Prince performing at the Super Bowl: touchdown or fumble?

15919__prince_l There once was a time when Prince seemed to me the epitome of sexy, risque music. I was 3 years old when Purple Rain came out, and although I never listened to that album beginning to end until this year, the idea of Prince's songs and the idea of Prince as a performer always loomed large in my mind.

Which is why it's sort of a bummer to hear the news that he'll be the halftime act at this year's Super Bowl, following hot on the heels of old fogeys Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones — which seems to indicate that maybe he is now an old fogey himself.

But we didn't need the NFL to tell us that — not since our friend Simon beat 'em to the punch. Prince's appearance on American Idol earlier this year was surely a boon for record sales but, I think, bad for his image (I know everyone and their mother is a fan of this show, but Prince always seemed a little more anti-establishment than that; this is the guy who left a major-label contract and money to start his own means of putting out music). Then, there was last month's news that he would start performing Friday and Saturday night shows at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, a la Wayne Newton/Celine Dion/other sorts of pop culture punchlines. And now the Super Bowl.

One thing we know for sure, however, is that there's not going to be any problems with the FCC this time around, for there's no way a now-devout Jehovah's Witness (like I said, Purple Rain came out a long time ago, back when Prince was anything but "safe") is going to do anything fine-worthy, definitely nothing like this. Do you PopWatchers agree with me about Prince's decline? Is this news going to make you any more or any less likely to watch the Super Bowl halftime show this year? Who would you sub in his place?

Posted by Gilbert Cruz | 12.11.06, 03:57 PM


http://popwatch.ew.com/po...l#comments

He can't win can he.

NouveauDance said:

Yeah,he gets criticized no matter what he does.Personally,I think it's great that he's playing the Super Bowl.

Why can't people get it thru they're thick heads that it's not the 80's anymore? If folks would get there heads out of the sand and realize that Prince has grown since then.DAMN!!
[Edited 12/12/06 6:09am]

This article is stupid.

when the Superbowl decided to go young and hip by having MTV produce it drew criticism.

Now you have an older person playing....and it draws criticism....so what do people want.

anyway, who cares. I'm ready!!!
[Edited 12/12/06 6:10am]

sosgemini said:

Are you kidding? He'll be the only reaon to watch the SB this time around. The last time i was 'forced' to , it was te Black Eyed Peas, and they were awful!!!

Old fogey? Just remember that this li'l fellow has more tricks up his sleeve than you have arms. Compare him to Paul Mc Cartney, brought in to stabilize the show after Janet's unfortunate incident, if you want to. I don't see this as the final curtain of a man whose career has superceded him. I see this man as intelligent, thoughtful, that there is a reason he's playing LV, and certainly there is a reason he is playing the SB.

He knows what he's doing. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

i posted this article in hopes that you all would head over there and post responces...

its the org against popwatch day!!!

Prince can do anything he wants..

The person who posted that makes a valid point from a certain point of view.

He/she is not putting down Prince per say, but the fact that to alot--and I mean ALOT- of folks part of the allure of Prince is that he has always behaved like a fringe artist who's dabblings from time to time pay off big.

To alot of folks, the last few years (since Musicology) have been selling out to the masses.



For me personally, Prince is a pure,true genius no matter what he releases, and whether I like it or not. And if he wants to bask int he glory of his accomplishments and act like a pop star for a few years, I'm totally all for it. Eventually Prince will go back in the studio and write something crazy funky--I'm sure of it. I just hopes he wears something freaky when he makes the first video for it. Something...NASTAAAAYYY!

Gilbert Cruz, what a cry baby!

NouveauDance said:

He seriously can't. If he sticks to underground performances, he gets made fun of by being called a washed up has-been. When he does things like this, he gets called a sellout.

I'm looking forward to it.

These same people wishing for the "old, nasty, freaky" Prince would be the first ones cringing and accusing him of trying to relive his youth if he ever did don the trenchcoat and bikini underwear again.
Face it folks, he's gonna be 50 in a couple of years. It's almost like some folks want him to be 23, 24 all over again. Though he still looks great and is one of the best musicians around, he is not going to be the same person he was 20 or 25 years ago. None of us will be.
Get over your age issues and let the man continue to mature like a fine wine.
I mean, no ones forcing you to still be a fan.

shygirl said:

People still care about Prince?

Cloudbuster said:

I do. I love the little purple, talent machine!

And I won't have a bad word said about him!

ChrisEvans said:

shygirl said:

I dont think this article was written by a fan...

sosgemini said:

The article lost credibility to me after reading that. He's no Prince fan to begin with just trying to cause trouble. Just ignore him.

shygirl said:

You could not have said that better. It's like some fans won't accept that he has matured and moved on, and they are just waiting for him to actually do splits, walk out with assless pants,sing dirty lyrics, get raunchy and swear just so they can get turned on. It's not happening. He said it at his shows, he does not swear anymore. He's matured and moved on, but doesn't matter what I think, they'll still be begging for all of the above and...it's not going to happen.

rainbowchild said:

go post this on the blog at ew now!!! please...




(im such a shit starter... )

But he IS a fogey..as in he's getting old.

ANd teh Superbowl isnt exactly an isolated incident if you are looking for the usual wind-down-the-career route.....VEGAS!!!!!

PurpleKnight said:

So true! and if he were to sing a raunchy song he'd just be pegged a "dirty ole man"
I get tired of all the bandwagon jumpin fools being the first ones to pass some negative judgements, when before Musicology and the whole 2004 extravaganza they weren't even thinking about Prince

'damned if he does, damned if he dont'

funkyhead said:

http://popwatch.ew.com/po...ts[/quote]


the writer seems a little wet behind the ears here. personally, imo he lacks credibility. "i was only 3 when purple rain came out" please. don't you have a math test to take or something?

Paul Mccartney did a great job. Let's hope Prince does even better so those Purple Rain types can realize how good he has always been.

sosgemini said:

I did as you suggested and won't repeat what I wrote on the ORG out of respect for my fellow ORGers.

Eye am sooo looking 4ward 2 his Performance! Eye know many who are! Eye havent heard anything otherwise! The radio DJ's here in my town have been talking about all seem very excited and have all cool things to say Prince nevermind all those with the negative chatter...U just remember your Special ring
Love ya!!!

pkidwell said:

On the contrary, Paul McCartney put my ass to sleep.