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Prince has never strayed away from his roots If you clicked on this topic then you're wondering what I could be talking about? Well, I'm talking about how Prince has never sold out to the system and his own success. For years we have seen many R&B artists who were strong on the R&b charts and with their fans. Then suddenly the pop crowd and pop charts notices the artist and they gained success on the crossover tip. Then this is where the mistake occurs. Instead of staying true to your own form you let other people influence to keep crossing over to keep that mainstream audience. In turn, change their style and form altogether to keep that crossover audience popularity. But at the same you start to lose your main audience (R&B) who was there with you since the beginning and now you lose touch with them. Then you noticed you start to lose the mainstream pop audience as well and now your stuck at the crossroads. In case you don't know what or whom I referring to here's a couple of examples: Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, or Lionel Richie. That's why I love Prince so much. He doesn't care about popularity. All he cares about is reaching his music to others who are willing to listen. He doesn't care about the charts or what radio stations is jamming his tunes. He's not falling into the trap of success. He's writing his own destiny and doesn't care whether you or I or them agree or disagree what he's doing. It all comes from within. He's a child of music. Pure and simple. You can't put a category on that and in return you get the popularity and love from all sprectrum of fans who love different type of music. People love Prince because he's true to himself and his music period! That's why nearly 30 years later he's still around (not as a forgotten legend still touring singing old hits) putting out good music today. Long live the Prince! Peace and be wild! | |
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LoDog said: If you clicked on this topic then you're wondering what I could be talking about? Well, I'm talking about how Prince has never sold out to the system and his own success. For years we have seen many R&B artists who were strong on the R&b charts and with their fans. Then suddenly the pop crowd and pop charts notices the artist and they gained success on the crossover tip. Then this is where the mistake occurs. Instead of staying true to your own form you let other people influence to keep crossing over to keep that mainstream audience. In turn, change their style and form altogether to keep that crossover audience popularity. But at the same you start to lose your main audience (R&B) who was there with you since the beginning and now you lose touch with them. Then you noticed you start to lose the mainstream pop audience as well and now your stuck at the crossroads. In case you don't know what or whom I referring to here's a couple of examples: Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, or Lionel Richie. That's why I love Prince so much. He doesn't care about popularity. All he cares about is reaching his music to others who are willing to listen. He doesn't care about the charts or what radio stations is jamming his tunes. He's not falling into the trap of success. He's writing his own destiny and doesn't care whether you or I or them agree or disagree what he's doing. It all comes from within. He's a child of music. Pure and simple. You can't put a category on that and in return you get the popularity and love from all sprectrum of fans who love different type of music. People love Prince because he's true to himself and his music period! That's why nearly 30 years later he's still around (not as a forgotten legend still touring singing old hits) putting out good music today. Long live the Prince!
  FUNK | |
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LoDog said: He doesn't care about popularity. All he cares about is reaching his music to others who are willing to listen. He doesn't care about the charts or what radio stations is jamming his tunes.
He certainly cares about being "#1 at the bank". ...and I think it's safe to say that his initial obsession with rap in the early 90's is a clear indicator of him following a lead and trying to stay fresh at that point. It was a complete about face compared to his thoughts on that matter in the 80's. | |
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i totally agree. very well-written. 4 stars!  "So shall it be written, so shall it be sung..."  | |
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LoDog said: If you clicked on this topic then you're wondering what I could be talking about? Well, I'm talking about how Prince has never sold out to the system and his own success. For years we have seen many R&B artists who were strong on the R&b charts and with their fans. Then suddenly the pop crowd and pop charts notices the artist and they gained success on the crossover tip. Then this is where the mistake occurs. Instead of staying true to your own form you let other people influence to keep crossing over to keep that mainstream audience. In turn, change their style and form altogether to keep that crossover audience popularity. But at the same you start to lose your main audience (R&B) who was there with you since the beginning and now you lose touch with them. Then you noticed you start to lose the mainstream pop audience as well and now your stuck at the crossroads. In case you don't know what or whom I referring to here's a couple of examples: Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, or Lionel Richie. That's why I love Prince so much. He doesn't care about popularity. All he cares about is reaching his music to others who are willing to listen. He doesn't care about the charts or what radio stations is jamming his tunes. He's not falling into the trap of success. He's writing his own destiny and doesn't care whether you or I or them agree or disagree what he's doing. It all comes from within. He's a child of music. Pure and simple. You can't put a category on that and in return you get the popularity and love from all sprectrum of fans who love different type of music. People love Prince because he's true to himself and his music period! That's why nearly 30 years later he's still around (not as a forgotten legend still touring singing old hits) putting out good music today. Long live the Prince!
  Space for sale... | |
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| [/quote]
LMAO How do u really feel?  I know it's a popular belief but I do think he cared about being on top, #1 sales & all that or else he wouldn't have put out so much music so quickly. It was like he was trying to corner the media market... an album a year, movies, 3 or 4 side projects (Time, Vanity6, Appollonia6, etc.) and all the writing or producing of other artists at the same time that he would be putting out his own music or touring. I think he wanted to get his music out there anyway he could & he had to have known that putting out so much music whether under his own name or not would be on several different charts. | |
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LoDog, I've noticed that you never start yur post of with "I think", but you must remember the things you say are only YOUR opinion, which doesn't make it right or wrong, just what YOU think! | |
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jtfolden said: LoDog said: He doesn't care about popularity. All he cares about is reaching his music to others who are willing to listen. He doesn't care about the charts or what radio stations is jamming his tunes.
He certainly cares about being "#1 at the bank". ...and I think it's safe to say that his initial obsession with rap in the early 90's is a clear indicator of him following a lead and trying to stay fresh at that point. It was a complete about face compared to his thoughts on that matter in the 80's. ----- I am sorry maybe you don't know anything about RnB artist crossing over so far they can't cross back. Not a issue that P has and rap is the pop music of today. No matter if you like this type of music or not. Look at Lionel Richie's output with the Commodores and his work when he went solo. You can't compare Prince to that disaster. | |
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shaedove99 said: LMAO How do u really feel? I know it's a popular belief but I do think he cared about being on top, #1 sales & all that or else he wouldn't have put out so much music so quickly. It was like he was trying to corner the media market... an album a year, movies, 3 or 4 side projects (Time, Vanity6, Appollonia6, etc.) and all the writing or producing of other artists at the same time that he would be putting out his own music or touring. I think he wanted to get his music out there anyway he could & he had to have known that putting out so much music whether under his own name or not would be on several different charts. [/quote]
----- Of couse he cared he wanted people to hear his music. He just did it much better that Lionel or Diana Ross. You guys are missing the point of the post. | |
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laurarichardson said: shaedove99 said: LMAO How do u really feel? I know it's a popular belief but I do think he cared about being on top, #1 sales & all that or else he wouldn't have put out so much music so quickly. It was like he was trying to corner the media market... an album a year, movies, 3 or 4 side projects (Time, Vanity6, Appollonia6, etc.) and all the writing or producing of other artists at the same time that he would be putting out his own music or touring. I think he wanted to get his music out there anyway he could & he had to have known that putting out so much music whether under his own name or not would be on several different charts. ----- Of couse he cared he wanted people to hear his music. He just did it much better that Lionel or Diana Ross. You guys are missing the point of the post.[/quote] and just what do you call all the sappy r&b singles that lead each album off since Emancipation? Space for sale... | |
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jtfolden said: LoDog said: He doesn't care about popularity. All he cares about is reaching his music to others who are willing to listen. He doesn't care about the charts or what radio stations is jamming his tunes.
He certainly cares about being "#1 at the bank". ...and I think it's safe to say that his initial obsession with rap in the early 90's is a clear indicator of him following a lead and trying to stay fresh at that point. It was a complete about face compared to his thoughts on that matter in the 80's.  no matter how much I'd like to, this statement cannot be denied. 
imo, Rave was also an example of this. Thankfully, he seems to have gotten over it though. Ask where they're going, they'll tell U – "Nowhere"
They've taken a lifetime lease on Paisley Park ...  | |
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laurarichardson said: I am sorry maybe you don't know anything about RnB artist crossing over so far they can't cross back.
I'm sorry maybe you don't know how to comprehend a comment or focus on a point. I never mentioned anything about crossing over, nor was that the part of the post I quoted and responded to, either. Not a issue that P has and rap is the pop music of today. No matter if you like this type of music or not.
This has nothing to do with me, tell it to Prince. Prince spent the mid 80's being verbally disdainful of rap, telling associated artists "whatever you do, don't rap", writing a song specifically to lampoon rappers, thinking it was some passing fad that would be over before it started. It was a major miscalculation on his part. ..and how did he resolve this? - Tony M. I don't think it's a stretch, whatsoever, to say that since Prince had no natural liking of rap that he lacked the understanding and subtleties of what made a good rapper and therefore was incapable of seeing that Tony M had no real talent in that field. All of this was a knee jerk reaction to Prince himself realizing that he wasn't the latest thing anymore and he wasn't selling records like he used to... This may not be the specific crossing over and selling out as alluded to in the initial post but that's still what it is... At multiple points in his career, Prince has played follow the leader instead of being his own just to try and become more popular, regain chart topping status, etc... Prince may be over that stuff now, but that was NOT the case for most of the 90's. | |
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paisley16 said: no matter how much I'd like to, this statement cannot be denied.
imo, Rave was also an example of this. Thankfully, he seems to have gotten over it though. Yup, Rave was indeed another example. Quality of the music aside, there's no doubt that was a calculated attempt revolving around chart success rather than artistic endeavors. It *seems* like he's made more peace with himself over this in the last few years but how much is anyone's guess. If he was really all about wanting people to hear his music, etc and not into playing industry games I don't think he'd artificially restrict himself from things like iTunes. | |
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jtfolden said: paisley16 said: no matter how much I'd like to, this statement cannot be denied.
imo, Rave was also an example of this. Thankfully, he seems to have gotten over it though. Yup, Rave was indeed another example. Quality of the music aside, there's no doubt that was a calculated attempt revolving around chart success rather than artistic endeavors. again, imo, Rave was actually worse than Tony M. It was so blatantly obvious what he was doing- the guests, the covers, letting Clive Davis choose the first single. etc...esp. after all the "slave" business, I considered that whole thing a serious disappointment. (Did he actually think it wasn't obvious that they were trying to put out Supernatural again)? His first album back on a major label should have sounded like Dirty Mind- that would have made a point. Everything he had spent years talking about went out the window. In the Tony M days, P still seemed in control at least. Much of the music was still great, all you had to do was fast forward Tony. But Rave-  Ask where they're going, they'll tell U – "Nowhere"
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paisley16 said: again, imo, Rave was actually worse than Tony M. It was so blatantly obvious what he was doing- the guests, the covers, letting Clive Davis choose the first single. etc...esp. after all the "slave" business, I considered that whole thing a serious disappointment. (Did he actually think it wasn't obvious that they were trying to put out Supernatural again)? His first album back on a major label should have sounded like Dirty Mind- that would have made a point. Everything he had spent years talking about went out the window.
In the Tony M days, P still seemed in control at least. Much of the music was still great, all you had to do was fast forward Tony. But Rave- Yup, those are all good points and everything you say about Rave is especially true. I always found it really odd that the most commercial advertising push he focused on in years was directly supported by such a "plastic" and artistically lifeless album. Now, I don't mind Rave just taken at face value and there are some songs on there that I do like but it flew in the face of all the supposed arguments he had with WB just a few short years earlier. If Rave isn't the sign of a man who cared desperately about charts, popularity and sales then I don't know what is... His comments on the website echod that sentiment exactly too (like the one about giving Clive a chance to push Man O' War to the top of the charts). | |
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sosgemini said: laurarichardson said: ----- Of couse he cared he wanted people to hear his music. He just did it much better that Lionel or Diana Ross. You guys are missing the point of the post. and just what do you call all the sappy r&b singles that lead each album off since Emancipation? I'm not missing the point I just disagree.  | |
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jtfolden said: laurarichardson said: I am sorry maybe you don't know anything about RnB artist crossing over so far they can't cross back.
I'm sorry maybe you don't know how to comprehend a comment or focus on a point. I never mentioned anything about crossing over, nor was that the part of the post I quoted and responded to, either. Not a issue that P has and rap is the pop music of today. No matter if you like this type of music or not.
This has nothing to do with me, tell it to Prince. Prince spent the mid 80's being verbally disdainful of rap, telling associated artists "whatever you do, don't rap", writing a song specifically to lampoon rappers, thinking it was some passing fad that would be over before it started. It was a major miscalculation on his part. ..and how did he resolve this? - Tony M. I don't think it's a stretch, whatsoever, to say that since Prince had no natural liking of rap that he lacked the understanding and subtleties of what made a good rapper and therefore was incapable of seeing that Tony M had no real talent in that field. All of this was a knee jerk reaction to Prince himself realizing that he wasn't the latest thing anymore and he wasn't selling records like he used to... This may not be the specific crossing over and selling out as alluded to in the initial post but that's still what it is... At multiple points in his career, Prince has played follow the leader instead of being his own just to try and become more popular, regain chart topping status, etc... Prince may be over that stuff now, but that was NOT the case for most of the 90's. ----- I was refering to LODOG's comments. ----- "If you clicked on this topic then you're wondering what I could be talking about? Well, I'm talking about how Prince has never sold out to the system and his own success. For years we have seen many R&B artists who were strong on the R&b charts and with their fans. Then suddenly the pop crowd and pop charts notices the artist and they gained success on the crossover tip[/u]." [/b] You can now get your panties out of a bunch and relax. As far as rap was concerned I always will believe that P has trouble with the lack of musicianship and originally that surrounds rap music. However, he is an African-American and we always want to keep at least one foot in our communinity. | |
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sosgemini said: laurarichardson said: ----- Of couse he cared he wanted people to hear his music. He just did it much better that Lionel or Diana Ross. You guys are missing the point of the post. and just what do you call all the sappy r&b singles that lead each album off since Emancipation? ----- If you find the ballads sappy that is your opinion. Lot's of people like it when Prince does ballads. Look at the reaction he gets in concert. Please don't compare Prince's RnB ballads to the Barry Manilow devoid of soul ballads of Lionel Richie's solo years. | |
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laurarichardson said: sosgemini said: and just what do you call all the sappy r&b singles that lead each album off since Emancipation? ----- If you find the ballads sappy that is your opinion. Lot's of people like it when Prince does ballads. Look at the reaction he gets in concert. Please don't compare Prince's RnB ballads to the Barry Manilow devoid of soul ballads of Lionel Richie's solo years. they are calculated and *safe* attempts at a mainstream audience...just like Lionel's Dancing On The Ceiling and Steve's I Just Called To Say I Love You. and your right...that is my opinion...this whole site is a collective of folks opinions. Space for sale... | |
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laurarichardson said: I was refering to LODOG's comments.
Well, no need to have been quoting me then... and certainly no need for you to be PM'ing me, either. | |
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