Stevie Wonder
Ray Charles
Elton John
Kenny Rogers
Aretha Franklin
and yes even Barry Manilow...

What do all these people have in common?

They're all LEGENDS!!!

Michael Jackson has not been on there because AI doesn't want him. Putting Prince in a catagory with the people listed above is not a disgrace - it's a privilege.

This is what level Prince is at in his career, and he should be flattered that the mainstream still considers him relevant. The Purple Rain/SOTT Prince would not be caught dead on AI, true. But he is at a new level in his career and he should embrace it. He would be introducing himself to a whole new generation that deserve to hear a great artist.

Y'all remember what he said in 04 - He gonna teach the kids what real music is really like. Well, now's his chance.

Peace!

I must agree with you. Although I'm not a fan of the show I don't see anything with going on there to perform a song or two. I mean it is a music show and It would be great promotion for the CD. I can understand him not wanting to do the whole teach them how to sing thing, but if it were to just do a couplke of his songs I'd say great. Just my 5 cents

Robin Gibb was on the show before too.

tha shame? oh please princ do not lower ur standards and do that u r higher than sum of all parts please don't do it! lower ur self not my lover please!

in other words my love stay away,stay very far away from american idiotur better than that!

he probably has issues with the word "idol" in the title.

Perhaps because it's the worst show on television?

40 Million viewers? And you ask why would Prince do this show? 40 MILLION. That is a lot of people. Many teenagers and pre-teens who have never seen Prince perform. You ask why would he do it? I think it would be a great move.

Because that is the shittiest show in television.

One thing I have noticed is on all the reports of this it never says who the source is.

http://www.nypost.com/gos.../66397.htm

I think he should't appear on AI because that show is for empty people, who have a nice voice but thats it... no sonwriting skills, Ive never seen anybody of AI actually playin an Isntrument, Prince is too much for a show like AI. Prince shouldn't go. Never in his life.

He didn't want to coach the contestants.
Perhaps he doesn't trust himself not to be too harsh.
I think he would just have to mentally prepare himself.

I will not roll my eyes, I will not roll my eyes.

I dont blame Prince, Prince is smart. He probably doesn't want some kids who some with no singing talent to mess up Prince's classic songs. Plus he said he dislikes the show, so why go.

AI might as well be MTV It's just funny that he's spent all this time talking about being "free" & how sales don't matter, but he's up to some mighty big tricks to play the game this time. I can't really fault him I guess, he wants this album to do well. But it's so not him... I have no idea how his philosophy got twisted lately (too much time in LA???) but damn, it's sad/bizarre/smart/fucked up all @ once

That said, I'll be watching With a huge fucking drink in my hand P done crossed ovah!

So who knows the details - I heard he's gonna help the little shits arrange their songs Will this be a one show thing? I assume it'll be some pre-taped shit of them in the studio farting around. Will he actually be on the show/panel? Will he perform? LAWD, this shit is mind boggling

CalhounSq said:

He's not going to do the show because he didn't want to talk and coach the contestants.He only wanted to perform and AI wouldn't agree to that.

PurpleCharm said:

OH SHIT, really? Is it wrong for me to be happy about that?

"He didn't want to talk and coach the contestants..." THAT'S my Princey!!!




.
[Edited 4/8/06 17:00pm]

theodore said:

That's because AI is a singing competition. You can't really say that because you've never seen one of the contestants play an instrument, means that not one of them ever has been able to.

Tamyra Gray has songwriting skills, as well as a few others.

Personally, I think what makes AI a horrible show is Paula and Randy, constantly regurgitating the same comments night after miserable night.

I still think Prince would do well to perform on the show, though. Think of the exposure. Think of all of the uninitiated being initiated for the very first time. He should do it.

prince seems to be in a promotional k-hole right now. i hope his refusal to do AI (if indeed that happened) didn't result in universal giving him a spanking.
[Edited 4/9/06 11:07am]

CalhounSq said:

I am glad this is not 2004 while he was promoting MUSICOLOGY you know that whole study bit
just wouldn't make any sense.

Prince already got PAID from AI a coupla years ago, when the post-show tour did that whole Prince medley every night. that and the fact that gay-claiken, i mean clay gayken, i mean clay aiken performed when doves cry as part of his act, i would say Prince collected a coupla thousand dollars from the AI machine and can't be too worried about them butchering his songs any more than, oh, let's say, carmen electra, lois l, elsia fiorillo, tom jones, etc etc.

how do you know? the rules say they have to do certin songs and no instruments (except for the audtions which they have done both)

meltwithu said:

how many songs/shows did they do? what is the fee like $3? or something per song? something like that.... it is not MUCH whatever it is.

ashynevermind said:

Just because the mainstream consideres him relevant does not mean he should give into the mainstream. You take him for what he is and that's that.

In addition, I watched the episode when Stevie Wonder and Kenny Rogers was on there and it appeared as if what they taught the contestants went out the window, because the singing, except for one or two, sounded horrible. I don't think I could stand it if they got up there butchering Prince's songs ---Lawd have mercy.

I believe if the kids today want to learn about music, all they gotta do is go to one of Prince's show. One of the most beautiful things about the Musicology Tour, was that the age group was extremely diverse, both, young, old and in between. I'm sure the younger fans or guests appreciated what they saw.

for the same reason clarkson didn't wan't her material sung.
She knows the deal...

American Idol, IMO mind you is a soul stealing show.
No self respecting artist would try the show.
American Idol is an easy way for record producers like simon cowell to find talent
to make him his next hit.

It's smart though...
Don't look for the artist
let them come to you..

how a drug dealer makes his money...

EmbattledWarrior said:

why did she change her mind then? no offense to KC, but her ass would still be waiting tables at Mel's Diner if it wasn't for AI. there would be no kelly, tamyra, reuben, clay, fantasia, jennifer, carrie or bo--all of whom have moderate to very successful careers.

As repulsive the notion, I think both Prince and AI would benefit - though I can't imagine Prince in a situation where he would be VERY much 'out-of-control'.

But it would get me, someone who hates the show, to watch it...

I grew up loving that Prince would never pander to something like this...but I'm a lot less serious with age, and learned there's not much of a return on investing in your own stubborness. Considering that he's put out possibly his most commercially accessible album to date, why not go all the way promoting it as such?

meltwithu said:

Kelly took it back because Simon forced her too.
Those artist are slaves, Kelly included,
But kelly was wildly successful, because she was the first AI which makes her unique in a way.
Ruben fell off after Sorry 2004 (a horrible song i might add)
Im waiting on fantasias second release, to see if she's gonna stick around

They might as well be a factory that designs sycophantic popstars
i'd love to get my hands on the contract they all sign...
just to see that they aren't giving up their souls as well...

TheBigBang said:

What makes AI a horrible show is that it's a fucking televised karaoke contest that underscores how shit and soulless the industry has become. Kelly Clarkson became a star by singing off a prompter.

Prince shouldn't do it. Why? Picture a 20 year old Prince, not to mention most other rock superstars, auditioning for the show. They'd all be laughed out of the building during auditions. AI ignores real talent and instead sucks off the singers with the nice voices and photogenic looks, but nothing special to offer. A true star can't shine when Mr. British Asshole is busy telling them to wipe off the makeup and learn how to sing.

^^^^^ which also discribes 90% of the pop market...they sing fine, look fine... but how much real tallent? well lets see how many of them are still well known in 20 years... ?