Prince is at his worst when he trying to be hip with his sound (eg Hot Wit U)

Prince is best when he does his own thing! (e.g. Guitar)

SquirrelMeat said:

agreed...

HomeSquid said:

Weird, I thought that trolls lived under bridges in fairy tales, yet here is a live one on the internet.

roodboi said:

OMG, did you see that TRL appearance with Carson Daly?


It was sooooo uncomfortable and awkward. Carson was paying Prince a compliment and Prince returns the compliment with an insult.

Thank God Carson had the balls to PWN Prince ass afterwords

I was laughing my arse off when Prince got PWNed and had no good reply


Oh lawd, that was an appearance which did not help the guy out a bit.

Imago said:

that appearance is forever burned into my memory...thats the first time that I really ever looked at Prince negatively...he was so outta line for the shit he said...

and you're right, Carson got his ass with his rebutal...Prince was so shitty, he wouldn't even shake Carsons hand at the end of the interview...he gave him a dap...lame....

roodboi said:

I have NEVER seen someone show up to a show by TRL, for better or worse viewed by TONS of young folks, and insult the host after the host pays them a compliment.

I mean, it was really a good opportunity for him to advertise, but instead, he ended up looking so damned outdated, bitter, and just plain creeeeepppppaaaaayyy.


It was hilarious seeing the look on Prince's face when he realized he just got PWNED.

Seriously, you could have heard a pin drop.

Imago said:

the pin dropping would have been a bigger hit than anything he's done lately...

roodboi said:

oh shit



Well, I will say , Prince has always been smeared in the media. But when he was being painted as this wierdo back in the 80's, folks were still saying "Have heard that Prince song? Damn!!! ". Not so now.

roodboi said:

-----
To you the last three have been mediocore. Musicology did well even with the give away. If the music industry wants you to have a hit you have one.

laurarichardson said:

Musicology did well because of the give away (25% of its total sales according to Billboard)....and the mediocre thing was just my opinion...but the hits on the charts today are just as mediocre as some of the songs off of P's last three albums....my point was that I think its a naive statement to think that Prince isn't trying to record hits...if he wasn't trying to be mainstream, he would stay away from the pop/r&b formula thats dominated the last three albums...there's no doubt in my mind that Prince has some creative juices left but he certainly isn't letting them flow with this style he seems to be stuck on...there was a time when you didnt know what to expect from a new Prince album, with the last three, not so much...

as it was said earlier, Prince is at his best when he's doing what others aren't...and in my opinion he aint doing anything orignal right now...

lottielooloo1968 said:

I think someone to do with Warner Bros, suggested to him that he didn't have another hit single in him! So, he went off and wrote it that night..... that says more about his talent than anything else .... might not be your fav but it was a smash!!

Jeffiner said:

and he hasn't had one since! Warner Bros was right. Since then he's put out a buttload of music and none of it will stay in print. You can buy Emancipation cut-out for $3.99

To chart anywhere at this stage of his career is very impressive in my opinion. Here’s some of the more noteworthy "recent" singles chart data that I’ve found over the past year. It’s not mind-boggling, but it is the type of showing I’d imagine many established artists would like to have. Do with it as you will.
=====

Planet Earth album

Guitar top 40 appearances:
Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands

3121 album

Te Amo Corazon top 40 appearances:
Denmark, Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

Black Sweat top 40 appearances:
Greece, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Netherlands, Spain

Musicology album

Musicology top 40 appearances:
Australia, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland

Cinnamon Girl top 40 appearances:
Italy, Netherlands

Call My Name:
U.S.A. Top 100 (18 weeks on chart)

The Rainbow Children album

Last December top 40 appearances:
Japan

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic album

The Greatest Romance Ever Sold:
U.S.A. Top 100 (5 weeks on chart)

olskooljamz said:

Exactly, hit singles aren't what they used to be. There's so much crap in the charts anyway, who would want to be associated with chart success

Prince is in a league of his own and does not "need" that kind of success. A 21 night sell out at the O2 is success in my book. He was divine at the gig and unbelievable at the aftershow.


We love you, whether you are in the charts or not. You have given us the gift of your music since the 1970's .

We loved you then and now that your music has evolved, we love you more

Just stay away from the lawyers! , get back in the studio and bring us your magic that's all we want from you

Well, u can certainly buy ure own way into the top ten if u really feel the need, so I dont see how having a top ten is relevant to making someone a great artist. The Rolling Stones dont appear to have had a top ten in quite a while? Does that make them washed up? Of course not...Would u call BB King washed up?? Time to buy a clue

ufoclub said:

I agree.Out of all of his recent singles,"Black Sweat" is the one that truly could have been a hit.With a more exciting video,I think it would have gone far.

Opinions, opinions!

I think the fact is that Prince has gotten lazy. His defenders will always argue that "charts don't matter" or "he could have a hit anytime he wants to" or other nonsense like that, but the fact is, he's an artist. The sign of success for an artist is the appeal of his or her work & the measure of appeal is how much it's noticed, whether it be through sales, radio requests or video play. Prince has had none of these things for years & it's not for lack of trying. "Rave" was undeniably a calculated attempt to put him back in the spotlight that backfired gloriously. Musicology & releases since got far more praise than they deserved.

Hits come from solid albums. He hasn't really had a really solid album since TGE or (maybe half of) Emancipation.

Is it self-sabotage on his part? Or his he just an idiot? Maybe he can't tell the difference between a cool concept video like Raspberry Beret & junk like Chelsea Rodgers, that looks like a Revlon commercial put to music.

dee64ni said:

everything said in this post is a decent assessment....but I have to respectfully disagree that his music has evolved...I think it's become rather stagnant...wether they were popular releases or not, the likes of Xpectation, The Rainbow Children, N.E.W.S and the Truth disc from Crystal Ball showed more flair and innovation than the last three albums combined....

I'm not so sure that he's not caught in creative rut...even PFUnk was a throwback to styles he's already used...I've said this before, Prince simply hasn't become the artist I thought he would have become at this point in his career...I dont care if he tops the charts or if he sells out shows, I would love to hear something new and exciting from him...I don't even think that I necssarily have to love what he releases but it would be more interesting if I could look at a non fan and say, "love it or hate it, this is what separates Prince from the crowd"...and in my opinion there isn't anything on PE, 3121 or Musicology that does that...

viewaskew said:

A to the MEN.

audience1 said:

That's only because you are defending Prince and are in denial. Those chart listings you gave are pathetic for someone who thinks (and acts) they are a superstar. You don't get it. Prince is a has been and this explains his whiney behavior. It all started with the "Slave" routine. He was pissed because the symbol album didn't sell enough and he's been trying to get back on top since. The only reason "Musicology" was such a success was FREAKIN' GIVEAWAYS. His next album "3121" showed he's not a Platinum artist anymore and YOU ARE NUTS if you think he doesn't care

TheGoldEXp said:

I tell you:

These people were nasty from the beginning, and not the end.



It's like a bad child looking for excuses for not doing the right thing..(or a jilted lover)
Grasping at anything negative (outside of the primary argument/disagreement with Prince).

"Well, he didn't this..or hasn't that.."

It's really sad for this website and others...


It makes me think that some people really had hiddnen agendas with the photos (and other bootleg intentions) to waste so much constanly attacking like this..

That's why I feel that he never should've hinted of some of them in song last week
[Edited 11/16/07 7:37am]


"If it's only about discussing Prince's music, you won't need pictures!"
[Edited 11/16/07 7:39am]
[Edited 11/16/07 7:40am]

Linn4days said:

here's my problem with your post....there hasn't been any overly negative criticism anywhere in this thread....to label any conversation as "hating" that doesn't praise almighty Prince is juvenile...honestly, what is so bad about saying he hasn't had a hit in awhile...it's sparked some decent discussion from both sides of the arguement...
it's not sad for this website at all that this is an outlet for some to discuss what they feel may be P's shortcomings...honestly, what bothers me is that anybody would feel like the only reason to speak of him or his music would be to praise and appreciate....
believe it or not, it's possible to both appreciate and criticize...I'll concede that some may go overboard with their language or criticism...but some go just as overboard with their unwavering faith in all things Prince...

instead of calling it hate, present your side as to why you thinks it's not true...engage in a decent debate instead of labeling anothers opinion...
[Edited 11/16/07 8:13am]

roodboi said:

Unfortunately, that's ALL the "fams" have to say as of late.\
Anyone that doesn't absolutely agree with everything Prince has ever done is a "hater".
Any discussion or debate of his recent actions is "hate" and if you debate with them, you're "attacking" or "ganging up" on them.

ButterscotchPimp said:

and it's really nothing new...a few years ago, I said that Musicology was a decent but easily forgetable album (or something along those lines)...man, you would have thought I said P kicks babies and puppies...

Its truly mind blowing that some think that as a fan, I should only voice my opinion when its a positive, supportive one...I don't see that mindset flying in my day to day life, so why would I concede to that way of thinking just because I appreciate an artists talent??

I have done my fair share of Prince bashing, I've done my fair share of Prince appreciating...I can't understand why anyone else couldn't find that balance...or atleast understand it...

Linn4days said:

And you are obviously a coward.

Look what you've written. Instead of debating with the people posting on here based on any facts they have written, you instead openly mail another fam, so it looks like you are not attacking anyone directly. You could have used a private org note if you wanted to point something out to your fam friend, but you chose to do it in a sly way instead, looking down your nose at people as if they don't understand Prince's higher purpose.

I'm still shocked how blinkered some fams still are. Like = Good, Dislike = Hate?

If your id is only 2 weeks old, how do you know these people have always been like this? Or are you just a chicken fam using a second log in to slag people off?

.
[Edited 11/16/07 9:38am]

OP is right that Prince hasnt had a really solid hit singe TMBGITW, but for artists like Prince, which have been busy for several decades and have proved themselves allready in the past, it isnt really that important to score hits anymore.

I mean, look at:
- The Rolling Stones
- Paul McCartney
- The Eagles
- REM
For example.

Once topselling artists that also dont have had a real hit in the last 10 or 15 years. But people are still massively visiting their concerts, and most of their albums reach a golden status.

When youre at a certain point in your career that you have estabelished yourself as a big name allready, it isnt about hits anymore.

And dont forget, singles (or single downloads nowadays) are more a thing of young people who follow the ever changing trends and often want their music served up in an 'easy' way.

Prince is a respected albumartist (well, sorta...) AND live-artist nowadays. Nothing wrong with that.

Riverpoet31 said:

I agree with you on the singles.

But with albums, is he even a big hitter anymore? I mean, giving away your album with a newspaper means you've given up the ghost on sales.

Maybe Prince's only remaining strength is live?