I remember being at a record show (remember where we used to get bootlegs, y'all?) back around 1990 or so and one vender saw the Prince boots in my hand and started going on about how Prince was a puppet artist who didn't really play or sing, that he was always lipsyncing with the real singer/guitar player/pianist behind the curtain or on tape. Being young and full of steam I wanted to rip into the fellow, but fortunately realized it would do no good as this individual simply had no clue. Another time I had a friend over who was talking about how Prince had no real skills, regardless of what ever anyone wanted to say about him. This was after hearing a compliment towards Prince from a jazz artist this guy respected. What are ya gonna do? Some people are just clueless, uninformed, or don't like the music. Different strokes for different folks. I don't need anyone else to justify what I enjoy or appreciate.

So I just shake my head at them, let them go on their way, and go back to listening to my Prince records...

evenstar3 said:

People used to try to do me that way. However, when I start describing his history, what he's done in the past, songs he's written, songs he's played on, etc, people are very surprised. Once you explain to them what he's done, they tend to speak about him with more respect.

thebige said:

This one lady tried to tell me Prince tried to copy some band by making Oh Sheila. I swear to god. I did nothing but die inside from the ignorance it hurt that much

daPrettyman said:

You gave a Prince class. There ya go

DiamondGirl said:

I'm 19, and the people I'm referencing mostly are the people I've met in college so far. So I've only known them two years or less.


Thank you so much, everyone. Always nice to be reminded you're not alone. I know I'll reach a point where it just won't bother me anymore, eventually. Oh, and to clarify about the 'prince is gay' thing, my issue with that is not that I care that they think he's gay, but that they mostly use it as a lame-ass homophobic excuse not to like his music.

Actually when I tell people I love Prince they're mostly surprised, in a positive way. But then it depends on what age they have.If it's my age (around 20) they eather say "cool" or ask which is my favourite song or they just smile.... If they're a little older they often react like "Really? It's great to see that there are young ppl out there who still appreciate good music!" or something like that. It's kinda annoying when some think that you don't have clue who Prince is just because you were born in the mid-80s. I mean, common,I was diggin' him when he was doing D&P and . That's like 13-14 years ago. "Didn't think that, right?! Surprise!"

I think it's just part of the territory with being a Prince fan. There will ALWAYS be someone who is ignorant to Prince and his music and you know what, it's their loss. I have gotten into arguments about Prince, his music and his sexuality but it's worthless now. If they don't get it now then they probably won't get it at all. It's on them but while they are hating and complaning, I'm gonna be partying and celebrating with ALL my Prince CD's. I'm glad I got the revelation about the funk, especially at a young age. The haters have no idea what they are missing.

It's because of their age and the look of the entertainers they have been exposed to in today's music scene. It was totally different in the 1980s. Most of the male entertainers looked gay and were huge stars.

what I'd like to know is who are these people who say he's not a real musician? where do they get that info from? I can understand the gay thing, or the weird 80's has-been thing... but every bio of Prince ever written talks about his musical talent. and I'm not only talking about biographical books... just go to vh1.com or mtv.com. do these people know how to read?
[Edited 4/7/06 16:53pm]

Never ever came across anyone I know who slagged Prince. It's always, "Yeah, he's cool."

From the punks, metal-heads, Beatle-heads, Neil Young fans, pop music fans, whatever, it's always much respect for Prince. Prince is like that. His stature in the music field is such that he rarely gets slagged off by anyone of any intelligence.

That's the part I can't understand either. Even Rick James never said that and he hated Prince.

evenstar3 said:

Simply tell them that the response they just gave you is typical of a narrow minded person and then offer to buy them the Best Of Britney Spears

floralelephants said:

Who fucking knows? So somebody thinks Prince digs men, so what? Whatever it is that turns P.'s crank, he's certainly not sitting home crying about it.

not any more, If they can't respect my taste in music why should i give a knats arse about their tastes in music. simple, just like them. OOOOOhhhhh!!!!!

I used to get annoyed, and now I just don't care because 99% of the people who like to insult Prince and his fans have shit taste in music. (read: Nickleback, 50 Cent, and other such fab acts)

Though I do know one person with pretty decent taste in music who badmouths Prince every chance he gets, sometimes even unprovoked. I wanted to find him that clip of Clapton (his fave artist) praising our lil hero, but I just can't be bothered.

meow85 said:

exactly!


Prince is gay as hell and those fans who dont' own up to that are being delusional. We should celebrate his gayness, even if he's still closeted and just waiting on that unfortunate incident in some public restroom with an undercover cop to out him.




gay yall. gay.

Imago said:

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that without a doubt P. swings that way....but it wouldn't surprise me if he had more than a passing interest in men, either. But whatever he does or doesn't do is none of my business anyhow, and unless I found myself in a position to sleep with him, I don't much care either.

People that get upset or insulted when it's suggested Prince might not be straight I don't get. Fans: it's not up to you to defend Prince's assumed heterosexuality. I'm sure if he cared what people thought of his sexuality, even if he was gay, he wouldn't have spent the last 30 years parading around in makeup, heels, and frilly clothes. He clearly doesn't give two shits what people think he likes to put his dick in (or have put in him, whichever ), so neither should any of you.

Gay, shmay. I agree with the guy who asked why that was supposed to be an insult.

The funny thing is that, while growing up, I took a lot of that homophobic bullshit from people who grooved on Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Judas Priest and David Bowie. I shouldn't have to explain to anyone how some members of those bands like to get down.

Irony.

herb4 said:

althom said:

Just do like me ... Don't tell anybody you're a Prince fan

evenstar3 said:

"I like his early stuff." That's what I hear from the non-fans all the damn time. Come to think of it, that's actually what I hear from his fans, too. Dang - all y'all annoy me!

Just kidding. Actually, the affinity for Prince that I have displayed throughout my cubicle at work has sparked many a witty remark from my co-wokers. (Example: I have a picture of P from Rolling Stone hanging in my cube and a co-worker said to me, "Wow, where'd you get a life-sized picture?!" Now that's funny!)

I can normally shut them up with by pointing out that:
-he was recently inducted into the RRHOF
-he had the highest grossing tour of 2004
-he won 3(?) Grammy's for Musicology
-his latest album debuted at #1
-he hasn't been known as since 2000
-he plays like 20 instruments/played all the instruments on his first two albums

...but let me just tell you I almost lost it on Friday with this guy (who was trying to hit on me no less ) tried to tell me that Michael Jackson was a better musician and currently more influencial than Prince. I'm not trying to turn this into an MJ v. Prince thread, but c'mon dude! When's the last time MJ was in the news for making MUSIC/releasing an album? What instruments does MJ play? Oh, so he's a producer? Guess what--so is Prince. And Prince wrote/produced songs for a lot more people than MJ. The guy kept saying, "Thriller this, Thriller that." I was like, "Um it's 2006, what has he done lately?" (Nice Janet reference, right? ) Dude kept pointing out how MJ had gone platinum with more #1s than P. or some shit...but he was including the Jackson 5, too. Those shouldn't count, imo. Don't get me wrong, I love me some J5, but MJ is a serious trainwreck these days...

Needless to say, that guy did not get my number.

i'm a bad typer when i'm annoyed edit
[Edited 4/10/06 9:56am]

evenstar3 said:

I LOVE it because it let's me know that their taste in MUSIC is missing something great.