“I own three Prince songs that have never seen the light of day.”

When Gumbel launched a news show on CBS in 1998, the late singer offered to compose its theme song. Unfortunately, Gumbel wasn’t the biggest fan of what Prince came up with.

“He took a run at it and I didn’t like it,” Gumbel recalled in a recent phone conversation from his home in Jupiter, Fla. “After three tries I called it off. It was becoming embarrassing — a guy who can’t read music can’t tell Mozart, ‘No, this isn’t good.’

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2...ard-before

Wow. I wonder what does he plan to do with the songs?

He gave them to me.

FlyOnTheWall said:

Wow. I wonder what does he plan to do with the songs?

I never really liked Bryant Gumble- he always came off as quite arrogant to me. But, he got props from me because on his last day of working on that morning show (Today, I think), Prince made a surprise appearance and played for him. Prince even got a matching suit and tie to wear! Guess Bryant was one big Prince fan. Who would have thought?

kingricefan said:

kingricefan said:

I never really liked Bryant Gumble- he always came off as quite arrogant to me. But, he got props from me because on his last day of working on that morning show (Today, I think), Prince made a surprise appearance and played for him. Prince even got a matching suit and tie to wear! Guess Bryant was one big Prince fan. Who would have thought?

I'm with you, I never cared for him either. He was an arrogant cry baby.

kingricefan said:

I never really liked Bryant Gumble- he always came off as quite arrogant to me. But, he got props from me because on his last day of working on that morning show (Today, I think), Prince made a surprise appearance and played for him. Prince even got a matching suit and tie to wear! Guess Bryant was one big Prince fan. Who would have thought?

It was no real surprise to anyone watching Prince interviews at the time, or even knew about BG Prince had been on Today since 1994 or so. BG always expressed his love of Prince.

BG is arrogant. There is video of him ranting between segments and being a total diva, while Jane Pauley is just sitting there quietly collecting her paycheck. It was damaging to his public image at that point, and it only went downhill from there. Another hit to his persona was the leaked memos of him complaining about Willard Scott and Al Roker. BG thought he was Today, but he wasn't. It was there before him, and it's there still today. I didn't necessarily watch Today, but I was glad to see him go.

The surprise appearance was when BG was leaving Today for other ventures in television. He still has a sports show on HBO.

TrivialPursuit said:

kingricefan said:

I never really liked Bryant Gumble- he always came off as quite arrogant to me. But, he got props from me because on his last day of working on that morning show (Today, I think), Prince made a surprise appearance and played for him. Prince even got a matching suit and tie to wear! Guess Bryant was one big Prince fan. Who would have thought?

It was no real surprise to anyone watching Prince interviews at the time, or even knew about BG Prince had been on Today since 1994 or so. BG always expressed his love of Prince.

BG is arrogant. There is video of him ranting between segments and being a total diva, while Jane Pauley is just sitting there quietly collecting her paycheck. It was damaging to his public image at that point, and it only went downhill from there. Another hit to his persona was the leaked memos of him complaining about Willard Scott and Al Roker. BG thought he was Today, but he wasn't. It was there before him, and it's there still today. I didn't necessarily watch Today, but I was glad to see him go.

The surprise appearance was when BG was leaving Today for other ventures in television. He still has a sports show on HBO.

His show on HBO has been on for years and has won many awards. BG is no more arrogant than any of the other talkng head on T.V. Oh and Willard Scott was corny.

FlyOnTheWall said:

Wow. I wonder what does he plan to do with the songs?

I hope he releases them.

laurarichardson said:

FlyOnTheWall said:

Wow. I wonder what does he plan to do with the songs?

He can leak or stream them if he feels so inclined, I guess the estate wouldn't sue him for it but on the other hand it'd made him look quite unprofessional since it's someone else's intellectual property.

Or he can sit on them.

Kara said:

Three versions of a tv theme song that Bryant thought sucked? It doesn't sound like we're missing much.

I don't know if it means they're bad. For one thing I may not share his tastes. For another it was for a TV show theme song: a song can be awesome but just not appropriate for a show's theme song, which needs to reflect the show's mood and be appealing according to whatever criterias TV people have when it comes to choosing their theme songs.

databank said:

Kara said:

databank said:

I don't know if it means they're bad. For one thing I may not share his tastes. For another it was for a TV show theme song: a song can be awesome but just not appropriate for a show's theme song, which needs to reflect the show's mood and be appealing according to whatever criterias TV people have when it comes to choosing their theme songs.

Hmm, you could be right. I'm now thinking of how Prince thought "Emotional Pump" was appropriate for Joni Mitchell.

He may have assumed it could fit because of the synth record she'd done with Thomas Dolby. Who'd have thought of Dolby to produce Mitchell either?

databank said:

Kara said:

databank said: Hmm, you could be right. I'm now thinking of how Prince thought "Emotional Pump" was appropriate for Joni Mitchell.

He may have assumed it could fit because of the synth record she'd done with Thomas Dolby. Who'd have thought of Dolby to produce Mitchell either?

.

Yeah, but I thought it was the lyrics that Joni thought were inappropriate for her?

Kara said:

databank said:

He may have assumed it could fit because of the synth record she'd done with Thomas Dolby. Who'd have thought of Dolby to produce Mitchell either?

.

Yeah, but I thought it was the lyrics that Joni thought were inappropriate for her?

I wouldn't know.

You would think that the songs that Gumbel have would/should be property of the Today Show.

PennyPurple said:

PennyPurple said:

You would think that the songs that Gumbel have would/should be property of the Today Show.

No because if he didn't select them he didn't pay for them or licence them, therefore they remain full Prince estate properties.

If I remember correctly, during the time that new show for which Prince had written the songs was airing, Gumbel simply stated that "the song was too funky and did not fit or create the proper atmosphere" for the show. So, I'm not sure if Gumbel felt that the songs "sucked" or if they just didn't fit or create the proper atmosphere. Also, Gumbel was more apologetic in tone than demonizing. The bottom line is just because people are friends and respect each other does not mean that they will always like or need what the other person does. It seems that they tried a venture/project, it didn't work, and they continued with their friendship…like adults do all the time.

1725topp said:

definitely was arrogant, as a big boxing fan, I think it's laughable that one of his early articles was one before the first Ali-Frazier fight in 71, he insinuated that Joe was an Uncle Tom.