Hello everybody!

First of all I can say that this is my very first post on here. I discovered the amazing music of Prince some years ago and have been increasingly interested in his music. So now, since I have many questions about the man and the music, I decided it was time to join. I know the title says "The One" but I choose to add a couple more questions when I´m first on it

1. I saw an interview with Prince on Youtube some time ago (I can´t remember with whom), and I remember Prince saying about the song The One that it was "way up there with anything I´ve ever produced". Is that a way of saying that The One could be one of Prince´s own favourites of his own music? If not, has he ever stated if he has any favourites of all the music he´s created?

2. Does Prince see a vocal coach like for instance Seth Riggs, like most of the other superstars? If not, does he use a certain vocal technique?

3. One thing I´ve wondered about recently: What was the very first song that Prince ever wrote, has he said anything about that?

And...

4. I can´t help but wonder who this mysterious Per Nilsen is, the guy who I know is a Prince expert and who has written many books about him. The name indicates that he could be Norwegian, or at least Scandinavian, but I haven´t been able to find out anything about it. (It´s not very important but It´s just for some reason a thing I´d like to know)

Thank U 4 answering, guys.

- Mr. Norway

MrNorway said:

Hello everybody!

First of all I can say that this is my very first post on here. I discovered the amazing music of Prince some years ago and have been increasingly interested in his music. So now, since I have many questions about the man and the music, I decided it was time to join. I know the title says "The One" but I choose to add a couple more questions when I´m first on it

1. I saw an interview with Prince on Youtube some time ago (I can´t remember with whom), and I remember Prince saying about the song The One that it was "way up there with anything I´ve ever produced". Is that a way of saying that The One could be one of Prince´s own favourites of his own music? If not, has he ever stated if he has any favourites of all the music he´s created?

2. Does Prince see a vocal coach like for instance Seth Riggs, like most of the other superstars? If not, does he use a certain vocal technique?

3. One thing I´ve wondered about recently: What was the very first song that Prince ever wrote, has he said anything about that?

And...

4. I can´t help but wonder who this mysterious Per Nilsen is, the guy who I know is a Prince expert and who has written many books about him. The name indicates that he could be Norwegian, or at least Scandinavian, but I haven´t been able to find out anything about it. (It´s not very important but It´s just for some reason a thing I´d like to know)

Thank U 4 answering, guys.

- Mr. Norway

Per Nilsen is from Sweden.

Prince wrote a song called "Machine" in early 1975, but whether this was the first song Prince wrote by himself i do not know, maybe someone else would be more qualified to confirm this.

During the "Moon sessions" in the summer of 1976, Prince recorded many songs, with Chris Moon writing most of the lyrics, but the songs Baby, I'm Yours, Since We've Been Together, and Leaving For New York, were prince only compositions. But again, i'm not sure if these were among his first solo compositions.

Welcome to the org.

[Edited 8/9/10 9:07am]

[Edited 8/9/10 9:09am]

Welcome to the org!

A previous thread on voice lessons indicates that he has had them.

http://prince.org/msg/7/287423

MrNorway said:

1. I saw an interview with Prince on Youtube some time ago (I can´t remember with whom), and I remember Prince saying about the song The One that it was "way up there with anything I´ve ever produced". Is that a way of saying that The One could be one of Prince´s own favourites of his own music? If not, has he ever stated if he has any favourites of all the music he´s created?

Prince said that about "The One" soon after he wrote/released it. He's said the same type of thing many times about his songs/albums soon after recording/releasing them (The Gold Experience, "The Grand Progression," etc). Artists usually get pretty excited about their most recent creations... sometimes it's because the artist overcame some kind of obstacle during the creative process, or found a new way to write/record, etc. To the artist, it's a bigger personal achievement than we could ever know about. This is probably what he meant.

Welcome!

Sorry I can't answer any of your questions. I'm a baby fan and learning things about him.

I'd like to know about question #2, too! Did yall ever hear about his vocal coach? If so, what did s/he say about his vocal and/or their training sessions? *I guess he's probably had one before, if not all the time.*

CallMeCarrie said:

Welcome to the org!

A previous thread on voice lessons indicates that he has had them.

http://prince.org/msg/7/287423

Oops I didn't see your post before typing all that above. Thanks a lot!

Welcome.

SoulSplash said:

MrNorway said:

1. I saw an interview with Prince on Youtube some time ago (I can´t remember with whom), and I remember Prince saying about the song The One that it was "way up there with anything I´ve ever produced". Is that a way of saying that The One could be one of Prince´s own favourites of his own music? If not, has he ever stated if he has any favourites of all the music he´s created?

Prince said that about "The One" soon after he wrote/released it. He's said the same type of thing many times about his songs/albums soon after recording/releasing them (The Gold Experience, "The Grand Progression," etc). Artists usually get pretty excited about their most recent creations... sometimes it's because the artist overcame some kind of obstacle during the creative process, or found a new way to write/record, etc. To the artist, it's a bigger personal achievement than we could ever know about. This is probably what he meant.

If I can add to this, he was talking to Tavis Smiley when Tavis was still with BET and the question regarded some critics saying he wasn't making the same music the way he used to...blah blah. Anyway, Prince's response was to refer to "The One", how it was 'way up there with anything I've ever produced'.

Welcome to the org !

Well, I guess you´re right about artists calling their latest records their favourites. But I have to be honest, I wouldn´t protest at all if Prince had listed it as ONE of his favourites - because it´s definately one of my favourite Prince songs. I think that The One is a masterpiece, quite simply. But then again I think he is a master on creating romantic and "moody" and seductive ballads or "slow jams". Anyone else that likes it? (silly question on a Prince forum I guess)

MrNorway said:

Well, I guess you´re right about artists calling their latest records their favourites. But I have to be honest, I wouldn´t protest at all if Prince had listed it as ONE of his favourites - because it´s definately one of my favourite Prince songs. I think that The One is a masterpiece, quite simply. But then again I think he is a master on creating romantic and "moody" and seductive ballads or "slow jams". Anyone else that likes it? (silly question on a Prince forum I guess)

ABSOLUTELY ADORE IT.WAY AT THE TOP OF MY XTREME FAVES!!!

yeah, i like it, too. and it's a gorgeous arrangement. funny how prince gets criticized for preaching in many of his songs, but then he has song titles like "the one," "savior," etc. that are not about The One. just saying.