What happened there?

He deserved better IMO.

Did his eclectism and diversity ruin his sales, or was it cause he was just too prolific and the casual music buyer just got sick of him?

I think maybe because he's just one of those type of artists that not many people felt comfortable saying, "I really dig that Prince dude" because you never knew if the next thing he did might make you turn a few shades of red, and then someone's out there pointing their finger at you ----> hey, that guy says he digs him! hahaha. Not sure. something like that, maybe? Prince always kept us guessing. Those who follow never knew which way to go? The rest of us were right there alongside him all the way.
[Edited 6/21/05 12:27pm]

Snap said:

I've often thought if he dressed like Springsteen or something he'd have sold more. It just wouldn't have been Prince though.

i felt no embarrassment buying Lovesexy, alot of Americans did apparently. strange place.

Marrk said:

isnt he like 29 on the all time seller list? not bad in my opinion.

david

neither did Mozart. Many geniuses were underappreciated until long after they were dead.

he sold as many much as he could. there is no should in the equation, unless of course you believe the rest of the world SHOULD simply think, act and have the same musical tastes as you. in that case, sorry to disappoint you that the music buying public doesn't feel the same as you.

My opinion is that 1) A lot of people (mostly crazy) were offended by some of Prince's lyrics and 2) A lot of people (mostly crazy) were embarrassed to admit they liked Prince because of the whole gender-bender thing-tho I find it sexy!

Well apart from the whole "they'll think im gay thing" i think is the lack of media praise and attention he actually got. They probably didnt like him from the start cause he didnt like them (not giving interviews) so they thought they'd just brand him crazy and thats it. Of course being a genius and wanting to spread love and "the truth" i dont think the media would have really appreciated that either . I mean people that would just see him on tv would think "oh its that fag", he's one of those people you have to get into and understand his music. If he was made more accesible to more people (through the media) people that were more open minded and wouldnt mind showing their praise for him would have made him more popular. But hey the less media attention an artist gets usually the better they are sooo joke's on them!

its because hes a musical genius. if p went out like jimi hendrix, marc bolan, bob marley etc the press and the general public would be treating him like some symbolic god. p does is own thing and doesnt let the media dictate what is right or wrong which gets up people noses. true music fans will always respect him. all the people i know and have met through my life, its always the true music lovers eg. musicans, artist etc have nuff love and respect 4 him and it all the other who r just into just 'popular music' are slagging him off. its pure ignorance. all he wants to do is make great music

Lack of proper promotion. Lack of availability of albums(so many of them being OOP). I don't think he'll ever get the attention he deserves.