Live, nobody can touch him. Nobody. And it doesn't matter if he's playing his stuff or other people's tracks.

In the studio.....well, let's hope for better.

TheVoid said:

"he can't get a top 10 hit to save his life" really? who are you? GOD? Lol!

The Top 10 or Radio play don't mean shit to legacy, ask Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Lou Red, Iggy Pop, Hendrix etc. but is no surprise that the question come from a member with a MJ avatar.

No I don't think he's diminishing it.

Prince is first and foremost a musician. I think his motto is to get as much stuff out there as possible, even if it's crap. That's why he releases so much; he wants to please his fans, and he literally 'lives and breathes' music.

Another thing is that I think Prince doesn't know the good songs from the bad songs. That's the only way I can rationalize him putting out so much filler along with the gems. He also doesn't like to listen to other people's opinions on his music (reason why he split with the record co), which is why he doesn't have an 'adviser' who tells him what songs to release and which to leave off.

I'm not complaining, though, because a weak Prince song is miles better than almost anything on the radio nowadays.

Prince has never talked much about his legacy, giving me the impression that he just does his thing without giving it much thought one way or the other.

In spite of that it seems that his legacy will be enhanced and preserved even if he doesn't do it himself.

IstenSzek said:

It's funny though because this is how it was for James Brown and Hendrix in the eighties. I was almost impossible (at least in Australia) to get hold of original albums and the hits compilations hadn't begun to be released. Even now, I think it's hard to get all the original titles (could be wrong...) but the regular compilations satisfy the market.

His talent and dreams came first.
Hopefully he has done both now it is left for us to share our opinions on what we like and if it works out then every one is happy if not he had his dream and we were lucky enough to go on a wonderful journey ...dreams last forever when we keep them as memories .....

aarontj said:

Are you having a momentary lasp of reason or is there a corncob in your ass?


He can't get a top 10 hit to save his life isn't something I persume or bestow upon him--nor something I wish. Just check the charts. When was the last time he had a top 10 single?

You need not drag your fammy ass into the conversation not having properly read posts you respond to, lest you just end up looking like a dolt. But then again having a washed up Patrick Nagelesche avatar ala the spandex laden 80s, I would be asking too much.

.
[Edited 5/10/10 2:47am]

TheVoid said:

My favorite part was, "Who are you? GOD?"

Cuz Prince is all about acting in accordance with any god.

This is why the motherfucker robs his fans blind. Literally blind, as they funnel cash to him via his cheapskate websites, lmao. "But 'least I got a tshirt!!!" LMAO!

Spinlight said:

It's hard to beat, "Who are you? God?" as a comeback post though.

Cause then you realize the person posting isn't exactly working in the realm of logic (at least in the context of my original post).

I love your avvie.

His career is too long, and his body of work too vast for it to really be diminished that much.

First, it's only a matter of opinion that the latter part of his career (at least thus far), doesn't match the quality of the earlier parts of his career. I am one fan who holds that opinion, and I know there are others, but I also know that there are many fans who would disagree, some vehemently.

But, I'm fairly certain that there are at least some critics, some rock historians, some biographers, who will note a tailing off of quality. Moreover, there will be a lot writers, even ignoring a quality argument, who will be aware that Prince, like many artists, became less generally popular, less album sales, less major media coverage, less buzz among the general population, as time went on. But, that's the case for most artists.

Yet, I don't think any of that will matter. Prince's peak years were just to big, too unique, too iconic to be diminished by any perceived downfall in quality or any actual decrease in general popularity.

Think of all of the music biographies you've read, or the Behind The Music-type shows you've seen. The focus tends to be on the artists peak, and what they meant to music world at their peak. I mean, many would argue that the Rolling Stones haven't matched their peak-year output in quite a while. But, I doubt that will stop them from being rock god legends once it's all over.

There will probably be some writer(s) who offers a really detailed, indepth account of Prince's career and really takes great pains to analyze his whole career and its ups and downs and how certain decisions or behavior affected his legacy.

But, the standard remembering-Prince article on CNN or in Newsweek, the daily newspaper, or the 5 minute segment on cable TV programs, will undoubtedly focus on his days of superstardom (with Purple Rain probably being the zenith) and his other critically strong (even if lesser selling than PR) work, like Sign O'the Times. And, I'm sure the name-change, symbol, "Slave" incidents will be remembered as "Prince just being Prince," and will be presented as Prince being an artist who fiercely valued his independence. In these mainstream media accounts, the latter years will be but a footnote.

aarontj said:

You mean "an MJ avatar" by any chance? and the question came from me, not "come from", that isn't English. Oh, and it's Lou Reed not Red.

Btw, In the first instance the fact i have an MJ avatar isn't really of any relevance at all, i have a vast music collection which includes music by some of those artists you mentioned. The question set was not an attack on Prince, nor was it a frivolous question either, as we wouldn't be on page three. Read it again and understand it without responding like a dick just cause of my avvie.

Cheers.
[Edited 5/10/10 10:29am]

I vote diminish

wasitgood4u said:

I went in my local HMV today and they had just two Prince albums in his section. TWO! 'Purple Rain' and 'Ultimate'. Sad state of affairs really.

So much of his stuff ages better than anything else made in the 80's and 90's. Even if he were to become a drunk and puke and piss on stage, he would still be remembered as an star that was both a great musician and a great performer. There are just not many of those, period.

Part of Prince's legacy entails his ability to keep his fans questioning "where he is" while remaining ever enticing and intriguing 2 most

Prince did an amazing job rising above the whole crazy diva artist thing for a long time. Atleast, it looked that way. But he has really shunned his fans with his youtube legal issues and the opening and closing of websites. It's very odd.

I'm a life long Prince fan. Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/wa...QArTXq6V9s

purpledoveuk said:

You're exactly right. It's amazing how many people I meet in 2010 who say "Oh, Prince? isn't he a symbol now or something? He still puts out albums wow?" I'm always so shocked when someone mentions owning a prince album that came out after 1992

Jatrig said:

I actually knew quite a few people who bought Musicology, but other than that I think you're right

Still I think his legacy is still secure, it's just he's not actually doing much to enhance OR diminish it anymore because we are the only people who have heard of Rave, The Rainbow Children, Planet Earth, Lotusflow3r, etc

True, but how many major rock/music stars put out material every year that everyone is familiar with? If any artist releases material as often as Prince does, it's hard for the masses to keep up.

No matter what Prince does or how many websites that fans hate-nothing and I mean nothing can change his musical legacy. That voice, that musicianship cannot be touched

skywalker said:

agreed. and that's now how his "legacy" will ultimately be defined anyhow.

diminishing.

skywalker said:

The Rolling Stones have put out alot of music since "Some Girls" 'cause I guess they like making music. However all but the true die - hards keep buying each release. Prince's music is more than his product or his job. As that stupid 70's song sang (Brandi) Music is his life, his love and his lady and he'll always be doing it, but maybe not always be making it available to the public.

TheVoid said:

What? Didnt 3121 go to no.1 on the album charts and 24 weeks on the charts? Didnt Lotusflow3r hit no. 1 as well?? It was 46 weeks kon the charts. I seem to recall Musicology got to no 3 and 38 weeks on the charts. Even Planet Earth came in at no 1 according to Billboard.

Name one artist who has been in the game as long as Prince and accomplished what he has who is still charting like that. Your hatred on Prince has caused you to play yourself more than once on this site.

Brofie said:

Lotusflow3r hit number two but yeah lol

Brofie said:

I didn't read what he said as hatred. He compared him to Mozart!

Brofie said:

U SAID IT !THAT'S TELLIN HIM!!!

NelsonR said:

true

Brofie said:

You obviously don't know how to read, resort desperately to conjecture, and can barely formulate a response in liue of it.

I didn't say albums.



lawd, the IQ of some folks on here.