What happened? What is going on in the "genius" mind of his that creates junk and gets regurgitated.

How many people here payed a dollar to DL "Guitar?" With that title and the promise Prince has, hell it was worth the gamble right? How many of you paid a dollar to hear other crap?

Ya cheap as hell, but you know, I might be a Prince fan, but I think it's time we all stop being P-producers. We pay a buck, he makes 100k to work on "changes." Come on P, get back to reality and compose something you at 18 could do in your sleep.
[Edited 6/20/07 0:09am]

Very GooD QuestioN, WiLL tHiS sInGlE, GUITAR chart. I dont think so ..but the CD will do OK sales for a week and half.

how many times do we have to discuss the state of the "industry" and how radio works now? even if you don't like Guitar, if there's something you like from Planet Earth that is "hit material" in your estimation, its unlikely that it will be a "hit". enjoy the stuff that you DO like and let it be a hit to you.

I agree that if he was looking for a pop hit, he missed the mark with Guitar. It's way corny and the whole atmosphere of it is, coincidentally enough, an old rocker trying to be hip. Does anyone really believe Prince is "gettin' dirty in the club again" anymore? I've already voiced my opinion on his, er, voice in this song too.

Basically, Black Sweat could have been huge but for some reason there wasn't enough promo surrounding it. Black Sweat was the Perfect combo of old and new school Prince and the video is watchable and his vocals were listenable. The overall atmosphere isn't embarrassing like Guitar.

As for Planet Earth - who knows? It might have some hits on it. Some artists biggest hits have been the 2nd or 3rd single.

purplesweat said:

datdude said:

awww

errr. i think he just did!

Mark my words in advance: 'GUITAR' WILL BE A HIT.

Why???

-Because it's innovative-ly formulaic (uses his classic/effective early song writing) and has the one thing ALL pop hits have in common: a stunningly simple/effective (incredibly easy to remember) melody & hook.

-It will feel fresh to the younger set who don't know much about him and are sick of the over produced trite that's been dominating radio for the last decade.

-Everybody just saw him resurface @ SuperBowl; it's probably the most mass exposure he's had since 'Diamonds & Pearls'... or maybe even since around 85/86???

-The masses view Prince as a guitar-focused performer/songwriter
(Thank you Purple Rain- you continue to be highly effective 20+ years later!); the lyrics of this song match and reinforce that image.

-Columbia's going to promo the crap out of it.

The only thing that might stand in the way of it being a Top 20 (I wager Top 40) is the fact that it's being given away free on Verizon, which may damage single sales. This- however- (the Verizon deal) will super stimulate album sales, which is where we make REAL money.

Believe me, the fine folks in marketing there have a VERY clever and effective strategy.

My only question is WHEN will Columbia pick up my album!?!
,)

love,
Lolly
[Edited 6/20/07 2:19am]

LollyPopLife said:

So when is all the super duper promo going to, um, START?!?!

They're sure taking their time with it!

I think he'll only ever get a big commercial hit single, when the KIDS know who he is, and wether they see him as COOL or not. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how good a song is these days.
He's deserted a generation or two. Too many people grew up without him on the popular music scene. He does seem to be making an effort though. (finally)

They can't start promo-ing it until right before it comes out!

The way these things work is:

-Everybody has to run out & buy it all at the same time.

-Reported sales define chart position.

-Continued sales keep chart position and/or move it up.

(Most of you guys probably know/understand that already tho- just a lil' refresher!)

If they were VISIBLY promo-ing it now (I guarentee you they're working on it!), the general public would be bored (easpcially in this day & age) by the time it actually hit. The Verizon give away is the first sign of them at work.

Did I mention I've studied marketing... LOL!
,)

Nice to meet you by the way!
xox
Lolly

Bonedaddy: you are absolutely correct.
Superbowl was/is the KEY to all of this... It was a giant mass marketing/reminder to all generations old & new.

I must get to bed now, but fun to meet you both!

Rockability said:

He walks his own road, and they'r all not, N'SYNC Prins challenges himself and you get it , GREAT!
Also he could write an epic master work at any time he pleases..

Who gives a fuck about 'hits'?
99.9% of the 'music' that's chartin' these days is complete and utter bullshit.

It all depends on who's listening, I think he's done some hits in the last couple of year but it's all a matter of opinion isn't it?

If a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound ???

Barry White said it best when asked about his mega hit Practice What You Preach, " If the record company does not want you to have a hit you wont have one... I don't care who you are."

Musiclogy,Call My Name (huge hit on Urban Radio), Black Sweat ( hit IMO on Urban Radio) were all hits,IMO.

Because radio is so fucked up and everything is so segregated (Urban,Adult Contemp.,Rock,ect.) then how cn anyone have a hit outside of the one hit wonders you have out there now?

Another thing about that is that in the mid-eightes you had a rebirth of stars from the 60's like Tina Turner,Aretha Franklin,Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye. I wonder with the way radio is set up like it is now could they be as successful as they were then ?

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Well Said DR.

He's 49 years old. That and "hits" usually don't mix.


MJ hasn't had a bona fide hit in over a decade. Madonna barely scraped into the top 10 with the lead single from her last album and that man-hours put into getting it to #7, by her, the label, and her fans, were many.


I guess there's always Cher and Tina to point to. But even they're only good for one every 10 or 15 years anymore.

Raze said:

The first two singles of Madonna's last album when straight in at number 1.

It depends where you live.

LollyPopLife said:[quote]Bonedaddy: you are absolutely correct.
Superbowl was/is the KEY to all of this... It was a giant mass marketing/reminder to all generations old & new.

[quote]

Only to Americans.

I gladly spent a measely dollar to get the single out as soon as it appeared on the page. I'd rather pay for it than pirate it. And his songs ARE hits. It may not be relevant in the figures and the papers, but in all honesty that isn't what it's supposed to be about. It's great to be known, but it's even better to be able to create something and be loved. I'd be sick to my stomach if I ever saw/heard that Prince was doing what some of these current artists are doing--literally making total crapola just to make a hit on a list or make some sales. I can't sing a lick or read a note; but I'm quite sure that's not what music is all about. In the thin line of sacrifice that is making the dollars and expressing oneself, I say screw the hit goal. He's doing just fine. The ones in the world who love him notice him. The ones who do not can discover him or remain jaded in the means of thinking that these other "talented" artists are it.

Popularity ain't everything. It surely doesn't seem to be making some of these popular celebs too happy.

LadyLuvSexxy said:

Granted, although I'd b interested 2 hear why u think he's compelled 2 wear corsets and make up still at 49, and what all that has 2 do with his music.

Cause this generation that listens to radio and buys CD's likes generic shit, with no thoughts in the lyrics, generic beats and riffs which Prince doesn't produce.
[Edited 6/21/07 4:45am]

[quote]SquirrelMeat said:[quote]

LollyPopLife said:

Mainly to Americans...but not ONLY to americans. The superbowl is internationally televised
errr squirell your quote was all messed up!
[Edited 6/21/07 5:46am]
[Edited 6/21/07 5:47am]
[Edited 6/21/07 5:47am]

LollyPop! VERY well put! thank you!

and if it's any help my 14 year old niece, who ofcourse knows I'm a Prince fan told me the other day she LOVES that new Prince song on the commercial and tried to find it on the internet but couldn't.
I ofcourse let her know the album was coming on on july 24th. Maybe I'll buy it for her

HAS ANYONE HEARD THE CHARTS LATELY?? Its all fucking full of peices of shit. Of course Prince cant get in the charts lately, because he doesnt know how to WRITE SHIT MUSIC. Yes, I said it, he is trying, I can tell by the publicity and Columbia drive, but to be on radio you have to appeal to the only people who will pay for a single (ie children). Prince is 49 and wont take advice from others in the indutry, and wont use "hot" producers like Madonna, so this is not a strong connection! He will just make what he always makes. FUNK. BALLADS. GUITAR SOLOS, SCREAMING. ROCK, etc. But if he wants to be on the charts he has to make PURE AND COMPLETE UTTER CRAP! When was the last time he did that? He´s tried really hard (listen to beautiful, loved, blessed or incense and candles), but doesnt matter how hard he tries to make COMPLETE AND UTTER CRAP, he just cant do it. HE is TOO GOOD for the charts. SORRY IT JUST AINT HAPPENING!

There are lots of reasons Prince hasn't had a legitimate hit, but the most glaring one is his 90s behavior where he burned his bridges with his studio over dubious reasons, maligned the record industry, and snubbed his nose at the very idea of chart success. He actually said he doesn't want to be on the radio with "Don't Play Me" and "Undisputed." After a spectacle like that, radio programmers, studio executives, heads at video channels, and most importantly, the record-buying public, are wont to be a bit skeptical about any Prince-ly endeavors. I mean, spending an entire decade flagrantly dishonoring a contract he voluntarily signed doesn't inspire a lot of trust. It doesn't help matters that his cause made no sense whatsoever and his music was as confused. People will forgive a commercial bomb here and there, but the titanic meltdown Prince put on display will take more than a pair of decent mainstream records for the general public to forget.

I'd say a big hit (and a true artistic resurgence) is almost contingent on Prince addressing his 90s conduct in some thoughtful manner, somehow redeeming himself, and giving closure to all that drama--bury the hatchet, clear the slate so as to reestablish trust with his backers and listeners. Otherwise, he'll have a middling journeyman comeback with a string of so-so albums bolstered by nostalgia and his reputation as a live performer. My feeling is, he won't be a serious artistic voice again until he deals with all that name-changing, slave-writing baggage. And this would require the one thing Prince has always resisted: Looking back.

purplesweat said:

Black Sweat was truly awful and embarrassing even as a true Prince fan. The Rainbow Children was the last brilliant work he did, and that lacked a commercial aspect.
We ahve to sadly accept, that at 49 years old Prince is the world's finest live performer but out of touch in terms of commercial success. He has also sadly run out of ideas it seems.
When he was young he had a constant battle with sex and religion, with being small, with being told he was mad to have full control, his upbringing, his Minneapolis background. These battles, fierce competition and probably quite a large quantity of drugs, resulted in raw genius creations. Now he is at one with himself, not fighting anymore and universally recognised by those that matter to him. His creative expression has thus dipped.
Sorry but it's the truth.
Guitar isn't a classic and is alittle obvious but is likely to do okay.

He won't have a commercial hit until he stops recycling his 80s stuff and gets with the program.

padawan said:

I totally disagree with you....
I think in WB days they paid the bucks to have him played. On his own he didn't want to pay for play so there it stood.
the general public has a memory span of about 5 minutes...there ain't no way they be holdin' prince to his "90's conduct" ..."redeeming himself" yikes I don't think so...he don't need to do that. All he has to do to reestablish anything with his backers is to prove he can still hold an audience wich I believe he did BIG TIME with the superbowl...I mean think about the verizion deal....they wouldn't touch him b4 that.