I admit, I'm a big Prince fan. I watch his movies, listen to this music, come on prince.org to discuss him, think about him often... but I am not too particularly excited over watching a Prince interview.

I have known the man through his work, and that's enough for me.

Any thoughts on this?

I don't enjoy his interviews. Most of the time he seems to feel uncomfortable, is nervous, mumbling, and acts instead of being "real" and straightforward. I stick to his music and live performances and ignore his interviews.

Actually no. His interviews are hard to watch.

Let me tell you, I genuinely enjoy reading or watching any interview he does. It was like that for me since I first started this journey in '82 and I have yet to grow out of it. I always thought he was saying something important, so I made a point of understanding his message. Not saying I can understand him all the time--I don't--but I make a concerted effort.

No, I don't think there's a single interview of him, ever, where he's likeable and genuine.

His music speaks to me, his interviews sound bogus and actually make me dislike him.

He is too serious and bvery vague with his answers.

SoftSkarlettLovisa said:

AnonymousFan said:

SoftSkarlettLovisa said:

I admit, I'm a big Prince fan. I watch his movies, listen to this music, come on prince.org to discuss him, think about him often... but I am not too particularly excited over watching a Prince interview.

I have known the man through his work, and that's enough for me.

Any thoughts on this?

I do. I'm 18, so I wasn't around in his prime, so I watch him to try and figure out more about his personality and artistic persona. I think he's really interesting, fun, and humorous to listen too. I always feel this need to figure out what he's trying to say when he's being all cryptic. A lot of people say he comes off as fake or not genuine, and I don't know why. He seems like himself to me. Can someone explain why they think he comes off as fake?

I'm not sure about fake as such, but he often comes off as very contradictory. He often says one thing, then only months, sometimes weeks later, does the total opposite. A classic example of this would be a period a couple of years ago where Prince declared the Internet as dead, and indicated he would never use social media. Next thing you know, before you can say "Let's Go Crazy" the man is on Twitter.

Also in more recent years he seems to have spent far too much time complaining about "not being paid". The whole "artists being shafted by record labels" thing can get a bit tedious and overdone at times.

Thinking back, I did enjoy his interview with Chris rock regarding why he didn't appear in the Bad video.

thedoorkeeper said:

I preferred him when he was mysterious & didn't give interviews. And it's not just Prince - most pop/rock stars give bad interviews. Just let the music speak.

agreed the more he talks im like

I like watching interviews because I'm a big fan of the guy, and I love seeing him interact outside of music.

That being said, some interviews are painful to watch. One in particular being his interview on Tavis Smiley when he was (supposed to be?) promoting LotusFlow3r. He talks about what inspired him to write Dreamer, then goes on this topic of Chemtrails and how he digs Dick Gregory and what he had to "say" (I use quoted because Dick Gregory was basically shouting and ranting on stage about how white people "poison" black-preffered beverages with manganese [malt liquour] and that "makes blacks crazy enough to kill their own mother) in certain political issues. Some of the thoughts and ideas that Prince throws out may make me think he's a "reverse racist" (favoring blacks above all races [I'm of latin descent, so I can say that while being "politically correct", not trying to fight. Just stating an opinion]).

TLDR: I like Prince's interviews but I really don't.

PhukdNtheHead said:

I like watching interviews because I'm a big fan of the guy, and I love seeing him interact outside of music.

That being said, some interviews are painful to watch. One in particular being his interview on Tavis Smiley when he was (supposed to be?) promoting LotusFlow3r. He talks about what inspired him to write Dreamer, then goes on this topic of Chemtrails and how he digs Dick Gregory and what he had to "say" (I use quoted because Dick Gregory was basically shouting and ranting on stage about how white people "poison" black-preffered beverages with manganese [malt liquour] and that "makes blacks crazy enough to kill their own mother) in certain political issues. Some of the thoughts and ideas that Prince throws out may make me think he's a "reverse racist" (favoring blacks above all races [I'm of latin descent, so I can say that while being "politically correct", not trying to fight. Just stating an opinion]).

TLDR: I like Prince's interviews but I really don't.

Prince: The black supremacist who only dates non-black women? That'd be odd. Throughout his career it's seemed to me that he really just didn't like black women specifically.

PhukdNtheHead said:

AnonymousFan said:

It is a guilty pleasure to read and watch these interviews.

Wouldn't say it is an analysis but i do get the impression that he is not some "wears his heart on his sleeve" or "tells it like it is" type of interviewee. Sure we get a peek into his private life and early days when he wants to share it but you can definitely tell music/ownership/industry is what he will always be very vocal about.

I think the most candid interview he ever did was in 1985 for rolling stone magazine

I am honestly saying, I love watching his interviews. I search the internet for interviews. I'm the Prince fan that is " All Things Prince " . I love to watch his interviews because its great to see how he really is. I personally think that what you would call "uncomfortable", I think its too cute because I think that that is how he really is. I love to hear how he talks and if you listen when he uses slang, its too funny because it shows what kind of environment he grew up in.

tongueinthecrease said:

PhukdNtheHead said:

I like watching interviews because I'm a big fan of the guy, and I love seeing him interact outside of music.

That being said, some interviews are painful to watch. One in particular being his interview on Tavis Smiley when he was (supposed to be?) promoting LotusFlow3r. He talks about what inspired him to write Dreamer, then goes on this topic of Chemtrails and how he digs Dick Gregory and what he had to "say" (I use quoted because Dick Gregory was basically shouting and ranting on stage about how white people "poison" black-preffered beverages with manganese [malt liquour] and that "makes blacks crazy enough to kill their own mother) in certain political issues. Some of the thoughts and ideas that Prince throws out may make me think he's a "reverse racist" (favoring blacks above all races [I'm of latin descent, so I can say that while being "politically correct", not trying to fight. Just stating an opinion]).

TLDR: I like Prince's interviews but I really don't.

Reverse racism isn't real and being of Latin descent doesn't allow you to say that* while being politically correct lol wtf. Anyway, Prince is/was just really problematic. AnonymousFan said:

Prince: The black supremacist who only dates non-black women? That'd be odd. Throughout his career it's seemed to me that he really just didn't like black women specifically.

I agree. But he's a Gemini, he's bound to contradict himself, forever. [Edited 1/19/16 11:31am]

How is reverse racism not real? Black, latin, Indian, etc. supremacy and favoritism very much exist

PhukdNtheHead said:

No.

the MTV Oct 27th 1985 Theatre Du Verdure in France interview was my fav live interview

But I like reading some. The best ones are from 1981-1986, and 1997-1998

These are the two periods that he talked about the music/vision/scene

1997-1998 was specially because he also talked a lot about the 1978-1986 years, band members, and even outtakes like Make Yo Momma Happy & Sexual Suicide

ludwig said:

I don't enjoy his interviews. Most of the time he seems to feel uncomfortable, is nervous, mumbling, and acts instead of being "real" and straightforward. I stick to his music and live performances and ignore his interviews.

Me too. The music is really all that matters.

[Edited 1/21/16 9:36am]

Not really, it's the only thing of Prince I am not too keen on. He interviews poorly and it does not help his well publicised neagtive attitude towards interviewers.

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Prince needs to relax more and act more like he can offer the answers rather than make it look like he is holding court, because that is what it feels like.

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He has got better lately, but I can't help thinking of his 1980s ones where he made up lies (His ancestry and things like living off Quaker Oats in 1980/81) and gave back cryptic answers, and of course the 1990s with Mayte relaying answers, Prince refusing to answer questions. The oprah interview was fake as fuck (Compare to MJ's in comparison).

.

But even in front of Arsenio, the brother was still acting frozen and rigid. You all may feel I am being harsh, but it is hard not cringe when you are watching Prince be interviewed on TV, and a non fan family member or friend is there and thinking "Who is this asshole, and what do you like so much about him". And you never get good answers, if Prince is not feeling guarded or sarcastic, he will appear disinterested, as fake as the Oprah interview was, it is the only time he truly was trying to say I am a normal guy and I am sure he had been drinking the kool aid that day.

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If anything it shows the brother has awkward social skills, he comes alive on stage and in front of an audience wanting to see him, but when it's Joe Q Public he clams up.

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If anything, I have learnt more about him through his music.

[Edited 1/23/16 14:14pm]

Adorecream said: