First this: http://www.grammy.com/new...zanne-vega

Tales From Suzanne Vega
GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter discusses the making of her new album, Tales From The Realm Of The Queen Of Pentacles, and being years ahead of "Game Of Thrones"

By Steve Baltin / GRAMMY.com
February 21, 2014 -- 1:24 pm PST

[...]

- Are there any artists you never would have expected to be fans of your work?
- Prince wrote me a gorgeous letter after "Luka."

[...]

- What was your most memorable GRAMMY moment as both a fan and nominee?
- Singing "Luka" on the [30th GRAMMY Awards] by myself without a band and seeing Prince jump to his feet in the audience when I finished. That was a great moment for me.

Now on to the main course: this weekend I was listening to a live recording of one of Suzanne Vega's 2012 concerts for the 25th anniversary of Solitude Standing. After playing "Luka" she ...s anecdote (I've transcribed it):

I certainly have a lot of memories connected with that song (= "Luka") and one of the memories I remember is that back then in 1987 right after the song had come out and was a hit at radio but it hadn't occurred to me yet to change the order of the setlist so I was still singing it fourth in the setlist.

When I played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, we had a guest who wanted to come to the show and that was Prince. And he was a big fan of the song and he has written me a letter and he wanted to come to the show and I said "Oh, that would be great." But what I didn't realise is that Prince was not just going to come and sit in the audience; Prince wanted to come by himself and he wanted to come into the venue after everyone was seated.

And so Prince came in with his bodyguards after everyone was seated and he sat on the flight cases on the side of the stage and I played "Luke" fourth in the set. He got up apparently and danced and then after the song left the building [laughter erupts in the audience] with his bodyguards and I never saw him. I think Mike actually, Mike Visceglia on bass, was with me at that time, he saw Prince dancing in the corner, so that's how I found out he was even at the show.

IMHO that was a bit dickish of Prince: demanding special treatment and then not even having the courtesy to stay the entire gig or meet with Vega.

Perhaps the good folks at PrinceVault could add this date and story to their fine website; source is http://www.kudosrecords.c..._2012.html

Vega played the Orpheum Theatre on 15 July 1987.

Thanks. That sounds so typical Prince-ish.

BartVanHemelen said:

IMHO that was a bit dickish of Prince: demanding special treatment and then not even having the courtesy to stay the entire gig or meet with Vega.

Of course you thought that...you wouldn't have posted this story if you didn't lol ...

And the "demanding special treatment" part: what was the special treatment he demanded? Asking Vega if he could attend her show? Doesn't sound like either a "demand" or "special" treatment. Sitting on the staircase offstage? Can't be a demand since Vega didn't even know he was gonna do that.

And "dickish"? Is it "dickish" to not meet with the performer you're seeing in concert? How many celebrities have attended Prince concernts and then made it a point to hang around afterwards in order to meet with him? Hell, for that matter did Vega even give a shit that he didn't? ...

To me, it simply sounds like Prince was a huge fan of one of Vega's songs, had written her a "gorgeous letter" telling her so, jumped up to his feet after her performance of it at the Grammys, then wanted to attend her concert just so he could hear the song again.

But that's just me...and I don't need to put on rose-colored glasses or pitch black ones before viewing Prince's every action.

luka always reminds me of manic monday or vice versa

Byron said:

...And "dickish"? Is it "dickish" to not meet with the performer you're seeing in concert? How many celebrities have attended Prince concernts and then made it a point to hang around afterwards in order to meet with him? Hell, for that matter did Vega even give a shit that he didn't? ...

To me, it simply sounds like Prince was a huge fan of one of Vega's songs, had written her a "gorgeous letter" telling her so, jumped up to his feet after her performance of it at the Grammys, then wanted to attend her concert just so he could hear the song again...

It's cool that he appreciated her song and told her so. It's a great song, and Suzanne Vega is awesome. But yeah, it's pretty dickish to come to a concert for one song and then leave directly after that song is finished, before the concert. Don't tell me that Prince wouldn't be offended if a celebrity came to one of his concerts just in time to catch "Let's Go Crazy" and then left as soon as the song was over.

theblueangel said:

Byron said:

...And "dickish"? Is it "dickish" to not meet with the performer you're seeing in concert? How many celebrities have attended Prince concernts and then made it a point to hang around afterwards in order to meet with him? Hell, for that matter did Vega even give a shit that he didn't? ...

To me, it simply sounds like Prince was a huge fan of one of Vega's songs, had written her a "gorgeous letter" telling her so, jumped up to his feet after her performance of it at the Grammys, then wanted to attend her concert just so he could hear the song again...

It's cool that he appreciated her song and told her so. It's a great song, and Suzanne Vega is awesome. But yeah, it's pretty dickish to come to a concert for one song and then leave directly after that song is finished, before the concert. Don't tell me that Prince wouldn't be offended if a celebrity came to one of his concerts just in time to catch "Let's Go Crazy" and then left as soon as the song was over.

Prince offended?...Oh please lol.

If anything, he would have made a comment like "They missed one helluva concert" and that's it.

But notice Prince wasn't in the audience, he was offstage...what would have been "dickish" would have been getting up and leaving in the middle of the concert for all to witness and talk about. So maybe he knew he'd be leaving early which is why he wanted to view the concert from a position that wouldn't disrupt anything when he left. Vega didn't even know he was there, so he definitely wasn't gonna interrupt anything. Nah, he's just being a dick, of course.

When I saw the Musicology tour, Queen Latifah arrived about 40 minutes after the show started, seemed to asbo-fucking-lutely LOVE the show, and then left about 20-30 minutes before it was over. Obviously she had other things that needed her attention, but at least she got to see some of the concert...nah, she was just being dickish.

Besides, it's not as if Prince knew when the song would be performed. Was it performed near the end? If so, would Prince hanging around another 20 minutes really have kept him from being dickish?

SuperSoulFighter said:

Prince once said that he doesn't like to go to concerts because when he does, everybody will be looking at him and not at the band onstage. Seen from that perspective, it's not so "dickish" after all.

Remember what Kevin Smith told about his time at paisley park? You can find the clip on youtube. Prince was such a dick that he couldn't be arsed to look Kevin in the eyes and say "thank you" after he finished his work. Prince was just gone, no farewell, nothing.

Maybe prince is extremely shy and avoids personal contact because of that. Or he's just a dick.

[Edited 2/24/14 11:28am]

The really amazing thing here is that BVH even bothered to post this shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go away and enjoy your life and stop trying to spoil everyone else's fun - get out of that manger dog!

Isn't that pretty much Prince's standard behavior at concerts? I get the impression he routinely comes in and out without staying for the whole show. At least I think I've seen him talking about doing so. At least in part to avoid being (as Bart put it) "a dick."

Right about that time I was listening obsessively to Vega's first two albums--I've just replaced my old albums and filled in with more recent (as well as picking up the new one that just came out last week) so I plan to immerse myself in her work in the next few weeks again. So If P waits awhile, I guess I'll be okay.

Byron said:

And the "demanding special treatment" part: what was the special treatment he demanded?

Free admission, getting special treatment, backstage acces,... Oh yeah, and making sure everybody is in their seats so he can pass through without getting involved with the plebs.

Sitting on the staircase offstage?

Try READING next time.

Can't be a demand since Vega didn't even know he was gonna do that.

Yeah, cause everyone is just allowed to roam in the backstage and go sit next to the stage (actually: on stage stage, to the side).

Dude, this is Prince's MO. Demands that clubs give him special treatment, and then behaves like a douche. There's so many of these stories. And no, that is NOT typical star behavior. That's the behavior of stuck-up assholes who think they're the center of the universe. That's how Bieber behaves, while plenty of other stars do not walk around with a bunch of bodyguards.

Is it "dickish" to not meet with the performer you're seeing in concert?

After demanding special treatment? Yeah. How about a visit backstage afterwards, and actually talking to her, like a fellow human being? Nope, he had to be mr superstar.

ludwig said:

Maybe prince is extremely shy and avoids personal contact because of that. Or he's just a dick.

.

Smith had stopped being of use to Prince at that time, so he got the cold shoulder. This is the behavior we see over and over again with Prince: "I got what I wanted, fuck you."

Same here: he'd heard the one song he wanted to hear, and poof he's gone. Any polite person would have stayed the entire concert and offer compliments afterwards.

SuperSoulFighter said:

Prince once said that he doesn't like to go to concerts because when he does, everybody will be looking at him and not at the band onstage. Seen from that perspective, it's not so "dickish" after all.

He could try not turning up with an army of bodyguards, of course.

.

He sat at the side of the stage, and seemingly nobody saw him since this is the first time I've heard about this visit.

BartVanHemelen said:

Byron said:

And the "demanding special treatment" part: what was the special treatment he demanded?

Free admission, getting special treatment, backstage acces,... Oh yeah, and making sure everybody is in their seats so he can pass through without getting involved with the plebs.

Yeah, cause everyone is just allowed to roam in the backstage and go sit next to the stage (actually: on stage stage, to the side).

Dude, this is Prince's MO. Demands that clubs give him special treatment, and then behaves like a douche. There's so many of these stories. And no, that is NOT typical star behavior. That's the behavior of stuck-up assholes who think they're the center of the universe. That's how Bieber behaves, while plenty of other stars do not walk around with a bunch of bodyguards.

Is it "dickish" to not meet with the performer you're seeing in concert?

After demanding special treatment? Yeah. How about a visit backstage afterwards, and actually talking to her, like a fellow human being? Nope, he had to be mr superstar.

I'm glad you responded this way, Bart lol...no better way to illustrate your asinine hatred of Prince than using your own words. ...I'm sorry, he's now graduated from "kinda being dickish" to "behaves like a douche". All in the matter of about 5 posts lol...your next response will have him being an "outright asshole" to people, I'm sure.

You actually reached back damn near 30 years to post a story where you think Prince is "kinda" being dickish...I do love that you keep using the word "demanded" and "demanding", though. Prince didn't "request" or "ask"...he "demanded." ...Since you were transcribing something for us, tell me...did Vega use the word "demanded"? Or did you? Because I'd prefer her words to describe the experience from her point of view, not yours, especially since you weren't there lol. Then again, since she didn't even know he was there I doubt she knew whether or not he "demanded" anything...

Here's the reality: Prince doesn't have to "demand" something as benign as being allowed to watch the show from the side stage. All he has to do is ask, and there isn't a venue in the world that would say "no", unless the president is appearing on stage or something lol. But if it makes you feel better while you remain in "Bart" mode, you go right ahead imagining Prince sticking his finger into some poor assistant manager's face and demanding(!!) to be let backstage so he could watch 15 minutes of Vega's show. Heck, throw in his bodyguards roughing up the personnel there while you're at it (there are so many stories like that floating around, afterall...right?)

Also, did she say she was insulted? Bothered? Annoyed?...I mean, I didn't hear any irritation, frustration or annoyance in her words or her voice when I listened, just some mild amusement...so since you're transcribing for us and all that there maybe you can fill us in on where your outraged viewpoint of Prince's actions originate from.

And bodyguards? Um, maybe he needed them? For all we know Prince was getting regular threats from delusional fans that read:

"Prince! Next time I see you on the street you're a dead man!! Motherfucker!! Treat your fans like shit, will you? You'll be sorry you were ever born!

Yours truly,

Bart"

There's nothing in your OP or follow-up post that's convincing anyone, anywhere about anything negative concerning Prince. But you're doing one heck of convincing some about you. So you've got that going for ya.

EddieC said:

Isn't that pretty much Prince's standard behavior at concerts? I get the impression he routinely comes in and out without staying for the whole show. At least I think I've seen him talking about doing so. At least in part to avoid being (as Bart put it) "a dick."

Right about that time I was listening obsessively to Vega's first two albums--I've just replaced my old albums and filled in with more recent (as well as picking up the new one that just came out last week) so I plan to immerse myself in her work in the next few weeks again. So If P waits awhile, I guess I'll be okay.

A lot of celebrities do ...Hell, there are regular everyday people who do that lol. Some just want to beat the rush at the end of the concert (yes, that matters to them). I'm curious as to whether or not Prince would have stayed loger if Luka had been played later in the show...

As with my story about Queen Latifah, it's not uncommon for celebrities to not want to be bothered while waiting for the show to start, and don't want to be hassled while exiting with the rest of the folks at the concert's end. There is no Miss Manners book of concert etiquette that stars are supposed to follow lest some fans with irritable bowel syndrome get twisted up over their behavior lol...

I rarely comment on this side of the forums but some of you need to seriously get over yourselves.

Sometimes I go to shows or events and leave before it's over, even when guestlisted (oh the humanity!). I'm not famous or whatever, but some nights I got 2-3 things to attend. Sometimes I even show up after the show has ended. I know other people who do this too. It's no big deal. We're busy and we got things to do in a short amount of time. My friends are just happy I showed up for a bit and had a good time. Even when I threw my own events, I'd have some guest show up chill for 20 mins then leave. I still love em. If doing that is dickish, then I'd rather be a dick than stay home jerking off.

Seems Suzanne is happy Prince showed up and had fun for whatever time he was there. She's showing him some love and all some of you guys can do is make fuss over nothing. So he showed up back stage and left after one song, what you gonna do? Throw him in jail? Maybe if you stop for obsessing over every little thing Prince says or does, you'll get a life too.

ok, so who listened to "luka" just now?

BartVanHemelen said:

Jesus, people, lay off Bart. Whether or not you like his feelings re: Prince, he's one of the last intelligent people on here who actually provide information and not just random silliness.

And I maintain my opinion that it was a dick move. I understand that opinion is not shared by some others on here. Oh well, y'know? To say that Prince is *not* known for being kind of a prick in his personal life is either being blind to the evidence or a very new fan, IMO.

I'm gonna go spin "99.9 Fahrenheit Degrees" and chill.

theblueangel said:

Jesus, people, lay off Bart. Whether or not you like his feelings re: Prince, he's one of the last intelligent people on here who actually provide information and not just random silliness.

And I maintain my opinion that it was a dick move. I understand that opinion is not shared by some others on here. Oh well, y'know? To say that Prince is *not* known for being kind of a prick in his personal life is either being blind to the evidence or a very new fan, IMO.

I'm gonna go spin "99.9 Fahrenheit Degrees" and chill.

At least you're acknowledging that Bart does offer random silliness lol ...and I actually (and literally) feel sorry for you if you think Bart is one of the last intelligent people here on the Org. I can name 10 orgers off the top of my head that would make Bart's posts seem like they were written by a comatose donkey...

And who exactly was Prince being a prick to?...Vega? She didn't even know he was there. If it wasn't for her bass player noticing Prince off to the side, for all she knew Prince didn't even show up. Plus she was told that he was dancing to her performance, so obviously he enjoyed it.

People/employees at the venue? Nobody has heard from them or anything about how he treated them, so that can't be it.

So again, who the hell was Prince being a prick to?

And nobody here said Prince has never been a prick to anyone...but what the hell does that have to do with this story? ...He's also known for being very appreciative of and gracious to fellow musicians he respects (and apparentloy Vega qualifies) as well as being very generous.

And truth be told, this isn't even a story...it's a small humorous anecdote that lets us know Prince apparently really, really liked the song Luka. That's it. It's not a peek into his "dickish" behavior or evidence of its existence.

I agree that Prince didn't really do anything wrong here. In a relatively small venue, his presence in the crowd would have really upset the balance, possibly completely throwing off the whole vibe. And, like I said, this is apparently what he routinely did at Minneapolis shows--he wants to enjoy some live music without becoming the story, distracting from the performer. How's he going to do that if he's there in a small crowd (a couple of thousand tops if Princevault's description of the venue is correct). You're gonna claim that Prince isn't going to attract a little attention in such a small place? Even in Minneapolis?

It didn't put Vega out at all--and probably didn't really put the venue out much, either. Prince may or may not have gotten in free (hardly a unique situation if he did), but he didn't take up any room on the floor--and seriously, how much do you think the tickets were? I didn't see Vega until the 99.9 era, but it was only about $20 then, in about the same size club.

My goodness, now that I think about it, he's just evil. He should have been tarred and feathered and ridden out on a rail.

Lol! "My name is Luka."

Too bad she wasn't hot because you know he would have tried to write songs for her.

I don't think he is a dick. I just think he was trying to avoid being noticed.

UncleGrandpa said:

When did Luka become a dance song? If that's the case, he must think Metallica's ONE is a bedroom ballad.

I was wondering that too. Not sure how dancing to Luka is even possible.

theblueangel said:

did u ever think maybe he dooesnt want to upstage the performer???

theblueangel said:

Jesus, people, lay off Bart. Whether or not you like his feelings re: Prince, he's one of the last intelligent people on here who actually provide information and not just random silliness.

And I maintain my opinion that it was a dick move. I understand that opinion is not shared by some others on here. Oh well, y'know? To say that Prince is *not* known for being kind of a prick in his personal life is either being blind to the evidence or a very new fan, IMO.

I'm gonna go spin "99.9 Fahrenheit Degrees" and chill.

It's difficult to defend Bart Van Halen here. If you're expectations are ridiculous, then Vega has a small reason to be pissed off. I find Vega to be just honest, and bringing it up as something nice from her past. Prince is well respected by other musicians, and even some see him as an absolute master like some of us on here. If he were to show at a function of mine for 2 seconds, I'd be overjoyed. If he simply stopped at writing me a letter about how he enjoyed a work of mine, I'd be happy to the extreme. Anything after that letter was a bonus. Sure it would've been nice if he hung out, but he didn't. And yeah, if Vega was hot, he probably would've tried to work with her. That's shallow of Prince, but he didn't even have to write the letter, or show up, so he did enough to please Vega IMHO.

SuperSoulFighter said:

BartVanHemelen said:

He could try not turning up with an army of bodyguards, of course.

.

He sat at the side of the stage, and seemingly nobody saw him since this is the first time I've heard about this visit.

Bart, I'm serious. I really do think you have a problem and need to see a psy...spy..spychi... You know, the kind of guy to make your head alright!

Oh he is certifiable. Anyone who can't see that is more than likely a lil nuts themselves.

theblueangel said:

Jesus, people, lay off Bart. Whether or not you like his feelings re: Prince, he's one of the last intelligent people on here who actually provide information and not just random silliness.

And I maintain my opinion that it was a dick move. I understand that opinion is not shared by some others on here. Oh well, y'know? To say that Prince is *not* known for being kind of a prick in his personal life is either being blind to the evidence or a very new fan, IMO.

I'm gonna go spin "99.9 Fahrenheit Degrees" and chill.

No, Bart is one of the last people on the Org with a personal vendetta to carry out against Prince. That takes absolutely no intelligence at all; in fact, it denotes a lack of intelligence. Bart provides absolutely no information whatsoever unless it serves him in denigrating Prince, and even then he always gets it wrong in the end.

Ask yourself this: Who in the whole wide world of sports gives a rat's ass about criticizing what Prince did for 20 minutes 26 1/2 years ago?