I think Prince is great, a tremendous talent and a funny guy who has kept his head on straight through dizzying fame. BUT...

I hope he feels he has earned the reconition that has particularly been apparent since the Musicology release. Tours, records and appearances on SNL, and the Super Bowl have cemented his reputation as the consumate performer.

I would like to leave it up to the Alicia Keyes, and newer up and comers to spread the message of his greatness.

I don't care to hear him say stuff like so many hits , so little time, then have to back up these words by playing mostly the same hits he has been playing for years "for the last time". He should not try to appease, just play what he wants when he wants. We know he uses real musicians and is not lip-synching, why does he feel the need to state the obvious and thus downplay the talents of others who may choose to do otherwise? So what if radio does not choose to play him, why diss the radio stations? Sounds petty.

I don't imagine BB King or the Stones coming out and saying stuff like this. I think it would be classy of Prince to tone down the boasting when he turns half a century old, and either just play the music in concerts, or have fun with it, or make us think. Perhaps just banter off the cuff.

Feeling controversial today, so this seemed like an apt topic to bring up.

runningbear said:

Must say I agree with you in that regard.

Spot on! I'd say to him: drop the self-congratulatory Hall of Fame induction videos before the concerts - it's a bit like a child saying 'Look at me ...I'm really good, in case you didn't know.' We know you're great Prince but a bit of genuine modesty coupled with your fantastic live performances would cement this in the audience's mind more than drumming it into us. If you've got so many hits, then play them - not a Gnarls 'fatarse' Barkley cover - save the covers for the aftershows, if you must do them.

You are a legend, you've nothing left to prove and so 'letitgo.' Also, lead by example rather than taking every genre of music and saying 'watch this, I can do this too and better than you' and ending up being a derivative follower of second rates like The Neptunes etc.

:comfort:Do you think he does this bragging in jest? When I hear him say things like that in concert, it seems like he is joking. He kind of laughs when he says things like that. I don't know, I am not sure how he means to deliver it. Maybe he does need to remind us, but that does seem silly especially when he IS the reason we are there!

Well he's not Lying now is he?! Brag on baby.

wlcm2thdwn said:

i like all his banter, its all good,
liked the "you cant get machines to do tht" when talkin bout the band

I agree.
I wonder if he's afraid of something....Why all the boasting?

wlcm2thdwn said:

'Tis all a part of the hype...he doesn't need it and never did but he seems to like it, so.....

Will Prince ever do anything that right?

prince is weird. sometimes he seems really smart, spiritual and modest and some others the total opposite.

prime said:

-----
It is called having a sense of humor. In addtion he was written off by most of the music industry. He is getting the last laugh and enjoying himself

laurarichardson said:

I think prime is just expressng his sense of humor

mplsmike said:

Don't hate him cuz he's beautiful.

runningbear said:

.. uhm sorry, but .. did you see what you just typed? if other artists DO lip-synch .. what talent are you referencing to?

real music by real musicians

not all songwriters/producers have access to a full band
nor do they have skills to perform their songs on all live instruments

i think that's what he was getting at

i mean, come on Prince
half of your albums...
and most of your greatest albums, by the way
do not feature "real music" by "real musicians"
give us songwriters a break
not everyone can do everything you can do
few can, few do

yeah, you're great
and your shoes are so high we'd probably die
but there ARE people doing FAR greater things than u have done

peace

I don't think he will ever tone the bragging down. He's always been like that. And whenever he didn't succeed it was always sombody else's fault. The record company, the radio station, the fans who just didn't get it, etc. Just seems to be part of his personality. He also seems to have a problem with getting older and letting the younger generation take over. But in a way I can understand him. He used to be front-page-news in most magazines, he used to be a trendsetter; of course it must be hard for him to see others with a whole lot less talent succeed. IMO he doesn't need to brag because he has nothing to prove. Everybody who listens to his music, knows what a great musician he is and always will be. Nobody can take that from him.

The Hall of Fame intro by Alicia Key's was played during the Musicology Tour. I don't recall any complaints about it back then. Why the complaints now? Is it a cultural thing?

Baby, telling the truth ain't bragging!!

Seems evenly dividing between those who think Prince should continue to boast about how talented he is (whether for humor's sake, or just because he is), and those who would like to see him become more modest and not state what is obvious to most of his true fans.

Perhaps it is a cultural thing. I do find in very general terms Americans tender to be more overtly proud of themselves and feel they have the greatest and most influential country. In Canada we tend to also feel we are a very good country, but this is not usually expressed or boasted upon. Well there, opened another can of worms!

Also feel if someone appreciates Milli Vanilli for what they do, whether or not they can play their instruments or even sing their own songs, so be it. You like the music you enjoy, how is it performed in concert should only be relevant to you. Maybe some kids prefer the music to played live precisely note-for-note like the recording. Not my cup of tea, but to each their own.

Also suppose I prefer Prince letting Alicia state how great Prince is as opposed to Prince doing it himself.

SexyBeautifulOne said:

I suppose a great example of this being done with tremendous humor was Ali.

runningbear said:

Yes, it's obvious to his true fans but what's wrong with him wanting everybody else to know it too?

I'm not a heavy metal/hard rock fan in the least little bit but I know KISS is one of the greatest heavy metal/hard rock bands of all time and I ain't mad at Gene Simmons for saying so!

Prince should be modest. Please!!

I can see it now...

Prince: "My name is Prince and I'm...ok."

Me:

Oh hell to the naw!!!

The man's birth name is PRINCE! He ain't been modest about his shit in 49 years, 2 months and 20 days! NOW y'all want him to be all modest!

Whatever floats your boat!

I'm not a heavy metal/hard rock fan in the least little bit but I know KISS is one of the greatest heavy metal/hard rock bands of all time and I ain't mad at Gene Simmons for saying so.

Yikes, KISS, one of the greatest metal/rock bands. Scary Stuff Indeed. You should try some Alice Cooper/Zeppelin/Halen prior to claiming KISS as one of the best.

Alice did the makeup first, and had a far more elaborate stage show. Their music was vastly less derivative than Kiss as well. They also came along way before Kiss. Ceppelin and Halen were just a lot more innovative with their music.

Kiss was smart though. They knew gimmicks. When to put the make up on and off, then on again. Lunchboxes and cards. Gene Simmons is the ultimate self-promoter. Kiss managed to make an awesome career out of average talent, which hats off to that I suppose.

I don't suppose I will see the day when Prince covers Kiss.

runningbear said:

Apparently, a whole lot of people agree with him and his methods.

As for Prince, his talent is anything but average and if he feels like saying so...why shouldn't he?

As for Prince, his talent is anything but average and if he feels like saying so...why shouldn't he?[/quote]


Agree, Prince is far above average in his vast talents.

Why should he not boast? Hmm, I guess I just prefer those who are modest and humble. I respect that younger people can be cocky and arrogant at times, but as maturation sets in, this is usually put by the wayside. Being real and treating others with respect and as equals (even if they are not financially, career-wise or otherwise) become more the order of the day.

I guess Wayne Gretzky, arguably the best sports talent Canada ever has produced embodied this. Likely the best hockey player ever is very humble and does not taunt with his talents. Very grateful for his virtous talent , willing to share the credit with others, and unlikely to proclaim his own merits. If he ever did come out bragging about his stats , I would be saddened, it would just be gross and un-Gretzky like.

Maybe it is cultural.

Hopefully this make sense sexybeautifulone. Glad you feel good about yourself, hope that translates into you sending me a pic that lives up to your lovely signature!

Regardless, I enjoy a bit of debate, thanks

maybe it's something in our culture (american/ black) that we just take for granted. it spawned from playing the dozens (signifying) and blossumed when cassuis clay entered the world stage boasting of being great, nowadays the average talented young black male speaks of himself in third person. however, we'll never know what pain he must of felt being off the radar, failing at marraige and losing a parent. maybe he's still kind of bitter that the world didnt just follow him when he went astray (New Power Soul anyone?). i do wish he'd find a way to temper his words but like the football player johnny unitas used to say if u can do it it aint braggin. i mean he's not a saint, nor do i consider him to be the most evolved brotha in the world despite his ramblings. he came back from the dead and now the world is eating out of his hand and he did it his way, how many of us can say we'd remain humble under those circumstances?.how many of us can under being made a punchline (for ten years!) and not talk shit when we come back.we do it all the time in life, in our minds, ever run into that ex girlfriend/boyfriend when your lookin good and you've healed from the breakup?. you may not say it but deep down you feel the same way prince is feeling now.as a longtime supporter who had to endure the put downs when he fell off i can tell u when he played the superbowl (when i knew 2 billion people) were watching i could imagine all of the people who teased him sitting with there fuckin mouths hanging open. he'll chill with the smack talk one day but hell he's only been back for 3 years, he's got a couple of more years to gloat, let him get his whacks in LOL.

Brag Black Man Brag .... He has done a lot in his life so brag black man brag

They aren't worthy. They say they are influenced by him but what hard funk have they made? Absolutely none. The only ones worthy of spreading the word of Prince's greatness are the old groups such as Cameo, The Dazz Band, Lakeside, etc.....groups that have made music just as hard as Prince and can relate to where he's coming from. And especially The Barkays since they have copied so much off of Prince on so many of their songs.

The only influence Prince may have had on these little newcomers is maybe something slow like "Adore". Well, big whoop. Speed the shit up and stop making every damn thing slow.



He needs to not only shit on these newcomers, but piss on them as well. If he doesn't, who will? And as for the radio stations, somebody really needs to put a foot up their asses because they are the reason that musical styles can't change because they keep everything out that's not either slow or shit hop.

Preach on Prince, preach on!!!!! Give 'em 100% pure hell!!!!!