skipp3Rn3ls0n said:

The Gangsta Glam music video

Is there really anything else to say about it?

awww hell no

that video is class!

SoulAlive said:

the war with Warners in the 90s.He handled it all wrong

I'd actually back up a bit to him signing that RIDICULOUS contract.

Personally, at least for his legacy, I think he handled ATWIAD and SOTT completely wrong. SOTT should've (and could've) been milked out like the Purple Rain Era. ATWIAD shouldn't have been released so soon and promoted with a lead single. Preferably She's Always In My Hair. But it is what it is. His career and he's entitled to do what he feels is right!

jdcxc said:

Diamonds and Pearls - Everything about it:

Bad Hip Hop Crossover Attempts

Tony M

Conventional Sound

Emphasis on Surface vs. Personal/Introspection

Arsenio Hall Performances

Signaled Future Songwriting and Compositional Problems

Another Regression in the Growth that was SOTT/Lovesexy

Commercialism Vs. Art (1st P Album to Tip the Scales in the Wrong Way)

*Unfortunately It Was a Major Hit (LOL)

I agree. There's something about the whole album Diamonds and Pearls sounding desperately to be commercial. I hate this feeling the album passes. It's so NOT Prince, you see.

ufoclub said:

thedance said:

the huge media backlash to Prince's career, when he was at his creative peak..... in the mid 1980's.

what am I talking about?

When Prince refused to be at the We Are The World/ USA For Africa project made by MJ and his camp...

Maybe wise because that song they were singing were really cringe worthy, terrible.

but... that incident, not to show up was hurting Prince.. his reputation and his record sales, very bad,

and (imho) this caused the bad blood between MJ and Prince.

Now.. don't make this another one of those "P versus MJ threads", pleeeeasee..

I completely agree, it was this moment that a lot of people starting hating him and kept that grudge for a long long time, even if they forgot why. This was a huge fiasco, because not only did the public think it was horrible for him to not do "We Are the World" (and that decision was really publicized by the media) but his bodyguard got crazy with some paparazzi the same night the recording was taking place. This really caused a ripple of bad attitude towards him by people that really swallowed the press reports as the complete truth.

This was the scandal that was reported around the world and regular folks took it to heart in a serious way. Most all of these other things in this thread are only in the awareness of Prince fanatics.

[Edited 4/17/12 20:20pm]

Are you guys serious. There was a backlash for NOT SINGING IN WE ARE THE WORLD? That silly song?? Of course he would not sing it, it was silly. And he would sound very silly singing it 'cause it has nothing to do with him. Not that I think that this MJ's charity side is totally bad, I think, for instance that Heal the World is a great song and far better than We Are the World, which is just lame. Even though it won all the Grammys. But then come on, Grammys have ALWAYS been about sales more than anything else. Anyway I think it's very out of proportion that a media and commercial backlash happened just because of that. After all even if some thought it was impolite or something, it was a charity thing. You don't "ruin" carreers and make charity at the same time. If this was really the case it was one of the most pathetic things I ever heard in my life.

One thing can be great is this spiritual thing. There agre great songs of spiritual inspiration like many mentioned. But JW?? Come on. Saying stupid things, having stupid prohibitions, judging and separating people as for their religion and behaviour??? This is ALL very stupid. And is common to many if not all institutionalized religions. When he received a lifetime achievement award in England, back in 2006 I think, and the first thing he said was "Save Jehovah, the only true god" I was very embarrassed.

BrazilianOnRaspberryBeret said:

ufoclub said:

I completely agree, it was this moment that a lot of people starting hating him and kept that grudge for a long long time, even if they forgot why. This was a huge fiasco, because not only did the public think it was horrible for him to not do "We Are the World" (and that decision was really publicized by the media) but his bodyguard got crazy with some paparazzi the same night the recording was taking place. This really caused a ripple of bad attitude towards him by people that really swallowed the press reports as the complete truth.

This was the scandal that was reported around the world and regular folks took it to heart in a serious way. Most all of these other things in this thread are only in the awareness of Prince fanatics.

[Edited 4/17/12 20:20pm]

Are you guys serious. There was a backlash for NOT SINGING IN WE ARE THE WORLD? That silly song?? Of course he would not sing it, it was silly. And he would sound very silly singing it 'cause it has nothing to do with him. Not that I think that this MJ's charity side is totally bad, I think, for instance that Heal the World is a great song and far better than We Are the World, which is just lame. Even though it won all the Grammys. But then come on, Grammys have ALWAYS been about sales more than anything else. Anyway I think it's very out of proportion that a media and commercial backlash happened just because of that. After all even if some thought it was impolite or something, it was a charity thing. You don't "ruin" carreers and make charity at the same time. If this was really the case it was one of the most pathetic things I ever heard in my life.

Yep, so far this was the worst moment in Prince's career. You have to understand this was the first time all the top 40 pop stars got together on both sides of the Atlantic to make singles and release a music video on the new incredibly popular music network MTV. And to top it off you had Michael Jackson heading it up. It was very very popular and everyone was into it at the time. And of course everyone then heard that Prince said no. And this was right as he had become a household name. I think every radio station and every newspaper reported that and the bodyguard photographer incident... hence the lyrics to the song "Hello".

Now I'm aware of Prince's unpublicized charity gestures even back then, and I think it was undeserved, but he should have had better publicity to defuse the story IMMEDIATELY.

MajesticOne89 said:

SoulAlive said:

the war with Warners in the 90s.He handled it all wrong

ATWIAD shouldn't have been released so soon and promoted with a lead single. Preferably She's Always In My Hair.

It was. 'Raspberry Beret' at one point was being played at the top of every hour by MTV right when the album came out. I think maybe even before.

ufoclub said:

BrazilianOnRaspberryBeret said:

Are you guys serious. There was a backlash for NOT SINGING IN WE ARE THE WORLD? That silly song?? Of course he would not sing it, it was silly. And he would sound very silly singing it 'cause it has nothing to do with him. Not that I think that this MJ's charity side is totally bad, I think, for instance that Heal the World is a great song and far better than We Are the World, which is just lame. Even though it won all the Grammys. But then come on, Grammys have ALWAYS been about sales more than anything else. Anyway I think it's very out of proportion that a media and commercial backlash happened just because of that. After all even if some thought it was impolite or something, it was a charity thing. You don't "ruin" carreers and make charity at the same time. If this was really the case it was one of the most pathetic things I ever heard in my life.

Yep, so far this was the worst moment in Prince's career. You have to understand this was the first time all the top 40 pop stars got together on both sides of the Atlantic to make singles and release a music video on the new incredibly popular music network MTV. And to top it off you had Michael Jackson heading it up. It was very very popular and everyone was into it at the time. And of course everyone then heard that Prince said no. And this was right as he had become a household name. I think every radio station and every newspaper reported that and the bodyguard photographer incident... hence the lyrics to the song "Hello".

Now I'm aware of Prince's unpublicized charity gestures even back then, and I think it was undeserved, but he should have had better publicity to defuse the story IMMEDIATELY.

Yeah, the criticism was undeserved. What also sucks was that the night this all went down was the same night Prince and the Revolution won big at the American Music Awards. That should've been a joyous evening for him with great press the next day. But the press loves to tear down people they build up...

[Edited 4/19/12 8:44am]

-Graffiti Bridge

-Tony M.'s mere existence.

-New Power Soul cd.....all he had to do was release "The One" as a single and throw the rest of those shitty songs in the garbage.

-The hat with the chains coming down in the "My Name is Prince" video

-Not letting The Time and The Family record under their original monikers, forcing them to come up with new groups names in order to release albums. Really Prince was it that serious?

-That spandex, royal blue outfit in the "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic" DVD

missfee said:

-Graffiti Bridge

-Tony M.'s mere existence.

-New Power Soul cd.....all he had to do was release "The One" as a single and throw the rest of those shitty songs in the garbage.

-The hat with the chains coming down in the "My Name is Prince" video

-Not letting The Time and The Family record under their original monikers, forcing them to come up with new groups names in order to release albums. Really Prince was it that serious?

-That spandex, royal blue outfit in the "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic" DVD

Oh, God, YES. Don't forget the horrible hair style. SMH

afro75 said:

ufoclub said:

Yep, so far this was the worst moment in Prince's career. You have to understand this was the first time all the top 40 pop stars got together on both sides of the Atlantic to make singles and release a music video on the new incredibly popular music network MTV. And to top it off you had Michael Jackson heading it up. It was very very popular and everyone was into it at the time. And of course everyone then heard that Prince said no. And this was right as he had become a household name. I think every radio station and every newspaper reported that and the bodyguard photographer incident... hence the lyrics to the song "Hello".

Now I'm aware of Prince's unpublicized charity gestures even back then, and I think it was undeserved, but he should have had better publicity to defuse the story IMMEDIATELY.

Yeah, the criticism was undeserved. What also sucks was that the night this all went down was the same night Prince and the Revolution won big at the American Music Awards. That should've been a joyous evening for him with great press the next day. But the press loves to tear down people they build up...

[Edited 4/19/12 8:44am]

I'm sorry, I'm not American, you see, I believe most of you guys are, but I'll try a guess. I didn't follow this media thing. Which propably happened mainly in America. You see what makes pop mainstream success worldwide, then and now, and probably many years before, is, almost in all cases, what makes success first in America. So that, if there was a media boycott of Prince for this ridiculous motive, now I can see why it affected so much his carreer in terms of mainstream success. So that, if it's boycotted in America, it disappears from the mainstream worldwide.

Aha was a great success worldwide (not just Take on Me, like it happened in America), Kylie Minogue was at times a great success worldwide, mainly in Europe, and Robbie Williams is very popular in Europe. All of this artists (regardless of their merit, I'm just talking mainstream success) were not successfull in America, but they are the ONLY exceptions I could think off the back of my mind. Pretty much all the rest is dictaded by what happens in the US (in a very similar way of what happens to the cinema worldwide - American pictures have been for almost the entire century what ruled theaters all over the world).

Now the reason of this boycott may seem stupid and absurd to all of us, but I don't think it seems for the American media, which corresponds to the avagerage American middle class morality. It has always been marked by moralism and puritanism. I remembered instantly the absurd Super Bowl episode with Janet Jackson. And there are hundreds of similar cases. I think in part what made the Obama election so celebrated was that it sounded so NOT PROBABLE (I mean for the whole world) an African American would EVER be the president in the US. All JUST BECAUSE of this same cause, avarage American "morality". Now this boycott makes more sense, it fits this strange American phenomenon.

herb4 said:

MajesticOne89 said:

ATWIAD shouldn't have been released so soon and promoted with a lead single. Preferably She's Always In My Hair.

It was. 'Raspberry Beret' at one point was being played at the top of every hour by MTV right when the album came out. I think maybe even before.

Yea, what I meant was prior to the album release. IIRC ATWIAD just kind of showed up in stores and 'Raspberry Beret' wasn't released as a single until after.

MajesticOne89 said:

herb4 said:

It was. 'Raspberry Beret' at one point was being played at the top of every hour by MTV right when the album came out. I think maybe even before.

Yea, what I meant was prior to the album release. IIRC ATWIAD just kind of showed up in stores and 'Raspberry Beret' wasn't released as a single until after.

Like hell "it just showed up."

That ish ended up being highly touted and promoted. Write ups in RS, famed listening sessions that ended up as huge write ups etc etc.

rdhull said:

MajesticOne89 said:

Yea, what I meant was prior to the album release. IIRC ATWIAD just kind of showed up in stores and 'Raspberry Beret' wasn't released as a single until after.

Like hell "it just showed up."

That ish ended up being highly touted and promoted. Write ups in RS, famed listening sessions that ended up as huge write ups etc etc.

Ah, I see! Well I did say "If I recall correctly," which isn't much being that I wasn't born until '89

Right now.

BrazilianOnRaspberryBeret said:

ufoclub said:

I completely agree, it was this moment that a lot of people starting hating him and kept that grudge for a long long time, even if they forgot why. This was a huge fiasco, because not only did the public think it was horrible for him to not do "We Are the World" (and that decision was really publicized by the media) but his bodyguard got crazy with some paparazzi the same night the recording was taking place. This really caused a ripple of bad attitude towards him by people that really swallowed the press reports as the complete truth.

This was the scandal that was reported around the world and regular folks took it to heart in a serious way. Most all of these other things in this thread are only in the awareness of Prince fanatics.

Are you guys serious. There was a backlash for NOT SINGING IN WE ARE THE WORLD? That silly song?? Of course he would not sing it, it was silly. And he would sound very silly singing it 'cause it has nothing to do with him. Not that I think that this MJ's charity side is totally bad, I think, for instance that Heal the World is a great song and far better than We Are the World, which is just lame. Even though it won all the Grammys. But then come on, Grammys have ALWAYS been about sales more than anything else. Anyway I think it's very out of proportion that a media and commercial backlash happened just because of that. After all even if some thought it was impolite or something, it was a charity thing. You don't "ruin" carreers and make charity at the same time. If this was really the case it was one of the most pathetic things I ever heard in my life.

It wasn't just the We Are The World incident that caused a backlash in '85.There were some other crazy things going on,such as when Prince went to visit Elizabeth Taylor at her home.Before he went inside,he had his bodyguards "search" her home before giving him the green light to come inside.Taylor was pissed,and she angrily asked Prince "Did you think I hired assassins?!".This incident (along with the bodyguards beating up a photographer) made it appear as if Prince was an arrogant,egotistical,insecure rock star who had let fame and success go to his head.Of course,we all know that this wasn't the case,but that's the impression that people were beginning to have.

nelcp777 said:

Not releaising the Black Album and cancelling the SOTT tour for Lovesexy. I think both would

have put him back on the hype similar to PR and gave him the creativity level instead of the

attempt at blending and trying to be like everyone else.

Not bringing the SOTT to the States was a huge career mistake.In the latter part of 1987,there was so much momentum going on with that album."U Got The Look" and "ICNTTPOYM" reached the Top 10 on the pop charts,while album tracks like "Adore" and "Housequake" were getting massive airplay.The time was right for a lengthy US tour.Yes,he gave us the concert film but it wasn't quite the same.

When he finally decided to tour the States in the fall of '88,he had trouble selling out some shows.That's because he missed his golden opportunity.SOTT was a more accessible album than Lovesexy,and I think the tour would have been much more successful.

aahhh but what if sott had been a single record .. wb was always complainin about the overabundance of material, maybe they were right

sign

play in the sunshine

housequake

dorothy parker

the cross

u got the look

if eye was your girlfriend

strange relationship

i could never take the place of your man

adore

maybe without the filler tunes this record would have gotten more of a reception and cemented prince legacy

TrevorAyer said:

aahhh but what if sott had been a single record .. wb was always complainin about the overabundance of material, maybe they were right

sign

play in the sunshine

housequake

dorothy parker

the cross

u got the look

if eye was your girlfriend

strange relationship

i could never take the place of your man

adore

maybe without the filler tunes this record would have gotten more of a reception and cemented prince legacy

was it not highly received by people that listened to it?

kenkamken said:

He's famous for making questionable career decisions, the whole name change completely baffled everyone, including many of his strongest supporters. I remember it was really hard to justify to people, they just couldn't get with an unpronounceable name thing. It's interesting he's made so many of these "career destroyer" moves, but still rebuilds with his sheer force of creativity. Most superstars try to cling to the image they created, even as it crumbles before them, but Prince actively tore down his old persona and liberated himself from its confines. A true iconoclast.

very well said!!!

uuhson said:

TrevorAyer said:

aahhh but what if sott had been a single record .. wb was always complainin about the overabundance of material, maybe they were right

sign

play in the sunshine

housequake

dorothy parker

the cross

u got the look

if eye was your girlfriend

strange relationship

i could never take the place of your man

adore

maybe without the filler tunes this record would have gotten more of a reception and cemented prince legacy

was it not highly received by people that listened to it?

Not at the time. A lot of people and critics were only feeling a select number of songs and felt others were muddled or vague. And regular Prince fans seemed baffled by the sound and mood of songs like "Play in the Sunshine" or "Slow Love" they wanted more Housequake and Hot Thing. PS if you were trying to make a totally commercial list for a single record SOTT, I would have SOTT followed directly by Housequake. Cut out Play in the Sunshine. I'd say "Starfish and Coffee" is more a successful pop tune as far as the studio cuts than Play in the Sunshine which is more artistically experimental.

oh yeah totally agree .. play in the sunshine is more of a personal favorite .. and i forgot about starfish and coffee .. but yeah .. it seems the double album wasn't exactly an easy sell back then .. especially since it was usually more expensive .. with filler like "it" and "hot thing" and total wierdness like "forever in my life" .. i think it was hard to win the critics over .. even without those songs .. its a pretty experimental sound for prince .. if i was your girlfriend could have been another when doves cry if it didn't have such suggestively homoerotic title .. u know all the cowboys that gave purple rain a chance wouldn't touch that song with a ten foot lollipop .. slow love was a good song but too much of a standard ballad that didn't really stand out much with its surroundings .. the rest .. sans beautiful night .. is pure gold .. at very least the critiques would have to praise it .. especially coming after parade .. which only had one hit .. shockadelica would have helped that record as well .. all in all .. adore could maybe have reached beautiful girl status if properly promoted .. there arent any other true "hit" songs off that record .. great songs but not massive like kiss or raspberry beret .. still it could have impacted significantly on the quality alone, as a legendary record .. even if i did not have any huge hits .. i dont see tom jones covering sign anytime soon ..

i rock therefore i am

I never knew about the Mayte/makeup subject. If he did blame her then that is cold-blooded.

I find that ironic coming from a man who has worn mascara/eyeliner/pancake makeup for decades.

1. Following up Purple Rain with ATWIAD way too soon

2. Following up Purple Rain and ATWIAD with Parade way too soon

3. Saying he would do "We are the World" and then back out at the last minute

4. LoveSexy album cover and outifts TERRIBLE!!!!!

5. Graffitti Bridge album and Movie

6. Letting Rosie Gains go after Diamonds and Pearls

7. The Symbol album

8. The whole name change, 'Slave' and WB era

9. Rave..... TERRIBLE!!!

10. All the goofy sh_t....Prince wispering in Mayte's ear to answer for him, websites open and close, not listening to his fans, blocking/sueing fans, I don't believe in managers, I don't believe in contracts.....bluh bluh

prime said:

1. Following up Purple Rain with ATWIAD way too soon

2. Following up Purple Rain and ATWIAD with Parade way too soon

3. Saying he would do "We are the World" and then back out at the last minute

4. LoveSexy album cover and outifts TERRIBLE!!!!!

5. Graffitti Bridge album and Movie

6. Letting Rosie Gains go after Diamonds and Pearls

7. The Symbol album

8. The whole name change, 'Slave' and WB era

9. Rave..... TERRIBLE!!!

10. All the goofy sh_t....Prince wispering in Mayte's ear to answer for him, websites open and close, not listening to his fans, blocking/sueing fans, I don't believe in managers, I don't believe in contracts.....bluh bluh

Rosie wanted to leave, she didn't like singing about sex acts and such. As she put it, I'm a grandma.

Leaving Warner Bros.

kewlschool said:

prime said:

1. Following up Purple Rain with ATWIAD way too soon

2. Following up Purple Rain and ATWIAD with Parade way too soon

3. Saying he would do "We are the World" and then back out at the last minute

4. LoveSexy album cover and outifts TERRIBLE!!!!!

5. Graffitti Bridge album and Movie

6. Letting Rosie Gains go after Diamonds and Pearls

7. The Symbol album

8. The whole name change, 'Slave' and WB era

9. Rave..... TERRIBLE!!!

10. All the goofy sh_t....Prince wispering in Mayte's ear to answer for him, websites open and close, not listening to his fans, blocking/sueing fans, I don't believe in managers, I don't believe in contracts.....bluh bluh

Rosie wanted to leave, she didn't like singing about sex acts and such. As she put it, I'm a grandma.

What song was about sex???? Diamonds and Pearls was all about love.....Now the symbol album was different....went to hip hop. SMH

prime said:

kewlschool said:

Rosie wanted to leave, she didn't like singing about sex acts and such. As she put it, I'm a grandma.

What song was about sex???? Diamonds and Pearls was all about love.....Now the symbol album was different....went to hip hop. SMH

Gett Off, and Cream. But don't forget when on tour she would have to sing other songs from other albums.