Apologies if anyone has started a thread like this, or mentioned it in one of the others. I have no internet access at home, and little time in Uni to use it!

Seems to me though, that Prince was as popular before this move as he has been in a very long time. This got me thinking - does he reckon the only way is down?

We know how much he likes to be in control. We, the fans (fams, whatever), are the one thing he can't really control. The reaction to his music, how popular he is, is largely out of his hands.

So, like an anorexic who acts in such a way to have some sort of control over their body and lives ( an analogy I didn't like using, but it seems to fit best. Apologies to anyone offended), did Prince do this, knowing the backlash (he aint daft) in an attempt to be in control of his "popularity fall". Having not taken advantage of the London nights through single releases, DVDs etc. it seems unlikely his popularity would have stayed so high. Is this just another form of control that wasn't as obvious as just controlling his image?

alxndrstff said:

Excellent post and I have thought about this myself. In many aspects it does seem quite deliberate to me but then I have to ask myself if he doesn't want his fans, wouldn't retiring have been a better solution?
[Edited 11/14/07 7:40am]

SexyBeautifulOne said:

I agree-just retire and get it over with-why all the drama?

Prince has always been controlling of his image and music. There's a reason there are so few decent with interviews with him, especially back in the day. This just seems like a more modern manifestation of that trait, imho.

He loves us in his own way!

ElCapitan said:

exactly

rbrpm said:

Yeah, the way an abusive husband loves his wife before the FINAL blow!

SexyBeautifulOne said:

He does want his fans , but only the fans who turn up to shows and show unconditional love I guess . This is the internet age and maybe its hard for him to accept reading peoples varying opinion on his music . I think he'd be a lot happier if he just stuck to managing his own website , releasing music whenever he wants to , and just gauging the reaction of the fans at his live shows . He's never gonna get what he wants from us by trying to control the internet , but in a live concert scenario he always has us in the palm of his hand . He should pretend the other websites dont exist and concentrate on making 3121 a great source of music and videos . It wont happen of course , but hey we can dream .

moonshine said:

Well, he has a jacked up way of showing it!! The internet has provided a way for him to be a pioneer in the way that future artists...do their thing! However, from what I'm seeing...he's turned his back on them and is concentrating his efforts on those that wouldn't sip on the purple Kool-aid if he was serving it up, personally! A huge for someone that wants any kind of legacy in this day and age!
[Edited 11/14/07 17:40pm]

there are people out there that feel they need conflict as motivation.

happyhappy said:

yes post-lobotomy