Gadotou said:

MMJas said:

Thank you for this. I was one of the first persons to bring up the fact that I believed Prince was shy and nearly got my head bit off in the process.
I based my opinion on his body language, small things he would do at interviews that were such a reflection of shyness that they seemed childlike even. Of course, once he was on stage none of that was an issue, he become Prince the performer. But in real life things are much different; the same applies to many actors, for instance. In Prince you can see it in some awards shows even. If he's surrounded by other people he's fine, but if he's all alone and needing to speak publically his body gives out this unconfortable vibe. All you got to do is pay attention to his body language.
Perhaps I'm more sensitive to it and rcognize some signs because I myself suffer from crippling shyness, I dread the tought of speaking up in public, always have. I compensate this by craking jokes all the time, for instance.

Anyway, this has always been my opinion and I'm sticking with it. There were clearly two seperate people: the artist and the man. The artist allowed the man the freedom to be himself.

[Edited 9/27/16 7:02am]

Yes, his body language gives it away I recall a moment when he was being interviewed on the Arsenio Hall show - he appeared very calm on the surface, but if you look closely his hand was fidgeting and rubbing the arm rest. There were other signs on other occasions.

A childlike shyness, that's a great way to put it I found that vulnerability, along with his being softspoken, very endearing.

Have you seen the bit in the SNL tribute show where he's standing with the crowd of the cast? It can't have been taken long after he'd finished the performance, which he killed as usual...and he's just standing there at the front looking anxious and fidgety as all hell...a few people come up to him and he does a few hugs and then just flat out runs off the set as soon as he gets the chance. I feel him so hard there.

jayseajay said:

Gadotou said:

Yes, his body language gives it away I recall a moment when he was being interviewed on the Arsenio Hall show - he appeared very calm on the surface, but if you look closely his hand was fidgeting and rubbing the arm rest. There were other signs on other occasions.

A childlike shyness, that's a great way to put it I found that vulnerability, along with his being softspoken, very endearing.

Have you seen the bit in the SNL tribute show where he's standing with the crowd of the cast? It can't have been taken long after he'd finished the performance, which he killed as usual...and he's just standing there at the front looking anxious and fidgety as all hell...a few people come up to him and he does a few hugs and then just flat out runs off the set as soon as he gets the chance. I feel him so hard there.

Great example! He was in a different zone during the performance but as soon as it's over he's suddenly awkward and wants to flee.

strawberrylova123 said:

MMJas said:

Thank you for this. I was one of the first persons to bring up the fact that I believed Prince was shy and nearly got my head bit off in the process.
I based my opinion on his body language, small things he would do at interviews that were such a reflection of shyness that they seemed childlike even. Of course, once he was on stage none of that was an issue, he become Prince the performer. But in real life things are much different; the same applies to many actors, for instance. In Prince you can see it in some awards shows even. If he's surrounded by other people he's fine, but if he's all alone and needing to speak publically his body gives out this unconfortable vibe. All you got to do is pay attention to his body language.
Perhaps I'm more sensitive to it and rcognize some signs because I myself suffer from crippling shyness, I dread the tought of speaking up in public, always have. I compensate this by craking jokes all the time, for instance.

Anyway, this has always been my opinion and I'm sticking with it. There were clearly two seperate people: the artist and the man. The artist allowed the man the freedom to be himself.

[Edited 9/27/16 7:02am]

It would seem that Prince, like some other performing artists, struggled from a life long social anxiety disorder which goes way past the usual "shyness" that most people have. It's amazing that some performers can get past this when on stage and turn that energy into an amazing transcendental performance--bonding the artist and the audience. But then off-stage, when in unfamiliar groups of people or an environment not under his or her control, the performer reverts back into the "shy" person he or she is when not adopting a public personna. As someone who has dealt with the kind of "shyness" that you describe for yourself, I can well believe that Prince struggled with it, too. He probably learned more strategies to cope with public speaking as he grew older, but the "shyness" never completely went away. Everyone has a different way of dealing with this problem, but it is more than mere "shyness."

anangellooksdown said:

It's incredible how some people like them become someone else when they get in stage, the same happens with Michael and Dylan, but it's quite clear Prince was a very shy and insecure guy off- stage.

laurarichardson said:

Sometimes it was hard to see if he was shy, modest or coy - I think a little of each maybe. One thing I do know is that he was an amazing person all wrapped up in that pretty package

Proof or didn't happen.

Pretty sure that very same story was a bit more explicit when it was featured in Richard's book.

http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/04/22/13/58/how-prince-opened-up-to-richard-wilkins-when-the-cameras-stopped-rolling

laurarichardson said:

endiadj said:

Is there really a debate as to whether Prince was shy or not? I knew he was shy when I saw him on American Bandstand, the interview, the beginning of his career. His interviews, he always seemed shy/nervous, especially early on. His awards acceptance speeches, he was shy.

/-- There was never any debate about him being shy just debate on the idea that drugs would help him cope with it and still actually perform well.

You are wrong, Laura, sorry. There was a debate back in April when I did mention I believed he was shy. That argument stemmed from the discussion of the various reasons that made Prince take drugs, even before his pain was so strongly discussed on here. I said he was shy and I gave examples from various interviews I watched. I don't know how to go back and look for those, but I'll try.

[Edited 9/28/16 5:37am]

Gadotou said:

MMJas said:

Thank you for this. I was one of the first persons to bring up the fact that I believed Prince was shy and nearly got my head bit off in the process.
I based my opinion on his body language, small things he would do at interviews that were such a reflection of shyness that they seemed childlike even. Of course, once he was on stage none of that was an issue, he become Prince the performer. But in real life things are much different; the same applies to many actors, for instance. In Prince you can see it in some awards shows even. If he's surrounded by other people he's fine, but if he's all alone and needing to speak publically his body gives out this unconfortable vibe. All you got to do is pay attention to his body language.
Perhaps I'm more sensitive to it and rcognize some signs because I myself suffer from crippling shyness, I dread the tought of speaking up in public, always have. I compensate this by craking jokes all the time, for instance.

Anyway, this has always been my opinion and I'm sticking with it. There were clearly two seperate people: the artist and the man. The artist allowed the man the freedom to be himself.

[Edited 9/27/16 7:02am]

Yes, his body language gives it away I recall a moment when he was being interviewed on the Arsenio Hall show - he appeared very calm on the surface, but if you look closely his hand was fidgeting and rubbing the arm rest. There were other signs on other occasions.

A childlike shyness, that's a great way to put it I found that vulnerability, along with his being softspoken, very endearing.

That's what I've always noticed, a childlike shynes. In that Arsenio interview, when Arsenio asks him if he cooks, he does this little coy gesture just before adding: but only omelete, or something to that extent. That is the funny thing to compensate, to divert the atttention from the shyness.

Also, watch the awards where Bedck says he's wowed cause he's standing next to Prince, or something like that. Prince is all by himself on stage, no friends, no sunglasses on. You can see his awkwardness only for a split second, like all of a sudden he's worried that Beck might diss him or put him on the spot.

I cannot find the gif, but was is at this awards show. The audience will not shut up, and there is a moment where he looks offstage (I'm sure at a producer), and gets the most deeply uncomfortable, nervous, panicked, and straight up scared look on his face before gulping, and whispering "Shhhhh" to the audience. Which, of course makes them go even more wild.

With no mic stand or guitar to hide behind and in a crowd of strangers, he became that shy, quiet kid that everyone from his childhood talks about.

I wish I could find that gif!

MrNelson7 said:

MMJas said:

laurarichardson said:

endiadj said: /-- There was never any debate about him being shy just debate on the idea that drugs would help him cope with it and still actually perform well.

You are wrong, Laura, sorry. There was a debate back in April when I did mention I believed he was shy. That argument stemmed from the discussion of the various reasons that made Prince take drugs, even before his pain was so strongly discussed on here. I said he was shy and I gave examples from various interviews I watched. I don't know how to go back and look for those, but I'll try.

[Edited 9/28/16 5:37am]

The only person pushing this shyness angle and drug use to help is you.

laurarichardson said:

MMJas said:

You are wrong, Laura, sorry. There was a debate back in April when I did mention I believed he was shy. That argument stemmed from the discussion of the various reasons that made Prince take drugs, even before his pain was so strongly discussed on here. I said he was shy and I gave examples from various interviews I watched. I don't know how to go back and look for those, but I'll try.

[Edited 9/28/16 5:37am]

The only person pushing this shyness angle and drug use to help is you.

Oh, for f sake! Where did you read that? I'm merely commenting I always believed he was increadibly shy away from the stage and the artist, where did i say anything about drugs? I said my commenting about his shyness stemmed from a discussing about the many reasons that might have made him take drugs.
I think that discussion came about after the drug dealer saying Prince took stuff because he was shy and I picked up on that abnd continued to further explain why I thought he was shy in the first place! People then proceeded to tell me i was nuts because there was no way Prince was shy. This was the gist of it.

You are always picking on anything slighty not to your liking on this site. Let's imagine for a minute that I was pushing that angle. Not only would i be entitled to give my opinion but also truth is we know nothing, so there's no way we can say it was this or it wasn't that for certain. TYou need to start lightening up, laura.

[Edited 9/28/16 5:53am]

endiadj said:

I feel like his performance and dress style and his dating wouldn't necessarily mean he wasn't shy-- perhaps a better description is "socially uncomfortable in certain settings."

-

People who perform for a living sometimes adapt a different persona as a performer from how they are in their "private" life, I think.

rainbowchild said:

endiadj said:

This is a guy performing in his underwear and heels early on. It's hard to see him having performance anxiety. Some shy entertainers are able to channel a different persona when performing. When they're not performing, that different character disappears and the shyness re-emerges. Everything is not about drugs. Sadly this ending is tainting his entire career for some it seems.

I doubt he was shy, too. He made a couple of films and there's no hint of his shyness especially if u watch UTCM. If anything, he may have some insecurities, but I doubt he was shy at all. He's dated some of the most beatiful women. And he seemed comfortable in his own skin to dress as he pleases on and off stage.

MrNelson7 said:

I cannot find the gif, but was is at this awards show. The audience will not shut up, and there is a moment where he looks offstage (I'm sure at a producer), and gets the most deeply uncomfortable, nervous, panicked, and straight up scared look on his face before gulping, and whispering "Shhhhh" to the audience. Which, of course makes them go even more wild.

With no mic stand or guitar to hide behind and in a crowd of strangers, he became that shy, quiet kid that everyone from his childhood talks about.

I wish I could find that gif!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riL2mLyYadE

.
Cute as a BUTTON, huh!?

.

[Edited 9/28/16 9:32am]

He eventually learnt how do deal with it, of course. The most recent award shows/acceptances and interviews show exactly that. Nevertheless, I believe you can still recognize the shyness/akwardness in some maneirisms and overal body language. And if this relatively recent interview is for real, which I beleive it is, there's no reason to come out with such a made up story, he himself stated he is shy.

Here I see a very shy man. See how Lisa grabs his hand and he takes a breath. (minute 7:15 onwards)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8ZQTKlO3kY

As for UTCM: he was acting, playing a part. Not only that, he was playing the clown. many socially shy people are known to be extremely funny to compensate.

You can see many other details throughout a lifetime of public speeches, imo.

MMJas said:

laurarichardson said:

The only person pushing this shyness angle and drug use to help is you.

Oh, for f sake! Where did you read that? I'm merely commenting I always believed he was increadibly shy away from the stage and the artist, where did i say anything about drugs? I said my commenting about his shyness stemmed from a discussing about the many reasons that might have made him take drugs.
I think that discussion came about after the drug dealer saying Prince took stuff because he was shy and I picked up on that abnd continued to further explain why I thought he was shy in the first place! People then proceeded to tell me i was nuts because there was no way Prince was shy. This was the gist of it.

You are always picking on anything slighty not to your liking on this site. Let's imagine for a minute that I was pushing that angle. Not only would i be entitled to give my opinion but also truth is we know nothing, so there's no way we can say it was this or it wasn't that for certain. TYou need to start lightening up, laura.

[Edited 9/28/16 5:53am]

Sorry you were a part of the that whole stupid discussion. In addtion, I also know that drugs are not going to do shit about extreme shyness and yes you are entilted to your opinion even if it is like saying the sky is green.

laurarichardson said:

MMJas said:

Oh, for f sake! Where did you read that? I'm merely commenting I always believed he was increadibly shy away from the stage and the artist, where did i say anything about drugs? I said my commenting about his shyness stemmed from a discussing about the many reasons that might have made him take drugs.
I think that discussion came about after the drug dealer saying Prince took stuff because he was shy and I picked up on that abnd continued to further explain why I thought he was shy in the first place! People then proceeded to tell me i was nuts because there was no way Prince was shy. This was the gist of it.

You are always picking on anything slighty not to your liking on this site. Let's imagine for a minute that I was pushing that angle. Not only would i be entitled to give my opinion but also truth is we know nothing, so there's no way we can say it was this or it wasn't that for certain. TYou need to start lightening up, laura.

[Edited 9/28/16 5:53am]

Sorry you were a part of the that whole stupid discussion. In addtion, I also know that drugs are not going to do shit about extreme shyness and yes you are entilted to your opinion even if it is like saying the sky is green.

Well, you are wrong. About many things. There is in fact medicine you can take to help you deal with extreme shyness and the anxiety associated with it. However, than is NOT what i was adressing, so please don't put words in my mouth. I was commenting on his shyness alone and on whether it was a thing or not.

When I watched P over the years, I saw a shy INTROVERT.

Now an introvert can adapt to social situations (performances for hours on end which take them out of themselves), but frankly being around people simply for the sake of small talk (interviews, parties as a GUEST where they have to interact with others in a superficial way instead of as the HOST who has "duties" that will keep them circulating) is emotionally draining. Theye do far better doing their own thing (noodling around in a studio ALONE at all hours of the night).

I heard the best explanation here on the Org about his vast sexual adventures which fits an intrivert's personality: he was attracted to beautiful women and they were attracted to him but intimacy is difficult for introverts, sex is actually easier for them to participate in, plus the hormones that sex produces are a natural "high" and afterwards they are calmner. But that also gives them a false sense of "being in love", which may be real or just hormone induced. The hormones released during sex also make them feel more confident. I wish I remembered which Orger said this in another thread, it was very interesting, especially in the context of P being "shy".

Ultimately, I think P was a shy introvet who really wanted to be more extroverted because being an introvert can be very isolating cuz often people misread their social awkwardsness (and the need to be alone to recharge their energy after a social interaction) as being "weird" or "eccentric" or "reclusive" when they're just trying to survive and navigate through life the best way they can.

Remember Arsenio talking about P hanging out with him and Eddie Murphy and P was sitting rigidly and wasn't interacting and wouldn't touch anything?

But Patti Labelle tild Arsenio, "he talks, he's funny, boyfriend talks!"

pt to mother him and she said she "felt like his mother." And he took her "all over" Minneapolis, "dancing all night and wore him out, He was sweating. He had to shower and change his clotSure, he interacted with Patti cuz she was an older stable unthreatening woman who wasn't trying to use him in any way excehes!" But he was comfortable in his hometown surroundings and in his element.

How many stories have you heard about P in Vegas, LA, etc where he was up in VIP with heavy security and he would look down on the party. Somemisread that as "Oh, he was being a celebrity."

Nah, he wanted badly to be a part of the fun, to connect, but didn't know how to fit in unless he was with trusted people without strangers or if he was performing.

Make sense when you roll things over in your mind through that lense?

LBrent said:

When I watched P over the years, I saw a shy INTROVERT.

Now an introvert can adapt to social situations (performances for hours on end which take them out of themselves), but frankly being around people simply for the sake of small talk (interviews, parties as a GUEST where they have to interact with others in a superficial way instead of as the HOST who has "duties" that will keep them circulating) is emotionally draining. Theye do far better doing their own thing (noodling around in a studio ALONE at all hours of the night).

I heard the best explanation here on the Org about his vast sexual adventures which fits an intrivert's personality: he was attracted to beautiful women and they were attracted to him but intimacy is difficult for introverts, sex is actually easier for them to participate in, plus the hormones that sex produces are a natural "high" and afterwards they are calmner. But that also gives them a false sense of "being in love", which may be real or just hormone induced. The hormones released during sex also make them feel more confident. I wish I remembered which Orger said this in another thread, it was very interesting, especially in the context of P being "shy".

Ultimately, I think P was a shy introvet who really wanted to be more extroverted because being an introvert can be very isolating cuz often people misread their social awkwardsness (and the need to be alone to recharge their energy after a social interaction) as being "weird" or "eccentric" or "reclusive" when they're just trying to survive and navigate through life the best way they can.

Remember Arsenio talking about P hanging out with him and Eddie Murphy and P was sitting rigidly and wasn't interacting and wouldn't touch anything?

But Patti Labelle tild Arsenio, "he talks, he's funny, boyfriend talks!"

pt to mother him and she said she "felt like his mother." And he took her "all over" Minneapolis, "dancing all night and wore him out, He was sweating. He had to shower and change his clotSure, he interacted with Patti cuz she was an older stable unthreatening woman who wasn't trying to use him in any way excehes!" But he was comfortable in his hometown surroundings and in his element.

How many stories have you heard about P in Vegas, LA, etc where he was up in VIP with heavy security and he would look down on the party. Somemisread that as "Oh, he was being a celebrity."

Nah, he wanted badly to be a part of the fun, to connect, but didn't know how to fit in unless he was with trusted people without strangers or if he was performing.

Make sense when you roll things over in your mind through that lense?

Makes sense to me.

LBrent said:

When I watched P over the years, I saw a shy INTROVERT.

Now an introvert can adapt to social situations (performances for hours on end which take them out of themselves), but frankly being around people simply for the sake of small talk (interviews, parties as a GUEST where they have to interact with others in a superficial way instead of as the HOST who has "duties" that will keep them circulating) is emotionally draining. Theye do far better doing their own thing (noodling around in a studio ALONE at all hours of the night).

I heard the best explanation here on the Org about his vast sexual adventures which fits an intrivert's personality: he was attracted to beautiful women and they were attracted to him but intimacy is difficult for introverts, sex is actually easier for them to participate in, plus the hormones that sex produces are a natural "high" and afterwards they are calmner. But that also gives them a false sense of "being in love", which may be real or just hormone induced. The hormones released during sex also make them feel more confident. I wish I remembered which Orger said this in another thread, it was very interesting, especially in the context of P being "shy".

Ultimately, I think P was a shy introvet who really wanted to be more extroverted because being an introvert can be very isolating cuz often people misread their social awkwardsness (and the need to be alone to recharge their energy after a social interaction) as being "weird" or "eccentric" or "reclusive" when they're just trying to survive and navigate through life the best way they can.

Remember Arsenio talking about P hanging out with him and Eddie Murphy and P was sitting rigidly and wasn't interacting and wouldn't touch anything?

But Patti Labelle tild Arsenio, "he talks, he's funny, boyfriend talks!"

pt to mother him and she said she "felt like his mother." And he took her "all over" Minneapolis, "dancing all night and wore him out, He was sweating. He had to shower and change his clotSure, he interacted with Patti cuz she was an older stable unthreatening woman who wasn't trying to use him in any way excehes!" But he was comfortable in his hometown surroundings and in his element.

How many stories have you heard about P in Vegas, LA, etc where he was up in VIP with heavy security and he would look down on the party. Somemisread that as "Oh, he was being a celebrity."

Nah, he wanted badly to be a part of the fun, to connect, but didn't know how to fit in unless he was with trusted people without strangers or if he was performing.

Make sense when you roll things over in your mind through that lense?

Exactly this. And I think this is one of the reasons he performed so much. So much of his performance is about connection, about getting the audience to respond to him the way he wants, getting them to sing, to clap, etc, so that he can feel the connection. Because that wasn't easy for him in many others ways (apart from sex, as you say) and he really needed it... I was listening to the 84 Birthday gig onetime, and his voice when they don't do it, when he doesn't get back what he needs...you can hear the pain in it...

jayseajay said:

LBrent said:

When I watched P over the years, I saw a shy INTROVERT.

Now an introvert can adapt to social situations (performances for hours on end which take them out of themselves), but frankly being around people simply for the sake of small talk (interviews, parties as a GUEST where they have to interact with others in a superficial way instead of as the HOST who has "duties" that will keep them circulating) is emotionally draining. Theye do far better doing their own thing (noodling around in a studio ALONE at all hours of the night).

I heard the best explanation here on the Org about his vast sexual adventures which fits an intrivert's personality: he was attracted to beautiful women and they were attracted to him but intimacy is difficult for introverts, sex is actually easier for them to participate in, plus the hormones that sex produces are a natural "high" and afterwards they are calmner. But that also gives them a false sense of "being in love", which may be real or just hormone induced. The hormones released during sex also make them feel more confident. I wish I remembered which Orger said this in another thread, it was very interesting, especially in the context of P being "shy".

Ultimately, I think P was a shy introvet who really wanted to be more extroverted because being an introvert can be very isolating cuz often people misread their social awkwardsness (and the need to be alone to recharge their energy after a social interaction) as being "weird" or "eccentric" or "reclusive" when they're just trying to survive and navigate through life the best way they can.

Remember Arsenio talking about P hanging out with him and Eddie Murphy and P was sitting rigidly and wasn't interacting and wouldn't touch anything?

But Patti Labelle tild Arsenio, "he talks, he's funny, boyfriend talks!"

pt to mother him and she said she "felt like his mother." And he took her "all over" Minneapolis, "dancing all night and wore him out, He was sweating. He had to shower and change his clotSure, he interacted with Patti cuz she was an older stable unthreatening woman who wasn't trying to use him in any way excehes!" But he was comfortable in his hometown surroundings and in his element.

How many stories have you heard about P in Vegas, LA, etc where he was up in VIP with heavy security and he would look down on the party. Somemisread that as "Oh, he was being a celebrity."

Nah, he wanted badly to be a part of the fun, to connect, but didn't know how to fit in unless he was with trusted people without strangers or if he was performing.

Make sense when you roll things over in your mind through that lense?

Exactly this. And I think this is one of the reasons he performed so much. So much of his performance is about connection, about getting the audience to respond to him the way he wants, getting them to sing, to clap, etc, so that he can feel the connection. Because that wasn't easy for him in many others ways (apart from sex, as you say) and he really needed it... I was listening to the 84 Birthday gig onetime, and his voice when they don't do it, when he doesn't get back what he needs...you can hear the pain in it...

I think you're talking about when he first played When Doves Cry and the crowd wasn't into it.

jayseajay said:

LBrent said:

When I watched P over the years, I saw a shy INTROVERT.

Now an introvert can adapt to social situations (performances for hours on end which take them out of themselves), but frankly being around people simply for the sake of small talk (interviews, parties as a GUEST where they have to interact with others in a superficial way instead of as the HOST who has "duties" that will keep them circulating) is emotionally draining. Theye do far better doing their own thing (noodling around in a studio ALONE at all hours of the night).

I heard the best explanation here on the Org about his vast sexual adventures which fits an intrivert's personality: he was attracted to beautiful women and they were attracted to him but intimacy is difficult for introverts, sex is actually easier for them to participate in, plus the hormones that sex produces are a natural "high" and afterwards they are calmner. But that also gives them a false sense of "being in love", which may be real or just hormone induced. The hormones released during sex also make them feel more confident. I wish I remembered which Orger said this in another thread, it was very interesting, especially in the context of P being "shy".

Ultimately, I think P was a shy introvet who really wanted to be more extroverted because being an introvert can be very isolating cuz often people misread their social awkwardsness (and the need to be alone to recharge their energy after a social interaction) as being "weird" or "eccentric" or "reclusive" when they're just trying to survive and navigate through life the best way they can.

Remember Arsenio talking about P hanging out with him and Eddie Murphy and P was sitting rigidly and wasn't interacting and wouldn't touch anything?

But Patti Labelle tild Arsenio, "he talks, he's funny, boyfriend talks!"

pt to mother him and she said she "felt like his mother." And he took her "all over" Minneapolis, "dancing all night and wore him out, He was sweating. He had to shower and change his clotSure, he interacted with Patti cuz she was an older stable unthreatening woman who wasn't trying to use him in any way excehes!" But he was comfortable in his hometown surroundings and in his element.

How many stories have you heard about P in Vegas, LA, etc where he was up in VIP with heavy security and he would look down on the party. Somemisread that as "Oh, he was being a celebrity."

Nah, he wanted badly to be a part of the fun, to connect, but didn't know how to fit in unless he was with trusted people without strangers or if he was performing.

Make sense when you roll things over in your mind through that lense?

Exactly this. And I think this is one of the reasons he performed so much. So much of his performance is about connection, about getting the audience to respond to him the way he wants, getting them to sing, to clap, etc, so that he can feel the connection. Because that wasn't easy for him in many others ways (apart from sex, as you say) and he really needed it... I was listening to the 84 Birthday gig onetime, and his voice when they don't do it, when he doesn't get back what he needs...you can hear the pain in it...

Exactly, performing was his way to create a connection with people.

FUNKNROLL said:

gandorb said:

FUNKNROLL said:

I'm skeptical. Many on here refute Dr. D's claims that P. was crippled by shyness. But this journo says he has a "Prince confession" tape he'll never share, and people are willling to accept? SMH

I have no doubt that he was shy and vulnerable. He could hide it behind his swagger, transcend it in performance, attack when he felt threatened. I know shy when I see it, and he fits the bill. Thus, I am not at all surprised by what this interviewer said. If he is doing it for attention, he could made something up much more provocative. It's okay if others see it differently.

Funknroll. These two things are in no way inconsistent with each other. Like Gandorb I am pretty damn sure P was shy/socially awkward....it's all over him almost every time you see him have to speak in front of a camera when he was a) not acting or b) talking to people he knew, trusted or liked (and even then you can often see the tension in his hands)...At the same time, I'm also pretty damn sure that he didn't need anything to help him perform...that was his gift, and all he had to do was open himself up and he was right there... And I'm also certain these things can coexist because I have exactly the same thing. I can stand in front of a room full of 200 strangers and lecture for an hour and be completely in my element. But a room full of people I don't know who I have to make small talk with is my idea of hell.