I adore Van Hunt, and thought his blog was well-written. Tameir
<Moderator: I listened today didn't care for him. I think he should waste less time worried about the people on Prince.org and spend more them crafting him music. I stand unimpressed at the moment. I all I hear is something ripping on Marvin Gaye -Derek> On 1/17/08, Derek <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Isn't dude some kind of Vampire slayer or something? Why is he worried > about > what people say about him on Prince.org? I am confused? Does the guy have > a > first name like Bob or Timmy? Oh wait his First name is Van? Last Name > Hunt? > Really? Did his parents not like him? Maybe that was here he was > conceived? > in a Van? Who cares?! :-) > > > > _____ > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of squarepeg72 > Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 5:46 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [LoveSexyDC] Van Hunt responds to the criticism he's received > from > Prince.org > > > > from his blog: > > Sunday, January 13, 2008 > > it's none of your business what other people say about you... > Category: Blogging > > but, I have read my own press. Not all of it. Just enough to not be > able to turn back. it's gone to my head. > I can remember once going on okayplayer-trying for the 15th time to > find some new info on D'angelo's still nascent record-and "stumbled" > across a thread about the Prince comparisons that have been made > about ME... some of the comments on there were downright destructive. > I never even imagined that you could mix the words "p**ssy" > and "musician" while stating an opinion:) Some were supportive. Even > fewer were constructive or managed to put forth what I would deem > accurate analysis. It all made me sick. Because I knew that NOBODY > really knew what the f*ck they were talking about. I am neither as > perfect as the best that has been said about me nor as mediocre as > the worst that's been said. > > It's ironic. Just two nights ago an associate called and asked if HE > should go on line and address some "false accusations" that were made > about HIM. I told him, "hell naw. Don't even give those fools any > energy. That's what they live for...to dismantle people and > overcompensate for their personal problems...all from behind a > computer screen." > > And, alas, here I am. > > Last night I was on the > computer with my son. He likes to look up biographical information on > the 43 presidents. (And to think, at 5 years old, all I wanted to do > was the 'robot'). After he'd his fill he asked if I would google "Van > Hunt's Son." I pondered his reasoning and the potential for damage > that I was ignoring. I was reluctant when I said, ". . .o. . .k..." > I pressed enter. and right there, at the top of the page was a > heading, "Van Hunt is Prince's Son." This time it was > Prince.org. "Oh, Jesus" I whispered. I had to have it. > > Double Click. > > I read the first line, "there aint sh*t about Van Hunt that's > genius." Or something to that effect. My son reads almost as fast as > i do. But, I caught him before he got to the curse words. I said "go > play." He started to challenge the order. I put on my transformer > face. He found a toy. > I read on. > Of course, everyone on the thread was a Prince fan (so am i). But, to > my surprise, this time I emerged from the comments without any long- > term scarring. Some people didn't know enough about me to form an > opinion. Some people knew enough to be enthusiastically supportive > and encouraging of my work. Some were, obviously, musically inclined > on top of being Prince fans. Some didn't give a damn. > The debate seemed to be fueled by the bodyguarding of Prince's legacy > and about the question of whether or not I was a good musician. They > mentioned other musicians who would supposedly wipe the floor with me > (even 10 year old musicians). > > What they don't realize is that I've played guitar with, for and > beside most of their heroes. And, I doubt that any of those musicians > would say that I couldn't hold my own. What they don't know is that > guitar isn't even my first instrument. Piano is. What they don't know > is I never set out to make improvisational solo records. I fast > forward through Prince's guitar solos. not because they're not good. > i'm just more interested in other aspects of his work (like the > writing and the arrangements). As a matter of fact I would be more > likely to listen to Thelonious Monk play one of his tinkly excursions > than I would Art Tatum. Charlie Parker could MAKE you hear modal > scales in fourths-using major minor 11ths and do it before you notice > that Mccoy Tyner or Oscar Peterson didn't even have his hands on the > keys. but, i put my money on Johnny Hodges. slow notes by the most > beautiful horn tone in the business. Ask me who's the better singer, > Sam Cooke or Muddy Waters, and I'll say, obviously, Sam Cooke. But, > ask me who I prefer to listen to and, well... Muddy is my man! And, > if u listened to Sly's 'there's a riot goin on' you would not walk > away from that record claiming that George Benson or Herbie Hancock > need be worried about claims on their Godliness. But, it's MY > favorite record. > > What they don't know is that 'their man', while he is an incredible > talent and entertainer, he WILLED his biggest hits into being. > Because he HAD to be a star. (IF) he no longer writes great songs > it's only because being a great songwriter was never his goal. Being > relevant was/is. Prince wanted to be the best recording > artist/entertainer there ever was. And, he is. but, he MADE himself > learn how to write hit songs because he knew he had to in order to > reach that plateau. he no longer has to have hit songs. now, his > songs only serve as a means to an end - vehicles for what he loves to > do - PLAY! he still practices scales like a 20 year old music > student. and, he's 50! they don't even understand HIM! and yet, they > hang around a site dedicated to him trying to break down who I am?!. > What they don't know is that Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Duke > Ellington...THOSE are natural-born, great songwriters. They wrote > hundreds of them- consistently. Nary a dud in their entire career. > What they don't know is that Michelangelo was an artist. Marlon > Brando was an artiste (emphasis on the 'iste'). Each more naturally > skillful than any of the people I've mentioned. Ayn Rand, Tennessee > Williams... craftsmen. Read 'Fountainhead' or watch 'Night of The > Iguana'. the work is more fine tuned and sharp and sophisticated than > any of the people I've mentioned. They don't know that THESE are the > benchmarks for me. Not their obsolete little argument over who has > the best album of the last 20 years that was played on the now > invisible and inaudible "black radio." > > What they can't comprehend is the lengths I have gone to create what > is my highest ideal...for their world to sneer at...and that it is > quietly reaching critical immunity because of the dues that i have > paid. > > So, kiss my a** while you decide if i'm worth your respect. it > shouldn't matter to me; and, i am glad to say that it doesn't > anymore. and, i will tell my child the same thing the next time he > asks me to google Van Hunt's son: it's none of your business what > people say about you :) > > details on my future coming tuesday. > V H . ------------------------------------------------------------------------- NewPowerNewYork Mailing List website: Www.NPNY.Org ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe? 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