Let's play a game called "a little walk down memory lane" - Write your 2001-2003 memories here. For me, The Rainbow Children was the last great album Prince wrote, and the accompanying tour, while not what the industry expected to be released as a live Prince concert, was great - it's makin' me wanna hunt it down at Amoeba. It was in the middle of a time period where Prince had seemingly gone down to his core fan base plus several tens of thousands (LOL). NEWS and Xpectation were two unexpected things from Prince that will be classic in about 20 years. And let's not forget all the great NPGMC stuff.

I attended one, "one nite alone" show, which I enjoyed, and when "The Rainbow Children" I listened to it almost continuously for weeks, I really loved Prince's approach to that record...It has all of the makings of a very unique
musical.

I cant think of a more awful time to be a Prince fan. Dark times indeed.

TRC, ONA, Xpectation, NEWS (even though I don't really like it myself) and the ONA tour - It was the best period for Prince music since 1995.



I was glad that heard some of this era on Planet Earth, so that PE kind of connects more with this era than it does Musicology/3121 for me.

attending two soundchecks in london-and prince being very jovial and very funny with us all and then asking what time it was as he had to get ready for the main gig-surreal-45 minutes later in trooped another 6000 people!

that ONA tour was just unbelievable wasnt it?

I had the best seat ever 4 that tour! Fantastic nite.

emesem said:

Well, that makes me ask - are you into Prince because he's a great artist, or are you into Prince because of his star quality?

How about going back to the ONA tour but on this occasion I would have joined the fan club in time to get a seat right at the front, instead of at the back which I did manage to get a ticket. I would have also made sure that I got a ticket for the SOUND CHECK! Boy do I regret missing out on that one.

Just hope Prince does something similar in future but I doubt it especially as he made quite a revival.
[Edited 10/15/07 14:02pm]

TANKAEFC said:

I second that question.

I mean seriously, after years of crummy albums with that watered-down plasticky sound that began with Emancipation, the TRC/ONA period brought a breath of fresh air to Prince's music. If you have issue with the lyrics of TRC, or the 'Darth Vader' voice, even still you can't deny it was DIFFERENT than 95% of what he'd been doing for the past 6/7 years. That in itself was reason enough to celebrate.

Yes I have issues with TRC lyrics and I found much of its the music uninspired. Just because you use "real" instruments it doesnt guarantee great music. The first half of that album is unlistenable. She Loves Me for Me is decent lite FM pop and the last half is good but nothing prince hasnt done before better.

The Prince of this era didnt bother hiding his contempt for his fans or anyone who doesnt think like he does. (Pearls before swine) These were the years that it finally hit me that he was not a "nice guy" even deep down. Nowadays I dont care as much. All your heroes eventually let you down, but this was a tough time for some of us who remember the illusion of a kinder gentler Prince.

NouveauDance said:

The ONA tour was amazing, and the soundcheck alone was worth the $100 NPGMC membership fee.

The Rainbow Children, ONA and Xpectation were a nice change of direction. I had hoped he'd use them as a stepping stone into a more mature sound ... it was short-lived though.

emesem said:

My point wasn't really about 'real' instruments (whatever they are, are synths imaginery?! ), just that this era brought in something new, you gotta give him that.

I agree with Se7en, it was a change of direction that had a lot of promise in it, a 'stepping stone to a more mature sound' is exactly what could've been one outcome. But he wanted to try and squeeze into the Beyonce/Usher market again, so we got Musuckology and 3121 isntead.

emesem said:

shite shite shite-for me it was a highlight-an absoulote delight to be a fan in those times-too much music almost!

soundchecks,sftershows,boxed sets,TRC the amazing jazz albums,the beautiful piano album,those gigs in australia etc etc etc

"a kinder gentler prince?" dude he's got nothing he owes he-he's a musician in the public eye not your friend

He was a nice guy again, for a short while; then came 2004.

Well, I think you're marchin' to your own drummer on this one. TRC is good theme music from start to finish, IMO, and just cuz Prince might have done something that sounded like that before, does that make it bad?

emesem said:

And besides that, this is supposed to be an appreciation thread, not meant for negativity. Didn't you read that?

great. even if it was crap, which it wasnt, itd be great just for the sound checks

I love TRC and ONA even though I didn't see the show and I also recently got the box set and it too is wonderful....I think I appreciate good music as well as the next person and feel the songs during this era represent Prince transitioning into an old head. There are religious overtones as opposed to spirituality, monogamy in lieu of eroticism, and self identity as well as a world unity message....I love the way he changed but remained true to his music.

electrorock said:

You got that right. I've heard some of just what u're talking about, and in particular this was when P was letting audience members up on stage to sing or play with his band. How many musicians, esp. as big as he is, provide for such opportunities? You can't know things like that and still think Prince is not a nice guy. He puts his drawz on one day at a time just like every1, and he has moods - ain't he entitled (even to be a sh*thead) now and then? Shoot! LOL

I have mixed feelings about this era. I loved his more organic sound. John Blackwell helped. The concerts were amazing. The Rainbow Children was an underrated classic. The Aftershow live cd is a must have. "Avalanche" made my top 20 all-time Prince list. I wish I owned the piano ONA cd - the Joni M. cover is breathtaking (what a brilliant folk/gospel hybrid with unique chords/tone).

The downside was the dogmatic cult, the ever present Larry Graham, and the emergence of a conservatism that I never thought I would see in Prince. Thank god, I have seen all of the above melt over the last couple of years. We all go through our phases. And through it all he still has remained the outsider, iconoclast revolutionary that I will always love.

since TRC keeps coming up here in dialogue/banter, may i ask what is your FAV track on TRC?

mine is Last December, as it's very spiritual and thought-provoking.
it made me think like 'what if you were "living EACH DAY like you were dying."'

DEEP 4 Moi

I have fond memories of that era, but most of them are not for the new music that emerged. The Celebration in 2002 was the highlight of my time as a Prince fan. This era also saw the launch of the org as we know it today, and I have met so many friends because of it, including my wife! The extra access to Prince was nice as well- the soundchecks were fantastic.

What I'm not so keen on is the music from this era. The only album released from this era that I enjoy is One Nite Alone. I guess I'm not much of a jazz-fusion guy (I'm not keen on Madhouse either), so The Rainbow Children, Xpectation (:vomit:) and NEWS aren't exactly my cuppa. I can appreciate that it was a bold move on Prince's part, however.