Prince career as a touring musician is fine, clearly thats where he WANTS to be. I saw the mention of Madonna. She always ALWAYS works with the latest and hottest producer to keep her on point. Prince works with himself. SO IF he wanted to be in the charts, he'd call Pharell, QuestLove, Andre 3000 and make a hit LP. He can easily make moves as a legend he chooses not to. So him not being on the charts is not really an issue in my mind.

NOW there are things I think were mistakes in his past

1) Mountains as a follow up single after Kiss? Horrible choice. I LOVE the song but it wasn't a single

2) If I was your Girlfriend same deal

3) Live Drums and adding horns to his music. After the horns came he wasn't that guy who was ahead anymore. He was a standard R&B artist.

4) GB as a whole terrible outside of Question Of U, Tick Tick Bang, and Release It. This is a forgetable LP and Movie

5) Lovesexy or Eye NO as the follow up to Alphabet St single then 'When 2 R In Love'

6) the slave era would have been fine he had made music to back all the whining and he didn't.

7) The people who were around during the 'Revolution' era added more than just music. They were like family it seemed. After everyone left he had no more real contact with the outside world. They were all just work for hire. They didn't care about him and they were all yes men. So the quality went down in his music. Yes he has a good song here and there but the overall quality of his music went down.

7.2)Warner being a 'big brother' looking over his shoulder were RIGHT about his output. Now as a Prince fan I love the outtakes and bootlegs but I love them as just that. Most of that stuff would NOT have made for good LPs. What Prince did after Warners was release without filter and it was too much of some bad stuff

DecaturStone said:

Prince career as a touring musician is fine, clearly thats where he WANTS to be. I saw the mention of Madonna. She always ALWAYS works with the latest and hottest producer to keep her on point. Prince works with himself. SO IF he wanted to be in the charts, he'd call Pharell, QuestLove, Andre 3000 and make a hit LP. He can easily make moves as a legend he chooses not to. So him not being on the charts is not really an issue in my mind.

NOW there are things I think were mistakes in his past

1) Mountains as a follow up single after Kiss? Horrible choice. I LOVE the song but it wasn't a single

2) If I was your Girlfriend same deal

3) Live Drums and adding horns to his music. After the horns came he wasn't that guy who was ahead anymore. He was a standard R&B artist.

4) GB as a whole terrible outside of Question Of U, Tick Tick Bang, and Release It. This is a forgetable LP and Movie

5) Lovesexy or Eye NO as the follow up to Alphabet St single then 'When 2 R In Love'

6) the slave era would have been fine he had made music to back all the whining and he didn't.

7) The people who were around during the 'Revolution' era added more than just music. They were like family it seemed. After everyone left he had no more real contact with the outside world. They were all just work for hire. They didn't care about him and they were all yes men. So the quality went down in his music. Yes he has a good song here and there but the overall quality of his music went down.

7.2)Warner being a 'big brother' looking over his shoulder were RIGHT about his output. Now as a Prince fan I love the outtakes and bootlegs but I love them as just that. Most of that stuff would NOT have made for good LPs. What Prince did after Warners was release without filter and it was too much of some bad stuff

A huge overstatement.

We can pretty much "monday morning Quarterback" just about every artist that has had an output like Prince, I mean i could say Elton John made a bad move doing "movie scores" but that netted him an oscar and "respect" that he really never had, though people who were fans of the "rocker" hated the AC stuff. We can debate it all, some will hate what Prince does and dislike his choices etc... As someone that has been there since the days of the 1999 album and then went and discovered the first 4 albums i can say these few things as far as what i have liked and disliked "move wise"

WORST

1) these one album deals are cool but when you sign one do the work for it, the RAVE era was a disaster for him and honestly when i felt he lost some cred.

2) the symbol stuff hurt him but in all honesty everyone now has the rights he fought for, just then no one had his back, this is the same crap the Eagles did for decades and everyone just thought Don Henley was a dick, but in the end he owns everything now and they are the biggest "label-less" artists of all time.

3) Production during Emancipation through Rave was LOUSY no other words for it

BEST

1) Going Indie, this was what he always wanted and honestly his numbers were falling quick so it needed to happen before he was dropped

2)The One Nite Alone Era, musician wise his best lineup and best music, he needs this back, his newest bands are just not interesting or that good.

3) The Musiciology era, though many didnt like the record, he made ALOT of smart moves, the Grammy's showing Beyonce who the "man" is. Also being an easy interview, not a straight asshole. And touring wise, it was as it was billed, the hits, and a party and you pretty much got that, plus the band was most of what was part of One Nite Alone. And this was smart to cash in on Purple Rain, do it again PRINCE now its 30 years, why not, if anyone should CASH in on it ITS YOU, stop being a "jerk" let WB release a Double re-issue, work something out Im sure you could. If he lets 2014 and this slip by I have to say, PRINCE will have a new all time WORST MOVE.

Not saying he should have just kept using the Linn. By that point there several drum machines available. His programming got boring and lost its edge. I can't think of the last unique drum pattern Prince used. Black Sweat was close but it was a sample of Andre Cymone (I wonder if he paid Andre for that?)

SuperSoulFighter said:

^^That's right and if he had kept the Linn drum sound it would have become predictable. Those 80s synths and drum machines sound very dated now.

Black Sweat did not use a sample of an Andra Cymone track. The beat is somewhat similar to "Neon Pussycat", but not a sample at all. You should be able to hear that with your own ears easily.

Why do people keep posting this type of nonsense here as if it's a fact? It seems to be ok to some orgers to use just about anything to back up their negative statements about Prince's more recent output.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Xibalba said:

Everyone that is, except the fams that still think using Prince text speak is cool.

When U come h3re it will always b that way 4 here 2 eternity. will NEVER change!!!!

LOL It's a part of Prince culture, I only do it on Prince.org or when talking with other fans about Prince. Prince still does it...

novabrkr said:

Black Sweat did not use a sample of an Andra Cymone track. The beat is somewhat similar to "Neon Pussycat", but not a sample at all. You should be able to hear that with your own ears easily.

Why do people keep posting this type of nonsense here as if it's a fact? It seems to be ok to some orgers to use just about anything to back up their negative statements about Prince's more recent output.

NOT trying to be negative at all. I love both songs. I am a musician who has replayed a song and under the legal term it is still considered a sample. Had I used a drum beat really similar to 'When Doves Cry' Prince could indeed come after me depending on how close the pattern was. Trust me I can send you some paper work where I learned the hard way. I am in NO WAY SHAPE OF FASHION being negative.

novabrkr said:

Black Sweat did not use a sample of an Andra Cymone track. The beat is somewhat similar to "Neon Pussycat", but not a sample at all. You should be able to hear that with your own ears easily.

Why do people keep posting this type of nonsense here as if it's a fact? It seems to be ok to some orgers to use just about anything to back up their negative statements about Prince's more recent output.

NOT trying to be negative at all. I love both songs. I am a musician who has replayed a song and under the legal term it is still considered a sample. Had I used a drum beat really similar to 'When Doves Cry' Prince could indeed come after me depending on how close the pattern was. Trust me I can send you some paper work where I learned the hard way. I am in NO WAY SHAPE OF FASHION being negative.

OldFriends4Sale said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

When U come h3re it will always b that way 4 here 2 eternity. will NEVER change!!!!

LOL It's a part of Prince culture, I only do it on Prince.org or when talking with other fans about Prince. Prince still does it...

It's called irony. Trust me, I know about Prince culture - I helped write the site FAQ back in the day!

OldFriends4Sale said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

When U come h3re it will always b that way 4 here 2 eternity. will NEVER change!!!!

LOL It's a part of Prince culture, I only do it on Prince.org or when talking with other fans about Prince. Prince still does it...

SuperSoulFighter said:

seanp said:

I don't understand how he ''killed'' his career when everyone in the music industry respects Prince. He wouldn't have his amazing accolades such as, (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame) if he killed his career.

U've got that right! But if you stay on this site for a while and you'll realize that folks saying "Prince killed his carreer" actually mean "Prince stopped being what I want him to be." [Edited 1/12/14 3:30am]

Spot on!

Everybody says that about ANY artist that has been around for ever, had tons of hits and DOESNT now. We got a thread going on Janet Jackson on why doesnt she sell? Because she had her day, its that freaking simple, people dont get this with their favorite artists. PRINCE is never gonna make U feel like you did back in the 80's cause the 80's are gone, if you don't like him now, whatever, and that can be said of ANY artist not just him. If you are a musician and you can tour and people show up your career isnt fucking over plain and simple, the charts can go F themselves, if thats what you judge as a career, than Prince should have stopped 20 years ago cause that was his last Hit single across the board, BUT if artists accept that "they aint gonna sell like its 20 years ago" why the F can the fans? DEAL WITH it, PRINCE is not going to have that HIT where everyone is playing it, its just NOT going to happen, so stop that Purple dream. Just like Janet Jackson aint gonna sell like its "Rythym nation all over again" or Madonna will be all over like the 80's where she could shit and it was a top 5 hit. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN i dont care how u look at it, what research u do, what Bob marley Joint U smoke, the DAYS of Prince, madonna, Janet etc... Etc... Etc... Getting played on the radio like it was 1984, 85, or whatever IS OVER let it go, cause guess what....THEY HAVE!

I don't think Prince truly realized how important it was to release the right singles from an album.Maybe he should have allowed Warners to choose the singles? In the case of Parade,"Kiss" was a great choice for the first single."Girls And Boys" should have been the second single.I remember hearing "Mountains" on my local R&B station and it was met with indifference.It's just not the type of song that should be a 'single'.

DecaturStone said:

NOW there are things I think were mistakes in his past

1) Mountains as a follow up single after Kiss? Horrible choice. I LOVE the song but it wasn't a single

2) If I was your Girlfriend same deal

lastdecember said:

Everybody says that about ANY artist that has been around for ever, had tons of hits and DOESNT now. We got a thread going on Janet Jackson on why doesnt she sell? Because she had her day, its that freaking simple, people dont get this with their favorite artists. PRINCE is never gonna make U feel like you did back in the 80's cause the 80's are gone, if you don't like him now, whatever, and that can be said of ANY artist not just him. If you are a musician and you can tour and people show up your career isnt fucking over plain and simple, the charts can go F themselves, if thats what you judge as a career, than Prince should have stopped 20 years ago cause that was his last Hit single across the board, BUT if artists accept that "they aint gonna sell like its 20 years ago" why the F can the fans? DEAL WITH it, PRINCE is not going to have that HIT where everyone is playing it, its just NOT going to happen, so stop that Purple dream. Just like Janet Jackson aint gonna sell like its "Rythym nation all over again" or Madonna will be all over like the 80's where she could shit and it was a top 5 hit. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN i dont care how u look at it, what research u do, what Bob marley Joint U smoke, the DAYS of Prince, madonna, Janet etc... Etc... Etc... Getting played on the radio like it was 1984, 85, or whatever IS OVER let it go, cause guess what....THEY HAVE!

Santanna sold 15 million copies of Supernatural in the USA at the age of 52. Good music sells no matter the age.

DecaturStone said:

novabrkr said:

Black Sweat did not use a sample of an Andra Cymone track. The beat is somewhat similar to "Neon Pussycat", but not a sample at all. You should be able to hear that with your own ears easily.

Why do people keep posting this type of nonsense here as if it's a fact? It seems to be ok to some orgers to use just about anything to back up their negative statements about Prince's more recent output.

NOT trying to be negative at all. I love both songs. I am a musician who has replayed a song and under the legal term it is still considered a sample. Had I used a drum beat really similar to 'When Doves Cry' Prince could indeed come after me depending on how close the pattern was. Trust me I can send you some paper work where I learned the hard way. I am in NO WAY SHAPE OF FASHION being negative.

Okay.

But it's not a sample and even by "legal terms" I have trouble believing it could be classified as such in this case. However, if you know about cases where something like that has happened when the two drum patterns have been similar enough then I suppose that's possible. "When Doves Cry" is probably a good example of a song that you could sue on if somebody copied that beat by remaking it.

kewlschool said:

lastdecember said:

Everybody says that about ANY artist that has been around for ever, had tons of hits and DOESNT now. We got a thread going on Janet Jackson on why doesnt she sell? Because she had her day, its that freaking simple, people dont get this with their favorite artists. PRINCE is never gonna make U feel like you did back in the 80's cause the 80's are gone, if you don't like him now, whatever, and that can be said of ANY artist not just him. If you are a musician and you can tour and people show up your career isnt fucking over plain and simple, the charts can go F themselves, if thats what you judge as a career, than Prince should have stopped 20 years ago cause that was his last Hit single across the board, BUT if artists accept that "they aint gonna sell like its 20 years ago" why the F can the fans? DEAL WITH it, PRINCE is not going to have that HIT where everyone is playing it, its just NOT going to happen, so stop that Purple dream. Just like Janet Jackson aint gonna sell like its "Rythym nation all over again" or Madonna will be all over like the 80's where she could shit and it was a top 5 hit. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN i dont care how u look at it, what research u do, what Bob marley Joint U smoke, the DAYS of Prince, madonna, Janet etc... Etc... Etc... Getting played on the radio like it was 1984, 85, or whatever IS OVER let it go, cause guess what....THEY HAVE!

Santanna sold 15 million copies of Supernatural in the USA at the age of 52. Good music sells no matter the age.

You can't compare Prince to Santana. They're not even the same contemporary.

^ Of course (SeanP) you can compare Prince to Santana in this case - about career, about having a comeback (like Santana did have):

Santana was successful in the 70's - and then again in 2000.

Prince was sucessful mainly in the 80s and early 90s.

He hasn't been that sucessful since 95, he is now invissible to most music lovers, "flying under the radar".

Career wise, (studio music) Prince is an "ice cold" "dead" musician, releasing crap song after crap song. Weak album after weak album.


(live in concerts I admit he is still hot and very much alive..)

thedance said:

^ Of course (SeanP) you can compare Prince to Santana in this case - about career, about having a comeback (like Santana did have):

Santana was successful in the 70's - and then again in 2000.

Prince was sucessful mainly in the 80s and early 90s.

He hasn't been that sucessful since 95, he is now invissible to most music lovers, "flying under the radar".

Career wise, (studio music) Prince is an "ice cold" "dead" musician, releasing crap song after crap song. Weak album after weak album.


(live in concerts I admit he is still hot and very much alive..)

Prince has such a huge ego and I don't blame him. The music industry can take advantage of you and Prince won't allow that. I command him for that.

I'm sadden he doesn't want to keep his legacy alive in the 2010s with social media, etc. It's his choice.

Xibalba said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

LOL It's a part of Prince culture, I only do it on Prince.org or when talking with other fans about Prince. Prince still does it...

It's called irony. Trust me, I know about Prince culture - I helped write the site FAQ back in the day!

thedance said:

kewlschool said:

lastdecember said:

Everybody says that about ANY artist that has been around for ever, had tons of hits and DOESNT now. We got a thread going on Janet Jackson on why doesnt she sell? Because she had her day, its that freaking simple, people dont get this with their favorite artists. PRINCE is never gonna make U feel like you did back in the 80's cause the 80's are gone, if you don't like him now, whatever, and that can be said of ANY artist not just him. If you are a musician and you can tour and people show up your career isnt fucking over plain and simple, the charts can go F themselves, if thats what you judge as a career, than Prince should have stopped 20 years ago cause that was his last Hit single across the board, BUT if artists accept that "they aint gonna sell like its 20 years ago" why the F can the fans? DEAL WITH it, PRINCE is not going to have that HIT where everyone is playing it, its just NOT going to happen, so stop that Purple dream. Just like Janet Jackson aint gonna sell like its "Rythym nation all over again" or Madonna will be all over like the 80's where she could shit and it was a top 5 hit. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN i dont care how u look at it, what research u do, what Bob marley Joint U smoke, the DAYS of Prince, madonna, Janet etc... Etc... Etc... Getting played on the radio like it was 1984, 85, or whatever IS OVER let it go, cause guess what....THEY HAVE!

Santanna sold 15 million copies of Supernatural in the USA at the age of 52. Good music sells no matter the age.

I dont buy into that SANTANA thing, cause the deal is tons of cash were thrown into that, also remember when that came out, everyone was doing DUETS albums including dead Frank Sinatra and having his biggest hits. Slapping on "artists of the day" is not to me YOU selling the record, thank Rob THomas who was HOT for the minute that Santana got him, now where is the dude? I mean if Prince did an album all instrumental and had the dude from Maroon 5 , Robin Thicke, Justin timberlake etc...singing over his playing of course it would sell, not buying the santana argument, lets see him sell that now on his own with his own instrumental work. not happening.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Xibalba said:

It's called irony. Trust me, I know about Prince culture - I helped write the site FAQ back in the day!

SuperSoulFighter said:

^ Hey, isn't that exactly what Prince did with RAVE?

Yes.

lastdecember said:

kewlschool said:

Santanna sold 15 million copies of Supernatural in the USA at the age of 52. Good music sells no matter the age.

I dont buy into that SANTANA thing, cause the deal is tons of cash were thrown into that, also remember when that came out, everyone was doing DUETS albums including dead Frank Sinatra and having his biggest hits. Slapping on "artists of the day" is not to me YOU selling the record, thank Rob THomas who was HOT for the minute that Santana got him, now where is the dude? I mean if Prince did an album all instrumental and had the dude from Maroon 5 , Robin Thicke, Justin timberlake etc...singing over his playing of course it would sell, not buying the santana argument, lets see him sell that now on his own with his own instrumental work. not happening.

The hit pop song(s) where great, doesn't matter if Rob sung it or some other good or great voice did.

Housequake should have been it's own single. Black Album should have been released after SOTT.

But Prince is making millions to this day... I think his career is even better than it was from his perspective, but not thew public pop perspective.

ufoclub said:

Housequake should have been it's own single. Black Album should have been released after SOTT.

But Prince is making millions to this day... I think his career is even better than it was from his perspective, but not thew public pop perspective.

SuperSoulFighter said:

Yes, even today when I tell somebody that I like Prince, I get questions like: What's he called these days? If he wanted media attention back then, he surely succeede, but it also made a lot of people think he's just a wierdo. And with no good new album coming out (the WB war ruined any chance of Gold becoming a big hit)that meant Prince's popularity went downhill. But at the end of the day he got what he wanted: total artistic freedom. And he is still famous even if he became an oldies act and he is still making money. So the name change may have been his best and his worst decision at the same time!

good answer.