I was just watching the Today show interview he did in 2004 and Prince was saying that the way most artists make a name for theirselves now days is by using Sex to sale their music,they then showed clips of Britney and Christina Aguiler,then Prince said back then he didnt know he was pushing an envelope and that he just said wat he felt.What do u think? I think and know Prince was pushing the envelope cuz he wanted to stand out. Especially since he got in sum trouble for the lyrics of "Darling Nikki"

It's hard to tell. He's such a walking contradiction that it wouldn't surprise if it was a bit of both - he was just saying what he felt, but at the same time knew that it would sell like hotcakes.

dance4me3121 said:

He was pushing the envelope. Full stop. He released controversy to, well stir up controversy, to be honest. He wore thigh high stockings and a gstring on stage. He formed Vanity 6 who dressed as prostitutes on stage.

He sang controvercial lyrics knowing that no publicity is bad publicity. Darling Nikki, Let's Pretend We're Married and Sister all have lyrics that would make a whore blush.

He knew exactly what he was doing, even if he is in denial now. More importantly, he did it all PERFECTLY. And that's what made him a star.

Erik

erik319 said:

Yeah, and now that "so-called" talented (hey, I can play guitar, bass, drums and a little bit keyboard and nobody says I'm talented) Lady HoHo is trying to look so original, but she's just copying Prince, David Bowie and Madge

Erik said

There's outrageousness and controversy like say The Fame.

And then there's outrageousness and controversy with a musical substance, like say Dirty Mind.
[Edited 3/1/10 2:32am]

zaza said:

And look where it's got her! Winning formula.

Do you know, I've been thinking for a bit, Prince should set up a new girl group, like Pussy Cat Dolls or whatever and then let them release all his old 'other artists' hits.

Something like 'The NPG Allstars' or something.

Imagine group of sexy, outragious women, belting out his old hits. Like a brand new Vanity/Apollonia 6.

And then they could open for him before his gigs. Instead of someone you're not that bothered about, how much would it get people in the mood for the concert if some hot ladies were belting out Nasty Girl, Sex Shooter, Manic Monday, I feel for you, etc...

Sorry... Kinda drifted off topic there a little didn't I?



Erik

erik319 said:

And imagine all those ol'school fans bitching ín the sticky thread about it!

zaza said:

There'd be bitching from one side or the other whatever happened. I'd just be focusing on the barely naked women, so I wouldn't care

Erik

erik319 said:

dance4me3121 said:

He was pushing the envelope for that era, though made a reference that what he was doing back then is no way near as explicit as what's been shown on TV now, and he's got a point.

Dimitri10 said:

I dunno, I never really bought that argument of his. You don't think ejaculating guitars, songs about incest, being tied up and whipped in a music video, and "severely wanting to f*ck the taste out of your mouth" was any less explicit than what you get in today's pop music?

I guess he always did it with a touch of humour, so maybe you have a point...

dance4me3121 said:

Prince's standing out started way before "Darling Nikki". Let's not forget the sexually charged Dirty Mind album. He used to have a rep at the recording studios, and folks would say "Oh my God, he's the one who sings about giving head or whatever," yet they found out he was a nice, and quiet guy, not some sexual horndog.

Britney showing her vag or Christina trying to show some ass wasn't anything near what Prince did. There were sexual songs and artists in the 70's, but no one was as direct about it as Prince was. I really think it was Prince who really put sex on the map in a whole new way in music. People got in a snit over Donna Summer's "Love To Love You Baby" moaning, but it was nothing when Prince sanging "My sister never made love to anyone else but me".

"Darling Nikki" caught folks attention because Purple Rain was such a huge album. Tipper Gore wouldn't have noticed it otherwise. Why didn't she notice Dirty Mind? Because it wasn't quite as big as Purple Rain. 1999 was a big album, but "Let's Pretend We're Married" wasn't the underground favorite like "Darling Nikki" was with folks. EVERYONE I knew couldn't have cared less about "Let's Go Crazy". They were all about "Darling Nikki", and the shit wasn't even a single!

Prince knew he was pushing an envelope back then, but he also just did what he wanted. He wrote from the heart. Britney writes "yes" on a CD case that someone sends her of a song to record. Therein lies the difference in who is expressing what for what reason.

dance4me3121 said:

My take on this subject is this:

Yes, Prince knew he was pushing the envelope and was calculated. However, it was also done for honest to goodness artistic reasons. He felt was he was doing carried through on his actions. It wasn't an empty promise or smoke and mirrors. Prince was legitimately being Prince.

When todays pop stars "push the envelope" it is almost always a hollow gesture and a cry for attention and publicity with very little artistic merit. It is all flash and no substance.

skywalker said:

I disagree with the notion that it was "all about the art." Wearing panties and leg warmers onstage was initially his way of telling Bob Cavallo to stick it, when Cavallo told Prince he couldn't wear a certain pair of spandex pants onstage without underwear.

Even the lyrics, themselves, were a calculated attempt to draw attention to the things he was doing musically. You need look no farther than the fact that, as soon as his identity and fame were established, he immediately started pulling back from his early explicitness. (Is anyone going to argue that Around The World In A Day and Parade have less sexually explicit content than Dirty Mind?) When did it resurface? When he was anticipating going out on his own (without studio backing).

The fact that he was "singing what he felt" doesn't take away from the fact that the explicitness was calculated.

Genesia said:

Re-read what I said. I said that it was calculated. That F' U attitude was part of the Rude boy persona. What I am saying is that it was done to enhance the art and drive his message/freedom forward.