I know this won't help, but yes, I know: they are not in the same league in terms of musicianship, so please actually READ what I write:

I saw DM in Tel Aviv last night (awesome showhttp://prince.org/msg/8/307678, BTW, even tho I'm not such a big fan) and it got me thinking:

P and DM have been around the same amount of time, and yet:

DM are still releasing relevant records with songs that get airplay (not just coz of payola etc).

They played a 2-hr gig with NO COVERS, a bunch of songs from their new album and a show with a clear concept revolving around their new album: NOT a greatest hits (they played lesser known hits and omitted some of their biggest).

Most importantly: they make you go: "Hey, what?! These guys have been around 30 yrs and are around 50" (Dave Gahan, the leadsinger, turned 47 on Saturday).

I used to feel this way about Prince, but lately it feels that he's just let it go and is rockin' the oldtimer revisiting his glorious past route.

Part of this may have to do with '84 and P reaching mammoth proportions he could never re-create. DM seem to have continued to grow in terms of recognition, success and sales so that their career still seems to be building rather than stagnating.

Thoughts, anyone?

here we go again

This has been done?
Sorry

Nothing against DM because they are great, but Prince has done tours that concentrated on new material. Plus his last few shows were all over the place with stuff that hasn't been released even.

Also, I think Prince does *gasp* covers, because he wants to, and feels comfortable enough at this stage in his career to do that kinda thing, certainly not because he needs to fill a show with well-known tracks.

Yep, I hear u - just watched C&C from Ellen and would have been happier seeing that than the whole gig last night.
Still... they did feel "younger" and more relevant than he does, for some reason...

My sister is a die-hard DP fan. We're going to see them in August. I just sent this link to her, because she has said this to me before, and I dismissed her. Let the debate begin...

It's a hard call, tho.
I think with both artists, there are the fans who will want to hear only "the hits". I've seen DP 3 times with Karen and their biggest number/sing-along has been "Enjoy the Silence". I've seen Prince 29, and there are always those people stuck in the 80s.
I think that because DP is released on a major record label, airplay is an issue, so people are more familiar with the new stuff. Also my observation is that DP fans have a different appreciation for them- they're going to enjoy whatever the show involves.
Some Prince fans complain no matter what is played... some want a whole cover album, some only want a nostalgia show, others just want new material. Then are the "play everything in the vault" group.

These are just the early morning ramblings of someone putting off getting ready for work...

Funnily enough, a lot of responses to the DM gig were that they didn't play enough hits!

I remember when I saw P on the last leg of the D&P tour in Australia in '92 (which was really the beginning of the Symbol tour), at the stadium gig I heard people walking out complaining that he didn't do enough hits. I see a connection too. That tour, P had a really tight show, based mainly on the new material with well-places smattering of older stuff.
Somehow, DM still manage to pull that off.

But yeah, I'm sure the major lable biz plays a role. Plus, tix were quite expensive: around $100, which is a lot for ppl over here. (I had freebies!)

have u the DM setlist ..did they do 'strangelove'

chocolate1 said:

You sure your sister wants you airing her sexual antics on prince.org?!

Mindflux said:

u make some valid points that echo some of my own sentiments about prince's recent live shows (tired of the hits and covers), hopefully setlists like from the congo room and nokia room can b a step in the right direction he needs 2 go in.

but comparing these 2 artists/groups is like apple and oranges. i could say the same after seeing erykah badu last year where the material was more about her latest album and sprinkling of past accomplishments

time will tell

3121 said:

I meant DM!

L4OATheOriginal said:

I saw Erykah Badu in TA a couple of year's ago (also the start of her tour, I think). It was wild!

I was just thinking about this very subject yesterday afternoon. Weird!

Yes, I agree.....Prince isn't on the radio at all. I think Depeche Mode, much like NIN and Pink Floyd, IMO, is close to perfect music. Prince, on the other hand.....

GetAwayFromMe said:

same old same old

Mindflux said:

I thought it meant "Depeche Prince". They had some huge hits like "Private Jesus", "Walk Don´t Walk In My Shoes", "I Feel You Up" and "I Don´t Own My Masters And Servants".
[Edited 5/12/09 13:31pm]

Nightcrawler said:

I never heard of them!

Nightcrawler said:

lol

Just Can't Get Enough of This Feeling I Got

Strangelove We Make

Ppl r Ppl

Enjoy the Silence in Repetition

PEJ said:

So very sorry that you don't appreciate my opinion. Depeche Mode, as of now, is better quality than your new buddy.

wasitgood4u said:

chocolate1 said:

Who is DP?!?!
[Edited 5/12/09 14:20pm]

Nightcrawler said:

Very Funny!!!!!

blueautumn said:

It was a TYPO made at 5:30 in the morning!
I meant Depeche Mode! I guess I was thinking De-Peche when I typed it.

Depeche Prince


I would like a DM&P sandwhich hold the mayo

DMP = DO ME PRINCE, and DEPECHE MODE PLEASURE yep yep I will take that sandwhich rite da fuck now!!

wasitgood4u said:

oh lawd.
I like the new Depeche Mode album, but it sounds like retreads of their older material too. Sort of Black Celebration meets Speak N Spell, with a few modern embellishments.


I think this is due to the fact that they really don't have the ability to expand their sound out past anything they've already done. Their spectrum of music barely falls within just the 'blue light' range of Prince's spectrum. His musical palette dwarfs theirs, and though it can be argued that Prince is retreading comfortable territory, it can also be argued that he's doing so of his own volition while Depeche Mode is treading old territory cause they can't really do anything else.

I think the comparison is a stretch. Depeche Mode's music is often an excercise in style, while Prince's music goes so far beyond that.

Depeche Mode doesn't get that much radio play here in the states, and I would venture to say, with the exception of a few years scattered over the last decades, are pretty niche'..... and I'm a fan!

DM is deep in their own way but I agree their spectrum is fairly limited. However, they do what they do exceedingly well. The latest album is indeed very reminiscent of their oldest music -- so much so that it's amazing to think songs like 'Peace' weren't actually recorded in the early '80s.

Okay, new challenge for Prince: Make a recording that fools us into thinking it is from another time period.

This August will be my first DM concert, very excited. I liked them from the beginning but never really followed them. It wasn’t until about 3 years ago that I bought one of their CD’s and really listened to their lyrics that I really became a fan. Since then, I’ve bought almost everything they have put out. Speaking of which, for $80 dollars I bought their latest box set and received: a DVD with about 3 hours of video content, their new CD and a separate unreleased track CD, a Sounds of the Universe hardbound book, DM stickers, and some other stuff that I don’t remember at the moment. Also advance notice when their tickets went on sale, and a pre-sale ticket purchase opportunity. I was really impressed, all for $80.



I joined Lotusflow3r for $77 and got...a t-shirt. Ok, I was able to get 1 ticket when he played at LA Live but just barely. Initially, I purchased 2 tickets through Ticketmaster because I could not get any through his site. Remember, the Ticketmaster tickets went on sale BEFORE the Lotusflow3r tickets. Sold the Ticketmaster tickets but had to go solo because I could only get 1 ticket through his site. Damn good seat though, I will give him that. I’ve been a life long Prince fan (guess I always will be) but stuff like this is just not cool. Oh yeah, and now his site is down...

wasitgood4u said:

That's a similar case 2 Michael Jackson. He could never re-create the success of Thriller, although he tried his hardest. Anyway, Prince's success can't b compared 2 Depeche Mode's because they're 2 totally different cases. Prince hasn't had a hit single on the charts since 1995, but at least he still puts out good music!