Why has Prince not experienced the success we all wish for?

Well first and foremost he spent over a decade pissing off every radio programer by denouncing radio and not spending a dime to get spins.

Furthermore, look at what us (the Prince experts) have voted on as top singles from 3121 and obviously Prince has released singels in the opposite order. Te Amo Corazon is voted by us, the experts, as the most unattractive song, and LOVE is by far the best single.....

Orgers favourite tracks on 3121 are...
Love
15.4%

The Word
13.4%

Fury
11.7%

3121
10.4%

The Dance
10.4%

Black Sweat
9.5%

Lolita
9.2%

Incense and Candles
7.8%

Get On The Boat
3.7%

Beautiful, Loved & Blessed
3.6%

Satisfied
2.7%

Te Amo Corazón
2.3%


Prince has shut down the site NPGMC for one of the following reasons. First of all he is the CEO and I've dealt with a ton of CEOs and they tend to make quick emotional decisions that is not always popular but they are necessary 4 companies to continue to thrive,

Webby Award Winners - Google - brings in billions!!!!!

Um.... what kind of revenue is NPGMC (another Webby winner) bringing in?

Don't worry, 3121 sales will increase when he tours.... u will see radio stations starting to kiss his ass and actually play his music when he arrives in their town.

I'm Out.....

Prince can release "Love" if he wants.
He may even throw some heavy promotion behind it.

But it simply won't be a hit on the scale it should be.

None of the songs on 3121 come close to the power of his earlier recordings, despite the fact that they are fine fine songs in their own right. 3121 seeks to be all things to all people. In doing so, it's a bit muddled. It is an album best suited for riding a wave of popularity once you've reached the top.

And despite the success of Musicology in sales and concert sales, what Prince needed to release was something mind blowing. Something anybody could pick up and say "wow--that's hot." Don't get me wrong, 3121 is a fine album--but SOTT it ain't. People have always said that Prince let's his music do the talking. Maybe the message he's sending is that he wants to take it easy for now.

Or maybe he just needs some new inspiration.

maybe he needs a good talker to give him a good talking to?

Or maybe he really, truly, needs Wendy and Lisa to phone home. I know, I know, old news, etc, but... Oh My God... Come on, Prince, it's not rocket science. You recorded best under or close to their influence, why not suck it and see if the same results can happen again.

Just watch the chemistry on the Tavis Smiley recording of Reflection, Prince looked shy, Wendy looked alive. There was some sort of magic there. It needs unleashing.

Right from the get go - I heard nothing on 3121 that could be a huge smash hit single in the vein of Gett Off, Cream or Kiss.

A lot of fans have said 'Love' is that - I don't hear it personally, despite a relatively decent melody to the chorus/bridge. The lyrics are tiresome, whiney, sung without passion and overall it sounds like some of the filler from Graffiti Bridge. Prince can poop these songs in his sleep.

The closest thing to hit material was Fury, and only because it had a bit of punch and verve to it (well, the live version did) - and the song and lyrics flow well, a lot better than anything since Emancipation in fact - in terms of a commercial pop song.

NouveauDance said:

agreed. i liked Love at first but then heard it playing at Tower Records and crinched. it just sounded korny as hell. not something that non-fans would gravitate towards.

WHO says he hasnt had the success he wants? He accomplished what every singer/actor/actress whats in the early 80's. (movie, music, style,modeling) So, where does he go from there? I guess anywhere he wants. He releases what he wants, tours when he wants, etc. He is a RESPECTED ARTIST anywhere he goes.

He got the power to do what he wants...

I don't AGREE with the premise of your thread.
I'd bet Prince does not agree either.

Define "success."

1FRO said:

i seriously hope he finds one cause i don't want 3121 the sequel! No more songs about jealous wives/lovers, young chicks you wanna ball, women you love in Spain all mixed up with new revelation knowlege of the bible. that makes for a hot mess. i love the song The Word and i think that's the direction he should have went with. that album is just too all over the place. i hope he does another conceptual album that is about something more than flirting. i hate to say it, but i could dig Musicology a little better because it sounded like he was in more of a grounded place with his life and marriage. Its like I fell for the "I'm a changed, matured in love who just wants to focus on music." bs like most everyone else. Then 3121 comes out and the subject matter is much like some high school boy running around trying to make his girlfriend jealous. Venting all those corny riffs in his relationships on a record and i'm like that sh@t is for the birds. Some of the crap he spouts in Incense and Candles has me like what the hell are you talking about? P, get focused write some stuff that truly matters.
[Edited 7/7/06 15:39pm]

BoySimon said:

If you're talking about the lack of success with 3121, it's almost fully due to lack of promotion and not being available on iTunes/NPGMC for downloading.

The amount of TV appearances, concerts, magazine covers in 2004 was nothing short of mindblowing. I doubt he's had that much media coverage since 1984 - and it paid off. He was in the public eye again, and appreciated. But there's hardly ANYTHING this year in promotion of 3121.

And as far as always wanting Wendy & Lisa back, ask yourself: what have they done since 1986/87 that is really that great? Sure, they do movie scores (with the same sound) and worked with Neil Finn (stuff that most Prince fans wouldn't like anyway). My point is: who would gain from a reunion? Probably them more than Prince.

Se7en said:

what else have they done? their work with seal and doyle bramhall worked opposite spectrums of prince's world to great affect. wendy's production work rocks...and lisa's playing on Meshell's entire Bitter CD is probably lisa's best. work. EVER.

but, your probably right...from an exposure standpoint wendy and lisa would benefit...from an artistic strand point? well...thats simple IMHO, prince.

amorbella said:

yep! that's what i'm talking about.....i mean, he's got total freedom now.....and as far as people commenting on his lyrics.....has he ever been known for his amazing lyrics?

gamillah said:

I haven't heard once, that Prince himself isn't happy with his life. Just his fans are, but I think he holds his own happiness in his own hands

yeah i think P stopped chasing "success" a long time ago. He's in the best position to do what he wants and I think that alone is success. I just don't like 3121 very much with the exception of a few songs. I just don't like this direction subject wise but I wouldn't say it isn't a success for P.

adorable2 said:

.. couldn't agree more

purplerein said:

As do ALL of us. Life is about CHOICES.....

HalluRain said:

gamillah said:

I kinda have 2 agree. If u look at him live, at certain points he looks like he not doing as good as He wants 2 do. Although we think he may be at his best he seems like damn y can't do this like i wanna. Seems akward but we may never know. But then again NPGMC only charges one time for a lifetime membership. other clubs are either free or charge a monthly fee. To me satisfied and te amo corazon are actually the best on the album next to fury lolita and get on the boat. It's all about the music u like. I on the other hand am versatile i like all music styles so whatever prince puts out there is a liability that i will like it. I thought for a moment that i was the only member on this site that like emancipation, chaos and disorder, rave un2, and the rainbow children, bcuz i never saw any 4ums about them unless there was a member who hated it and posted.