Whitnail said:

Very nice post. I agree.
I think I might have had a problem with the image when I was really young and was exposed to the 1999 video... but I was given so little to work with initially. I saw the movie and the parts that sunk in weren't anything about the image people get of him. And I saw talent and the X-factor in his presence that I don't think anything was going to stop me.
I've come across several "walls" that could have stopped me from committing to "the ride" u go on as an admirer of Prince. The language, the sexuality, the reputation... Maybe I just had a strong determination to overcome those things because I knew deep down he was an extraordinary talent that I wanted to get to know.

And the artist he is now is typically the type of artist that I could get into very easily because that's what my parents exposed me to b4 I started picking my own music. So in the end, it did work out for me. The bad thing is that his sophistication now just makes him more irresistible to his female following

As for the idea of conversion, I think you either have to have a predisposition to get into his music. Like if you don't want to understand him to get past the image & reputation, there's nothing I could do to convince you otherwise. After listening through SOTT, however, I think that album could convert anybody because its among the best music he's written EVER

After listening through SOTT, however, I think that album could convert anybody because its among the best music he's written EVER


[Edited 1/30/08 11:25am]

If Prince didn't have the image he had would he have become a star? I think he would have become somewhat popular and respected as a musician(and perhaps even given the "genius" title), but he wouldn't have reached the masses as he has done...

even though the image has polarized people, it certainly got him attention.

If u are not familiar, what are u basing your judgement on?

Graycap23 said:

His Height and footwear. Duh. I have scientific proof that there is a link between height and musical talent...its all about elevation, oxygen intake, gravity, and sea level.
[Edited 1/30/08 18:36pm]

Yes, he always has been. But they don't count.

yes he was and still is judged wrongly, yet i respect everyone for their own "truth", some people close to me dont like him because i like him so much. but just like anything else that is now confirmed fact, there will be those who oppose it and that's what makes our country great. i'm just happy to think that the guy i chose, when he was lumped into a pack and considered too weird to last proved to be the GOODS.we are all drawn to him not just because of music but because he shows us some part of ourselves that people dont accept.But those days are gone, he's law now, an institution, something every inspiring young musician will have to hear about one way or another whether they think he's a gay midget or not.

I think everyone is judged wrongly by those unfamiliar with them, regardless of talent. Don't you?

A talented man can still be an asshole. Prince is a case in point.

viewaskew said:

Non-fans judge him on the information they know - that is, a general pop-cultural perception and the well-known material - i.e. most well-known albums and singles.

No different to any other artist really - Think of an artist you don't really like (or feel indifferent to), who is well established, but you don't really know much about their music beyond a few singles and an album maybe. Do you think you have an accurate opinion on their entire career?

NouveauDance said:

but.... but... this is different... this is Prince we're talking about. He's better than all those other guys

And all that judgement, I know it comes exactly from where u mentioned and its a real shame that people can't see beyond appearences. That's why I call those people "ignorants" because they let how the media has portrayed him make their decisions for them... if they could learn to look beyond that, they'd see a wonderful artist.

in the end, though, I don't want everyone in the world 2b as huge a supporter/admirer of Prince as I am... because that would just be... wrong

Sorry 4 that little rant, i couldn't help myself

but.... but... this is different... this is Prince we're talking about. He's better than all those other guys



[Edited 2/4/08 6:51am]

NouveauDance said:

no but seriously my point is i know alot of ppl,that are fans of every other popular artist there is.but alas i havent met 1 Prince fan(apart from my mum) i know alot of ppl who like Maryln Manson and MJ there what some ppl would call weird/strange.MJ is far weirder than Prince(im an MJ fan bye the way b4 i get the backlash ) hes bin 2 court 4 child abuse which i know he was innocent,but its still very taboo subject u would think 4 alot of ppl,but i know hundreds of MJ as i am 1 myself.So my point is what has P done wrong? apart from dressing in highheels etc and name changin. anyway i suppose ill never find the answer i just find it very sad

optimus said:

he is not a sterotypical male and people just couldn't handle it years ago although now most of us ladies think he looks gorgeous as well as being a great artist

ritaw said:

and would u call MJ a sterotypical male?

optimus said:

There are alot of reasons, apart from his image, P´s music is far more complicated than most or any mainstream musical acts, hence the reason that P fans have mostly got very broad tastes in music, and are extremely critical of P.

Prince is the teacher, and naturally as pupils we rebel, but in the end we have respect, there are alot of great artists that can say they have done this and that, but very few have opened people up, in issues such as gender, race, religion etc, as P

optimus said:

no