EnglishGent2 said:

I don't care if other people do covers, so long as we can hear a Prince original. I've got no interest in hearing others sing the songs, but if it makes money for the estate and we get the original, then I'm happy.

I have never been particularly bothered about side projects, proteges etc. For me, I like when Prince sings.

This will cost teh Estate money and more trouble regarding rights.

I've always thought this was a good idea.

This sounds like a pretty good idea. The guy was a fantastic songwriter when he put the effort in, & artists always need songwriters. I'm sure there are songs in his vault that he had other singers in mind when he constructed them anyway. Also,there were plenty of Prince songs that came out and in my opinion should/could have been hits but (possibly) because it was Prince, just didn't make it. No one can do it like him obviously, but personally I think that a certain bias existed when it came to Prince in later years. As awesome as he was, he was remained an underdog in some regards. So some of his songs done up by newer artists may be where it's at. Novel idea!

Hm.

Prince never liked others doing his songs, when he wasn't fully or even partially in control.

But, the idea sounds crazy and why not.

Hell there isn't anything els going on, right?

[Edited 3/4/26 14:42pm]

JorisE73 said:

databank said:

TBH, I don't know anything the Estate did so far was "ethical", but I see where you're coming from.

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Just to clarify where I stand about the "frankensteining", I think everyone here knows how opposed to it I usually am (whether official or fanmade)there are a few grey areas where I can tolerate the approach. This would be one because the final product by ARTIST X couldn't possibly be confused with the original. Another one (though it was rarely ever used to great results), is posthumous remixes of released songs by another established artist, like what Bill Laswell did with Bob Marley, because that usually cannot be confused with the originals either (now let me be clear: I'd rather they don't do this with Prince's music ).

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TBH I only suggested the idea of using P's backing tracks in passing, because it was common when he gave away songs, but I don't think that would be the most interesting approach for any musician doing it. Regarding the legalities of it all, I gotta admit I hadn't thought about it. Warner could only object to the use of a recording, though, not a composition.

When Justin Timberlake somehow was allowed to use Prince's vocal stems from IWD4U just to further his own failimng career was awful and disrespectful enough. I don't think we need more of this kind of shit with other nobodies messing with or using Prince's work just to sell there own bullshit records.

I wasn't even aware of that. When did that happen?

Anyway I was hoping for artists of a higher caliber than Justin Timberlake.

IDK why so often, when other artists are discussed here, it comes back to the shit factory when there's actually a shitload of talented artists out there.

Vannormal said:

Hm.

Prince never liked others doing his songs, when he wasn't fully or even partially in control.

But, the idea sounds crazy and why not.

Hell there isn't anything els going on, right?

[Edited 3/4/26 14:42pm]

Not really. When he gave away songs he usually gave the artists full leeway as to whether use his backing tracks as such, overdub them or rerecord the song entirely.

And I'm not aware of a single situation when an artist or band asked him for a new song and he refused (someone correct me if I'm wrong), so it doesn't seem he cared much who sang his material.

Ndorphinmachina said:

Wouldn't be against it in principle. As mentioned, the prestige was Prince writing for another artist. Although I seem to remember talk of a cassette tape of songs being shopped around various artists, for them to choose from. So he wasn't always writing with a specific person in mind. It's not like he hasn't given songs to, and been solely responsible for one-hit-wonders in the past. There would need to be some mechanisms in place to keep Prince as the sole writer IMO. So as to stop people changing a line or adding a word to receive co-writer credits. I think anything that gets his music out there is a good thing. If something becomes a hit, even better. If the artist then fades into oblivion, who cares? It's not a slight on Prince. Rather another song added to the list of hits. That said, the estate doesn't seem capable of holding more than one idea at a time, and they currently seem to be focused on their completely original, never seen before idea, of putting music in films and TV. If you can even believe such a thing, without getting a nose bleed.

True. IIRC it's that tape with those 1 minute-long snippets that are (at least partly) circulating, isn't it?

Absolutely fucking not. I don't wanna hear goddamn Dupa Lizzo or Doja Styles whoever singing anything by Prince, especially something we've not even heard him sing yet. These "singers" are products. It takes 5-15 people to write one of their stupid little 3-minute songs, and you wanna throw a freebie Prince song at 'em? No ma'am, not today.

I'll point everyone to the atrocities of Thriller 25 when no-talent hacks like will.i.am, Fergie, Akon, and Kanye West were given free reign to re-imagine "The Girl Is Mine," "P.Y.T.," "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Billie Jean," and "Beat It."

NO ONE wanted that shit, nor listened to it. It was an embarrassment of stupidity on MJ's estate part.

TrivialPursuit said:

Absolutely fucking not. I don't wanna hear goddamn Dupa Lizzo or Doja Styles whoever singing anything by Prince, especially something we've not even heard him sing yet. These "singers" are products. It takes 5-15 people to write one of their stupid little 3-minute songs, and you wanna throw a freebie Prince song at 'em? No ma'am, not today.

I'll point everyone to the atrocities of Thriller 25 when no-talent hacks like will.i.am, Fergie, Akon, and Kanye West were given free reign to re-imagine "The Girl Is Mine," "P.Y.T.," "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Billie Jean," and "Beat It."

NO ONE wanted that shit, nor listened to it. It was an embarrassment of stupidity on MJ's estate part.

Again, no offense, but why do y'all always cite the most commercial acts as examples (regardless of the topic at hand)?

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There's a gazillion of talented people out there that may not top the charts, but certainly have a faithful following and a successful career. Don't y'all listen to those instead? Guys, give up on the mainstream already. I remember as far back as 2009, my then GF told me about Lady GaGa and I was like "Lady Who?", and she was like "You don't know who Lady GaGa is?" and I was like "Nope, who's that?", and she was like "She's just the most famous artist on Earth at the moment", and I was like "How the fuck would I know who's famous nowadays? I don't watch TV, I don't listen to the radio., I only go fishing for indie acts online and so do my friends."

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That said, the last Doja Cat is an absolute gem for 80s lovers. I fell upon her by chance by shazaming her once somewhere—I had no idea she was famous if she is indeed, I just liked what I heard—and while I'm only so and so with what she did earlier, "Vie" is my jam

TrivialPursuit said:

I'll point everyone to the atrocities of Thriller 25 when no-talent hacks like will.i.am, Fergie, Akon, and Kanye West were given free reign to re-imagine "The Girl Is Mine," "P.Y.T.," "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Billie Jean," and "Beat It."

NO ONE wanted that shit, nor listened to it. It was an embarrassment of stupidity on MJ's estate part.

That was released when Mike was alive though. So he signed off on it. Mike did a duet with Akon called Hold My Hand. He was also working on new songs with will.i.am. But that stuff was never released.

Vannormal said:

Hm.

Prince never liked others doing his songs, when he wasn't fully or even partially in control.

But, the idea sounds crazy and why not.

Hell there isn't anything els going on, right?

[Edited 3/4/26 14:42pm]

Prince is dead and left no will. Y'all need to stop with this "Prince wouldn't like this and that".

Hey, I know this idea sounds crazy and unprecedented, but... what if the estate just sold more vault releases to us existing fans?

paisleyparkgirl said:

Vannormal said:

Hm.

Prince never liked others doing his songs, when he wasn't fully or even partially in control.

But, the idea sounds crazy and why not.

Hell there isn't anything els going on, right?

[Edited 3/4/26 14:42pm]

Prince is dead and left no will. Y'all need to stop with this "Prince wouldn't like this and that".

Tahnkfully the Estate thinks otherwise than some random fans.
If you had it your way his music would have been in some shitty racist/rapist doc called MElania, "which Prince wouldn't like" according to the people that are more invested in him and his legacy than some random fans who want his music be cheapened by 15 minute no talent poop acts who are unworthy of his work.

JorisE73 said:

JorisE73 said:

paisleyparkgirl said:

Prince is dead and left no will. Y'all need to stop with this "Prince wouldn't like this and that".

Tahnkfully the Estate thinks otherwise than some random fans.
If you had it your way his music would have been in some shitty racist/rapist doc called MElania, "which Prince wouldn't like" according to the people that are more invested in him and his legacy than some random fans who want his music be cheapened by 15 minute no talent poop acts who are unworthy of his work.

[Edited 3/5/26 17:41pm]

paisleyparkgirl said:

Many of the responses to this idea center around artists emulating Prince's vision or concept of the song.

When I initially saw the idea, I was thinking about just shopping the written composition. (re: not shop Prince's demo just to copy the entire style and vibe, a la Originals)

Let the artists do what artists do. Form their own expression of the song. I would think many artists would be interested in bringing Prince-penned songs to life. Heaven knows there are enough artists who publicly idolize him.

Then some time later it might be fun to drop the original. OR even do an album with vault material (by Prince) and the same vault material interpeted by other artists (on the same album).

pdiddy2011 said:

pdiddy2011 said:

Many of the responses to this idea center around artists emulating Prince's vision or concept of the song.

When I initially saw the idea, I was thinking about just shopping the written composition. (re: not shop Prince's demo just to copy the entire style and vibe, a la Originals)

Let the artists do what artists do. Form their own expression of the song. I would think many artists would be interested in bringing Prince-penned songs to life. Heaven knows there are enough artists who publicly idolize him.

Then some time later it might be fun to drop the original. OR even do an album with vault material (by Prince) and the same vault material interpeted by other artists (on the same album).

This is mostly how I envisioned it.

Some entirely rerecorded Prince-penned songs, such as Baby Go-Go, If I Love U 2Nite or 5 Women were vastly re-imagined by the artists they were given to.

pdiddy2011 said:

databank said:

ShellyMcG said:

pdiddy2011 said:

Many of the responses to this idea center around artists emulating Prince's vision or concept of the song.

When I initially saw the idea, I was thinking about just shopping the written composition. (re: not shop Prince's demo just to copy the entire style and vibe, a la Originals)

Let the artists do what artists do. Form their own expression of the song. I would think many artists would be interested in bringing Prince-penned songs to life. Heaven knows there are enough artists who publicly idolize him.

Then some time later it might be fun to drop the original. OR even do an album with vault material (by Prince) and the same vault material interpeted by other artists (on the same album).

Wouldn't it be better to just have the Prince versions and not have other artists versions at all? I don't want to have to pay extra for a second disc of music I'll never listen to. And I don't think having other artists covering unreleased Prince songs is going to add many more sales to the overall package so it would just work out more expensive for the Estate than it needs to be. Let's not make things any more complicated than they need to be. The fans want unreleased Prince music. The estate have a vault full of it. How about they just sell it to us for a reasonable price.

I never suggested that the Estate was to release said songs. It would totally defeat the purpose economically. What I suggested is exactly what Prince was doing when he was alive, i.e. giving compositions to other artists to rerecord and release by themselves, and getting paid with songwriting royalties. It's free publicity, free media coverage, zero promo efforts, zero production costs and some money coming in.

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More generally, because several people said what you say here, i.e. "let them release the Prince versions instead", this is a false dilemma.

It's not this OR that, as in "if this happens, that can't happen" or "if this doesn't happen, then that will happen". The economic models between releasing Prince outtakes and shopping original compositions around is entirely different. The options aren't mutually exclusive.

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Anyway, let us agree that my idea was entirely hypothetical: even if everyone had cheered at the idea, the Estate won't do anything just because 25 people discussed it on the Org. It's not happening any more than a one disc rerelease of Emancipation

ShellyMcG said:

databank said:

This is mostly how I envisioned it.

Some entirely rerecorded Prince-penned songs, such as Baby Go-Go, If I Love U 2Nite or 5 Women were vastly re-imagined by the artists they were given to.

Does that not defeat the purpose of the whole thing though? The end result would sound nothing like Prince. It would just be a compilation of random songs by random artists with the only thing they have in common is that Prince wrote the lyrics. I can't see the appeal in that at all.

No one ever talked about a compilation (see my reply above).

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I think rearranging a song is a little less extreme than "just keeping the lyrics". BG-G, IILU2N and 5 Women are still BG-G, IILU2N and 5 Women. We were very happy to hear them at the time. Raspberry Beret is still Raspberry Beret whether it's the ATWIAD version or Prince sitting alone at a piano on stage. And TBH, while I don't care at all for Violent Femmes, I'm really curious as to what they would have done with Wonderful Ass if they'd rerecorded it when Prince offered it to them

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Anyway, the idea was to allow selected artists to reappropriate the songs and make them available to their own audiences, and, mostly, generate some buzz because it's kind of a novel concept (with a dead artist).

Sure why not? I mean, I'd rather the Estate shop the vault songs to us but if they're just gonna sit there languishing on the shelf it's better to release them in some form.

MickyDolenz said:

He was also working on new songs with will.i.am. But that stuff was never released.

And let's hope it never is.

databank said:

Again, no offense, but why do y'all always cite the most commercial acts as examples (regardless of the topic at hand)?

The proposition was to let other artists record unheard Prince songs.

My answer is "absolutely fucking not."

TrivialPursuit said:

databank said:

Again, no offense, but why do y'all always cite the most commercial acts as examples (regardless of the topic at hand)?

The proposition was to let other artists record unheard Prince songs.

My answer is "absolutely fucking not."

I'm OK with that.

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But you (and others) also mentioned giving the songs to cheap singers that are "products", and if the Estate was ever to do anything like this (which they won't), I was hoping they'd select respected musicians and bands, not MTV Music Awards contenders.

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Though, again, Prince didn't give a fuck. Most of the people he gave songs to in his his lifetime were "products". I mentioned Kahoru Kohiruimaki, Louie Louie, Carmen Electra, Kenny Rogers and Celine Dion before, but I could also have talked about Patti Labelle, Martika, Paula Abdul, Sheena Easton, Sue Ann, Ren Woods, Howard Hewitt, Elisa Fiorillo, Tevin Campbell and others whose records were little more than "products" at the time. They were very few artists of a high caliber in the list, let alone artists that were songwriters in their own right. But pursuing that tradition was not what I had in mind. It was fun at the time (and profitable for Prince), but I don't think the Estate would get much respect for giving away songs to the modern equivalents of such artists. If such an operation was to succeed with the music press, it would probably have to come with some dignity. Unless they go at it like vultures and think cash before reputation. But that's not what I was suggesting.

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I should probably have clarified this in my OP. I have now.

TrivialPursuit said:

MickyDolenz said:

He was also working on new songs with will.i.am. But that stuff was never released.

And let's hope it never is.

I don't even know why MJ was brought into this conversation. His career had nothing to do with Prince's in terms of artistic achievements. And, as said before, Thriller 25 was on him, not his Estate. And I doubt Prince would have done anything like it. He'd rather have slaughtered his own songs himself if needed be—see 1999: The New Master

And the way MJ's posthumous releases were handled is also a prime example of what NOT to do, and for all their past and present mistakes, the Estate at least appear to have figured that out.