alandail said:

i've heard other bands complain about how pathetic profits are from iTunes. it would make more sense for him to start another musicology store like he had on the NPGMC site - he'd make more money that way. or he could release a new album digitally on his own site as an "exclusive" and then a month or two later, release the album to stores and iTunes. that way, the fans who are keeping on top of his music will be buying directly from him, and those early sales could build a buzz for more casual listeners who depend on target and iTunes for their music shopping.

Shorty said:

Princey definitely be lyin'

Prince chases the money. How surprising... and him mentioning that the internet is a black hole is kind of funny, because that's exactly how you could describe all of his music post 1988.

I have a message for Prince too. There is no God. Deal with it, and face some real issues in life instead of hiding from them with an imaginary God. Thank you.

2freaky4church1 said:

Exactly!

jseven said:

Sounds great, I agree. It will probably be a channel viewers can subscribe to. (doubt if it will be free)




Actually, there's no limit to the sky, but infinite possibilities no less with whatever he has planned. We shall see Jseven.
[Edited 9/26/08 18:20pm]

I can see how it's hard for some people to believe that Prince is celibate, but some of the comments here have been just plain disrespectful.

I'm not a religious person, but I do respect his and anyone Else's choice to practice their religion the way they see fit.

I can see why he has a problem with YouTube, even though I disagree with him.

I doubt I'll buy his book, but I'm definitely anxious to hear a new album or see him on tour.

Again, I don't agree with him on Intelligent Design, but I respect his beliefs as I would hope he would respect mine.

I've read people take Prince to task for not voting, yet making a song about Martin Luther King. Call me crazy, but I thought Martin fought against discrimation. The same thing you're doing when you're attack his religious beliefs and his decision to be celibate.

Whatever Prince chooses to do with his life and his career, I support because it's HIS life, and HIS career!!!

I don't think Prince is a bad person just because he doesn't act the way people want him to.

I've also read someone say that Prince's music hasn't been the same since 1988. That's because he isn't the same person he was in 1988!!!

If you want Prince to act and sound like he did in the 80's then maybe you should watch Purple Rain.

Ok. article. beleive him. Even if nobody does.
[Edited 9/26/08 17:43pm]

Paris9748430 said:

Gotta agree with everything Paris9748430 said (love that song by the way!)

I thought the org was for people who actually LIKE PRINCE! It's easy to be cold towards him because he doesn't say or do things your way, but we don't own him, like he doesn't own us. Just be grateful for the pleasure he has given you in his performance and art. There are some people in the music 'business' who deserve some real disdain, save it for them.

laurarichardson said:

but in a way he may b considered the inovator of doing store deals since crystal ball was only in sam goody stores which led 2 the backlash of other retailers not stocking his music in 98. and the rainbow children was in best buy stores a week b4 the official release date because the distributor was linked 2 best buy

...I also think that iTunes may be an easy way distribute music, but it's monopolistic - you have to have music in THEIR format and use THEIR player (though you can work around this). Apple's interest in music stops and starts with the revenue they derive from the iPod. They are no different to the music industry, in their world, they are the music industry.

God bless (yes God) Prince for steering clear.

Meloh9 said:

didn't u find it curious that the promotion 4 3121 stopped once universal refused 2 release tamar's album?

and as 4 sony, read this article again where he talks about putting planet earth in the newspaper which infurated Sony 2 not distribute the album in england.

and i don't think sony made all that money off the musicology album since it was included in the price of the tickets 4 that tour compared 2 the version released 2 retailers

purplecam said:

there's one in white plains lol ..hop ur ass on metro north son

This is a very well-written article and the pictures are outstanding...thanks Serpan. I love me some Prince, but I am far from being blindly obsessed with him. He proves to be a true Gemini with some of the contradictions painted in this article IMO.

I don't believe in religion, any religion; only a higher power that I refer to as 'God'; and, the simple idea that people should love and respect each other and all of God's creations. God is going to be God whether religion exists forever or disappears tomorrow. I don't like when any person, celebrity or not, insists on mentioning their beliefs without taking into consideration if others want to hear it. There's a fine line between sharing your beliefs and forcing them on people (Tom Cruise and Madonna crossed these lines not to long ago, and Prince ain't far behind them IMO). I don't like when he asks people if they believe in God, because God has different titles throughout the world and he should consider that before posing that question to his diverse group of fans out of respect for those who don't refer to their deity by that moniker.

Honestly, the only thing that religious indidivuals came up with that made any real sense to me was WWJD...What Would Jesus Do? Really, what would Jesus Do? I don't think many of them thought about it before they started printing it on bumper stickers, T-Shirts, and other merchandise. I don't think Jesus would be rollin' around in a over-priced car, wearin' a head-to-toe designer ensemble, and charging people to listen to him speak the Word (then he would be a televangelist ). Nor, do I think that Jesus would be living alone in a 9-bedroom, 30,000 square foot mansion....but I could be wrong.

If people are going to throw out religion and make it seem like because they go to church twice a week, once on Saturday, and 3 times on Sunday, that means that they get an automatic entry pass into heaven, than they need to really think about that acronym...WWJD. Practice what you preach is all I'm sayin. I don't expect Prince to give up all his fame and fortune and live like Mother Theresa, but I don't want him preaching to me if he's not going to live a little more of a humble existence either. Why the hell do you need a 9-bedroom house all to yourself? I'm just sayin'.

Other points of interest for me:



No that's called 'secrecy', even mysterious people are more open than Prince at some point in their lives and careers.



As much tail as this man has had over the years, I wouldn't be surprised if he was actually celibate now...not because he wants to be, but because it's something new to try for a while. Good for him, for keeping it in his pants, if he indeed is keeping it in his pants...that's between him, God, and his bed sheets.



His neighbors would ask him to perform a song, probably 'Purple Rain', and when he refuses, they'll probably slam the door in his face.




He's a well-known celebrity...unfortunately this is inevitable for him and he needs to be happy that his fans don't take his little lawsuits to heart and ignore him.



I don't celebrate birthdays, because I have an awful memory; and, I believe many holidays to be exaggerated so that certain companies can make big profits...Jesus wasn't even born on December 25, but Toys R Us and Hallmark will totally disagree with you on that. The Electoral College vote is the vote used to determine the President. The Popular vote, the vote of the people, is usually just used as a tie-breaker. I learned that in Political Science in 8th grade, so if voting makes people feel like they are doing something great, than more power to them.




Yet, he wants to make a TV channel, but he's against most of his earlier songs because of their content? So, basically, that channel probably won't have that many videos on it.




To see that he's kept something that his father gave him as a child is soo sweet to me. Seriously, this is the most real and open part of the interview IMHO. He's still a daddy's boy after all these years.




First, he has to be willing to compromise if he wants to find true love. I love Prince, but Prince seems to not be the type to change his practices for any female. He loves his music and he's a workaholic when it comes to his craft. He can't expect a real woman to give up everything she believes in and follow his practices and he's not willing to do the same. I don't believe real love works like that, but that's just my

If he says he is celebate then the man more than likely is, I pose this question, why, and what reason would he have behind lying about that? Most men would not openly admit to that, think about it....

I don't want 2 dissect everything that Prince wrote and others but have 2 say this:

Perhaps some videos were made on the "cheap" as some1 put it, however, Prince never thought that his songs, his art, needed that 2 million dollar pay roll. Heard how Alphabet St. was made? That was made on the "cheap" but came out kinda brilliant and different than what was going on at the time. Perhaps cheap is not the best word. Prince wanted 2 make it quickly, and did what was best available to him.

The 1999 video 4 xample could come off as cheap, but were set 2 kind of b in a futuristic version of Blade Runner, where perhaps we had a future, but it was a future that was bleak.

I guess with maids like her, it is better to keep your dirty mind in hopes she can clean it up 4 you.

As 4 some1 else, the director of Kiss was Rebecca Blake as well as Cream & Diamonds & Pearls. Randee Directed The Violet The Organ Grinder video and also directed the Insatiable video.

say, who is that behind the camera in Insatiable?
[Edited 9/26/08 19:44pm]

irishwolfhound said:

That is one of the most romantic pictures I have ever seen, thank God it is immortal so I can recall romance in this world when my heart longs 4 it.
[Edited 9/26/08 19:35pm]

jseven said:

you might be on to something.

"sexuality" is probably my favorite prince video because it's so stark and shocking and RIGHT THERE in your face. i can still feel that crazy, almost scary, immediacy in the video, even years later.

and is it cheesy? of COURSE it is. but it's a pop music video, not a merchant-ivory drama.

comparatively, some of his bigger budget videos are kinda dull to me. "cream"? technically it looks fantastic, but

of course, i also love the "batdance" and "partyman" videos to death, and those were big-budget city (at least partyman was).

There have been times where Prince has used the dreaded "Green Screen" 4 videos, such as U Make My Sun Shine and a few others.

IF a video channel or something like that came 2 fruition what could we expect?

But there r many videos we have never seen which had higher budgets, say like "Walk, Don't Walk" which was shot by Lisa Bonet?

What about the video 4 "A Million Days" shot by Sanaa Hamri?

Perhaps the original video version of "Blue Light", shot at Glam Slam L.A.?

He has stuff we never knew about. Remember that video on NPGMC of "I Like It There"? yea, stuff like that.

This is something several artists are going 2 be able 2 do very easily in a few years, Prince is laying the ground work now and it will take time. 4 other artists in the future, it will be easier than what Prince is doing as he will again be the pioneer.

It will be frustrating 4 fans because it is something being discussed now, but will take time. True, with Prince's patience, u might think he is abandoning the idea. Me? I think Prince has so many ideas that he wants 2 accomplish, y keep ur eye on 1?

jseven said:

Rebecca Blake.

Anxiety said:

U know, it's like b4 I saw the video 4 Scandalous, all I heard about was how "cheap" it was and how he should have done this and should have done that. I was disapointed and I did not even see the video!

Then I saw the clip a few years later and it did not seem that bad 2 me at all. In fact, whenever I have an admirier of Prince's over, and they want 2 see videos, when that one pops up, u sometimes get a shriek as soon as they hear that doorbell opener.

The idea of just him, in front of a microphone, wearing a seductive color such as red, singing right 2 the camera, u then imagine a female on the other side of the tv sipping on red wine while watching this video. Prince is singing it 2 them.

The simplicity of the video may have been lost on others, and I am sure was not a 2 million dollar production, however, in this video and that moment, it was not needed.
[Edited 9/26/08 19:45pm]

Anxiety said:

Exactly

Itunes is nice but yes the profits are crap. Apple's take is waaaaay more than should be allowed but for up and coming artists its a way of being part of one of the largest and more popular distribution outlets. For Prince though...not really needed.

I'm smelling new album here...hope its not another year though.

thebumpsquad said:

Thank u. Will change.

U know, I am going 2 wait til we have a thread about the video idea. Will get lost in the book thread and look 2 discuss it more when it won't get so lost.

SEXYMF2002 said:

i think it's a fine idea for him to put a greatest hits comp on iTunes because people are always going to want stuff like "1999" and "let's go crazy" and he'll always get a stream of piddly to fair profits from such an offering. but yeah, i don't see how iTunes would be profitable at all if someone in prince's position decided to release new material through them.

He may have more than enough of it, but it sounds to me like he wants even more money and control... interesting how my version of "The Cross" (beir appropriated) hasn't been taken off youtube yet...

What Prince needs to learn is that he's made his money and that even though iTunes DOES give 'embarrasing' paybacks, there are some developing artists that would kill for the exposure alone... As long as they're exposure is not at Prince's expense hence the youtube 'bastardisation' quote.

CEAST AND DESIST ME PRINCE - I DARE U!!!!!

'dre

Anxiety said:

First, while I agree that the profits thru iTunes are not as high as other outlets, in a roundabout way he will still make more money. He will sell more units thru iTunes than his own site, hence make more money (it's apples and oranges because he'd never sell as many units on his own).

Secondly, these pictures (although over-Photoshopped) really look good. I can see bits of Controverys,PR,Parade, and even NPS all in the same month! This man doesn't age. What really stands out is how good he looks lately without a specific "theme" (no purple jacket, no quirky haircuts, no skintight clothing, etc). Just him chillin' and lookin' cool.

a couple of comments on here kinda bugged me, and i'm not sure where the actual posts are or who posted them, but the sentiments have been echoed elsewhere by other people well before this interview was published, so i'm speaking more to the comments than to the people who posted them on this thread.

k. that said:

1. it bugs me when people say prince is "copping out" when he says he refuses to vote because his religion preaches against it. there are many religions that make the claim that their followers live in the world but are not necessarily of it. one side of my family is german baptist, and they don't vote. they don't read mainstream media or newspapers, either. i think my grandparents are considered "rebels" because they have a subscription to readers digest. but the JW faith is not unique to the practice of not voting, and having been brought up in such a faith, i "get" it, even if it's not a belief that i personally share. voting a man into a position of such power is kind of like choosing a god figure, to put it really simply. and some religions think that is an insult to god, or that it's too dangerously close to serving false idols. i'm sure there's a more proper line of dogma, but hopefully you get the drift. prince has the freedom to vote, sure. but you know what, he has the freedom of religion and the freedom NOT to vote, as well. that doesn't make him a closet neo-con or a lazy hippie. it just makes him someone who follows the rules of a religion he chose to be part of. that's all.

2. on the OTHER hand, i hate when people who DON'T have a moral/spiritual thing against voting opt not to vote because "it doesn't make a difference anyway". actually, that may be true. our votes may mean absolutely nothing. but if that's the case, then nothing BAD is going to happen if i vote just the same as nothing GOOD will happen if i vote. that is, if nothing = nothing, and nothing = the absence of good and/or bad. on the other hand, if my vote DOES mean something by some magical chance, then the effort i made will have paid off for me. if my vote DOES mean something and i do NOT vote, then i screwed myself and i have no right to complain about who got elected. and since i personally don't know if my vote does or does not have value, i don't know if i'd have the right to complain or not if i don't vote, but if i DO vote and someone i don't like is elected, i am guaranteed four years of guilt-free bitching. and that is like gold to me.

ok, so those are my rants for this thread. thank you, that is all.

It doesn't really bug me that Prince doesn't vote. Voting is a privilege, not a law. If he chooses not to vote, that's his choice. He's still paying taxes and buying American real estate, so he IS contributing.