Came across this article about how Starfish & Coffee was crafted. Very cute. Also has the video from Prince's appearance on the Muppets.

http://www.soulhead.com/2...ee-repost/

Wow! I had no idea! I always thought the song was just something he made up. Great story thanks for sharing.

WonderU said:

Wow! I had no idea! I always thought the song was just something he made up. Great story thanks for sharing.

You're welcome

Today he would ignore the story because any song he wrote would not make radio, which is his only concern today. He is now a sad man.

NorthC said:

Another great thing is how Prince made little changes in the story. Starfish & PeePee would make for a pretty stupid song title, but replacing it with coffee makes it poetry. Also, the favourite number twelve became twenty because it fits better within the melody of the song. That's what all good writers do: they see, hear, observe and than turn what they saw, heared and observed into something of their own. [Edited 12/21/15 13:26pm]

If you read the full article, Cynthia herself later said twenty was her favourite number.

2freaky4church1 said:

Today he would ignore the story because any song he wrote would not make radio, which is his only concern today. He is now a sad man.

LOL... Spot the logic error.

If Prince was only concerned about being played on radio, wouldn't he be out there promoting his music relentlessly?

Then you'd have to say it's because he's lazy. Sad, lazy and "only concerned about being played on radio".

TheEnglishGent said:

NorthC said:

Another great thing is how Prince made little changes in the story. Starfish & PeePee would make for a pretty stupid song title, but replacing it with coffee makes it poetry. Also, the favourite number twelve became twenty because it fits better within the melody of the song. That's what all good writers do: they see, hear, observe and than turn what they saw, heared and observed into something of their own. [Edited 12/21/15 13:26pm]

If you read the full article, Cynthia herself later said twenty was her favourite number.

I was going to say the same thing

This is a well known story. But what on earth does Susannah mean by "the day I wrote Starfish and Coffee with Prince"? It is clear from the story that Susannah was locked out of the studio when Prince wrote and recorded the song.

paulludvig said:

TheEnglishGent said:

cool story, I'd never seen or heard this before, thanks for sharing!

nosajd said:

cool story, I'd never seen or heard this before, thanks for sharing!

You're welcome

Fascinating, I had no clue.

That it was almost titled Starfish And Peepee is pretty hilarious

iZsaZsa said:

paulludvig said:

This is a well known story. But what on earth does Susannah mean by "the day I wrote Starfish and Coffee with Prince"? It is clear from the story that Susannah was locked out of the studio when Prince wrote and recorded the song.

I don't see it her way either from how the story was told. But perhaps he lifted lines from whatever she wrote down on paper when he asked that day and recorded them?

the whole story about Cynthia Rose, the whole song was a real life school reality told by Susannah (Wendy & Susannah's life) they both new Cynthia Rose, the the teacher Mrs Kathleen, the Starfish & (something else Prince changed it to coffee) etc

It was always noted in the SOTT notes that it was co-written by Susannah Melvoin

OldFriends4Sale said:

paulludvig said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

the whole story about Cynthia Rose, the whole song was a real life school reality told by Susannah (Wendy & Susannah's life) they both new Cynthia Rose, the the teacher Mrs Kathleen, the Starfish & (something else Prince changed it to coffee) etc

It was always noted in the SOTT notes that it was co-written by Susannah Melvoin

He must have been generous with the credits. How nice of him.

and she was generous with a story that he crafted a song around that he still sings to this day

"...ALL OF US WERE ORDINARY..."

nayroo2002 said:

"...ALL OF US WERE ORDINARY..."

If U set Your Mind Free Baby, Maybe U'll Understand...

I don't think my mind was free enough, I sorta thought she was 'special' but I didn't know for sure

OldFriends4Sale said:

iZsaZsa said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

and she was generous with a story that he crafted a song around that he still sings to this day

He sure did. Turning "pee pee" into "coffee, maple syrup and jam, butterscotch clouds, a tangerine, and a side order of ham". I think even Cynthia Rose would be impressed.

I wonder if she is still alive

OldFriends4Sale said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

paulludvig said:

OldFriends4Sale said: He must have been generous with the credits. How nice of him.

and she was generous with a story that he crafted a song around that he still sings to this day

Another wonderful song that shows his catalog is worth every penny.

[Edited 12/29/15 13:20pm]

iZsaZsa said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I wonder if she is still alive

I don't know, but I think she and/or her family are not Prince fans. Who wouldn't recognize themselves or a loved one in that song and not tell everybody. And fans would have kept in touch with her whereabouts.

I have no idea if the Melvoins are still Prince fans, but she does tell this great story and I still remember Wendy's expression during Reflection on Tavis' show.

Aerogram said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

and she was generous with a story that he crafted a song around that he still sings to this day

Another wonderful song that shows his catalog is worth every penny.

[Edited 12/29/15 13:20pm]

yes a timeless song

iZsaZsa said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I wonder if she is still alive

I don't know, but I think she and/or her family are not Prince fans. Who wouldn't recognize themselves or a loved one in that song and not tell everybody. And fans would have kept in touch with her whereabouts.

Someone might want some money off of that one lol

Well depending on her health (how many family members) her state of being etc

it's is highly possible not to know of it

Aerogram said:

iZsaZsa said:

OldFriends4Sale said: I don't know, but I think she and/or her family are not Prince fans. Who wouldn't recognize themselves or a loved one in that song and not tell everybody. And fans would have kept in touch with her whereabouts.

I have no idea if the Melvoins are still Prince fans, but she does tell this great story and I still remember Wendy's expression during Reflection on Tavis' show.

iZsaZsa was refereing to Cynthia Rose

the Melvoins still Adore Prince, 'Our Fearless Leader'

and I know that expression you are talking about: Wendy said during a recap of that performance 'I still see him as beautiful as I did before'

Aerogram said: