Prince is annoyed at his songs not getting radio play.

This is why he played "Don't Play Me".

This is how interpret it anyway.

I have to agree with him. It's an unfair playing field.

Thoughts anyone?

I believe the song is more about people like you (not personally) who try to say that he cares about getting no radio play, not popular, not this, not that. I think Prince's attitude is that he had paid his dues, been there, done that and he's free to chill and do as he pleases.
[Edited 6/13/06 15:09pm]

Dan said:

Uh, I don't think so.

I think Prince's feelings towards radio can be summed up like so:

He's like Lindsay Lohan's character in "Mean Girls" and pop radio is like Rachel McAdam's character.

As much he hates radio and all it stands 4 with every fiber of his being, in a strange way, he still wants radio 2 like him.

I thought he didn't even listen to the radio?

dunno, seems music is released 2 garner attention,(cetainly not 2 share a message or new revealation) generate sale of the product & encourage folks 2 come 2 the show....he's not touring (doesn't even seem 2B wanting 2~curious 4 Prince) & mayB he doesn't care.....

recently got back from driving from Missouri through Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia & Florida~as is my habit listened 2 various radio stations along the way (it was a 2 day trip 2 miami) no where along the drive did they EVER play a Prince song - old or new!!!! came back thru Chicago & the Universal rep know said someone told him 3121 was 'pretty good' WTF

truly, he has enjoyed popularity absent radioplay.....personally, "Don't play me" is one of my favorites~perhaps he did it simply Bcuz, he can....wearing turtleneck & shades, heaven knows what Prince 'cares' about


B

i thought it was a statement about how he can distribute music on his own terms online.

I think he was telling his fans not to listen to his music. He's trying his hardest to alienate even/especially the most harcore fans (sorry, fams).

Anx said:

considering what he was winning an award for, that is pretty much the best reason...

Seems to be a lot of different versions of what he's supposed to have said. Some say he said "Everything you believe...is true", others say "Everything you think is true" others "You think it's true".

Anyway, Don't Play Me perhaps seems at first a strange choice, but for one it is part of the Crystal Ball package that the blurb for his award claims was the first full album available on the web (which it wasn't - it was available to order on the web, but of course appeared in stores first), secondly it is a song he can play on his own without dragging a band along and all the hassles that involves, thirdly it is a song which has always made a statement about the lack of airplay for Prince's new music on the radio which is certainly relevant for singles from 3121. and lastly it causes a lot of people to go 'huh? where does that song come from?' which may cause people to search out the album on the npgmc musicology store, which is what the Webby's is really all about, internet success.

Well, I've seen a clip of the speech and it is in fact "Everything you think is true".
[Edited 6/14/06 1:56am]

digifyouwill said:

Anx said:

Nailed it.

booyah said:

Dan said:

Totally disagree. Prince is well AWARE that songs that get played on the radio are PAID for.

do u think he relies much on airplay
for his exposure ? probably only that since it's tied to the rec co that he deals with at the time, he has to come to grips with it

theoriginalQueenB said:

Wow, that is funny, because V103 (FM 102.7) plays old Prince all the time. They could use some variety, but they play When Doves Cry, I Wanna B Your Lover, Adore, Do Me Baby and How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore practically daily. I've never gone a day without hearing Prince on there. Tom Joyner, whose show is syndicated, was playing Kiss this morning when I woke up. However, they don't play anything from 3121. Oh, I did hear Beautiful Loved and Blessed one Saturday night around midnight on the Saturday Stepper's Set.

Radio is a joke nowadays. It is payola to the tenth power. On the same station I hear the same songs by Mariah Carey, Kem, Kindred and Mary G. Blige six times a day each.

I heard 3 Prince songs on Monday.

BL&B
Incense and Candles
Adore

I was shocked. BL&B and I&C were played on the local jazz-lite station and Adore was played on the Urban AC station here in Detroit.

Anyway, Don't Play Me perhaps seems at first a strange choice, but for one it is part of the Crystal Ball package that the blurb for his award claims was the first full album available on the web (which it wasn't - it was available to order on the web, but of course appeared in stores first), secondly it is a song he can play on his own without dragging a band along and all the hassles that involves, thirdly it is a song which has always made a statement about the lack of airplay for Prince's new music on the radio which is certainly relevant for singles from 3121. and lastly it causes a lot of people to go 'huh? where does that song come from?' which may cause people to search out the album on the npgmc musicology store, which is what the Webby's is really all about, internet success.



Finally some1 is making sense.

hey it is what it is!

everything i think of Prince is true?

uh oh

thinking makes it so

Snap said:

Don't Play Me was featured at the Vegas gigs too. One thought I had - is he trying to make a point about compilation albums?

Matches up with the question 5 from the questions sent out to members in May - Did u know WB can only release one more "greatest hits" package and then it's finally OVER? Will u buy it or just play ur old copies?

Some kind of message like - don't hype up all the stuff Prince has done in the past - thats not what he's about today.

latekate said:

You have to remember this song was written back in '98 when their weren't any compilations Prince might be commenting on. It is only you that has connected this song with compilations like 'Ultimate' - that is not inherent in the lyrics to the song. The lyrics are clearly about Prince's lack of airplay: "music I've played aint the type of stereo U're tryin to feed"
"Don't play me, I already do, in my car"
"U couldn't play enough of me now 2 make me feel like a star"

It's kind of funny, because Prince is saying he doesn't care that radio doesn't play him anymore as he has already got everything he needs from it and stardom, and yet clearly he IS bitter about it otherwise why write such bitter lyrics?! He's commented on radio in several songs - "If the radio ain't on the funk - it ain't on" from the unreleased Funk Radio, and "Who tried 2 make me pay big money 4 the frequency? Guess what? (Yeah) Uh, I ain't giving up fees Not me" from Jukebox With A Heartbeat.

Prince shows that he's clearly aware you have to pay fees to get your singles played on the radio, that he doesn't agree with it (but secretly would prefer it if the system was changed and he COULD get airplay again).

Don't Play Me (the phrase) also has a double meaning - 'don't play games with me' or in other words 'don't take me for a fool'. Prince is saying, 'yeah, I know the score, how this media business works...'