purplecam said:

...and the preacher says "Amen!" Thanks Cam.

kimrachell said:

I think most people are,
2 me music really isn't something we can put a time on.
It's timeless to me.

It's why I can listen to 70's George Benson, Disco, classic RnB, underground hip hop, house music, big band, 60's Jazz, classic Rock, 70's metal

I just don't think music is something you move on from.
Yes wanting someone to repeat something is one thing. But there is a vibe that Prince gives off that has his own style and sound. I personally think after the 80's he strayed from his own sound (not Purple Rain) just his sound

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

Hatrina, hush your mouth! (j/k)..."now" is what you make of it, didn't your mama teach you that? ... (running from Hatrina's flying frying pan)
[Edited 4/24/09 12:43pm]

Giovanni777 said:

Co-sign! I am so sick of folks living in the past. It's so tired and played out. On the Ellen thread people keep saying the performance reminded them of SOTT because Sheila was drumming and Prince was wearing glasses.

Are you kidding me? He was wearing glasses during several interviews during the Musicology promotion, but of course that wasn't 20 years ago so it does not count. Sheila has been playing with him here and there throughout the 2000s, but again, wrong decade.

Prince from the beginning has put the thoughts on his mind and the love in his heart into his music.

That is the part of Prince that we have on the cd's that we listen 2. In some cases, some songs may have more sentimental value to the listener than others.

The man has layed his life down with a guitar...God Bless Him 4 it.
[Edited 4/24/09 12:59pm]

bellanoche said:

This is true Bella, imagine if all Prince played was his classics...then he would be the one stuck in time? And who would be the ones complaining that Prince is stuck in time and needs to make new music and jump into the future? You guessed it...his fans.

What I like is that he gives fans a little bit of both. If he didn't he'd be back there with groups that started out before him, and would only get together to play classics on one of the PBS channel specials "Back to the 70s &80s" like some of the disco singing groups like "Tavares", "Spinners", "Stylistics", etc. and lawd knows I love the Stylistics, but they didn't gradually change with the times or kept themselves afloat, challenging new artists that arrived on the scene or collaborate with newer artists, to keep themselves relevant and win respect from new fans. Even Santana stayed afloat, has collaborated with other artists, and younger artists over the years, and is still very well respected in the music industry, as well as Sheila E.

I like the fact that Prince is not afraid to take risks with his music, despite the criticism he receives from fans. He doesn't let the negative criticism, if any, tear him down and chase him off the scene to the point where he lays his guitar down and gives up. He keeps going. Now that's what you call an artist who is very passionate and serious about his craft.
[Edited 4/24/09 13:06pm]

2elijah said:

Yeah she did and she also taught me to tell the truth in spite of those that can't handle it and would try their damnedest to stifle it!

2elijah said:

When Prince states he only makes 'Art' then why is it, he only talks about '$'?
Wasnt it his true intentions back in the 80's to just make music, flashing forward to the 2000's, I dont think his intentions are centered on creativity, its more focused on '$ BANK $'. 'INTENTIONS'

GMAN

GMAN2000 said:

If you had one choice would you take:

The Prince of 79' - 89' or the Prince of 90's-2009?

IMO, two vary different artist will very different reasons of 'why' he is making music. For the love of it or for the bank of it.

GMAN

2elijah said:

and some of his fans r trying 2 do just that, trying 2 tell that skinny mf 2 LEAVE THE HITS AT HOME AND PLAY UR NEW SHIT INSTEAD!!

and the other fans keep screaming out at the shows "let's go crazy!" "purple rain!!" "raspberry beret!!!"

L4OATheOriginal said:

It's okay for him or any artist to play classics, not unusual, but at least Prince does make new music and perform it. I'm talking about groups or solo artists that haven't made any new music since their career went on the dead end, and they rely on their classics only because that is all they have. That is not the case with Prince, as he has many classics, but his classics with new music when he performs, just like he did during the Musicology tour, which is why he lasted so long. He never stopped making new music.
[Edited 4/24/09 16:15pm]

GMAN2000 said:

Perception is NOT reality. The 1979 prince is the 2009 Prince.

I am so tired of being attacked by people for 'living in the past', simple because I don't like MPLsound, or, in the past, Come, New Power Soul and Rave.. to name a few...lol. Because that simply isnt the case.

I dont want Prince to sound like he did in the eighties. In fact, one of the reasons why I became 'a fan' was his ability back then to change and grow in sound, compostionwise and in arranging-skills with every album.

My main criteria for good music (what style it might be) have to do with the QUALITIES of the music: the strength of a composition, a brilliantly programmed drum pattern, the golden melodies of a 'perfect popsong', the use of daring arrangement, the way an album is produced etc..
And in that perspective i think Prince is underachieving for...well... lets say quite a long period....

I am not expecting Purple Rain part 2, I am not hoping for the follow up of Sign of the Times, i simply find that his 'recent work' lacks certain qualities I look for in music.

GMAN2000 said:

Flash forward GMA2000, times have changed. What he said at that time was for that "time". The music industry has changed completely. Show me an artist that can make music in this day and time (2009), not the "80s", that can live off of creating music for free for a living and not have any expenses to pay especially when there are band members to pay. bills to pay and the need of food and water to survive?

You're asking me with Prince from what era I prefer? He's the same individual who has become wiser with age, and I doubt anyone who is 50 now would be on the same level mentally or spiritually, as they were when they were in their 20s and 30s. That's like asking your parents to act your age, when in fact they've matured over the years.

Prince gives fans music from his classic material to intertwines that with new music. I can't see Prince of "now" doing splits and humping the stage at 50 years old, that would be a bit ridiculous. He did that already. Singing sexy songs though has never been a crime, he just does it a little more discreet with taste now.

You have the choice of hearing Prince of 1979 by going into your Prince catalogue and playing that music yourself. You can always bring that sound back that you claim you miss anytime. Really...What's the problem, it's not that difficult
[Edited 4/24/09 16:27pm]

Riverpoet31 said:

Cosign

purplecam said:

Co-sign!

GMAN2000 said:

Does an artist not deserve to be compensated or profit from his talent, his gift to us? Particularly one of Prince's caliber and brilliance?

Good thread. I agree with young skywalker.

GMAN2000 said:

Really? Hmmm, during which conversation with Prince did he share with you his intentions?

Also, why can't an artist want to get paid for his art? Why are making art and making money mutually exclusive to some people. I love the fact that Prince is not going out like all the other "poor" artists who were just happy to share their art, while the execs got paid. That's just foolish to me. He has been blessed with a gift and there is nothing wrong with wanting to get paid for sharing it.

Riverpoet31 said:

EXACTLY!!!

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

I hear you and know exactly what you mean. Only way anyone could stifle you from expressing what you see as truth, is if you let them. In any case, there will always be someone that will disagree with you. I experience the same situation on a couple of these forums all the time, but that doesn't stop me, from stating how I feel on any issue. So go ahead and speak your truth, whether others agree with you or not, doesn't cost a thing. Last time I looked, freedom of speech in this country was still free.
[Edited 4/24/09 18:43pm]

OldFriends4Sale said:

this. ---^

bellanoche said:

which songs did jesus sell?

Some may say since he's been a JW it's changed the way he writes music.

Well, if you are part of a religious organization, and you believe in it, more than likely of course you change as an individual, spiritually, so much of the content from what he wrote back in the day, will not sound the same, like before he became a JW. Only difference really is that he leaves the swearing out, but still has the sexiness in his music, but in a more discreet way. Also, it seems he's much more varied in his music in the past 7 or 8 years, playing a lot of blues/r&b, some rock, classic covers, more jazz-flavored tracks.

With that being said, naturally fans that have followed his music since the beginning of his career and casual fans who may have drifted since the days of "Purple Rain" and "Diamonds and Pearls," are going to expect some of what they heard back then. He's the same Prince, but more mature. wiser, and spiritually inclined, with different beliefs than he had back then, so that's going to obviously come through in his music. For me, individually, I like the variety because you never know what to expect now when you go to his shows or when a new album comes out.

How many artists have turned to "Christian" music who in the early part of their career played secular music? The words to their songs as "now Christians" will more than likely be different before they committed to Christianity. Just my two cents.
[Edited 4/24/09 16:22pm]

VenusBlingBling said:

Not only that, but they carry expectations based on the best songs of those albums, and to immediately resonate with all the years of listening that have made those albums so classic. A new album with Annie Christian quality material wouldn't be hailed as a return to form--IMO of course.

And how could I hear Dance 4 Me the same as a 37 year old in 2009 as Erotic City as a 12 year old in 1984? Impossible to make the same impact no matter the quality of the songs.

But I give Prince a good chance. I was literally laughing at Chocolate Box on first listen, and now I like it.
[Edited 4/24/09 16:24pm]

2elijah said:

xactly, there is new music being made thus no need 2 keep doing the same songs over and over like he does in his shows, let the new music thrive in his set

it really is okay to not have an 'explanation' for why people disagree with you.

L4OATheOriginal said:

I hear what you are saying, but that will be impossible. Why? Remember now, Prince has fans from back in the day (hardcore) that basically know all of his music, and are up-to-date on his music, then you have the casual fans-those that may have just returned as fans, either since Purple Rain or the Musicology tour. Then there's the new fans, some younger, some older. Remember not every fan visits unofficial fan sites or his previous and current official sites. So he's playing to a wide variety of fans, not just for you or some members of this site, who may only want to hear his new stuff or want the Prince of the 80s and 90s back.

I think many hardcore fans don't seem to understand that and can get a bit selfish at times, forgetting that not every fan frequents Prince official or unofficial fan sites or keep up-to-date on what he is currently doing or when a new album is coming out, until they see an advertisement somewhere.

You may be one of the hardcore fans and show up at his concert desiring to only hear his new material, meanwhile a casual fan may be at the same show expecting to hear "Kiss," "Purple Rain", but yet you both could have been fans since he first started his career, but let's say only one of you kept track of all his albums/concerts, etc.,

I can't see him doing a major tour and not playing classics, but I can see him only choosing to play new material for television appearances, when promoting a new album, like he is doing now, but for a tour, he more than likely has to throw in the classics, because he's playing to a wide-variety of fans from different age groups, not just the hardcore fans.

For his previous shows like in Vegas, he did play a lot of tracks from the 3121 cd, that's for sure. Songs like "Love" and "Incense and Candles" I did not hear him play live at all, at those shows, but he threw in classics like "Beautiful Strange" and "Empty Room", "A Case of You". Classics like that, that your local radio station that plays Prince music (classics) don't play. So it was nice getting a variety of songs from that album, plus others during those shows.
[Edited 4/24/09 16:54pm]

L4OATheOriginal said:

I wouldn't expect him not to do hits, except that he has said he was retiring them several times. So now it's annoying that he doesn't!

NDRU said:

Keep in mind, many fans were the ones asking him to play some of those "hits" he said he would retire, so he only gave the fans what they asked for, to tell you the truth.
[Edited 4/24/09 17:17pm]