The previous open letter to prince had me thinking. Have we all forgotten why we are here? Prince is different, just to be different. Thats what the whole Dirty Mind era was all about. I can't for the life of me, understand why people continue to think that Prince owes us anything. He gives us exactly what he can give us, that is his music. And if you don't like the musical direction he has gone in, then by all means it's your right to abandon it. You don't like how he doesn't get sites like the ORG or HOUSEQUAKE, then by all means do what you have to do. But there is much more at stake to him than public opinion. When he risks putting out a project like THE RAINBOW CHILDREN, which he knows was going to recieve public criticism, no one suffers but Prince. Not us the fans, we can simply choose to buy it or not. So when he does something that works and people are interested in, he should reap the rewards. You wouldnt do your job for free, so why should Prince. And the argument that you or I would still buy everything he releases while may be true, the sad fact is alot of people don't. And his performances are his to do with what he chooses. He works very hard for that, and we OWE him that respect. We choose to follow him, not the other way around.

Peace and B Wild
Toad

Well said, I agree 100%.

The reason I came here was really to get to know him from the people that've known him longer and know him better... so I'd be able to get to know him without any predjuice or judgement that seems to surround him wherever I look.

I knew he lived 4 the music just from the bits I saw from "Purple Rain"... I don't think I had any idea that his music would be THIS incredible and special.

It's fun to discuss his music with everyone here. And ultimately, I get 2 know him as a person thru his music.

I never really forgot that, but I'm still roughly new, but I do feel like I've already been around his world and back several times already.

Prince already knows that, that's why he mainly ignores people like this, they're the ones that have made it worst for the ones of us that do understand, that he doesn't owe you a damn thing, Nothing! too many people expect Prince to make up for the attention they are not getting unless they go on the computer, but all you get from Prince is good music, and that you have to pay for.
[Edited 9/6/07 3:58am]

wlcm2thdwn said:

agreed.

I just want to let him do whatever he pleases. If I don't agree with something, fine, but I try to see it from his POV instead of tearing him down 4 it.

Of course I didn't grow up with his own musical progression, so I can't really say much like "why's he doing this? He should do things this way"... like if I knew him during the name change, then I'd have a thing or 2 to say... but I didn't. I have very little to go on except 2 dive into his past thru the music, but I can't really criticize him 4 anything cuz it's been done.

And I've spent over $150 on his stuff so far... and I don't regret a cent of it cuz all of the albums were worth getting.
I could care less if he owes me anything, he doesn't. All I ask 4 is his music, that's it.

Do we forget that Prince is getting paid for his music?
Does Prince forget that the fans made him what he is today?
It's the fans' money, that allow him to live a life style, that none of us can afford. If the fans wouldn't pay him for his music, Prince would be broke (or he would probably still be working for Mr. McGee ) It's as simple as that. Everybody who gets paid is expected to work for the money. Or does anyone of you just show up at work and collect a paycheck, without getting the job done, that your boss expects you to do?
What's the use of an artist who is not willing to share his gift?
As long as Prince wants to get paid for his music, I expect him to deliver.
Should he however decide to do his shows and concerts free of charge and give out his CD's free of charge, he can show up whenever he wants to and play whatever he likes.
He doesn't owe me anything, if he doesn't expect to get paid for his performance.
Prince should know that if he continues to bite the hand that feeds him, he will eventually starve. As narcissistic as Prince is, it would be tough on him if all of sudden even his die-hard fans would decide, they had enough of his antics.
Or maybe he could survive on the few fans (fanatics) that love, adore, and worship him, and follow him blindly, no matter what he does.

GiGi319 said:

I'd certainly give him plenty of fuel 4 such purposes with the way I support him.

Sure, I'm still new, but it doesn't really matter. As long as what he does what he loves, that's all I ask.

I like to believe that he's in the business 4 more than just the money. He has a gift so special he couldn't picture himself doing anything else. Now that I've seen what he can do, I can't either.

But if given the chance, I'd ask him "other than money (that's a given), why do u insist on sharing ur songs with the public if they're so personal?"
U gotta admit that everything he writes is a part of him, or was at some point.

Come 2 think of it, I'm not sure if he really cares about his listeners and just writes for himself.... I understand a lot about him, but not quite everything.

To a certain extent, I'm sure he does appreciate how his listeners have been there 4 him... but he more or less writes 4 himself.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

It is very nice of you to believe that Prince is just making music for himself and is not in it for the money. I bet, if Prince would read your posts he'd be thrilled. You seem to be exactly the way he loves his women: very young and very naive.
But for those of us who have been around a little longer, we all know that Prince doesn't make music only out of the goodness of his heart.
A very young Prince at the time was unbelievably driven to make it big.
Sure he loves making music, but he also loves making lots of money by doing what he loves most.
In his own words: ' a constant battle to stay ahead of the game. Is anybody famous, when everybody wants fame.'
Sure, it's easy for him to say now that he is not in it for the money. He already made enough of it to retire anytime he chooses to. Now he can afford to make music just for the fun of it, and support a life style most of us only dream of.

Now he can forget about all those who helped him along the way. So far he hasn't given enough credit to the people that helped him to make it happen for him. Like Andre and Bernadette Anderson, Chris Moon, Gary Levison, Linster'Pepe' Willie, Owen Husney, Dez Dickerson to name a few.
That even includes Warner Brothers who gave him a chance of a lifetime when they signed him and offered him a six figure contract. ( an unusually generous sum at the time for an unknown artist). Even though Prince didn't have 100% control , he was given more power and control over his music than most of the other artists. Somehow he forgot to mention that when he started his prolonged feud against WB.
Many people, incl. his fans played a big part in his career. Nobody survives on talent only. There are a lot of talented people out there that will not make it big, simply because they don't have the support of influential people.
Prince was just very blessed to meet the right people at the right time.

GiGi319 said:

Yeah, these days, I guess he really is doing it for the fun of it.

Was that right there a backhanded comment?

I mean, yeah, 99% of the time, I write in favor of him and keep on praising him. I think he would be impressed with me... or he'd just think I have no life outside of him.
But I can't help feeling there was a bit of sarcasm there...

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

Rest assured, I wasn't trying to be sarcastic. I apologize if I came across that way. I'm just amazed that some people seem to have complete lack of judgement, when it comes to celebrities. If Prince wouldn't be rich and famous he surely wouldn't get away with the kind of narcissistic behavior that he has consistently displayed over the years.

At this point in time I'm sure money motivates Prince more than God or whatever u wanna call him.

GiGi319 said:

Yeah, if he weren't famous, I probably think of him as pretty rude. But I accept the fact he comes off selfish from time 2 time.
And I know he isn't completely pure in thought. Quite obvious, his music proves that.

But what he writes comes from his heart & soul, and that's the person he truly is inside... and I like that person. But the man himself is complex that I've got no idea how he'd react if I met him face 2 face (not very luckily, but a girl can dream right?)... so I dunno.

But I do care about his music most of the time and sometimes I take his history into account when I listen.

NewPowerToad said:

Prince also owes his fans "respect". Instead, he tries to sue fans who can't even pay their rent.

as soon as prince starts giving his music away for free and reimburses me for buying his cds for twenty years. it's never just about the music. people deserve to be compensated for their time and energy.
i'm in a band and i'd love to have people fawning over every lyric i've written and every note i've played. and dissecting my music - i'd take it all the way to the bank. $$$$$