EMAIL FROM NPGMC.


An international 3121 CD Tour has begun and we asked The NPG rep on the road 2 keep the Club in4med on how it's going. Check out their ongoing reports, more 2 come:



CD Tour, Part 1 - The Beginning

The story begins with a phone call:
"R u available 2 do some international listening sessions 4 the 3121 CD?" Wow, what an oppor2nity. Eye said yes right away, didn't need details. A few days later, a travel itinerary arrives: 3 continents, 6 countries and 20 listening sessions in 2 weeks. With Universal's help, all major media and music retailers in each region would get 2 hear the album b4 its release without being able 2 leak any priveleged in4mation. This project is completely under wraps: there's no tracklisting, no artwork, no background in4mation on any of the trax. The music will speak 4 itself.

This is huge.

----

B4 catching a flight 2 Sydney, Australia, eye'm handed a CD-R of 3121. After testing a few seconds of each track in my CD player, eye package the cd in a sturdy case and sandwich it between other CDs in my bag. 3121 will b at my side at all times 4 the next 2 weeks.

Eye meet the Universal representative who's traveling with me on this whirlwind tour, and off we go.




CD Tour, Part 2 - Sydney
We meet some local Universal reps in Sydney and r driven 2 the offices of Sanity, Australia's largest music retailer. We scope out the conference room, disconnect all the teleconferencing gear. Security is xtra tight: no phones, no portable electronics, nothing that could possibly record any audio. We air the videos 4 Black Sweat, Te Amo Corazon and play 3121 straight thru. Everyone in the office is amazed with the CD, from the young, fresh-out-of-school folx on up 2 the senior staffers. This CD is going 2 b bigger than big and they know it; u could c it on their faces.

Eye grab the CD and later that day we're shuttled 2 a swanky niteclub rented specifically 4 two more listening sessions. The media, some mobile media folx and others at Universal who will work on album promotion will attend. A decent JBL sound system pumps the ahdio and the vibe instantly trans4ms in2 one of those slammin' all-nite afterparties even tho it's early afternoon. Heads r bobbing, folx r dancing in their seats as they take notes.

The videos and the CD get massive rounds of applause -- bear in mind most of these r journalists who wouldn't b seen clapping at an event they're reporting on. We hear nothing but positive comments from everyone. As one journo put it, "this album is positively sexy." Some ask us when Prince will tour Australia, and many of them r still raving about the legendary aftershow per4mance at The Basement jazz club back in '03.

The buzz begins. Next stop, Tokyo.

--- 2 b continued ----

Anyway, this is the 3rd one from PP5:

A 12-hour flight later, we're in Tokyo. After a day's rest we head 2 Universal 4 a full day of listening sessions with journalists and some mobile and online reps. These folx r more businesslike than their counterparts in Sydney, and the sessions r held in a conference room. Unlike the standard conference room, this one has speakers that THUMP!
After each listening session, reporters ask questions. They're most interested in the meaning behind "3121." While neither eye nor my Universal touring partner speak Japanese, we can tell each time this question is asked, as our Japanese Universal rep is frequently saying "mysterioso" in the middle of his xplanations. We also catch many ?s about Maceo Parker and when Prince will next tour Japan.

The reporters were asked 2 fill out feedback 4ms and the responses were xciting: "best album in 15 years;" "this album is big like 1999." We saw lots of "thumbs up" signs and heard many a "very funky!" comment.

A radio show host from a station called J Wave is so psyched about 3121 that he asked the local Universal rep 2 go live on air at 1:30 am that same nite 2 discuss the album. We try 2 tune in but r so tired we're asleep b4 the show ends.

There's another long flight in store 4 the next day, destination: PARIS
[Edited 2/16/06 17:34pm]

The funny thing about this is that I'm in Australia.....and I haven't read any reports in the papers from journalists who where suppose to be at this.

althom said:

"B4 catching a flight 2 Sydney, Australia, eye'm handed a CD-R of 3121..." A CD-R of it? Is that normal for this sort of thing? Guess nobody's started manufacturing it yet? Wonder how many copies of that are out there, and how long until it's leaked?

Sounds very exciting, I wanna hear this sexy album.

Listening party tomorrow in London. I'll be there. Massive massive respect to a good friend of mine for inviting me. He knows who he is, and I seriously owe you one, man.
[Edited 2/16/06 14:09pm]

Damn! Got the emaill. In my haste I just read '3121 Tour' I didn't know it was another 'I was f'ng there and you weren't' and not a TOUR!

Geezus P. I am getting old! Dont play with us old folks.

Now get me my purple walker so I can go have a lay down.

Double post.
[Edited 2/16/06 14:48pm]

Who writes this shameless self promotion fluff. Something about this arentwejustthecatsass patmeontheback dribble from NPG itself.

Red said:

I agree with you... I find this "reports" slightly annoying...

Anyway, this is the 3rd one from PP5:

A 12-hour flight later, we're in Tokyo. After a day's rest we head 2 Universal 4 a full day of listening sessions with journalists and some mobile and online reps. These folx r more businesslike than their counterparts in Sydney, and the sessions r held in a conference room. Unlike the standard conference room, this one has speakers that THUMP!
After each listening session, reporters ask questions. They're most interested in the meaning behind "3121." While neither eye nor my Universal touring partner speak Japanese, we can tell each time this question is asked, as our Japanese Universal rep is frequently saying "mysterioso" in the middle of his xplanations. We also catch many ?s about Maceo Parker and when Prince will next tour Japan.

The reporters were asked 2 fill out feedback 4ms and the responses were xciting: "best album in 15 years;" "this album is big like 1999." We saw lots of "thumbs up" signs and heard many a "very funky!" comment.

A radio show host from a station called J Wave is so psyched about 3121 that he asked the local Universal rep 2 go live on air at 1:30 am that same nite 2 discuss the album. We try 2 tune in but r so tired we're asleep b4 the show ends.

There's another long flight in store 4 the next day, destination: PARIS
[Edited 2/16/06 15:55pm]

Militant said:

We anticipate your report. lucky you.

Yes very annoying!!!!! I don't know what's worse: The shameless promotion or the retarded writing style! The way Prince "Fams"/fan club writes pisses me off. Stop trying to be like him....you are not Prince and you never will be!

You know what would be good with these reports? Some photos from the events.

Militant said:

Congratulations to you Militant! I can't wait to hear your report and I hope you really enjoy it!

AndreC said:

Thanks for that. I'll edit it into the original post.

when will they type stuff in plain english?

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I don't think they have spell check.

Militant said:

Get back here and post a report!

althom said:

damn...with all the money he's getting, you'd think he'd have an anti-princebonics function installed on the pee-pees' computers.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Or someone that can write a decent report.

See sticky http://www.prince.org/msg/7/177834