RiotPaisley said:

RiotPaisley said:

What's this no one could look him in the eye business? Is That true? I'm remember reading that somewhere but thought I was a total myth. Whats that all about? He was intimidating because he's so cool.

.

No it wasn't a myth. The extras on Purple Rain were told they couldn't stare at Prince. How would you feel if you were trying to work and people were staring at you all the time. So there was no blanket rule that no one on the earth could look him in the eye but that was the rule at times in certain situations.

HeavenMustBNear said:

RiotPaisley said:

phoenixrising said:

Beyoncé was afraid to sing with him. People respected not looking him in the eye... He was looked up to by all musicians... But why was Prince so intimidating? Was it because he his life was so mysterious to us? Was it because he had so many God given talents? Why were people so reverential to him? Wasnit his humility?

Prince is one of those people who have a powerful aura. He knew it and was able to cultivate a persona that capitalized on his natural charisma.

His mind was quicker and more agile than most people too. When people actually enjoy using their mind it's not hard to out-think the average person because the average person is mentally lazy.

You ain't lying about "a Powerful Aura"! The 2 times I got fairly close to him at one concert and a after party it was powerful alright! Like some strong good exceptional extraordinary Funk!

Astasheiks said:

You ain't lying about "a Powerful Aura"! The 2 times I got fairly close to him at one concert and a after party it was powerful alright! Like some strong good exceptional extraordinary Funk!

When I met him he felt ten feet tall even though he's very small.

callimnate said:

P was a wanker/tosser/douch.

If he didn't like what he saw, he would just walk away.

So if you didn't want him to leave or get upset, you would do whatever it took to keep him happy.

It's cause if this attitude that made him what he was (in the 80's and 90s at least).

And in no way am I knocking him. It's cause of this attitude that made him the bad ass that we all grew to love.

Oh come on! Y'all know damn well it was because of his Bela Lugosi look!

FunkiestOne said:

RiotPaisley said:

What's this no one could look him in the eye business? Is That true? I'm remember reading that somewhere but thought I was a total myth. Whats that all about? He was intimidating because he's so cool.

.

No it wasn't a myth. The extras on Purple Rain were told they couldn't stare at Prince. How would you feel if you were trying to work and people were staring at you all the time. So there was no blanket rule that no one on the earth could look him in the eye but that was the rule at times in certain situations.

Exacytly, Prince was known to lie.

FunkiestOne said:

RiotPaisley said:

What's this no one could look him in the eye business? Is That true? I'm remember reading that somewhere but thought I was a total myth. Whats that all about? He was intimidating because he's so cool.

.

No it wasn't a myth. The extras on Purple Rain were told they couldn't stare at Prince. How would you feel if you were trying to work and people were staring at you all the time. So there was no blanket rule that no one on the earth could look him in the eye but that was the rule at times in certain situations.

Yes, but like you said, that's different than telling people they can't "stare you in the eye." He never said that. Now just straight up staring at someone is different. I can't stand it when people do that! That would get on anyone's nerves. But the "no looking me in the eye rule" was not true. So many people have discredited this notion. And I actually think he probably got a kick out of it lol. I have a family friend that you used to work for him a few years back. He said he was very kind but always about business. Nothing more. No " I couldn't look him in the eye. I had to stare at my shoes the whole time" kind of nonsense lol

HeavenMustBNear said:

I think he was shy and had a lot of trust issues, so built a wall around himself emotionally to protect himself. Of course emotional walls protect by keeping people at arms length - so a lot of people find that personality type to be cold, standoff-ish or aloof.

I didn't think he was intimidating, he was just dazzling gorgeous and that's what totally stopped you in your tracks! If anything, I feel that he was a little shy himself. The thing about not looking into his eyes couldn't be further from the truth though, or maybe that's how he used to be in the past, as there was a lot of looking into his/my eyes going in on during the aftershows. I feel all funny inside just thinking about it.

And as nursev already commented, I did sense that he liked to be in control.

fearlessness and intellect

endiadj said:

callimnate said:

P was a wanker/tosser/douch. If he didn't like what he saw, he would just walk away. So if you didn't want him to leave or get upset, you would do whatever it took to keep him happy. It's cause if this attitude that made him what he was (in the 80's and 90s at least). And in no way am I knocking him. It's cause of this attitude that made him the bad ass that we all grew to love.

cause wanker/tosser/douche aren't knocking him. mmmkay

Pfft.

Before he passed away, P was getting called names MUCH worse than these.

Search threads prior to 21/04 with "deleted videos", "re-releases", "cancelled shows" etc.

callimnate said:

P was a wanker/tosser/douch. If he didn't like what he saw, he would just walk away. So if you didn't want him to leave or get upset, you would do whatever it took to keep him happy. It's cause if this attitude that made him what he was (in the 80's and 90s at least). And in no way am I knocking him. It's cause of this attitude that made him the bad ass that we all grew to love.

I'm not knocking you or anything, callimnate, but you're a wanker.

nursev said:

Prince was a n u don't mess with them that lil man controlled some shit n we loved it

.

NouveauDance said:

I think he was shy and had a lot of trust issues, so built a wall around himself emotionally to protect himself. Of course emotional walls protect by keeping people at arms length - so a lot of people find that personality type to be cold, standoff-ish or aloof.

^ This

And then you combine his shyness and protectiveness with his staggering level of talent and confidenence as an artist. Those are tough extremes for any person to navigate--public/private--shy/outrageous. That's that Gemeni stuff, right? Brilliance, Duality.

So it's like he was pulled in two different directions energetically. (Remeber the half batman/half joker outfit?) That's a tough feeling to have in your body--and also--can come off as said above, cold, standoff-ish, aloof.

And then you throw in success and money at a young age. He didn't come from a stable/safe early family life. That'll create trust and distance issues right there. And then that BIG FAME and BIG SUCCESS come. And we know from Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Elvis, John Lennon (etc.) that that kind of BIG FAME is not healthy for anyone.

It's sad that loneliness often comes hand in hand with genius. You can see why he cherished his 'normal, mundane' interactions with the folks around him. It's real sad. Real sad and beautiful, just like life.

I don't think he was intimidating. I think people were intimidated by him, either because they were starstruck or because they didn't feel able to live up to the high standards he set.

From what I understand, he was a friendly, approachable person as long as you had a valid reason to interact with him. Of course, there were exceptions, but that's true of anyone.

emesem said:

He was just one of those people you craved approval from and when you didn't get it it was devastating. Also was rude as hell. "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF FIRST!".

That was my favorite part of that interview. I think he was right - the interviewer had no manners and smirked through the whole thing - trying to outcool Prince - stupid amatuer move.

I think it was just the 'GENIUS' vibe that he gave off. Seriously. The guy was 5'2" and even on stage he filled an arena with his magnitude for the moment he walked onstage.

That "don't look at him" thing was NOT a myth. At least not back in the old days. My father dislikes Prince to this day for that very reason. He used to be a concert promoter and he did not follow the instructions back stage to not look at P. Chaos ensued. It ended with a room full of grown adults being made to face the walls. I tried to tell him that he changed since then, but......