So i've found out a lot of people do not like Prince's music videos, what do you think he could have done to make them better? And why do you feel they are bad?

they are not all that bad...but they ain't very good either.
he's got some good ones...he just never seemed to really embrace the video thing. personally, I think Prince's videos should be live footages....that's where he blows people away.

no there not all that bad.....there just plain fuckin terrible!
[Edited 9/23/08 8:02am]

There's really only been a handful of projects where the videos played a big part, and even then they were largely functional.

Prince was in the MTV generation in the 80s, but for whatever reason, I think he was still a little behind the curve in terms of using the medium for it's biggest strengths.

generally cheap looking depending on his cash flow situation or WB's input /lack of input. The best were from 1999, P.Rain, D&P, 3121, Batman, Parade & SOTT. Videos from albums for Emancipation, Symbol, TGE, G.Bridge, C&D, ATWIAD looked either hugely corny [Symbol album] or cheap!.

Still it's always good to see him on screen doing something!. Have to say that the last few have looked good for him but lack so much impact when compared to others out there. The focus is on him on a stage with a band or him in a setting chasing a girl!.

Sometimes Prince's live per4mances r better, IMO. Sign "" the Times & When 2 R in Love r his worst videos. don't think they even count!

raveun2thejoyfantastic said:

Sign O' The Times was a pretty big and influential video. It looks very slick and modern and aged really well.

Shorty said:

Most of his videos I can remember were based on some kind of performance. The earliest one I remember was him playing different instruments ("Wanna Be Your Love"). The Controversy, Dirty Mind, and 1999-era vids were him onstage playing with the band

Even the later vids, like "Musicology", "Fury", and "Guitar" had him onstage playing with a band.

Some of this stuff was really low-budget (look closely and you can see a cameraman standing by the stage in the "Controversy" vid)...but I still liked the performances in the videos.

I don't remember any vids where there was a lot of acting and no performance.

What was that long-form vid they showed on VH1 a long time ago where this girl sneaked into Paisley Park and was trying to meet him?

NouveauDance said:

Not the SOTT concert, mean that boring video with the symbols & letters

raveun2thejoyfantastic said:

That's what I was referring to.

The SOTT video was very striking, not just visually, but also that it didn't include the artist, (or actors, or a story) at all. It's focus was on the lyrics, which is why it works so well, in the context of the song - it's not a technique that would've worked for Raspberry Beret or Kiss.

It's a classic video.


.
[Edited 9/23/08 10:24am]

NouveauDance said:

I didn't get that one (SOTT the video). I understood the message, but it was a bit too boring for my taste.

My favorite video from P is definitely TGRES. It is visually a nice video and does a good job illustrating the meaning of the song.

My least favorite would have to be Alphabet St.

If I had to pick my favorite videos from an album, I would say the videos for the D&P project are very well done and work well with the concept of the album. The PR videos rank up there also, because they fit with the flow of the album and movie.

Prince's music videos blow.

He's never put much effort into them, I think he considers the MTV generation beneath him or something.

I do like the Face Down video though....

DerekH said:

I can't really say I'm that familiar with some of those earlier vids but....I mean a real live perfomance...not just on stage "acting" as if he's playing. There are alot of non-performance videos. 7, gettoff, cream, d&p, TMBGW, the greatest romance, money don't matter, sexy mf, te amo corazon, blacksweat, somewhere here on earth.

Are you kidding? His videos are awesome

But I say its always nice to have some kind of visual to go with the music.

The 1999 video was great because it gave you a feel for him and his band, The Revolution. I recall seeing it years ago before I knew anything about Prince. A lot of it has stuck in my memory because there was simply nothing else like it. The togetherness of the group, the clothing, the hair, and the music fit perfectly with all that.

On the ones with the stage set-up, he electrifies the stage and gives you a feel of the kind of show he could put on while on tour (all of the 1999 album videos).
When Doves Cry gives you a look into the movie if you hadn't seen it yet and the whole choreography, set-up wtih the mirror images is what 80's videos were all about.

There was a reason why D&P released a collection of videos. Because they were just as beautiful and artistic as the music of that album was. People get information different ways, visually, audially and tactically and with music, having videos is a bonus for people who are more visual.

The only videos I found disappointing were ones where Prince wasn't in them
It makes up for those who haven't seen him live before.

The phenomenon of Prince includes the visual as well as the music and if you don't believe me, look at videos like Diamonds & Pearls that give you the whole package. The way he lights up the set, the way his music comes to life.

I like his videos. 'Partyman' is one of my all-time favorite videos ever!

Prince just doesn't seem to invest money, time, or imagination on his Videos. Which is why they never looked very good. All of them look very low budget for an artist of his Level. Have you ever seen the "Alphabet St." video?

Embarrassing.
[Edited 9/23/08 17:04pm]

"I Wish U Heaven" is an excellent video....one of his best."When Doves Cry","Raspberry Beret" and "Batdance" are also amazing.So he's had a few really fantastic videos.

I don't give a hoot about what anybody else says, I like his vids, and think they're greast. But then I'm a fam.

Yes, they are REALLY bad ! But who cares? I certainly don't !

It's not that I don't care about MVs... I just don't see what's the big deal. If he loved making MVs, yeah I would care... but obviously it doesn't matter to him.

Bishop31 said:

I would probably say something, but this is the 80s we are talking about! You could say the same for some of his music from the 80s: cheesey synthesizers, hollow drum machine sound...ect. Im not trying to use that as an excuse but a lot of peoples vids from that era look like that...that cheesey animation. Maybe im biased toward that decade lol but I don't see that video as bad.

LizaWoman08 said:

Prince was one of the biggest stars of the 80s and certainly would've had the financial resources and backing to make bigger budget videos. Whilst I hate to bring up his name on a Prince forum, Michael Jackson's 80s videos have aged wonderfully.

Face it, Prince was just not that good at expressing himself visually.
[Edited 9/24/08 2:41am]

I like most of his vids. But with the exception of a few... I don't think much thought or money was invested in them. Some of the pretty good exceptions IMO are:

Partyman
Thieves in the Temple
Love Sign
Batdance
Kiss
Betcha by Golly Wow

NouveauDance said:

I think the "Sign O The Times" video was a missed opportunity.With such powerfully written lyrics,that song could have had a truly amazing video.

Bishop31 said:

I agree,this video is so cheap-looking and amateurish.It resembles a video from 1980 or 1981....when practically all videos were cheap and very simple.But you know what? I like this video! It has a certain charm to it.

From what I undertstand,this video was thrown together very quickly.There wasn't much planning or thought put into it.Prince decided he wanted to make a quick video at Paisley Park,he called up the director,and it was filmed very quickly.

TiMix said:

Have you noticed that,whenever Prince wants a huge hit record,he puts alot of effort and time into his videos? After 'Lovesexy',he wanted to make a major comeback.That's why the "Batdance" video is so extravagant.It actually looks like a Michael Jackson video,lol.Then after 'Graffiti Bridge',he once again felt the need to make a comeback.Most of the videos from 'D&P' are all big-budget and extravagant.It obviously worked for him...

"Batdance" became a Number One hit single.
"Cream" became a Number One hit single.

I think someone said it earlier but while Prince's videos aren't bad, they aren't all that great either, with a few exceptions. It amazes me that as amazing as his music is and has been, the videos don't always shine like they should and it's a real shame. It would have been nice if he had worked with some big name directors for the videos and used some real special effects not the cheap ones like in "I Wish U Heaven". With that said, his videos in the last few years are a lot better then they used to be and that makes me happy.

SoulAlive said:

It did.

I agree with most of what's been said - it's funny though, coz from the late 80s to somewhere in the 90s, P talked about making videos as one of his art forms - maybe the crap looking ones are those where he put in TOO MUCH thought and input... (think GB - P's NOT a director...). I don't think he had much directorial influence on Partyman, which kicks a.

You guys really think the "Sign O The Times" video is great? C'mon,it's just the lyrics on a blank screen!

SoulAlive said:

I totally agree. The video, which I never saw on MTV, was boring as hell. A song like that needed to have people act out what the song was saying so that the message of the song could have an even bigger impact on regular viewers, let alone fans. Missed opportunity indeed.