Majority of orgers think Prince's music in the past 10 years isn't "up to par?"
In one brief sentence, state why. I don't want any proselytizing, nonsense BS. ONE sentence. Nail it down to BRIEF. (this is based on response from prev. forum, don't debate topic))

because it lost a lot of it's depth in layering and little ideas floating in and out of the songs, that real prince magic is gone,
replaced with simply strong but formulaic compositions. prince is starting to sound more and more like any regular good
musician with regular good tunes. his tunes simply aren't really special anymore. in the past 10 years there hasn't been
a single "Anna Stesia" or "Crystal Ball" or "Computer Blue", "Interactive", "Joy In Repetition" or "Gett Off".

there are a handfull of extremely good songs, almost up to par with anything on his early releases. but they are far, far
outnumbered by average, repetative and forgettable tunes.

ok, that's more than just one line,
sorry

But I do like some of it. Does that make me not an Orger anymore?

do u want a correct answer or an opinion?

If I have any problem at all with Prince's music over the past 10 years, it's mostly that I think he's become too self-conscious of his past and that he second guesses himself too much.

He seems like he wants to break with his past, but his music is still rooted somewhat formulaicly to earlier successes.

Although Rainbow Children was bashed for its 1-800-Join Jehovah lyrics, It was a truly unique turn musically.

Otherwise Emancipation, NPS, RAVE, MUsicology, and 3121 are somewhat interchangeable. Safe studio records that got his name out there, but nothing really groundbreaking.

I would say to P: to heck with mainstram appeal. Go with your instincts and just experiment. I know I would still by the albums. MOst fams probably would.

Snap said:

lol, i think the word is "pedestrian"

skywalker said:

While I agree with the first part of your response, I had to stop when you started with "In 1985". Speaking for myself, I never bitched about Around the World In A Day or thought Lovesexy was disappointing.

As for why orgers dislike Prince's music the past 10 years...since I like most of Emancipation, Newpower Soul (I said it) and the Rainbow Children (at least musically), I have to forfeit any opinion I might have.

I suspect that (at least some of) those people (whether they are a majority of people here or not, I'm not sure) who consider Prince's music in the past 10 year's is not "up to par", do not necessarily dislike his output so much as they like the music less overall and are consequently disappointed when they compare the overall enjoyment they get from the earlier music to the later music.

.

He chases chart positions and trends, then tries hard not too, then falls prey to their temptation, then tries not too... This sentence could run and run.

OH, one other sentence.

He lost his muse once he lost his fire/anger/outrage.

Prince has the ability to channel a great spiritual force to put into his music, however he's been moving far away from that for about ten years now.

Prince proves time and time again that,live, he can deliver a varied and pumping show...which means that when he comes to laying down studio tracks teh lack of quality, diversity and depth must be simply down to teh fact that he can't be arsed. That 'lack of enthusiasm' is too apparent and makes the whole experience 'below par'

because prince went from young to very very old.


[Edited 8/12/06 1:53am]

IstenSzek said:

Wow that really sums it up for me too. Though there is a gem or 2 every now and then but not as much. I still enjoy his music but not at the level I did in the past.

Though I have to say I became a big fan around 10 years ago.

IstenSzek said:

Bcz many of them are more than 30 years old and they remember with nostalgia
when they were at school listening to Purple rain, Parade, or sign'o the times,
probably the best of his body of work ,...imho
It was a great time and they had a lot of fun back then compare to the years 2000




I can't Blame them.....I am one of them

prince grew up and his fans didn't...

or is it the other way around?

in any case, i've liked the last 10 years. maybe i should quit the org?

3121 is indicative of some of my problems with him maybe lack of proper inspiration...

Heiress said:

The truth is probably in the middle of that statement. I was only a kid when PR came out, but I remember the music vividly. It wasn't until 1989 with Batman, that I truly became a full fledged fan.

He made magic in the 1980's and it can't be recreated. Some of us hope he can catch lightning in a bottle and serve up another PR, but that seems unlikely. The musical landscape has changed way too much. In addition, you are right: He grew up musically, so what we have is this healthy debate among orgers/fams about why his music is "not as sharp" as it should be.

In one sentence, the songs are not as good and the sound is weaker.

kanamit said:

Sorry, that doesn't hold water. Young people are more likely to be impressed by SOTT than 3121.

And you knows this how? You do a study on the listening habits of "young people". Personally, I think that there is something to be said about nostalgia. People tend to gravitate towards what they grew up with.

skywalker said:

No argument about the role nostalgia plays in taste. In general that's beyond dispute, but to say that's the only reason people prefer Prince's old stuff to me is just plain wrong. As just one example, tell me if you can find one P lyric in the last 10 years that can hold a candle to WDC. Find me one song as original as IIWYG. Or find me one song from the 80s as terrible as Lolita. Prince isn't the first artist to lose it.

whoknows said:



1st of all, asking one to find a lyric that rivals or "holds a candle to" arguably Prince's greatest song ever is not really fair. It's like asking for a pro boxer in the last 10 years that can hold a candle to Ali.

Anyways, imo, here are a few songs from the last 10 years that, lyrically, hold a candle to When Doves Cry.

Strays of the World (I know it's officially older than 10 years, but it's not from the 80's)
Dreamin' About U
The Love We Make
Comeback
Wasted Kisses
Reflection

To name a few...

.

Again, maybe none of Prince's songs (80's or otherwise) are as original as
If I was Your Girlfriend. Furthermore, I cannot force an opinion on you. You'll disagree with whatever I say, right?

The War is just as original as If I was your girlfriend.

Do I think it is a better song? No. As original as? Yes.



Being a little bit more than subjective aren't you? I don't think "lolita" is a bad song. Corny as hell? Yes. It is supposed to be. In fact, it sounds a lot like song that The Time could do. Here are a few songs the 80's that are just as cheesy and corny fun as Lolita.

Trust
The Arms of Orion
Gotta Stop Messin' about
Private Joy
Horny Toad
Jack U Off
Can't stop this Feeling I got( Released in '90 but written in the 80's)
Do it all night
Sex

Not to mention the countless Prince penned songs by The Time and associated artist that are just as cheesy and fun as Lolita.

I only use these type of songs as examples, because you say that Lolita represents Prince falling off. However, I claim that Lolita hearkens back to old school early 80's Prince/The Time type jams--not a decline in artistry.

[Edited 8/12/06 14:43pm]

sacredwarrior said:

The question was based on a previous forum where the majority of orgers prefer P music prior to 1996. The correct answer IS your opinion. I'm going to summarize everyone's input and when this winds down and give "top ten reasons orgers don't like his ouput the past 10 yrs."

I believe Prince has changed quite a bit since the late 1990's and his music reflects how he is now.(religion,cleaning up his act, marriages, tragic personal experiences.)

skywalker said:

The DEBATE was in the forum: "Do you prefer P's music prior to 1996 vs. 1996-2006" This is summarizing the specifics to that forum.

xplnyrslf said:

ok.

he lost his spark .

fame and ego killed it .

all the ass-kissers killed it .

pressure killed it .

greedy little women killed it .

too much money killed it .

the system killed it .

so-called friends killed it .

lawyers killed it .



but i believe his best music is yet to come, in relative anonymity, true family, privacy, true security, spiritual safety, simplicity and sunshine.