I love "Planet Earth". My Fave Prince record since that Symbol disc. I'm sure my story is quite similar to many others. Prince was my favorite pop singer from "Dirty Mind" onward. Every album was eccentric and interesting..bought it as soon as the store opened that Tuesday...until "Emancipation". I remember thinking how bland the sound was. How ordinary. How he'd suddenly become just another R & B/Pop singer with a pretty voice and catchy songs but at the same time was acting like a self-important prat writing "slave" on his face, bragging about being "#1 at the bank". A real meltdown. It was the first time I didn't consider him special. It's a good album no doubt but he sold out and you know it. Then came the "Crystal Ball" fiasco. Yeah I "pre-ordered" mine. It never arrived blah blah. Plus the 3 CD set was a mixed bag. "New Power Soul"? Not as bad as I once thought but just not Prince. "Rave". A few good songs but again he's trying too hard to get a hit. I liked a lot of "Rainbow Children" and I think it was a class act to clean up his image. His conversion to the Jehovah Witness religion seemed to make him more humble (but naturally confident as ever). Then, musically, he seemed to regain his sanity and realized why people liked him. No more D'angelo/R'Kelly flavor of the year pandering."Musicology" was the first step. An ecclectic set that was Prince again. "3121" is best collection since "Gold" and now "Planet Earth", a true Prince CD in my book.

Hey Prince stay clean, stay eccentric, stay positive.....(brother)

You did a good job of describing how a lot of us feel (I'm sure). It's pretty clear from what you read here that while none of us ever officially "gave up," the bulk majority of us have been frustrated with one thing or another.

For those of us who are enjoying "Planet Earth," it really does feel good just to be happy listening to those songs and enjoying Prince without some of that baggage.

I wish we could all be in that place, but I know that's not possible. But I'm glad that the buzz on the new one seems to be tilted more towards positive than negative.

Still diggin Prince,

Keith/Kacey

Just shows that as soon as the hoopla wears off you'll be gone again- fair weather fans.

wlcm2thdwn said:

Prince is just an entertainer. You say "fair weather fan". I ain't a fan of no man. I've listened to all his records. If I don't like it I'm not going to support it regardless because of some loyalty or obligation to an artist. The guy makes a product and sells it. Many of y'all are really cult members if you still with an artist no matter what he does. If his next album is crap I'll say so.

HomeSquid said:

could u explain what u mean when u say that Prince sold out with emancipation?

I wasn't really feeling prince in the 90's either as much as the 70's and 80's so I know where you're coming from.

HomeSquid said:

We like to call them fams. They have let go of reality a long time. They are here for our amusement.

Try saying Justin Timberlake, see what happens.

tricky99 said
could u explain what u mean when u say that Prince sold out with emancipation?[/quote]

Just the production was so mainstream- so R & B wannabe. The whole CD was watered down. Prince's best music has that "eccentric" spark to it and Emancipation was all a big big for a radio hit. Don't get me wrong there's a lot of nice tracks on there. A crafty set but just not special. To be honest I don't think prince has made a truly poor album- just some mediocre ones.

Emancipation will be seen as his most definitive statement in 30 years or so IMO

Each CD Pop Prince, Lover man Prince, Eccentric Prince....

HamsterHuey said:

LOL! Again, nail on the head.