fauxnewbie said:

thought it was on his cheek?

thewar said:

didn't think "Rave" was bad. just thought that it was nothing compared 2 his other work.

NCC2012 said:

Amen

Hope he does go with Clive Davis...

And of course he will not "sell out".

He has the advantage of years of experience, and knows what
is important to hold on to.

There's never been anyone that lays down grooves funkier than Prince! Never has been and never will be!! BUT, lyrically he's 'OUT TO LUNCH". I enjoy everything I've heard from the man, because as a fan/fam I respect his creativity. If he wants to be more mainstream, he just needs to get his lyrics back to fun, love, sex, and partying, and leave all the anger, religion, and racism out. It's his music, and he can play and sing about what he wants too. I'm not dogging him for doing what he wants, but if he wants to SELL records, he doesn't need a label, he's just got to get back in touch with the hearts and minds of the piiples!! PEACE AND BE WILD!

I hope he does go back to WB. On the back of their "new" signing, they could release video collections, remix/12" compilation CDs, release the live videos on DVD, etc.

They own the great majority of Prince's (published) work and could mix this with the new stuff. They could re-release the old albums with an extra CD full of b-sides, extended versions and out-takes!

I don't know people... I am not so sure I want to see Top 40 Prince... I liked the "Days of Wild" shows where it was just "US" and not the mainstreem... but after seeing him do the Purple Rain Medly and then again play Purple Rain at the HOB in LA, I can see him (dare I say it) selling out and going back to the industry...

I thought the NPGMC was the way to go... I was happy... but I guess P really wasn't...

chrisslope9 said:

Knowin P, he aint gonna. Though his ego isn't as big as it used 2 B, he's 2 proud 4 that.

You know what would be great? If he signed a deal that gave him major label distribution for his "bigger" albums, but also allowed him to do low-key indy stuff through NPGMC (like N.E.W.S.). That way, he continues to give his fans the cool, non-commercial stuff we all love, but also gives up the more radio-friendly material.

He needs to sign with someone, anyone, just so they can release the music so I can actually hear it. Except for NEWS and One Nite Alone...Live, I haven't heard anything Prince has done since Rainbow Children. Seriously, for those of us not willing, or able, to download music, being able to hear some of this new music would be nice.

Hearing about these new songs, like Musicology, and not being able to actually hear them is killing me. Release some music ON A DISC, Prince. Please.

IMO, I don't think Prince "needs" to do projects with Dre, Beyonce, Outkast ect. Might some of them be good? Maybe. He teamed up with No Doubt and Eve, did that make those songs huge mainstream hits, no. And both Eve and No Doubt were popular and getting air play.

Sure it could put him in the spotlight with the masses, but why does he have to be with today's artists to make him more be more top 40?

I have always enjoyed his music/art for himself. Does that mean I like 100% of it...no! (Pretty much all of it) But I would not necessarily like him better/more if he teamed up with Outkast. I like Prince for Prince. A lot of my favorite stuff written by him never got airplay or on MTV/VH1/BET. How many of us have all his CD's just because we like him or liked something previous?


While it is all a matter of personal taste, I love his 80's stuff, and have been only to 3 live performances. His best performance was the last one I saw, the ONA tour.

While I like Beyonce and think she has a great voice, I like Prince better with NPG and without her. It was ok for a minute, but I don't want to buy a CD of them together. I want to hear him play and sing.

Just my opinion, but he doesn't need the others and he doesn't need to be the popular with everybody. One of things I like about him is he writes and peforms what he wants. Isn't that what being an Artist is all about???

Would I like to turn on the music chanels to see him or hear him, oh yeah. But I don't think he needs to hook up with e'body in the top 40 to make him a better musician. To me, that would make his sound like everybody elses. I like that he is different.

If signing with a label gets more of his music out, well all the better.

PLEASE let this story be true.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let it be true.

As much as we've enjoyed having Prince somewhat underground for the past several years, it is time for a commercial return for our boy. Not to say that he can single handedly save the music industry, but as he demonstrated Sunday night, he can remind the industry what real musicianship with real musicians is all about. Today's sinking music industry desperately needs someone like Prince!

I agree that this is a good idea if it means Prince's music will reach a broader audience.

However, as far as enlisting another producer or cramming a cd with collaborations, that's a terrible suggestion. This would only make his stuff sound like most everything else on the radio and t.v. right now.

Besides, just because something's popular doesn't mean that it's good and vice-versa. There's been some incredible album's that were overlooked in the recent past. Artists such as Ben Harper, Michelle N'degeocello, Terence Trent D'arby, and hip hop artist, Common are all great, but haven't been on the top of the charts in years, if at all. Likewise, there's some awful music (no names needed) that pop culture can't seem to get enough of.

So Prince should retain creative control and make the amazing album we should all know he's still very capable of making. But that's just my humble opinion. Afterall, I actually thought Rave was good.

DMSR said:

collaborate with pharrell, snoop or dre? are you nuts?
Anything but THAT please. That would be the lamest thing to do.
I don't like collaborations, just the man and his band and i'm happy.

if P wants to have a sucsessful album again he NEEDS TO BRING IN A PRODUCER


Sorry to say it but I agree
He likes things HIS way a little to much for this day and age, a little help from the outside no matter how knowledgeable you are never hurt anyone.

righteous1 said:

and you are nuts 2

Prince is THE self made man. it wouldn't fully be a Prince album if someone else be pushing buttons.

The only thing he needs to do a little more is talk dirty again and come up with some fat ass jams!

Prince has to write a commercial album if he wants success with a label, he has it in him to write the mother of commercial albums but of course he wont, he puts out NEWS and religious ramblings.

Funny thing about life is, if you want a different result, you have to change what you do. People want to behave the same way but expect different results, and it infuriates them when the universe won't cooperate. What I mean by this is Prince needs a collaborator. I'll mention Sting in this context because I just saw him last night and he is also a (pop) musical hero of mine from the same era as Prince, who remains a vital creative and commercial force. When Sting's records of the mid-90s were having less of an impact, he changed his working methodology -- adding a new, younger producer/songwriting collaborator (and Sting, like Prince, is no slouch as a composer) in Kipper and changing his sound completely, all to massive success. He even changed his marketing strategy (but you can do that when you're the marquee artist on a major label).

Prince needs to first figure out what he wants from a new record. Great music? Hit music? Both?

1) For hit music, he definitely needs to contemporize his sound and work with a co-producer who can deliver that but is also sympathetic to his legacy, like The Neptunes or Timbaland/Missy Elliott. I think it's possible to change without compromising the essential things that make him unique -- his own vision coupled with access to the best traditions of black American music (the part that's missing from contemporary r&b/pop music). If he doesn't want that, then he should be prepared to not ever be on the charts again and play only to the hardcore following -- which is fine. Assuming he's fine with it.

2) For great music, he still needs to add someone who can reign in his indulgences and push him to deliver eight great songs instead of one great one, a couple of good ones, and some junk. This has been a problem on almost all of his records, except for a few many years ago. His greatest period came when he was working in tandem with Wendy and Lisa, who were able to open his ears to possibilities he hadn't considered. Surely there's somebody in his orbit who can be trusted (key word for him) to do the same thing.

3) X the literal religious content, period. If you want to write about God and/or religion that's fine, but you need to do it metaphorically so the audience isn't alienated. This is pop music, my man. Don't get it twisted. He was better when he used to have to do this -- "The Cross" is better than "The Christ," the lyrical metaphors he was forced to use in "Let's Go Crazy" are better than direct explication about heaven and hell ("...let the elevator bring us down," etc.). U2 understands how to write stirring gospel/religious music without ever mentioning Jesus Christ... Prince should, too, by now.

4) And by the way, for God's sake make a deal with a concert promoter. It's pop music -- you're just gonna have to dance with the devil if you want packed arenas again. I love the idea of sitting down front and no scalpers, but the whole waiting in line for hours thing is bullshit. I'm 34 years old -- I don't have too much worshipful devotion to pop stars left in me. I went to see Sting last night and his fan club members were sitting down front, what's the problem? No wrist bans, first come first serve, none of that shit. Put the Music Club tickets on the Internet and let members get them randomly, like every other concert.

Best of luck to Prince. I'd like to see people really excited about his music again, and not just us.
[This message was edited Thu Feb 12 11:02:20 PST 2004 by TedW]

7IS4ME said:

what about The Rainbow Children. It's a exellent album!!!

THE RUMOURS THAT HE IS GOING TO SIGN WITH WB RECORDS IS THIS...THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF PURPLE RAIN. I DOUBT THAT HE WILL RECORD NEW MUSIC AND LET WB HANDLE THIS. PRINCE HAS FAR TOO MUCH ARTISTIC FREEDOM NOW. PLUS, WARNERS IS NOT THE SUPERPOWER THAT IT ONCE WAS...AND IF HE WERE TO SIGN A CONTRACT FOR A ONE ALBUM DEAL THERE ARE SOOO MANY OTHER LABELS THAT WILL GLADLY NEGOTIATE WITH HIM. THIS WHOLE PRINCE AND WARNER BROS. THING IS HE WANTS TO CELEBRATE AND CO-OPERATE WITH THE PARENT COMPANY AND ORIGINAL LABEL TO GIVE HIS BABY PURPLE RAIN THE PROPER PROMOTION...ETC. IAGINE THE EXTRA'S ON THE DVD! IMAGINE THE REMASTERED VERSION OF PURPLE RAIN. HOPEFULLY THIS VERSION WILL HAVE THE OUTAKES AND ALL THE EXTENDED VERSIONS OF THE SONGS.

this is Sweeettt if that's the case (new label 4 The NPG) but @ the same time we're gonna see a NPG Records on the CD & whateva Company he's using.

i just P & The NPG 2 "Bring It"!!!


i'm lookin' 4 that jump outta u'r seat & scream type shyt!

that Passion!


that's what i want...


but it's all good... do yo thing X-tra P...

fauxnewbie said:

Now that would have been crazy!

I suppose it depends what the circumstances are to releasing with a major label. I feel really surpised to hear this and I feel very dissapointed as well. I am wondering about this mans autonomy, seriously.

I think he is making a major mistake if he compromises the music he will put out because of sales being low.

TedW, I sincerely hope that Prince doesn't change his music for anything or anyone.

Maybe there are a lot of people who would change their art to please other people - I sincerely feel this is towards death of the music. No matter what the gain, there is nothing more valuable than that which springs from the creative well. He may please more people by compromise, but the loser will be him. I hope he doesn't sell out.

As a fan of Prince and being someone who has bought everything with his name on it (bootlegs included), I would welcome Prince back to the fold on a major label. Why wouldn't anyone want to see him back? With this being 2004 and his solid performance at the Grammys, he should do it by all means. I am inclined to believe that he would come back and make an LP so solid that it would rival Carlos Santana's "Supernatural" and be a masterpiece.

Prince... do your thing, man.

I truly believe that if this report of signing to a Major label is true that there is stipulations that only Prince would agree to. I definetly believe one of those is Prince retaining rights to his master recordings. Prince would never sign a conventional contract again and be stung twice.

I'm all for him signing with a major if it means we dont get mediocre crap like NEWS.

Nah, Prince is toast.

The benefits of Prince signing 2 a major label are limited: wide distribution, non-exclusive distribution (don't have to be an NPGMC member 2 buy semi-unique items), and some airtime 4 music videos. It's not worth it 4 these things. Am I 2 just forget the last 10 years of major label bashing? Let's face it, Prince's new music doesn't appeal 2 the masses, and, why should it? He makes enough money off of the followers, so don't change the business model. Just find a distributor 4 wide distribution and let the market decide.

FYI: Prince never stopped using as his name. He uses both now.

MadeUpName said:

I'd just like to say that not everyone who likes TRC, NEWS etc are followers! I actually really love the music!!