Thank you, Portia! I've seen him live a couple of times and enjoy his show. Not everyone has to like him but he's real talent, not manufactured, so I'm not understanding the hate - even if one does not like the music. With all the crap out there, he's one of the few that I'm willing to spend my dollar on.
T On 1/18/08, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > That makes two of us Tameir...I went to his show a couple of > months ago...it > was great!! Van is a great lyricist and actually if you are an admirer > you > are probably able to pick up the underlying statements in what he > is trying > to say in his blog. The blog was written VERY well and what he is trying > to > say is that although he is also a Prince fan and a black man who plays a > guitar...there is a lot that separates the two as artists AND a lot > that separates > their goals as artists. What I got loud and clear is that Van is a > studied > technical musician. Prince is not...there's a big difference based on > that > alone! So to compare the two? Can't happen...It's apples and > oranges...like > most musicians vs. Prince. I love Prince for the fact that he is not > musically "trained" yet still puts out a perfectly polished final > product...musically and in the way of lyrics. The fact that he plays > every instrument. I > love Van for his prowess as a lyricist and the way you are able to hear > his > message in subtle innuendos...the fact that you might listen 2 or 3 times > before > you realize the meaning. The bottom line is that the two are great > musicians...in different ways. Don't like him or like him...but > don't compare him > to P. > -Portia > > <Moderator: You might want to add that Prince can actually sing... > -Derek> > > In a message dated 1/17/2008 9:12:38 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > 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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