He wasn't underground in his early years. He was all over mainstream R&B radio in the early 1980s with each and every album, was extremely popular, and was well loved. He wasn't some underground club act that never made it above ground until "Little Red Corvette". All the R&B stations had been playing his music for years. He was so popular he was even Rick James's rival. Many of the R&B fans were much more disappointed with him in 1985 than the pop/rock fans who had only been on board for a brief time were. Artists like Sylvester were underground in the early 1980s, not Prince. Prince was right up there competing with and outselling mainstream R&B acts like Cameo, Zapp, Midnight Star, Con Funk Shun, etc. It was only an underground scene to the pop/rock world. If someone loved R&B music in the early 1980s and didn't know who Prince was back then, they were from another planet.
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[Edited 2/19/10 9:49am]

I'm a fan like in fan-atic haha...

Fam sounds silly like it's short for family.

I don't wanna be in family with that strange multi millionaire.

I only enjoy his music.

I'm a fan like in fan-atic haha...

Fam sounds silly like it's short for family.

I don't wanna be in family with that strange multi millionaire.

I only enjoy his music.

thedance said:

That's exactly what he meant. He said "Fan is short for fanatic", equating it to crazy. He put out "Fam" as people being part of the larger NPG family. But we see where that got everyone.

Fam



Fan

I'm a fan. I praise his good stuff, but I am equally vocal when I hear him release shite.

I am a fan of his music and showmanship but think he treats his fanbase apallingly.


In my experience a FAM defends every whacky bullshit decision Prince makes, seem to think he's the messiah and if I say I dislike a lot of tracks on his newer albums, fams tend to say something along the lines of 'your perceptions have changed'

I didn't even know what a "fam" was until I joined Prince.org. Now, that I know what it is, I would say I was a "fam" in the 80s. But I didn't listen to P for 15 years after the mid 90s until last year--so, now I can say I'm a "fan" who loves P's music but can still stand back and be critical. So, if you are honest with yourself and the org community, would you say that you are a "fam," "fan," or "hater?" (Forget what other people call you!)

vainandy said:

Wow...you noticed him fucking up in 1985 ....shi* ...did you use to work for WB ...

That line should be on the new series "Prince Fans Say the Crazist Things" ..

"Fan" may be short for "fanatic", but at least it doesn't conjure delusions of some cult-like "family" of Prince worshipers

toejam said:

Charles Manson called his followers The Family too.

squirrelgrease said:

i am one of the rainbow children

I'm a fan like in fan-atic haha...

Fam sounds silly like it's short for family.

I don't wanna be in family with that strange multi millionaire.

I only enjoy his music.

Yall are fams even if you claim not to be. Here every day and week lol. With shrines in your houses
[Edited 2/20/10 9:21am]

ernestsewell said:

He view of Fam is correct ... alot of large families don't get on, fight etc.. but come together when needed...

i.e. when he say's i'm on tour .... he get's a sell out !

xlr8r said:

There are those among us with vaults of their own...plastered with hallowed images of Prince, illuminated by candle light with eerie music floating in the background...

insatiable3 said:

According to the Urban Dictionary...a "fam" can be a "friend, amigo, a mate" or "a fat annoying moron." LOL I would say, in the context of Prince or other celebs, it means someone who worships his/her icon without thought or criticism and may have unreasonable expectations of that person beyond what that person may want or be able to deliver in real life...

Fan = Normal human being with an interest in pop music.

Fam = Fanatic. Scary girls who write poetry about how they are The One(TM), and scarier boys who think talking in creepy new-age vagueisms sprinkled with Princebonics makes them appear deep. Both may have converted to JW as early as 1998.

i am one of the rainbow children

I didn't even know what a "fam" was until I joined Prince.org. Now, that I know what it is, I would say I was a "fam" in the 80s. But I didn't listen to P for 15 years after the mid 90s until last year--so, now I can say I'm a "fan" who loves P's music but can still stand back and be critical. So, if you are honest with yourself and the org community, would you say that you are a "fam," "fan," or "hater?" (Forget what other people call you!)

poetcorner61 said:

Also look under "Tame" God Love her