I see alot of posts contrasting Prince to all the bubble-gum pop music out there. But do you all think thats really a fair comparison?

The opposite of a sugar coated pop star would be someone who takes alot of risks sonically and lyrically. Just because Prince is no longer a commercial success, does that categorize him as an indie artworld superhero?

Tom said:

He pretty much fits the bill.

Yes he certainly is. He's the Best. He's a genius. He's so damn fine. There is only 1 Prince.

That what I love in Prince he is not afraid
to take that risk/dare?? 8)

Rain is wet...

Sugar is sweet...

and Prince is a musical superhero...


Whew...glad that's all cleared up!!!???



Life Sexy u all

TOM:

I think 'The Rainbow Children' pretty much answers that question. I think that's about as 'daring' as you can get in terms of the change in style, the format of the music and its concept and message. There have been many others ('Sign o times, 'Lovesexy, 'Black Album', 'Parade'etc).

The NPGMC arrangement is very daring and innovative as well. There is no other Artist doing that form of distribution of this scale at the moment (before the flames begin note that I did state 'on this scale').

Antony7: "'And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, niether will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away' Revelation 21:3-5.

Nice, nice, nice! Everytime I read this, it sounds very comforting to me...

If anyone douts Prince being a risk taker ...U really don't know your music. He's took many risk on many different levels...Any music artist in todays world who would put out a 1999 or Purple Rain and sell what Prince did would B a 99.9 lock 2 keep making that "same" music until the day they die!

Prince staying true 2 his spirit does as his vibes move him. Meaning making music that may not B in, with all the rest of the pop music being pumped by the nations radio station...

Sade love her music, but U take her fan base, pretty solid...they waited years 4 her latest CD. If she had came back after being gone so many years, and say Lovers Rock was a "Rock/Hip Hop" CD she would have killed off a huge number of that solid fan foundation.

Why? Well...hey once U get people hooked 2 what your sellin...thats what they get spoiled 2. They don't want them huge changes or 4 there artist 2 stray off that all familar sound they like. Even when common sense says as a artist gets older and matures...changes come, some natural some not. So in the end many new or artist who have been around for some years have that fear of changing what sells steady or whats safe...Or whats pushed by there record company.

Prince is a artist, the great ones love a challange & like 2 keep making "NEW" music or die trying. No matter whats norm or what was there best seller...If a artist has vision & are not scared 2 see it through...they do what Prince has done. I'm sure agianst the advice of what Warner Bros had wanted. There bottom line is Sells Sells Sells...that = money money money~

Prince ain't dumb...he knows he could have milked his Purple Rain project or kept making "popular" music like what was a proven sell 4 him. But not licking the shoes of Warners he did as he seen fit always pushing issues.

Thus writing slave on his face in protest was another risk he took. Super risky move...talk of the town among record companys or any major player in music alike. But he held strong until he had his re-birth, his freedom once again.

A prettyman whos not scared 2 fight 4 his personal justice. How can anyone not respect that. And thats not close 2 breaking down the many other examples of his risk taking. Look what what MJ is doing now...jumping on the same issues of ownership etc... Many have woke up do 2 the many risks that Prince boldly took. A true trailblazer/risk taker.

Think about it...Prince kept his music opions open playin many styles of music no matter what...live in concert or on record. But many get locked into a certain platform of music that as soon as they think about tryin anything new the smell of backlash floats heavy in the air...Sad 2 say in todays music a singer can come out with a bomb slow jam and right away get locked into that role. So when the day comes for that same man 2 put out a dance track people ain't tryin 2 hear anything but that slow song they first got hooked on.

Thats a damn shame...What the music world needs is more risk takers. As well as music lovers who are more understanding~

I don't think that Prince is that much of a risk-taker sonically, but he does take a lot of risks as far as marketing strategies.

• An album every year (most record labels frown on this)
• Double or triple albums
• High sexual content alongside religious content
• Name change to a symbol
• Battle with WB over master recordings while under contract
• Internet-only releases via official website(s)
• Etc . . .

I think he has developed his own sound over the years, but even as experimental as his music it at times, it's not "risky". Even the "experimental" stuff isn't that far out.

Not a risktaker?!? Now YOU try walking down a dark alley with 7 inch heels, in a lace outfit and lipstick on and NOT get mugged by a bunch of thugs!


My my, ain't I on a serious smartass mood today... geez...

In terms of fashion, image and lifestyle, he certainly does things that no sane, self-respecting musician would ever think, but I really don't find his music all that ground-breaking and innovative. It's mostly highly-crafted pop, but I can appreciate the genius it takes to formulate it.

UsexyMF said:

I'm not sure you do.
You're going on and on about issues related more to the
pop marketplace and ownership.
What was so risk-taking about "1999" and "PURPLE RAIN" ?
Both are great records, I'm not disputing that, but what
so unique about the?.

My mistake, I meant the recent Prince albums. I absolutely agree he took alot of risks in the past, experimented with new sounds, new looks. But recently his stuff just sounds complacent to me, thats why i raised the question

Well, Tom. It's something that has been debated for a few years now. But don't you think TRC is up there with ATWIAD in pure mushroom terms? I mean a JW theme album with masturbation and loads of psychedelic jazz. Not necessarily a Michael Bolton record then, eh?

I don't agree with PFunkjazz either. "1999' and "Purple Rain" are highly risky albums - it's just that we have listened to them for so many years that I guess we've become rather numb to the odditites. In fact the whole musical language that Prince is still using is highly original and definitely takes a long time to get used to from the casual listener. "All The Critics Love You In New York"? The lyrics? All that screaming?

Take a song like "Electric Chair" for example. For us it's Prince at his poppiest perhaps, but the melody is just too weird for most people. The way it is crafted is just simply put very unique. People who haven't listened to Prince do tend to find it almost unlisteneable due to the (I guess you could call it) expressionism.

Novabreaker said:

I'm talking relative to original date of issue, not in retrospect. I agree
I don't take to his albums immediately upon release, but that's usually
more a result of what I'm listening to as well as the current music scene. If anything
he overcame my numbness to 80s pop. That incessant electronic drum thing and synth
horns were so annoying! In my book that's really a negative blessing, as I much prefer
the real things!

"All The Critics Love You In New York" is one of my least favorite songs. Must be the
"it's time for jazz to die" line. Well, looks who wants to be a jazz artist now?
All that whispering and screaming is still annoying, but ok if you're impressed.

I'm not really sure if I've heard "Electric Chair".

PFunkjazz said:

***The problem is your limited understanding...Somethings like this will just go over your head..The mind needs air 2 function...open the windows up there sometime.

PFunkjazz said:

I Agree.Joni Mitchell said it best about Prince: he is a Strong Hybrid Artist.Prince is a Great Student of Pop Culture&Music.The Man is Very Detailed on it.A Memory like a Elephant on different Aspects of Pop Culture.cuz I'll be watching something on Sly,Jimi,James,MJ,Little Richard,Jackie Wilson,Parliament,etc...&Prince is Cleaver at Manipulating it.I'll say this on that point further: I don't think a Artist could come along today&be allowed to add all of that into there thing.

I think far too many are confusing risk taking with sub par artistic output. Or using it as an excuse for his lack of commercial success. An especially common practice for more devoted members of his cult of yesfans.

UsexyMF said:

What he said.

Supernova said:

What he said too, but with a b in dout.