The Swarm

June 25, 2008

Prince strikes again: sues to stop Norwegian tribute project

TDS Editors

The long arm of Prince strikes again.

One of the little man’s biggest fans ever, a Norwegian label owner and TV-star by the name of Christer Falck, head of C+C Records, thought he’d celebrate TAFKATAFKAP‘s 50th birthday by asking some 50 Norwegian artists to pick one song from Prince’s huge catalog and record their own version. The plan was to release a 5-CD box of these covers and spread them to the world in 5000 copies as a gesture of love (no-one got paid).

The 81-track, 5-CD set was released earlier this month to rave reviews in many of Norway’s numerous daily newspapers (VG, Dagbladet, Aftenposten , Dagsavsien, Morgenbladet ) and immediately entered the country’s album charts at #8 (a first for a tribute album).

Of course Christer thought he’d give the Purple One himself a copy, and got in touch to present his plan. Well, as word reached Prince via his management, he responded with a “over my dead 50-year old body”. Dagbladet, the country’s second largest daily, now reports that Prince’s lawyers have sued C+C Records and asked for all copies of the tribute to be destroyed.

The album is still listed on the label’s website and snippets of many of the tracks can be heard on this MySpace page.


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Previous comments include

#1 what? says:

Aren't licenses for cover songs compulsory?

#2 . says:

Right. Doesn't make sense. Cover songs are compulsory and in theory one can only get sued if they don't pay the statutory rate per sale.

#3 Dennis Hopper says:

I agree. I just wish I could license Prince's ding dong. Seriously, Prince is just the best. Not quite Coldplay, or David Archuleta, but top notch. When he played the Super Bowl half time show, I felt something in my pants. He is very talented! Maybe he will finally do that record with Melinda Doolittle.

#4 minneapolice says:

so much for growing old gracefully.

#5 #5 says:

copyright laws are not the same worldwide, someone should do this project in the US though, happy 50th

#6 thirteenburn says:

YET ANOTHER FUCKING STUPID BLACK MAN LOOKING FOR CASH

#7 ... says:

what a fucking homo.

#8 Kimberly says:

thirteenburn #6 you are yet another stupid PERSON looking for your head up your @$$ - he won't get any money. Like he needs that? Please. He always stops ANYTHING anywhere. Even a little 2 year old singing Let's go Crazy on youtube. He does not allow anything unauthorized in any way shape or form. If the guy that did this birthday tribute were truly THAT BIG OF A FAN he would know that. So it's his own stupid fault for not clearing it first. To say it is because he is black is ridiculous. So un-evolved. I hope you someday rise up from the depths of scum.

#9 ... says:

Fuck Prince.

#10 benjee says:

thirteenburn is freaking racist


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