There seems to be alot of videos of dancers using 'black sweat' on YourTube. I don't understand why it was not a bigger hit, when it is this popular for professional dancers.

Also has anyone ever heard it being played in a club. what sort of reaction did it get??

Yes I've heard it when I've been out dancing and also it got played alot at my old club.

Yeah, I haven't been able to figure it out.

Prince wasn't really out front promoting the track.

I think if he had a remix it would have worked.

It's still at number 12 in a top compilled by the readers of a magazine in Belgium,but those people buy CD's,no singles.

I did notice the commercial radiostations didn't play BS,while Rock channels did.It is quiet silly,they mention he has a new album that sells well(it was at nr 3 overhere)
and then they play...Kiss!!Or Raspberrry Beret!!

That's what killed it,IMO.
[Edited 5/27/06 9:02am]

Even today, in the age of downloads, you can say that no radio play usually means no hit (there are exceptions though).

I know casual fans that bought 3121 just for that one song though. I saw the video like once.

I know!! I have still never heard it on any of my local stations!

Any song with sweat as the main topic should be released in the summer. That is just simple common since. Wrong time for the song.

loisclark88 said:

I've only heard it on the Tom Joyner morning show, and thats a syndicated show.

The video sucked.


The old Prince would have worked the video like a common whore.

The 12" single should of had a remix and instrumental for dj's. The would of really helped. Plus, the video was not very good...

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ck%20sweat

Whiskas31 said:

Simple Clear Channel won't play Prince no matter what major label backs him. Let's face folks Prince is as big now as he has ever been. Two very good pop/r&b cd's that have had great radio appeal ergo the sales in the stores and the sold out tour/s.

So the fact that a song like "Black Sweat" that I have yet to hear a negative word about on the streets didn't get any radio play is pretty interesting and telling. Look out though I think the same thing is about to happen to "Lolita" which is another no brainer single.

Clear Channel just owns too much and too many stations for any artist to have "hits" without them. That's my theory anyway.

I really don't get it. It's a classic but yet modern, sexy, funky Prince song with a great, hot video! In my opinion a video that is better done than most of those that are being shown these days.
I guess in this business it's all about timing... and, of course, PR. Let us wait and see how it goes with Fury and the rest...

Might be the near unlistenable synth permeating it... I love the track itself, but simply can't endure it, especially in the car or on iPod, and I never listen to it.

I'm a huge P fan & even my interest waned when I couldn't get hold of the single for (what seems like) weeks when the video came out. Then the album was even further down the line He should have held off he release of the video so people could hear it & go buy it SOON after. The shit was just too spaced out...

My theory?

His live performances (most recent TV appearances)are for songs that currently aren't released: CAse in point-

Soul Train Awards performance (Glamorous Life, DMSR, Satisfied/early 2005) vs. Te Amo Corazon video release(December 05/Jan 06).

SNL "Fury" vs. "Black Sweat" video. The performance on SNL is classic, but Black Sweat could have been a monster hit if performed that night instead of B,L,&B.

I've mentioned this before on another thread, but I thoroughly enjoy Black Sweat. Its a great workout song

No extended mixes for the DJ's to play around with in clubs.

That annoying ass Black Eye Peas song is still big and gets lots of play in clubs because the song has no real words xcept "my humps" over and over...

chiltonmusic said:

umm..call my name and musicology were played for days...explain that?

I think the main reason it wasn't a hit is because it didn't fit into any of the radio formats. The hip-hop/r&b/rap stations weren't going to touch a song by an almost 50 year old pop star from th 80's. Same goes for the Top 40 stations that are now dominated by hip-hop/rap. The Urban A/C stations don't play up tempo songs.

There was just no where to play it.

People still do not understand Prince. Prince is so far ahead of the music game, that it will be 5-8 years down the road before people realize that "Black Sweat" was a sure fire hit.

JellyBean said:

ummm..so how come Musicology & Call My Name (and all those tunes from the 80's and 90's) were hits?

sosgemini said:

C'mon "played for days" is a far cry from being a hit and its definetly a far cry from the play Kelly Clarkson or even Madonna get on the radio. Also you shouldn't need any more proof than the absence of radio play for this project. That's my explaination anyway.

I mean what do you think its all about?

Peace
[Edited 5/29/06 7:47am]

chiltonmusic said:

Agree. Those bastards.....

Black Sweat was made to be a hit to sell/push the album.

It was a perfect Pop song. BUT it didn't work??

chiltonmusic said:

k.... let's not get carried away.

PurpleKnight said:

I agree. I was anxious to hear the new song, but never heard it played on the radio. When I finally saw the video, I was very disappointed that it was the same old style of previous songs. The video was nothing special and the song was'nt exciting. I really was looking for more.