in the fasinating music career that has been prince's, he has been the biggest selling music star on the planet(purple rain) and an indie artist releasing little known albums with no media coverage and small sales(the rainbow children, news) in the last year, he has once again became a mainstream artist with big sales (and concert giveaways) so which do you prefer....mainstream or cult?
...
...
...me?....as much as i enjoy his musicial adventures into all kinds of music and i did enjoy the rainbow children's 'live' feel , i didnt like the fact that nobody even knew the album was out(apart from his real fans) and i read some reviews that said that 'prince's music didnt matter any more'his music and status should matter so i much prefered this last year when was getting noticed, getting rave reviews for his live shows, having a top ten album in the us and the uk....i like all his musicial journeys but i prefer prince the mainstream artist rather than prince the cult artist
...
...

Actually I used to love it when Prince was up there with MJ and Madonna at the time more oppurtinites to see him at award shows and preformances but I don't know it seems like he had more interaction with fans and was forced to do more interviews when he was a cult artist so I am secretly wishing he would alienate the public again....but I am very happy for him that the Musicology album and tour were a success. He deserved it!

I'd love to have seen Prince during his proper commercial peak. The supposed resurgence with Musicology didn't really happen in the UK cause there was no tour, so I can't really recall anytime when he was on the up here.

So i'll say cult artist, as I have no real basis for comparison

I prefer Prince back when he was a mainstream R&B artist and, during that same period, a pop cult artist.
[Edited 4/15/05 6:20am]

I wish TRC had got the recognition it deserves - it's my favourite Prince album and wish I it had more mainstream attention as it showcases Prince's musicianship like no other album ever has.

Here's hoping the promotion behind Musicology can continue with future mainstream releases. As without this "push" the album would have fallen by the wayside like all the others since the Symbol album. A fact bourne out by the in the UK - where there were no "giveaways" or TV appearances and hence little success.

Im happy when he's having sucess and is on TV b/c I get to enjoy him

but I think I prefer when hes more low key cause that adds to his
too cool mysterious mystic. I guess I like both as long as hes making music
...new album please?

cult artist. i've always been for anything underground.

Cult Artist BY FAR.....

last year was kind of strange....

I have always regarded Prince to be a 'Cult Superstar'. Always.

I like Prince as he is and always should be: STRADDLING THE LINE

One foot in Rollingstone cover, box office smashing, TV appearing, hollywood partying land.

One foot in hard to find rare tracks, fan club only aftershows, 20 minutes long jam sessions.

Prince has long since straddled genres of music, and performing so to juggle popularity in the mainstream and his cult appeal makes sense.

Is he a dancer/performer? A guitar/piano/drum playing musician? A pop artist? FunK RocK?

He's a bit of everything and that's why I like his the most.

skywalker said:

Exactly.

they used to be one and the same.

But back then, "popular music" still sounded original and cult-like. Now those are two seperated spheres.



I agree totally with the Rainbow Children comment. Whether you like it or not, this was the very first Prince album in a long time where he said: "fuck it, I'm an artist" and came up with something compelling like he used to do.

I absolutely love that album and period.

This is a very good question. But I swear to you, Prince had to be the ONLY artist that, at one point, (the mid 80s) seemed to be both mainstream AND cult AT THE SAME TIME. I kid you not. I know that doesn't make any sense, but I swear, that's what it seemed like at the time.

During the PR era the difference wasn't with him, but with the tabloids.

Prince was being himself and the media and public in general latched onto him. Then this underground Dirty Mind-Rude Boy God became both cult artist and mainstream star.

(that's why I don't trash PR as just a commerical tripe ... i've always felt it was a legitimate,genuine art product that was deservingly hijacked).


But he's different now... traveling the awards show circuit ... partying , not with fams, but with the Hollywood elite... It's clear his mainstreaming now is more CONTRIVED.

I'd prefer he not contrive and play the game.

I don't mind if he's popular ... but I like the spotlight to come to him when he's doing his indie stuff, rather than have him make collabos or go to LA and schmooze...


But he'll be back soon, cuz he will tire of that superficiality.

SquarePeg said:

I concur ...
[Edited 4/16/05 8:33am]

If by cult artist you mean one who makes crap like The Rainbow Children, then give me mainstream all the way.

antoon said:

Tottaly agree with this too.

EvilWhiteMale said:

antoon said:"they used to be one and the same.But back then, "popular music" still sounded original and cult-like. Now those are two seperated spheres."

When was this that pop music was original and cult like?? Not usually it didn't.

Sure you had some deviations: The Beatles, Stevie, James,etc. For the most part, pop music is as crappy as ever. Teenie boppers unite!

Pop music of the 50's: Pat Boone, Perry Como, and Patti Page

Pop music of the 60's: The Shirelles, Jan & Dean, The Monkees

Pop music of the 70's: John Denver, The Carpenters, Neil Diamond

Pop Music of the 80's: Rick Springfield, New Kids on the Block, Paula Abdul

Pop music of the 90's: Spice Girls, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli,

Pop music of 00's: Britney, N'sync, Hillary Duff

So when was pop music cult like and original?? Most of the time it is what it is. Mass music for thenon-funky.
[Edited 4/16/05 9:10am]

Mainstream all the way, because during those years he made great music (Purple rain, 1999, Sign O the Times)

Prince THE Mainstream Artist is THE REAL Prince.

krayzie said:

Damn right!

EvilWhiteMale said:

Damn right!!!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

The underground is great as long as it's funky and cutting edge.

But if it isn't great, it's not funky and it sucks.

Underground cult artist. Prince makes music as an art. He's said it many times,
he does not care about hits and awards.

When i was a early teen it was naughty and rebellious to be a Prince Fan,

now everbody looks back and says yeh he was cool,. i think this day in age, everybody is looking at older artist with more respect and completely forgive the artist for any mistakes they did back in their early days..

TonyVanDam said:

I disagree. Dirty Mind Prince was NOT mainstream at all, and yet that was the best period for him, IMO.

ThaCat said:

I think you're absolutely right. Hindsight is 20/20, is it?

SquarePeg said:

confused!