A major momentum killer of several of Prince's albums have been the poor choices for singles released. The result... a premature death for the album. The list of shoulda been releases is a long one and is equalled by the list of album slayers

So putting aside your own prejudices of genre and such... what should be the next 3 singles in order which would elevate 3121 to multi-platinum status?
my choices...

1. Incense and Candles: not very popular amoung orgers for reasons mentioned to extent in other threads... BUT its very contemporary sounding, very R&B and because of this would likely get the most cross genre exposure
2. Love w.Beautiful, Loved & Blessed released by Tamarr: Cathy.. Pop... very MTV. A good video and it would go over the top. BL&B is to satisfy R&B radio who may not connect with Love as readily as Pop would.
3. The Dance: Risque at this point... but this track has potential to be really freakin BIG

What is the one track which if released would kill all that noise??

1. The Word: Although I love this track... it may be too preachy o be released too early. It was either this or Lolita. both could be a single after the others... but not before.

In terms of Prince's overall scheme of introducing Tamar before her album is released also, I would choose another song with prominent vocals by her - such as I&C or Love, and then once her album is out and promoting itself, he can release the other tracks that don't feature her, like The Word or Fury.

As you suggested, though, this is putting aside all my prejudices, and not necessarily how I would pick songs all other things aside.

QuakeXLE said:

After 2 failed singles I really doubt that another single will suddenly strike a chord. I'm not sure this album will go platinum (I predict maybe 750k in the US) much less multi-platinum.

5 singles? Can't see it myself.

4 if we're lucky, and that's only because Te Amo Corazon was released way in advance of the album.

NouveauDance said:

Agreed. 4 at the most.

QuakeXLE said:

the word or get on the boat
[Edited 3/23/06 10:40am]

LOLITA, then FURY, followed by THE DANCE.

Alright, I LOVE Prince, I do.

But it doesn't matter what song he releases as a single anymore.

Ya know? If ya ain't already on "the boat" your ship has sailed!

QuakeXLE said:

Yeah but The Word has you before it ever gets to the "preachy" parts. It would be cool to release it (for radio) with the word "Saved" backwards...as if it's such a bad thing . As if it's a crime to preach. And that would be such a "Prince" thing to do. Ultimately the public will decide for themselves that they can handle that word. It add's new meaning to "Don't you wanna know the word"

Also think of all the good controversy that could stir up. Yum!

QuakeXLE said:

Very good thread, dog....But I have to disagree with you...respectfully of course...

As I said in another thread, the trouble with "Incense & Candles" is that while it has that familiar "Prince" sound and trademark sex-mojo, it is still heavily contempoary in it's R&B sound...It's the type of song designed for the younger R&B crowd, which is cool ("Call My Name" however, was throwback Prince slow jam that appealed to adult R&B radio stations); However, while some of the young heads know that Prince is one of the greats, they are not going to buy into that...They would rather listen to Jamie Fox and Twister...(No hate for "Incense..." though, unlike some of the R&B haters who put all contempoary in the same box...)

Which is why Prince should drop "Lolita"...Take a listen to the conglomerate radio stations that play everything from rock, R&B, pop and hip-hop...Most of the popular pop and rock songs of today feature retro '80s production; This is the perfect song for the public..It says, "Hey, remember the guy who could also write a fun, ironic, silly pop song and get away it?" He also has to make a kick ass video with some "eye-candy" celebirity cameos for the TRL crowd (Beyonce, Rasorio Dawson anyone?) And the conglomerate "play-everything" stations are not as closed door when it comes to pop songs...They will play anything...(Witness the latest song by Sting, featuring Sheryl Crow...the shit is starting to get major play...)..It's a new music biz out there folks...Prince has to balance the flash and substance...But he can do it...
[Edited 3/23/06 11:41am]

lovemachine said:

I have to assume you are basing TAC and Black Sweat as.... failed due to Bill Board Record sales.

I'm hearing and/ or seeing Black Sweat quite a bit on the video channels my kids watch.

But you stress the point.. I'm making..ie ..weak singles!!!

A world tour which I believe is in the works will help... but IMO not as much as a return to his earlier years in which stronger singles / videos were released and fueled the longivity and ultimately the sales of his albums.

3-4 mre singles released is not un relistic.. if it's the right ones which help keep the album strong on the charts

This album I think will at least go platinum... I'm banking 2x plat.

But only time will tell.. not the constant nay sayers

Incense and Candles : Def is the song choice to have a follow up to Black Sweat. It's catchy and he'll gain more younger fans wanting his album.

If he's smart he'll do both Love and Lolita together in a video Like alot of artist do now, ship that str8 to MTV but have Love first then cut to Lolita and end it with the break down at the end of Love that would make teens go o shit.

And for a last single throw out The Dance he can chop that song down for radio and make a big cinematic video for it that would be the bomb.

BLandB Will be tamars first single going by the promotions so That video needs to come out April also Tamar needs to get Milk and Honey out like ASAP.

Welcome2daRevolution said:

Lolita, far from being My personal favorte track, is the right track to reliece as a single.

It isn't about anyone's personal favorte, it is about targeting the demographic with the most disposable income who is partial to flights of fancy.

Lolita can be targeted at teenagers and the young, the best demographic grouping for popular radio, because it has content that can be assumed directly related to them. After all, every girl under the age of 18 is Lolita. Every boy over the age of 18 knows it.

I think there's a lot of potential hit singles on 3121.

the obvious (and therefore best) choices would be...

Love
Lolita
Fury

not "fury"... I can't see that song getting popular....my friends would get bored with that one!

down to Love, Incense n Candles, Lolita

if he put out a video with modelesque but down to earth girls and a no ego cool (non-femme for todays people) look for himself.... and a slightly funny and hip concept/storyline... shot on 35 film... maybe he would stick...

the main thing is he has to seem cool/fresh to new viewers and listeners.