Difference between revisions of "Video: The One"

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|Next Video link        = [[Video:_Come On|Come On]]
 
|Next Video link        = [[Video:_Come On|Come On]]
 
<!-------SHOOTING TEXT ------->
 
<!-------SHOOTING TEXT ------->
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|Introduction          = '''The One''' is a video by [[The NPG]] released for broadcast and to promote the [[Album: Newpower Soul|Newpower Soul]] album. The [[Single:_The One|single]] received only a promotional release two months and a half before the premiere of the video on BET.  
+
|Introduction          = '''The One''' is a video by [[The NPG]] released for broadcast to promote the [[Album: Newpower Soul|Newpower Soul]] album. The [[Single:_The One|single]] only received a promotional release two and a half months before the premiere of the video on BET.  
  
−
The video, directed by [[Mayte]], was filmed in Los Angeles, California on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 7|7 June 1998]] (most likely over two days) and features a cameo by actress [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Moreno Rita Moreno].  
+
The video, directed by [[Mayte]], was filmed in Los Angeles, California on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June 7|7 June 1998]], with filming most likely spanning over two days, and featuring a cameo by actress [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Moreno Rita Moreno].  
−
It is the first video of [[The NPG]] in which [[Prince]] does not appear masked, plays his own role, and without any musician from the band. This makes it difficult for the audience to tell the difference between a [[Prince]]/[[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]] track and a song released under [[The NPG]] moniker, so much so that the video was sometimes credited to [[Prince]] or [[Prince|The Artist]] when it was aired by some channels.
+
It is the first video of [[The NPG]] in which [[Prince]] does not appear masked, plays his own role, and does not include any musician from The NPG. This made it difficult for the audience to tell the difference between a [[Prince]]/[[File: SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Alias: Symbol]] track and a song released under [[The NPG]] moniker, so much so that the video was sometimes credited to [[Prince]] or [[Prince|The Artist]] when it was aired by some channels.
  
−
'''The One''' video is made of two parts and begins with a short black and white [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Chaplin Charlie Chaplin]-like silent film set in 1921 starring [[Prince]], [[Mayte]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Moreno Rita Moreno] with dialogue intertitles. [[Prince]] plays a hobo (reminescent of the 1921 film [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kid_(1921_film) The Kid]) who stops outside a shack and, running out of water,looks out through the window and sees a [[Mayte]] being argued by her mother (portrayed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Moreno Moreno]) about the cleaness of their house. [[Mayte]] is also told that ''"real love only happens in storybooks"''. When finally alone in the room, [[Mayte]] opens a book that her mother left purposely for her to read from the start. When one of her tears drops on the first page titled 'The Beginning', she is transported into the colorful story of the book and starts the second part of the storyline which is a performance of the song by [[Prince]] with [[Mayte]] and ten dancers. The performance follows the narrative of the song with [[Prince]] rejecting 10 dancers who try to seduce him before ending up in [[Mayte]]’s arms. This dance performance takes place in an Egyptian / Arabic style setting with belly dancers that is not too far removed from the imagery of the [[File:SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Album: Symbol]] album era, which was also inspired by [[Mayte]]. Towards the end, the 'hobo' [[Prince]] knocks on [[Mayte]]’s door to meet her and it is made clear that [[Prince]] is 'the one' for her. [[Mayte]]’s mother acknowledges that and the video ends with an intertitle 'The Beginning', instead of 'The End'.  
+
'''The One''' video is made of two parts and begins with a short black and white [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Chaplin Charlie Chaplin]-like silent film set in 1921 starring [[Prince]], [[Mayte]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Moreno Rita Moreno] with dialogue intertitles. [[Prince]] plays a hobo, reminiscent of the 1921 film [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kid_(1921_film) The Kid], who stops outside a shack and, running out of water, looks out through the window and sees [[Mayte]] in an argument with her mother, who is portrayed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Moreno Moreno], about the cleanliness of their house. [[Mayte]] is also told that ''"real love only happens in storybooks"''. When [[Mayte]] is alone in her room, she opens a book that her mother left purposely for her to read from the start. When one of her tears drops on the first page titled 'The Beginning', she is transported into the colorful story of the book and starts the second part of the storyline which is a performance of the song by [[Prince]] with [[Mayte]] and ten dancers. The performance follows the narrative of the song with [[Prince]] rejecting 10 dancers who try to seduce him before ending up in [[Mayte]]’s arms. This dance performance takes place in an Arab-style setting with belly dancers, which is not too different from the imagery of the [[File:SymbolSmallerBlue.png|link=Album: Symbol]] album era, which was also inspired by [[Mayte]]. Towards the end, the 'hobo', [[Prince]], knocks on [[Mayte]]’s door to meet her and it is made clear that [[Prince]] is 'the one' for her. [[Mayte]]’s mother acknowledges that and the video ends with an intertitle, with 'The Beginning' being written on it instead of 'The End'.  
  
−
The (rearranged) [[NPG Orchestra]] part lifted from [[The One]] is played throughout the short film. Interestingly, the dialogue intertitles are framed by subliminal or hidden messages, sometimes barely readable:  
+
The (rearranged) [[NPG Orchestra]], part lifted from [[The One]], is played throughout the short film. Interestingly, the dialogue intertitles are framed by subliminal or hidden messages, sometimes barely readable:  
 
* The opposite of congress is progress
 
* The opposite of congress is progress
 
* Democrazy is hell on earth
 
* Democrazy is hell on earth
Line 30: Line 30:
 
* [[Wendy Melvoin|Wendy]] [[Lisa Coleman|Lisa]] [[Sheila E.|Sheila]] [[Cat]] [[Susannah Melvoin|Susannah]] [[Rhonda Smith|Rhonda]] [[Marva King|Marva]] come 2 the…
 
* [[Wendy Melvoin|Wendy]] [[Lisa Coleman|Lisa]] [[Sheila E.|Sheila]] [[Cat]] [[Susannah Melvoin|Susannah]] [[Rhonda Smith|Rhonda]] [[Marva King|Marva]] come 2 the…
  
−
These messages are a mixture of the themes that he addressed in his songs, his works and interviews and also indicated his spiritual direction :  
+
These messages are a mixture of the themes that Prince addressed in his songs, his works and interviews, and also indicated his spiritual direction:  
 
* the etymology (and the difference between "con" and "pro" to which he often referred in interviews, saying in particular that he rejected 'contracts'),
 
* the etymology (and the difference between "con" and "pro" to which he often referred in interviews, saying in particular that he rejected 'contracts'),
 
* the law of men which should be inferior to divine law (set to music that year with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaka_Khan Chaka Khan]’s [[Democrazy]]),
 
* the law of men which should be inferior to divine law (set to music that year with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaka_Khan Chaka Khan]’s [[Democrazy]]),
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−
After a string of videos evolving around her, [[The One]] is the last in which [[Mayte]] appears, her relationship with [[Prince]] having entered a phase that will lead them to divorce.
+
After a string of videos evolving around her, [[The One]] is the last in which [[Mayte]] appears, her relationship with [[Prince]] having entered a phase that would lead them to divorce.
 
|recording info    =  
 
|recording info    =  
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|

Latest revision as of 15:30, 7 December 2023

1995: The Good Life ◄ Music Videos
(Prince) 		Music Videos
(Related Artists) 		► 1998: Come On
The One
The One music video selected snapshots

Music Video details

First aired: 30 June 1998
Producer(s): Information needed
Director: Mayte
Related home video/DVD:
First (Commercially) Released:

Awards

Date Institution, Country Award
This music video has not received any awards in the USA

The One is a video by The NPG released for broadcast to promote the Newpower Soul album. The single only received a promotional release two and a half months before the premiere of the video on BET.

The video, directed by Mayte, was filmed in Los Angeles, California on 7 June 1998, with filming most likely spanning over two days, and featuring a cameo by actress Rita Moreno. It is the first video of The NPG in which Prince does not appear masked, plays his own role, and does not include any musician from The NPG. This made it difficult for the audience to tell the difference between a Prince/SymbolSmallerBlue.png track and a song released under The NPG moniker, so much so that the video was sometimes credited to Prince or The Artist when it was aired by some channels.

The One video is made of two parts and begins with a short black and white Charlie Chaplin-like silent film set in 1921 starring Prince, Mayte and Rita Moreno with dialogue intertitles. Prince plays a hobo, reminiscent of the 1921 film The Kid, who stops outside a shack and, running out of water, looks out through the window and sees Mayte in an argument with her mother, who is portrayed by Moreno, about the cleanliness of their house. Mayte is also told that "real love only happens in storybooks". When Mayte is alone in her room, she opens a book that her mother left purposely for her to read from the start. When one of her tears drops on the first page titled 'The Beginning', she is transported into the colorful story of the book and starts the second part of the storyline which is a performance of the song by Prince with Mayte and ten dancers. The performance follows the narrative of the song with Prince rejecting 10 dancers who try to seduce him before ending up in Mayte’s arms. This dance performance takes place in an Arab-style setting with belly dancers, which is not too different from the imagery of the SymbolSmallerBlue.png album era, which was also inspired by Mayte. Towards the end, the 'hobo', Prince, knocks on Mayte’s door to meet her and it is made clear that Prince is 'the one' for her. Mayte’s mother acknowledges that and the video ends with an intertitle, with 'The Beginning' being written on it instead of 'The End'.

The (rearranged) NPG Orchestra, part lifted from The One, is played throughout the short film. Interestingly, the dialogue intertitles are framed by subliminal or hidden messages, sometimes barely readable:

These messages are a mixture of the themes that Prince addressed in his songs, his works and interviews, and also indicated his spiritual direction:

  • the etymology (and the difference between "con" and "pro" to which he often referred in interviews, saying in particular that he rejected 'contracts'),
  • the law of men which should be inferior to divine law (set to music that year with Chaka Khan’s Democrazy),
  • his belief in reincarnation (he has stated on several occasions that he is convinced that he and Mayte had met during a previous life in Egypt in the era of the pharaohs),
  • a probable reference to his son Aamir and the song Comeback which is dedicated to him,
  • a belief of Jehovah’s Witnesses in which he was increasingly interested in this period,
  • a reconnect with his former musical colleagues to form a long-wished group made up entirely of girls (mentioned in the 1994 Vibe interview).


After a string of videos evolving around her, The One is the last in which Mayte appears, her relationship with Prince having entered a phase that would lead them to divorce.


Shooting Information
Shooting Sessions
Date Location Additional info
7 June 1998 (and most likely 8 June 1998) Unknown studio, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Cast
Crew
  • Mayte - director and editor
  • More Information needed

Versions
Broadcasts/streaming (only)
Title Length Released Version Additional info
The One 5:30 Edited version
The One 7:14 Full version


 
Additional Information
See Also Quotation & triva
  • The choice of 1921 for the frame of the mini-film is perhaps a reference to the 1921 film The Kid. It can also be the fact that it takes place 77 years before 1998, the "7" being a recurrence in Prince’s work.
  • The video was first shown during a Paisley Park party on 20 June 1998.
  • The short film appears to allegorically depict how Mayte’s mother initiated and encouraged the meeting between her daughter and Prince.
References
◄ 1995
The Good Life 		Music Videos (Prince) Music Videos (Related Artists) 1998
Come On 		►
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