This is a post meant to address all those followers who don't like his later singles and albums. I would like to impress upon you that the market today is completely different from the market of 20 years ago.

20 years ago, the average artist had to climb up the charts over several weeks, and because of fewer mediums to listen to music, it took longer for the charm of hit singles to wear off. Today, an album or single will debut at #1, stay there a few weeks, and then just fade away, with certain exceptions.

So what does that say about hit singles of today? Are they more thoughtful creations or just more crafty and clever? Take the song Humps from Black Eyed Peas. That song is sure to be a success, but not in the least because it's a good song (at least to me). The song (along with the video) is effective, because it shows off with a lot of pinache.

Remember, the same group of people that name When Doves Cry a hit, are the same general body of people who named the old Master P song Make Em Say Uhhhh...

Remember also, that "a work of art is successful by virtue of its creation."

I was just reprinting some old poetry of mine (the first work I had ever written), and the thought came to me - what if people did to me what they did to Prince, and pigeonholed him. I wouldn't appreciate it at all - not in the ver least

So my question here would be: Does Prince even need to bother making hit songs anymore? Did the Grateful Dead ever worry about it?

Your thoughts?

ImYours said:

You can argue that the current market holds back the success of Prince's singles and albums, but there's also always the simple possibility, subjective or otherwise, that perhaps they're just not good enough songs. I still believe a simple, catchy song can rise to the top, whoever does it.

It would be nice for Prince to have another hit, but it's not necessary to me personally as long as the music is engaging. But clearly HE thinks it's necessary to get more hits, otherwise why even bother releasing singles and hooking up with a major label?

You can argue that the current market holds back the success of Prince's singles and albums, but there's also always the simple possibility, subjective or otherwise, that perhaps they're just not good enough songs. I still believe a simple, catchy song can rise to the top, whoever does it.

well, here's a point in response: Today, the music buying public has been dumbed down so much by boy bands, MTV not playing actual music videos, and (as much as I like the show) American Idol. This decade reminds me very much of the way hit songs sounded in the 50s - no substance to the radio today. With songs like Shake That Laffy Taffy, which is not even demo quality, songs like Te Amo Corazon may very not get into the music buying public's mind. They may go over their heads, which could be a legitimate concern. But then, if that is true, should Prince dumb himself down, or should the music buyers of today wise up?

Popular media has always played popular music; at the same time, there has always been more indie 'risky' music being produced around the fringes for those that want more challenging music. Perhaps you could argue that the media business is less willing these days to take a risk instead pursuing the safe option, and therefore 'dumbed down' music. I still think a solid good tune can break through the media on it's own merits. I don't think it's valid to say that when a Prince tune fails to capture the imagination of the majority it MUST be because it has 'gone above their heads', cream almost always rises to the top. Perhaps the music buyers of today should wise up a bit and Prince dumb down a bit.

metalorange said:

Very good points you make here. Eric Leeds said what you said about singles being less challenging because record labels are less willing to take risks. Also, as I will post in the appropriate thread, I do sometimes thing that Prince doesn't have strong lead-off singles, as in the case of TGRES (it was only when I heard the remix with Eve that I really dug it.)

As for what I said about Prince having "gone above their heads", maybe Prince thinks in a different direction, and as a result he talks at them, not to them. After all, the man who wrote 1+1+1=3 doesn't seem very big on compromise, so him not listening to the voice of his newer fans may be an issue.

songs that are "fun to listen to" have the best chances of being hits
no matter if the songs are truly "good" or not

but I have had fun with Te Amo. I just got a copy of it today at Tower, and listened to it about ten times through. I love the "touch of strings" at the beginning, and it makes it fun to listen to and slide into. I still don't understand why people are so down on it.

I must say, I do love those Clare Fischer strings
they make me tingly all over
kinda the way the 12" version of "The Screams of Passion" made me feel
the first time I took it home from the store and played it many years ago