I was listening to Earth Wind and Fire today and the song reasons. The song "Reasons" by EWF has the lyric,


Oooh, and after the love game
Has been played
All our illusions
Were just a parade
And all our reasons start to fade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJBgmoYzRE8

Now somebody may be able to school me on the fact that the imagery of parades and pagentry has long been an image for the insincerity of life........ but, I just thought the fact Prince being a huge EWF fan that this line about love being fake, artificial and insincere and being a parade could have had him take this idea and make it his own.

"Goodness will guide us when love's inside us, until then life's a parade" - The poem
The name of the album is parade
Christopher talks to Tricky about life and mentions Parade.
The whole sense of truth and deception, the difference between lust and seduction and actual love is disussed in this film "If two people truly loved another, they could never be apart" (apologies slight paraphrase). Christopher is a gigolo that provokes love but does not love (the water in the bath scene with the phone conversation and Tricky laughing, his treatment of the lady in White Mrs Wellington) and his whole manner of dress and action (the Tarot cards he useds but does not believe in).

For me Prince definitely ran with this idea. I think this little line may have provoked his creative mind to "go long" with the idea. Can I say it was definitely inspired by this song? Of course not, but I just thought a food for thought could feed a few minds.

What do you think? And for a little bit of extra depth. What do you think of the depiction of love in Under the Cherry Moon? I think it was essentially something key to the Prince persona. A lack of trust "Do U lie" in song and dialogue (said when Mary Sharon feels most betrayed) , and the dichotomy of someone who wanted to be a Cassanova and find a one true love he could trust in the public eye and in life.

[Edited 4/19/21 22:34pm]

RJOrion said:

you could easily be correct..Prince was a big EW&F fan...makes logical sense to me

And that is why it hurts he didn't get time to write more of his autobiography. I mean it is plausible, but you can never really tell. I like connecting the dots, but sadly it at this stage it is just a game or a perhaps rather than anything constituting fact.

I would love a tidbit like this if it could be confirmed. For example in the liner notes of the hits/the b sides (and other places) we are told that Prince agonized over U got the look and tried to make it a hit, or I heard Prince really like "Addicted to love " (edit, I goofed and put Simply Irresistible by mistake) by Robert Palmer and noticed how big a hit it was.

That is why I enjoy the fact band members are giving interviews and podcasts and we are hearing things.

[Edited 4/20/21 12:32pm]

Mindbells9 said:

robertgeorge said:

RJOrion said:

you could easily be correct..Prince was a big EW&F fan...makes logical sense to me

And that is why it hurts he didn't get time to write more of his autobiography. I mean it is plausible, but you can never really tell. I like connecting the dots, but sadly it at this stage it is just a game or a perhaps rather than anything constituting fact.

I would love a tidbit like this if it could be confirmed. For example in the liner notes of the hits/the b sides (and other places) we are told that Prince agonized over U got the look and tried to make it a hit, or I heard Prince really like "Simply Irrestible" by Robert Palmer and noticed how big a hit it was.

That is why I enjoy the fact band members are giving interviews and podcasts and we are hearing things.

The story was regarding, Addicted to Love.

So all bands that use the word "parade" have all influenced the other to do the same?

TheEnglishGent said:

robertgeorge said:

And that is why it hurts he didn't get time to write more of his autobiography. I mean it is plausible, but you can never really tell. I like connecting the dots, but sadly it at this stage it is just a game or a perhaps rather than anything constituting fact.

I would love a tidbit like this if it could be confirmed. For example in the liner notes of the hits/the b sides (and other places) we are told that Prince agonized over U got the look and tried to make it a hit, or I heard Prince really like "Simply Irrestible" by Robert Palmer and noticed how big a hit it was.

That is why I enjoy the fact band members are giving interviews and podcasts and we are hearing things.

The story was regarding, Addicted to Love.

Oops, you are a hundred percent correct. I even saw the "Addicted to Love" video in my head but I thought the wrong name and didn't check it correctly.

I will now EDIT my original response. Thank you for that.

Mindbells9 said:

"Come see victory, in the land called, "Fantasty" Loving life, a new decree, Bring your mind to everlasting liberty..." Lyrics from "Fantasy" by Earth, Wind, and Fire which obviously brings to mind "Mountains" (once upon a time in a land called Fantasy)

Nice. That is an even stronger link I did not know about. Very possibly the inspiration.

[Edited 4/20/21 13:28pm]

TrivialPursuit said:

TrivialPursuit said:

So all bands that use the word "parade" have all influenced the other to do the same?

No, I am sorry I think your basic reading comprehension and ability to analyze language is doing you a diservice today or maybe you are being deliberately obtuse to quote "The Shawshank Redemption". You know at this point it is fifty fifty either way.

Let's start with the thread topic. Let's start with the word may (great word, three letters one syllable). Good thing I didn't use the word potentially or possibly, I could have really been attempting to push the question beyond a third grade level.

I simply stated (or so I thought, oops) that Prince MAY have been inspired by the lyric and ideas in the EWF song. I have no proof, but said that knowing Prince was a huge EWF fan, worked with them once by giving them the song superhero and name checked them on musicology and also given the themes of UTCM, he MAY (there is that word again) have been inspired by this lyric. I even said that I could never be sure, that it was just a fun way to invite discussion about Prince and the ideas of UTCM more than thinking my topic was some form of ineffable scholarly research.

Let's talk about "all" . I did not say all bands. I would never dare to say that. To do so would be a bridge too far.

I thought the thread was on a bit of a tangent, but thought it might generate some interesting ideas and answers. I hope that answers your "question"

[Edited 4/20/21 13:50pm]

TrivialPursuit said:

LoveGalore said:

thebanishedone said:

LoveGalore said:

Tsk tsk, what a pity Sometimes the org can be so shitty

I agree. Nonsense lol.How about Prince being influenced by Soft Parade by The Doors

I am guessing lyrics, meanings, and connecting with an artist using his life, influences and body of work may not be one of your particular skills.

The clue here is that it is not the actual word parade but the metaphor and imagery behind it. I think Prince being influenced by lyrics from a band he loved is not out of the realm of POSSIBILITIES.

Yeah that high falsetto at the start of Mountains always reminded me of those late 70s disco bands (EWF and Bee Gees).

robertgeorge said:

thebanishedone said:

LoveGalore said: I agree. Nonsense lol.How about Prince being influenced by Soft Parade by The Doors

I am guessing lyrics, meanings, and connecting with an artist using his life, influences and body of work may not be one of your particular skills.

The clue here is that it is not the actual word parade but the metaphor and imagery behind it. I think Prince being influenced by lyrics from a band he loved is not out of the realm of POSSIBILITIES.

And i'm guessing u are ready for everything just to give your topic some credibility.just because you heard the word Parade in EWF song don't mean it was what inpired him.And how do you know Prince was not inspired by Soft Parade by The Doors

here are lyrics:

Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade

why can't these lyrics be a direct inspiration to Christopher Tracys Parade?

Dandroppedadime said:

actually there is a much bigger chance Prince was influenced by Soft Parade by The Doors than that nice love song by EWF. Soft Parade is more phylosophical in nature and closer to Parade in subject that Reasons which is a nice love song but with earthier message

thebanishedone said:

RJOrion said:

Dandroppedadime said:

Yeah that high falsetto at the start of Mountains always reminded me of those late 70s disco bands (EWF and Bee Gees).

LOL...WTF?...Earth Wind & Fire is NOT a "late 70s disco band"...over 21 albums and over 60 singles in their catalog, they have a total of 1 song that could loosely be described as "disco"..."Boogie Wonderland"..thats it.. and their prolific recording & touring career started in 1971 and they still perfom to this day...not just the "late 70s"

well ,people like to talk about things they have no clue,so no surprise there RJ EWF were about funk and pyramids and calimba,odd disco single here and there was a novelty,not what they were about

thebanishedone said:

actually there is a much bigger chance Prince was influenced by Soft Parade by The Doors than that nice love song by EWF. Soft Parade is more phylosophical in nature and closer to Parade in subject that Reasons which is a nice love song but with earthier message

I guess we can never truly know where influences strike. And as the fifth anniversary of Prince's death is due it makes me sad we just can't have Prince participate in an AMA anymore (though I think he did once and answered two questions, one answer was about the perfect frequency for recording music and the other answer was to plug his recent song "The gold standard"). Not that Prince was forthcoming and he did try and remain mysterious, but I do think he was softening (no pun intended) with his autobiography and the piano and mic tour. But it is like when a loved one passes, you suddenly have all these questions you wish you would have asked him, (though we probably would scare him with some of our posts on the org).

Anyway the thing about influences is that you often hear them and the artist did not even think of that influence or did so unsubconsciously it was not deliberate but came through osmosis. I remember listening to a particular band a lot and playing their songs, and when I wrote some songs, I picked up some of their style and patterns. It was not until someone pointed it out I realized what I had done. In my defense it was not deliberate and a mixture of different songs.

The Doors have been a firm favorite of mine early on and remain so. I would have thought Morrison's showmanship on stage may have been the most direct influence Prince could take note of and adapt in the way he talked to the audience (amongst a cast of dozens of acts with more obvious influences such as James Brown, Sly and the family Stone, Hendrix, Parliament Funkadelic etc etc.).

I always liked how the Doors added, Blues, Jazz, Rock, Classical, Flamenco aspects together, but this of course was not exclusively something they did, I just thought they did it in a really clever and accessible way.

TBH, we all are just left talking about things we don't know or will never know about where Prince is concerned, but it passes the time till we get a valuable interview like from Susan Rogers.

I mean even questions like why Prince chose the Peanuts "Linus and Lucy" music for the Piano and Mic tour would be good to know definitively. I assume nostalgia a song he liked or learned in childhood, but I don't know.

Peace.

[Edited 4/21/21 3:13am]

btw i think Prince composed song Guitar after getting inspired by While My Guitar Gently Weeps.i mean can somebody argue that ? there is a word guitar in the title,the only benefit of doubt i have is because Look in the air it's my guitar lyrics from Cream.btw I think song Cream is inspired by super group Cream i had to joke a bit sorry

[Edited 4/21/21 3:15am]

robertgeorge said:

thebanishedone said:

actually there is a much bigger chance Prince was influenced by Soft Parade by The Doors than that nice love song by EWF. Soft Parade is more phylosophical in nature and closer to Parade in subject that Reasons which is a nice love song but with earthier message

I guess we can never truly know where influences strike. And as the fifth anniversary of Prince's death is due it makes me sad we just can't have Prince participate in an AMA anymore (though I think he did once and answered two questions, one answer was about the perfect frequency for recording music and the other answer was to plug his recent song "The gold standard"). Not that Prince was forthcoming and he did try and remain mysterious, but I do think he was softening (no pun intended) with his autobiography and the piano and mic tour. But it is like when a loved one passes, you suddenly have all these questions you wish you would have asked him, (though we probably would scare him with some of our posts on the org).

Anyway the thing about influences is that you often hear them and the artist did not even think of that influence or did so unsubconsciously it was not deliberate but came through osmosis. I remember listening to a particular band a lot and playing their songs, and when I wrote some songs, I picked up some of their style and patterns. It was not until someone pointed it out I realized what I had done. In my defense it was not deliberate and a mixture of different songs.

The Doors have been a firm favorite of mine early on and remain so. I would have thought Morrison's showmanship on stage may have been the most direct influence Prince could take note of and adapt in the way he talked to the audience (amongst a cast of dozens of acts with more obvious influences such as James Brown, Sly and the family Stone, Hendrix, Parliament Funkadelic etc etc.).

I always liked how the Doors added, Blues, Jazz, Rock, Classical, Flamenco aspects together, but this of course was not exclusively something they did, I just thought they did it in a really clever and accessible way.

TBH, we all are just left talking about things we don't know or will never know about where Prince is concerned, but it passes the time till we get a valuable interview like from Susan Rogers.

I mean even questions like why Prince chose the Peanuts "Linus and Lucy" music for the Piano and Mic tour would be good to know definitively. I assume nostalgia a song he liked or learned in childhood, but I don't know.

Peace.

[Edited 4/21/21 3:13am]

i agree Doors were a great band and maybe Prince was not inspired by the music but he was aware of Jim Morrison of course

thebanishedone said:

btw i think Prince composed song Guitar after getting inspired by While My Guitar Gently Weeps.i mean can somebody argue that ? there is a word guitar in the title,the only benefit of doubt i have is because Look in the air it's my guitar lyrics from Cream.btw I think song Cream is inspired by super group Cream

I know you are having fun, but I would stress the difference between the use of imagery vs the use of a word in a song. I discussed the image in the EWF song, and you have discussed the word. I mean what would you think Christopher Tracy's Parade is? I mean beyond the glibness of an obvious joke which you have repeated three times (to what I would argue is lessening effect) I mean why was that word so important it was used in the film's dialogue in two scenes, given the title for the album and was featured in the "title song" of that album in Christopher Tracy's parade. Surely Prince had some deeper meaning in it"

For Guitar, I noted the similarity of the riff to U2's I will follow. Now personally I believe that was a coincidence. You or someone else could say "why do I pick my battles" I guess the answer is subjectivitiy and the falibility of our insight. We pick a story and chose to believe it. I like "I will follow better than guitar anyway.

Cream was inspired by Prince looking in the mirror. Which was a great story. It was Prince boasting and enjoying his persona of the rock star. Just like Daddy Pop, (deep purple conchord jams up on the shelf) or the continental (why be a star when you can be a sun). I mean if you throw a theory up there I will at least try and put a little substance on it.

I just feel that EWF "may have inspired" the Parade album, a spark that shaped the start of creation. I certainly can't be sure, but hey as Prince would say about this and every other post on the org "Whatever floats your boat" and I just thought this topic had enough wood to float some conversations (key thick as two short planks gag).

robertgeorge said:

thebanishedone said:

btw i think Prince composed song Guitar after getting inspired by While My Guitar Gently Weeps.i mean can somebody argue that ? there is a word guitar in the title,the only benefit of doubt i have is because Look in the air it's my guitar lyrics from Cream.btw I think song Cream is inspired by super group Cream

I know you are having fun, but I would stress the difference between the use of imagery vs the use of a word in a song. I discussed the image in the EWF song, and you have discussed the word. I mean what would you think Christopher Tracy's Parade is? I mean beyond the glibness of an obvious joke which you have repeated three times (to what I would argue is lessening effect) I mean why was that word so important it was used in the film's dialogue in two scenes, given the title for the album and was featured in the "title song" of that album in Christopher Tracy's parade. Surely Prince had some deeper meaning in it"

For Guitar, I noted the similarity of the riff to U2's I will follow. Now personally I believe that was a coincidence. You or someone else could say "why do I pick my battles" I guess the answer is subjectivitiy and the falibility of our insight. We pick a story and chose to believe it. I like "I will follow better than guitar anyway.

Cream was inspired by Prince looking in the mirror. Which was a great story. It was Prince boasting and enjoying his persona of the rock star. Just like Daddy Pop, (deep purple conchord jams up on the shelf) or the continental (why be a star when you can be a sun). I mean if you throw a theory up there I will at least try and put a little substance on it.

I just feel that EWF "may have inspired" the Parade album, a spark that shaped the start of creation. I certainly can't be sure, but hey as Prince would say about this and every other post on the org "Whatever floats your boat" and I just thought this topic had enough wood to float some conversations (key thick as two short planks gag).

robert it was a joke anywayu i think Prince was more than inspired by U2 song.i love Prince but i know at least 15 examples of him "borrowing"

Dandroppedadime said:

Yeah that high falsetto at the start of Mountains always reminded me of those late 70s disco bands (EWF and Bee Gees).

At least stretch before you make a reach like that, EWF is not a late 70s disco band. smh

haveaglamslam said:

Dandroppedadime said:

Yeah that high falsetto at the start of Mountains always reminded me of those late 70s disco bands (EWF and Bee Gees).

At least stretch before you make a reach like that, EWF is not a late 70s disco band. smh