i think most people talking about the good old days are talking about the quality of the music, not about the sales.

Where's the vomit smiley? So it's not about sales as the charts have been topped by utter shite per your examples but also don't downplay Prince's 3121 success on the charts?

Aren't you the same guy who bitched about people getting 3121 early then got it yourself a day later?

And what's with the bold font?

3121 has sold less than Musicology did, enough said.

skywalker said:

Aww, just admit it: You're excited about 3121 topping the charts and you can't sit still.

It's all right.

Be a kid. No one will judge you.

Wall said:

but weren't sales of Musicology forced with concert ticket inclusions?

skywalker said:

Although I basically agree with what you're trying to say, this statement is a little over simplified imo. He may not have outsold people like Wham or Madonna etc after 1984, but he was still very much a part of mainstream consciousness throughout the rest of the 1980s. Everyone was either trying to sound like him or out-do him in someway.

The early 1990s saw the emergence of new styles that Prince either couldn't, or chose not to compete with on a mainstream level (Rap, the 'Seattle Sound', Techno etc.)
[Edited 3/30/06 23:22pm]

cborgman said:

Absolutely agreed.

cborgman said:

And there it is.

Wall said:

Wall- I am a bit frightened that you have such knowledge of my previous posts. Thanks for the admiration. All I am saying is that to some, me included, Prince never lost it. Quality of work is subjective and this album is no more or less deserving of all being called # 1 than a lot of Prince albums.

3121 has been out for a little over a week- Musicology has been out for two years (which is longer than you've been around here newbie). So, of course 3121 has sold less than Musicology. That being said, I have still have no idea what you are bitching at me about. If you want to have a conversation, cool. However, the hostile attitude is not necessary nor appreciated.

The bold font is so you can read better-sorry it didn't work for you.

NouveauDance said:

Right, but if prince.org teaches us anything, it's that "quality" is subjective. I just came across someone saying that Graffiti Bridge is better than 3121. Different strokes for different folks. I just want to remind people that Prince never really dominated the charts/radio/sales like people seems to "remember". The only year he was dominant over everyone was 1984. Otherwise, he ebbs and flows as far as popularity and sales go. To me, Prince's sales have always been less about quality of work and more about good marketing. Batman is a prime example.

"...Aww, just admit it: You're excited about 3121 topping the charts and you can't sit still.

It's all right.

Be a kid. No one will judge you..."

Be a kid? Have you seen my avatar? I'll be most excited when this #1 means Prince tours America soon and does another three night stand here in MPLS, or if he capitalizes on this wave of popularity and re-releases and remasters previous albums and concerts.

[Edited 3/31/06 0:01am]

I love 3121. It's great! I don't understand why some people don't c that.. Ok it's not a new "Sign 'O' the times" but this is 2006! Not 1987! & Prince has proved that he still can make great music.. He has proved that with TRC & 3121.

Most of us grew up with Prince’s music (I did anyway, starting from 1983). And throughout those years, for ME he was always the dominant factor in music.
And of course I hoped that he would dominate the charts as well because I’d feel that EVERYBODY should appreciate his music the same way I did.

For me the most influential albums were 1999, Parade, SOTT and LoveSexy, but only because this was in a period when I was becoming aware of his music, his energy. I was a kid back then and those albums and the SOTT and lovesexy concerts were amazing and left a permanent impression on me.

He was and is a musical genius and he manages to keep on amazing us and everyone else.
The fact that 3121 now tops the charts excites me in the same way it did way back when because I think he deserves the recognition but it doesn’t change the way I feel about his music. And indeed, 3121 is not SOTT. Then again, I’m no longer a kid either.

skywalker said:

There ya go. I'm happy for Prince and am eager to catch his bad self on tour. Even though he's made his concerts more family friendly he's still a phenomenal act.

skywalker said:

Who ever these 'people' are you reference, I'm not one of them!

I know (not off by heart! ) Prince's chart positions, he's never been a constant chart-topper. I agree - Prince's #1 albums have been about marketing - What are his biggest commercial hits - Movie tie-ins (PR, Batman) and aggressively marketed commercially-tuned albums (D&P, 3121).

Prince could've had tons more hits if he wanted, different singles, different songs/albums etc - He's constantly at a battle with himself it seems betweeen wanting things on his terms and being free to express himself without the strains of the typical promotional cycle of a record release, and wanting the adulation and acceptance that comes with mega-stardom. I guess if he wasn't like that, he'd have half the output, and it wouldn't be half the trip.

what really bothers me is the need to tell people what to do and tell them how to recieve the music, as the title of this thread does.

cborgman said:

My point exactly!!

ufoclub said:

cborgman said:

I challenge you- where, in my original post, do I tell people how to "recieve the music"? I can rephrase the topic as a question if it'll make you feel better. Sorry.

NouveauDance said:

I totally agree with that.

skywalker said:

the recieve the music portion was not aimed directly at you, so much as people who post things like you do, ie - the 'fams'

and changing the title of the thread really makes no difference. it isn't going to alter the lashing out nature of the thread. these kinds of things are why i don't venture into this forum much at all.

i appreciate that there are prince fans who think prince can do no wrong, but those of us who aren't unquestioning in our love of prince shouldn't be attacked because of it.

again, not aimed directly at you, so much as the people who the opriginal post is a part of.

cborgman said:

Seems to me like you were commenting on the title of the thread, so it very much seemed aimed at me. Correct?

skywalker said:

okay then, yes.
[Edited 3/31/06 9:34am]

skywalker said:

I think you're confusing the issues. I think 3121's success is a very impressive achievement. A middle-aged artist with no video or single in heavy rotation hits No. 1 for the first time in nearly 20 years.

I think people are downplaying the record on its merits and saying that, in comparison to certain 80's albums (and 90's albums) that did not chart or sell as well, 3121 is not a "great" Prince album. I happen to believe that but, from an objective standpoint, it's not right or wrong.



But ATWIAD, Parade, and SOTT all charted well, 1999 produced 3 top-10 singles and stayed in the top 200 LPs for over a year, "Alphabet St." charted well though Lovesexy tanked, and once Purple Rain hit, DM and Controversy went platinum. Batman hit No. 1. From 1980 to 1989 all but one album went platinum. And he put a record out each year that decade (except for '83). He was putting out records twice as fast as anyone else and STILL hit platinum consistently. Not even MJ, Madonna or Springsteen can claim that.

And don't forget, Prince had different singles on the "Black" AND Pop charts at different times that decade. Def Leppard, Springsteen, and U2 can't say that.

You make valid points, but don't completely dismiss Prince's run in the '80s.





You're preaching to a huge choir here, friend. Hitting No. 1 doesn't matter to most of Prince's longtime fans here because they appreciate the work he's done regardless of how it sold. But when he does hit No. 1 it's cool.

So why are you so aggravated?

cborgman said:[quote]

skywalker said:

okay then, yes.
[Edited 3/31/06 9:34am]
[/quote]

So again I ask you---where am I telling people how they should "receive the music"??

namepeace said:

Damn peace, u hit it dead on the head, player. My sentiments exactly. Great post!

"You make valid points, but don't completely dismiss Prince's run in the '80s."

I am not trying to. No doubt about it, the 80's were great for Prince. But, the man has the # 1 album RIGHT NOW and some are still trying to shit on it by reframing the 80's as being more glorious than they actually were.

skywalker said:

That's the way it usually goes.. in 20 years those same people (if still alive) will be nostalgiating over 3121.

btw.. do you HAVE to use those bold fonts all the time? You do know how the reply with quote thingy works eh?

skywalker said:[quote]

cborgman said:

fine, as i apparently was too vague before, i formally retract the "recieve" portion.

cborgman said:

No problem, I just didn't want you to feel as if I was trying to speak for you or insult you. I like your picture, by the way....