Reading up on the history of feuds between Prince and Rick James had on tour , it kinda seems like Morris Day's character in Purple Rain was taken from that experience and rivalry .

Prince was Morris, right?

Prince did outshine Rick ,like Morris did The Kid for a bit in the movie. But i'm talking about Morris's character of being jealous,disrespectful, and taunting the kid.

Yeah, I don't think you are being unreasonable with that assumption. I've never thought that the movie was "about" the rivalry between Prince and Rick, but now that you've mentioned there could be something there. We just can't really "prove" things like that.

When you listen to Prince's and Rick's records from that time, or watch their live performances, it's obvious that they were influenced by each other. It seems like neither was willing to admit how big a part the other one played in their lives and shaping up their sounds.

I always thought it had alot to do with P's battle w/Rick.

Yeah, I've considered that possibility before. How cool would it have been have actually had Rick in the movie being Rick?!

Morris was great in the role, but even though he was the antagonist, I don't think I ever really hated him or couldn't wait until he got what was coming to him.

Great observation.

kae510 said:

Prince did outshine Rick ,like Morris did The Kid for a bit in the movie. But i'm talking about Morris's character of being jealous,disrespectful, and taunting the kid.

really? how exactly did prince outshine rick? mc hammer sample both of their popular songs on the same album and u can't touch this hit number 1 while pray hit number 2 get it?

Brilliant observation, never ever thought of that before, although to be fair out of all Prince´s influences and so on, I dont think I know anything about Rick James or his music, simply never interested me. However, this is quite an astounding idea, which might actually be true to an extent.

Alone, from a pyshological point of view, I can imagine this being a manifestation of the idea, especially seen as the film is "semi-biograhical" and the whole the fight/challenge being against the show versus raw talent element.

I have been a Prince fan since 1984 and since I moved to London 2 years ago and went to the Hopfarm gig, I have started noticing and taking an interest in things about the way Prince has evolved over the years/decades. It always appears to me lately, that he had a grand plan for where he wanted to see himself in the future, however, he was/is always aware of change and how that would affect his influence on his target/aim and he would then adapt to that. Much, naturally to the dismay of his (1980-1988 Living in the Bubble and cant get out) set of fans.

jackson35 said:

kae510 said:

Prince did outshine Rick ,like Morris did The Kid for a bit in the movie. But i'm talking about Morris's character of being jealous,disrespectful, and taunting the kid.

really? how exactly did prince outshine rick? mc hammer sample both of their popular songs on the same album and u can't touch this hit number 1 while pray hit number 2 get it?

What type of an argument is that supposed to be?

novabrkr said:

jackson35 said:

really? how exactly did prince outshine rick? mc hammer sample both of their popular songs on the same album and u can't touch this hit number 1 while pray hit number 2 get it?

What type of an argument is that supposed to be?

LOL

Was there anything ever said on the DVD commentary about it, or in Muir's book?

I'm sure it's a composite of different people, Rick being one of them.

Did anything go on with Prince and one of the Mary Jane Girls on the tour? I think Rick would've written about it, or one of the women would've said something about it in an interview by now.

dalsh327 said:

Was there anything ever said on the DVD commentary about it, or in Muir's book?

I'm sure it's a composite of different people, Rick being one of them.

Did anything go on with Prince and one of the Mary Jane Girls on the tour? I think Rick would've written about it, or one of the women would've said something about it in an interview by now.

I don't know about one of the Mary Jane Girls, but if I'm not mistaken, Prince took Vanity away from Rick. I heard about Vanity being Rick's date to a show or something, but she left with Prince. Maybe someone else knows the whole story?

Very good observation and it very well could be about Rick but I doubt it. Prince himself has said that there used to be rival bands in the local club scene so I'm thinking it's about the local club scene. The Prince vs. Rick thing was on a national level, not a local one. Had it been after "The Kid" made it nationally and had a rivalry while touring the country, then I would have immediately thought it was about Rick.

xpertluva said:

dalsh327 said:

Was there anything ever said on the DVD commentary about it, or in Muir's book?

I'm sure it's a composite of different people, Rick being one of them.

Did anything go on with Prince and one of the Mary Jane Girls on the tour? I think Rick would've written about it, or one of the women would've said something about it in an interview by now.

I don't know about one of the Mary Jane Girls, but if I'm not mistaken, Prince took Vanity away from Rick. I heard about Vanity being Rick's date to a show or something, but she left with Prince. Maybe someone else knows the whole story?

I think it was the "American Music Awards" that Vanity accompanied Rick and Prince got her later. Teena Marie, who was part of the Rick James camp, had also opened for Prince on the "Dirty Mind" tour and Jill Jones was a part of her group before she joined Prince. I've heard that Vanity was originally intended to be one of The Mary Jane Girls but I don't know how true that is. Rick may have had his escapades with women but he usually picked folks that could actually sing to be in his groups.

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[Edited 1/21/13 0:29am]

I find the "composite" theory to be the most plausible.

Then again, Prince had already come up with The Time as "rivals" for himself. A group of musicians that were supposed to compete with him, but that he could control. Morris Day was Morris Day before the movie was even planned. That was pretty much his onstage persona in the movie and I don't think he had to portray anyone else for the purpose.

[Edited 1/21/13 1:31am]

I know the lead singer in MJG could sing not too sure about the other girls. If I'm not mistaken there are rumers circulating that the other girls weren't even on the albums, Just JoJo the lead singer.

novabrkr said:

jackson35 said:

really? how exactly did prince outshine rick? mc hammer sample both of their popular songs on the same album and u can't touch this hit number 1 while pray hit number 2 get it?

What type of an argument is that supposed to be?

its means ric's music is more popular then prince's.

jackson35 said:

novabrkr said:

What type of an argument is that supposed to be?

its means ric's music is more popular then prince's.

Hmm. Better check the sales stats and charts on that one, kid.

Is Rick more culturally significant than Prince? Only as a punchline (coke line?).

[Edited 1/28/13 11:52am]

Maybe in some ways Rick could have been more popular w/ghetto areas in the US than Prince due to the streetness of Rick's music. Prince has more of a pop/rock to his new wave funk than Rick. Same for Morris Day/The Time. Hence The Time (album) outselling Dirty Mind as far as the RnB charts. Remenber back then we didn't have hip hop music & black males were listening to funk artist like they listen to hip hop nowadays.