An endless discussion that you could pretty much apply to any artist.

Anybody here have every release from NIN?

Trent keeps my at bay just like Prince.

You know it's still there, but your position in life, the priorities that you hold, and the timing and aligning of all things possible will set the "feeling" for any situation.

It's just bigger than you and me.

(I felt older 'n the hills just now)

Schöne Grüße!

skywalker said:

You are correct, music is subjective. That is why I asked "Will he ever make me feel that way again?" I don't take his talent for granted. I think he's the best thing we've got going in terms of a live performer and an all-around musician. And when you look at the sheer volume of material he's released (or has recorded but has yet to release) it's absolutely astounding. It is my opinion, however, that his strongest stuff was released in the '80s and I was merely wondering aloud, via this forum, whether he'd again make the kind of music that could garner or replicate reactions previously generated. I love the guy and always will, but I have a right to say I liked this more than that, don't I? In the words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"

skywalker said:

Well, I was actualy talking about LIVE Musicology tour and live shows in general regarding my comments aboout Rhonda vs. Mark Brown.

"...You are correct, music is subjective. That is why I asked "Will he ever make me feel that way again?" I don't take his talent for granted. I think he's the best thing we've got going in terms of a live performer and an all-around musician. And when you look at the sheer volume of material he's released (or has recorded but has yet to release) it's absolutely astounding. It is my opinion, however, that his strongest stuff was released in the '80s and I was merely wondering aloud, via this forum, whether he'd again make the kind of music that could garner or replicate reactions previously generated. I love the guy and always will, but I have a right to say I liked this more than that, don't I? In the words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"..."

Yes, you are unquestionably and completely entitled to your opinion. However, the question "Will P make me (us) feel that way again ? " implies that everyone else (us) thinks that Prince has dropped off. All I am saying is is that not everyone thinks as you do. Some people like Prince's new music as much (or more) than his old stuff. So the question is---Why don't YOU feel the same about Prince? Sure, Prince changes style like a pair of underwear, but you as the listener, also bring something to the table. So it's not as if you (the listener) exists in a vacuum where your life experiences don't affect how you "hear" Prince. Anyways- good talk. Thanks for the discussion. Here's to hoping something "makes (you) feel like you used to."
[Edited 8/7/05 15:35pm]

"The biggest difference from 80's Prince to 90's Prince on the albums? Consistency."

In your opinion. A lot of people think Prince was inconsistent in the 80's. Some lovers of "purple rain" absolutely hated "Around the World in a Day" and "Parade". Revisionist history suggests that Prince could do no wrong in the 80's, but the fact is that when Prince released an album in the 80's opinions (popular and critical) were always mixed. It was not widely and automatically accepted that Prince was consistently good or even great-even in the 80's.


"Now, the biggest difference between 80's/90's Prince and today's Prince on the albums? Inspiration."

How do YOU know how inspired Prince is or was? Did you ask him? Or could you see the inspiration (or lack thereof )in his eyes when you were watching him record music? "Emancipation", although not one of my favorites, is tremendously inspired, as is "The Rainbow Children". Just because the music doesn't inspire you doesn't mean that Prince was not inspired when he made it-or that it doesn't inspire others.


"It's just plain obvious to me that an album like Musicology sounds nowhere near as urgent and inspired as TGE, and an album like TRC sounds nowhere near as well put together and consistent as 1999."

I am glad that it is so obvious TO YOU. However, I could argue that there are no love songs on "1999" as inspiring or deep as those on "Musicology". That's just my opinion, but (unlike you) I am not going to present that opinion as the inarguable truth.

The fact is that someone likes "The Rainbow Children" better than "1999". Just like some people like peaches and cream better than chocolate. Just because you hate peaches and cream, doesn't make it a terrible flavor.

Just because you don't like Prince's new music doesn't mean it is bad music. People have different tastes and your taste isn't gospel. Big Whoop.
[Edited 8/7/05 17:53pm]

PurpleKnight said:

No shit it's opinion. However, that's not clear at all when you make statements like, "All of these reasons are pure, 100% bullshit.." and "..The fact of the matter is that the majority of Prince's new music just isn't as impressive, inspired and innovative as it once was. Usually, nowhere even close..."

When you say things like "THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS.." I'd say you need to clarify that is ISN'T A DAMNED FACT BUT YOUR OWN HUGE OVERGENERALIZING STATEMENT/OPINION. Also calling everyone elses opinions "100% bullshit" is a bit inflammatory and I think it's fair if people call you on it.

The original point to my post is to say that Prince cannot be responsible for you opinions, feelings, and or responses to his music. How can he be? So whether or not Prince can "make us feel that way again" is only up to us, not Prince.
[Edited 8/8/05 0:42am]

skywalker said:

I'd disagree with that.

In my experience, Prince was directly responsible for my feelings and responses to his early material. He created the music and it moved me. The stuff that came after didn't. Do I blame him for that? Of course not. But your statement seems to remove that emotional connection.

I can't choose to be moved by music. It either happens or it doesn't.

Where's my cane, reading glasses and slippers? And stop slamming the goddamn doors in the hallway in the middle of the night!

violator said:

Prince makes the music, so in that way he is indirectly responsible for making you feel certain emotions, feelings, etc.

However, my argument is that, in concern to your emotional response to his art, you also have to factor in your life experiences, age, etc. An extreme example of this would be if you were being tortured and "Parade" happened playing in the background--you probably wouldn't respond very well to listening to "Parade" anytime after that. I'd probably be more of a fan of "Parade" than you. If "Diamonds and PEarls" was playing when you first kissed your boyfriend/girlfriend it might affect you more. PRince is responsible for making the music, but he cannot be responsible for how it makes you feel. As a listener of his art you bring most of the experience to the table yourself. Prince's music (and all art) does not exist in a vacuum. It is different for everyone. Everyone wll respond differently and so the artists responsibility/liability to "make you feel" is minimal.

Also, in Prince's case, it has been well documented that he makes music primarily to please himself. It's not as if he is thinking " I hope this song really makes (Violator) want to cry/laugh/etc."

skywalker said:

i dont think anyone disagree's with you....

but let me throw something else out for you...i enjoy prince's current songs when i hear them performed live...he tends to either speed up or slow down the tempo...his vocals carry added emotions.....theres theatrics in his presentation...but when i hear those same songs on cd..they are a bore...

thats not me..thats prince.

Hi all,long time since I've been on here many posts are the same as when I was last on here,this one is interesting though.
I personally prefer the older material better and its rare that I like his newer stuff as much,I'm sure personal changes in taste may be part of the effect but I still get the feeling that his newer stuff just dosent do it for as many people as his older stuff.
I tend to feel my taste in music hasnt really varied that much since youth i still look for the same qualitys and P's new stuff to me dosent have the same qualitys.
I guess the only way to measure if his new stuff to his old output is to give each of his albums to varied people that are not very familar with his work(hard to do I know) and ask them to rate them,I believe that PR,SOTT,LS,1999 and his other 80s outputs would come out most favourably to most people,I guess even then it only says what is most popular,but even most popular dosent mean best.

I dunno about ya'll but he will always make me feel that way. I mean, there has to be a reason I keep coming on this crazy ass website. Yep, Im pretty much there (in that feeling) for good whne it comes to Prince

MidnightFunk said:

THANK YOU!!!! SO MUCH FOR STATING THAT!!!

"i dont think anyone disagree's with you...."

Well, some had been of the viewpoint that the reason they don't like Prince's new music is because they (the listener) has remained static in what affects them since 1984 and it is Prince's job to meet their needs. I simply was stating that Prince "not making them feel that way" had more to do with them (the listener) than with Prince. As I said before, there are many who think Prince's new stuff is as exhilirating as his older stuff. It's not that I neccessarily find his newer stuff to be better, I am just willing to admit that part of it is me. I've been listening to Prince for a LONG time now so it would take a lot for him to HIT me like he could in 1982 when I wasn't used to it.

"...but let me throw something else out for you...i enjoy prince's current songs when i hear them performed live...he tends to either speed up or slow down the tempo...his vocals carry added emotions.....theres theatrics in his presentation...but when i hear those same songs on cd..they are a bore..."

I am from the school of thought that most "real musicians" are better live than on record anyway. So I agree with you in that sense. I think, especially with Prince, he does most of his stuff better live for all the reasons you stated. That being said, I am sure we could find people who don't think Prince does his songs justice live. That's not Prince, it's them, it's us.

Imago777 said:

I think there's some truth in that statement.

I don't think Prince hates his fans, but he does do what he bloody well pleases. And good on him.

Off-topic question: if Prince did accommodate his fans across his entire career, I wonder how much respect we'd have for him?

I wonder if Purple Rain had been followed by Purple Rains 2, 3 and 4 how much of a boundary-pushing 'musical genius' we would have considered him?

Prince has always (mostly) done what he wants, when he wants, how he wants. As VainAndy might say, it's the BITCH in him. And don't we love him for it? For a 5ft 2in man in heels and make-up, he's pretty headstrong and resilient. And look at all the old-skool fans - who were screaming blue murder back in the day at each new album/direction...

I wonder just how much respect we'd have for a guy that gives us:

~ what we want
~ when we want it

F**k that. Take a look at Billboard and choose an artist. I'll choose Prince.

vainandy said:

Agreed! I was a kid during the whole late-70s disco era,but I wish I had been older.I woulda been at the discos every week

sosgemini said:

This is my favorite comment on the thread.

I miss Prince music being evocative.

"This is my favorite comment on the thread.

I miss Prince music being evocative."


Prince's music evokes nothing in YOU. It evokes plenty in other people. So again I ask the question- Is it Prince? Is it you? A little bit of both ?
[Edited 8/9/05 11:55am]

I'm 37 now but I wish I had been 37 during the disco era so I could have partied in the discos every night. I would have been in my early 40s, and still full of life, during the funk era or the early 1980s. Then I would have been in my early 50s, and still full of life, during the house/dance era of the very early 1990s.

I would have had an entire life full of partying by the time the late 1990s and 2000s arrived. By then, I would have been old and would have been ready for the slow tempo, dead ass era that we live in now. I would have been leaving music behind and looking for my next dose of geritol instead of being 37, full of life, and wanting to shake ass with no new music fast enough to shake ass too.

vainandy said:

you just go to the wrong places my friend..im loving what i hear where i go...

i had a strong reaction to avalanche, the musicology tour, prettyman, I love u but don't trust you anymore, xenophobia, high, and probably some others...

hemakesmecream said:

Ur Welcome!!!