I recently did an essay at college and my research proved bery interesting...read on...




The music business appears to be a thriving, glamorous and incredibly rewarding place to be, but surely there must be stories of corruption and intrigue to be told in a business like this. Prince was one of the biggest selling artists in the world throughout the 1980’s. He was regarded as an inspirational figure to many of his fellow musicians because he would write all of his own music, play most of the instruments on the songs and even produce his own work. His music was always thought to be ahead of it’s time and fairly radical, yet suddenly, he faded away into relative obscurity. He fell out with his music company bosses in the early 1990’s. Is it a mere coincidence that this was the same time as the ‘boy band blueprint’ entered a new phase? Did the music industry think that Prince was too hot to handle? Could it be that they would rather invest in artists that weren’t as outspoken about subjects like sex, religion, A.I.D.S., poverty and war? Had the music industry, as a whole, decided to become a bland, sanitised, politically correct entity that would rather bore people than risk offending or challenging them?



Pop music has always been regarded as a bit of harmless fun for the younger generation, and yet music can have a profound effect on the way people feel. Imagine watching your favourite film without the accompanying music on the soundtrack. The music is used to set the mood in a film and it could be argued that the popular music of the day reflects the mood of the record buying public. If this is the case, why is so much money being spent on such bland music? The answer is quite simple, and it all boils down to the way that the music is marketed. In the past, a song would only be heard on the radio and the artists would rarely be seen on television. Today there are entire television channels that play the same music over and over, day after day, as long as it is still relatively fresh. Most radio stations are instructed to stick rigidly to a list of pre-selected songs and artists that will appeal to the listener and generate advertising revenue essential for their survival. As a whole, people hate to be seen as different from everyone else, and so the bland music is accepted because it must be good if it is popular!



The best way to approach modern music is with an open mind. There are a great many singer-songwriters out there and a great many glorified karaoke kings. People tend to look at the past through rose tinted spectacles and miss out the traumatically embarrassing songs that dominated their youth, this is why no one admits to liking Shakin’ Stevens or Bucks Fizz. The music industry has always been adept at churning out good looking, boring and utterly talentless superstars. This may never change, yet, if you dig a little deeper and listen to enough music, you can usually find something inspirational and challenging. The recent ‘Pop Idol’ television programme showed the audience that the manufactured stars of tomorrow have had to work hard and suffer extreme pressure just to get a foot in the door of the music industry. In time they could go on to better things, maybe even writing and producing their own original songs, but, is their fickle audience willing to grant them that time or will they have moved on to another ‘boy band’?



Some artists go on to break the mould and continue their successful careers in the face of music industry adversity. Prince released a new album in 2001 and received a great deal of critical acclaim. Robbie Williams is one of the biggest selling artists in the U.K., even after he famously walked out on his ‘boy band’ colleagues. Music is all about personal preference. If there is a song on the television, don’t look at the dance routine, concentrate on the song. If you don’t like it, turn it off. You only get one pair of ears, don’t let them be subjected to too much bland music. If it doesn’t affect you, don’t encourage it!




What's your view???

Someone posted another very long thread with a similar title over in Non-Prince.

Oh wait...that was you.

In the future, please keep your posts under 117,000,000 words and maybe someone will read them.

117,000,000??? you got a problem with numbers ube???

mackopolis said:

Nope. Just ungodly long threads.

My feelings and thoughts at this time are subject to change. This is not written in stone:

First of all, the music industry was the same when Prince was hot as when he later was not. It was the same before Prince. While you emphasize "the boy band blueprint" you failed to take into account another very radical music phenomenon that was erupting and that, in my opinion, has gone even BEYOND Prince when it comes to being outspoken about sex and other social or anti-social issues. Rap, gangsta rap, and hip-hop. Like the messages or not, an element of rap* really scared and shocked people as much, if not more than Prince ever did. Nothing bland about this in your face black-American Griotism.
While boy bands came into the fore pop-wise, rap was captivating the hearts and minds of first, many black urban youth, then subsequently more of the mainstream. Like all genres of music much of rap now has been sanitized, made politically correct, etc. and funneled onto the TV/radio for mass consumption. At the same time, there's still an "invisible" rap...stuff that never made the radio and TV and never will. Full of cuss words, parental advisory stickers and wickedness. In music there is always this dual phenomenon at work.
I personally believe Prince became irrelevant to a generation of young black people. They moved on to other things in the way of rap and hip-hop. While Prince dabbled in it a bit on his albums, he could not compete with what these kids wanted to listen to. They weren't having a little purple doll dressed up in panties and high heels no matter how well he could play his guitar or '3000' other instruments. They were jammin' to another drummer.
In an era of Public Enemy and Tupac and everyone and anything else coming from those hard edged directions, what relevance did Prince have? None.
He is a 44 year old man. Born in '58. A guy who grew up in the 60's and 70's like me, so his music was the outgrowth of those times.
I am not anti-Prince and defending rap. He is not irrelevant to me and my musical tastes.
There's a lot about rap and hip-hop, the sanitized versions and the radical XXX versions, I do not like. I'm trying to just state what was and is. Prince was a product of his time like everything else. He had his short-lived day in the sun, and a generation and the world, not just the music industry, right or wrong, moved on.

*Notice I said an element of rap. There has always been the sanitized, have a good time, party, politically correct,quasi-social conscious, non-threatening rap, right along with the radical "scarey" stuff.


With love, honor and respect.

ProngYua Ain'tGenna

mistermcgee said:

---"While Prince dabbled in it a bit on his albums, he could not compete with what these kids wanted to listen to. They weren't having a little purple doll dressed up in panties and high heels no matter how well he could play his guitar or '3000' other instruments. They were jammin' to another drummer."

Why would Prince have to compete with a bunch of no-talent bums. Rappers cannot create anything orignal as far as music is concerned. Twenty years from now no one will be listening to any of the rap groups that are out now. No one is listening to Kurtis Blow or the Sugar Hill gang from the early 80"s. All the rappers did was bring back a bunch gangster bullshit that was around back in the black explortation era of the 1970's. I got news for you most black people are not driving BMW's, drinking Cristal, or smoking blunts all day.

Those Rappers put out a Amos and Andy like image of black life. I will take Prince and his 3000 instrutments and high heeled shoes any day over that Amos and Andy bullshit.

uglybrowneyes said:

---"While Prince dabbled in it a bit on his albums, he could not compete with what these kids wanted to listen to. They weren't having a little purple doll dressed up in panties and high heels no matter how well he could play his guitar or '3000' other instruments. They were jammin' to another drummer."

Why would Prince have to compete with a bunch of no-talent bums. Rappers cannot create anything orignal as far as music is concerned. Twenty years from now no one will be listening to any of the rap groups that are out now. No one is listening to Kurtis Blow or the Sugar Hill gang from the early 80"s. All the rappers did was bring back a bunch gangster bullshit that was around back in the black explortation era of the 1970's. I got news for you most black people are not driving BMW's, drinking Cristal, or smoking blunts all day.

Those Rappers put out a Amos and Andy like image of black life. I will take Prince and his 3000 instrutments and high heeled shoes any day over that Amos and Andy bullshit.

You sound as if you are on the defensive and must be miscontruing my comments as attacks on Prince's music or image.
Prince did not have to compete with rappers. I never said he had to. He can do what he wants. But IF HE WANTED TO SELL MUSIC TO THESE SAME GENERATION OF KIDS he'd have to compete in the marketplace for their listening ears and willingness to buy his product. They aren't listening to Prince regardless of your or my opinion about the quality of rapper's tunes or talents. Past or present.
I also never said people were still listening to Kurtis Blow or the Sugar Hill Gang today either. But they are still listening to the rap and hip hop genre... not Prince. Not now and not in the future. And that's the point. Another example:the black record buying masses aren't listening to Bird, Miles or Duke either. They're listening to rap and hip hop. Why can't you just accept that? Rap and hip hop rule just as at one time jazz and big band ruled, then be-bop, then rock and roll, etc.
I could just as easily say that all Prince did was put out a bunch of hodge podge rolled up into one emasculated Little Richard, James Brown, Parliament Funkadelic, androgynous bullshit that was around back in the 60's and 70's.
You speak of rappers putting out an Amos an Andy image of black people.What image of black people was Prince putting out? A sex crazed, incestuous, sexually confused,cross dressing, lecherous, religious Babylon fruitcake gigolo??? I got news for you. Not all black people were or are refections of that Minneapolis image either. They aren't driving motorcylcles, dressed up like tarts and wearing makeup. So you see I think you are missing the point of what I was trying to say.
Stop being emotional and defensive of Prince when no one is attacking him. Think.

"But IF HE WANTED TO SELL MUSIC TO THESE SAME GENERATION OF KIDS he'd have to compete in the marketplace for their listening ears and willingness to buy his product."

Do really think he is trying to reach this generation with
the Rainbow Children? (LoL) I don't think he gives a rat's ass about what this generation is listening to.

"They aren't listening to Prince regardless of your or my opinion about the quality of rapper's tunes or talents. Past or present."

They aren't listening to Prince because their never going to hear him on negro radio. For your information I have seen Prince in concert everytime he has come to the DC area since 1992 and I have seen young people at those concerts.
Maybe you should talk about what you know.

"I also never said people were still listening to Kurtis Blow or the Sugar Hill Gang today either. But they are still listening to the rap and hip hop genre... not Prince. Not now and not in the future."

No you never said people were still listening to these artist but, you are holding rap music up as some incredible genre of music and it is not. Rap artist ( I use the word artist loosely) have not been able to maintain over the long run. I could make a list of rappers who have disappeared that would be a mile long. At least Prince and other RnB performers can still get out and sell out venues because people are still interested in their music.

Unless you have a crystal ball how can you say that people are not going to be listing to his music in the future.

"the black record buying masses aren't listening to Bird, Miles or Duke either. They're listening to rap and hip hop. Why can't you just accept that? Rap and hip hop rule just as at one time jazz and big band ruled, then be-bop, then rock and roll, etc."

Please don't try to speak for the entire black record buying public. Maybe more people would listen Miles or Duke if Negro radio would play them sometimes. In addtion, Kind of Blue still sells 15,000.00 copies a year 40 years after it was put out. Therefore, some members of the record buying public are listing to Miles.

"some members of t could just as easily say that all Prince did was put out a bunch of hodge podge rolled up into one emasculated Little Richard, James Brown, Parliament Funkadelic, androgynous bullshit that was around back in the 60's and 70's."

Well that hodge podge was some kick ass music that we are not getting from these dumb-ass, no talent rappers today.
If Prince was rolling up Little Richard, James Brown and Parliament good for him. It means he soaked up some incredible music and put his spin on it.

As far as you androgynous comment you sound homophobic as hell. I guess you think that George Clinton walked around with a blonde wig on and diaper 24 hours a day. It's called putting on a show being an entertainer!!! However, because of the hip-hop generation we do not get to entertained anymore

"You speak of rappers putting out an Amos an Andy image of black people.What image of black people was Prince putting out? A sex crazed, incestuous, sexually confused,cross dressing, lecherous, religious Babylon fruitcake gigolo??? "

Do you see black people walking around dressing and acting like Prince? I will answer the question for you. No !!!
Do you see young people smoking blunts, wearing braids, speaking ebonics and wearing their pants off their asses?

Yes, you see this shit everywhere. Where did this Amos and Andy bullshit come from? The wonderful world of rap.


'Not all black people were or are refections of that Minneapolis image either. They aren't driving motorcylcles, dressed up like tarts and wearing makeup. So you see I think you are missing the point of what I was trying to say."


Like I said before young black America never took up any of the things that Prince was doing, saying or wearing. You are right I do not know what you are saying. What is your point? One min you say you are not attacking the next thing you do is bring up his emasculated image which has nothing to do with his music.



"Stop being emotional and defensive of Prince when no one is attacking him"

The following comments come off as attacks and have nothing to do with music.

"They weren't having a little purple doll dressed up in panties and high heels "
(No comment)

He had his short-lived day in the sun,
( A ten year run is not short)

I am not being emotional. I just responded to your comments that I did not agree with. It is called debate and discussion.

For the love of Jehovah, please lock and delete this lame ass thread! It contains 3,176 words comprising nothing more than dribble and only 83 words that are sensible. Kill it! Kill it like a rabid hamster or monkey!

uglybrowneyes said:

---
Fuck You!!! - Ugly Brown Eyes.

Prince shot himself in the foot, Warners didn't really need to help him make a mockery of his career in the 90s.

Let me go back and edit a bit.


I personally believe Prince became irrelevant to a generation of young black people. They moved on to other things in the way of rap and hip-hop. While Prince dabbled in it a bit on his albums, he decided for his own artistic reasons not to compete with what the majority of these kids wanted to listen to. No matter how well he could play his guitar or '3000' other instruments, they were jammin' to another drummer, and Prince wasn't going there.
In an era of Public Enemy and Tupac and everyone and anything else coming from those hard edged directions, what relevance did Prince have to what the majority of these kids decided for themselves to listen to? None.
He is a 44 year old man. Born in '58. A guy who grew up in the 60's and 70's like me, so his music was the outgrowth of those times.
I AM NOT ANTI-PRINCE AND DEFENDING RAP. HE IS NOT IRRELEVANT TO ME AND MY MUSICAL TASTES.
There's a lot about rap and hip-hop, the sanitized versions and the radical XXX versions, I DO NOT LIKE. I'M TRYING TO JUST STATE WHAT WAS AND IS. Prince was a product of his time like everything else. He had his short-lived day in the sun, and a generation and the world, not just the music industry, RIGHT OR WRONG, moved on.

I just ordered my copy of ONA Live.

I think that most of the above comments are right. Most are saying the same thing. Everything has it's "time" so to speak in popular music. I was some what taken aback when Prince started rapping. That was as silly to me as Jah Rule trying to sing "For You". Times do change and people and musical taste change but I personally feel that there is enough room in the cosmos for everything. I don't like Hip Hop or rap but I understand that some do and that's fine. Prince's performances and music has brought me lots of happieness throughout the years although most of those years were the very early eighties. I didn't slam his music when it started evolving into something other than what I was use to. I either dug it or didn't. Even today, I respect his musicianship and songwriting and probably always will but that's just me (big deal). What will make Prince a legend is the ability to always adapt to Prince and not the Times.

laurarichardson said:

Does this mean you don't like me?