Michael Bland tells a quick story about how MJ sent Prince stuff all the time. The mail would come in and there'd be a package from MJJ Productions. So Prince would call everyone in his office, and they'd play the VHS or the CD. It was things like Sly Stone on some TV, or Goin' Back To Indiana concert straight from the reel. Bland recalls one time that MJ had sent a copy of "Earth Song."

They all sat there "in awe" of the song. Prince said, "Michael's still got it!"

I'm not sure there is a collaboration in the vault.

I really don't think so (hoep i'm wrong).

They respected each other. And the competition was huge from Prince's side.

Michael really wanted to work with prince, not the other way around.

See it different, did Prince ever send something (back) to Michael?

But it's nice that Michael Bland finally tels a bit about this.

We don't know shit. And surely The current Estate is not going to do much about

these stories.

-

Actually The Estate could order a new biography about Prince, a good written book, only about facts and stories from those whe worked close with him... as far as facts go and are reliable of course.

That would be a nice idea, no?

They could ask Dan Piepenbring again... maybe working together with Andrea Swensson...

Maybe we can get more true Michael and Prince stories.

Why not.

Estate?

You hear me?

I didn't know anything about this one :

-

So apparently it could've been like this :

-

Michael Jackson was asked to write the Batman Theme

George Michael The Love Theme

and Prince The Joker Theme

....

?

[Edited 6/27/23 9:31am]

I don't really think there's an MJ/Prince collab in there. They're much too big and cautious of each other to just sit and record like that. But, I believe they cared about each other and supported each other's careers and artistry.

I believe Prince was casual enough to put a track down, but I don't believe MJ was as willing to show himself in that way. Which is probably why he sent finished stuff to Prince, knowing it was done and that Prince respected him.

We can't forget that Prince basically shut things down for quite a few days when MJ died, and locked himself in a room and worked it out in his head and heart.

TrivialPursuit said:

There's also the story where Prince called MJ "Camille" the whole meeting and the other where Prince tried to run him down with his car after MJ embarassed him calling him on stage when Prince was clearly blasted on something during that James Brown Grammys aftershow. ofcourse the will.i.am/Chris Tucker corroborated live concert "Bass in the Face" story where Michael genuinely asked them why Prince was always mean to him afterwards. Maybe that was why he locked himself inside the room at Paisley Park.

Both the fans and the media tend to deal in extremes. You ask one section it was all sunshine and lollipops, you ask another it was all heated rivalry and passive-aggression.

Like most things, reality was probably somewhere down the middle, but I feel it necessary to crowbar in a little balance when the org has this penchant to veer into sesame street territory like they were Bert & Ernie-esque BFFs, when reality in "Team Wuv" has about the same handful of examples as "Team Rivalry" has.

[Edited 6/27/23 19:52pm]

Am3121 said:

It would be amazing I know MJ sent "BAD" to prince and prince ended up recording his own version Then there's the story of prince sending "wouldn't you love to love me" to MJ but he turned it down Idk if this is true but I had read MJ originally wanted Prince to go on tour with him in 2009.Now that would've broke some records I'm sure. Idk if that is true or not

Even all these examples, like your framing of them is like "hey, he was trying to be cool to him and reach out," which how they're usually framed.

But my read is (and perhaps Prince's was, too, which is maybe why the collabs never happened) like what is Prince his plucky sidekick. Is he Launchpad to MJ's Darkwing Duck? Sing backup on "Bad"? Did MJ pay any attention to how Prince structured his career? He went out of his way to ignore why "We Are the World" wasn't Prince's vibe? MJ never looked at the credits of a Prince record sleeve? All this was like a step above asking Prince to tune a guitar.

Am3121 said:

I have a hard time believing that Prince tried to run MJ over I mean that's really savage and hardcore The only one who said that story is true is Quincy jones isn't it? I think he's been known to say some crazy non believable stuff in the past year

Yeah yeah this is always the org take,

but Prince was pretty gat dam wasted there AND humiliated like he had never been before OR since. You all try and insta reframe it like it was a ginger Tuesday afternoon at Paisley after a midday snack.

[Edited 6/27/23 20:02pm]

That was probably the most humiliating night in Prince's entire professional adult life, honestly.

Maybe you could say Rolling Stones but that was clearly just some old fashioned backwoods racism. JB night was pure industry shade and setup.

[Edited 6/27/23 20:04pm]

TrivialPursuit said:

I don't really think there's an MJ/Prince collab in there. They're much too big and cautious of each other to just sit and record like that. But, I believe they cared about each other and supported each other's careers and artistry.

I believe Prince was casual enough to put a track down, but I don't believe MJ was as willing to show himself in that way. Which is probably why he sent finished stuff to Prince, knowing it was done and that Prince respected him.

We can't forget that Prince basically shut things down for quite a few days when MJ died, and locked himself in a room and worked it out in his head and heart.

Is that so?

I din't know.

Where did you get this from?

Thanks.

Am3121 said:

I have a hard time believing that Prince tried to run MJ over I mean that's really savage and hardcore The only one who said that story is true is Quincy jones isn't it? I think he's been known to say some crazy non believable stuff in the past years

...turning the real into unreal

Take the story for what it is...

peace though.

[Edited 6/28/23 2:33am]

Vannormal said:

TrivialPursuit said:

We can't forget that Prince basically shut things down for quite a few days when MJ died, and locked himself in a room and worked it out in his head and heart.

Is that so?

I din't know.

Where did you get this from?

Thanks.

Yes. Yes it is.
Band members.

TrivialPursuit said:

I just love that they had any relationship, and a complicated one makes all too much sense. MJ had collections of material nobody else did, and you can kind of see him attempting to influence Prince's work through it, maybe showing off a little at times, but also thinking Prince should do this or that, and trying to inspire it. You know it's lonely at the top.The coolest part of the story is that Prince loved the presents and knew he was getting something good.

^ ^ ^ And who's to say Prince didn't send MJ stuff like that to show off?

Am3121 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Yes. Yes it is.
Band members.

Band members and Tavis (not Travis) Smiley mentioned it too

Tavis Smiley talked about it on his show after he had a conversation with Prince.

TrivialPursuit said:

^ ^ ^ And who's to say Prince didn't send MJ stuff like that to show off?

Absolutley not!.. at least that's what i think.

That would be above his pride and some copy-cat behaviour.

And Prince never was one to proove himself to no one, except to himself,

or like back in the day with The Time.

I just think Prince was smarter than that.

If not we would already know about this.

And by the way it was (always) Michael who wanted to work with Prince.

Not the other way around. IMHO of ocurse

Vannormal said:

TrivialPursuit said:

^ ^ ^ And who's to say Prince didn't send MJ stuff like that to show off?

Absolutley not!.. at least that's what i think.

That would be above his pride and some copy-cat behaviour.

And Prince never was one to proove himself to no one, except to himself,

or like back in the day with The Time.

I just think Prince was smarter than that.

If not we would already know about this.

And by the way it was (always) Michael who wanted to work with Prince.

Not the other way around. IMHO of ocurse

Well, that's conjecture. It's not that even MJ was trying to prove himself either. It was two people who respected each other's artistry.

Am3121 said:

.... the kid says in disgust "a prince t shirt"? And according to Janet Jackson, Prince use to go roller skating with her, MJ, and the rest of the Jacksons. Around that time Prince had a crush on LaToya.

"...in disgust" is a conclusion, not a fact.

TrivialPursuit said:

Am3121 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

"...in disgust" is a conclusion, not a fact.

Idk it seems pretty factual to me.Judging by the tone and look on his face But I am sure it was all in good fun on MJ's part because the BAD duet was suppose to happen around that time

It's often the reaction of somebody that falls into the idea it's one or the other. You can like both. Their individual greatness is undeniable-like them or not. I for one like to hear about their mutual respect.

[Edited 6/30/23 16:37pm]

whodknee said:

Am3121 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

^ ^ ^ And who's to say Prince didn't send MJ stuff like that to show off?

Who knows? Prince could have sent the birthday show, or a demo of a song he thought was hot, but he's not known for having an archive of other artists and tv specials. He had a generous spirit and I'm sure if he ever did send MJ something it was touching and in his own style. Also knowing Prince he sent something like Dolphin.