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Thread started 12/26/18 10:28pm

SoftSkarlettLo
visa

What are your thoughts on the Diamond And Pearls era?

Were you of legal age when D&P was released and promoted? I'm asking because I first became aware of the D&P album a few years after its release - in 1994/95, actually, and I was six/ seven year old at the time. I also got a slight look at the LoveSymbol album then but I was guarded from it because I was just a kid.

Did you believe D&P held up to Prince's commercial and artistic standards?

I like some of the songs on the album and the era was prettily packaged. Sure, it was the 90s and a new decade for Prince, and he was incredibly innovative and experimental, so he wouldn't be stuck repeating 80s hooks. However, after a listen to "Willing And Able" or "Strollin'", I walk away feeling somewhat disappointed that there wasn't more.

I also felt that the music videos like "Diamonds And Pearls" and "Insatiable" - while beautifully filmed - I was left with a slight empty, unsatisfied feeling, that perhaps Prince was ambitious but couldn't put together a good story/ theme. The "Parade" album/ UTCM movie era was less confusing.

That said, I still like the D&P era for what it delivered. In fact, I'm going to buy the D&P DVD online as a gift to myself. :]

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Reply #1 posted 12/26/18 10:32pm

luv4u

Moderator

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moderator

I like the music and the videos

canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #2 posted 12/26/18 10:43pm

pinkcashmere23

I love the title track and several others on the album. I was not of legal age when the album was released and I could not bring Prince's albums into the house. I first heard it in my late twenties, though I remember hearing D&Ps on the radio back then and loving it. I also love the DVD and I think the video for D&Ps is one of his most beautiful.

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Reply #3 posted 12/27/18 1:20am

RODSERLING

I was 5 years old at the time of the release, but I remember well this era.
At the time, music videos of the top 50 each week were an event for me.
It was like a Michael Jackson or a Lionel Richie album in term of popularity from my side of view way back then.
.
I was really amazed when I discovered a decade later D&P hadn't reach the 20 millions mark and that Money Don t Matter 2Night wasn't like #1 worldwide, because the song was a huge success on radio.
.
This is surely my favourite Prince album. Very Accessible and very good.
I was even more amazed when I discovered the hate with Tony M on the org. I think it's flow, rythm and lyrics are excellent.
.
His long rap on LIVE4Love is fucking great, legendary. Overall, his interaction with Prince was perfect.
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Reply #4 posted 12/27/18 1:40am

Wolfie87

I don't think any artist could have pulled a equally timeless look as Prince in the same 90's era with THAT perfect hair and THAT perfect beard. Remember this was 1991. A year some people say is the period when the 80's was trying to die but was in a respirator. The clothes on artists were awful, the hairdos were all over the place and horrible most of the time. However ä, Prince stayed cohesive and pulled both with style and grace which is a big feat.
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Reply #5 posted 12/27/18 1:42am

bonatoc

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Visuals are ageing, except for the small miracle of the hologram sleeve.

But the album was born for a maxi-bass boombox of the nineties.
This shit sounded out of this world when it came out.
"Cream" still does though. Even "Walk Don't Walk", for all its simplicity, retains all its original charm.
Very good songs, except for the lyrical ego-trips, but such was rap (here comes the hammer!) then.
And the NPG make sure, right from the start, that they're something else (note I didn't say "better". Whoops, too late).

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
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Reply #6 posted 12/27/18 2:17am

NorthC

He created a lot of excitement for this album, but I remember that I wasn't very excited when I first heard it. I kept hoping, maybe the next track will be great, but no. It wasn't even because of Tony M (Willing and Able is one of the better tracks), there just wasn't anything that was as fantastic as it was in the past. Most reviews said the same: good album, but not as great or as surprising as it used to be. But, he still had hits and his reputation as a live performer was good enough to do another sold out tour.
[Edited 12/27/18 2:18am]
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Reply #7 posted 12/27/18 2:49am

bonatoc

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Oh, and "Live 4 Love" studio version,
the Power Trio was already on Mach 3 like, the first year.

Michael was 20. We were still Batwondering,
and SKipper was already sailing in LotusFlow3r territories. Hall of Fame my ass.
The Blue Angel's Swan Song, drenched under fuzzed wahs
and flashes of videogame-like falling bombs?

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
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Reply #8 posted 12/27/18 3:26am

MattyJam

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It's funny how a weak ass album like D&P gets a pass from so many Prince fans and yet Rave, which is a much stronger album imo, gets slack because it didn't succeed commercially. If commercial popularity was based on the quality of the songwriting alone, then Rave would've been a smash and D&P would've tanked. Just goes to show how important marketing and good timing is in the industry.
[Edited 12/27/18 3:27am]
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Reply #9 posted 12/27/18 5:13am

jaawwnn

No amount of good promotion could have saved Rave from itself.

Diamonds & Pearls has its big hitters and some interesting stuff amid Prince's new big production style that doesn't sit well with anyone who really likes Prince's 80's sparse production. Takes a bit of getting used to as a fan, but it does sound like a hit record, which Rave does not. Fact is, you can barely imagine the guy who did Sign O the Times and Purple Rain also writing and producing the title track to D&P, and that in itself is impressive.

I've fairly whittled D&P down to a 9-track playlist that I normally listen to, but i'm glad the other tracks still exist.

[Edited 12/27/18 5:17am]

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Reply #10 posted 12/27/18 5:21am

donnyenglish

His worst era to me. I did not like the live shows. I hated the lame attempt to incorporate rap into his work. But, there were some gems from that era.
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Reply #11 posted 12/27/18 5:23am

PURPLEIZED3121

debated to death...BUT...a genius career move that gave him a much needed comeback after Graffitti Bridge's failure. Screw what fellow hardcore fams think - he did what he needed to do & followed trends [shock horror!] whilst keeping the purple freakery. New look, new sound, mega tour, great videos, chart success = job done!

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Reply #12 posted 12/27/18 7:01am

Telecaster5

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Apart from Cream, Get Off and Live 4 love I don´t listen to this album. I liked the cover and the looks but I hated the tittle song so much (so cheesy) that I guess it ruined it for me.

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Reply #13 posted 12/27/18 7:12am

ChocolateBox31
21

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Diamond & Pearls proved Prince(r.i.p.) could still come up with a hit multi platinum, visually stimulating, album with the right promotion and people behind it like his late brief manager Frank Dileo. The videos of the title track,"Cream". & the sexy orgy driven maxi video/single"Gett off" were MTV ready. Then lead to his most provocative live performance of his career with Prince's(r.i.p.) peek-a-boo yellow ensemble outfit.


"That mountain top situation is not really what it's all cracked up 2 B when eye was doing the Purple Rain tour eye had a lot of people who eye knew eye'll never c again @ the concerts.just screamin n places they thought they was suppose 2 scream."prince
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Reply #14 posted 12/27/18 7:21am

dodger

I was 15 at the time and saw the Gett Off video and was hooked from there. Still love the era now.
The Gett Off and D&P video collections felt like a glimpse into his magical weird world and the maxi singles were a great addition to the album.
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Reply #15 posted 12/27/18 7:37am

renfield

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I was 16 and had been a fan for years at that point. I remember rushing to get it the day it was released! It maybe hasn't aged as well as the classic albums but there are some great songs. After floundering a bit commercially (even Batman seemed like a weird blip amidst Lovesexy and Graffiti Bridge, fueled by the movie's hype) Prince was back and everywhere. The excitement for this new direction and new era was palpable in 1991 and, when I think about that feeling listening to it now, it still seems somehow fresh to me.

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Reply #16 posted 12/27/18 7:40am

pinkcashmere23

MattyJam said:

It's funny how a weak ass album like D&P gets a pass from so many Prince fans and yet Rave, which is a much stronger album imo, gets slack because it didn't succeed commercially. If commercial popularity was based on the quality of the songwriting alone, then Rave would've been a smash and D&P would've tanked. Just goes to show how important marketing and good timing is in the industry. [Edited 12/27/18 3:27am]

i love the majority of Rave though I listen to the ballads from it the most.I think the album has quite a few strong songs. Same with Diamonds and Pearls.

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Reply #17 posted 12/27/18 9:08am

feeluupp

It remains ICONIC in the Prince legacy because of its success. The image, the commercial success, the visibility he had during that year is why the D&P era will always be remembered more than the actual music and sound of that era.

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Reply #18 posted 12/27/18 9:11am

thedance

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luv4u said:

I like the music and the videos

yeahthat


exactly.. the huge singles (the huge hits).... love

DAP is an amazing pop-funk era.. cool cool

The album is in my Prince album top-10

However not a classic therefor not in my top-5--

Prince 4Ever. heart
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Reply #19 posted 12/27/18 10:10am

CatB

dodger said:

I was 15 at the time and saw the Gett Off video and was hooked from there. Still love the era now.



Same here. When I was 15 the video would play on TV a lot after school. It was the days of grunge and many of us girls had such dresses in the style of Lori's & Robia's in the video. I remember always wearing that dress and dancing my Doc Martens down to the song.

Diamonds & Pearls was the first Prince album I bought. It was a huge part of my initiation to Prince and the video to Diamonds & Pearls suddenly made me see more than the brotherly figure I had always seen in him.



"Time is space spent with U"
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Reply #20 posted 12/27/18 10:36am

Empress

The album is awesome and some of the videos are great. I love the title song and video with Rosie.
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Reply #21 posted 12/27/18 10:38am

Empress

MattyJam said:

It's funny how a weak ass album like D&P gets a pass from so many Prince fans and yet Rave, which is a much stronger album imo, gets slack because it didn't succeed commercially. If commercial popularity was based on the quality of the songwriting alone, then Rave would've been a smash and D&P would've tanked. Just goes to show how important marketing and good timing is in the industry.
[Edited 12/27/18 3:27am]

I don't necessarily agree that D&P is weak and Rave is much stronger. This is your opinion. I actually enjoy both albums for different reasons.
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Reply #22 posted 12/27/18 10:48am

Shockedelicus

Having a new band really brought life back to P's music, even if he was chasing the New Jack Swing trend by 1991. D&P feels really spacious and powerful, but a lot of tracks like Strollin' and Walk Don't Walk feel like filler next to absolute victories like Insatiable and Gett Off.

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Reply #23 posted 12/27/18 11:32am

rednblue

I was 25 when the album was released.

I think Thunder, followed by Daddy Pop, is a FANTASTIC one-two punch opening. As I understand it, many find those songs to be over-the-top cheesy/campy. What can I say? I LOVE them! So much fun!

For me, if it's true, there's at least one very big negative connected to the era. Have read in multiple places that Rosie Gaines was bullied by band members, and that her related appeals to P fell on deaf ears.
Love how some songs on the album (such as D&P and Daddy Pop) showcase P singing some very low notes. Those notes are drop dead gorgeous. love faint

Adore when P talks to audience about Cream in later years, telling about looking in the mirror while writing it. Just love how he talked about it in his last show. "A conversation with yoself."

P covered (and not) by yellow was sunshine. Pure sunshine!

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Reply #24 posted 12/27/18 11:32am

SoulAlive

MattyJam said:

It's funny how a weak ass album like D&P gets a pass from so many Prince fans and yet Rave, which is a much stronger album imo, gets slack because it didn't succeed commercially. If commercial popularity was based on the quality of the songwriting alone, then Rave would've been a smash and D&P would've tanked. Just goes to show how important marketing and good timing is in the industry.

Rave is a "much stronger album"? lol Nonsense.

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Reply #25 posted 12/27/18 11:33am

NorthC

Shockedelicus said:

Having a new band really brought life back to P's music, even if he was chasing the New Jack Swing trend by 1991. D&P feels really spacious and powerful, but a lot of tracks like Strollin' and Walk Don't Walk feel like filler next to absolute victories like Insatiable and Gett Off.


Funny, you call two songs that I like filler while you call that bad copy of Do Me, Baby or Scandalous a victory. It was fun to see him in that bed flying over the audience during the tour, but as a song... zzz Unfortunately, for some reason, after that Prince thought every album needed one of those slow jams. Shhh, Satisfied, Mr. Goodnight etcetera etcetera... They all sound the same.
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Reply #26 posted 12/27/18 11:38am

NorthC

rednblue said:

I was 25 when the album was released.

I think Thunder, followed by Daddy Pop, is a FANTASTIC one-two punch opening. As I understand it, many find those songs to be over-the-top cheesy/campy. What can I say? I LOVE them! So much fun!

For me, if it's true, there's at least one very big negative connected to the era. Have read in multiple places that Rosie Gaines was bullied by band members, and that her related appeals to P fell on deaf ears.
Love how some songs on the album (such as D&P and Daddy Pop) showcase P singing some very low notes. Those notes are drop dead gorgeous. love faint

Adore when P talks to audience about Cream in later years, telling about looking in the mirror while writing it. Just love how he talked about it in his last show. "A conversation with yoself."

P covered (and not) by yellow was sunshine. Pure sunshine!


Yeah, that's another thing: this was his most male-oriented band ever. Rosie was just a singer, Diamond, Pearl and Mayte were just dancers... No women who played a prominent role like Wendy, Lisa or Sheila... Quite unusual for Prince. Was this another way to connect with the machismo of hiphop?
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Reply #27 posted 12/27/18 11:43am

rednblue

NorthC said:

Shockedelicus said:

Having a new band really brought life back to P's music, even if he was chasing the New Jack Swing trend by 1991. D&P feels really spacious and powerful, but a lot of tracks like Strollin' and Walk Don't Walk feel like filler next to absolute victories like Insatiable and Gett Off.

Funny, you call two songs that I like filler while you call that bad copy of Do Me, Baby or Scandalous a victory. It was fun to see him in that bed flying over the audience during the tour, but as a song... zzz Unfortunately, for some reason, after that Prince thought every album needed one of those slow jams. Shhh, Satisfied, Mr. Goodnight etcetera etcetera... They all sound the same.



Excuse the tangent, but speaking of Rave, I'm reminded of a story from Hans-Martin Buff. When P asked him what track might be removed from Rave, Hans suggested The Sun, The Stars And The Moon. P then asked, "Hans, how's your sex life?" lol

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Reply #28 posted 12/27/18 11:51am

bonatoc

avatar

Whaddayano, first I'm dissing the visuals,
next thing I know I weep like Mary,
just seeing SKipper smiling among children,
coaching himself, "there will come a time.." 2 have kids.
I miss U more than ever, Man.





As he closes the Nude Tour, he made up his mind.
he shows his cards and distorts the desk. Lamps go red.
He already knows he B out of Warner.
Children killed from high above, impersonal
imagery courtesy of Activision®.
But names won't matter 2night, copy right(s)?




And we think we got it bad.




[Edited 12/27/18 11:59am]

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
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Reply #29 posted 12/27/18 12:12pm

bonatoc

avatar

MattyJam said:

It's funny how a weak ass album like D&P gets a pass from so many Prince fans and yet Rave, which is a much stronger album imo, gets slack because it didn't succeed commercially. If commercial popularity was based on the quality of the songwriting alone, then Rave would've been a smash and D&P would've tanked. Just goes to show how important marketing and good timing is in the industry. [Edited 12/27/18 3:27am]



Go sell your industry elsewherez, Mr. Cul entre deux chaises.
This is about His Music, et cætera.
You obviously can't tell which one of your cheeks,
or your half-assed fandoms is weak (hint: the 1 2 clean 2 B honest).
Maybe Ur 2 old.

[Edited 12/27/18 12:14pm]

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
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