Savannah said:

I really liked the Hahn book, and I apologize to Mr. Hahn for the attitudes of our org brood.

What shocked me was how much of a butt Prince has been over the years. The sexist way he treated Rosie was bad enough, but his overall attitude over the years is the reason most of his stardom went south. It really had nothing to do with album quality.

Prince is learning, and trying to mend fences, but he still has leagues to make up for his past behavior. He does seem calmer and more likeable. Hope he continues to improve.

Alex, you did a good thing defending Uptown like you did. They would have been put out of buisiness without your help.

I'm sorry that the book didn't do that well. Kind of proved your point about Prince being unliked by the mainstream society.

A lot of this info was because of long interviews Hahn did with ex-Prince employees. This is not just speculation on Hahn's part. Hell, Alan Leeds said pretty much the same thing himself, about Prince's output.

I love Prince, but Alex you did good. Hell, maybe even Prince read the book and learned something from it.

You are largely right about Musicology. Sure, it has good songs from it. But I expect genius and Godly innovation from Prince, not just some good tunes. Hell, any hack can write a decent hook. Prince still hasn't given us the meat.

2freaky4church1 said:

I agree man, it took balls to go up against Londell and tell the truth. But I think he was being showing pity in being nice to Prince by sugar coating those interviews with the ex- employees.

2freaky4church1 said:

I think you didn't quite get the book if you think that.

2freaky4church1 said:

Prince seems quite liked right now. The book is dated one year after its publication and underestimates Prince, preferring to be a litany of faults, real, supposed and perceived.

He is liked, because he is commercial, not because he is artistic.

LarrytheGOD said:

ok now let me ask you this if i don't like oatmeal cookies do u think i would buy a cook book entitled " One Million and One Ways To Bake Oatmeal Cookies"? No because the title lets me know it's not for me and I'm not going to like it! The title of Hahn's book Possessed first of all suggests Prince is Possessed like he needs an exorcism or something. Second of all, The Rise and Fall of Prince already tells me enough. You are assuming that I and the others here think Prince can do no wrong and are blinded but you are in fact are wrong. I know Prince is capable of making mistakes but I am simply questioning the motive of a person who feels compelled to write about someone else's mistakes and the motives of people who read it. This book isn't controversial around here because it is a fair and unbiased book it is controversial because the author assumes we all feel Prince has fallen and believe it or not, some of us genuinely disagree with that statement. And yes this comeback talk is purely sh%t! It is just the industry's way of saying " See Prince without us you were nothing!". I am not blinded some of the people who like to bash avid fans like me are blinded in only wanting to assume everyone who doesn't want to speak negatively of Prince is blinded. I don't like to speak negatively about anyone so how bout dat? Am I blinded about everybody?

Good Lord this is funny What is that old saying, you can't judge a book by its cover. But if exorcisms are what come to your mind \ nuff said



What does the book tell you? Did the book talk to you? Are you hearing voices?



What are the motives of the dozens of people that were interviewed that make up the meat of the biography?



Ok.. leave disneyland for a moment and go outside your door and ask 20 people that question. And then you can yell at all 20 of them for calling it a comeback.

BinaryJustin said:

This isn't SURVIVOR, so there's no need ofr me to form alligences, but I have to publicly allign myself with guys like BinaryJustin and anybody else who has half a sense of perspective...

POSSESSED is JUST A BOOK. It is an inside look at the life of Prince the likes of which most of us would have no better access. Well-developed critical thinking skills should tell you right from the title, that the book was not written in a non-biased, journalistic way, but instead--in a thesis-driven, researched and persuasive way. Like any argument, not everyone will agree with either the thesis or the evidence presented by Mr. Hahn. Welcome to America, where people are allowed to think differently. How awesome is that?

I listen to Prince every day. I try to visit here every day. I'm obsessed with Prince... but how about some perspective, people.

Thank you, Alex Hahn. I appreciate the work you have done so that I could have a little more insight into my favorite artist. Your book hasn't changed or diminished my feelings for Prince, nor do I believe that was ever your intent. But as a lover of music (the craft of music), I was excited to get some insight into the way Prince works and compare it to what I know about how other artists I enjoy work.

Those who want to "wipe their ass" with this book, just buy Charmin instead...it's cheaper, it won't chafe your rear, and you can use the leftover money to buy all of the Prince cds that Alex apparently doesn't like.

Keith/Kacey

I personally am waiting for the toilet paper edition of this tabloibook.

BinaryJustin said:

this
is
too
funny

Famboozled said:

Why on earth would you do that? Wouldn't you rather read the book and judge its contents for yourself?

Kacey725 said:

You're abolutely fuckin' great .

BinaryJustin said:

I know what you mean. Looking at this thread it's almost as if people take Hahn's book as a personal affront to themselves personally, or as if he wrote horrible things about their personal friends or family members or something. Actually, it only makes me want to read the book more, so that I can compare his notes to some notes I have of my own, lol
!

Uhmmm
okay after reading this post, I decided that I would buy the book. Going on a trip and needed something to read.
I was trying to save it for my flight, but started looking at it as soon as I got home.

I am about 1/2 thru it and I have mixed reaction.

I missed all the 90's of Prince and thought I was down for the 80's but after reading this book, I realize that I missed important moments/facts of the 80's.

I didn't know that Prince originally dated Susan Moonsie
I heard some talk about the Lisa/Wendy conflict but nothing more that what you saw in PR.

I always wondered why Mark Brown and Dez Dickerson left. Why he was estrange from Andre Cymone and Jam/Lewis. Always thought Dr. Fink was REALLY a doctor. (shows how some rumors were WAY off base).

Thought Vanity was the "great love" of his history, even got that impression on the org... now I see Sheila E. hung in there for YEARS as did Susannah M., and Susan M.

In other words, I think the book is a run down on the associations/relationships P had thru the years and a great read for a new fan or casual fan. The hard fans already know this and so it is insignificant
Personally I did not like Hahn's criticism of his music. After all, did Hahn go to school and learn the art of music, does he play an instrument? His opinion carries no more weight than my opinion, and could have really did without his critique. In that instance Hahn sounds like more like a fan than a biographer.

LarrytheGOD said:

Uh hum totally ignore the rest of my post where i explaine why you don't have to read the book to understand that whether blatant, or subliminally you know it's gonna try and leave a negative impression on the reader. Anyway, don't try to convince me otherwise because i don't care to read this book because it is trivial and now it is totally irrelevant and outdated seeing as how if you see Rise as commercial success, Hahn has to eat his own trash biography words! I don't see Rise and Fall as commercial success as many of you do. To me Prince never fell because I continued to purchase and enjoy his music. Anyway I think you're confusing me with someone else. I am not in disneyland I just stated the fact that I wouldn't read anything meant to be spiteful to Prince or anyone else for that matter or did you just conviently leave that out?

SexyBeautifulOne said:

exactly, for now i'll just listen and enjoy the music and leave all that tabloid stuff alone.

Just kinda get the feeling that Hahn reached the same conclusion that many around here who have been labled "Haters"(wrongly or not) reached when it came to Prince...That the only way Prince would ever have any decent level of commercial success again is if he:

1) Put out an album which was an absolute masterpiece, or

2) Hooked up with the producer-of-the-moment to produce his CD.

More than likely, Hahn didn't see either one of those as having a snowball's chance in hell of occurring, so he felt safe in predicting that Prince would only sink further into irrelevance and obscurity than he perceived Prince to be at the time of the book's writing. Of course, as Aero pointed out, Hahn sabotages his book and his book's credibility by titling it the way he did...


By the way...I just can NOT see ANYONE ever writing a book called "Possessed: The Rise and Fall of Stevie Wonder"...I think too many have too much respect for Stevie's talent and total career than to dare pretend that a fall from the top of the charts is enough to warrant overlooking his still amazing talent and his iconic presence in rock history. It's too bad some can't give Prince that same respect, even today.

Alex, I have not read your book, so I won't jump to conclusions.

I did, however, orgnote you some weeks ago about whether you have re-considered the subject of your book in light of Prince's unforeseen resurgence. I have yet to receive a response. Your thoughts? Inquiring minds wanna know!

2freaky4church1 said:

Nobody needs you to apologize about nothin for them, Eddie Haskel. And Hahn is not worthy of the June Cleaver reverence of a milquetoast post.

Supernova said:

Eddie Haskel...

namepeace said:

B4 i got my copy of the book i asked him a few questions and he answered promptly
So perhaps maybe you need to ask politely
Or did you even ask at all inquiring minds don't care to know.

namepeace said:

B4 i got my copy of the book i asked him a few questions and he answered promptly
So perhaps maybe you need to ask politely
Or did you even ask at all inquiring minds don't care to know.

RomeoMustDie said:

As I said clearly in my original post, I asked the question in a private orgnote, and it was asked in a very polite fashion. I can't assess what Hahn has said in the book until I read the book. But Hahn's opinion about the current resurgence doesn't necessarily require an intimate knowledge of the book.

Thanks for the advice tho.

Byron said:

Supernova said:

Supernova I was waiting for you! Glad you came through.

Having received Alex's response to my orgnote and the website, I am leaning towards getting the book. I've only read the Hill book, the DSMR book and the Per Nielsen account. Of those, Hill's to me is the best. I may see whether Alex's stacks up.

adorable2 said:

.
[This message was edited Tue May 25 18:08:03 2004 by Starmist7]

Why doesn't anyone just say that if u don't like the idea of an associate-tell-all (or tell a little) biography then just don't buy it!