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Thread started 12/30/19 4:45am

BartVanHemelen

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Prince's memoir "The Beautiful Ones" (29 October) (part 4)

The previous thread auto-locked, so here's a fresh one!

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PLEASE NOTE: Copying/pasting of book paragraphs and/or pics is NOT allowed for copyright reasons

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This book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

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Part 1, part 2.

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Book discussion (already locked).

© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for
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Reply #1 posted 12/30/19 4:48am

BartVanHemelen

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TBO didn't make UK music monthly Classic Pop's "Best of 2019: Books" list (a mere top five), but it did get a mention in "Best of 2019: Editor's Choice":

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On the soul and R&B front, a fair slice of my attention was given over to various Prince-related offerings this year, from the intriguing Originals album to the exhaustive 1999 boxset. The Purple One's unfinished autobiography The Beautiful Ones was a glimpse into what could have been and further underlined just what an extraordinary, much-missed talent Minneapolis' most famous son was.

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[Edited 1/2/20 6:39am]

© Bart Van Hemelen
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your use. All rights reserved.
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Reply #2 posted 12/30/19 5:42am

LoveGalore

It's worth posting this twice?
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Reply #3 posted 12/30/19 9:56pm

milesb

Really enjoyed this book. The 40 odd pages Prince wrote kept me enthralled, surprisingly candid and uncryptic, were humourous and full of his inimitable wisdom. I could easily have read 500 pages more. Would've loved to, but alas his bombshells on life after fame shall forever remain a mystery. But it was a pleasure to get a glimpse of what made him tick, from his own words. He comes across as a great guy. I think his writing style was unique. I wonder if Random House would have changed his prose, if the whole thing came to fruition?

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Reply #4 posted 01/02/20 6:42am

BartVanHemelen

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There's a long review in the February 2020 issue of UK music monthly Uncut; the book is the final of three books they review (their book reviews are usually a single article that combines several).

.

© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for
your use. All rights reserved.
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Reply #5 posted 01/02/20 9:42am

Seahorsie

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I felt like when I read it that someone had looked in my high school and college scrapbooks and photo albums. (P and I are of same generation) He owned a 1977 Datsun 200SX that was blue, and in 1979 I bought one, blue with 2 white racing stripes! Datsun later on morphed into Nisson, but boy, if that car could talk!

There is so much in that book if you are willing to really work for it. As an examplle, look on p. 106. Prince has on a purple, white, and lilac sweater under his jean jacket. I guess his love of the color purple went way back. Because, when you got your school photo taken for that year, you usually wore your fav outfit, the one you thought you looked the coolest in.

On p. 117 he talks about "sizzlers" and I can remember having one that my mom made for me. (short minidresses with matching bloomers underneath) Those dresses were so short you had to have the underbottoms or you could not sit down. Well you could, but not decently.

On p. 123 there is a photo of Adre and Tyka, and it identifies her as "Miss PickUpAndBook". Ever wonder what that means? Sounds like she got in some trouble pretty consistantly. Well, I am still gleaning things from this book. You all see stuff in it too??

Good morning children...take a look out your window, the world is falling...
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Reply #6 posted 01/03/20 4:51am

PennyPurple

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Seahorsie said:

I felt like when I read it that someone had looked in my high school and college scrapbooks and photo albums. (P and I are of same generation) He owned a 1977 Datsun 200SX that was blue, and in 1979 I bought one, blue with 2 white racing stripes! Datsun later on morphed into Nisson, but boy, if that car could talk!

There is so much in that book if you are willing to really work for it. As an examplle, look on p. 106. Prince has on a purple, white, and lilac sweater under his jean jacket. I guess his love of the color purple went way back. Because, when you got your school photo taken for that year, you usually wore your fav outfit, the one you thought you looked the coolest in.

On p. 117 he talks about "sizzlers" and I can remember having one that my mom made for me. (short minidresses with matching bloomers underneath) Those dresses were so short you had to have the underbottoms or you could not sit down. Well you could, but not decently.

On p. 123 there is a photo of Adre and Tyka, and it identifies her as "Miss PickUpAndBook". Ever wonder what that means? Sounds like she got in some trouble pretty consistantly. Well, I am still gleaning things from this book. You all see stuff in it too??

I loved it.

That purple sweater that you mentioned. I wore the same exact one in my 6th grade pictures. I even pulled it out and showed my kids.


My dream car back then was a Datsun 200SX and my Uncle bought a baby blue one. Such a sweet thing, that car was.


What color was your sizzlers? Mine were crushed velvet hot pink, and crushed velvet purple.


Good times back then.

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Reply #7 posted 01/04/20 7:39am

littlemissG

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The biggest surprise for me memoir was Prince’s hand written treatment for Dreams. I never imagine it was so far removed from Purple Rain. Someone had a come to Jesus talk with Prince because the Kid isn’t a relatable character in that script. The Kid comes off as someone to avoid like Dustin Hoffman’s character in Taxi Driver. I would like to see what script Director Billini had to work with when he was part of the project.
No More Haters on the Internet.
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Reply #8 posted 01/04/20 1:26pm

Seahorsie

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PennyPurple said:



Seahorsie said:


I felt like when I read it that someone had looked in my high school and college scrapbooks and photo albums. (P and I are of same generation) He owned a 1977 Datsun 200SX that was blue, and in 1979 I bought one, blue with 2 white racing stripes! Datsun later on morphed into Nisson, but boy, if that car could talk!



There is so much in that book if you are willing to really work for it. As an examplle, look on p. 106. Prince has on a purple, white, and lilac sweater under his jean jacket. I guess his love of the color purple went way back. Because, when you got your school photo taken for that year, you usually wore your fav outfit, the one you thought you looked the coolest in.



On p. 117 he talks about "sizzlers" and I can remember having one that my mom made for me. (short minidresses with matching bloomers underneath) Those dresses were so short you had to have the underbottoms or you could not sit down. Well you could, but not decently.



On p. 123 there is a photo of Adre and Tyka, and it identifies her as "Miss PickUpAndBook". Ever wonder what that means? Sounds like she got in some trouble pretty consistantly. Well, I am still gleaning things from this book. You all see stuff in it too??





I loved it.


That purple sweater that you mentioned. I wore the same exact one in my 6th grade pictures. I even pulled it out and showed my kids.



My dream car back then was a Datsun 200SX and my Uncle bought a baby blue one. Such a sweet thing, that car was.



What color was your sizzlers? Mine were crushed velvet hot pink, and crushed velvet purple.



Good times back then.


Mine outfit was violet, yellow, & purple. At that age, I didn't even know who Prince was! They had ruffles on the sleeves. Wish I still had them, those puppies would be pure vintage gold! 🧞‍♀️
Good morning children...take a look out your window, the world is falling...
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Reply #9 posted 01/08/20 11:01pm

Vannormal

Seahorsie said:

There is so much in that book if you are willing to really work for it. As an examplle, look on p. 106. Prince has on a purple, white, and lilac sweater under his jean jacket. I guess his love of the color purple went way back. Because, when you got your school photo taken for that year, you usually wore your fav outfit, the one you thought you looked the coolest in.

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Don't forget, The Minneapolis Vikings.

They excist since 1960/61, and the colours 'purple & gold' is something Prince was exposed to from a very young age.

He loved sports, and I can asume, when your local football team is also called 'The Purple People Eaters', or 'The Purple and Gold', that a guy like Prince is keen enough to pick things up.

Everyone is influenced somehow. Even Prince.

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(He lived his whole life in Minneapolis. It's even strange to me that he wrote a song quite late in his life for the local team. Now football wasn't all that much histhing, (he loved basketball).. that explains it maybe. The song is something most people here dislike, anyways. I wonder if the team (still) uses it?)

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His album 'Gold' also could be related to 'The Vikings' second colour, but that's way to far thinking and guessing on my part. wink

(They played the 'Super Bowl' four times, and never won; "all that glitters, ain't gold")

But forget this comparisson, it's not obvious. Just fun. wink

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"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves. And wiser people so full of doubts" (Bertrand Russell 1872-1972)
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Reply #10 posted 01/09/20 4:29pm

Seahorsie

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Vannormal said:

Seahorsie said:

There is so much in that book if you are willing to really work for it. As an examplle, look on p. 106. Prince has on a purple, white, and lilac sweater under his jean jacket. I guess his love of the color purple went way back. Because, when you got your school photo taken for that year, you usually wore your fav outfit, the one you thought you looked the coolest in.

-

Don't forget, The Minneapolis Vikings.

They excist since 1960/61, and the colours 'purple & gold' is something Prince was exposed to from a very young age.

He loved sports, and I can asume, when your local football team is also called 'The Purple People Eaters', or 'The Purple and Gold', that a guy like Prince is keen enough to pick things up.

Everyone is influenced somehow. Even Prince.

-

(He lived his whole life in Minneapolis. It's even strange to me that he wrote a song quite late in his life for the local team. Now football wasn't all that much histhing, (he loved basketball).. that explains it maybe. The song is something most people here dislike, anyways. I wonder if the team (still) uses it?)

-

His album 'Gold' also could be related to 'The Vikings' second colour, but that's way to far thinking and guessing on my part. wink

(They played the 'Super Bowl' four times, and never won; "all that glitters, ain't gold")

But forget this comparisson, it's not obvious. Just fun. wink

-

Yeah...there you go. Some fun on the org for a change, how revolutionary! Good observations.

Good morning children...take a look out your window, the world is falling...
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Reply #11 posted 01/20/20 2:15am

DaveT

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Just started reading the book ... I found I had to be in the right mood to pick it up. Guess I was a bit anxious at how upset I would get reading the thing.

I've only read Dan's opening chapter so far, but I'm very impressed with what he wrote. It was as close to what I feel I would have written myself as a fan suddenly being thrust in to the situation of being with Prince. He was gracious and complimentary without being too gushing. Makes it doubly sad that we'll never get to read what he and Prince would have written together ... I think it would have been spectacular!

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Reply #12 posted 01/23/20 7:53am

BartVanHemelen

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© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for
your use. All rights reserved.
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Reply #13 posted 01/23/20 8:12am

BartVanHemelen

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© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for
your use. All rights reserved.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 01/24/20 11:06am

controversy99

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Prince’s memoir section is surprisingly good. I am so, so, so glad he wrote it, and it got published. I wished he had stayed around longer to write more. I’m shocked and pleased that it isn’t full of weird religious ideas and conspiracy theories. It’s a very touching and thought provoking read.
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Publisher made three missteps that I’m sure are hurting sales:
1. It should say on the cover something like “featuring Prince’s unfinished memoir”. When you see this book on the shelf, it looks like just another biography of Prince by some random author. Nothing really makes it stand out as containing his own writing.
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2. It should have an extremely short preface, like 2 or 3 pages, and then launch into Prince’s memoir. The section by the editor/collaborator should come later.
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3. They should’ve made Dan P. write a chapter in the style Prince was encouraging him to do. It’s nice that he wrote about the experience of meeting and working with Prince, but it seems clear that he had enough conversations with Prince to generate a chapter or two more of how the memoir would’ve read. It could be clearly identified as written by Dan but contain quotes from Prince and move in the direction Prince wanted.
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Now for the great decisions they made:
1. Publishing Prince’s handwritten copy. This removes any doubt that these are his own words. It also makes the words and story more alive.
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2. Including that photo scrapbook. It displays a playfulness and silliness that is charming and that we don’t often see from Prince.
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3. Including his draft of Dreams/Purple Rain. It was cool to see how Prince imagined the movie. What we got as the actual movie was better than Prince’s draft, but I still enjoyed reading it.
"Love & honesty, peace & harmony"
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Reply #15 posted 01/30/20 5:26am

BartVanHemelen

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© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for
your use. All rights reserved.
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Reply #16 posted 01/30/20 4:09pm

Dalia11

I just started to read the book. I like looking at all the pictures and Prince's script writing pages.
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Reply #17 posted 01/31/20 5:15am

BartVanHemelen

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© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for
your use. All rights reserved.
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