I just finished looking at the merchandise now available at Paisley Park. It's all nice, but I was floored when I saw the "This Could Be Us" T-Shirt, adorned with a Purple Rain-era photo of Prince and Apples!! This, to me, seems really strange. Why not just make it a Purple Rain shirt? Is there some licensing issue with WB that precludes that? Also, this song is from Prince's "Art Official Age" album, when he was rocking his afro, and on which Andy Allo was heavily featured. I have my suspicions about whom that song might be about, but it sure ain't Apples, who had been off the scene for almost three decades. What's up with the revisionist history?

kepurplehunter said:

I Have This Already,Prince n Cat n Sheila n Matte His Show Babies I Would Put Some Dollas Down On It... Lol

Could you please translate this into English? Thanks in advance.

"Prince explained that the next song, “This Could Be Us,” was inspired by a meme of him and Apollonia riding on a motorcycle, clearly a scene taken from the 1984 movie “Purple Rain.” It’s a joyful ballad with some ecstatic Prince vocalizing."

http://www.startribune.co...264172601/

HerecomethePurpleYoda said:

"Prince explained that the next song, “This Could Be Us,” was inspired by a meme of him and Apollonia riding on a motorcycle, clearly a scene taken from the 1984 movie “Purple Rain.” It’s a joyful ballad with some ecstatic Prince vocalizing."

http://www.startribune.co...264172601/

It IS a great song. Thanks for the article and the background information. Still, I think maybe he just meant that the title was inspired by that meme, not the lyrics or the concept. It doesn't seem to be about "Purple Rain" themes.

[Edited 11/13/16 14:42pm]

FlyOnTheWall said:

HerecomethePurpleYoda said:

"Prince explained that the next song, “This Could Be Us,” was inspired by a meme of him and Apollonia riding on a motorcycle, clearly a scene taken from the 1984 movie “Purple Rain.” It’s a joyful ballad with some ecstatic Prince vocalizing."

http://www.startribune.co...264172601/

It IS a great song. Thanks for the article and the background information. Still, I think maybe he just meant that the title was inspired by that meme, not the lyrics or the concept. It doesn't seem to be about "Purple Rain" themes.

[Edited 11/13/16 14:42pm]

Hi, the short answer is that Prince liked the meme so much he used it for the cover of the digital single for "This Could Be Us" when the remix was released on Hit & Run Phase I.

If you look on iTunes/Amazon etc, this is the cover of the single. It's like how Prince used Dave Chapelle for the cover of the Breakfast Can Wait single.

[Edited 11/13/16 14:50pm]

musicman said:

FlyOnTheWall said:

It IS a great song. Thanks for the article and the background information. Still, I think maybe he just meant that the title was inspired by that meme, not the lyrics or the concept. It doesn't seem to be about "Purple Rain" themes.

[Edited 11/13/16 14:42pm]

Hi, the short answer is that Prince liked the meme so much he used it for the cover of the digital single for "This Could Be Us" when the remix was released on Hit & Run Phase I.

If you look on iTunes/Amazon etc, this is the cover of the single. It's like how Prince used Dave Chapelle for the cover of the Breakfast Can Wait single.

[Edited 11/13/16 14:50pm]

Oh. I see. I just automatically associate it with the AOA album. I've never seen the single. That explains it.

FlyOnTheWall said:

musicman said:

Hi, the short answer is that Prince liked the meme so much he used it for the cover of the digital single for "This Could Be Us" when the remix was released on Hit & Run Phase I.

If you look on iTunes/Amazon etc, this is the cover of the single. It's like how Prince used Dave Chapelle for the cover of the Breakfast Can Wait single.

[Edited 11/13/16 14:50pm]

Oh. I see. I just automatically associate it with the AOA album. I've never seen the single. That explains it.

I guess it also explains Apples' tribute to Prince. I think she thinks the song is about her and Prince. But, perhaps it is.

[Edited 11/13/16 14:58pm]

What everyone else said, and, the shirts were for sale at the Louisville concerts in 2015, so, regardless, it's a Prince thing, not an estate thing.

djThunderfunk said:

What everyone else said, and, the shirts were for sale at the Louisville concerts in 2015, so, regardless, it's a Prince thing, not an estate thing.

Got it!! I stand corrected.

[Edited 11/13/16 16:47pm]

FlyOnTheWall said:

anangellooksdown said:

FlyOnTheWall said:

Got it!! I stand corrected.

[Edited 11/13/16 16:47pm]

I am also glad to know that if these were sold at a 2015 concert, then Prince approved it. But when I saw the shirt elsewhere tonight, I had some opinions too, lol. I would've liked them to have some items that represent newer music, especially from the last 3 albums. Meaning, I would've loved it if they had some AOA art on the shirt or something like that. I also noticed that the words "but you playin'" aren't accurate lyrics. Oh well. I'm glad they're selling things now. As time goes on I'm sure they'll add items and change things.

The shirt is the original meme. Prince worte lyrics after the meme. The meme is actually: This Could Be Us... But You Playin'. It used to be a hashtag #ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayin.. and the term came from another song by Manio called "This Could Be Us" that came out in 2012.

[Edited 11/13/16 19:41pm]

anangellooksdown said:

FlyOnTheWall said:

Got it!! I stand corrected.

[Edited 11/13/16 16:47pm]

I am also glad to know that if these were sold at a 2015 concert, then Prince approved it. But when I saw the shirt elsewhere tonight, I had some opinions too, lol. I would've liked them to have some items that represent newer music, especially from the last 3 albums. Meaning, I would've loved it if they had some AOA art on the shirt or something like that. I also noticed that the words "but you playin'" aren't accurate lyrics. Oh well. I'm glad they're selling things now. As time goes on I'm sure they'll add items and change things.

My thoughts exactly! The actual lyrics are "but you be playing."

I would love to see some blue sky and clouds shirts.

I would love to see a Rock N Roll Love Affair T-shirt. He was looking so good at that stage, with his short fro. There are lots of photos from that video shoot, some with P alone and some with Andy.

oliviacamron said:

I'm confused that there selling a shirt with Appolonia on it period after what she posted on Facebook about the vultures surrounding his still warm body .

Good point.