Dear Prince.org,

Way back when, I distinctly remember writing a piece and contributing my thoughts here, suggesting to those reading that if I was to make it known who, or what, I was working for, I would potentially be putting my work at risk. A number of you have continuously asked about the secrecy but I'll ask you to bear the following in mind, as I leave you with my final thoughts here...

I began my time at Prince.org as an enthusiastic fan, much like I imagine we all do. I hated the fact that Prince had released Chaos & Disorder and The Vault as a means to find his freedom, disregarding the cost to his body of work. I resented my interpretation that such freedom would ultimately bring inspiration-less endeavours, such as the Crystal Ball collection and Newpower Soul side project. I also cringed when I heard how artificial Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic sounded to me. However, since my time in the Prince 'network', I now have a much greater appreciation of why things happened the way they did, and what the truth about being 'emancipated' really meant. To my mind, it means for Prince to live as carefree a life as possible. Prince is not answerable to anyone anymore, and although he may have acted like it before his departure with Warner Brothers, I came to realise that that really could not have been further from the truth, especially regarding his choices of image and the manner in which he presented his music. I think he felt he became a product of himself, I can't really explain it here as well I'd like to, but I guess you all know what I mean.

A few of you will not be surprised to know that I was contacted by Prince in March this year asking me quite simply, and I quote, "What do you do for a living?" This is after I had innocently created one of my first 'popular' threads wondering whether Prince had lost that funk forever. I replied that I was working as a Human Performance consultant for a management consultancy but that my real vision was to engage a diverse understanding of human behaviour on my own terms, and that I was on route to becoming a Chartered Psychologist. He later asked me, again very simply, and I quote, 'What do you know about me?" I told him what I thought, not very dissimilar to what I have written above, and we began a number of written correspondances regarding what he felt about a whole variety of things. It soon became apparent to me that I was dealing with a peculiar creature and that sub-consciously I was actually beginning to coach his behaviour, as I naturally do with many of my clients. Anyway, it also became apparent to me that one of his main issues was how he was struggling to find the freedom he fought so hard to realise and if I may say so, quite naively thought he would have when he was free from his contractual obligations. It was clear that there were a number of barriers to his happiness, not least of all Prince not knowing what his happiness involved, but the area which intrigued me the most was when he mentioned his fans, and what he thought about them.

Trust me when I say it's a love/hate relationship in much the same way he carries a love/hate relationship with his music. But I must tell you, as much as he is quite the emotional type, he is forever the optimist. It's coincidentally a characteristic we both share and funnily enough, something I have come to understand that is fundamental in his music for many of us. I told him this, and he laughed because, and I quote, "That's not something I put much thought into", but he has come to realise in recent months that there is more to this than just his feelings. I recently created a thread about how Prince was struggling to retire. I remember concluding something along the lines of the idea that we're all part of something bigger than ourselves, and to be careful what you say and do because you might never know how you may end up influencing things. I wrote that about The Rainbow Children, and it's the same advice I had given to him that night. I guess I haven't told you that we usually speak over the phone, or at least, we used to. He usually always calls me. Sometimes it's the other way around when something's bugging me but he prefers to just speak when he feels like it. It's funny, that taxi cab ride before The Holy River is often exactly what it sounds like when he calls. What's even funnier, is that he often calls me when he's thinking and he usually does this when he's alone, and riding in a taxi. I know that sounds absolutely ridiculous and I remember laughing about it to him but then I began to learn that he would almost always do things in a peculiar way. He once told me why, and if I remember correctly, he said, "It feels safer here."

Now, why am I writing all of this and you must be wondering whether I am allowed to? In fact, I'm losing myself here, most of you are probably definitely wondering whether this is another one of Anji's tricks. Truthfully, I had to ask him whether it was cool to do this but he told me earlier this week that our time has come to a natural close for him and that our relationship has given him what he needs to understand. In fact, he's even gone so far as to say that he wishes this to be my last thread associated with him. I asked him whether it would be okay to tell any of you that it was not just me, but rather the both of us, observing what's really happening in the real world of the Prince community. He just said, "Do what you have to do. I thank you, I love you, but I have to go now. I'll be in touch." I hope so, I've learnt a hell alot from my experience and although I really cannot even begin to tell you what his thoughts are regarding many of his perceived actions, much of what I've been discussing on my threads is related. In fact, read that thread on fans, or any number of my recent ones, and you'll know what I'm talking about. I already know what most of you are going to say in response to this, but to be quite honest with you, it really doesn't matter to me, and I sincerely hope it doesn't matter to Prince anymore.

If any of you are in any doubt about what I have written here, just ask Boris. Things are never quite what they seem but I do hope to meet those of you who I know are my friends, hang out and just have fun. I really hope you know who you all are...

Anjan

TRON said:

I don't know what to make of this either. On one hand I want to believe Anji, but on the other hand, I'm having trouble believing it.

You know that you have my respect. Don't let anyone break your spirit.

What are the other threads you were referring 2?

I believe Anjan most definately, call me what u want say what u want, but i believe it.

Moonbeam said:

You say he has your respect, but do you believe all that he says on this site? I want to believe him, but I just can't. It doesn't mean that I don't respect his thoughts.

oop, my boolshit meter's goin off again...

Anji has always been very thoughtful, intelligent and kind.

I don't think he would do this just to fuck with people.

But it leaves me with more questions than before.

So how often did you have these dreams about, er, c-o-n-v-e-r-s-a-t-i-o-n-s with Prince?

i've never spoken to anji. i don't know the first thing about him (or her). i think it is unlikely that prince would contact someone who devotes long ass threads to him on a fan board just to talk. but prince has done stranger things. like the time he walked into a record store (i think it was bleeker street records, but i'm not sure) in nyc and went right to the section of prince records and proceeded to walk out with all the bootlegs, simply telling the clerk "these are mine".

who knows.
who cares.

i've always enjoyed reading those long ass threads though

Sorry to sound negative or suspicious, but..

I wish I had a nickel for every time someone on this site claimed to have had been "contacted by" Prince as a result of the posts they've made here.

Prince must be far less shy and reserved - and have a lot more free time - than people think he does if he's so open to be orgnoting, emailing, IMing and telephoning people he doesn't know (i.e. FANS) who devote a lot of time posting to a site about him. It doesn't seem to me to be the sort of behavior a guy like P, who makes such strict confidentiality contracts with his past employees, band members, lovers, etc just to keep them quiet about their dealings with him, would indulge in; willingly contacting random fans and divulging all sorts of professional and personal information and thoughts.

But whatever. Who knows anymore.

Why are you telling us this?

This is EXACTLY why Prince fans are perceived as complete loonatics.

Why does it always have to be the Prince 'network', or 'connections' like it's some secret organisation run by some Mafia boss, Don Nelson.

He is a pop musician, we are fans of his music - end of story, he isn't some mystical guru, and we aren't his subjects.

We purchase recordings of his music and get pleasure from it, he receives money in return, from which he gets pleasure from (either directly, or indirectly by the things he chooses to spend the money on).

For me, that's about it. I know there are "levels" of fans, where information and such is passed only to those in the know, but I left those circles years and years ago, way too many crazies for my liking.

SnowQueen said:

I tend to agree with you... a lot!

Romance1600 said:

kisscamille said:

I believe Anji. I don't think he would lie.

So what did Anji learn about his music? Shouldn't that be the focus?

Prince is mysterious which helps pepetuate these stories whether true or not.

Damn it is frustrating to be a Prince fan!

I already know this is some serious bullsh!t but humor me. How did Prince contact you. Did he email you, orgnote you, what?

does anybody really read long posts?

I scan the first sentence of each paragraph to determine whether it is worth my time...in this case, no...sounds like someone has too much free time and an active fantasy life.

..
[This message was edited Fri Sep 19 14:22:13 PDT 2003 by TonyC]

Moonbeam said:

Oh dear, I can't even believe I'm replying to this thread.

I just hope the next ones a bit funnier and more original!

MaggotBrain said:

First, why did you edit my post? The grammar was fine the way it was.

Second, feel free to mock me for believing Anji, but I do. The world is too big of a place to fuss over whether or not someone believes a friend.

I like those Itailan sausages you get from the butchers in town.
[This message was edited Fri Sep 19 14:25:18 PDT 2003 by Number23]

Number23 said:

Moonbeam said:

You mean you believe the 3 cd best of set tracklist Anji announced is legit?

this is like, what, the 3rd or 4th time we've seen Anji's final words here?

Romance1600 said:

will you be my mystical guru? may i be your subject?

Oh, chut it, you guys.

What's concerning me is - thus this mean Anji won't post here anymore?

Like, I'm fairly knew and all, but those of his threads that I was here for, I quite enjoyed.

"As I leave you with my final thoughts here," he said. But, Anji - I hardly knew you.

Oh, well...

You was straight, anyway

scififilmnerd said:

Anji has announced his retirement from prince.org numerous times & yet he is still here.
He is just playing with you.
Why?
Because he can.