It is often entertaining, sometimes frustrating, witnessing the diversity of opinions and tastes when it comes 2 a new Prince album. He has, perhaps, the most diverse "fan base" of all artists.

'Planet Earth' was a good example. Some loved it ( I did and do), and others had an extreme dislike. Although this happens frequently with new Prince albums, it was pronounced with 'Planet Earth'.

I am usually in the minority. i.e. Most people LOVE 'The Gold Experience', and it is one my least favs. Most people didn't like 'Rainbow Children', where I view that as a masterpiece.. it is one of my top favs, and I could listen 2 that album endlessly... Not 2 mention I happen 2 like "theme albums".

I am OFFICIALLY predicting that his next release will divide more than ever. I won't use any labels describing what I think it will sound like, but I am predicting that it will be adventurous and inspired, both lyrically and musically.

interesting prediction

It's sad to me that people didn't like Planet Earth very much. I thought it was a vast improvement compared to the other 2.
But I've only been around for 10 months (wow... 10 )... what do I know, right?
I thought everyone would think it was the best he had done as of late.

I'm not sure if this is more of a prediction or a personal hope.
But my take on the next album is that it will be a SOTT of the new millennium. People kinda regretted ATWIAD & Parade when he first came out with them. And Prince himself said he was disappointed with Parade and promised he'd come up with something better... and [almost] everyone I've talked to loves SOTT.

I sincerely hope that Prince doesn't get that attitude with Planet Earth with all these people here rebelling against it, saying its not very good. I love the album and think he did a wonderful job with it.

I really hope that the next album is loved by a larger % of the fanbase than Planet Earth was. And I don't want PE to become like 3121: everyone started like it when PE came out.

I'd rather have a greater %age of people liking the new album than dividing myself. I'm just sick of the fighting and bad blood.

I'm with you on this one G. PE to me is an ok album along with Musicology. 3121 to me is a Prince masterpiece. I'm also not a big fan of the Gold Experience as its way over the top and over produced. Come is a much better album, striped down and true Prince. TRC is another album that I'm not that fond of. There are only a few songs on there that I really like. The High album or songs from that era are much better than TRC. The next album I think will lean towards Revolution type songs from the Parade era. Probably a collection of reworked vault songs. It's easy to tell a Prince song that was written over the last year as opposed to a song that was reworked from 20 years ago. This is what PE sounded like. Reworked 20 year old songs and a few songs that were no older than two years old. But who knows Prince may surprise us and come from left field with an all rock, techno, R&B, or maybe, just maybe a Prince album at the top of his skills. G you have great insight and I enjoy your post.

Interesting post Giovanni, I remember some odd 23 yrs ago having my biggest arguments with fans of other artists about music, such as the discussions about U2, Springsteen, Bowie and so on (MJ was never really something to bother arguing about) and these days it is a totally different arena, with the most heated discussions being amongst the fans themselves. Prince sure knows how to divide an audience, but then again, look at that audience. In the early 80´s when Prince set about crossing the barriers of colour, sex and creed, it was seen as a revolution and that was just in the US untill 84, then it became a worldwide issue.

Today it is even more diverse, it is unlikely that anyone has such a broad fanbase as Prince, not even sure Madonna, U2, Springsteen or the stones have. It is amazing here and at other sites to see new generations of P fans speaking out, was something that stunned me at the concerts in London this year.

Something that should also be remembered is that the division amongst fans began after Purple Rain, particularily in America, where it took yrs for his next 4 albums to be fully appreciated, rumour has it he almost went bankrupt during the lovesexy tour in America, due to poor sales of tickets. It was well documented at the time, that Prince was deeply unhappy about the reaction the tour got in the states. Prince went as far as saying that in some ways he regretted the success of Purple Rain, as it became something of a monster, then more or less the same thing happenned with SOTT on a critical level.

There are certain albums that will never wash well with the fans in general, GB, RAVE, NPS, and the new addition to that is PE. Each has its outstanding tracks, some which are brilliant, but in general these are not outstanding albums, they lack something. PE will probably hold out better than the other 3 due to Guitar and Chelsea Rodgers, as they have now been immortalised in the 21 nights.

As for the future, it appears P is gauging what the fans really want and if the reaction to F.U.N.K and C&D is anything to go by, he will find his winning formula.

I remember the first article i ever read about Prince back in 84, had a description of him by the director of Purple Rain, who said if you asked Prince what he would like to eat, he would rattle off about the various different ingredients, so you would turn around to him and say, you want a stew

It's okay if it's divisive. I just want it to be something I like.

Whitnail said:

I like ur post a lot.
The first part is very true. I get that impression that everyone pretty much agreed that Prince was extraordinary by the time he got to 1999 and Purple Rain. Everyone came together at that point especially since that was where he gained the most supporters. His fanbase went from 2 million to 10 million. The movie might have helped to, but regardless...
And people were starting to divide a bit. I ever have heard cases of people jumping off the bandwagon when ATWIAD came out. If anything, that was when he was starting to test his fanbase, to see who'd stick with him thru thick and thin (different genres/sounds basically). I can't say for sure if that was his intention or not. My assumption is that he does whatever he feels like regardless of what anyone says.

Now the second part, I find very troubling... Planet Earth joining the ranks of Graffiti Bridge, Rave and NewPowerSoul?
Just when I thought the reaction to PE couldn't get any worse.
I have heard NewPower Soul... and its barely a Prince album at all. With 1-2 exceptions, there's nothing extraordinary about it. I can only listen to 6/11 tracks... and that's the lowest number of any album I own.
I'm aware of the hate towards Rave... I personally enjoy it.
Ranking Planet Earth with NewPower Soul in the future? It's difficult to get thru NPS, so much I can barely listen to it... I get so much enjoyment out of Planet Earth, I'd hate for that 2b the fate to befall it.

I think Planet Earth is a good album, but I have to be in the mood to listen to it. To me the whole album is kind of mellow and has a longing vibe to it.
Some of the early albums where more cutting edge with a kick-ass vibe.
His music seems always heavily influenced by his personal situation and that's what makes Princes music so unique.
While Prince is usually a very private person who doesn't like interviews and personal questions, with his music it's like he's sharing very intimate details of his life with the rest of the world.
The message he sends with his music has drastically changed since the early years of course. He is getting older and his outlook on life is now a more mature one.

GiGi319 said:

Haha...
Liked ur post a lot... the whole thing he wrote about how his music is very personal and is him pretty much sharing himself with anyone who's willing to listen... I believe the exact same thing

Like when PE came out, I only asked for an album better than 3121 or just was different from it... and I got my wish. In the end, all I ask for is for him to keep writing the music however he feels it should be written. Only he can decide what works for him, right? As long as he's happy with the end product, that's what matters. I want him to keep music as he always has and not pay attention to what others tell him to do... of couse im just turning this around and saying to him not to listen to the people who hate Planet Earth and stay away from the techniques he used to make it... I think it was a great step forward... and what's more, I expect something even better to come out next. Build up on the foundation he left behind with PE, take it to the next level.

That's just my opinion. I can't tell him what to do next with the music nor can anyone else. It's up all to him in the end. These are HIS thoughts/feelings. People should just respect how he is expressing himself and is still basically "sharing his life" with his listeners.

Edit: I forgot to ask... what do you mean by "longing vibe?" Are you talking about Prince himself in that album?
[Edited 12/5/07 15:27pm]

whatever it does to his fanbase, i think he's in dire need of an
album that's challenging, inspiring, lyricaly sound and above all
weird and enigmatic.

enough with the standard formula songs already. he should do one
more album of triumphantly exotic and weird stuff.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

my post was somewhat inspired by your response to Giovanni´s post, which i found very interesting, although i find alot of your posts enlightening, as you express feelings which i had 23 yrs ago, when I first got into Prince. having read some your earlier posts, I was amazed you were only into him since 10 months, you sounded like someone that was there from 76 at the original minneapolis genius recordings.

which is probably the reason you hold PE to your heart, it is the first new album that has been released since you have become a fan, it is the first album you can judge without reading reviews from the past and other opinions. I remember a few friends of mine got to a stage when a new album by an artist was released, they refused to read anything about it, till they had listened to it themselves, then they would read the reviews.

I think the night you go to your first Prince concert will blow your mind, but when you see your first aftershow and see and hear what goes on there, you will be in a daze for the rest of your life and it will answer your question---->

I

i'm very open 2 anything p does. Stuff I might not like initially, I usually come around 2 it at some point, depending on my mood, & also my age.
The fan base is a divided crowd cuz p doesn’t follow a formula & frankly we’ve been spoilt by his diversity & some r fussy & just never happy.
He can’t win as people still complain when he supplied the ‘very neutral something 4 everyone,’ planet earth!

Seems 2 have spent his whole career creating new vibe/image & manages 2 keep each project fressshhh!
as alwayz, i imagine he's itching 2 do something very spectacular.
Not likely 2 do anything with amy w in near future. (gutted)
he seems 2 go with his mood, so cuz he's inspired by profits (er, i mean prophets) from the bible & studying it's stories, i predict he might b responsible 4 a religious based broadway type show.
i can imagine he will pen the music, oversee as much as he possibly can & completely revel in the drrramaaa...& pull in the big buck$$.
i would probably go if the music was varied, planet earth stylee.
i think he could seriously pull it off, but i'd rather he didn't

i am rather partial 2 his live stuff (even more so after hearing C&D jam of wk) anything! an album of dolly mixtures - old, new or covers. Lots of guitar will keep it sexy. Imaginative, no - realistic yes yes yes plz!

I’m curious about his involvement with tht girly dj.
Does he want 2 try his hand? That would b excellent 2 c him on the clubbing circuit.. not tht I’ve been clubbing 4 some time, but I def would. I need a really good excuse 2 get my old arse in2 a happening joint!
Hey, tht would b really cool....scratchin' & mixin' & dancin' & funkin' & trancin'..& recordin’ & releasin’ & buyin’ & sellin’

prince is unpredictable & everyone LOVES tht
[Edited 12/5/07 16:44pm]

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

Huh?!?

Giovanni777 said:

why is it frustrating? i know that whatever i like in some Prince jams others wont see it, and when i see a review i dont agree with .. i just skip it.. i agree with you on the TRC.. to me that's the last great album he did..

I bloody well hope so, would hate for him to become dull(I know that aint ever gonna happen )

lottielooloo1968 said:

yep makes him so damn interesting even if its not what you agree with, you always want to know what hes up to next musically

Flowerz said:

this is my boat too!

I agree. I think it's time again for a real experimental/challenging album. The last three have been good, no doubt about it, but each one is more or less a collection of well written, but essentially unrelated pop songs. It would be great if he tried his hand at something a little more experimental next time - a concept album, an instrumental album, experimenting with new instruments/band members etc.
[Edited 12/5/07 18:54pm]

Every Prince album divides somewhat, but I agree. It's about time for one of his crazy albums.

The last three seem like a trilogy of sorts. Despite their differences, the similarities are obvious. They're the "fairly bland, short, easy, bringing P back in the spotlight" albums.

Prince has been embraced by the public again, but the albums still haven't really done that well. Maybe he'll turn another corner.

I think (and hope) the next album will have longer, more challenging songs, and may not be so accessible. Maybe it will have a feature that turns listeners off--Vader voice, NPG Operator, Kirstie Alley.

I hope so!

lol....

Graycap23 said:

ok i'll be the 1st to ask .. y'all (u n Gio) must of heard something.. lol

Giovanni777 said:

Most of his albums are Masterpieces!

Kinda strange/ironic, isn't it?

Coming into this, I thought of Prince as Pop Royalty, basically cuz he's been there, done that, and is pretty much a veteran. And highly respected in the industry for doing what he does.

That's the impression I got of him.

The ironic part... is that the music he's come out with most recently is and has been called Pop music on Pop-oriented albums.

And people wonder why I'm so pleased with his current material.

3121 is like a pop album... he called Musicology a pop album (not my kind of pop, but pop nonetheless)... Planet Earth seems to continue from that vein... but he adds a bunch of other stuff in there... a dash or two of religious/spiritual themes and some R&B...

maybe his next will keep going from that progression, but take it to a level that more people will enjoy. Whatever he comes out with, I'd like it 2b something all of us can find something that we like about it. I hate the fighting and bad reviews. I'm still new... so call me ignorant if u want, but this is just how I feel.

IstenSzek said:

A-friggin'-men!

Whatever he comes up with I'm anxious to hear it! If it's diverse even better, I'm a big fan of creativity!

Giovanni777 said:

....as often Giovanni....u know something we don't know (yet)....and i know u can be trusted cause u are in the know!

stef

Almost all of Prince's albums divide, especially in recent years.

I'll make a little prediction now and say that PFunk will NOT be an indicator of what the next album will be like.

NouveauDance said:

....but the difference....Giovanni is the Insider..and his predictions are based on some Facts!!

IstenSzek said:

love2thenines2003 said:

lol, which "facts"?....I can only remember loads of bullshits from him and Graycrap about Planet Earth....or did I miss anything? (If so, then excuse me)

Speaking of Purple Rain. Are we divided when it comes to that album? I know for many of us it's kind of too successful, too well-known, too often played on the radio, too much pop mainstream regarded from today. You're giving up your insider status when you say Purple Rain was a great album. But I think it really WAS and still IS a great album for nearly all of us. I can't remember ever having read anything AGAINST Purple Rain. We won't speak of Planet Earth in a few years. For me, that was a disappointing album. F.U.N.K. proved what kind of raw, inspired, versatile stuff he is STILL able to do. That makes All the midnites or Revelation weak giveaways. And it marks a change to an uncompromising prince sound. I predict more of that. We kicked your ass, P. Now come on, kick ours.