Name a pop musician over 45 who isn't past their prime.

NouveauDance said:

santana

mirrorbestfriend said:

AGREE!!!!!

The discussion needs to be focused on who will be the next Prince,Micheal Jackson,Madonna instead of Prince being past his prime.

We have been stuck in the worst musical era since the Victorian era because there are not any new stars that can take the baton from the eighties superstars.

Every song is bullshit rappers or the same tired ass slow jams from the same tired ass Urban bullshit producers.

Somebody needs to step up.

mirrorbestfriend said:

well i just listened to somewhere here on earth, 3121, the word, ....so I'd say Hell NO!

thepope2the9s said:

so your the one person who actually bought that sorry album!

mirrorbestfriend said:

Make it two sorry people!

NouveauDance said:

Gary Numan
Kate Bush
Nick Cave
Bjork
David Sylvian


IMO, all have recently made far better music than the stuff they were known for at the start of their careers. I can't think of anyone else though.

wildgoldenhoney said:

Make it 3!

Prince is not past his prime. Working with x, y, and z producers does not guarantee a "hit" for anyone. I have seen people get the best producer but the record didn't do that great.If he gets a producer and some people don't like the record, they with rip him apart just like they do when he produces himself.I find noting wrong with his studio work. He is a good producer and has hits to prove this. People should let go of this produer thing. If he did't want to bring in a producer in when he was first started out, why would he do it now? He had the chance to it then to work with one.
[Edited 7/2/08 23:09pm]

No way. He's different than he was, that's all--I'd say in many respects, better.

I'm struggling to think of a single musician who has maintained a creative flair that captures the majority for any considerable length of time. Maybe the Beatles kept it going but I can't think of any others that stay popular once they age.

I guess it depends on how one views 'prime' and whether 'successful' has anything to do with 'age'. As much as we try to view things with a clear head it is still impossible not to be influenced by our own opinions and learnings. I'm 37 now and Prince's influence on me was most evident during the 80's and early 90's. Later material I'm not quite struck with.

If I were to rank say Sign O The Times next to Somewhere Here On Earth then for production values the latter would come out higher. But for creativity and social/critical impact the former would win hands down.

I fear that Prince, like his peers of similar age, is now a rock dinosaur regarding his studio releases. It's not a bad thing, just a natural thing. We can't all stay young forever and how sad would it be if we did.



PS: We should have our age placed next to our comments in order that we can gauge our Prince era fanaticism. I'm sure some of the comments aggressively defending his later works are by a younger generation. And when you think about it how good is that?

PPS: How many times have you heard the elder generation say 'they don't make songs like they used to'. Now, at 37, I feel the same way. But the simple truth is that they do make songs like they used to. It's just that the impact is no longer apparent or meaningful once you age. Certain songs that meant so much to me when I was in my late teens now hold little value, both musically or emotionally. Perhaps this is what 'prime' is all about?

PPPS: How about Madonna? Her choice of producer always has a massive impact on her reception by the masses. Although let's put her latest down as 'misadventure'
[Edited 7/3/08 1:57am]

NO.
as long as there is life
there is music
from all ages and both genders
and most of us love it from yesterday 2 2day
some 4 every1 regardless the age
peace

Prince may be past his prime, but to call his music stale and uninspired is a little harsh. What would the NEW SOUND be that Prince should open his mind to? I hope you're not talking hip-hop or rap because Prince has never been a hip-hop or rap kind of guy, not even when he was younger. That just isn't Prince and thank God for that!!! The fact that we are still discussing the music of an artist that has been around for 3 decades speaks for itself.
I have my doubts however that any of the so called stars that make up the music scene these days will even last one decade.
I believe that Prince is still capable of making great music. It might not be the kind of music that the masses want to hear these days, but there are always people out there who very much appreciate his music to this day.

Firstly, I think Prince knows exactly what he wants to do and just goes ahead and does it.

I don't know if that is right or wrong but I for one think his personality dominates too much and would find it hard to collaborate with other producers and it still not sound like a Prince track.

I think other people remixing his music and him having nothing to do with it works. Look at the new Shockadelica record - it sounds amazing. You would hardly know it was Prince!

Prince has such a distinct style but that is part of his thing. It would be like telling an artist to paint a colour by numbers picture.

Prince is all about doing his thing. He loves it. He gets off on it. He would be bored without it.

He loves making music and recording. That's what he's all about. He's a free spirit.

I don't think he would care whether we think he's past his peak or not. It hasn't stopped him in the past and he has been written off many times.

I don't think he would know what to do, other than music.

I mean does anyone have a prime? Where do we start?, begin?, end?, stop?

Who knows?

Who knows when any of us pass our prime?

I went to see Neil Diamond recently and he was great...

Hearing your favourite artist sing their hits is always a thrill.

And maybe we are going to have to accept that we don't like everything he does but Prince would be bored just playing his old hits.

He probably has to create new music purely to inspire himself and test himself.

A lot of people think he's past his prime and I respect that but I have no problem say no I don't think he has yet. Commercially, as much as it pains me to say it, his time has passsed, but musically no. The reason for me is that he's not done making music. We have no idea what's in store for the future. He might do something that knocks me and everyone else here away. I look forward to seeing what Prince has up his sleeve with the next CD.

he's coming into another prime

Also I would also add, these people critizing Prince - do they ACTUALLY know any of his music.

Most people that I know that critize him have never actually listened to him properly and have merrely pigeon holed him because of his image.

OR they don't actually get what his music is about and are looking purely for something to SOUND good but has little depth and substance below the surface.

Certainly not in the way Prince's music is very layed and deep.

Infact some people aren't prepared to work on Prince's music. They can't get past certain stereotypes that they have about him especially in relation to sex and religion.

Here is the deal:

Prince is 50. In pop music that incredibly "past your prime".

Prince has been in the limelight for the better part of his life (30 years). That means we (fans and now even the mass audience) have grown incredibly comfortable Prince's greatness.

That does no mean that Prince's genius has dulled, it's just that we've had 30 years to become used to it. It is not as shockingly fresh as it was in 1980, 1984, 1987, etc.

That said, some 20 year old kid would come out now, putting out albums like Planet Earth or 3121, critics and fans would be heralding this 20 year old as new, refreshing, genius type talent. But, like I said, it's Prince and we are used to his greatness.
[Edited 7/3/08 8:16am]

rusty1 said:

since u want 2 throw my name let me say that ur response 2 this thread is once again off base. and further more, what i will say is that rusty is stuck in the 80's with his mj beat it jacket and just 4 record here is brief list of the man that "could do no wrong" during ur period that produced and wrote some clunkers ...

make up
ooh she she wa waa
do u lie
ronnie talk 2 russia

etc etc etc ..

i will agree with purplecam that said "u just never know what he might pull out" so hold ur horses

tane1976 said:

very well said

rusty1 said:

rusty ur trying 2 bait me and it's not working. if u keep insisting that the period u love so much is his only creative flux, then y do u continue 2 b a fan of his music? it seems more that ur trying 2 force down my throat and others that this is the only time prince's music inspired people and ur so wrong by that. calling me out won't help change how i feel about his 90's 2 current material. i choose 2 like his output from his entire span of career and not limit it 2 a certain period. but u do u and i'll do me

mirrorbestfriend said:

I own all of P's albums.
You can take his worst album and it still is better then alot of the
crap on radio today.

thepope2the9s said:

You're comparing crap against crap. Given the choice between two piles of crap I'd choose neither. So given the choice between the best of todays music and the worst of Prince's material... well do I really have to ask?

Nobody likes a fanatic, be it religion, idolisation, sport, you name it. The blinkered and ignorant view they have of their subject removes them from considered and well-judged conversation and argument. Not that I'm saying you are, I've merely responded to your post in the first paragraph.

mistifying1. Care to explain what you meant in our language?

purplecam said:

So who's winning here?

pepper7 said:

Really wish I'd made the effort now too. One of the guys at work went and said it was fantastic. I hear he played all the songs he's written over the years for everyone else. Now that must have been good (and for those that didn't know it must have been a bit of a shock, I mean how many huge hits?).

See, another guy who is a dinosaur and will only ever receive Radio2 airplay at best, yet to see live I imagine is surpassing his prime.

It's horses for course in this world. Pity too many lack the spark to realise it. Ever heard a new mum turn to another and say "Yes, your baby is lovelier than mine."?

Yes. Definitely past his prime. Its been that way since N.E.W.S. But for some reason he felt he had to go back out there and get 'accolades' - which have all been entirely pointless, because they dont mean anything.

I mean hey, if he wants to keep moving further away from all the things that really matter, thats fine, but he doesnt seem to have an idea of what they are.

The entertainment industry has had him locked in a cage of stunted emotional growth for 30 years.

Somebody help a brother out and tell him, that these days, most people see straight through the whole 'hollywood' shebang, except for hardcore fans and people who are stuck in that world of thinking.

Do you know how many times this guy has refused to listen to his better nature all because of his ego?

Its a mental prison I wouldnt wish on anyone.

I'm sure he'll continue to make great music, at the expense of other peoples time and emotions, and rake in millions without a second thought as to the fact that it might be blood money, and I'm equally as sure that he will continue to live in denial about his failed marriages and somewhat dull sounding music.

For those interested; PLanet Earth is a bit dull to the ears, because thats the result of a mind clogged with dope. Thats why his audience didnt 'buy it', and thats also why he lashed out with lawyers, threatening 3 sites of people, for tapping into the fact that something wasnt right.

Its what he does, rather than fix the problems in his own backyard, he sics lawyers onto people, cuz he can, from his lofty height.

One of the greatest musicians this world will ever know, our Mozart, was supposed to evolve in this life time, beyond his ego.

I'm still waiting.

I predict he's going to play and produce inspired work till he drops. There's still plenty of passion in him.
And Passion doesn't have to scream and strut on a stage in bikini briefs to have value. There're plenty of other ways to express it.

Well I don't hear the passion anymore. Whoever said stale and uninspired hit the nail on the head with two hammers.

I'd actually go the other way say I find it quite difficult to understand how someone with the flair and obvious musical talent as prince can produce such recent albums of mediocrity and blandness.

people have asked who will be the next Michael Jackson, and Madonna and Prince, and the answer is probably no one. The way the record industry works now is completely different to the way it harvested and cultivated new artists. Now it's all about self promotion, and self exposure mostly on the internet.

I hear tracks by artist like Santogold's - you'll find a way, and think wow, now that's fresh and new, and I hear tracks like (insert any prince track of the last 8 years) and I think hmm, well lets hope someday he turns a corner. Someday maybe.