violetcrush said:

Jill Jones stated that when she had a conversation with Prince about the album cover back when it was released, and he told her that she was the girl crying, she said she asked him if he was the guy in the cloud suit and he said no. She said she then asked where he is on the album cover, and he said, "I'm gone. I already went up the ladder."

Yeah, I never totally bought that anyone of them were Prince, although the blond in the cloud suit is the closests.

In case some haven't seen it, if you click the 2018 link in my OP, there are photos that the painter took of Susannah, Wendy, Sheila, and himself in poses similar to what we see in the painting.

I was always fascinated that every song on the album is represented on the cover, as well as lyrical elements.

TrivialPursuit said:

violetcrush said:

Yes, those posed pics have been circulating for several years. Susannah posted some again recently on her Insta page. * I actually think that the blonde figure in the cloud suit represents Prince, especially knowing the story about him dyeing his hair blonde for a hot minute before it had a bad reaction and started falling out Seems he wanted to try the blonde ‘do at that time. Earl Jones said he had to cut it super short after the botched bleach attempt.

Yeah, I feel like I first saw the pics in 2016 or so. OldFriends4Sale probably started a thread about it. It was such a cool thing to find out for me.

I tend to agree about the cloud suit guy. While Prince may have thought of himself as transcending or whatever, we all know that little blond motherfucker was him. How could it not be? The doctor is even more Fink because he wore some gray wig in the "Raspberry Beret" video, which was basically the album cover come to life (minus Pat Smear, LOL).

I knew about the blond hair fiasco, and the ensuing Liza wig. I think there was even some Purple Rain reshoots w/ a wig because Prince's hair was so fucked up, weren't there? What a time.

TrivialPursuit said:

violetcrush said:

Yes, those posed pics have been circulating for several years. Susannah posted some again recently on her Insta page. * I actually think that the blonde figure in the cloud suit represents Prince, especially knowing the story about him dyeing his hair blonde for a hot minute before it had a bad reaction and started falling out Seems he wanted to try the blonde ‘do at that time. Earl Jones said he had to cut it super short after the botched bleach attempt.

Yeah, I feel like I first saw the pics in 2016 or so. OldFriends4Sale probably started a thread about it. It was such a cool thing to find out for me.

I tend to agree about the cloud suit guy. While Prince may have thought of himself as transcending or whatever, we all know that little blond motherfucker was him. How could it not be? The doctor is even more Fink because he wore some gray wig in the "Raspberry Beret" video, which was basically the album cover come to life (minus Pat Smear, LOL).

I knew about the blond hair fiasco, and the ensuing Liza wig. I think there was even some Purple Rain reshoots w/ a wig because Prince's hair was so fucked up, weren't there? What a time.

Yes!! One of Prince's newer associates (can't remember which one) told the story of watching Purple Rain with Prince, and at a certain scene, Prince started laughing and said, "look at that wig!" Then he told the story about the bad dye job and having to cut all his hair off before finalizing the PR shots.

TrivialPursuit said:

sexton said:

Do most people prefer the Fresh Dance Mix of "Pop Life" over the extended version?

I mean, it was one guy who came up with it, so - I don't know? Insert whichever one you love the most and go with it.

I already inserted the extended version over the remix as soon as I heard it decades ago. I just thought the general consensus was that the extended version was superior. But if some people like a little Lemon Cake mixed into their Pop Life then that's okay.

sexton said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I mean, it was one guy who came up with it, so - I don't know? Insert whichever one you love the most and go with it.

I already inserted the extended version over the remix as soon as I heard it decades ago. I just thought the general consensus was that the extended version was superior. But if some people like a little Lemon Cake mixed into their Pop Life then that's okay.

Whichever one Wendy & Lisa hummed on is the one I favor.

TrivialPursuit said:

sexton said:

I already inserted the extended version over the remix as soon as I heard it decades ago. I just thought the general consensus was that the extended version was superior. But if some people like a little Lemon Cake mixed into their Pop Life then that's okay.

Whichever one Wendy & Lisa hummed on is the one I favor.

Agreed. Their backround vocals and harmonies always added that extra "flavor" to his songs - lemon or otherwise

TrivialPursuit said:

violetcrush said:

Yes, those posed pics have been circulating for several years. Susannah posted some again recently on her Insta page. * I actually think that the blonde figure in the cloud suit represents Prince, especially knowing the story about him dyeing his hair blonde for a hot minute before it had a bad reaction and started falling out Seems he wanted to try the blonde ‘do at that time. Earl Jones said he had to cut it super short after the botched bleach attempt.

Yeah, I feel like I first saw the pics in 2016 or so. OldFriends4Sale probably started a thread about it. It was such a cool thing to find out for me.

I tend to agree about the cloud suit guy. While Prince may have thought of himself as transcending or whatever, we all know that little blond motherfucker was him. How could it not be? The doctor is even more Fink because he wore some gray wig in the "Raspberry Beret" video, which was basically the album cover come to life (minus Pat Smear, LOL).

I knew about the blond hair fiasco, and the ensuing Liza wig. I think there was even some Purple Rain reshoots w/ a wig because Prince's hair was so fucked up, weren't there? What a time.

I am not too sure about the guy in the cloud suit. Apart from the suit, he looks nothing like Prince to me... while the masked character certainly has Prince's eyes and his old hairdo a la Purple Rain - except greying - and not quite like Dr Fink's usual hairstyle, plus Dr Fink usually wore his mask down.

As well as the covered face and the eyes, the greying hair and deep wrinkles on the forehead are another two significant elements here since neither Fink nor Prince had reached that stage at the time this album was released (although you do have one valid point about the wig in the video). Also, note how this 'doctor' character is actually holding a ladder - a smaller one - in his hand, which may open the door to many interpretations...

Therefore it would still make sense if it was supposed to represent Prince because if - as Jill had reportedly said - Prince thought he was already 'gone up on the ladder' on that picture, this would altogether suggest that he thought he wouldn't reach the greying hair stage while still in this world...

Oh and it's interesting you mentioned the Raspberry Beret video because, if you remember, it started with a cough...

[Edited 5/1/20 10:09am]

CherryMoon57 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Yeah, I feel like I first saw the pics in 2016 or so. OldFriends4Sale probably started a thread about it. It was such a cool thing to find out for me.

I tend to agree about the cloud suit guy. While Prince may have thought of himself as transcending or whatever, we all know that little blond motherfucker was him. How could it not be? The doctor is even more Fink because he wore some gray wig in the "Raspberry Beret" video, which was basically the album cover come to life (minus Pat Smear, LOL).

I knew about the blond hair fiasco, and the ensuing Liza wig. I think there was even some Purple Rain reshoots w/ a wig because Prince's hair was so fucked up, weren't there? What a time.

I am not too sure about the guy in the cloud suit. Apart from the suit, he looks nothing like Prince to me... while the masked character certainly has Prince's eyes and his old hairdo a la Purple Rain - except greying - and not quite like Dr Fink's usual hairstyle, plus Dr Fink usually wore his mask down.

As well as the covered face and the eyes, the greying hair and deep wrinkles on the forehead are another two significant elements here since neither Fink nor Prince had reached that stage at the time this album was released (although you do have one valid point about the wig in the video).

Therefore it would still make sense if it was supposed to represent Prince because if - as Jill had reportedly said - Prince thought he was already 'gone up on the ladder' on that picture, this would altogether suggest that he thought he wouldn't reach the greying hair stage while still in this world...

Oh and it's interesting you mentioned the Raspberry Beret video because, if you remember, it started with a cough...

[Edited 5/1/20 9:22am]

I think, based on the outfit, glasses and hairstyle (Matt Fink had pretty "big" and full hair back then), as well as, Matt wearing the grey wig in the Raspberry Beret video - that this guy represents Matt. In the early days of the band Matt would wear the doctor's mask, and he has stated that he had to stop, because he had a hard time breathing and his glasses would fog up to the point where he could not see the keyboard

*

The artist, Doug Henders, actually posed for the "cloud suit" character with the guitar. There is a picture circulating of him. He had/has blonde hair. We do know that, sometime between the last dates of the PR tour and the shooting of the 4 The Tears In Their Eyes video, Prince attempted to dye his hair blonde with very bad results. Consequently, Earl Jones had to chop off all of his hair.

*

I think the cloud suit guy on the cover may have been Prince as he imagined himself to be with blonde hair, and possibly the cloud suit itself represents him as being part of the sky and in process of climbing the ladder. A stretch I know, but anything's possible

^Please also check out the edit of my post (re. the ladder). I see what you are saying though, but then again, and as with all things Prince, this painting is open to many interpretations so I don't think there are any right or wrong answers here, what I do know though is that this character most definitely has Prince's eyes...

CherryMoon57 said:

^Please also check out the edit of my post (re. the ladder). I see what you are saying though, but then again, and as with all things Prince, this painting is open to many interpretations so I don't think there are any right or wrong answers here, what I do know though is that this character most definitely has Prince's eyes...

Good observation. Yes, the "Doctor" character definitely seems to have eyes similar to Prince's.

*

Honestly, we all could be reading way more into the cover when Prince may have just thought up some random images (besides those that match some of the songs on the album) along with some pics of characters who represented the band and other associates

violetcrush said:

These are the cover art notes on which the first painting (Jim Warren's) was based.

^^^^ Thanks for posting!!!!! I love how some the "A"s, the "O" and "B" are shaded in. I used to do that too!

*

Interesting how the "guy in the cloud suit with the guitar" and the "girl in ballet slippers playing violin" are not on that list. Guessing Prince may have decided to add them later. I still tend to think they reapresent him and Susannah.

violetcrush said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Whichever one Wendy & Lisa hummed on is the one I favor.

Agreed. Their backround vocals and harmonies always added that extra "flavor" to his songs - lemon or otherwise

Wendy and Lisa are on both versions. I have not heard any version of Pop Life without their vocals.

sexton said:

violetcrush said:

Agreed. Their backround vocals and harmonies always added that extra "flavor" to his songs - lemon or otherwise

Wendy and Lisa are on both versions. I have not heard any version of Pop Life without their vocals.

I meant the one where they "la la la" their way thru Frère Jacques.

TrivialPursuit said:

sexton said:

Wendy and Lisa are on both versions. I have not heard any version of Pop Life without their vocals.

I meant the one where they "la la la" their way thru Frère Jacques.

That always sounded like Sheila E to me, but I may be wrong since I could never find confirmation anywhere.

sexton said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I meant the one where they "la la la" their way thru Frère Jacques.

That always sounded like Sheila E to me, but I may be wrong since I could never find confirmation anywhere.

Pretty sure that's Wendy and Lisa doing the "la la la's" on that version...

violetcrush said:

sexton said:

That always sounded like Sheila E to me, but I may be wrong since I could never find confirmation anywhere.

Pretty sure that's Wendy and Lisa doing the "la la la's" on that version...

Considering Sheila did that remix, it is more likely her vocals?

Also, it kind of ties in with Prince's bass rendition on the full version of "A Love Bizarre".

nayroo2002 said:

violetcrush said:

Pretty sure that's Wendy and Lisa doing the "la la la's" on that version...

Considering Sheila did that remix, it is more likely her vocals?

Also, it kind of ties in with Prince's bass rendition on the full version of "A Love Bizarre".

There were two different 12" versions recorded - one was Sheila's remix called "Fresh Dance Mix" which was released in the US, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The other was Prince's extended original version released in the UK. Per Princevault, at least.

*

I don't think the "la la la" vocals would have been part of the "fresh dance mix" though. That part is just a cute and sweet ode to the classic Frere Jacques song. When I listen to it I can actually hear Lisa's distinct pitch too. It's possible that Sheila added her vocals too, but Princevault has her on drums only for this track, while it has Wendy and Lisa on their instruments plus backing vocals.

nayroo2002 said:

violetcrush said:

Pretty sure that's Wendy and Lisa doing the "la la la's" on that version...

Considering Sheila did that remix, it is more likely her vocals?

Also, it kind of ties in with Prince's bass rendition on the full version of "A Love Bizarre".

Yes, the "Frère Jacques" interpolation in Sheila's Fresh Dance Mix matching the bassline in "A Love Bizarre" is another reason why I think it's Sheila singing that part. I don't really hear Lisa's voice there.

sexton said:

nayroo2002 said:

Considering Sheila did that remix, it is more likely her vocals?

Also, it kind of ties in with Prince's bass rendition on the full version of "A Love Bizarre".

Yes, the "Frère Jacques" interpolation in Sheila's Fresh Dance Mix matching the bassline in "A Love Bizarre" is another reason why I think it's Sheila singing that part. I don't really hear Lisa's voice there.

Hmmmm..... see I DO hear Lisa's voice in there. It's also possible that Lisa and Wendy's vocals were added to that remix. Princevault does not list Sheila for backing vocals on either track though.

*

Would be a great question to ask Wendy and Lisa, Peggy Mac, or Susan Rogers.

sexton said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I meant the one where they "la la la" their way thru Frère Jacques.

That always sounded like Sheila E to me, but I may be wrong since I could never find confirmation anywhere.

Listening back to it (because it's been a minute), I'm 99% sure that's Sheila singing. Sorta blahs it for me. I liked it better thinking it was W&L being quirky or whatever.