Michael, Prince and the Pain Behind Being ‘Effin Great’ (Videos)
*(UPDATED) In their 1969 hit, “Everybody Is a Star, Sly & The Family Stone hits on a good point in the lyricEverybody wants to shine. Who will come out to a cloudy day?” A beautiful, beautiful song with deep lyrics that showcase the distinct voices of Rose Stone*, and fellow group members Freddie Stone, Larry Graham and finally, Sly Stone, in succession. But the beautiful lyrics are sad today. They cause me to think of two exceptional artists in particular. Two men who really, truly, have no equals…at least to date.
Two men: Michael Jackson and Prince, exemplified the high cost of being Effin’ Great!
I came across two videos you may or may not have seen. One with Sheila E. talking about her time working with Prince and how he was “always in pain” — a heartbreaking admission especially since we now know his cause of death. In another video, a cantankerous Dick Gregory blasts a journalist who blurts out an assumption that Michael Jackson was never satisfied with the money.
At times the interviews are hard to watch. Then again, the truth is sometimes hard to hear.
“No one wants to talk about that. You guys don’t need to know. You don’t need to know that we hurt everyday.” –Sheila E.
Sheila E. and Prince, both prolific artists, they worked together for years…and have the scars to prove it!
Sheila’s emotional interview shares how she also endures a lot of pain due to her years to work as a percussionist. She says she was physically unable to walk for a time and had to take time away from doing what she loved to get her head together.
Surely you remember all those awesome dance moves Michael showed us; and Prince jumping up on pianos and shit, is it any surprise at all they popped pills?
They made it look so easy, but look at the price they paid.
The cost…No wonder there is so few members in the effin’ great club.
In the video below, Sheila reiterates, “if you don’t work on yourself, things happen: He (Prince) didn’t like to go to doctors, I’d say, “You’ve got to go and get adjusted.
He’d say, ‘No, I don’t need to get adjusted.'”
Oh yeah, we recognize REAL PEOPLE STUBBORN don’t we?
Here’s the first video. Then scroll down for Dick Gregory on Michael.
When a journalist claims Michael did some of the things he did because he always “needed that fix. That money. It was never enough” Dick Gregory hits back hard!
“See y’all always trying to talk about shit you don’t know! He didn’t have a fuckin’ childhood!!!” –Dick Gregory on Michael Jackson
A painful sacrifice that, as we know, Jackson never fully came to terms with.
“He had all the money he wanted. All the fame he wanted. But he never bounced a ball,” Gregory continues.
Michael Jackson with Dr David Allen and Dick Gregory (R)
Speaking on “what really happened to MJ,” Dick Gregory ends up badgering this poor interviewer in the video below! He always was cantankerous! I won’t say more, watch for yourself!
*The original article incorrectly named the late Cynthia Robinson as singer in the song.
