u2 is resoundingly overrated by the world.

Prince is resoundingly underrated by the world.

I'm not surprised they won.

Musically, my ears crave Prince any day, over any one.

There's no way in hell that ANY U2 album is better than Sign O' The Times.

As has been stated, U2 just write the same few songs over and over again. Never been a fan of their dull MOR snoozefest rock.

Even Bono knows Prince deserved that award.

Militant said:

There's no way in hell that ANY U2 album is better than Sign O' The Times.

As has been stated, U2 just write the same few songs over and over again. Never been a fan of their dull MOR snoozefest rock.

Even Bono knows Prince deserved that award.

Well put. And do people really believe Bono is in the same musical league as Prince? Ask Stevie Wonder or Miles Davis that question. Prince has had multiple players in his band that can kick the musical ass of any U2 bandmate.

thedance said:

PS:

U2 are still having world wide top 40 hits,

from the 2000-2010 decade:

Beautiful Day,

Stuck In A Moment you Can't Get Out Of,

Elevation,

Walk On,

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own,

City Of Blinding Lights,

Vertigo,

Get On Your Boots,

while Prince hasen't have a big world wide top 40 hit since 1994's The Most Beautiful Girl In The World.

Thanks God!!! It means that his music is better than the crap they play on the radio nowadays!!!

Militant said:

There's no way in hell that ANY U2 album is better than Sign O' The Times.

As has been stated, U2 just write the same few songs over and over again. Never been a fan of their dull MOR snoozefest rock.

Even Bono knows Prince deserved that award.

U2 have their own style and even though they're one of a VERY few bunch of bands that i NEVER was able to get into, i guess they deserve some respect for what they've achieved, but hell... i just can understand what Prince meant by saying "i don't go to awards because U2 will win and it'll get on my nerves because i can do what they do any time and they can't do what i do".

What i don't fully get is how groundbreaking U2 were. I never heard about them setting musical precedents or being a major influence despite their siuccess. I mean: Prince's music is more sophisticated than, say, The Human League's, The Cure's, Pixies' or Sonic Youth's music, but i cannot deny that these artists litterally changed the face of popular music and had a MAJOR influence on hundreds of others (just like Prince did). U2 was very succesful but i don't think they were really important in the history of pop & rock in that sense. I might be wrong, though.

[Edited 8/23/10 15:57pm]

alandail said:

jdcxc said:

Oh please. Any guitarist can play the simple ringing guitar lines of the Edge. And many people are missing the point P was making in referencing Housequake. It is extremely rare for European bands/artists to be able to master Funk/R&B/Soul genres. I've never seen anything more ridiculous than the U2 music documentary in which they are looking for musical legitimacy by walking the streets of Harlem trying to relate to the street musicians and adopt black music forms.

C'mon, can you really see Bono doing a legitimate version of Housequake? Even Bono has described Prince as the genius of our times. And SOTT is a masterpiece, who gives a F about a goddam grammy!

The Bee Gees being a clear exception to that.

Prince's point was simply "I can do what they do, they can't do what I do". And he's pretty clearly right about that. Music is such an odd form of entertainment - it's the only area I can think of where versatility isn't rewarded. U2 still has hits, all of their songs are pretty much the same style and played on the same stations.

Prince has a history pushing his audience in different directions, the musical equivalent of Steven Spielberg jumping from Raiders to ET to Poltergeist to Schindler's List, to Jurassic Park to Saving Private Ryan. Spielberg even broke away from the established movie studios and started his own studio. Yet the follow the same formula people - U2, Madonna, etc - continue to get airplay while Prince hasn't had anything other than minor hits in 15+ years.

Once again I disagree or am not convinced that Prince can do what many other groups can do especially capturing the right vocal style etc, for example I dont think Prince can come close to Robert Plant as evidenced by Prince's version of Whole Lotta Love, it was ok but nothing compared to the original.

Maybe it can be said that Prince could take the musical styles and songwriting styles of other artists and make his own music that emulates that but thats not originality, bands like U2 and Zeppelin are their own flavour they are original.

I dont see Prince's music as being as vast and varied as you seem to imply, maybe it is more variable in vertain respects to many artists but it also regurgitates itself eg repetition of ballads like "call my name" "dont make me sleep on the couch" etc, and regurgitation of funk and pop, with at times blues,jazz,rock overtones, not unheard of variations among many other artists actually.

I would refer to Prince as a musical genius due to fact he has mostly written ,produced and recorded most of his output by himself, its no question he is brilliant but I just dont buy that he can do what every other artist can do or that he is better in every way than every other artist.

[Edited 8/23/10 17:03pm]

U2 kicks Prince's ass!! I LOVE U2!! Other than Aerosmith they are my favorite band!!

Joshua Tree is a front-loaded album that should not have beaten SOTT. Period. THREE SONGS that thing has (I'll even give you Bullet the Blue Sky for FOUR) and then it's just lamenting, whiny, faux-Irish folk dreck.

And lyrically, I wouldn't say U2 outclasses Prince. This is the problem with Prince: variety. What he's known for and what he's capable are never both considered in these discussions. It's always what he's known for. And even the most strident Prince fans narrow their view of him to that of a sex-crazed funk-rock, slow jam R&B artist. And he's more than that. So some of his best lyrics aren't given the same weight as U2's lyrics, which people tend to take far more seriously.

The Beautiful Ones has great lyrics. Actually, so does Little Red Corvette.

StonedImmaculate said:

IMO Prince not winning that Album of the Year grammy for SOTT was payback for skipping We Are The World and the negative press he received for being so "reclusive".

Not to mention the first grammy he won in 85...the man walked up with everyone jazzed to finally get to hear him speak. He said..."Thank you" and walked away. My mom told me then that they would never pay him the respect he's due in years to come for being such an ass about these types of things. Turns out she was right, in a way...the man seemingly got no respect for 20 years, not until 2004 when he went into the hall.

Pretty much.

skywalker said:

Bono respects the hell out of Prince. He has been quoted numerous times with some of the most positive words I've ever seen one rock star speak of another's talent.

I remember reading an article around the "Slave" era, and Prince asked Bono how they retain their masters and Bono replied in essence that they did not get as high royalty percentage that Prince was getting. I am paraphrasing, so please relax, not exact quotes. It was interesting to see Prince talk to Bono about this. I have always digged U2, but I think comparing the two is like apples and oranges.

dandeeland said:

U2 kicks Prince's ass!! I LOVE U2!! Other than Aerosmith they are my favorite band!!

WTF r u doing here, then?

I certainly don't go roaming on U2 and Aerosmith's forums

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

Sheila E

Morris Day

Maceo Parker

Levi Seacer

Lisa Coleman

Jesse Johnson

...all have more musical chops than Bono.

alandail said:

jdcxc said:

Oh please. Any guitarist can play the simple ringing guitar lines of the Edge. And many people are missing the point P was making in referencing Housequake. It is extremely rare for European bands/artists to be able to master Funk/R&B/Soul genres. I've never seen anything more ridiculous than the U2 music documentary in which they are looking for musical legitimacy by walking the streets of Harlem trying to relate to the street musicians and adopt black music forms.

C'mon, can you really see Bono doing a legitimate version of Housequake? Even Bono has described Prince as the genius of our times. And SOTT is a masterpiece, who gives a F about a goddam grammy!

The Bee Gees being a clear exception to that.

Prince's point was simply "I can do what they do, they can't do what I do". And he's pretty clearly right about that. Music is such an odd form of entertainment - it's the only area I can think of where versatility isn't rewarded. U2 still has hits, all of their songs are pretty much the same style and played on the same stations.

Prince has a history pushing his audience in different directions, the musical equivalent of Steven Spielberg jumping from Raiders to ET to Poltergeist to Schindler's List, to Jurassic Park to Saving Private Ryan. Spielberg even broke away from the established movie studios and started his own studio. Yet the follow the same formula people - U2, Madonna, etc - continue to get airplay while Prince hasn't had anything other than minor hits in 15+ years.

Well said!

OskarKristio said:

alandail said:

The Bee Gees being a clear exception to that.

Prince's point was simply "I can do what they do, they can't do what I do". And he's pretty clearly right about that. Music is such an odd form of entertainment - it's the only area I can think of where versatility isn't rewarded. U2 still has hits, all of their songs are pretty much the same style and played on the same stations.

Prince has a history pushing his audience in different directions, the musical equivalent of Steven Spielberg jumping from Raiders to ET to Poltergeist to Schindler's List, to Jurassic Park to Saving Private Ryan. Spielberg even broke away from the established movie studios and started his own studio. Yet the follow the same formula people - U2, Madonna, etc - continue to get airplay while Prince hasn't had anything other than minor hits in 15+ years.

Once again I disagree or am not convinced that Prince can do what many other groups can do especially capturing the right vocal style etc, for example I dont think Prince can come close to Robert Plant as evidenced by Prince's version of Whole Lotta Love, it was ok but nothing compared to the original.

Maybe it can be said that Prince could take the musical styles and songwriting styles of other artists and make his own music that emulates that but thats not originality, bands like U2 and Zeppelin are their own flavour they are original.

I dont see Prince's music as being as vast and varied as you seem to imply, maybe it is more variable in vertain respects to many artists but it also regurgitates itself eg repetition of ballads like "call my name" "dont make me sleep on the couch" etc, and regurgitation of funk and pop, with at times blues,jazz,rock overtones, not unheard of variations among many other artists actually.

I would refer to Prince as a musical genius due to fact he has mostly written ,produced and recorded most of his output by himself, its no question he is brilliant but I just dont buy that he can do what every other artist can do or that he is better in every way than every other artist.

[Edited 8/23/10 17:03pm]

Who ways he has to sound vocally the same as Robert Plant or Bono to "do what they do". He can play "whole lotta love" a heck of a lot better than Led Zeppelin is going to do with Housequake. And on the copy I have of Whole Lotta Love from celebration 2002 I thought he does a fine job with the vocals.

Prince can and does play rock and roll as well as anyone. He repeatedly makes the top guitarists in the world lists for a reason. He also does Funk, R&B, Soul, Pop, Jazz, Rap, Blues, etc, etc. He can go all out in one genre for a song or even an album (what other pop star has released albums like Madhouse 8, Madhouse 16, NEWS, Xpectation, CNOTE, Kamasutra) or can mix several of them together in a single song.

Who has a catalog as varied as

When Doves Cry

Purple Rain

Sign O the Times

Housequake

If I was your Girlfriend

Venus De Milo

How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore

The Ride

18 and Over

The Truth

Gett Off

Joy in Repetition

Pink Cashmere

Cutz

Pussy Control

The Most Beautiful Girl In the World

When the Lights go Down

Xenophobia

Pheromone

Loose

Call My Name

Guitar

Dreamer

Laydown

etc.

How many people could legitimately play a list remotely like that without looking ridiculous through most of it? Prince can go on stage and play a song like Whole Lotta Love (or While My Guitar Gently Weeps) as naturally as playing one of his own songs. Can you imagine Led Zepplin (or U2) getting away with playing If I Was Your Girlfriend or Gett Off or Pussy Control?

Has he repeated the same ground at times? Of course - who can release 30 albums of music and not revisit some of the same ideas from time to time - and at times the results are spectacular, like Call My Name. That's a heck of a lot different than making a whole career out of one or two basic sounds.

databank said:

dandeeland said:

U2 kicks Prince's ass!! I LOVE U2!! Other than Aerosmith they are my favorite band!!

WTF r u doing here, then?

I certainly don't go roaming on U2 and Aerosmith's forums

Yes i go to all of my favorite artists not just Prince. Let me guess Prince is ALL you listen too isnt it. I really hope not. I have about 12 artists that YES i go to their websites REGULARILY!! Sorry you have a problem with that but their is GREAT music other than Prince also.

Actually I check Prince, Mellencamp, Aerosmith, U2, Victor Wooten daily. I check Nickelback, Jonny Lang, Buddy Guy, Weird Al, Michael Jackson, Ice-T, Jesse Johnson, Lenny Kravitz, Walter Trout, Kenny Wayne Shepherd weekly. I have a few others I check often but not regularily. I am a MUSIC fan in general. I usually buy 3 to 4 new releases each week to stay up on music. There is so much more out there than Prince. He is in my top 10 for sure but its not all i listen too. In fact not even close!! This week(or later today) I am buyingth new

Katy Perry

Usher

Dandy Warhols(very excited bout this one)

and MAYBE the Sex Pistols(depends)

[Edited 8/23/10 21:56pm]

dandeeland said:

dandeeland said:

databank said:

WTF r u doing here, then?

I certainly don't go roaming on U2 and Aerosmith's forums

Yes i go to all of my favorite artists not just Prince. Let me guess Prince is ALL you listen too isnt it. I really hope not. I have about 12 artists that YES i go to their websites REGULARILY!! Sorry you have a problem with that but their is GREAT music other than Prince also.

I have around 2.300 albums at home so obviously i listen to a lot of music besides Prince.

But this forum is the only one i contribute to, mostly because the few other artists i'm as much into as i'm into Prince aren't popular enough to have dedicated forums.

ernestsewell said:

thedance said:

1) Prince lost to U2 in 1987 at the american Grammys, "Sign "☮" The Times", the Prince masterpiece did not win a Grammy for this year's best album... he lost to U2's "The Joshua Tree". (Looking back, IMO it seems "unfair", cuz SOTT is a lot better, and a lot more varied in styles than Joshua Tree.)

2) Prince later said something like: "give me any of U2's songs and I can easily play that, but U2 can't play "Housequake"". [from memory, not the exact words].

4) 30 march 1995, on the "Gold Tour" Bono front singer of U2 was on stage with Prince and the NPG - in Dublin at the club "The Pod". Bono sang the "The Cross" live on stage. Unfortunately Bono did not knew the lyrics and half through the song he forgets what to sing. Embarrassing.

You cannot be dismissive of U2, whether you're a bigger Prince fan, or just dislike U2 in general. The Joshua Tree was a bright, haunting, melodic, and downright awesome record. 1987 was a great year for great music. SOTT was not "a lot better". In fact, I'd have a hard time deciding which one was truly superior. The criteria changes, and so does popular opinions. Both have solidly put their foot down in music history. The difference is that U2 understood the importance of the popularity of that record, and played it as much as they could. Prince lost interest in his little treasure early on, and instead gave us a not-so-real concert movie to tie us over. U2 toured the hell out of their album, and still gave us a new album, and a documentary about the tour. The Joshua Tree years really went well on a few years with the release of Rattle and Hum.

For me, The Joshua Tree deserved to win. The other people in that category were Whitney Houston - Whitney; Michael Jackson - Bad; Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris - Trio; Prince - Sign O' The Times. I think U2 had a clear shot at winning, and deserved it. I'm quite surprised MJ didn't beat them, but it could also be a timing issue, as to when things were released, and what was more prevelant on folks minds. But if memory serves, I remember hearing Joshua Tree and Bad, both in the summer of 1987 in Philadelphia, so - the winner stands.

U2 doesn't need to play "Housequake". Lyrically, U2 pounds Prince into submission, a lot of the time. I don't remember Prince tuning up to "Where The Streets Have No Name" or "One Tree Hill" or "Mothers of the Disappeared". He might have covered a U2 song somewhere along the line, but I've yet to hear it. I think Prince is scared of bands like U2. He should be. They kicked his ass a lot of the time. He didn't really go after that U2 money like he did with that Duran Duran money just a few years prior.

Bono obviously didn't know "the Cross". Not really embarrassing. It's not his song. He did what he could. Prince forgets half his lyrics anyway, so anyone else not knowing is their own thing.

It is embarrassing when forget the lyrics to the song u request to sing!

databank said:

dandeeland said:

Yes i go to all of my favorite artists not just Prince. Let me guess Prince is ALL you listen too isnt it. I really hope not. I have about 12 artists that YES i go to their websites REGULARILY!! Sorry you have a problem with that but their is GREAT music other than Prince also.

I have around 2.300 albums at home so obviously i listen to a lot of music besides Prince.

But this forum is the only one i contribute to, mostly because the few other artists i'm as much into as i'm into Prince aren't popular enough to have dedicated forums.

In fact i was wondering if u wouldn't be an insider from the U2 fan community, sent on this forum in order to make U2 look better than Prince on behalf of your fellow fans

databank said:

thedance said:

PS:

U2 are still having world wide top 40 hits,

from the 2000-2010 decade:

Beautiful Day,

Stuck In A Moment you Can't Get Out Of,

Elevation,

Walk On,

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own,

City Of Blinding Lights,

Vertigo,

Get On Your Boots,

while Prince hasen't have a big world wide top 40 hit since 1994's The Most Beautiful Girl In The World.

E sti cazzi?!?!

Somebody tell Bono's Momma stop playing on the internet....

It's a beautiful day...wah wah wahhhh

IT'S CALLED A DELAY.....

Gibson Explorer, Axess BS-2, TS-9, GE-7, Korg A3, Digitech WH-1, Deluxe Memory Man, AC-30.

SO SIMPLE EVEN A CAVE MAN COULD PLAY IT...

one of the best indicators of not only quality but wide spread appeal of an album is popularity over time. Any group can have great sales for a few years it is the rare act that has great sales over decades. In that area it is clear who the winner is.

Maybe WB was correct, maybe Prince was putting out too much music? Maybe way too much to maintain catalog quality and mass appeal.

MoneyMade said:

alandail said:

OskarKristio said:

Once again I disagree or am not convinced that Prince can do what many other groups can do especially capturing the right vocal style etc, for example I dont think Prince can come close to Robert Plant as evidenced by Prince's version of Whole Lotta Love, it was ok but nothing compared to the original.

Maybe it can be said that Prince could take the musical styles and songwriting styles of other artists and make his own music that emulates that but thats not originality, bands like U2 and Zeppelin are their own flavour they are original.

I dont see Prince's music as being as vast and varied as you seem to imply, maybe it is more variable in vertain respects to many artists but it also regurgitates itself eg repetition of ballads like "call my name" "dont make me sleep on the couch" etc, and regurgitation of funk and pop, with at times blues,jazz,rock overtones, not unheard of variations among many other artists actually.

I would refer to Prince as a musical genius due to fact he has mostly written ,produced and recorded most of his output by himself, its no question he is brilliant but I just dont buy that he can do what every other artist can do or that he is better in every way than every other artist.

[Edited 8/23/10 17:03pm]

Who ways he has to sound vocally the same as Robert Plant or Bono to "do what they do". He can play "whole lotta love" a heck of a lot better than Led Zeppelin is going to do with Housequake. And on the copy I have of Whole Lotta Love from celebration 2002 I thought he does a fine job with the vocals.

Prince can and does play rock and roll as well as anyone. He repeatedly makes the top guitarists in the world lists for a reason. He also does Funk, R&B, Soul, Pop, Jazz, Rap, Blues, etc, etc. He can go all out in one genre for a song or even an album (what other pop star has released albums like Madhouse 8, Madhouse 16, NEWS, Xpectation, CNOTE, Kamasutra) or can mix several of them together in a single song.

Who has a catalog as varied as

When Doves Cry

Purple Rain

Sign O the Times

Housequake

If I was your Girlfriend

Venus De Milo

How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore

The Ride

18 and Over

The Truth

Gett Off

Joy in Repetition

Pink Cashmere

Cutz

Pussy Control

The Most Beautiful Girl In the World

When the Lights go Down

Xenophobia

Pheromone

Loose

Call My Name

Guitar

Dreamer

Laydown

etc.

How many people could legitimately play a list remotely like that without looking ridiculous through most of it? Prince can go on stage and play a song like Whole Lotta Love (or While My Guitar Gently Weeps) as naturally as playing one of his own songs. Can you imagine Led Zepplin (or U2) getting away with playing If I Was Your Girlfriend or Gett Off or Pussy Control?

Has he repeated the same ground at times? Of course - who can release 30 albums of music and not revisit some of the same ideas from time to time - and at times the results are spectacular, like Call My Name. That's a heck of a lot different than making a whole career out of one or two basic sounds.

Playing a song that someone else wrote and originating a song are 2 different things, a lot of people can play Whole Lotta Love well or naturally as you put it, its not overly technical. In my oppinion the way Prince sings it is ok but not that great either most Prince fans would prolly dig it but many rock efficiendos might see it differently, somehow imo Prince lacks a certain grit a certain fullness in his vocal style to really nail rock covers,he certainly covers r n b, funk and soul much better and much more naturally. I take nothing away from his rock guitar playing, he's not best out there but he is quite good.

There is probably quite a few artists that have such a varied catalogue.

Why is it so hard to imagine LZ or U2 playing If I was Your Girlfriend, Get Off, or Pussy Control, of course they would sound different and have their own style but Prince can hardly sound like them when he does their songs he still sounds like Prince and his style doesnt necessarily suit many songs they play either.

Prince is over all great but imo he has put out a lot of crap too in fact I sometimes find it hard to believe that someone so brilliant and so musically capable can put out some of the crap he has.

[Edited 8/24/10 5:45am]

another comparison thread,huh? Prince is Prince and U2 is U2,why the need to compare?

SoulAlive said:

another comparison thread,huh? Prince is Prince and U2 is U2,why the need to compare?

This is all that needs to be said.

OskarKristio said:

alandail said:

Who ways he has to sound vocally the same as Robert Plant or Bono to "do what they do". He can play "whole lotta love" a heck of a lot better than Led Zeppelin is going to do with Housequake. And on the copy I have of Whole Lotta Love from celebration 2002 I thought he does a fine job with the vocals.

Prince can and does play rock and roll as well as anyone. He repeatedly makes the top guitarists in the world lists for a reason. He also does Funk, R&B, Soul, Pop, Jazz, Rap, Blues, etc, etc. He can go all out in one genre for a song or even an album (what other pop star has released albums like Madhouse 8, Madhouse 16, NEWS, Xpectation, CNOTE, Kamasutra) or can mix several of them together in a single song.

Who has a catalog as varied as

When Doves Cry

Purple Rain

Sign O the Times

Housequake

If I was your Girlfriend

Venus De Milo

How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore

The Ride

18 and Over

The Truth

Gett Off

Joy in Repetition

Pink Cashmere

Cutz

Pussy Control

The Most Beautiful Girl In the World

When the Lights go Down

Xenophobia

Pheromone

Loose

Call My Name

Guitar

Dreamer

Laydown

etc.

How many people could legitimately play a list remotely like that without looking ridiculous through most of it? Prince can go on stage and play a song like Whole Lotta Love (or While My Guitar Gently Weeps) as naturally as playing one of his own songs. Can you imagine Led Zepplin (or U2) getting away with playing If I Was Your Girlfriend or Gett Off or Pussy Control?

Has he repeated the same ground at times? Of course - who can release 30 albums of music and not revisit some of the same ideas from time to time - and at times the results are spectacular, like Call My Name. That's a heck of a lot different than making a whole career out of one or two basic sounds.

Playing a song that someone else wrote and originating a song are 2 different things, a lot of people can play Whole Lotta Love well or naturally as you put it, its not overly technical. In my oppinion the way Prince sings it is ok but not that great either most Prince fans would prolly dig it but many rock efficiendos might see it differently, somehow imo Prince lacks a certain grit a certain fullness in his vocal style to really nail rock covers,he certainly covers r n b, funk and soul much better and much more naturally. I take nothing away from his rock guitar playing, he's not best out there but he is quite good.

There is probably quite a few artists that have such a varied catalogue.

Why is it so hard to imagine LZ or U2 playing If I was Your Girlfriend, Get Off, or Pussy Control, of course they would sound different and have their own style but Prince can hardly sound like them when he does their songs he still sounds like Prince and his style doesnt necessarily suit many songs they play either.

Prince is over all great but imo he has put out a lot of crap too in fact I sometimes find it hard to believe that someone so brilliant and so musically capable can put out some of the crap he has.

[Edited 8/24/10 5:45am]

And U2 could play songs like that. Remember Lemon? That was Prince-inspired track.