Okay, I'm not wanting to start any kind of criticising of people's reaction to P's 'residency' in Vegas, but I'm genuinely interested in why people are finding this to be a positive thing in Prince's career.

Now, Prince can do anything he wants. Right on for him etc, however I'm trying to just get my head around why there's such excitement for something that 90%+ of P fans won't be able to experience.

I've been a P fan for over 20 years. Purple Rain did nothing for me at first, but ATWIAD blew my mind and made me see that I had the privilege of having access to a true artist that had managed to get into the mainstream and also educate that mainstream about real music! Something he did for the next 20 years. And I never looked back from that point.

Prince has taught me things about the music industry that I'd never have known if I'd not been a fan of his work. He's taught me that there's more to selling records than making a HUGE profit. He's taught me that ownership of music can potentially be conned from original artists and therefore new artists should always be wary of the big guys.

And now, that same artist is taking a residency in one of the most expensive cities in the world. He seems to have gone against everything that I thought he stood for, back in the day.

No matter how much people say that 'Oh yes, he's doing Vegas, but he's doing it P style', he's decided to become a Vegas Lounge Act - fact. I'm sure Celine Dion and Tom Jones fans think that their idols are unique and different also.

Opening his own doors for the Celebrations was a great thing to do. It was his home and he was opening it for those who had grown up with him and it was for the fans. Yeah, many people had to pay for the flights, etc. But ultimately it really was for the fans who wanted to go and appreciate him and his work.
Vegas is a different thing however. It's for people with money - whether they're fans or not. People will go because Prince is a known name and they can afford it. And that's it. The true fans will be in a minority.

I suppose we should have seen it coming. Musicology was an attempt to get back into the mainstream. Great. I've had a secret yearning for the past 6 years to see Prince back in the mainstream and to have him appreciated. But when it took him two years to come up with an album with exactly the same ideal (12 songs created with the masses in mind) I got a little suspicious that Prince wasn't being as renegade and 'different' as I'd always thought. It's the first time since 'For You' and 'Prince' that he'd come up with two consecutive albums with the same creative concept. The second of those two albums improved on the first, just like Musicology and 3121 but essentially, like those latter albums, they were of the same ilk.
To attempt to break into the mainstream twice running hasn't been seen in Prince terms since 1999/Purple Rain, but even then it was understandable for a young musician and at least he followed it up with the perverse ATWIAD. So, is there really something wrong financially in the Prince camp and he needs to make raw $$$ fast? Or is Prince really that desperate to be seen and known? Seems so far away from that artist who seemed driven only by the music (hell, I suppose we always suspected that he was drawn by more than that).
Oh, and that recent fashion show with those pics of Prince in shades (hello, you're indoors) pulling stoopid faces whilst being flanked by those twins (won't use the z, sorry). Did he come across as a sad, dirty old man or what? Mid-life crisis maybe?

Anyhoo, I love Prince and his music, but his recent behaviour since the public announcement of his divorce has been that of either a) a bad mid-life crisis, or b) he really has lost the plot and is desperate for money and attention.

I'll always buy his music and go to his concerts should he ever lower himself to perform to us commoners who don't live in/have access to glamourous/tacky Vegas. But right now, the artist who I love and will still try to understand is starting to become the very thing I always thought he was above. Even only five years ago, the idea of Prince doing a Vegas residency would have been scoffed at from all quarters.

I'll ask again - why are people seeing this as a positive thing?

How many concerts, aftershows, Celebrations, big venue, small venue, selling upfront seats to club members, and other kick ass opportunites did Prince provide in the past 28 years? Sooooo because of this new venture damn all that he has done before, and let's get mad at Prince?

I understand what you are saying but Prince has given thousands of opportunities for us to see him at a reasonable price so if folks gotta sit this one out then so be it. Just wait.

Didn't he just have tour in 2004 in almost every city for a reasonable price. Didn't he just finish having some hit-n-run shows for 30 bucks from Jan-March of this year?

Gosh, yall killin me.
[Edited 10/26/06 16:28pm]

wonder505 said:

what wonder said. besides, be happy that he's doing something, as opposed to staying quiet and outta sight.

Watch The Godfather trilogy. Along w/ concert tickets, you might wanna check out some stock in Vegas. Hes about to change the game.

What the 1st person said kinda touch me. I don't want the spot light. I want to be the person that creates the music and conducts it w/ some band and strings. I don't care about much. But, I had a life w/o love in the family. Now, we are trying to fix that problem. College has been just like high school: don't care about, but something I have to do to be anything in life. On top of all of that I am trying to figure out the cause of my mental problem w/ assisstance. So, that is me. Prince, on the other hand, is getting older. (A wow moment) I think Prince might have lost sight w/ his purpose in life. I have NOTHING against Prince. But, thinking about what you wrote...I notice that his music is talking about things that will make him go to hell at the beinning of his career until recently when he changed. Maybe, God (our heavenly father) is trying to tell Prince something: maybe you should listen to Him and He will guide Prince to the right path. I don't know fa sure. I just don't know.

Prince might be doing what others have done, but he's doing it in his own way, trust me this is not gonna be some tired old act on the strip. Prince is there to show the people how it's supposed to be done and bring some life into the tired cliche of "Vegas acts" I'll bet the reviews will be awesome, he's bringing a whole new, younger colorful audience to Vegas, it's gonna be goood and I for one refuse to knock him before he even starts. Fuck em all, that's my baby!

wlcm2thdwn said:

can i eat your avatar?

RitaQoS said:

He has goals and ambitions beyond touring. Shame on him. It's not like he hasn't toured every year somewhere since '79 (except 1995, 1999 and 2005).

You make some interesting points Rita QoS, but I guess for me I am just not trying to think about all of it too much and just enjoy what I'm given. You say that Vegas is only for people with money? Well, flights to Vegas are pretty darn cheap for people in the US. I realize that the rest of the folks are getting left out though. You can get a hotel room in Vegas for cheap. You may not stay at the Rio or one of the nicest hotels on the Strip, but you can do it. I'm thinking that going to a week long celebration was pretty expensive. Plane ticket, hotel and food for a week, and whatever other misc. expenses. I don't think Vegas is any more expensive than any other large city. I think this Vegas thing is not only about him performing, but also about being more "behind the scenes" as a business man. He probably is doing it for the money. Every artist is in it for the money to a certain extent. Prince is no different. I don't know if he's desperate for money. No matter what he does I know this. He isn't going to be able to please everyone. I am excited because I am willing to take what he gives me. I don't really expect any certain thing from him. He doesn't owe me anything. If I don't dig what he's doing I just won't partake. That's just me and my opinion on things. Plus, I have never been to Vegas and I think it would be tons of fun to go to a new city, hang out with friends, and see Prince--my favorite artist--in a small club setting! I think it's going to be fun!!!!!

RitaQoS said:

Because we get to see a Prince concert! in a club no less!

I seriously doubt if Prince needs the money, when people say that it is just an excuse to cloud the fact that they can't go to Vegas to see him. If you can go and that's what pleases you then go, if you can't afford to go,then sit this one out, like a lot that won't be able to go. But all the negative criticism in the world won't stop Prince from performing where he likes. So if ya can't go then just enjoy all the reports that will be posted to these fan sites and you will feel like you were there. Prince is about to change Vegas! I doubt seriously if most artists he asks to perform there will turn him down. He is well respected among other artists in that industry, so he will do just fine whether his most dedicated fans are there or not.
[Edited 10/26/06 17:53pm]
[Edited 10/26/06 18:15pm]

Go Prince. Go Prince.

I dont really see this as a "money making"
endevour (sp?) as one might think.

Arent there more lucrative avenues he could pursue for a quick and large fix?

I see this as a way to give a positive atmosphere to Vegas and to certain acts , while achieving a comfortable profit.

RitaQoS said:

well said

well i dont think the vegas thing has anything to do with the recent announcement of his divorce. he apparently has been working on this for some time. the statement he made last year at the TAC press conference clearly shows that ("I am an inviting some old friends to play").

Why do you see it as not positive? Just because it may not be "positive" for some fans, maybe in his eyes it is positive for him. Maybe he is wanting to take his life and music in a different direction. I definately see positivity in that alone. He is obviously extending his knowledge to others, hence working with the different acts for the club. I find that positive as well.

Everything Prince does will not be perceived as "positive" by each and every fan, because we are all individuals and have different expectations. All that matters is that Prince is happy with what he is doing, and that in itself is positive.

Just my two cents.....

I can't even begin to explain how much this post (oringinal) irritates me.

There's two ways to perform to the fans. One is to go out to as many cities and countries as possible. Prince has been doing this for 26 years and given his fans many opportunities to see him. He's now getting older and perhaps the endless travelling is getting to him. So we come to option 2, which is be like a spider at the centre of a web and let the fans come to you. This may be more expensive for fans further away but at least the opportunity is there. Vegas is a tourist hub so there is tons of flights, deals and places to stay, so not such a bad place to be if you are trying this.

I mean, RitaQoS, you come across a bit bitter because he isn't travelling to your hometown on a tour. There are many fans around the world who never get a chance to see him in that context. If you live in the USA, then for us that live internationally elsewhere Vegas seems very close to you and it seems very selfish to be claiming it is too far and expensive for you to travel! At least it is somewhere in the same country!

This Vegas thing is more of a Prince-as-a-businessman deal which is pretty meaningless for fans interesting purely in his music, he is going to be behind the scenes booking the acts most of the time it seems. We really don't know how many times Prince himself will be performing, but if it is rarely then he could still tour other cities inbetween. Who knows, we will have to see, but Prince is not a machine, one day we might have to face the fact he has stopped touring and making music and become a music mogul instead. And I'm not bitter about that, Prince, like all of us, can do what he wants with his life.

Metalorange / RitaQoS :

So, is there really something wrong financially in the Prince camp and he needs to make raw $$$ fast? Or is Prince really that desperate to be seen and known?


Speaking of needing raw cash fast. Does anyone know who first reported that he may be having financial problems?
[Edited 10/27/06 9:42am]

sgmusic said:

This is P U R E speculation and has ZERO basis in FACT.

sgmusic said:

where the heck did you hear that? I've heard NO such thing....to the contrary actually. Musicology tour was like the biggest or almost biggest grossing tour in 2004....he ain't hurtn' for cash.
and why if he doesn't need the cash so bad does it have to be that he's that desparate to be seen and known? ugh! some freakin' people man!
[Edited 10/27/06 9:50am]

Shorty said:

I was quoting the "seen known thing from the lead post". I don't think that's the case at all. I think he's doing a modern day Casablanca. I think it's mad cool. What does he care what people think? Real music fans should be lovin this.

sgmusic said:

Desperate to be seen and known? (Prince is known, been known for a long time (sorry but you just left that one wide open ) and as far as desperate to be seen? Not at all! If anything fans are desperate to see Prince, can't you tell by all these fan websites they created? Just sayin' that's all.

silverandgold said:

NEW YEARS EVE !!!! Who's gonna be there????

funkydiva said:

Im tryin

funkydiva said:

See ya there!

sgmusic said:

oh...nevermind then.

I think people forgot what the 31:21 scripture relates to this.