Reading the Grafitti Bridge (song) thread below

http://www.prince.org/msg...msg_188630

it struck me how often Prince's music (and other artists' for that matter) get slagged off on these boards on the basis of them being not as good as other songs.

I remember in 1998 when Prince was in the UK promoting and touring with New Power Soul that BBC2 broadcast an O-Zone Special. It had a great interview with Prince and at one point the interviewer (may have been Dave Pearce of Radio 1?) asked him about how he chooses/rejects songs etc and used the word "sub-standard". Prince had a look of surprise on his face at this and said something like "Sub-Standard? Who has the right to determine what is sub-standard or not? That shirt you are wearing. is that a sub-standard shirt?" the interviewer looked at his own casual shirt and answered "Well, I like it". Prince replied in the vein of "Ahhh! That's the key. You like it, so it does not matter what anyone else thinks"

It seems to me that (and I realise I am stating nothing that we don't already know here) Prince creates music or art that pleases him, he does not create it for anyone else. It makes him happy, he likes it. He likes the song Graffiti Bridge, he likes TRC and ONA. He likes The Arms of Orion. The same amount of talent, inspiration,love and work goes into these songs as goes into Lovesexy, When Doves Cry, Moonbeam Levels, and SOTT (in my opinion).

For fear of sounding like a kiss-ass Prince "fam" I try not to judge or criticise Prince's music. There are some songs that I do not enjoy listening to as much as others but I can appreciate the artistic talent in all of them.

So do you think Prince is right to have this kind of "Well, I like it so I'm going to record it" attitude or do you think he has an obligation to try to sit down and re-create (for example) some kind of 1986-87 era sound. He cannot please all of us by doing this. So why should he?

OK ramble over! What are your thoughts?

I remember that interview well. It was Scott Mills from Radio 1. I cracked up coz Scott Mills made a bit of a fool out of himself. After using the phrase 'sub-standard' whilst talking about Prince's music his argument completely crumbled and then he dropped his clipboard and all his notes all over the floor... Prince and the band cracked up and Prince just got up and walked out with a kinda 'I don't have to sit here and listen 2 this idiot' type of face!

Class!

?
[This message was edited Wed Feb 26 2:18:19 PST 2003 by IstenSzek]

"I try not to judge or criticize Prince's music"

Why not? There's nothing wrong with having an opinion about a CD that you paid for.Besides,it's not as if he really cares if someone dislikes one of his songs.

I am glad Prince makes his music for himself. This is what keeps him raw. Everyone IS making music for the masses, because that's where the money is. But it is a fucked up system.

It's like rap music. In the beginning if you sounded remotely like anyone else your ass was dissed as a sound-alike or biter. That kept new and interesting groups on the radio. Run DMC, Whodini, LL Cool J, UTFO, The Fresh Prince, Dougie Fresh, Slick Rick and plenty others who all had there own unique sound. Even NWA was unique, but they took rap to another level, which was OK at the time, because it was only one stroke on the whole canvas that rap painted. But the industry took in so much fucking money from gangsta rap that you can't even get airplay unless you say fifty curse words in your songs. For every rapper that sings about shit on a hit, there are a hundred clean cut talented rappers with something positive or new to say that the industry won't give a break to. Simply because gangsta rap is easy money. This has fucked up the whole image of RAP Music, because now that is all anyone thinks of when they think of rap.

But who are they really making the music for? The people who control the radio stations, that's who. Then they play this bullshit over and over to the youth who listen to it so much that they think it's the best shit since sliced bread. It must be because the radio station keeps playing it right?

I am so happy that Prince is pushing the envelope. Painters don't paint for the masses. They paint to please themselves first. All the great artist where trying to please themselves when they created great works of art. Sure some of the stuff they did was for the masses, but most GREAT artist pushed the envelope to please themselves first.

I for one would rather hear two half ass sounding unique songs from Prince or anybody then one more song that sounded just like another song that was a hit. At least it shows me that someone in the music industry is trying to standout and be different. Hell, it doesn't take an artist to rearange a beat and a groove. It takes an ARTIST to come up with some shit that teleports you to another place of existence.

But this is just my opinion.

DavidEye said:

True. I originally had a really good point to my post but it got lost in the rant! :O

KeithyT said:

The only obligation he has is to stay true to himself - it's why we all fell in love w/ his music in the first place...

CalhounSq said:

I agree CalhounSq, it was kind of a rhetorical question. I was thinking about what DavidEye asked me (above) and I honestly do not dislike anything Prince releases. I have my favourites sure, but I try not to criticise negatively something that I know I could not even come close to producing.

I guess that makes me a "blind fam" (as people like to label them on here).

Hey, I just saw your thread from the weekend!

http://www.prince.org/msg...&tid=19062

Sorry to nab your idea, great minds eh?
[This message was edited Mon Jul 29 7:15:24 PDT 2002 by KeithyT]

DaddyMan said:

I agree. I think as long as you are being true to yourself, you don't necessarily have to make music that is embraced by the masses. I listen to Prince because I know he will always take me places others only dare or can't go. I know he will keep pushing the boundaries and doing it in style. Unlike all these other cats who are way to eager to please.