astrok said:[quote]

Lovesymbol2 said:

I think it's gone. The 12/18/08 show that was entitled "Prince & ?" is gone. Oh well.

BartVanHemelen said:

Um, 2007?? The 21 Nights in London was a pretty amazing feat, plus his Superbowl performance was a huge critical success. He also generated a huge number of column inches with the Mail on Sunday giveaway (name one major artist who gave away their new studio album with a newspaper before him...)

That sounds like a pretty good year to me.

muleFunk said:

... and then you'd complain they're not as good as SOTT, or not really a "back-to-form" album...

btw... when has Prince ever done a true to form Prince album? I would say they're all different (and that is why I keep coming back and buying them).

Life (read a Prince CD) is like a box of chocolates, etc...

btw... i didn't mean you mule Funk... was just continuing your comment...

..."The album kicks off with an explosive, four-minute instrumental before launching into the first song that was played on the radio… Prince covering Tommy James & the Shondells’ “Crimson & Clover,”"...
from the Rolling Stone article.

So has anyone heard this 4-minute instrumental? At first I thought this was part of the 4 songs previewed on the radio but then realized it was not. Just curious since there's been no talk or discussions about it.

The album kicks off with an explosive, four-minute instrumental before launching into the first song that was played on the radio, Prince covering Tommy James & the Shondells’, Crimson & Clover, with the Purple One altering the lyrics as he’s been known to do during his cover performances. Keeping with the original, the vocals sound like Prince is submerged under water.

For some reason, reading that made me giggle.

Been posting on the ORG since it started (the original version and then the new version from 18 February 2002 - same day as Bart) but have not bothered to post for nearly a year (continue to lurk) and some things just never change...

Prince releases/previews new music and:

1. FAMS start claiming the music is the best he has ever done, innovative etc and that he is back for his biggest year since 198x

2. HATERS say there has been no progression, same old stuff he always does, he was so much better back in the day etc

3. People who just wanted to discuss the merit (or lack of merit) of the new songs find it impossible due to the extreme poster dominating threads.

4. And Prince will probably remix the songs anyway before we they get released and everyone (including the HATERS will say "oh I preferred the demo version!)

The fact remains that he IS still releasing music.

The fact is that there are still FAMS.

The fact is the HATERS are still posting here after all those years!

At the end of the day this is a PRINCE fan site and people get excited when there is something new from their favourite artist.

As for my opinion, well I think these are good solid songs. They are not new or innovative. They do not represent anything Prince has not done before (but then again is there really much left for him to try - come on do we really want him to do a Paul Simon and embrace "world music" ie African folk).

However, they still demonstrate some good musicianship. He is playing some mean guitar on those tracks (something lots of people were moaning about since the mid-90s - ie the lack of rock).

The lyrics are a bit suspect - but then again Prince has never been THAT good at lyrics (they have always been rather self focused and naive when it comes to world affairs).

I am happy that my favourite artist (since I was 14) is still recording. I do not expect an amazing album that blows me away (like the 1980-1988 era) but do expect there to be a few gems on each album (and yes I do think the last three had their share of gems and could have been pulled together into a single fab album).

So I for one an excited (not in the same way I was as a teenager queuing up to buy the album from the shop the moment they opened) but I am looking forward to some new songs after a wait of more than a year.
[Edited 12/21/08 6:14am]

Separate reply as slightly off topic...

NO ARTIST REMAINS RELEVANT AND AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME FOR 30 YEARS

The Beatles are probably THE artist/band that most people use as the yardstick for musical progression. If you look at the music they all went on to release as solo artists it is easy to see that The Beatles would have become a joke by the 80s. Prince may have released Rave when he hit 40 but Paul McCartney released the Frog Chorus!

To expect a man in his 50s to be as vital and in tune with his fan base or the zeitgeist as he was in his 20s is ridiculous!

Prince was one of THE artists during the 80s. His musical progression across his first 11 albums was stupendous. Then he began to repeat himself (with the odd exception like TRC) and to draw on external musical references (like hip hop and modern R&B).

Prince has a "sound" that people recognise. Not many artists invent a "sound" that is later taken forward by other artists (much, not all, but much modern R&B and hip hop is ironically a development of Prince's minimalist Minneapolis sound!)
[Edited 12/21/08 5:59am]

Okay one final post from me...

There are people on this site such as BART who have reasons to hate Prince and will ALWAYS be negative and bitter.

Bart used to run a Prince fan website in the 90s. However, it was closed down by Prince and his people. Bart had dedicated 100s of hours of his life supporting Prince only to be treated with disrespect. So I do understand his anger.

However...

I do not understand why over 10 years later Bart is still bothering to lurk here and post. Why bother? I mean really, get over it already! Surely there is something better to do with your time?

Having said that why do I bother to post...hmmm

jaypotton said:

jaypotton said:

jaypotton said:

I disagree with that and don't see that as a compliment considering the general low quality of today's R&B and hiphop.

jaypotton said:

I guess some people still post for the same reason why Prince still records. To express themselves and get some attention.

Its okay as far as I am concerned. Some fans need to realise that this place has room for many voices, including Bart's and that it's no use and not okay to try to silence some.

Bart also makes some good points. Only problem is that it's always 100% negative and only aimed at tearing Prince down. Pretty self serving.

But that's the problem with Prince. He has fucked too many people over in his days, including people who didn't deserve it. And Prince will never ever apoligise to anybody. Then your bound to make some lifetime enemies, like Bart.

jaypotton said:

Jaypotton, I really enjoyed reading your posts here. They are very on target.

To Bart, sometimes it is best for your mind, body and spirit to just walk away from things that cause you so much bitterness and anger. I really do not understand what good can come to you from constantly bashing someone. At a certain point it is no longer cathartic. If Prince did you wrong, then let that karma come back to him. He has to seek forgiveness for his wrongs. However, don't carry that negativity around with you, corroding your own existence - especially not for 10 years. It just is not healthy.

BartVanHemelen said:

Bart is back? Wow..and angry as ever. How many years has he been around still following a guy he hates? Loser.


I love the COlonized and Crimson....

Jaypotten, i enjoyed reading your comments. I hop that you decide to post more frequently.

Tremolina said:

Music wise, Bart is always spot on. Bart is obviously a fan. A more critical fan, of course, but I think his opinions contribute more to this site that the fawning posts akin to a mother posting her baby's scribbles on the fridge
[Edited 12/21/08 10:58am]

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

I agree! it is always good to have debate and to cast a critical eye over everything. However, the reason why Bart gets people's backs up is that he NEVER has anything positive to say EVER about Prince. That's not simply opinion that's a mission!

However, it is interesting how easy it is to bait people and Bart does it all the time. He throws out the line and gets several bites. At the end of the day Bart is one hellava fisherman


P.S. Thanks to those who liked my posts. I try to be objective. I love Prince as he has given me many happy hours of entertainment BUT I also know the man can be a complete tosser and has hurt people (including fans) over the years.

ScarletScandal said:

i agree 100%!! i want to hear prince get down.

jaypotton said:

I must admit I get a bit confused about what makes an artist "relevant". There were those that make up the mainstream aduience that jumped off the Prince train as soon as Purple Rain was over with, so did that make Sign O The Times less relevant? Is it that an artist is supposed to be culturally relevant and appeal to a current generation, trend or movement in music? How does one become culturally relevant in a time when the ipod generation has everything on shuffle mode and there is no one prime genre that represents a movement in music? I wouldn't want Prince to start following trends and exploiting auto tune. I mean sincerely someone explain what is meant by relevant in terms of music, I am not sure what it is implied. When folks say that what are they trying to say that P is "irrelevant" at this point? In a time when real musicians are needed more than ever.

That would be something that the individual listener would have to decide, if a track or album is relevant to them. For me, Prince has moments in a performance when he will do something or release a song that will have have me in the same state of amazement I was in when as a kid listening to SOTT, but thats just me.

Also I kind of agree about the progression part somewhat, I listen out for the quality of current work more than I listen out to see if something new has been done sense this or that album, I try to judge most albums on their own terms so it's easier for me in a way. every artist tends to get caught in the trap where if you do something new people will want something old, do something old, you are not progressing forward, I just want to hear him put his heart and feeling into what he does more than anything, weather its a familiar style or not. I think ppl forget music is the interpretation of how one feels, and sometimes if a artist heart is not in a project it shows, if you really listen.

Ok. I just listened to these and...

Colonized Mind -- like this one. But I'm a sucker for guitar so there you go.

4Ever -- Eh, a little too Emancipation-ish to me. But not horrible

Wall of Berlin -- liked this one ok. not great but very listenable, kinda quirky. Again, I'm a sucker for guitar...

Crimson & Clover -- Ok I hate the original version of Crimson & Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells and the Joan Jett cover version is just ok to me. The only thing that saves Prince's version is that he smashed it up with Jimi's Hendrix's interpretation of "Wild Thing". But why not just do "Wild Thing" and call it a day if you're going to do a cover.
That being said I like it ok.

(There'll Never B) Another -- this would have been a really good song if...it didn't sound like a cast off from the Rave era. It sounds like he had a good idea and then tinkered with it too much in the studio.

I Finally Listened 2 ALL The New PRINCE Trax and I Must Say, I'm very excited about the NEW SOUND.

My Favs from Top 2 Bttm

1. Neva be anotha (Like Me)
2. Colonized Mind
3. Crimson & Clover
4. 4Ever
5. Wall of Berlin

Neva be another (Like Me), is definitely old school funk/r&b...This would be a great lead single, If I were PRINCE, I'd add 'ANDRE 3000'to the mix with his Lyrical Flow!!!

dancerella said:

rebirth of th eflesh was mad e by spooky electric
born during the when doves scream sessions

rebirth of th eflesh was mad e by spooky electric
born during the when doves scream sessions

DetroitMusic said:

yo detroit where is mojo-- what would he think--
prince should start his own radio station--
xm ?

andre is still young and misogynistic b ut gropwing--
sally don't you worry about a thing
some call it detgroit blues---

he may want to dig up one of those old last poets or better yet find a
young uninfected talent--
th e collabo is the way to go go sprinl;e it with some oprah or obama csound bite
call pookie and rayray to do a house mix and video slip for the club and ....

All the new cuts are really sounding good to me as I have head them several times.

What I find more exciting is the way they are so accessible to fans.

1. I would have never thought he would allow the station to continue streaming the 4 cuts they played.

2. The mplsound site actually requires you to use a web browser that has the capability to capture the music.

This just gives me the feeling that something may be shifting with the way Prince allows access to his work. I'm interested to see what's up his sleeve.

bellanoche said: