I have been giving this a bit of thought. I am no longer in a position to call myself a Prince fan. Not a TRUE fan. Reason? Prince is no longer mainstream. All news and releases now funnelled through the NPGMC and only picked up second hand by a distributor for retail purchase means that I am now behind the times.

Many moons ago I used to be quite keen on Prince and all things musically purple. I used to be able to pick up music, vibes and information via the press and via the bog standard music retailer. Now I cannot.

That Prince is no longer mainstream is not a bad thing, I hasten to add. There was nothing worse than watching his star wane. But the fact that he has gone so far underground has undermined, I would suggest, a fair proportion of his still ever-so-loyal fan base.

When the NPGMC started I had doubts that the computer I own would be able to cope with the software to run the information provided. So, having decided to purchase a one month membership as a trial, I sat in despair at the fact I could not run the video, could only run the audio songs and the radio show would crash my machine. You see, again like many fans (I imagine), we would be happy to stretch to one hundred dollars...especially in the UK, where that's about £70-ish, but I cannot afford to pay for a new computer...I have a life to live, bills to pay and shelling out for a whole new machine JUST to hear Prince has no JUSTification.

As a consequence I now no longer have a full Prince collection. I am missing all the new songs released via NPGMC. I am missing all the new news, as NPGMC runs way to slowly on my machine to make a visit worthwhile and, most importantly, I am missing out on all what Prince now says...stuff that would have made the papers whence mainstream is now merely available to those with suitably slick software suitability. So, when I have a go at Prince for his lack of comment on 9/11 I am wrong to do so because I am not in full possession of the facts. So when I make a comment about his music, about his dress sense, about his marriage (I am right in saying he's got married again huh?), about his shoes, about the ass he may be speaking out of, I am incorrect, because I am no longer in full possession of the facts.

I still buy every piece of music the man puts out, when I can. I always will when I see it available. AND, if and when I come into some properly disposable money I shall buy a new machine and join the NPGMC and download all the stuff and rejoice...but until then, I can no BE a true Prince fan...boy I wish he was mainstream again.

Why does it matter what level of fan you are? When did being a fan of a person's music get to the point that if you couldn't have everything put out, you had to make an announcement on a fan site? This is simply absurd.

Do you know the difference between a REAL and TRUE FAN? If you don’t then you’re a POSER FAN, and if you do, then you’re a BONA FIDE FAN. If you just don’t care you’re a SLACKER FAN, and if any of this actually upsets you for real you’re a PSYCHOTIC FAN.

gnations said:

It's just sad that I cannot go into a wrecka stow and purchase the music released by a musician I admire.

I've been flamed for comments I've made regarding Prince and have made, it now seems, unreasonable allegations about him and his social hang ups/responsibilites/beliefs whatever. I am no longer in a place where I feel able to contribute to anything of immediate relevance to Prince's musical output.

There is a string currently on about the top ten funkiest songs. This I can contribute to, and with gusto...in fact I think I shall in just a moment, but if someone says Prince put together a radio show thru NPGMC regarding his feeling on worldly matters, I have not heard this/cannot hear this and am not able to comment, as much as I would like to. Prince once sang, "The only competition is me in the past", the manner in which his music is now distributed means that there are fans out there who ONLY have the past to talk about...which is wrong, isn't it?

This also applies to the music being released via the website too.

I can remeber going into a music store and hooting with delight at the 12" release of this, the picture disc of that, the new poster or whatever.

I just think it's a shame I can no longer indulge in one muscician I enjoy most. Is that absurd? Is it absurd to want to own all the released music of a musician I enjoy? If I was an Oasis fan I could, if I was a Michael Jackson fan I could...hell if I was an Elvis fan I could and more. The fact that, if you are a TRUE fan of an artist, you wish to listen to all the released music to get the wholly round picture of the bnody of work is not absurd, I would contend. It is simply the fact I cannot do this that makes me a) feel like commenting to this effect, b) bwecome annoyed that my computer can't cope with anything more than a lazy eye and c) wish Prince was mainstream, one more.

I TOTALLY agree with BoySimon on this one!Okay, Prince is trying something new and unchartered before, and 10 outta 10 to the guy for having the balls to do it, and(by all accounts)make alot of money from the way he distributes his music(besides the downloadables)-BUT-he has also pushed away a MASSIVE chunk of his fan base,who, even in his darkest hour with Warners stood by him, and at least had the opportunity to purchase his new single, 12", album-whatever-now, if they don't have the equipment, or the hard cash-cannot.And it really fu@*ing pisses me off that they are missing out on some of the FINEST moments in his career.
I consider myself more an admirer with an unhealthy obsession than a fan anyway(like that's any better, it's prob WORSE!)
So-2 sum up-Boysimon, I second that!

thanks bumpsquad. the money's in the post

why?

Just listen to the music.. whocares about the "ego" push of the mainstream.

music is music.. whocares if everyone you don't know enjoys it

BoySimon said:

No. You're impression is wrong. How is it they could only talk about his past music when he still sells his latest albums the traditional way; through retail? You seem to think that because it's not hyped it doesn't exist.

Personally, I go without about 95% of what's released through NPGMC. It doesn't bother me at all. I can still find his latest release on the market.

He has to live with the road he's chosen for his career. Does he deserve more exposure? Sure, like a lot of independent artists deserve more exposure. But since he SEEMS to work without a manager, there's really nothing that will change his choice. Prince is stubborn. But the choices are his, and he seems to be content with his decisions. So far.

Supernova you're right to an extent. BUt I am also, I like to think, making a bvalid point that because he is no longer mainstream PEOPLE WITHOUT simply can no longer follow the man they would like to.

BoySimon said:

Agreed, but it's by a matter of degree. One could still follow his career without internet access. Just not as closely as a completist would like.

BoySimon said:

Sure you could. Would it be easy? NO.

No computer? Go to a public library - they all have the internet.

Still wanna join NPGMC? Save up or... :O borrow $100, although it's probably best to wait until you can cop the new computer.

Can't do the downloads? Well, when you're online @ Prince.Org or wherever, make friends w/ some fellow fans - maybe somebody'll break you off. I've never asked anyone here for anything except picture links but I can't tell you how incredibly generous Orgers have been w/ me, simply b/c they saw a post that said, "I don't have this" or "I wish I could hear that." Despite the occassional arses, there are many friggin' wonderful people here!

Live nowhere near a public library? Well then, I guess you're screwed. Pop in Crystal Ball & wipe the tears away...


Good luck, my friend. Hope you work something out...

CalhounSq said:

Thanks...I can't wait to see the library staff run for cover as the mass of funk fuses their link.

Woah - slow down skeeter! Prince has stepped into the new century, that's all. And what's so great about mainstream these days? I can't remember.

If you really want to keep up on all the latest, you can. It just takes some ingenuity. Hit Kinkos once a week to check the NPG Music Club, and pay the $100. Be a full member, and enjoy. Prince is doing what he has always done, he's making music. How we get it may change, but be sure not to miss it. We are all fortunate enough to witness the genius.

Technology is available to us all. We just have to know where to get it. Even if it's at the library or Kinkos, everyone CAN get to the NPGMC. But you have to want to.

You can do anything. Sometimes it just takes a little more.

It's just sad that I cannot go into a wrecka stow and purchase the music released by a musician I admire.



Why Not?The last album (TRC) was released less than a year ago and is still widely available in stores.Prince has kept his average of 1 LP per year so far.There is no indication,from NPGMC or otherwise , that he plans to stop releasing music this way.

BoySimon said:

True. By not being part of the mainstream or status quo Prince is now less accessable & more expensive. He has a great deal of freedom but it makes it more work to be a fan which can translate into more output of time & $$ on the fans part. The $$ part alone can dampen a fans interest.
You begin to feel like theres those that have & those that don't. You begin to resent Prince for being so blind to the fans needs. Why must it be so difficult to be a Prince fan?

Am i missing something? Are you in need of a new mailbox??!

Last time i checked, since Feb 2002, the club consists of $100 for 4 CD's that are being sent to members via airmail.
A couple downloads, one of which is orderable (is that a word?) thru the npgmc site in retail--which is delivered-again- via mail.

So who needs a better computer anymore? I hardly get any of my Prince newz via the npgmc nowadays, and they email me the important stuff.
Anything i miss gets posted here at the Org anyway.

Now you may have other issues with P, but i don't see how your computer issues are holding you back in the least.

Errr, when was Prince ever "mainstream?"

That's part of the attraction!

I really don't think that it matters about what he has and hasn't put out. His past music is enough to keep me going. Hell...look at elvis he's no longer with us and some people just love him as if he lives around the corner.

"When was Prince mainstream"? When the mainstream made him so.

One other thought.

You are all right, of course, I could go into a public place and use faster machines at libraries, Tower Records etc to access NPG. This is well and good and I could, wiht an obvious assertion of more effort on my part to be the completist I used to be. However, one thing I really miss is the face to face community Prince used to command. Meeting other fans at the record store buying the new album or single, going to a club or pub and not being the only one that silently cheers...then stands up and dances whenever Prince comes on. When I went to college there was a group of nearing twenty or thirty people who all had views, ideas, notions, sentiments about Prince that they WANTED to share FACE TO FACE with you. This hyperlink into his world is good, it has expanded the people I know and speak to, but I don't know what they look like. I haven't bought them a pint. I haven't spoken to them about the weather, the footie scores, the price of tea, whatever...the face to face community inluded Prince and more...life really. That I miss too. Is that bad?

Now my friends have learned to look the other way when Prince comes on ... they find it less embarrasing.

I don't think BoySimon wants Prince to be mainstream again for kicks, I think he just wants Prince and his new music to be as accesible to him as it once was in the past. For all of you who can't understand that I can't see why you don't. Even though this post is a bit melodramatic I can see what BoySimon means. Let's face it if you aren't a NPGMC member you aren't going to really know what is going on until a member informs you and that can be very frustrating (trust me on this one I know what I'm talking about). I spend a lot of time downloading music and videos from NPGMC that I wouldn't even know existed if it weren't for you people!

If I wasn't able to hear this new music or see these videos I wouldn't consider myself someone who could no longer be a fan, but I would feel very out of touch since Prince is forever putting out new music and changing his views and opinions. Prince never stays the same and it can be frustrating to be a fan and not know what's currently going on with your favorite artist.

Another thing, part of being a true Prince fan and I mean more than the "Casual" selection in your profile, is when you meet someone else and they are like "so you really like Prince huh?" and you're like "yeh" and they start trying to name the most obscure song they can to catch you out there and you can stare them down and say "Yeh I know that but did you ever hear blah blah blah etc." Don't front because I catch some of yall trying to do it here!

In closing, I just wanna say BoySimon don't let your present situation be the cause of you not being a fan, stick it out and something will give!

adorable2 said:

Thanks, Adorable, I won't. I am still as close a fan as I can be...and will remain so, I'm sure. It's just very frustrating, that's all...still, let's move to the other funky threads about what song is favourite, or what song is funky...but no choosing songs that ain't released on CD for us non-NPGMC folks...Now do you see what I mean?

I'm with U Simon. I think the word 'mainstream' threw some into defense. The boy ain't never been and could never be THAT. However, I do relate to your frustration. I haven't heard or seen the last year. TRC I picked up - and love. There will be more. WHY is it taking NPGMC so long to realize, that selling the dayum stuff, on CD, on the web site, whether your a member or not...works. Geeze.

Red said:

It's the money they dish out so they can sit at home on pins and needles and then come here and complain about how they are getting ripped off and are still waiting for another cd.
[This message was edited Fri Sep 6 18:52:44 PDT 2002 by adorable2]

my theory about the mainstream thing:
Prince is a musical genius. Unfortunately, a small percentage of the population sees it, because let's face it, the man is too original, different, and "weird" for a lot of people to get by the first listen. I'm only 18 and I found out about his music a year ago with the mainstream hits of the eighties. Since then, I've grown to like his music from all times. I had to listen to TRC many times before I got to loving it. I don't think the modern day audience, (not just including people my age) is ready and patient enough to give this genius a try. Whenever I try to "convert" someone (all of u have tried to do this, don't lie) it takes awhile for me to find a song that they'll like on the first listen. And from there, they're eager to hear more. Basically, any POTENTIAL prince fan, in other words, somebody who doesn't hardly know anything about him, can and will find out about his music. This is because us weirdos just happen to come across this stuff. At least this would apply to people my age. I can't speak for anyone else

Hey BoySimon.. orgnote me or something, eye'll help ya out on the latest stuff.. eye understand, and would hope someone would do the same 4 me... so just let me know if eye can do anything 2 help ya out.. on ure funkosity:)


Later

Love u all, regardless of who u are..