he said it himself.... he's gonna milk this stuff for all it's worth.
[Edited 10/25/08 13:34pm]

Madison88 said:

Point taken....but when did he say this?

I saw it also! flipping through the channels as well!!

hotwithyou said:

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/t...o/760.html

Prince is surrounded by users who feed his ego. That's why he keeps dropping duds on the marketplace. Then he gets pissed at the internet when the greenbacks don't roll in.

I saw last night but I was to tired to post anything....I posted this morning...

http://prince.org/msg/5/286923
[Edited 10/25/08 14:55pm]

That's nice.

Thanks, URETHE1.

Haha! She totally avoids the first question . Then she goes on to say there are photos from the aftershows in there... I don't see any .

I'm sorry, I hate playing the bad guy, but the fact remains that this book is dissapointing. If Prince wants to release a 'fashion' book, then fine, but at least advertise it is as such. 90% of the people who buy this will buy it with the false impression that it's a photo documentary in the true sense of the term.

Madison88 said:

Randee does computer edit probably 99% of her subjects. Thats what she does. I don't think its insulting anyone. Anyone who's looked at any of her pics or pics of most any celebrity in any magazine knows they're not quite looking at reality. She's a fashion and portrait photographer for gods sake... fashion photographers are about showing flawless pictures, not how models and celebrities look under all their makeup.

:change of heart edit:
[Edited 10/25/08 17:56pm]

prime said:

Other than the obvious "actions" after: I'm never gonna play those songs again.
I'm not touring anymore.... Nothing but new material from now on.....ugh!!

Actions do speak louder than words.... sorry ... that's milking it!!! sorta in another way than I was reffering to. It just gets so old.....

What I was refering to was this:

In recent years, he has re-linked with major record labels like Sony and Universal Music Group to release his albums, but isn't sure any record is worth putting out in this era of piracy and illegal downloads. Though the book includes a CD, it contains no new songs, just classic hits and other songs from one of his signature jam sessions.

"Today, it's not realistic to expect to put out new music and profit from it. There's no point in trying to put new music out there and keep it from being (exploited)," he says.

And he now has disdain for the way the Internet has, in his view, subverted artists' rights.

"The powers that be are abusing the copyright infringement," he says. "You can't sample Steven Spielberg; you don't see his stuff up there, just old tapes of the Ohio Players, who can't afford to defend themselves."


I'd say that sorta sums it up...(my original statement wasn't a quote). It at least explains his actions.

He's talking and acting in circles....(out tha' side a his mouf )

I could listen endlessly to some of his music....that will never change....

My first experience with Prince's crazy world was an invite to his PR concert in the Orange Bowl and was supposed to be his last tour. I'm not so thrilled with the sweatshirt that I bought that night just to never wear it and remember that night as a special night.... It's hard to appreciate someone that doesn't seem to appreciate being appreciated....if ya get my drift...if he wants his music all back than buy back my sweatshirt Mr. Nelson....I feel exploited too and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone.

What does he say about a bad taste in your mouth?????
[Edited 10/25/08 19:23pm]

lezama said:

I'm glad you like her photos.....I've never heard of her....I don't read celebrity magazines....I've been a model almost all my life....I know photography...he looks like a cartoon...no to put it more acurately... He looks like a colorized black and white photo....it's yuck to me... and she did avoid the obvious first question..... I'm not alone!!

Madison88 said:

I agree with you on that point, but not everything you claim. Just to clarify
[Edited 10/25/08 19:20pm]

I was channel surfing last nite and saw Randeez' interview 2.

toejam said:

I claim only my opinion.....not that anyone agree with it.

I think I understand now why the book gives me such an impression of superficiality. This lady is almost as ditzy as some of P's proteges. Y'all feel free to tell me if I'm mistaken but where in the book do we see anything she described to Tavis except where she talks about fashion and how could she spend so much time with him without being able to capture a feeling of real intimacy?

Sorry if I sound mean but what am I missing here?

babynoz said:

Ok, you got me to look...and you are right.....yikes...she's like a Manson flower child..... Never seen her before...what a mess...and a bunch of well...ok the Manson comment is gonna haunt me... she's full of it....ish...Was she stoned??? I'm such a brat....but Travis couldn't even get her to get real....She said absolutely nothing about nothing.

I haven't bought the book but it's basically out there to see if you want to. I've seen enough to not waste my money on it. Poor Travis...he was really struggling..... Who is it Billy Preston that sings Nothin from nothin is nothin.....nuf said...

The Hawaii photo journal really fulfills eveything you'd want and shows just how far off the mark P & Randee were on this. The Hawaii book gives you a true sense of the his days there, the live shows, the inclusion of fans, witty comments and above all giving us some intimacy through showing Prince just chillin by the sea, on his moped etc. I think it was Afshin that did the photography , anyway whoever it was really did do a great job.
To be positive for a split second Randees book does at least give us something different from the Scarifice of Victor and Hawaii, just seemed a bit pointless marketing it as a journal of the 21 nights , which in no way shape or form does it achieve.

Madison88 said:

I've been very close to Prince in several occasions in my life. I happened to be just a few yards away from him for a long time in the VIP section of clubs and let me tell you something : Prince looks exactly like in the pictures. A lot of make up, very aware peopmle are looking at him which gives the feeling he is posing all the time, always dessed like a Christmas tree as well. Very strange character he is. He is like someone wearing a mask 24/24 7/7.
So yeah he is posing in the picvtures like he does constantly in real life.
[Edited 10/26/08 4:15am]

funkyhead said:

The Hawaii book showed more of P jsut chillin'....in the yard, on a boat...just kickin' it which is noce because you don't see him doing that. The 21 nights seems to be a lot of posing.....forget the make-up, I know wears it but the posing didn't seem real.

sarkozyiszeman said:

The VIP section??? Of course you see him looking like a picture just as you claim. Come on... we've all seen him from pretty much every angle on here. Please....he's just like the rest of us underneath it all. It's not just on here that people have seen him look more "natural"... he hasn't always looked like a Christmas tree. I'm careful to say that the disappointment over the pictures in the book seems to be the suggestion of "intimate", "backstage" pictures of him in a way he's never been seen before.... As you point out and sadly agree with he looks like that all the time.....We've seen beautiful pictures of him before and yes it's very apparent that she's a portrait photographer. I don't believe that no one thinks he's that nice looking or that he doesn't dress that well.... you are missing the point.....I guess we were hoping for something a little new and different.....as they claim it to be...

On a lighter note...he looks much more "casual", "natural" and unlike the pictures in the book at the fashion awards in NY and I give him props for not over glamming, he tends to outshine everyone .... he glows all on his own with no help from anything... If only he could see himself that way..... More than any other person I know of...he's got so much more than just "a look" to offer.
[Edited 10/26/08 12:24pm]

Madison88 said:

I've been within a few feet of him several times when he was in his performance persona, but the night I spoke with for a few moments at a soundcheck he was more laid back and natural, so there are exceptions...not a christmas tree in sight either.

Trust me, the guy really is beautiful up close...he don't need the makeup. I think he's just partial to the artsy-fartsy style.

babynoz said:

I'm responding just so you can give us some more insight....and it's working. Any more stories??? We're listening....

I have recently (Oct 10) seen him in NY and he played his guitar only a couple of feet from me. I also saw him at 7/7/07
The guy is gorgeous !!! and not to forget exceptionally talented.
The book is not bad there are maybe a couple of pictures I would have deleted, but then this is Prince and I think he just loves to glam things up a bit more and will not listen to anyone. I think the closet shots need to have been redone, one picture in particular is annoying it is not proportionate to him. It is not resized correctly. Randee should have known better than to put his complete body in the frame..


I would have liked to have seen more of these types of pics

[Edited 10/26/08 22:15pm]

hey evervbody i don't know if any one realise that she is the girl in the insatiable video the one in the beginning with the camera she also directed the video and a number of other videos he has done maybe a prince girl from back in the day?

Madison88 said:

Lemme see...We'll call this the fammy times chronicles.


One time was during a Musicology show, Prince was a about 20ft behind me watching Maceo onstage. When our eyes met he gave me his death-stare and I laughed. I think he was afraid I was gonna freak out and let people know he was back there, so I put my finger to my lips and he rolled his eyes at me, LOL!

Another time was at a Tamar show. He was in such a great mood that night that his eyes seemed to reflect some inner light and I was delighted that he appeared to be so happy and at peace. He interacted a lot, shaking hands with us and giving out guitar pics...at one point, he pointed right at me, smiled and said something I didn't hear because it was too loud. That's the same night he played Beautiful Strange right in front of me...if Prince never does anything else again in life, that was enough for me.

The night I actually met and talked with him it was myself and three other orgers. I was kind of flustered for a minute because the jive turkey snuck up on us. Once he saw that nobody freaked out he chatted for a few moments and we even managed to get a laugh out of him. He wasn't all done up at the time and was very mellow. The thread about it is around here somewhere so I'll send it to you if I find it.

The last encounter was at the Super Bowl dress rehearsal and lemme tell ya, he was done up to the teeth that day. My crew and I were standing a few feet away when they brought him out, so My co-worker yelled "Prince, you're beautiful, I love you!" When he smiled and waved to her, she squealed and started shaking my shoulders. Then she laid herself out on the field and wouldn't let go of my arm! That was some funny isht right there.

The other times I was close to him I didn't interact with him. I've heard about it from others but at the times when I was around him he was never in diva mode.


Back on topic, maybe that's why I feel there's really another interesting side of Prince that could have been captured more fully. Then again, if this is the side he chose to showcase, so be it...I'll just chill with the cd.

babynoz said:

-----
Then again, if this is the side he chose to showcase, so be it...I'll just chill with the cd.

Exactly, he showed his mellow side in the Hawaii Book and Randee has said she does not do candid shots. I also think some of you are showing your ignorance about photography because this chick is well known she is not a protégée or some chick he met in a bar.
If you don’t like the photos cool just enjoy the music and thanks for this post Babynoz kind of let’s some of the so-called fans know that P is a human who puts his high heeled boots on one at a time and has his good days and bad.
[Edited 10/28/08 12:28pm]

Here we go.....