Sign O The Times, Lovesexy, Grafitti Bridge, Gold etc. - all eras and styles seem to last as long or until the next new album comes out - roughly once a year. Is the 3121 era his longest running music concept?

it seems like it, yes.

Yes!

I don't quite understand what the concept is, btw.

I'm NOT sure about that. Isn't a concept?

It's also the weakest one yet...too bad he had to choose this one to run a marathon with...

Revolution said:

I don't hear a fat lady singing yet....

i listen to a large variety of music and i can say 3121 makes me feel good when its spinning.im not a fan but i look forward to every release. i would have thawt that he would have fallen off. then again, maybe i am kinda a fan. my point: i like 3121 for what it is just the same as i like purple rain for what it is. his overall concept is eccentricity, but thats not what im here for-its the music.

I thought Musicology was going to be 2004ever

3121 come on ...

He could have did so much more with Musicology....

Maybe he likes the numbers. I dunno.

2the9s said:

Has anyone ever understood any Prince concept? To state the obvious, if we ever find out what '3121' means (nothing, I suspect)) we may get a bit closer to comprehension.

Graycap23 said:

And your point is?

toddband45 said:

maybe

Yeah, we have been kinda riding 3121 since early 2005 (NAACP Awards)
I didn't realize it had been so long

I like the 3121 concept alot better than Musicology. It's more mysterious
plus he has that Asian vibe going on, which I love

pald1 said:

his point is that if is considered a concept, it's the longest running one

3121 is a concept, now?

And here was me thinking it was just a load of bollocks.

Actually, his longest running concept I think has been the symbol. It's been a fixture in some form or another for going on 20 years.

Purple Rain lasted quite a while (not just the fact he's still playing it live)

If you consider how long it took to make the album, film, and how long they were popular, and how long he was on tour, that's a pretty long time.

thekidsgirl said:

I like it too. I dig the Asian vibe, the mystery, and the sexy Twinz.

The high heels thing has been going on for a while

Graycap23 said:

No, it's a symbol.

His strongest, longest-running concept is Paisley Park -- a place in your heart where "every day is a yellow day."

3121 can't technically be a concept because nobody knows what the friggin' hell it's supposed to be.

IstenSzek said:

I'll say it again. What's your point? Do you mean the alternative name or the album title from 1992. Aa for 'concept,' let's keep it simple shall we? Stick to definable era's. That symbol appeared in Purple Rain.

I hate clarifying myself.

pald1 said:

Its not a bad album I was glad it showed some return to old style Prince and didnt have his poor attempts at hip hop ...guest rappers, or over presentation of religious banter or ridiculous voiceovers between tracks as I find all those a bit tacky, but I dont think it was as strong as the albums you listed above, I dont think Prince has done a really really good all round album since LoveSymbol not saying LS was brilliant at all but it was at least generous and kinda well rounded,Gold was good but had some really annoying moments and the gimmicky voice between tracks is tacky and uncool I thought, Emancipation was good but overhyped and really would have been better as maybe double or single album keepin the good stuff and editing the crappy and mediocre songs, Rave was mediocre album, TRC was kinda good but too much religiose concept and a bit like a play or a musical in parts, from the ew tracks I heard I didnt feelinspired to buy Musicology,for Me Prince's Brilliant Albums in no exact order include ... Purple Rain, Parade, Sign O the Times, LoveSexy, Dirty Mind,1999,Prince, Around the World in a Day, I am almost tempted to include Graffiti Bridge as I think there is lot of likeable stuff on it and
the overall vibe of the album is pretty consistant.
Diamonds and Pearls and LS were both the start of a new era of Prince but as I said before since Come onwards the albums have been less phenomenal than before but still with interresting moments in most of them.

I dont know hes been running with this New Power Generation thing since about 1990 now

pald1 said:

It's perfectly straight forward. I'll take you through in simple stages.

may be a symbol, but there is no inherent reason why it shouldn't also be deemed a concept.

That concept may span eras, however you wish to define 'era' (though it's not at all clear how you are defining your use of the term).

The concept may include both the alternative name and the album title from 1992 (indeed it is hard to see why one would wish to differentiate the two, conceptually).

Genesia said:

3121 can be a concept, as long as somebody knows what it refers to. And since Prince is propounding it, we either have to assume that he knows what it refers to (and therefore it's a concept) or we assume Prince is a dick talking nonsense.

The latter is persuasive, come to think of it...

When the name change came about, I remember a quote "This is the dawning of a new spiritual revolution." I'm sure is a concept to Prince, at least. Maybe a nameless one, but a concept nonetheless.

pald1 said:

What about "Newpower Soul"? That started in 1988 and stuck around for more than a decade.

OskarKristio said:

Good golly, Miss Molly, you get the award for longest digression without actually answering the question

The question was if you thought 3121 was the longest running P concept, not if 3121 was a good album.

FunkMistress said:

The symbol (androgyny a la Prince) has been around since 1985, I do believe.