It may not actually B a return 2 old form '81-'89, but rest assured that Prince will again dominate on a mass level. Even if he's not interested in it.
Hasn't he changed in the past? Have his interests and focuses not shifted without a moments notice? I feel his involvement with JW is fleeting. His quest 4 spiritual answers will never end, of course, its 2 important 2 him, but he will c that JW is not the answer. His music may come off as 'preachy' currently, but that is because he writes what's on his mind. Who doesn't.
There is 2 much in the man 2 not continue 2 B an innovator. U can't stop a mind and musical spirit such as his from being on the forefront of music and leading the pack with his ideas. He will introduce a new 'sound' or production value or something that will spark a whole new generation of mimics, because even in his own words, he was born 2 do this, and we all know he is 2 good 2 not B popular.

JMHO

feltbluish said:

Here again is the misconception that a return to mass appeal is synonymous with artistic value. Prince has already arrived and surpassed the 80s. If you ask him, he would verify this. He is making the music he wants to make and is completely free to make the way he wants to. He is reaching levels that where denied by the industry. The fact that no one knows how great is recent work is does not discount its greatness. Who could actually say that Purple Rain or even SOTT is far superior to The Rainbow Children and be taken seriously?

I hope that Prince never becomes a chart artist again. I feel te intamicy with his work that I felt when I discovered him in the 70s and no one knew him except a few black radio stations and hard core funk people. I am seeing a return to the Dirty Mind era - not in theory or concept - but in the undreground nature of his music; only the loyal fans and true music listeners appreciate and follow his career.

i agree that mass appeal and artistic integrity R not synonymous...i was just making a point that he will again B on top without trying 2 B (w/o a choice) just because his artistic integrity IS what he's all about. Its SO good that he will will without doubt B a trendsetter again. He did it in the past.

Miles kept innovating and dominating over and over again...and Miles was popular.

Eye hope ur right!

Ur right feltbluish, I think that Prince, without sacrificing his artistic integrity, will take the world by storm once more. some DJ will accidently play some of his music by accident, and the whole nation will be catapulted into Prince-mania. and Prince will have done it without big record companies.

I also believe one day the masses will rediscover Prince. I believe that although he constantly writes and records, his greatest stuff comes in waves of innovation. We are just in between waves right now. I mean it's all good and I'm digging what he's doing, but his mass appeal comes when he's surfing on that wave of innovation. It's like his whole vibe switches gears and his songs are so next level. That's when the masses jump back on the band wagon.

The real question will be just how that's going to take place. The masses don't generally dig something until it has been played on the radio. With Prince saying he's not going to pay to have his stuff played on the radio it will be interesting. Interesting in the fact that by time one of his albums flow out to the masses and start having great demand he may already be putting out another one.

But then again I really believe he's going to go with a major label again if he really feels he's got a great album.