Prince isnt bad, but not really relevant anymore: face it

The general feel i get from reading the journalistic comments and reviews about Prince and his new record 3121 is: the fellow is a great live-artist, on record he isnt bad, but dont expect another Sign of the Times from this fellow.

I must say that i agree with that. Prince had his 'golden years' in the nineties. Especially from Around the world in a day unto Lovesexy he was THE artist of the postmodern era. Since then his music and influence have suffered from...well....whats next? probably

Musicology for me was a mediocre record, but at least a Prince trying to get sane again. 3121 is better, some tracks even thrill me in a certain way, but I have grown further, older, i dont feel the need to defend this guy in any way (a show of fanship?), i just take his music for what it is: mostly good, sometimes great... but the real love is over... I guess i am growing older, I guess there is so much more music to enjoy...I guess its a waste of time to put that much effort into you.....

Keep busting, my friend

Riverpoet31 opined:

Thank you for sharing your growth as a Prince listener!



What's this about?

Lol, typo: eighties i mean

Universaluv said:

Relevant to whom may I ask? I don't need to defend anything about Prince to anyone. If you love his music that's all that matters.

A few things:

"The general feel i get from reading the journalistic comments and reviews about Prince and his new record 3121 is.."

This statement suggests that you let others opinions decide how you feel about and view things (prince in this case).

"Especially from Around the world in a day unto Lovesexy he was THE artist of the postmodern era."

In the states, this era was one of commercial decline for Prince. Despite what they say now, critics at the time were just as mixed in their reviews of his albums as they are now. They only agreed that he was brilliant onstage. This era is now looked upon with purple tinted glasses, but at the time, people felt different about Prince. The general public did not view him in the glowing terms you suggest. Critics often did not.

"Musicology for me was a mediocre record, but at least a Prince trying to get sane again.."

Funny, you herald Prince for getting "sane", yet you dig the years 1985-88. Those years are arguably Prince at his most "insane". The wardrobe for Lovesexy alone is evidence towards this.

"some tracks even thrill me in a certain way"

"i dont feel the need to defend this guy in any way"
"i just take his music for what it is"
"... but the real love is over... I guess i am growing older, I guess there is so much more music to enjoy...I guess its a waste of time to put that much effort into you....."

See a pattern here? Your comments speak a lot more about what's going on with YOU than the ACTUAL quality of Prince's music.

I don't understand why everything has to be compared?

So what if he never makes another record like SOTT - Great! It wouldn't be original if he made others like it.

I can honestly say that i don't hold any preconceived 'i hope its like this or that' when i hear a new album is coming out, Prince is an expressive artist with huge talent spanning a massive genre base so really it could be anything.

I just like to listen and see what he has produced this time, if its different then it shouldn't be dismissed because its not like Purple Rain or SOTT it should be enjoyed as something different to listen to.

I don't have any other artist in my vast CD collection that i can put one of their CD's on no matter what mood I'm in. I love that about Prince, however I'm feeling there is a CD to listen to... Rainbow Children for something a little more chilled or ATWIAD if i want to feel happy and fun etc...

I think this is the mistake that many music editors in newspapers etc have... why compare when you can just appreciate it for what it is.

skywalker said:

Prince has endurance and stamina as an artist because he's truly gifted as a musician. Who cares if the masses don't dig his music?! Why should anyone want Prince to make the same music he made 20 years ago? I know I don't. He should make music that is relevant to him right now. Prince will be around making good music for the next 20 years. I have no doubt about that. Granted, he may never make another SOTT, but he's got the talent to keep making good music and much better music than most shit that's selling millions today.

Universaluv said:

Riverpoet31 opined:

Prince had his'golden years' in the nineties"

I guess its a waste of time to put that much effort into you.....

"I wish I knew how to quit you...."
[Edited 3/17/06 8:00am]

I kind of feel the same. Actually, I've been feeling the same for years now. Maybe since 1998-99. Prince is unique, but he's not the only one to make great music (or to have the potential to make great music). Plus I'm not a teenager anymore, so... I don't know. Things are different. I guess I'm just not a hardcore fan anymore. Paradoxically (is that a word?), it helps me put things into perspective, and I'm able to enjoy his music more. If you see what I mean. It's just that when you listen to a single musician all day long, day after day, it gets boring, after a while (after 10 years or more, in my case... ).

kisscamille said:

I agree with music journalists commenting on 3121, not because journalists are always right, but they seem to hit the right spot:that 3121 is a good, three to four star record, that sees Prince reconnecting with his musical past, delivering some good songs, but at least they seem to understand that Prince is just consilidating, something that some of you dont seem to understand.

Skywalker, youre right, the period between 1985 / 1988 was one of commercial decline in the states, and the american journalists where more critical about his music, but you have to understand one thing: european critics were praising his records during that period, and (sorry to say, but its true) europeans in general have a better sense of subtleties, nuances, depth, layers, they ´saw´ the impact of Princes music during that period, while the american critics where still looking for musical excitement at ´face value´.

Riverpoet31 said:

He hasn't been relevant for over a decade. And neither have many other artisst who still stay in the game.

I think thats where Prince is mocked. He attmepts to remain vital and relevant (and hints at 3121 suggest he is still has some somewhat vital music left in him) which many say is where he missteps.

Maybe disregarding relevancy would inspire him in different ways that would produce more Beautiful Strange then Life Of The party?

The strange thing is, he could make another Sign "O" The Times. It would have just taken some alternative arrangements for "3121" and there you'd have had it. Replace most of the drum sounds with something more Princely in the old fashion, rewrite some of the lyrics, delete some backing tracks and so on. Each time he comes up with a new album I'm quite baffled that he doesn't apparently realize how easily he could have made the records better if he would have just bothered to put some thought to it.

wonder505 said:

sosgemini said:

skywalker said:

See a pattern here? Your comments speak a lot more about what's going on with YOU than the ACTUAL quality of Prince's music.

all i see is someone expressing their opinion about someone's art.



agree? disagree? whateva...

it has nothing to do with river personally and everything to do with his opinion on publically released art.

You know, you're right, Prince isn't relevant anymore. And you know what else?



.....that's okay. It's not the end of the world just because he's not relevant anymore...it really isn't.
[Edited 3/17/06 10:30am]

sosgemini said:

wonder505 said:

From time to time, you post these threads which gives me the same sense that you are depressed that the glory days are gone. I think its good that all can posts their opinion, whether good or bad on each album, and I do enjoy reading everyone's perception on Prince's progression, but what I don't understand is why you can't realize that every artist has their time. It's okay to not like any of his current music, but it seems that you are struggling to "defend" him as you state. It's been 30 years, how can you expect a human being to keep banging out hits ALL THE TIME. To me, artist eventually run out of steam.

As you stated in your posts you're getting older and I interpret that your interest is waning. Why don't you just move on to other artists. If you are no longer a fan, MOVE ON.

because what a fan is to you and what a fan is to another are totally different things maybe?

wonder505 said:

sosgemini said:

because what a fan is to you and what a fan is to another are totally different things maybe?

Perhaps, but if an artist has not been relevant for over a decade then I wouldn't even pay attention to the new stuff but continue to revel in his past glory.

Like another poster said, its not like its the end of the world. There are other artists. It's been over ten years now.

It's easy to predict what many in the press would say.
Mainly because the CD is somewhat eclectic. Lazy press needs things to be easily packaged.

But who didn't know that as soon as the the divine word of the press was out that many wouldn't immediately jump in line behind?

Where were these "opinions" before the reviews?

People are as predictable as the press. My only regret is that i'm not a betting person, 'cause I would have made a few dollars off of this one.

If the CD is in my album collection, then it's relevant. I don't need a music critic to tell me what's good or bad.

Prince.org is a cemetery where folks mourn Prince instead of celebrate him and his music. Last time I checked, Prince isn't dead yet.

Riverpoet31 said:

I guess "relevant" means making top 40 and being on MTV.

Susann209 said:

I guess "relevant" means making top 40 and being on MTV.

Graycap23 said:

Susann209 said:

I guess "relevant" means making top 40 and being on MTV.

Can anyone tell me who is relevant in the music biz?

while i like 3121, and think it is his first decent album since TGE, he doesn't have another SOTT, PR, or parade in him...

but he is still really good sometimes. 3121 is uneven, but has some really divine moments

Susann209 said:

I guess "relevant" means making top 40 and being on MTV.