Staying power: Prince v. Depeche Mode

I know this won't help, but yes, I know: they are not in the same league in terms of musicianship, so please actually READ what I write:

I saw DM in Tel Aviv last night (awesome showhttp://prince.org/msg/8/307678, BTW, even tho I'm not such a big fan) and it got me thinking:

P and DM have been around the same amount of time, and yet:

DM are still releasing relevant records with songs that get airplay (not just coz of payola etc).

They played a 2-hr gig with NO COVERS, a bunch of songs from their new album and a show with a clear concept revolving around their new album: NOT a greatest hits (they played lesser known hits and omitted some of their biggest).

Most importantly: they make you go: "Hey, what?! These guys have been around 30 yrs and are around 50" (Dave Gahan, the leadsinger, turned 47 on Saturday).

I used to feel this way about Prince, but lately it feels that he's just let it go and is rockin' the oldtimer revisiting his glorious past route.

Part of this may have to do with '84 and P reaching mammoth proportions he could never re-create. DM seem to have continued to grow in terms of recognition, success and sales so that their career still seems to be building rather than stagnating.

Thoughts, anyone?

here we go again

This has been done?
Sorry

Nothing against DM because they are great, but Prince has done tours that concentrated on new material. Plus his last few shows were all over the place with stuff that hasn't been released even.

Also, I think Prince does *gasp* covers, because he wants to, and feels comfortable enough at this stage in his career to do that kinda thing, certainly not because he needs to fill a show with well-known tracks.

Yep, I hear u - just watched C&C from Ellen and would have been happier seeing that than the whole gig last night.
Still... they did feel "younger" and more relevant than he does, for some reason...

My sister is a die-hard DP fan. We're going to see them in August. I just sent this link to her, because she has said this to me before, and I dismissed her. Let the debate begin...

It's a hard call, tho.
I think with both artists, there are the fans who will want to hear only "the hits". I've seen DP 3 times with Karen and their biggest number/sing-along has been "Enjoy the Silence". I've seen Prince 29, and there are always those people stuck in the 80s.
I think that because DP is released on a major record label, airplay is an issue, so people are more familiar with the new stuff. Also my observation is that DP fans have a different appreciation for them- they're going to enjoy whatever the show involves.
Some Prince fans complain no matter what is played... some want a whole cover album, some only want a nostalgia show, others just want new material. Then are the "play everything in the vault" group.

These are just the early morning ramblings of someone putting off getting ready for work...

"...She's got electric boots, a mohair suit- You know I read it in a magazine ..." {Bennie & the Jets}

Funnily enough, a lot of responses to the DM gig were that they didn't play enough hits!

I remember when I saw P on the last leg of the D&P tour in Australia in '92 (which was really the beginning of the Symbol tour), at the stadium gig I heard people walking out complaining that he didn't do enough hits. I see a connection too. That tour, P had a really tight show, based mainly on the new material with well-places smattering of older stuff.
Somehow, DM still manage to pull that off.

But yeah, I'm sure the major lable biz plays a role. Plus, tix were quite expensive: around $100, which is a lot for ppl over here. (I had freebies!)

have u the DM setlist ..did they do 'strangelove'

chocolate1 said:

Mindflux said:

chocolate1 said:

My sister is a die-hard DP fan.

You sure your sister wants you airing her sexual antics on prince.org?!

u make some valid points that echo some of my own sentiments about prince's recent live shows (tired of the hits and covers), hopefully setlists like from the congo room and nokia room can b a step in the right direction he needs 2 go in.

but comparing these 2 artists/groups is like apple and oranges. i could say the same after seeing erykah badu last year where the material was more about her latest album and sprinkling of past accomplishments

time will tell

3121 said:

Mindflux said:

You sure your sister wants you airing her sexual antics on prince.org?!

"...She's got electric boots, a mohair suit- You know I read it in a magazine ..." {Bennie & the Jets}

L4OATheOriginal said:

I was just thinking about this very subject yesterday afternoon. Weird!

Yes, I agree.....Prince isn't on the radio at all. I think Depeche Mode, much like NIN and Pink Floyd, IMO, is close to perfect music. Prince, on the other hand.....

GetAwayFromMe said:

I was just thinking about this very subject yesterday afternoon. Weird!

Yes, I agree.....Prince isn't on the radio at all. I think Depeche Mode, much like NIN and Pink Floyd, IMO, is close to perfect music. Prince, on the other hand.....

Mindflux said:

chocolate1 said:

My sister is a die-hard DP fan.

You sure your sister wants you airing her sexual antics on prince.org?!

Nightcrawler said:

Mindflux said:

You sure your sister wants you airing her sexual antics on prince.org?!

I thought it meant "Depeche Prince". They had some huge hits like "Private Jesus", "Walk Don´t Walk In My Shoes", "I Feel You Up" and "I Don´t Own My Masters And Servants".
[Edited 5/12/09 13:31pm]

"...She's got electric boots, a mohair suit- You know I read it in a magazine ..." {Bennie & the Jets}

Nightcrawler said:

Mindflux said:

You sure your sister wants you airing her sexual antics on prince.org?!

I thought it meant "Depeche Prince". They had some huge hits like "Private Jesus", "Walk Don´t Walk In My Shoes", "I Feel You Up" and "I Don´t Own My Masters And Servants".
[Edited 5/12/09 13:31pm]

PEJ said:

GetAwayFromMe said:

I was just thinking about this very subject yesterday afternoon. Weird!

Yes, I agree.....Prince isn't on the radio at all. I think Depeche Mode, much like NIN and Pink Floyd, IMO, is close to perfect music. Prince, on the other hand.....

same old same old

wasitgood4u said:

"...She's got electric boots, a mohair suit- You know I read it in a magazine ..." {Bennie & the Jets}

chocolate1 said:

My sister is a die-hard DP fan. We're going to see them in August. I just sent this link to her, because she has said this to me before, and I dismissed her. Let the debate begin...

It's a hard call, tho.
I think with both artists, there are the fans who will want to hear only "the hits". I've seen DP 3 times with Karen and their biggest number/sing-along has been "Enjoy the Silence". I've seen Prince 29, and there are always those people stuck in the 80s.
I think that because DP is released on a major record label, airplay is an issue, so people are more familiar with the new stuff. Also my observation is that DP fans have a different appreciation for them- they're going to enjoy whatever the show involves.
Some Prince fans complain no matter what is played... some want a whole cover album, some only want a nostalgia show, others just want new material. Then are the "play everything in the vault" group.




These are just the early morning ramblings of someone putting off getting ready for work...

Nightcrawler said:

Mindflux said:

You sure your sister wants you airing her sexual antics on prince.org?!

I thought it meant "Depeche Prince". They had some huge hits like "Private Jesus", "Walk Don´t Walk In My Shoes", "I Feel You Up" and "I Don´t Own My Masters And Servants".
[Edited 5/12/09 13:31pm]

blueautumn said:

chocolate1 said:

My sister is a die-hard DP fan. We're going to see them in August. I just sent this link to her, because she has said this to me before, and I dismissed her. Let the debate begin...

It's a hard call, tho.
I think with both artists, there are the fans who will want to hear only "the hits". I've seen DP 3 times with Karen and their biggest number/sing-along has been "Enjoy the Silence". I've seen Prince 29, and there are always those people stuck in the 80s.
I think that because DP is released on a major record label, airplay is an issue, so people are more familiar with the new stuff. Also my observation is that DP fans have a different appreciation for them- they're going to enjoy whatever the show involves.
Some Prince fans complain no matter what is played... some want a whole cover album, some only want a nostalgia show, others just want new material. Then are the "play everything in the vault" group.




These are just the early morning ramblings of someone putting off getting ready for work...

Who is DP?!?!
[Edited 5/12/09 14:20pm]

"...She's got electric boots, a mohair suit- You know I read it in a magazine ..." {Bennie & the Jets}

Depeche Prince


I would like a DM&P sandwhich hold the mayo

" LOVE YOU 4EVA GRANDMA LOLA, WATCH OVER US TILL WE MEET AGAIN. PRINCE: WH3N U L3T TH3 RAIN FALL DOWN, TH3Y ALL GONNA G3T W3T!

DMP = DO ME PRINCE, and DEPECHE MODE PLEASURE yep yep I will take that sandwhich rite da fuck now!!

" LOVE YOU 4EVA GRANDMA LOLA, WATCH OVER US TILL WE MEET AGAIN. PRINCE: WH3N U L3T TH3 RAIN FALL DOWN, TH3Y ALL GONNA G3T W3T!

wasitgood4u said:

C:\Otaassk~.exe




Oh dear lawd, life is strange.

vivid is my new boo!

DM is deep in their own way but I agree their spectrum is fairly limited. However, they do what they do exceedingly well. The latest album is indeed very reminiscent of their oldest music -- so much so that it's amazing to think songs like 'Peace' weren't actually recorded in the early '80s.

Okay, new challenge for Prince: Make a recording that fools us into thinking it is from another time period.

This August will be my first DM concert, very excited. I liked them from the beginning but never really followed them. It wasn’t until about 3 years ago that I bought one of their CD’s and really listened to their lyrics that I really became a fan. Since then, I’ve bought almost everything they have put out. Speaking of which, for $80 dollars I bought their latest box set and received: a DVD with about 3 hours of video content, their new CD and a separate unreleased track CD, a Sounds of the Universe hardbound book, DM stickers, and some other stuff that I don’t remember at the moment. Also advance notice when their tickets went on sale, and a pre-sale ticket purchase opportunity. I was really impressed, all for $80.



I joined Lotusflow3r for $77 and got...a t-shirt. Ok, I was able to get 1 ticket when he played at LA Live but just barely. Initially, I purchased 2 tickets through Ticketmaster because I could not get any through his site. Remember, the Ticketmaster tickets went on sale BEFORE the Lotusflow3r tickets. Sold the Ticketmaster tickets but had to go solo because I could only get 1 ticket through his site. Damn good seat though, I will give him that. I’ve been a life long Prince fan (guess I always will be) but stuff like this is just not cool. Oh yeah, and now his site is down...

wasitgood4u said: