just curious...from the name change, "slave" on the face, jumping from label to label...anybody ever have a little doubt about him being back on top again?

He's not on top again, just a little more talked about right now...

When they start playing his stuff on the radio again, then he'll be
back on top.

People right now are just curious about him.

No, I don't think that he'll ever be as popular as he used to be...
I would like for him to be that popular again...

RUHip2TheJive said:

I like being a Prince fan because not everybody knows him (specially when U r surrounded by 16 year olds) so that's hot. If he was all over the place, like Mariah was in 2005... I'd b like



And also because the music is
[Edited 2/11/07 14:34pm]

Of course.

People who dent the pop musical map like Prince did cement their legacy and always get a comeback or two.

He may not ever gain his popluarity in terms of album sales and radio airplay but in terms respect as being one of the greatest artists and performers of all time,the legend can only continue.

sitruk7 said:

Well said.

Seeing his finale in "Purple Rain" impressed me. But seeing his past few performances, knowing how hard it is to get him for those performances, make me respect him a lot.
Nothing impressed me or made me respect him more than what he did on American Idol. I didn't think they would get him for the show because that's been up in the air for a while. Without even thinking about it for a while, I was shocked that he actually showed up. I read a few articles that said they got him at the last minute because they agree to let him "go it alone". Then Simon said he was such a snob for coming on unannounced and went off the same way... even if that's true, I respect him for that.
Then they got him for the SuperBowl... forget it, lol. The more I see him do these days, the more I respect him.

He'll always be popular with me because I love his music. I don't care what the media, radio, MTV or anyone else thinks.

I never have when it comes to Prince.

funny thing, i was just about to write about this. all of us @ the org have 2 b somewhat obsessed w/prince. that being said, i was licking my chops about the halftime sho. i told lots of people to prepare 2 b amazed w/his performance. after mixed reviews from friends i came 2 the conclusion that the people without musical knowledge really came away unimpressed. comments such as he has 2 b a fag, or he is 2 much like mj, or whats up w/ the doo rag? those people had their mind made up b4 we will rock this joint till the wheels fall off ever was played 2 kick off the sho. other friends who liked him back in the day showed some love w/ their comments such as, dude can rip up the guitar, or he looks exactly the same, hasn't aged a bit, or best halftime sho ever. others who follow him because i turned them on 2 p in the late 90's pretty much worshipped the entire performance. that being said he may have gained some new fans, some respect, but if u didn't like him b4 u probably still don't. if u loved him b4 like all of us, most of us just say, "another classic performance by the most talented musician of his time"

just my 2 cents

Fury said:

just curious...from the name change, "slave" on the face, jumping from label to label...anybody ever have a little doubt about him being back on top again?

I dont know why but I think Prince no matter how much exposure he gets - or amazing performances he throws out - he will always ever so slightly be the underdog - especially over here in the UK - where you hardly ever hear him on the radio. Most of the DJ's here 'big him up' and call him 'genius' etc etc but then when choosing to play a song of his - they go down the safe route and play 'Kiss' or U got the look' - never playing his newer stuff for some reason..
He never gets the acheivements thro record sales that he deserves - not that Prince cares - or his fans care - but it always makes me feel a little sad when you hear some of the shite that gets played here and goes straight to number one - based purely on some clever promotion or advertising....

Sorry - rant over everybody!!

cream always rises to the top!. Thing is with P even when he does hois most obscure trax or kills projects through [his usual] poor marketing decisons we all know that he has so much talent that if he really wnats to he can just push the button and get right back in the game. Unlike many others who have peaked he has the writing ability and charisma to always climb back to the top. I never doubted it, and love how the real haters [which number about 5!] still manage to find fault with everything he does.

Yes I did. Prince being "popular" mostly depends on him. If he wants to play ball and do the media friendly promotion thing---he'll be "popular". He made it hard on himself by being and writing SLAVE on his face. It's often seen as bs that stands in the way of the music.



Radio? That's sooooo 20th century and a 13 year old's barometer of success. Fact is Prince's last tour was the HIGHEST grossing of that year. His last album debuted at #1. That being said, you don't have to sell a truckload of albums, have a hit song on the radio, or win awards to have cultural impact. After nearly 30 years, Prince is still able to mack a BIG cultural impact--the proof is in the Superbowl. Prince wants to play ball so now he is back in the spotlight.

It was definately a bit iffy there during the latter half of the years. I think we all knew he had it in him to make a successfull comeback, but weren't sure whether he really wanted to (I'm talking a comeback to the masses - the music was still ongoing).

Personally, I never really wanted him to make a comeback because I always assumed that meant "selling out". But the way he's gone about it has been amazing. He's done it without compromising his vision or his talent.

skywalker said:

Radio and MTV are where the music buying public show up. Yes, it is the 13-25 yr old crowd that will ultimately determine if Prince will sell BIG TIME. He's tried the media scene with RAVE and MUSICOLOGY - Didn't work.
A #1 debut is easy as pie in todays market...what did it sell in it's first week...180,000?
Prince is mega respected, as he should be, but I don't agree that he's
popular once again.

Prince will alwayz b popular with me.

theodore said:

I find it ironic that you enjoy being a Prince fan partly because it is somehow not mainstream, but at the same time you mimic the biggest media-mainstream whore on the planet.

Fury said:

Oh please, get out of the bubble, Prince is just as big a loser as he was a week/month/year ago. How many frakking times does your hero get to be ressurrected? Every frakking time he appears somewhere, some clueless fan will see this as him being back on top again.

Pur-lease, Prince will NEVER be on top again unless he finds his inspiration again, as long as the "Twinz" and Tamar and his religious obsession are in place, he's a goner.

BartVanHemelen said:

good to see you back!. be interesting to hear what your definition of 'being on top' is?. IMHO since 2004 he seems to have regained at least increaed influence in the Biz [i.e. seems to be able to call the shots on his various TV spots i.e. A.I.], whilst he struggles to compete record sales wise it's pretty much a non starter to argue the stats on his Musicology Ticket sales, the list of awards and general recognition he has got since 04 would probaly be achieved in a whole career never mind just 3 years, financially he seems to be O.K., still seems to be able to pull!!, etc.

I have never doubted Prince could be top again. Like others I know that if Prince wants to play the game then he can be whatever he wants.

Others I know do not want him to be popular again though. Wanting him for themselves. Like TRC tour he did in the small theatres. That was amazing and so much more intimate.

I just like him to be accessible. Tour and be on TV. The more exposure the better.

I don't care where Prince is within the popularity stakes. To me he will always be number 1. I am impressed with the way America have taken him to their hearts again. He once swore never to tour America again (The Gold experience time) I bet you are glad he went backon his word on that!

Just get your arse over to Europe. Don't forget about us!

BartVanHemelen said:

"Obsession".... that's about the first thing that comes to my mind when I read one of your insightful and well though-out posts!
[Edited 2/12/07 4:37am]

BartVanHemelen said:

Naysayer til the end huh? By your ever changing, and totally subjective,definition of "Prince being on top", the only time he was ever "on top" was in 1984.

Where the music buying public shows up? There is a shit ton of music being sold outside of the realm of mainstream radio/MTV. Again, it's the 21st century. You seem to be saying that the ONLY gauge of popularity is the teeny bopper market (a market that Prince has only really had a handful of times in his career). The fact is that having an enormously successful tour, being on the cover of Rollingstone, playing on the Superbowl to some of the highest ratings ever, are ALL just as valid claims to popularity as MTV/mass radio.




Question: How many copies did the biggest selling album of 2006 sell? Now compare that to 10 or 20 years ago. The whole music business is changing and "popularity" cannot be measured simply by charts, or airplay. Fact is Prince debuted at #1 with 3121 and Musicology was easily platinum.



You don't agree that he is popular again. Fine. Were you around for the 80's or 90's? I was.

Here are the years that Prince fit your description of "popular": 1984, 1989, and 1991. Other then that, it's just been his fanbase supporting him. The proof is in the numbers. Sure, you'd hear his songs on the radio, but he wasn't selling albums like Madonna or Michael Jackson, or U2. Since 2004, Prince has been as popular in the USA, in terms of mass appeal, as he ever has been---except for 1984.
[Edited 2/12/07 6:45am]

MartyMcFly said:

Marty,from one geek to another, both your name and avatar are awesome.

skywalker said:

Thanks!

funkyhead said:

Thank you! There's been a few times that I've scratched my head but I've never doubted him. The best thing about Prince's success now is that he has it on his own terms and not someone else's.

I think a lot of people have forgotten how out of the industry he was only a few years ago, especially from the lack of success of Rave upto the Grammy Beyonce duet. He really was just doing his own thing and seemingly enjoying being an outsider, though with a huge amount of respect.

I'm amazed at how a few key performances have put him back on the map so quickly, even though realistically his albums and singles have not actually sold that well during even this period. He's seen as a legend and legendary live performer - yet people still don't seem that keen to check out his new material.
[Edited 2/12/07 7:26am]
[Edited 2/12/07 7:26am]

No, I did not.


Frankly, I thought "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic" was an over-the-top attempt to court the public. Cameo's with Sheryl Crowe, Eve, Kate Bush, and Gwen Stephani to name a few (albeit buried so far down in the mix) screamed of desperation.

THAT album was what I thought would achieve some of the success of Musicology.

When it failed to make a dent, and when Prince appeared on TRL and pretty much bombed his conversation with Carson Daily, I figured he would be resigned to being a cult figure who would eventual receive the props due to him in hindsight through music history books, etc.

I knew the as he aged, respect would be afforded to him based soley on his talent (which is unmatched and still amazes me today), but I never assumed that the respect would gain him requests to perform at the grammys, the Superbowl, and the like.



It was with great surprise that Musicology was the hit that it was. It was number one on the charts (Even if you discount the marketing of the CD with a concert ticket--something i think is quite clever). His performance of Musicology was aired on 3 seperate channels at the same time, and he generated more revenue than any other touring act in 2004.

To top this he received the RRHOF award on his first year eligeable, and he rocked the shit out of that show.

Today, I see a Prince who is courting the public, his critics, and to some extent, his fans. And the most important thing about all of this, is that he isn't doing anything publically humiliating to mess it all up.


Sure, he's not on heavy rotation, but neither is Sting, Bruce Springstein, or Tom Petty---all of those guys are seen as comeback kids despite too.

I agree. However, look at the USA sales for albums like Parade and Lovesexy. Those albums are "classics" and they didn't sell well in the USA. As I've said before, only Purple Rain, Batman, and Diamonds & Pearls really sold in blockbuster numbers. The rest were more or less sbought primarily by Prince's fanbase.

Furthermore, given that all MUSIC sales are horrible compared to 10 or 20 years ago--I think Prince's sales are to be expected, and not a good gauge of "popularity" whatsoever.
[Edited 2/12/07 7:42am]

skywalker said:

Wasn't ATWIAD, 1999, and the Symbol album large sellers?


I think Emancipation also went gold, which is neat because it was a 3-CD set.