Hey everybody,

We all know that Tevin Cambell had a hit with Shhhh... when it was first released, but then Prince pretty much started perfoming that song at concerts and took it back over in a big way!

He kind of did/tried to do the same thing with Nothing Compares 2 U, but Sinead O'Connor is pretty much forever associated with that song.

So why do you think Prince gave Shhhhh... to Tevin to record and release, and then took it back over?

True, it's a Prince classic now... but I'm wondering if there was some kind of fallout, or what happened. This could be considered as kind of rude, or dare I say "ego-centric".

Anyone know anything from behind the scenes that's legit?

Thanks!

i did not know that

Tevin recorded that track-man I'm not sure I wanna hear THAT one

i'm a little shocked at that-not sure why.....

THIS IS THE PRINCE ANTHEM.....WHY YOU ASK????
FIRST OF ALL THIS SONG FEATURES SOME OF THE BEST MELODIES YOU WILL EVER HEAR FROM PRINCE. SECONDLY PRINCE ALWAYS MAKES HIS GUITAR SOUND SO POWERFUL WHENEVER HE PERFORMS IT IN A LIVE SETTING.
IF YOU TAKE A GOOD HARD LISTEN TO THIS SONG.....IT IS A ROCK TUNE.....IT IS A BALLAD.....THERE IS A BIT OF THE R AND B VIBE IN THERE AS WELL. THIS CUT FEATURES A LOT OF WHAT PRINCE IS ALL ABOUT. IN TOTAL IT IS AN ALL ROUNDED PRINCE JAM THAT REALLY POURS INTO THE MELODIC REALM OF HOW MUSIC IS SUPPOSED TO SOUND.
AS A HARD CORE PRINCE FAN IT IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE SONGS IN THE PRINCE CATALOGUE.
[Edited 11/19/09 12:21pm]

Well, the 2 versions are totally different and can be looked at from a different perspective. Tevin's version sounds more like a demo compared to Prince's version. Tevin's reminds me of a teen trying to get with his high school crush, whereas P's version sounds like a grown man getting busy with a woman he just met.

he did it cuz warners asked him to include it on the gold experience, after hearing his live version on the beautiful experience tv show

MantuaPharoah said:

I don't recall this being a hit for Tevin. I know it was on the CD "I'm Ready", but I don't even think it was released as a single.

because prince knew he could do better!
[Edited 11/19/09 12:55pm]

I do not understand how taking back a song could ever be seen as "ego-centric"? Tevin should be thankful for being given permission to release his version of the song and Prince has final say over his songs. If he wants to take a song back he should not even have to ask for it. End of story.

daPrettyman said:

I like this reply. "Shhh," is a great song.
"This love is a Private Affair." I Love this lyric.

motherfunka said:

It wasn't released as a single

Dave1992 said:

It's his creation. Nothing to do with rudeness or egocentrism of any kind.

langebleu said:

it was a promo only single with remixes

dont' like him singing it or Alicia ... the Prince version is the best IMHO

Cuz Tevin gay'd it up too much.

unique said:

Come on, WB had nothing to do with TGE. THat album was done LONG before he decided to let WB release it. I remember hearing songs from TGE in late 93 and early 94.

unique said:

That came after so many radio stations added it to its playlist.

polkadotbliss said:

Off of Tevin Campbells album "I'm Ready"

Shhh..., Halls Of Desire, Paris 1798430 & Uncle Sam were all Prince compositions. Also there's an outtake 'The P' that didn't make the album.
Tevin had a hit with it but it was never officially a single. 'Halls Of Desire' got remixed as a b-side to 'Don't Say Goodbye Girl'.
The song also was a hit for Prince but it again was never officially a single. There was a video for it that aired on 'The Beautiful Experience' starring Nona Gaye and the NPG.
[Edited 11/19/09 18:53pm]

I heard Tevin's version first, and... (don't hate me) I like it more. While I love the pyrotechnics of Prince's version, I like the vibe of Tevin's version more. Tevin's voice sounds incredible on the track. The dude has a great voice, which suits Prince's work very well.

NightGod said:

All of the work they did together was actually very impressive from such a young performer. I think it was the first/only time Prince worked with a child. Except for Jacob Armen(Did Prince actually do anything with him on his mysterious Paisley Park CD?)

carlcranshaw said:

omg I luv u, u r way 2 funny

daPrettyman said:

most of the songs were already recorded, but prince dicked around warners by swapping tracks between come and TGE. some orger made a long set of threads about it. it mentions warners request for shhh

ernestsewell said:

.....might just be the real answer

Because it was too grown for Tevin's ass.

Cuz Tevin got into a bunch of shit that is not a representation of Prince-the man hates Controversy regardless of the album He took his song back after Tevin's run in with the Police

Tevin reportedly got pissed that Prince reclaimed the song. He felt that it was his. Prince decided to play the drum version which is the live version to appease Tevin to show the differences in the song. Tevin version is Prince's studio version.

motherfunka said:

oh yeah this was a big (radio)hit for tevin...and Prince.of course this was back when radio djs played what THEY thought was a good song,not what theye were told to play...and radio play only songs had no chart impact back then..otherwise adore would have been a #1 hit for prince

Prince gave the song 2 Tevin and then started performing it live in 1994. Tevin was insecure or mad or both and asked Prince 2 "stop performing HIS song". Prince obviously did not like this comment and as a result started playing the song more frequently. The live version, taken from the Beautiful Experience Concert(which by the way Tevin was in attendance 4) was sold (by ) 2 a Dutch radio station (along with other as yet unreleased songs like "Now", "Days of Wild" and "Acknowledge me"). This tape circulated and the live version of "Shhh" made its way 2 Radio in the USA in the summer of 1994. Shortly after this, Prince or actually, re-recorded it virtually live with the NPG and this is the version that ended up on The Gold Experience. Yes - Warner asked that ONE of these versions be included on "Come" but said no way because "Come" was a Prince record and "Shhh" was recorded by

P.S.
Around the same time Lenny Kravits asked if HE could perform "Days of Wild" and responded "that would b like letting U make love 2 my woman!" - I guess that means no?

I was at the Beautiful Experience concert when Prince first sang this songlive. He called out for Tevin to come up and sing Shhh but Tevin had left the room for some reason. You could tell Prince was disappointed by the look on his face.(I was standing very close to the stage) Prince did the song anyway. It's my opinion that because it came off so well Prince went back and re-record it again for himself.

There is a difference between giving someone something for them to keep and allowing them to use something.

When you write a song and give it to another artist for them to record, all you are doing is allowing them to use your song - you are not signing away your rights to the song, as I am sure the song will still be listed as Prince's at ASCAP.

So, there is no "Prince taking it back" - it was his to start with and remained his. Tevin, I'm sure, was always grateful for that (whether they fell out about it later or not!). If Tevin did actually make the statement about it being "HIS song", I could see Prince, quite rightly, getting pissed about that - it was never his.

The original poster also says how Sinead will always be remembered for NC2U - whilst she certainly made her mark with it and gave it worldwide prominence, I've yet to meet anyone, Prince fan or not, who doesn't know that its a Prince tune. Same goes for Manic Monday. Mind you, I've had a few people be surprised when told "I Feel 4 U" is not Chaka Khan's!