OldFriends4Sale said:

It is very unique futuristic music. I think it would. Today it would still stand out in a big way.

Me too OFFS

NO!!!

NO!!!

NO!!!

no more PR or Thrillers

***NO-ONE today would get the platform to shine that artists of the 80's got!

that shit is OVER!!!

ForeverPaisley said:

MD431Madcat said:

NO!!!

NO!!!

NO!!!

no more PR or Thrillers

I wasn't meaning a remake, I mean the exact version that we love, being release for the FIRST time in 2017, how it would be received with the public/movie goers/music lovers?

ForeverPaisley said:

206Michelle said:

It is hard to know. Part of the appeal was Prince being in the movie, because he was a popular musician at that time. I think that the aggression/violence toward women would be less acceptable, particularly the guys putting the woman in the dumpster. The fighting between the parents is disturbing, but it is an important part of the storyline of PR the film. I wonder if the scene where Prince hits Apollonia [edited] would still occur if the film were released in 2017. [Edited 7/19/17 10:40am]

You do make great points about the aggression/violence toward women, I feel like nowadays would have way more backlash/protests. I find it hard to envision how the 84 hit film/soundtrack would be received, AS an 80s movie in 2017. Same with Grease for example. But part of me thinks they would be as popular because we really don't have many of those kinds of films out, and the music alone would make them hits. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking

I don't think the movie would get the backlash that you all think it would, because it shows in the storyline how he overcame what he was taught and saw at home. Yes, he hit her once, but he started to the second time and he stopped. The underlying tone of that scene where he stopped seemed to me that he was seeing himself becoming just like his father and he saw himself through Apples eyes, and realized this was not who he wanted to be. It was showing a young man consciously breaking the chain of domestic violence. I think that would be talked about and appreciated.

In answer to the OP's question, yes, I think it would be just as successful today as it was back then. There are certain songs that transcend time. They may not always fit with the current sound, but something in that particiular music touches people and helps to make it a success. Purple Rain was one such song. That's why young kids are still finding Prince, his older music, because they have more access to it and there is something in his music that is touching them. If young kids were not still discovering Prince, I would say that it is then just another song in a long line of songs that had its time and it does not fit in with today. Yeah, there's not a HUGE upswelling of young people finding him, but they are still coming in because Prince's music has touched them in someway. And his music isn't really being promoted, you aren't finding it as background music on games and such, so the fact that kids are still finding it, says something.

fourletterwords said:

Purple Rain still sounds as fresh today as ever. He chose very transcending instrumentation for it. 1999, on the other hand, is far more nestled and embedded in the 80's than it. Purple Rain is a classic sound.

MonsterZeroTwo said:

I believe it still would've been a big hit even if it came out today. A lot of records from the '80s, especially stuff with drum machines, didn't age that well. Prince got around that by putting flanger or a phaser to his Linn drum machine, making it all his own sound, which somehow doesn't sound dated. The fact that he could rock as well as write great songs that could be pop, r & b and rock is what makes the record so enduring. The passion and the craft of that album remains outstanding. He certainly made the best of it editing down the songs to fit the final album. After hearing some of the longer edits of the albums tracks you realize how right he was to pare them down for maximum effect, such as eschewing a minute from "The Beautiful Ones" to condensing the odyssey that was "Computer Blue" into something so concise and killer as the album version. If he did the movie and album thing today it would still go over big. It was everything: the vibe, the look, the imagery, the songs, the mystique, everything. The movie got away with stuff at the time that would not fly in today's ever-so-politically-correct times. The movie would be different but the album as is would still be a huge hit. It covers so many bases in its 44 minutes.

[Edited 7/28/17 8:00am]

If they were to create a biopic film of Prince's life & put it in movie theater, how would it do in todays world? I think so, great music, music battles, diva attitudes, buck wild behaviour, cussing & sex

benni said:

ForeverPaisley said:

You do make great points about the aggression/violence toward women, I feel like nowadays would have way more backlash/protests. I find it hard to envision how the 84 hit film/soundtrack would be received, AS an 80s movie in 2017. Same with Grease for example. But part of me thinks they would be as popular because we really don't have many of those kinds of films out, and the music alone would make them hits. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking

I don't think the movie would get the backlash that you all think it would, because it shows in the storyline how he overcame what he was taught and saw at home. Yes, he hit her once, but he started to the second time and he stopped. The underlying tone of that scene where he stopped seemed to me that he was seeing himself becoming just like his father and he saw himself through Apples eyes, and realized this was not who he wanted to be. It was showing a young man consciously breaking the chain of domestic violence. I think that would be talked about and appreciated.

^^^I completely agree. Domestic violence is, unfortunately, still a relevant issue... AND the music IS timeless

benni said:

In answer to the OP's question, yes, I think it would be just as successful today as it was back then. There are certain songs that transcend time. They may not always fit with the current sound, but something in that particiular music touches people and helps to make it a success. Purple Rain was one such song. That's why young kids are still finding Prince, his older music, because they have more access to it and there is something in his music that is touching them. If young kids were not still discovering Prince, I would say that it is then just another song in a long line of songs that had its time and it does not fit in with today. Yeah, there's not a HUGE upswelling of young people finding him, but they are still coming in because Prince's music has touched them in someway. And his music isn't really being promoted, you aren't finding it as background music on games and such, so the fact that kids are still finding it, says something.

I *wish* they would better promote these releases! It's unfortunately that WB doesn't actively promote these projects because more people WOULD discover and enjoy his music. I still will never understand how FunkNRoll and/or RNR Love Affair were not charting hits! Why? because they weren't promoted, had they been they would have been charting AND it would have introduced Prince to a new generation. I keep holding out hope that they'll re-release those latest/last albums of his and perhaps actually promote those tracks because they are hit material.

That was a tangent - whoops

spookyelectric23 said:

I believe it still would've been a big hit even if it came out today. A lot of records from the '80s, especially stuff with drum machines, didn't age that well. Prince got around that by putting flanger or a phaser to his Linn drum machine, making it all his own sound, which somehow doesn't sound dated. The fact that he could rock as well as write great songs that could be pop, r & b and rock is what makes the record so enduring. The passion and the craft of that album remains outstanding. He certainly made the best of it editing down the songs to fit the final album. After hearing some of the longer edits of the albums tracks you realize how right he was to pare them down for maximum effect, such as eschewing a minute from "The Beautiful Ones" to condensing the odyssey that was "Computer Blue" into something so concise and killer as the album version. If he did the movie and album thing today it would still go over big. It was everything: the vibe, the look, the imagery, the songs, the mystique, everything. The movie got away with stuff at the time that would not fly in today's ever-so-politically-correct times. The movie would be different but the album as is would still be a huge hit. It covers so many bases in its 44 minutes.

[Edited 7/28/17 8:00am]

Perfectly stated spooky - I agree

When Doves Cry would still be a hit on pop radio.

The music history would not be the same if he waited with Purple Rain until this day. Who knows how it would fit the sound of today, if the sound of today was very different? It's an evolution thing, and there's no doubt both Purple Rain and 1999 played a significant role in shaping the 80s sound, and pop music. If he released no albums at all, personal and proteges, and suddenly came with Purple Rain in 2017, it would still sound fresh as hell, since nothing current would have been inspired by it in advance.

[Edited 8/11/17 1:08am]

smoothcriminal12 said:

Lets think about the big songs of it:

When Doves Cry - no rap, no bounce, no auto-tune. Would be seen as a cool, computery, retro song but mostly appealing to an Ind/Alternative market.

Lets Go Crazy - This type of rockabilly jam is as niche as Jazz at this point. However, look at "All About That Bass" which had a 50s vibe about it. Maybe a hit today amoungs baby boomers and Gen xers but does anyone care about guitar solos anymore?

Purple Rain - Its country roots are more obvious today. Would it be the life changing song it was in 84? Again the guitar doesnt seem to thrill kids these days. Adult Contemporary minor hit?

I would Die For you. - Need only to hear the CHVRCHES cover. Yes this would be still be a "hit" but a an indie alternative retro one

Beautiful Ones - STILL A HIT.

No way. Albums are snapshots of time.

Thriller in 2017 would be a flop. So would Like A Virgin or Born In The USA.

if we are running the marketplace YES, but if millienials are i kinda doubt it, sorry millienials.

The complexity of the music alone would guarantee it wouldn't be a hit. Strong Melodies, chords, guitar and keyboard solos, extended jams, and densely layered vocals and instruments would be a no no in modern pop music. Today's pop scene has been incredibly dumbed down, slowed down, and simplified to appeal to the largest demographics. WDC would have the best chance because the song is deceptively simple melody based around the drum beat. The other songs wouldn't fair well at all. Honestly, I don't think Prince would get signed by a label because they wouldn't know how to market him. He would be an indie artist doing Afro Punk festivals. Prince had the luck of being the perfect artist at the perfect time.

[Edited 8/11/17 11:18am]

Replica said:

The music history would not be the same if he waited with Purple Rain until this day. Who knows how it would fit the sound of today, if the sound of today was very different? It's an evolution thing, and there's no doubt both Purple Rain and 1999 played a significant role in shaping the 80s sound, and pop music. If he released no albums at all, personal and proteges, and suddenly came with Purple Rain in 2017, it would still sound fresh as hell, since nothing current would have been inspired by it in advance.

[Edited 8/11/17 1:08am]

Well stated, i agree.