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Thread started 02/26/15 4:41am

mrgone777

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Perspective on Prince "AoA" and "PlecElec" rock/pop artists at 56 years old

I just put up a post about AoA and PlecElec 5 months out and it got me thinking about how many prominent rock/pop artists of the last 30 years made forward thinking music at the age of 56 or older?

This post has a point, but first I wanted to throw out some names:

Stevie Wonder at 56

David Bowie at 56

Elton John at 56

Rolling Stones kinda at 55+

U2 at 55+

Bob Dylan at 55+

Joni Mitchell at 55+

Madonna at 55+

Eric Clapton at 55+

The Who at 55+

Bruce Springsteen at 56

Neal Young at 56

Pink Floyd at 55+

Miles Davis at 56

Aerosmith at 55+

Earth Wind & Fire at 55+

Paul McCartney at 56

I don't know what all of these artists did at this magic age where Prince finds himself today, but it would interesting to note how the arc of their creative careers changed. The point....a lot of people here, on Amazon.com, music critics writ large evaluate Prince's work on his past work rather than comparing his work to the state of the art of rock/pop today. Its like Prince is measured against his heyday rather than what against what he is becoming in the context of contemporary rock/pop. Like that lyric in "funknroll" "finally beloved we meet at last in the middle of the HERE nevermind the past."

Anyway, thoughts? I know Joni was vibrant at 55 and Madonna has changed directions many times and is the same age as Prince and has a new release. Stevie mellowed quite a bit and Elton at 56 was pretty much soft pop rock by that point.

[Edited 2/26/15 5:06am]

[Edited 2/26/15 5:08am]

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Reply #1 posted 02/26/15 6:00am

lwr001

mrgone777 said:

I just put up a post about AoA and PlecElec 5 months out and it got me thinking about how many prominent rock/pop artists of the last 30 years made forward thinking music at the age of 56 or older?

This post has a point, but first I wanted to throw out some names:

Stevie Wonder at 56

David Bowie at 56

Elton John at 56

Rolling Stones kinda at 55+

U2 at 55+

Bob Dylan at 55+

Joni Mitchell at 55+

Madonna at 55+

Eric Clapton at 55+

The Who at 55+

Bruce Springsteen at 56

Neal Young at 56

Pink Floyd at 55+

Miles Davis at 56

Aerosmith at 55+

Earth Wind & Fire at 55+

Paul McCartney at 56

I don't know what all of these artists did at this magic age where Prince finds himself today, but it would interesting to note how the arc of their creative careers changed. The point....a lot of people here, on Amazon.com, music critics writ large evaluate Prince's work on his past work rather than comparing his work to the state of the art of rock/pop today. Its like Prince is measured against his heyday rather than what against what he is becoming in the context of contemporary rock/pop. Like that lyric in "funknroll" "finally beloved we meet at last in the middle of the HERE nevermind the past."

Anyway, thoughts? I know Joni was vibrant at 55 and Madonna has changed directions many times and is the same age as Prince and has a new release. Stevie mellowed quite a bit and Elton at 56 was pretty much soft pop rock by that point.

[Edited 2/26/15 5:06am]

[Edited 2/26/15 5:08am]

Give me Prince all day everyday

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Reply #2 posted 02/26/15 6:01am

SuperSoulFight
er

Bob Dylan was 56/57 when he made Time Out of Mind, where he wrote about aging, facing death and love lost. (But with enough humour to keep it from becoming gloomy.) For the first time in 20 years, he made a new album that people liked. He had something to say again! It was the beginning of his comeback as a great writer. He is being praised into the skies these days. Prince is nowhere near this level yet. He could be if he gave up trying to make teenage op hits (Fall In Love 2Nite) and write more serious songs.
[Edited 2/26/15 6:03am]
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Reply #3 posted 02/26/15 6:37am

lagantest

lwr001 said:

mrgone777 said:

I just put up a post about AoA and PlecElec 5 months out and it got me thinking about how many prominent rock/pop artists of the last 30 years made forward thinking music at the age of 56 or older?

This post has a point, but first I wanted to throw out some names:

Stevie Wonder at 56

David Bowie at 56

Elton John at 56

Rolling Stones kinda at 55+

U2 at 55+

Bob Dylan at 55+

Joni Mitchell at 55+

Madonna at 55+

Eric Clapton at 55+

The Who at 55+

Bruce Springsteen at 56

Neal Young at 56

Pink Floyd at 55+

Miles Davis at 56

Aerosmith at 55+

Earth Wind & Fire at 55+

Paul McCartney at 56

I don't know what all of these artists did at this magic age where Prince finds himself today, but it would interesting to note how the arc of their creative careers changed. The point....a lot of people here, on Amazon.com, music critics writ large evaluate Prince's work on his past work rather than comparing his work to the state of the art of rock/pop today. Its like Prince is measured against his heyday rather than what against what he is becoming in the context of contemporary rock/pop. Like that lyric in "funknroll" "finally beloved we meet at last in the middle of the HERE nevermind the past."

Anyway, thoughts? I know Joni was vibrant at 55 and Madonna has changed directions many times and is the same age as Prince and has a new release. Stevie mellowed quite a bit and Elton at 56 was pretty much soft pop rock by that point.

[Edited 2/26/15 5:06am]

[Edited 2/26/15 5:08am]

Give me Prince all day everyday

David Bowie had just released heathen and was moving onto Reality. The album heathen is a gorgeous sound symphony record but to a rock background. Serious songs about, life, fear, optimism, doubt and being scared. Brilliant.

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Reply #4 posted 02/26/15 6:54am

JoshuaWho

lagantest said:

lwr001 said:

Give me Prince all day everyday

David Bowie had just released heathen and was moving onto Reality. The album heathen is a gorgeous sound symphony record but to a rock background. Serious songs about, life, fear, optimism, doubt and being scared. Brilliant.

There are only 4 real geniuses on that list: Miles, Prince, Stevie, and Bowie. With the possible exception of Stevie, no one has ever caught up to what they did over 30 years ago

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Reply #5 posted 02/26/15 6:58am

lagantest

JoshuaWho said:

lagantest said:

David Bowie had just released heathen and was moving onto Reality. The album heathen is a gorgeous sound symphony record but to a rock background. Serious songs about, life, fear, optimism, doubt and being scared. Brilliant.

There are only 4 real geniuses on that list: Miles, Prince, Stevie, and Bowie. With the possible exception of Stevie, no one has ever caught up to what they did over 30 years ago

yeah i read on another post about people not competing with Princes purple patch but princes purple patch lasted about 5-6 years. Bowies lasted 10.

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Reply #6 posted 02/26/15 7:12am

lwr001

lagantest said:

JoshuaWho said:

There are only 4 real geniuses on that list: Miles, Prince, Stevie, and Bowie. With the possible exception of Stevie, no one has ever caught up to what they did over 30 years ago

yeah i read on another post about people not competing with Princes purple patch but princes purple patch lasted about 5-6 years. Bowies lasted 10.

5 to 6 years ..you are delusional..but lets go with it..put P 5 to 6 years and he wins against anyone..Beattles nmaybe exception but they had 3 or 4 of best songwriters ever..

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Reply #7 posted 02/26/15 7:14am

BartVanHemelen

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mrgone777 said:

I just put up a post about AoA and PlecElec 5 months out and it got me thinking about how many prominent rock/pop artists of the last 30 years made forward thinking music at the age of 56 or older?

.

What is "forward thinking" about attempting to emulate relatively current trends?

.

Its like Prince is measured against his heyday rather than what against what he is becoming in the context of contemporary rock/pop. Like that lyric in "funknroll" "finally beloved we meet at last in the middle of the HERE nevermind the past."

.

Perhaps he should look at the tracklists of his concerts first.

© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for
your use. All rights reserved.
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Reply #8 posted 02/26/15 7:15am

lwr001

lagantest said:

JoshuaWho said:

There are only 4 real geniuses on that list: Miles, Prince, Stevie, and Bowie. With the possible exception of Stevie, no one has ever caught up to what they did over 30 years ago

yeah i read on another post about people not competing with Princes purple patch but princes purple patch lasted about 5-6 years. Bowies lasted 10.

5 to 6 years ..you are delusional..but lets go with it..put P 5 to 6 years and he wins against anyone..Beattles nmaybe exception but they had 3 or 4 of best songwriters ever..

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Reply #9 posted 02/26/15 7:34am

NouveauDance

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SuperSoulFighter said:

Prince is nowhere near this level yet. He could be if he gave up trying to make teenage op hits (Fall In Love 2Nite) and write more serious songs.

I agree with this and lament Prince's inability to let himself go there with his song-writing. To be honest, at this point I've lost any expectation of him to do, but I'd love to be proved wrong.

To be fair there are themes of aging on AOA, so maybe that's a start.


[Edited 2/26/15 7:35am]

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Reply #10 posted 02/26/15 8:19am

lwr001

NouveauDance said:

SuperSoulFighter said:

Prince is nowhere near this level yet. He could be if he gave up trying to make teenage op hits (Fall In Love 2Nite) and write more serious songs.

I agree with this and lament Prince's inability to let himself go there with his song-writing. To be honest, at this point I've lost any expectation of him to do, but I'd love to be proved wrong.

To be fair there are themes of aging on AOA, so maybe that's a start.


[Edited 2/26/15 7:35am]

Time and way back home says differnt

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Reply #11 posted 02/26/15 8:40am

KingSausage

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JoshuaWho said:



lagantest said:




lwr001 said:





Give me Prince all day everyday



David Bowie had just released heathen and was moving onto Reality. The album heathen is a gorgeous sound symphony record but to a rock background. Serious songs about, life, fear, optimism, doubt and being scared. Brilliant.



There are only 4 real geniuses on that list: Miles, Prince, Stevie, and Bowie. With the possible exception of Stevie, no one has ever caught up to what they did over 30 years ago




You missed Dylan.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #12 posted 02/26/15 10:09am

NouveauDance

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lwr001 said:

NouveauDance said:

To be fair there are themes of aging on AOA, so maybe that's a start.

Time and way back home says differnt

You quote me, but you don't read what I said? confuse

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Reply #13 posted 02/26/15 10:18am

Graycap23

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hmmm

The only 3 people on that list that I would give the time of day 2 are:

Prince

Stevie

EW&F

FOOLS multiply when WISE Men & Women are silent.
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Reply #14 posted 02/26/15 11:25am

SanMartin

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lagantest said:



lwr001 said:




mrgone777 said:


I just put up a post about AoA and PlecElec 5 months out and it got me thinking about how many prominent rock/pop artists of the last 30 years made forward thinking music at the age of 56 or older?


This post has a point, but first I wanted to throw out some names:



Stevie Wonder at 56


David Bowie at 56


Elton John at 56


Rolling Stones kinda at 55+


U2 at 55+


Bob Dylan at 55+


Joni Mitchell at 55+


Madonna at 55+


Eric Clapton at 55+


The Who at 55+


Bruce Springsteen at 56


Neal Young at 56


Pink Floyd at 55+


Miles Davis at 56


Aerosmith at 55+


Earth Wind & Fire at 55+


Paul McCartney at 56



I don't know what all of these artists did at this magic age where Prince finds himself today, but it would interesting to note how the arc of their creative careers changed. The point....a lot of people here, on Amazon.com, music critics writ large evaluate Prince's work on his past work rather than comparing his work to the state of the art of rock/pop today. Its like Prince is measured against his heyday rather than what against what he is becoming in the context of contemporary rock/pop. Like that lyric in "funknroll" "finally beloved we meet at last in the middle of the HERE nevermind the past."



Anyway, thoughts? I know Joni was vibrant at 55 and Madonna has changed directions many times and is the same age as Prince and has a new release. Stevie mellowed quite a bit and Elton at 56 was pretty much soft pop rock by that point.


[Edited 2/26/15 5:06am]


[Edited 2/26/15 5:08am]





Give me Prince all day everyday



David Bowie had just released heathen and was moving onto Reality. The album heathen is a gorgeous sound symphony record but to a rock background. Serious songs about, life, fear, optimism, doubt and being scared. Brilliant.



Personally, I like Bowie's 90s and 2000s stuff almost as much as his output from the 70s. He became a lot less prolific, but the music was still fresh.

Prince I'm less sure about. As has been said before, some of his newer music is just him on auto-pilot ('Planet Earth' and '20ten'), while some of it is more imaginative and exciting ('Lotusflow3r' and AOA).
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Reply #15 posted 02/26/15 11:34am

SanMartin

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lwr001 said:



lagantest said:




JoshuaWho said:



There are only 4 real geniuses on that list: Miles, Prince, Stevie, and Bowie. With the possible exception of Stevie, no one has ever caught up to what they did over 30 years ago



yeah i read on another post about people not competing with Princes purple patch but princes purple patch lasted about 5-6 years. Bowies lasted 10.



5 to 6 years ..you are delusional..but lets go with it..put P 5 to 6 years and he wins against anyone..Beattles nmaybe exception but they had 3 or 4 of best songwriters ever..



I dunno man; it all depends on your taste. I'm not a fan of the Beatles, and I find both Bowie's and Prince's 'golden ages' more interesting. Prince won his fame with 'Purple Rain', Bowie with 'Ziggy Stardust', and they're as good as each other. Prince then followed through with a series of stellar albums up until the late 80s, but I'd argue that Bowie's run from 'Low' to 'Scary Monsters' was just as impressive.
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Reply #16 posted 02/26/15 2:50pm

funksterr

I don't think it's the fact that Prince is 56. He's been putting out equally bad albums, perhaps even worse, since at least 1996. My money is on since 1990. Set aside for a sec that he is as badass a musician as there ever was. He is a badass vocalist, too. But those skills are essentially nothing in terms of making a great abum. That's a piece of the pie not the whole thing.

The issue is his attitude and, copy and paste, songwriting method. It's hard to even say it's an issue exactly. A better word may be that cornball, whack azz music is in his DNA as an artist. There was a time when he was better connected to trends and surrounded by cool people that he could draw inspiration from and mimic (Morris Day, anyone?), but when it comes down to just Prince being Prince. Shit, that's boring as hell. Prince the man is boring as fuck. And thats the real reason why the albums trend between spotty and HELLNAW! Bad attitude and personality. You can only fake it so far.

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Reply #17 posted 02/26/15 3:54pm

Aerogram

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AOA is a great musical statement from start to finish. PlectrumElectrum is a mixed bag, but its best songs are some of his best rock numbers in many years, they have what the best songs on LotusFlower lacked - passion. That it's partly provided by young folks he hired is both the explanation and the problem, in PLEL's case anyway. For AOA, it's just insane how well Prince and Josh collaborated, all of it is deliberate, from the dancey teases of AOC to the chipmunk voices and the lasers, plus whatever compression == this is called meta musical communication, you're supposed to get the angle and the joke.

So far I'm having a swell decade, it's refreshing to see Prince stretch himself a little, he does need a challenge to be at his best.

[Edited 2/26/15 15:59pm]

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Reply #18 posted 02/26/15 7:07pm

V10LETBLUES

The problem is he's only 56 but AOA sounds like it was produced by an 87 yr old. As if he is channeling a really old white lady(with really bad taste in music). Right down to the loss of hearing and the inability to hear the complete sound spectrum.
[Edited 2/26/15 19:10pm]
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Reply #19 posted 02/26/15 7:27pm

Aerogram

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V10LETBLUES said:

The problem is he's only 56 but AOA sounds like it was produced by an 87 yr old. As if he is channeling a really old white lady(with really bad taste in music). Right down to the loss of hearing and the inability to hear the complete sound spectrum.
[Edited 2/26/15 19:10pm]


I'm sure that old lady is infinitely wiser and creative than that eye rolling younger lady that thinks she can diagnose hearing loss from a record just because she thinks a good record is something by Taylor Swift.
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Reply #20 posted 02/26/15 8:02pm

V10LETBLUES

Aerogram said:

V10LETBLUES said:

The problem is he's only 56 but AOA sounds like it was produced by an 87 yr old. As if he is channeling a really old white lady(with really bad taste in music). Right down to the loss of hearing and the inability to hear the complete sound spectrum.
[Edited 2/26/15 19:10pm]


I'm sure that old lady is infinitely wiser and creative than that eye rolling younger lady that thinks she can diagnose hearing loss from a record just because she thinks a good record is something by Taylor Swift.


Hey Taylor's work is a hell of a lot better produced than anything on AOA
I don't discriminate, I call them as I see them, good is good and terrible is terrible. I love Prince but I'm no delusional and say his current work is up to par.
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Reply #21 posted 02/27/15 3:28am

Aerogram

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V10LETBLUES said:

Aerogram said:



I'm sure that old lady is infinitely wiser and creative than that eye rolling younger lady that thinks she can diagnose hearing loss from a record just because she thinks a good record is something by Taylor Swift.


Hey Taylor's work is a hell of a lot better produced than anything on AOA
I don't discriminate, I call them as I see them, good is good and terrible is terrible. I love Prince but I'm no delusional and say his current work is up to par.


You don't discriminate? LOL

True in the sense that you don't discriminate the difference between a conventional artist picked by the industry because she fully conforms to the conventions of her time, quite well I might add, and someone like Prince, who does not.

False because you just made a classic ageist and ableist statement, attributing what you don't like to the person's age and perceived disability.
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Reply #22 posted 02/27/15 4:24am

antonb

I think AOA is a good album. I still listen to it, and enjoy it. Its on a par with 3121 for me. Princes best songs might be behind him, but hes still producing decent and enjoyable music. Now, it just is what you are personally happy with. Prince and his music and legacy with live on. Beyond us. If we get another album that stuns us all, it will be a bonus. He has achieved incredible things in his career so far, pretty much more than anyone else. you just have to respect the fact that life and music and treads change. As for Taylor Swift, she seems a nice girl, but the BRITS performance was very false and lame. She should go back to being a country star. But her team and record company have made her into a pop star, and are making a mint.

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Reply #23 posted 02/27/15 4:47am

lagantest

SanMartin said:

lwr001 said:

5 to 6 years ..you are delusional..but lets go with it..put P 5 to 6 years and he wins against anyone..Beattles nmaybe exception but they had 3 or 4 of best songwriters ever..

I dunno man; it all depends on your taste. I'm not a fan of the Beatles, and I find both Bowie's and Prince's 'golden ages' more interesting. Prince won his fame with 'Purple Rain', Bowie with 'Ziggy Stardust', and they're as good as each other. Prince then followed through with a series of stellar albums up until the late 80s, but I'd argue that Bowie's run from 'Low' to 'Scary Monsters' was just as impressive.

Bowie at one point had stellar album after album, hunky dory (still one of the greatest albums ever made), ziggy, alladin sane, diamond dogs, etc then went on to rip up the rule book with LOW. then in the 90's went through a complete experimental period.

Prince has had his good touches too, gold experience is very good. 3121 had its moments and AOA is ok. but there is just nothing meaty. Nothing to make think, i need to listen to that again. I thought he was going somewhere with 'THe truth' and 'one night alone solo piano and voice' but he stepped backwards from there.

[Edited 2/27/15 7:24am]

[Edited 2/27/15 7:26am]

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Reply #24 posted 02/27/15 5:48am

KeithyT

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Stevie Wonder had just released A Time To Love in 2005, the year before he hit 56 (the album with "So What The Fuss" on it). I don't own it so can't speak about it's artistry/lyrical content/songwriting prowess.

His musical releases have become sparser and sparser since the 80s, I can''t help thinking Stevie became comfortable with his "legendary" status even earlier in his career than Prince has. I'd almost argue that Prince's status change has happened in spite of his public stance of not looking to the past and moving forward (ignoring the contrary evidence with his setlists and hits heavy shows).

Just somewhere in the middle,
Not too good and not too bad.
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Reply #25 posted 02/27/15 10:14am

V10LETBLUES

Aerogram said:

V10LETBLUES said:
Hey Taylor's work is a hell of a lot better produced than anything on AOA I don't discriminate, I call them as I see them, good is good and terrible is terrible. I love Prince but I'm no delusional and say his current work is up to par.
You don't discriminate? LOL True in the sense that you don't discriminate the difference between a conventional artist picked by the industry because she fully conforms to the conventions of her time, quite well I might add, and someone like Prince, who does not. False because you just made a classic ageist and ableist statement, attributing what you don't like to the person's age and perceived disability.

barking at the wrong tree and chasing your own tail trying to spin this lol

AOA is Prince pandering at it's worst. Breakfast Can Wait? Is this the cheesiest corniest track he has ever recorded? Sounds like a tv jingle from soviet block nation in 1986. Everything on AOA sounds like an outtake from a never released Ukranian boy band album. ...Never released becasue it sounded too cheesy even for them.

Whether it's Prince, Taylor Swift, Beck, a country western record or an artist I have never heard of before, I give the work the same equal respect and judge it not by any preconcieved notions about the artist or genre, but by the actual track.

Like I said I love Prince, but not so much Taylor, but unlike some of you who already have preconcieved notions about artists, I can look beyond that and listen to the music itself, not whether someone is a legend or genius and the other only a pop starlet.


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Reply #26 posted 02/27/15 10:34am

antonb

Well I would go and listen a little harder. Cus your wrong. lol

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Reply #27 posted 02/27/15 12:01pm

lezama

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lagantest said:

JoshuaWho said:

There are only 4 real geniuses on that list: Miles, Prince, Stevie, and Bowie. With the possible exception of Stevie, no one has ever caught up to what they did over 30 years ago

yeah i read on another post about people not competing with Princes purple patch but princes purple patch lasted about 5-6 years. Bowies lasted 10.

I'm a huge Bowie fan, about equally so with Prince, but I dont see Bowie's golden years as having lasted 10 years. He's certainly had 10 golden albums. But to me at least his genius would really stand out in one album and then the next it'd be ok but he wasn't pushing himself. He was always off an on sales wise. And some of his best quality work were never big sellers. And he had a completely dark period similar to Prince where his work was pretty crappy (although I realize all of these assessments are subjective). All three of his last albums were superb but in the US at least none were really even a blip on the musical radar. But I think that that's just because he's an older artist and is kind of treated like Prince and Stevie, as yesterdays news.

Change it one more time..
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Reply #28 posted 02/27/15 1:39pm

luvsexy4all

The Beatles

Led Zeppelin

Prince

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Reply #29 posted 02/27/15 3:20pm

SuperSoulFight
er

^The question was NOT "name your favorite artists." The question was:"How many artists did great work in their later years?"
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