Imago said:

as someone previously put it, they topped the charts for one week, and are then forgotton.

In the 80's, his albums may or may not of topped the charts, but they would hang around in the charts and were certainly not forgotton - they were talked about and people knew about them. If you asked people about lotusflower today, they would give you a blank look. I am not doubting that prince has a lot of fans accumulated over a very long career, yes we all buy his record in the first week it is released so it goes to number one - but I think what the original poster wanted was for Prince to still be "relevant" to the music world - yes his legacy is relevant, but not his new stuff. Its kind of like Bowie and Paul Macartney, the public and music reviewers shrug when they release a new record, they know the guy is/was a genius, and therefore provide him with the utmost respect - but they also are not too interested either - its like your great grandfather walking around the house - deaf in one ear, walking slowly - yeah he may saved someone's life in WW2, and you look at his younger photos with respect and love - but you also would rather spend your time with your wife and kids.

I doubt Prince even wants to be a part of today's musical scene, and I swear I don't blame him, it sucks!

I doubt Prince even wants to be a part of today's musical scene, and I swear I don't blame him, it sucks!

I think it is very important to keep in mind that the music business is a totally different beast than it was in the 80's and even 90's. "hit" records and songs and charts are much more of an illusion than they used to be. It is a exercise in money and promotional masturbation.

When Prince pays and plays, he gets air time on TV and such. Nowadays, no one watched videos, no one gets requests played on the radio, and no one buys music.

So, Prince could have a hit song, but it doesn't matter. Most songs on the radio are just disposable. I mean, you have to have a MONSTER big song for it to be played years later. Example: Are they still playing "sexyback" on the radio? Not in Minneapolis. That song was huge, but will it be around in 10 to 20 years? I dunno.

In some ways this is great because it forces people to be live performers to get paid.
[Edited 11/22/09 18:07pm]

Dayclear said:

right, so he made chocolate box and dance for me for the heck of it? they are blatant attempts at making a hit single - the problem is when it doesnt work, he'll blame something else for the failure - no radio airplay, target, the state of music on the radio, Im with Roy Keane here, stop blaming others and take a look at your self. The music is not good enough to be on radio let alone be a number one hit.

vinx98 said:

Dance 4 Me is one of his best dance numbers....ever. It's a modern day legend. Chocolate Box is just quirky.

come on the point of all of this is that sexyback made JT relevant, and yes people bought it - a LOT of people, dont get your argument.?

My argument is that a hit song in this decade doesn't have the same importance that it once did. A hit song for Prince nowadays wouldn't have an impact on his career one way or another. These days, a hit song isn't worth what it used to be.

Compare:

Sexyback, arguably, was the biggest hit song of 2006. Justin was 25 when it was released.

When Doves Cry was the biggest hit song of 1984. Prince was 26 when it was released.

Compare the impact on culture of these two songs. Compare the airplay, compare the sales, compare the chart rankings. Compare MTV rotations.

Having the biggest hit of the year, nowadays,isn't worth as much, or as big of a deal, as it used to be. Artists make most of their money by live performing or doing commercials. The music business is either, dead, or a different beast than it used to be.

That is why Prince doesn't NEED a hit. Would it be fun for Prince fans? Yes. But what would a hit song accomplish now, that Prince hasn't already accomplished?

Lastly, "relevant" is a not a barometer for quality. Jon and Kate are "relevant", but who gives a shit?

[Edited 11/23/09 11:02am]

prince is not relevant right now to the general public - what i mean by that is that he does not generate interest when he releases a single or an album. even madonna, if releasing a new record would generate more general interest. this is because of his output over the last 10-15 years has taken his reputation downward.

also you cant compare timberlake to prince - they are completely different - and the real star of that song is Timberland - his output in the last few years definately creared more of an impact than prince did in his two most influential years - 1983-1984.

Sexyback, arguably, was the biggest hit song of 2006. Justin was 25 when it was released.

When Doves Cry was the biggest hit song of 1984. Prince was 26 when it was released.

Prince wasnt very cooperative with the old music industry model, even on his rise to household name he frustrated executives at WB. Once he got there, well you know the rest. The game has passed him by (it's natural) and i'm not sure he cares. I'm 41 and i cant remember the last time i watched MTV- and i dont miss trying to "keep up". Many of us here go to itunes to get what we are looking for,when i see that chart on the side i dont even look it up and down lol. Prince right now is looking for more revenue streams, he's so beyond sales and hits because he has experienced making bigger chunks of $ with so called lesser projects. He is at in enviable place, a rare artist with cult status and mainstream credentials. He can snap his fingers tommorow tell VH1 he wants to do a Revolution reunion and get a huge check for a concert special or he can release a download only album that all of us pay for and half of us actually get lol.He can get BET to honor him and have Jay Z and Kanye West wax poetic about what he meant to the game or he can take residence in some gawdy Vegas Hotel for a month. Great work if you can get it.

Prince wasnt very cooperative with the old music industry model, even on his rise to household name he frustrated executives at WB. Once he got there, well you know the rest. The game has passed him by (it's natural) and i'm not sure he cares. I'm 41 and i cant remember the last time i watched MTV- and i dont miss trying to "keep up". Many of us here go to itunes to get what we are looking for,when i see that chart on the side i dont even look it up and down lol. Prince right now is looking for more revenue streams, he's so beyond sales and hits because he has experienced making bigger chunks of $ with so called lesser projects. He is at in enviable place, a rare artist with cult status and mainstream credentials. He can snap his fingers tommorow tell VH1 he wants to do a Revolution reunion and get a huge check for a concert special or he can release a download only album that all of us pay for and half of us actually get lol.He can get BET to honor him and have Jay Z and Kanye West wax poetic about what he meant to the game or he can take residence in some gawdy Vegas Hotel for a month. Great work if you can get it.



only as long as madonna, timberland, beyonce, etc are not filling that time slot first..

I disagree. When Prince wants to be in the public conciousness, he is. Look at Musicology and 2004. Prince was all over the TV (even MTV) because he hyped the hell out of his tour. Since 2004, he has been much more in the public eye than he had been. Musicology was the most successful tour of the year.

It is called promotion and it's the same thing Madonna does...she just does it all of the time. I would argue that new Madonna albums don't generate public interest by themselves. Like most albums, it is a lot of hype and promotion that develop interest. Sadly, the music matters very little in this regard.

Furthermore, Prince's reputation has skyrocketed in the last 10 years from what it was in the era (the 90's). Again, that's not due to quality of music, just good promotion/working the business.

You don't like his output for the last 10-15 years? Fine. However, his reputation, in terms of the mass public, has been great since 2004. I'd point to his run of 21nights at the 02, his Superbowl Halftime show, and his Rock n' Roll hall of Fame induction (complete with the guitar dominating performance) as evidence of this.




So when people hear "Sexyback" they think of Timbaland? Nope. People think Timberlake.

As far as that nonsense about Timbaland having more of an impact than Prince 1983-1984? Let's take it to the people...I'll start a new thread. Purple Rain made Prince a household name. Is Timbaland a household name? Nope.
[Edited 11/24/09 6:45am]

I HATE 95 percent of chart music, it makes me projectile cry sick!

there are two reasons he cannot have a hit

1) he is not aligned to a major record company (when he does align its usually a one album deal so the record companies wont promote him as much as their other artists)

2) because he is no longer able to write a quality song.

prince was always a bit weird in the 80's, the way he performed his songs and sang them, and arranged them was unusual - but the underlying songwriting was brilliant - thats why so many of his covers were also brilliant. now, he is a better performer and arranger, but the songwriting is poor and it shows in the music - you cannot hide from a lack of quality.

dreamshaman32 said:

Oh, you mean like the Grammy's in 04 when Prince performed with Beyoncé despite having nothing to promote or even be up for an award? The Brit awards have done similar, I think. You underestimate his value as a live performer - I would think most programmes would have him on if they think they could.

vinx98 said:

Dance 4 Me is one of his best dance numbers....ever.