Prince now ONLY a live musician

Well, after hearing the PE tracks - it is sadly apparent: Prince has decided to become (or fell into becoming) merely a live musician -- albeit one of the best live musicians of today.

No longer does Prince seem to care about creating quality, complex, interesting, and simply well produced songs. Now, it's all about playing live and putting on concerts. It's as if he's putting out PE (and 3121) because he has too, because he's going through the motions (ironic, because this is exactly what he claimed to do in 1995 and 1996).

His production is lazy and lame. Point: think about the song "Positivity." Imagine him recording this song in the studio in 2007. We would not hear the interesting beat, the layered guitar, or the complex arrangements. We'd here just a normal drum beat with bland guitar and his regular voice. it would ruin the entire song. Darling Nikki: same thing. That song is good only because of the brilliant production and complex arrangements. Today we have "Lolita" and "Guitar."

I shouldn't fault Prince -- he's done it for a while and maybe he just doesn't have the energy/creativity to produce in the studio anymore, maybe he's content on being a great live musician -- nothing wrong with that - but as prince fan it's depressing to see his "comeback" tempered with such lame new output.

I'm afraid to admit it but I think you are correct.After getting Planet Earth yesterday my initial opinion after about 3 listens is that there are about 4-5 pretty decent songs on there.But they no way compare to his 80's stuff.I know its 2007 and why should it sound like an 80's song to be good.But in my own opinion I don't think it will be getting too many spins from me like Musicology and 3121 which I never really play.
As a live artist there is nobody to compare though.
But the man is nearly 50 and been through it all and done it all and I don't think he has the same creative juices as when he was a younger man.I am happy getting 4-5 pretty good songs from him every year though.
[Edited 7/11/07 10:06am]

I agree!

Prince clearly has chosen a less complex approach to producing music. I'm not sure that has to do with being less creative.
He's been groundbreaking as a producer and arranger - his recent output may not have the same urgency as back in the day. Prince gets older, his music indeed has a different energy - maybe less intense.
And his taste in music changes. I may or may not share that taste as much as I did back then. As much as I want Prince to sound as Prince, there are so many different Princes, he's not the same person as 25 years ago! And that's good. People would laugh at him creating something like Darling Nikki at this age...
I believe, just as he did in the 80s, he's making the music he wants to make and loves.

Jatrig said:

jatrig ,u dont know what u r talking about ,when u live his life have his giftes and talents ,and be as succeful as he is at his game then speak,can u play 27 instruments ,, im waiting thought not , so called prince fanmmmmm

oi!
how many times have I heard prince over produces his songs these days...and it's seems he's attempting a more stripped down approach this time and now we get he "no longer seems to care about creating quality complex, interesting, and simply well produced songs"
ugh!
can't please em all I guess.

"lazy and lame" perhaps your prince fandom is done? I think you've burned out.

I think this has more to do with how much prince you've (we've) listened to for so long....as you mentioned positivity and the way in which it was produced...it's been done...nearly 20 years ago...can't really imagine prince holding on to the same concepts for recording and producing for ever right...I mean he's bound to do it different every time...adapting and changing along the way....right? There's no right way and wrong way for one to create their own art.....you either like it or you don't and if you don't that's OK, but to put it on Prince by saying he doesn't care, or is lazy and lame is really just an emotional response to your own expectations not being met.
no need to lash out, it only weakens your argument.

We're too hard on Prince. He's given us so much. As I've stated in other threads, I don't like his more recent output as much, but to me, it's all just extra icing. If there is one song I love off of an album, that's one more song I love, so great.

Prince is hardly alone as an artist with a long career who fans still love and who still is a fantastic live performer, but who puts out albums that while well-received by some, never incite the passion that earlier output did. (See, e.g., the Rolling Stones).

There is an organic rawness and arrogance in the earlier music of musicians that simply cannot be replicated as they get older. Most classic albums from bands come from their early catalog (not a strict rule, but very common), and I don't think this is by mistake.

Add to that the simple fact of novelty and age. When I was first introduced Prince I was young, I grew up listenting to his music, it takes be back to when I had never heard anything like that before. The experence, as many of you know, was simply amazing.

Prince can still impress me with his studio output, but it will never be that new, or that fresh, or that otherworldy as it was before. It just can't be, at least for me.

So, I take what I can get. Appreciate his efforts, his committment to being a muscian. And if Planet Earth, doesn't move me the way 1999 did, so be it.

skywalker said:

dayzofwyld said:

sagetarian said:

Shorty said:

oi!
how many times have I heard prince over produces his songs these days...and it's seems he's attempting a more stripped down approach this time and now we get he "no longer seems to care about creating quality complex, interesting, and simply well produced songs"
ugh!
can't please em all I guess.

"lazy and lame" perhaps your prince fandom is done? I think you've burned out.

I think this has more to do with how much prince you've (we've) listened to for so long....as you mentioned positivity and the way in which it was produced...it's been done...nearly 20 years ago...can't really imagine prince holding on to the same concepts for recording and producing for ever right...I mean he's bound to do it different every time...adapting and changing along the way....right? There's no right way and wrong way for one to create their own art.....you either like it or you don't and if you don't that's OK, but to put it on Prince by saying he doesn't care, or is lazy and lame is really just an emotional response to your own expectations not being met.
no need to lash out, it only weakens your argument.

Jatrig said:

Shorty said:

oi!
how many times have I heard prince over produces his songs these days...and it's seems he's attempting a more stripped down approach this time and now we get he "no longer seems to care about creating quality complex, interesting, and simply well produced songs"
ugh!
can't please em all I guess.

"lazy and lame" perhaps your prince fandom is done? I think you've burned out.

I think this has more to do with how much prince you've (we've) listened to for so long....as you mentioned positivity and the way in which it was produced...it's been done...nearly 20 years ago...can't really imagine prince holding on to the same concepts for recording and producing for ever right...I mean he's bound to do it different every time...adapting and changing along the way....right? There's no right way and wrong way for one to create their own art.....you either like it or you don't and if you don't that's OK, but to put it on Prince by saying he doesn't care, or is lazy and lame is really just an emotional response to your own expectations not being met.
no need to lash out, it only weakens your argument.

You are exactly right!! It is my emotional response to my expectations not being met. My opinions as a fan of Prince music are not put out there as fact or as a personal attack to any other fan or to Prince himself; just my opinion and observation. No lashing out -- but a fan expressing his observation and opinion - emotional or otherwise -- is not a bad thing; nor is your response.

Prince is enjoying some of his greatest success in 20 years . . . but I do think that fame and fortune has taken the place of creativity.

Think about it: every CD sold is roughly 10 bucks. Every concert ticket sold, however, is anywhere from $31.21 to $3,121 . . . I think we know where his head is lately . . .

As soon as I replied, another question hit me:

Do you think Prince is banking as much "easy" cash now as he can, just in case he's unable to perform live as much in the not-so-distant future?

Perhaps when the touring dies down, he'll spend more of his mature years in the studio?

I'm so sick of hearing about the damn 80's. That was 20 something years ago.He doesn't want to record the same shit that he recorded 20 years ago.

Bull said:

Jatrig said:

__________________________
Ze belong ere in Mozambique...

http://www.crashthesuperb...video/4955
http://www.vimeo.com/ufoclub1977/videos
http://www.myspace.com/ufoclub1977

aw, give the guy a break. he went through divorce and (at least on planet earth) i think his ever inflating ego boosting songs only hint that he's lonely. *shrug* at least he's capable of making badass music, just when.

Complex ≠ Good

Jatrig said:

Some Fans have been crying nearly continuously since 1989. He was already finished back then for many of you.

Just a few years ago, he was releasing a msterpiece called TRC and the same babies thought it was too adventurous and not "princely enough sounding" for them.

Get over it. There is so much negativity going on around here. Saying you don't like an album is fine but questioning the talent left in Prince at the same time is simply ridiculous.
Moreover it is just a matter of taste. I did not like Musicology at all. I liked 70% of 3121 and I dig 95% of PE.
Who is right ? Nobody. Just a matter of taste.

There once was this "world class" chef everyone thought was the rage. Annually he held parties to showcase he creations, the menu always a secret until the day of.

One year, the usual attendees, having a good ole' time, drinking and discussing what would be served, imagine the hush over the crowd when this "world class" chef presented hot dogs! Yes, hot dogs.

Needless to say some thought those were the best hot dogs on planet earth, (no pun intended) others stormed out in utter disbelief and disgust, "how dare he serve us hot dogs!" "The nerve!"

One year later, this same chef invited the same people back to this annual party, tell me, why did the ones previously mortified return?
[Edited 7/12/07 3:27am]

sarkozyiszeman said:

sarkozyiszeman said:

SquirrelMeat said:

crap

ufoclub said:

olb99 said:

__________________________
Ze belong ere in Mozambique...

http://www.crashthesuperb...video/4955
http://www.vimeo.com/ufoclub1977/videos
http://www.myspace.com/ufoclub1977