PeteSilas said:

PR isn't the only song, lets go crazy, and many others get too oversung because, frankly, this generation of singers/musicians are rank amateurs for the most part and yes that accounts for the "superstars" too.

Agreed.

and let's face it, Prince songs are HARD to sing, too.

CynicKill said:

I think this says it all:

[Edited 4/2/17 14:20pm]

Yeah, Fran don't take no mess.

TrivialPursuit said:

Someone just posted a video on YouTube of a chick on the UK version of The Voice, and she was squealing her way through "Purple Rain". I could not believe the people who were saying "oh, she killed it" "OMG she's awesome". No, no boo, she's not. She might be able to sing, but she butchered the song, and it was a squawking mess. Of course, another no-talent hack is a judge on the show and was standing up through the rendition - will.i.am.

I think they said she did "I Feel For You" (Chaka's version) later, and was voted out. Bye girl.

It's interesting that you mention Chaka's version of IFFY. There was a thread back in July 2016 about Chaka's cover of IFFY: http://prince.org/msg/7/428802. Quite a few Prince fans, myself included, like Chaka's version of IFFY better than Prince's version. For the record, I like both versions, but I like Chaka's more. I think that part of what makes Chaka's version work so well is that it is really different than P's version.

TrivialPursuit said:

petalthecat said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Someone just posted a video on YouTube of a chick on the UK version of The Voice, and she was squealing her way through "Purple Rain". I could not believe the people who were saying "oh, she killed it" "OMG she's awesome". No, no boo, she's not. She might be able to sing, but she butchered the song, and it was a squawking mess. Of course, another no-talent hack is a judge on the show and was standing up through the rendition - will.i.am.

I think they said she did "I Feel For You" (Chaka's version) later, and was voted out. Bye girl.

I wasn't a fan of hers all the way through, she oversang everything. I so cringed when I heard her start singing Purple Rain. Will was her coach, but to say Prince would have loved her version, I was like Waaa did u just hear what I heard? ...and then Jennifer Hudson agreed with Will. There was only Gavin Rosedale who wasn't keen. Anyway, the guy who won, Mo was awesome.

Is this the same show where some guy sang and Adam Levine and Alicia Keys told the guy that "the only person who could hit those notes so effortlessly was Prince"?

I listened to the guy and he sang ok, but I didn't hear any extraordinary "P sounding notes" at all.

NME01 said:

None of them are playing guitar, so they feel they need to wail it out where P just let the guitar scream to convey 1000x that emotion.

I was thinking the same thing

TrivialPursuit said:

I've said it before, and I'll continue to do so: no one should cover "Purple Rain". Pull out another song to pay tribute, but no one has ever been able to sing it or do it justice (except maybe the Springsteen cover in concert). So folks need to stop. Prince was around how many years? And people and still singing that one song?!

.

No one should cover Prince, period... at least not in my opinion. Altho I do make exception for Chris Stapleton singing Nothing Compares 2 U. I like that one.

.

TheLotus said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I've said it before, and I'll continue to do so: no one should cover "Purple Rain". Pull out another song to pay tribute, but no one has ever been able to sing it or do it justice (except maybe the Springsteen cover in concert). So folks need to stop. Prince was around how many years? And people and still singing that one song?!

.

No one should cover Prince, period... at least not in my opinion. Altho I do make exception for Chris Stapleton singing Nothing Compares 2 U. I like that one.

.

Well, that's unreasonable to a great extent. His catalog is too vast and varied to be untouched by anyone else. However, there is the idea that his songs are so unique sometimes that they're almost impossible to cover and do justice to.

When I lived in Minneapolis in 1997, I remember two covers that were out at the time, and they just irritated me. Mariah's "The Beautiful Ones", and Leann Rimes "Purple Rain". Just shit on both levels. One was a pigeon in heat cooing, the other was blander than bean water.

I just wish people would cover something, if they feel the need to do so at all, other than "Purple Rain" or "Nothing Compares 2 U". Hell, I'd love to hear Stevie Nicks sing "Little Red Corvette", Springsteen do "When You Were Mine", Maxwell do "Adore", Bruno Mars do "Private Joy" - just don't do "Purple Rain".

That is one subtle tune. Fantasia, stay away from the Rain. lol

Gary Clark may sing it good

Its like the Star Spangled Banner of rock.

.

[Edited 4/3/17 12:09pm]

2freaky4church1 said:

That is one subtle tune. Fantasia, stay away from the Rain. lol

LBrent said:

bonatoc said:

Unless you lived it yourself, you're doomed to fake it.
And Lord knows they do.

[Edited 4/2/17 13:06pm]

But don't you think that each previous generation all thought the very same thing about the existing generation's art? That it was clumsy and awful and dreary?

And could it be that the current folks who are doing whatever they're doing feel as if they're "creating art"? And that they'll be appreciated by those it resonates with now and in the future?

Exactly. I'm calling out for being shocked. But nothing happens, it's just photocopy after photocopy, and come on, if you're a certain age, you know it. Already in the eighties they were copycats, and it became obvious only by listening to more music year after year. If you love music, it's unavoidable. You recognize invention because it is disturbing on first hearing.

I mean what the fuck, look at them, their little hats, their little beard, Williams smelled when he was trying with Snoopy, but now he's odorless and sterile as can be, Bon Iver, sadness that is never really sad, Bruno Mars is so devoided of personality that he made a buffoon of himself — the seventies were less numb: imagine a guy dressed as Elvis at an homage the year he died, some audience would have kick his ass something good. LITTERALLY.

Don't misunderstand me: Run The Jewels 2, Soundcloud indies, The War On Drugs, Ghostory by The School Of Seven Bells, A Real Hero, I'm constantly amazed. But I'm underground, and whenever I go to the surface I see lazy, greedy, useless repetition.


Don't tell me these are the sixties, please.

bonatoc said:

LBrent said:

But don't you think that each previous generation all thought the very same thing about the existing generation's art? That it was clumsy and awful and dreary?

And could it be that the current folks who are doing whatever they're doing feel as if they're "creating art"? And that they'll be appreciated by those it resonates with now and in the future?

Exactly. I'm calling out for being shocked. But nothing happens, it's just photocopy after photocopy, and come on, if you're a certain age, you know it. Already in the eighties they were copycats, and it became obvious only by listening to more music year after year. If you love music, it's unavoidable. You recognize invention because it is disturbing on first hearing.

I mean what the fuck, look at them, their little hats, their little beard, Williams smelled when he was trying with Snoopy, but now he's odorless and sterile as can be, Bon Iver, sadness that is never really sad, Bruno Mars is so devoided of personality that he made a buffoon of himself — the seventies were less numb: imagine a guy dressed as Elvis at an homage the year he died, some audience would have kick his ass something good. LITTERALLY.

Don't misunderstand me: Run The Jewels 2, Soundcloud indies, The War On Drugs, Ghostory by The School Of Seven Bells, A Real Hero, I'm constantly amazed. But I'm underground, and whenever I go to the surface I see lazy, greedy, useless repetition.


Don't tell me these are the sixties, please.

As you've rightly stated, the problem is not the fact that great talent is not out there - more that the record business does not allow anything other than the 'safe bets' to take part in the race.

We are in, arguably, one of the most important political periods we might ever live through, music should reflect the anger that people are feeling, the discomfort with those in power playing puppets with the people, yet the record companies give us yet more bland pop music by good looking teenagers who have clearly been primed for their short period of fame for some time. I long for a bunch of ugly, fat anarchists who clarly can't sing to trash the shit that is thrust upon us. And it is a shame, because I do think that some of the youngsters have great voices - just that they are not allowed to be themselves, or sing their songs, or play their instruments etc...

To link to the OP - Purple Rain was horrifically oversang, awful. I was glad she was out - and yet, there was no doubt she could sing. I liked the winner but I fear his fame will be as shortlived as my time I spent once working in a call-centre.

PR is hard to cover/karaoke because there is so much space in it. You have to stand in the moment and still keep the conviction. Prince could sell melodrama because the songs were his creation and we could say "he's really feeling it tonight!" or whatever and he was hammy and camp as a performer anyway. None of the people mentioned in this thread have the season(or talent in some cases) as a performer to sell the song without going for the vocal hysterics. As someone mentioned La LaBelle is wouldn't be herself without them.

--

I think with some of the other songs, people try to duplicate his energy and get it wrong. But I have enjoyed several of the covers I have heard, the tributes I've seen haven't been all bad,imo.

maplenpg said:

bonatoc said:

Exactly. I'm calling out for being shocked. But nothing happens, it's just photocopy after photocopy, and come on, if you're a certain age, you know it. Already in the eighties they were copycats, and it became obvious only by listening to more music year after year. If you love music, it's unavoidable. You recognize invention because it is disturbing on first hearing.

I mean what the fuck, look at them, their little hats, their little beard, Williams smelled when he was trying with Snoopy, but now he's odorless and sterile as can be, Bon Iver, sadness that is never really sad, Bruno Mars is so devoided of personality that he made a buffoon of himself — the seventies were less numb: imagine a guy dressed as Elvis at an homage the year he died, some audience would have kick his ass something good. LITTERALLY.

Don't misunderstand me: Run The Jewels 2, Soundcloud indies, The War On Drugs, Ghostory by The School Of Seven Bells, A Real Hero, I'm constantly amazed. But I'm underground, and whenever I go to the surface I see lazy, greedy, useless repetition.


Don't tell me these are the sixties, please.

As you've rightly stated, the problem is not the fact that great talent is not out there - more that the record business does not allow anything other than the 'safe bets' to take part in the race.

We are in, arguably, one of the most important political periods we might ever live through, music should reflect the anger that people are feeling, the discomfort with those in power playing puppets with the people, yet the record companies give us yet more bland pop music by good looking teenagers who have clearly been primed for their short period of fame for some time. I long for a bunch of ugly, fat anarchists who clarly can't sing to trash the shit that is thrust upon us. And it is a shame, because I do think that some of the youngsters have great voices - just that they are not allowed to be themselves, or sing their songs, or play their instruments etc...

To link to the OP - Purple Rain was horrifically oversang, awful. I was glad she was out - and yet, there was no doubt she could sing. I liked the winner but I fear his fame will be as shortlived as my time I spent once working in a call-centre.

bruce springsteen has some brilliant insights on this in his recent bio, he mentions the shows and the voices and how perfect they are and how they miss what he calls "singing from your godhead" and how that's the key in communication. He's also extremely modest in what he thinks of his voice and how traumatized he was when he first heard his voice played back to him. Yet, this man who considers his voice so limited changed peoples lives, inspired, moved and helped many people get through their days (I know, I'm one).

one more thing, if the public didn't tolerate this crap it would be gone tomorrow, I am telling you, there are real artists out here, I'm one and we can't get any help whatsoever. There are a lot of us, more than can ever be heard really and we are good and even great. If the public wanted to support us they would, they'd rather sit on their asses at home than go out and find and champion real artistry. Even in a city like seattle, musicians can't really even make a living.

[Edited 4/3/17 14:11pm]

gingerwildwood said:

PR is hard to cover/karaoke because there is so much space in it. You have to stand in the moment and still keep the conviction. Prince could sell melodrama because the songs were his creation and we could say "he's really feeling it tonight!" or whatever and he was hammy and camp as a performer anyway. None of the people mentioned in this thread have the season(or talent in some cases) as a performer to sell the song without going for the vocal hysterics. As someone mentioned La LaBelle is wouldn't be herself without them.

--

I think with some of the other songs, people try to duplicate his energy and get it wrong. But I have enjoyed several of the covers I have heard, the tributes I've seen haven't been all bad,imo.

i'm the one who mentioned labelle, but you know, years ago, i was reading an essay by Nelson George about Prince's cultural impact and he mentioned Purple Rain and how Prince mixed various influences, the one name that struck me as odd was Patti Labelle. So I listened and yes, you could hear the influence, it's a small thing and it's subtle, it's how she rushes words together in a way that doesn't even follow the melody, but also her soaring notes to, I could believe what Prince said when he said his favorite singers were women. She still can't help her histrionics though, god bless her heart.

AnnaSantana said:

PeteSilas said:

PR isn't the only song, lets go crazy, and many others get too oversung because, frankly, this generation of singers/musicians are rank amateurs for the most part and yes that accounts for the "superstars" too.

Agreed.

and let's face it, Prince songs are HARD to sing, too.

no kidding. What a singer. Probably the best.
Well, he's to top. No piece o'cake.

gingerwildwood said:

PR is hard to cover/karaoke because there is so much space in it. You have to stand in the moment and still keep the conviction. Prince could sell melodrama because the songs were his creation and we could say "he's really feeling it tonight!" or whatever and he was hammy and camp as a performer anyway. None of the people mentioned in this thread have the season(or talent in some cases) as a performer to sell the song without going for the vocal hysterics. As someone mentioned La LaBelle is wouldn't be herself without them.

--

I think with some of the other songs, people try to duplicate his energy and get it wrong. But I have enjoyed several of the covers I have heard, the tributes I've seen haven't been all bad,imo.

Agree. But come on, there's a lot of great voices out there.
In Fleetwood Mac, there are 3.

But you're on the spot. You have to rework the structure, because it's good enough. But a karaoke will always play the original arrangement, which is tailored to Prince's feelings as "Standing At The Altar" is made for a voice like Margie Cox (could have been sung by Pink or Gwen Stefani, with Springsteeny arrangements, it would have been a massive hit).

The compositon are always good. You just have to find new spaces, while keeping the spirit.
But much of Prince... is Prince. Damn, Christopher!

[Edited 4/3/17 15:21pm]

Bona you are the biggest drama queen my eyes have ever read in this forum, and believe me there are quite a few.

PeteSilas said:

It's great writing

What is great writing?

NME01 said:

None of them are playing guitar, so they feel they need to wail it out where P just let the guitar scream to convey 1000x that emotion.

Nailed it!

214 said:

PeteSilas said:

It's great writing

What is great writing?

your buddy bono

PeteSilas said:

maplenpg said:

As you've rightly stated, the problem is not the fact that great talent is not out there - more that the record business does not allow anything other than the 'safe bets' to take part in the race.

We are in, arguably, one of the most important political periods we might ever live through, music should reflect the anger that people are feeling, the discomfort with those in power playing puppets with the people, yet the record companies give us yet more bland pop music by good looking teenagers who have clearly been primed for their short period of fame for some time. I long for a bunch of ugly, fat anarchists who clarly can't sing to trash the shit that is thrust upon us. And it is a shame, because I do think that some of the youngsters have great voices - just that they are not allowed to be themselves, or sing their songs, or play their instruments etc...

To link to the OP - Purple Rain was horrifically oversang, awful. I was glad she was out - and yet, there was no doubt she could sing. I liked the winner but I fear his fame will be as shortlived as my time I spent once working in a call-centre.

bruce springsteen has some brilliant insights on this in his recent bio, he mentions the shows and the voices and how perfect they are and how they miss what he calls "singing from your godhead" and how that's the key in communication. He's also extremely modest in what he thinks of his voice and how traumatized he was when he first heard his voice played back to him. Yet, this man who considers his voice so limited changed peoples lives, inspired, moved and helped many people get through their days (I know, I'm one).

one more thing, if the public didn't tolerate this crap it would be gone tomorrow, I am telling you, there are real artists out here, I'm one and we can't get any help whatsoever. There are a lot of us, more than can ever be heard really and we are good and even great. If the public wanted to support us they would, they'd rather sit on their asses at home than go out and find and champion real artistry. Even in a city like seattle, musicians can't really even make a living.

[Edited 4/3/17 14:11pm]

Great post - I think the problem is now that the music isn't the driving force - that it isn't the music that makes the money. All the young adults I work with never buy music, they just find it on the internet or are on spotify etc... Therefore, it is the merchandise and the promotion of the singer/band as a brand that makes the money, hence the need for good looks etc... and also the reason they don't last five minutes - one stadium tour and people see through them.

I don't know why the public tolerate it. I've been saying for some time that surely the Vouce and X factor have had their day but they keep returning, and, I assume, people keep voting so the money machine keeps turning. I'm just glad that there are so many festivals that do tend to show a variety of great music by great musicians - they are easy to find if you get rid of the sugar-coated pop. Springsteen is great too BTW (as I am sure you are).

well, music honestly speaking isn't that important for a persons survival. It's not necessary like food and water and so most people have responsibilities that take up most of their time and energy, it's not realistic to expect them to go to great lengths to help a struggling artist. That's all understandable and what's really understandable is that the main venues are bars for small time musicians and not everyone wants to be hanging out in bars, I know I am fucking sick of being around drunkards and wish there were other ways to reach people as a live act. I know from experience that there is a distinct difference between hearing music via a video or a recording and feeling the whole thing from a real breath musician, i just wish there were other ways than bars and I'm sure a lot of people have no need to be hanging out in bars. I can tell you there is real talent out here though, a surplus of it, all kinds, great instrumentalists, great singers, great writers, beautiful women with great voices who'll never get anywhere more than likely. Sheryl Crow once said record companies work against art, she was right, they don't need any of us. It's simpler just to slap a pretty face on something and sell it. Also, the piracy issue is valid, music is really not a good way to make money for anyone today. My personal goal around this hurdle is to pair my music with my own feature film, in other words, doing things that automatically seperate you from 99.9 percent of the pack. Other than that, too damned many musicians all with vary levels of gifts and talents.

PeteSilas said:

214 said:

What is great writing?

your buddy bono

Indeed, he is quite good at it.