I know, i guess that some people will accuse me of being too critical or too negative, but i dont mind.

I cant help noticing how much Prince has detoriated as a beat-programmer in the years, and the negative effect it has had on his music.

I personally think his original treatment of programmed beats is one of his original 'key-elements', an element also that has been very influential on people that came after him (Jam and Lewis, Missy Elliot, Timbaland, the Neptunes...).

I mean, the Linn-beats on 1999, Purple Rain and Around the world in a day (all with those typical 'side-clap') are created with such care, and are truelly great musical inventions.

On Parade, Sign of the Times and Lovesexy (but also his production-work for the Family and Jill Jones) the beats are less elaborated, more simple, but they still have a rawness and edge, and the geniality lies in the way Prince succesfully combines those beats with the rest of the music, wether it is a jazzy ballad, a french chanson or a rich, suite-like orchestral arrangement.

In his period with the original NPG (Sonny Thompson, Michael Bland, Tommy Barbarella, Morris Hayes) he is focussing more on live-drums, offering a 'fresh wind' for his music.

But it almost seems like after 1996 he 'lost it' when it comes to the use of his beats. Emancipation and New Power Soul are spoiled by plastic sounding beats, like he (or Kirk Johnson?) is using Casio-presets, the same goes up for The Chocolate Invasion and The Slaughterhouse by the way. It makes his music sound disposible and of 'throwaway' quality.

The Rainbow Children benefits a lot from John Blackwells inspired drumming, but after that Prince 'spoils' it again with the programmed beats on Musicology and 3121. Especially 3121 could have been a much better album with the use of an inspired drummer (and band) or more creative beat-programming.

It seems like Prince has forgotten that his creative use of drumsounds and programmed beats is so important for his sound.

Anyone agrees?

think about the beats/percussion on "New Position" and "I Wonder U"



i would love for him to stop using those dry, flat sounding beats he
utilises at least 60% of the time now.
[Edited 6/17/07 12:10pm]

yes of course,.....
And that is the general consensus to most of the outside world in pop music.
[Edited 6/17/07 13:49pm]

my hearts aches for original beats from prince...

it seriously aches...

sosgemini said:

lol,
[Edited 6/17/07 12:27pm]

ingela said:

Not that I oppose your opinion or anything like that, but what is the above comment supposed to mean?

He went missing when Kirk the beat-crapping Johnson started being allowed into the studio.

i think that is just trying to change up his style a little bit and see how it works 4 him. personally i like all his music new as well as old,because when he puts out an album he tries to reinvent himself so he always stays fresh but hey that is my opion