Last night, I went to Target. When I got ready to check out, the checker (who told me he was 19) asked me did I like the new Akon song. I told him that I didn't care for Akon because I didn't think he had much talent. He then asked me what did I listen to. I responded "a lot of Prince".

Checker: "Prince?"

Me: "Yes."

Checker: "Who's that? I don't think I've ever heard of him?"

I then asked if he had ever heard of "When Doves Cry," "LRC", "1999" or "Purple Rain". He said "no".

Me: "You've never seen 'Purple Rain'?"

Checker: "No"

I told him he needs to rent it ASAP and learn some musical history.

You know, I feel so sorry for the child. I started to go and buy him The Very Best of and pass it to him, but my funds were low.

That's fucking sad and disgraceful right there. I hate hearing stories like this.

wow...what a shame. atleast you fill him in and hopefully he will be schooled!

Akon!!!! Thats the cultural level of the younger generation

.
[Edited 1/29/09 9:33am]

i'm not surprised. it's kind of expected. i mean, how many people of my generation listen to Dizzy Gillespie or even Miles?

not many i bet.

Milty said:

It's not so much about "listening" to the artist, but being familiar with them. Sure, I may not be familiar with a lot of Miles' or Dizzy's work, but I can name you an album or song or 2.

It's just basic music appreciation.

I'm sure if I had said Madonna, he would have known.

It's True and I do feel weird when younger people go MY Dad or Mom likes him and I like so and so. It's because the teens like who is on the radio or on the different t.v. channels. But, I Honestly DON'T BELIEVE THAT they NEVER HEARD OF HIM. That's IMPOSSIBLE! I think they are just being FLIP!

MRGee said:

You know, at first I thought he was kidding, but I don't believe he was. He really had this puzzled look on his face. When he didn't recognize the titles WDC or 1999, I really believed him.

u made the mistake by saying go c purple rain ..u should have said graffiti bridge or sott

checker >>

holy shit. this is ridiculous. akon probably was influenced by prince. how can you not know who he is?

L4OATheOriginal said:

That says a great deal about why the music biz is where it is.....

NEVER heard of Prince? Where the fuck has this guy been?

In the kids defense he was BORN in 1990.

2funkE said:

I get that part, but Prince has done some pretty high profile things since he's been alive. Whether it be the 2004 Grammy Awards or even the Super Bowl halftime show in 07. He should have heard of him by now.

dannyd5050 said:

I guess stuck in Grand Prairie and Arlington.

Sad story

2funkE said:

I was born in 1990, bad defense
[Edited 1/29/09 13:40pm]

dannyd5050 said:

Probably livin' in Sheridan, Wyomong...on the other side of the blinking stop light. The one without the snazzy Holiday Inn ballroom.

It makes sense, you know.
[Edited 1/29/09 13:44pm]

missjay23 said:

Not sure. Certainly I do not think it is crazy to think a kid, who has probably been only listening to pop music since 2004, would not have heard of a guy who has had almost no radio play for 15 - 20 years.

You my young friend are the exception to be wise enough to search out and find quality music no matter when it was made.

His loss.

2funkE said:

I must admit you're right on this point.

edit
[Edited 1/29/09 16:33pm]

daPrettyman said:

Hey, now! Which Target was it?

2funkE said:

My cousin was born in 1990 and she knows of Prince. She fronts like she doesn't like him but when I put "The One" on she's all "that's mah song!"

daPrettyman said:

I guess it'd have been pointless to ask if he'd ever heard of "Lolita," "On The Couch," or "Young & Beautiful," huh? It would have been interesting to follow this up with asking the clerk if he'd ever heard of Elvis? James Brown? Something to help gauge just how far Prince has fallen from the public eye since his zenith in the late 1980s.

2funkE said:

Tis no excuse

I'm 15

And I'm a massive prince fan

He's my favourite artist

I guess that at that age, they only listen to mainstream radio and those stations only play current hip-hop.
Possibly?

ravein2thejoy said:

No excuse at ll. You don't have to know half his songs by heart, but you should at least know the name. I'm 17 and I at least know Tchaikovsky made the Nut Cracker. I'm not his biggest fan, and he was in style about 300 years ago, but I know the NAME and at least have a general Idea of his work.
I mean, and P is just American pop culture c'mon.
Vivaldi's my boo though.