Yes Prince is talented but come on, we all know he couldn't have written the music to Purple Rain without Wendy and Lisa and a cast of other people.

Only bad thing for them is that he refuses to give anybody else credit but himself and most of them couldn't afford to sue him afterwards.("Kiss" was written by a group called Mazarati).

A lot of people in the music business use their starpower to get people to work for them for little or nothing.These people are usually new to the business and are just really excited to be working with the star.

Pretty soon though, reality kicks in and they realize they've been used.When they start asking for what's owed them, they usually get fired.

Prince is at the age where he could really make some great music by collabing with other artist.I would love to hear him on a record with Santana, Herbie Hancock,Stevie,Alicia Keys,Estelle,Miguel,

Adele,Beyonce,Neyo,Chris Brown.I'd actually start buying his music again.

He might get on stage with these artist but why can't he make a record with them? Is it a money issue? Is he afraid of being upstaged? Why has his music sucked in the last 10 years?

I love Prince but I think it's time somebody called him out on this.

Google Gabi Wilson, she's the future of music.

I disagree. W&L would not have been popular (mostly to many Prince fans) if it wasn't for Prince. Their involvement as band members in the movie is the only reason they, as well as other band members who were in that movie, are more known to Prince fans moreso than those band members that became part of his band, long after the movie was made, as well as current band members.

Secondly, many musicians/artists borrow (not steal) a little off one another's style, because most musicians/artists are fans of musicians/artists that came before them. It's not unusual that musicians/artists borrow off one anothers's sound and can take that music and create something else out of it, so I don't really see anything new about what you're stating here. There's two sides to every story and if you only hear one side of a story, then you don't have all the facts, when it comes to musicians/artists stating they've been used by either a record label/executive or another musician. I like hearing from 'all sides' before I base what I hear from rumors or only one side of the story.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's right for any musician/artist to use or abuse another's talent or to not give them credit for their input in another musician's work, just better to draw a conclusion when all the facts and truths behind these type stories are put on the table.

[Edited 1/15/12 11:56am]

Some of what you have written is true, some of what you have written isn't.

I seem to remember that The Revolution were kept on a paid retainer even when not in rehearsal/production mode - given to be unusual at the time.

Prince wrote Kiss, Mazarati and David Z polished it, Prince wanted it back... so he took it.

I can't think of a Prince band member who felt they were being 'used', as such... possibly Wendy towards the end, maybe Lisa... but that may have been a feeling they had once SOTT was released and they could hear themselves playing but not being credited with the performance in the liner notes.

I think there is an element of regret, frustration and anger on the part of ex-band members because once you're out, you're out. There was an article around the time Prince's and Mayte's child died when Matt Fink tried to go out to Paisley Park to offer Prince his support. He was not allowed in... This may obviously have been because Prince was in mourning, but Fink didn't appear to think this was the reason.

Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic was Prince working on a collaboration album... and it did not work. Prince, to these ears, works best when he's surrounded himself with strong talented people who, whilst never quite getting around to saying no to him, at least are able to influence the sound and direction of the music in more subtle or more idiosyncratic ways - for example Femi Jiya, W&L, Fink, Cymone (though I reckon Andre probably did say no to Prince quite a lot), Blackwell, Leeds, Thompson, Rogers, Parker or Fischer. Putting Prince in a studio with, say Chuck D, Sherly Crow, Gwen Stefani, Ani DiFranco, doesn't work. I seem to remember one of the reasons given by Prince for failing to turn up to the We Are The World recordings as being because he would 'freeze up' in a room full of stars... though, of course, that could be revisionist history/bullshit.

Prince has collaborated on individual songs with artists like Stevie Wonder... it was ok ... (again, to these ears)... but (and this links back, I think, to a thread I started a little while ago about Leeds or Parker as a saxophonist in Prince's band) - Prince works better with people who he has chosen and who are strong mentally and very sure of who they are. He stumbled on the perfect line-up twice (three times if you include the early Revolution with Andre and Dez) with The Revolution and with the SOTT/Lovesexy Band. Beyond that, his band members have been great musicians but uninspiring, with some exceptions (Sonny Thompson, Michael Bland, John Blackwell, Renato Neto).

Prince's music has sucked in the last 10 years? Not sure about that. It hasn't been as consistently good as it was in the 80s and (to some extent) in the 90s, but the last decade has seen some pretty great music released by Prince. I think that, and I most definitely include myself in this, we have come to expect too much from one man. The only problem is, he also expects too much of us ... in that he wants us to revere each and every release as if it were as good as the last... that's where Prince's popularity may have suffered. If he was honest enough to come out and say... 'ok, NPS and a couple of the other albums were a bit duff, but hey, listen to his new stuff..." then I think the world would be more inclined to give him another go. But then, what artist would admit they produced shit?

Anyway. This answer has rambled. I've realised I have too much time on my hands, and I think I need to go and put the kettle on for another cup of tea!

alexandernevamind said:

Yes Prince is talented but come on, we all know he couldn't have written the music to Purple Rain without Wendy and Lisa and a cast of other people.

Only bad thing for them is that he refuses to give anybody else credit but himself and most of them couldn't afford to sue him afterwards.("Kiss" was written by a group called Mazarati).

A lot of people in the music business use their starpower to get people to work for them for little or nothing.These people are usually new to the business and are just really excited to be working with the star.

Pretty soon though, reality kicks in and they realize they've been used.When they start asking for what's owed them, they usually get fired.

Prince is at the age where he could really make some great music by collabing with other artist.I would love to hear him on a record with Santana, Herbie Hancock,Stevie,Alicia Keys,Estelle,Miguel,

Adele,Beyonce,Neyo,Chris Brown.I'd actually start buying his music again.

He might get on stage with these artist but why can't he make a record with them? Is it a money issue? Is he afraid of being upstaged? Why has his music sucked in the last 10 years?

I love Prince but I think it's time somebody called him out on this.

Google Gabi Wilson, she's the future of music.

Hey Alex..did you know that Prince was once onstage with Michael Jackson and James Brown?

Artists use from other artists all the time, so what's the big deal?

rdhull said:

Hey Alex..did you know that Prince was once onstage with Michael Jackson and James Brown?

BoySimon said:

Prince wrote Kiss

luv4u said:

Artists use from other artists all the time, so what's the big deal?

alexandernevamind said:

I would love to hear him on a record with Santana, Herbie Hancock,Stevie,Alicia Keys,Estelle,Miguel,

Adele,Beyonce,Neyo,Chris Brown.I'd actually start buying his music again.

I'd stop buying his music then.

rdhull said:

Hey Alex..did you know that Prince was once onstage with Michael Jackson and James Brown?

At the same time?!

This thread was created insidiously, only to stir up attention for that little girl Gabi Wilson. It's too obvious.

Boysimon, I don't think any of us can know if Prince want his fans to 'gush' over every, single song he's released, I think that's a bit far fetched. As no one, not even a musician can expect everybody to like everything they do, not even the music of a musician, no matter how popular of famous they are. I've never seen him as a musician you can put into 'one category' of music. He's always seemed way ahead of his time,.

I somehow think though, that often, some fans in their minds, think the "Purple Rain" Prince was the image he was to stay in forever, with the same bandmembers, because of the movie. If he had different band members in the movie, they would have had the same impression. I also think that some fans forget that Prince himself was the 'star' of his own movie, not W&L, although they were given more speaking parts and their roles made significant in the movie, based on the directors' vision of having a multiracial crowd to attract to the movie.

Today you have one-hit wonders and artists who ar eare lucky if they last 3 years. Singers like Beyonce, know this, which is why she's trying hard to stay relevant. Not all her songs are successful. If Beyonce stops gyrating on stage and sang only ballads, she would fade, because she set herself up to an 'expected' image, and so now her fans expect to see her perform in a 'certain' way. Prince was smart, he kept changing his image. There are many fans who are stuck on the Prince of the 80s, and the image he presented then;they seem to be stuck in a time warp trying to hold on to an image that filled a void in their lives they needed at that time, but as they became older fans, they forgot that the same musician, chose to 'grow' musically and spirtually, and away from the image he presented at that time, while many of his fans kept themselves stuck in that time warp, expecting him to be the same and not change, imagewise, musically or spiritually. Thing is, he will still perform many of his popular classics to satisfy many of his fans, and most of his popular classics from the late 70s/80s are still played on radio stations today. At the same time, he never hesitated to take a risk and continue making new music, even when musicians/artists of his time, could not keep up.

WaterInYourBath said:

This thread was created insidiously, only to stir up attention for that little girl Gabi Wilson. It's too obvious.

I noticed that too. It seemed to me like it's just a fan trying to prove that Prince sucks now, just because they haven't liked his recent music.

WaterInYourBath said:

This thread was created insidiously, only to stir up attention for that little girl Gabi Wilson. It's too obvious.

I somehow agree. She'll have a whole lot of catching up to do, but she is not the Prince of her generation. She's not even new, although young she's been seen on tv before, but if the music industry is ignoring her talent, then the poster should blame the music industry and complain there.

[Edited 1/15/12 12:59pm]

2elijah said:

I disagree. W&L would not have been popular (mostly to many Prince fans) if it wasn't for Prince. Their involvement as band members in the movie is the only reason they, as well as other band members who were in that movie, are more known to Prince fans moreso than those band members that became part of his band, long after the movie was made, as well as current band members.

Secondly, many musicians/artists borrow (not steal) a little off one another's style, because most musicians/artists are fans of musicians/artists that came before them. It's not unusual that musicians/artists borrow off one anothers's sound and can take that music and create something else out of it, so I don't really see anything new about what you're stating here. There's two sides to every story and if you only hear one side of a story, then you don't have all the facts, when it comes to musicians/artists stating they've been used by either a record label/executive or another musician. I like hearing from 'all sides' before I base what I hear from rumors or only one side of the story.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's right for any musician/artist to use or abuse another's talent or to not give them credit for their input in another musician's work, just better to draw a conclusion when all the facts and truths behind these type stories are put on the table.

[Edited 1/15/12 11:56am]

alexandernevamind said:

Yes Prince is talented but come on, we all know he couldn't have written the music to Purple Rain without Wendy and Lisa and a cast of other people.

Only bad thing for them is that he refuses to give anybody else credit but himself and most of them couldn't afford to sue him afterwards.("Kiss" was written by a group called Mazarati).

A lot of people in the music business use their starpower to get people to work for them for little or nothing.These people are usually new to the business and are just really excited to be working with the star.

Pretty soon though, reality kicks in and they realize they've been used.When they start asking for what's owed them, they usually get fired.

Prince is at the age where he could really make some great music by collabing with other artist.I would love to hear him on a record with Santana, Herbie Hancock,Stevie,Alicia Keys,Estelle,Miguel,

Adele,Beyonce,Neyo,Chris Brown.I'd actually start buying his music again.

He might get on stage with these artist but why can't he make a record with them? Is it a money issue? Is he afraid of being upstaged? Why has his music sucked in the last 10 years?

I love Prince but I think it's time somebody called him out on this.

Google Gabi Wilson, she's the future of music.

let me know when

check out op's other post (out of 11) lol..he created one for that Gabi Wilson

[Edited 1/15/12 12:42pm]

rdhull said:

check out op's other post (out of 11) lol..he created one for that Gabi Wilson

Every single post they made was a new thread about Gabi Wilson.

[Edited 1/15/12 12:57pm]

alexandernevamind said:

2elijah said:

I disagree. W&L would not have been popular (mostly to many Prince fans) if it wasn't for Prince. Their involvement as band members in the movie is the only reason they, as well as other band members who were in that movie, are more known to Prince fans moreso than those band members that became part of his band, long after the movie was made, as well as current band members.

Secondly, many musicians/artists borrow (not steal) a little off one another's style, because most musicians/artists are fans of musicians/artists that came before them. It's not unusual that musicians/artists borrow off one anothers's sound and can take that music and create something else out of it, so I don't really see anything new about what you're stating here. There's two sides to every story and if you only hear one side of a story, then you don't have all the facts, when it comes to musicians/artists stating they've been used by either a record label/executive or another musician. I like hearing from 'all sides' before I base what I hear from rumors or only one side of the story.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's right for any musician/artist to use or abuse another's talent or to not give them credit for their input in another musician's work, just better to draw a conclusion when all the facts and truths behind these type stories are put on the table.

[Edited 1/15/12 11:56am]

? Were you going to respond? I don't see your comments.

My point is that Wendy and Lisa were crucial to his sound at that time.They brought in a different type of influence over his music that made it appeal to a wider audience.

I think Prince was eager to get back to his James Brown influenced grooves and didn't see a place for two white girls in that kind of band at the time.

Funk music is dead.Nobody under 30 listens to it.I think this leaves Prince stuck in a strange place between his old hits and trying to create something "New".

He certainly doesn't need a hit because he's still selling out coliseums.It'd be nice to see him get back with W&L and put out some great music again though.

BoySimon said:

Some of what you have written is true, some of what you have written isn't.

I seem to remember that The Revolution were kept on a paid retainer even when not in rehearsal/production mode - given to be unusual at the time.

Prince wrote Kiss, Mazarati and David Z polished it, Prince wanted it back... so he took it.

I can't think of a Prince band member who felt they were being 'used', as such... possibly Wendy towards the end, maybe Lisa... but that may have been a feeling they had once SOTT was released and they could hear themselves playing but not being credited with the performance in the liner notes.

I think there is an element of regret, frustration and anger on the part of ex-band members because once you're out, you're out. There was an article around the time Prince's and Mayte's child died when Matt Fink tried to go out to Paisley Park to offer Prince his support. He was not allowed in... This may obviously have been because Prince was in mourning, but Fink didn't appear to think this was the reason.

Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic was Prince working on a collaboration album... and it did not work. Prince, to these ears, works best when he's surrounded himself with strong talented people who, whilst never quite getting around to saying no to him, at least are able to influence the sound and direction of the music in more subtle or more idiosyncratic ways - for example Femi Jiya, W&L, Fink, Cymone (though I reckon Andre probably did say no to Prince quite a lot), Blackwell, Leeds, Thompson, Rogers, Parker or Fischer. Putting Prince in a studio with, say Chuck D, Sherly Crow, Gwen Stefani, Ani DiFranco, doesn't work. I seem to remember one of the reasons given by Prince for failing to turn up to the We Are The World recordings as being because he would 'freeze up' in a room full of stars... though, of course, that could be revisionist history/bullshit.

Prince has collaborated on individual songs with artists like Stevie Wonder... it was ok ... (again, to these ears)... but (and this links back, I think, to a thread I started a little while ago about Leeds or Parker as a saxophonist in Prince's band) - Prince works better with people who he has chosen and who are strong mentally and very sure of who they are. He stumbled on the perfect line-up twice (three times if you include the early Revolution with Andre and Dez) with The Revolution and with the SOTT/Lovesexy Band. Beyond that, his band members have been great musicians but uninspiring, with some exceptions (Sonny Thompson, Michael Bland, John Blackwell, Renato Neto).

Prince's music has sucked in the last 10 years? Not sure about that. It hasn't been as consistently good as it was in the 80s and (to some extent) in the 90s, but the last decade has seen some pretty great music released by Prince. I think that, and I most definitely include myself in this, we have come to expect too much from one man. The only problem is, he also expects too much of us ... in that he wants us to revere each and every release as if it were as good as the last... that's where Prince's popularity may have suffered. If he was honest enough to come out and say... 'ok, NPS and a couple of the other albums were a bit duff, but hey, listen to his new stuff..." then I think the world would be more inclined to give him another go. But then, what artist would admit they produced shit?

Anyway. This answer has rambled. I've realised I have too much time on my hands, and I think I need to go and put the kettle on for another cup of tea!

alexandernevamind said:

Funk music is dead.Nobody under 30 listens to it.

I do. I'm under 30. A lot of the people here are under 30. Pfunk and Sly & The Family Stone are still very popular with young people - a lot of my friends are fans of them. That's bullshit.

2elijah said:

WaterInYourBath said:

This thread was created insidiously, only to stir up attention for that little girl Gabi Wilson. It's too obvious.

I somehow agree. She'll have a whole lot of catching up to do. She's not even new, although young she's been seen on tv before, but if the music industry is ignoring her talent, then the poster should blame the music industry.

[Edited 1/15/12 12:50pm]

Or, whoever is handling her business.

CrabalockerFishwife said:

rdhull said:

check out op's other post (out of 11) lol..he created one for that Gabi Wilson

Every single post they made was a new thread about Gabi Wilson.

[Edited 1/15/12 12:57pm]

....

Yes,I've seen the video.

Not too long ago I was talking to a guy in Hollywood about that video.He said he was there that night.

He also told me that Prince used to drink back then and was pretty high when he got up there.Not sure if it's true but this guy is a MAJOR player in the music business and not the type to make up stories.

rdhull said:

alexandernevamind said:

Yes Prince is talented but come on, we all know he couldn't have written the music to Purple Rain without Wendy and Lisa and a cast of other people.

Only bad thing for them is that he refuses to give anybody else credit but himself and most of them couldn't afford to sue him afterwards.("Kiss" was written by a group called Mazarati).

A lot of people in the music business use their starpower to get people to work for them for little or nothing.These people are usually new to the business and are just really excited to be working with the star.

Pretty soon though, reality kicks in and they realize they've been used.When they start asking for what's owed them, they usually get fired.

Prince is at the age where he could really make some great music by collabing with other artist.I would love to hear him on a record with Santana, Herbie Hancock,Stevie,Alicia Keys,Estelle,Miguel,

Adele,Beyonce,Neyo,Chris Brown.I'd actually start buying his music again.

He might get on stage with these artist but why can't he make a record with them? Is it a money issue? Is he afraid of being upstaged? Why has his music sucked in the last 10 years?

I love Prince but I think it's time somebody called him out on this.

Google Gabi Wilson, she's the future of music.

Hey Alex..did you know that Prince was once onstage with Michael Jackson and James Brown?

I'm not sure you're right, 2elijah, I do think Prince wants us to 'gush' over each of his releases or at least treat them with the same respect (hence my use of the revere) as each of his previous work- have a look at the way he still trumpets their arrival: "real music by real musicians", smuggly (is that a word?) prancing off stage on SNL after playing Fury (not a really furious song... now, where's Alanis when you need her?), wearing a sweat-top with the album cover on it for 20-ten. the house address thang for 3121, the web release around Lotus, the giveaways...etc, etc.

Because he has backed himself out of the traditional record deal, he cannot simply record, release and let the record label do the selling... he now has to perform all these marketing tricks to try and maintain some mainstream presence and allow people to know his newest work is out there. In doing this he has to front himself, those acquiescing to his promotional needs (chat shows, music shows, etc) immediately link back to heyday Prince and Prince, needing the exposure, follows on. He then gushes... the album is remarked on as being a return to the form of... and we all troop out, buy it, get disappointed and begin the loop of holding out for a hit again.

Again, I'm rambling... It must be time for another cuppa.

This bores me... is anyone up for a game of basketball???

alexandernevamind said:

My point is that Wendy and Lisa were crucial to his sound at that time.They brought in a different type of influence over his music that made it appeal to a wider audience.

I think Prince was eager to get back to his James Brown influenced grooves and didn't see a place for two white girls in that kind of band at the time.

Funk music is dead.Nobody under 30 listens to it.I think this leaves Prince stuck in a strange place between his old hits and trying to create something "New".

He certainly doesn't need a hit because he's still selling out coliseums.It'd be nice to see him get back with W&L and put out some great music again though.

BoySimon said:

Some of what you have written is true, some of what you have written isn't.

I seem to remember that The Revolution were kept on a paid retainer even when not in rehearsal/production mode - given to be unusual at the time.

Prince wrote Kiss, Mazarati and David Z polished it, Prince wanted it back... so he took it.

I can't think of a Prince band member who felt they were being 'used', as such... possibly Wendy towards the end, maybe Lisa... but that may have been a feeling they had once SOTT was released and they could hear themselves playing but not being credited with the performance in the liner notes.

I think there is an element of regret, frustration and anger on the part of ex-band members because once you're out, you're out. There was an article around the time Prince's and Mayte's child died when Matt Fink tried to go out to Paisley Park to offer Prince his support. He was not allowed in... This may obviously have been because Prince was in mourning, but Fink didn't appear to think this was the reason.

Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic was Prince working on a collaboration album... and it did not work. Prince, to these ears, works best when he's surrounded himself with strong talented people who, whilst never quite getting around to saying no to him, at least are able to influence the sound and direction of the music in more subtle or more idiosyncratic ways - for example Femi Jiya, W&L, Fink, Cymone (though I reckon Andre probably did say no to Prince quite a lot), Blackwell, Leeds, Thompson, Rogers, Parker or Fischer. Putting Prince in a studio with, say Chuck D, Sherly Crow, Gwen Stefani, Ani DiFranco, doesn't work. I seem to remember one of the reasons given by Prince for failing to turn up to the We Are The World recordings as being because he would 'freeze up' in a room full of stars... though, of course, that could be revisionist history/bullshit.

Prince has collaborated on individual songs with artists like Stevie Wonder... it was ok ... (again, to these ears)... but (and this links back, I think, to a thread I started a little while ago about Leeds or Parker as a saxophonist in Prince's band) - Prince works better with people who he has chosen and who are strong mentally and very sure of who they are. He stumbled on the perfect line-up twice (three times if you include the early Revolution with Andre and Dez) with The Revolution and with the SOTT/Lovesexy Band. Beyond that, his band members have been great musicians but uninspiring, with some exceptions (Sonny Thompson, Michael Bland, John Blackwell, Renato Neto).

Prince's music has sucked in the last 10 years? Not sure about that. It hasn't been as consistently good as it was in the 80s and (to some extent) in the 90s, but the last decade has seen some pretty great music released by Prince. I think that, and I most definitely include myself in this, we have come to expect too much from one man. The only problem is, he also expects too much of us ... in that he wants us to revere each and every release as if it were as good as the last... that's where Prince's popularity may have suffered. If he was honest enough to come out and say... 'ok, NPS and a couple of the other albums were a bit duff, but hey, listen to his new stuff..." then I think the world would be more inclined to give him another go. But then, what artist would admit they produced shit?

Anyway. This answer has rambled. I've realised I have too much time on my hands, and I think I need to go and put the kettle on for another cup of tea!

How many fans are listening to W&L music today? Their fans come from Prince's fan base. They didn't 'make' Prince's popularity;he made his own popularity. He made himself more popular when he starred in "Purple Rain", because the movie was all about his character's life as an aspiring musician who had to battle personal difficulties. W&L as part of his band outside of the movie, only became more embraced than the other band members in the movie, because of their character's roles in the movie with Prince, and soon after the movie, they Revolution stayed together as a band, until their time with Prince was over. They were never permanent band members in Prince's life. He had other band members when he first started out, and it was not W&L.

W&L continued doing their own thing, years later, so if they were what you think made 'Prince', then after they were gone from his band, how come they didn't sell out arenas? Who was stopping them? No one. Not even Prince. Point is, I find with your last statement, it basically spells that W&L need him to stay relevant, not the other way around. He's sold out arenas without them so it is clear he did and doing just fine without them.

alexandernevamind said:

Funk music is dead.Nobody under 30 listens to it.

It's about the time people start saying things like that, that genres come back in fashion or are updated. Rap and hip-hop have been around an awfully long time, they've stagnated, peaked commercially, gone as vanilla as Hagen Daz and bled into every other genre imaginable. Something will be just around the corner to usurp it - that's how pop music works.

Oh, shush.

CrabalockerFishwife said:

WaterInYourBath said:

This thread was created insidiously, only to stir up attention for that little girl Gabi Wilson. It's too obvious.

I noticed that too. It seemed to me like it's just a fan trying to prove that Prince sucks now, just because they haven't liked his recent music.

Gabi Wilson doesn't need PRINCE.ORG TO PROMOTE HER, I think that's what a record label does.I'm just her fan and think she's on her way to greatness.

You heard it from me first.

I never said Prince sucked, I said his new music doesn't excite me.

BoySimon said:

I'm not sure you're right, 2elijah, I do think Prince wants us to 'gush' over each of his releases or at least treat them with the same respect (hence my use of the revere) as each of his previous work- have a look at the way he still trumpets their arrival: "real music by real musicians", smuggly (is that a word?) prancing off stage on SNL after playing Fury (not a really furious song... now, where's Alanis when you need her?), wearing a sweat-top with the album cover on it for 20-ten. the house address thang for 3121, the web release around Lotus, the giveaways...etc, etc.

Because he has backed himself out of the traditional record deal, he cannot simply record, release and let the record label do the selling... he now has to perform all these marketing tricks to try and maintain some mainstream presence and allow people to know his newest work is out there. In doing this he has to front himself, those acquiescing to his promotional needs (chat shows, music shows, etc) immediately link back to heyday Prince and Prince, needing the exposure, follows on. He then gushes... the album is remarked on as being a return to the form of... and we all troop out, buy it, get disappointed and begin the loop of holding out for a hit again.

Again, I'm rambling... It must be time for another cuppa.

That comment about 'real music by real musicians' is referring to the state of the music industry. I mean, can you deny the manufactured crap that's out there now? You call most of it real talent? I stopped listening to the radio in the mid 90s, until I actually fiind a station from time to time that play 80s classics. I find new artists, with real voices and talent that I happen upon on the internet or referred by a friend, because what I see now posing as real talent, is depressing.

An artist wearing a t-shirt promoting their album doesn't necessarily mean anything more than doing just that... 'promoting their album', especially if they are promoting it independently, and rely on themselves to promote it, if not by a record label or some other source. If you want to promote your business, would you make an effort to take some involvement and responsibility in promoting it or wait on someone else to do it or just sitting on the sidelines thinking in some magical way it will promote itself?

Isn't a new album something Prince fans ask for? I can't see any artist believing that every song they release will be liked by fans. Of course it's only natural for them to hope they do, but that's not realistic, unless you hear it straight from the artist's mouth that they expect every song they write/release\to be gushed over by the fans, then it's just a fan's guess or assumption. Neither you or I can speak or think for Prince, only give our own opinions related to his music. I have no idea 'what he personally wants that from fans' unless he actually said it. Anyway, just my two cents.

[Edited 1/15/12 13:30pm]