i really think it has can you really say his music is good anymore!?

What's boring to one person is very exciting to another, and what's good to one person can also be bad so there's no telling really... I personally believe Prince is simply running low on ideas musically due to the sheer amount of songs he's written already.

Besides I don't think "yes men" are much of an issue, I think he knows that his people will tell him his music is good no matter what! Besides, I doubt he had a problem with "yes men" when he was going to release albums like dirty mind & around the world in a day, I don't think other peoples opinions on his music matter to him at all

I enjoy his new music. It's interesting, definitely more artistic than most of the popular stuff that's out there, and he has a great voice. But there's no edge to it. It sounds like the music of a millionaire who really doesn't have a whole lot of real life concerns. I can't connect emotionally to his newer stuff.

Take for example, El Debarge. Right now, I'm loving El Debarge's new single. He's got a gorgeous voice, and the arrangement is very pretty but the main reason is that you can really feel the pain he went through. It's honest and real. He's coming from the same background as Prince---R&B singer/musician turned pop 80s sensation, but their paths went in very different directions. El Debarge---from what I've seen in the last few months--is hungry. Prince is fat and happy (metaphorically speaking).

Not saying I want Prince to go through an addiction and jail to become "real", but his disconnect from living in "Prince World" for so many years has definitely caused a disconnection in his music. An artist needs some hunger.

Prince is over 50 years old now, He's slowing down a bit but certainly not boring. I think Prince is doing just fine in his life right now. He's seen the "mountain top" andhe says it's not all that. He is happy in Life now, why should'nt we be?! As to "yes" men, who needs em & the fear of saying no..Prince has No problems what so ever with saying no to anyone.

Peace.

BTW...PrinceWorld is exactly where Prince should be living. Where are you living?

[Edited 9/7/10 6:59am]

TheScouser said:

nickburt said:

i really think it has can you really say his music is good anymore!?

To me, 20ten has changed my feelings toward this very question... YES, he still has "It" !!!

I'm not sure why now, but as a music lover... I'll take it !

Prince has no muse, no struggle, nothing to write from anymore. That's why in the past 10 years, his music has went downhill and become dishwater.

When he's in a relationship that is tough, or was fighting w/ WB, those are the times he wrote some of his best music.

His freedom has come with a price. But thank baby Jesus he owns the masters to "Sex In My Bones" and "Wedding Feast".

I don't understand why so many "fans" don't like his new music. To me it is as good as his eighties material. By that I'm not saying its all like his eighties music. Of course through a thirty two year career his sound has changed a lot. I still look foward to every release just like I did when I was 12.

The only difference now is information is easier to get. I can't imagine no Rainbow Children or Lotus Flower. Dance 4 Me is a classic through and through.

nickburt said:

has too many yes men and the fear of saying no to prince made his music boring?

yes and no lol

if you look up into the night sky you will see stars all around

every one of those stars is burning its energy and as they do so, their shine begins to fade until eventually they burn out altogether

maybe what ur hoping for is a prince supernova

I don't even think he's got any "yes men" anymore. I think he just doesn't really have much of ANYone around these days except a girlfriend, an occasional band member, and an underpaid personal assitant who acts as his agent, publicist, and manager.

Hell, at least if he had some "yes men" around, there'd be somebody in the room to draw him out of the conversation he's having with the voices in his own head that tends to spill out in really bizarre, yet ironically boring, interviews.

If he left his ivory tower (and his JW rubbish) and just stepped on the REAL world, his music would be totally different. I mean, still interesting.

Sadly, that's far from being the case...

meisme said:

I don't understand why so many "fans" don't like his new music. To me it is as good as his eighties material. By that I'm not saying its all like his eighties music. Of course through a thirty two year career his sound has changed a lot. I still look foward to every release just like I did when I was 12.

The only difference now is information is easier to get. I can't imagine no Rainbow Children or Lotus Flower. Dance 4 Me is a classic through and through.

Agreed!! For me, the music has grown and changed, he has different inspirations now and that is fine. The music is still equally as good and there are gems on all ablums. We are missing the crazy tours that make the music sound different live, but the music is just as good!! I can't imagine life without Lotusflower, 3121, Rave, Musicology, 20Ten, and Planet Earth!!

I dont know if his music is as affected by "yes" and "no" men as by a lack of real inspiration. The art mirrors the creator so if he is living a largely settled life with no huge ups downs and changes, the music reflects that. I dont think a "no" from someone else has really affected him to a great extent.

vitriol said:

DaphneLovesPR1NCE said:

purpledoveuk said:

DaphneLovesPR1NCE said:

Agreed!! For me, the music has grown and changed, he has different inspirations now and that is fine. The music is still equally as good and there are gems on all ablums. We are missing the crazy tours that make the music sound different live, but the music is just as good!! I can't imagine life without Lotusflower, 3121, Rave, Musicology, 20Ten, and Planet Earth!!

I guess the answer is it depends what got you into Prince in the first place, what kept you here and what you want/like to hear....for me I like his 'twang', his 'cridpness' and rawness of real instruments...so with more songs cropping up that have samples, loops, drum machines and that slightly wobbly 'off-key' falsetto or talking his lyrics instead of singing them just doesn't connect with me....plus I don't buy into his songs against "The Man" or a system keeping him down, plus overtly religious/preaching songs switch me off instantly....fortunately, although more than before, those on the whole are a minority (still way to many down-with-the-kids drum loops). I just can't put my finger on it...it's like Prince used to crafts such beautiful and detailed songs with many layers, where as now so many seem flat-pack, bolt together with rough edges. That said I find myself in a transitional period; during the 80s I was aware of Prince, 90s dug him big time, NPS. Onwards I've been fairly sceptical almost to the point that when a new release came out I thought 'this is bound to be shit but I'll get it anyway)...sometimes I was right (IMO) and then discs like 3121, Lotus, Musicology (not so much though) show that I need to keep the faith. Then came 20ten and it was a revelation....at first I hated it except Sticky Like Glue...then it grew and grew on me to the point where instant switch offs are now repeat songs (Act of God can go for me though....it cones under the down with the system bull that I don't buy)....now im revisiting everything...if I don't like some thing then so be it

what a real shame he duz talk about white an black folks lots and seems really pissed for some reason! i still really think he has not delt with his size which is a real shame!

plus that religon crap has to go this 1 is for the man upstairs an all that shit! its utter crap! he dont like cursing no more but why dont he allow people to have the freedom he had when he was singing about porking his ficticous sister!x

purpledoveuk said:

what a real shame he duz talk about white an black folks lots and seems really pissed for some reason! i still really think he has not delt with his size which is a real shame!

plus that religon crap has to go this 1 is for the man upstairs an all that shit! its utter crap! he dont like cursing no more but why dont he allow people to have the freedom he had when he was singing about porking his ficticous sister!x

I don't really have too much of a problem with the religious aspect - if it's a catch tune and it's not an entire album or a "you must do this" lyric then I can live with it...let's face it God has always been big in his work (whether he's fictitious or not) and some great songs came from it. I'm not sure what you would line to hear about his size...he's mentioned it a few times in song and pokes fun at it in $. It's the system-bashing that gets me urked....he's not a slave, never has been and he only refers to 'his people' when it suits him - it's not the sentiment or subject that's the problem...it's just hollow. It would be like me singing about the Holocaust because I'm White - that's about as tenuous as Prince link to Black poverty comes. Perhaps it's just Spike Lee syndrome...where you delude yourself into thinking the worlds out to crush black communities and therefore you perceive racism and oppression where it doesn't exist....almost to a racist level in itself (QT, N-word. I bet he did have a cheeky go on his sister too...just a quick one

have you seen the kevin smith stoty about prince on utube?

purpledoveuk said:

what a real shame he duz talk about white an black folks lots and seems really pissed for some reason! i still really think he has not delt with his size which is a real shame!

plus that religon crap has to go this 1 is for the man upstairs an all that shit! its utter crap! he dont like cursing no more but why dont he allow people to have the freedom he had when he was singing about porking his ficticous sister!x

I don't really have too much of a problem with the religious aspect - if it's a catch tune and it's not an entire album or a "you must do this" lyric then I can live with it...let's face it God has always been big in his work (whether he's fictitious or not) and some great songs came from it. I'm not sure what you would line to hear about his size...he's mentioned it a few times in song and pokes fun at it in $. It's the system-bashing that gets me urked....he's not a slave, never has been and he only refers to 'his people' when it suits him - it's not the sentiment or subject that's the problem...it's just hollow. It would be like me singing about the Holocaust because I'm White - that's about as tenuous as Prince link to Black poverty comes. Perhaps it's just Spike Lee syndrome...where you delude yourself into thinking the worlds out to crush black communities and therefore you perceive racism and oppression where it doesn't exist....almost to a racist level in itself (QT, N-word. I bet he did have a cheeky go on his sister too...just a quick one

if you dont think that blacks have a real issue with the governmeant check cointelpro

nickburt said:

purpledoveuk said:

I'm not saying there aren't issues...there is clearly a huge racist problem world wide and it's one that needs addressing...but when people like Prince jump on it a twist it to be comparable to some minor perceived injustice in their life, or worse still, claim to be directly affected by it themselves it gets me annoyed...look at Dreamer, colonized mind etc and the whole Slave thing or Race...it's bullshit. He probably wrote most of those whilst bathing in champaign, counting his money and having his winky sucked by a White lady...perhaps.

fair to say the odds are in favor of all that you say.

maybe he just wants to have a voice on these issues, but i can understand why it might be annoying coming from him.

Is he necessarily talking about himself being opressed by "The Man" or is he referring to those who ARE? I don't claim to know, but I can't recall him specifically saying HE was opressed (in recent output, not the whole "slave" thing). "In my old neighborhood ain't nothing changed but the date" sounds like he's talking about the folks who DIDN'T make it big like he did. Not to say he couldn't go back to that neighborhood and make some changes with some of his money and/or influence.

nickburt said:

i really think it has can you really say his music is good anymore!?

I don't think P sits around and discusses his music with anyone. He just makes it, allows a few peers to hear it and he belives it's GREAT. It kinda reminds me of his interview with Oprah and he played part of the music and was into it and Oprah seemed in 'awe' of his to begin with in the first place. A few little familiar 'moves' and snaps of his fingers and 'she' thought it was HOT. Does not mean it was or wasn't but, I have the feeling that's how he does it.

ernestsewell said:

Prince has no muse, no struggle, nothing to write from anymore. That's why in the past 10 years, his music has went downhill and become dishwater.

When he's in a relationship that is tough, or was fighting w/ WB, those are the times he wrote some of his best music.

His freedom has come with a price. But thank baby Jesus he owns the masters to "Sex In My Bones" and "Wedding Feast".

So are you saying that Prince or an artist has to go thru something negative or perhaps have a difficulty with a muse to make good music. Perhaps I'm a admirer of the brother's music and I still think it's still good and I'm not, to use the term loosely 'jaded' just yet. I don't think everything he does is GREAT but, I don't think anything he's done is crap ... Erp ... Perhaps 'Big Tall Wall' but, that's not an official release ... LoL

he really is getting blander and blander it is now at a point where his royal badness's music is like funky lift (elevator)muzak

PurpleLove7 said:

ernestsewell said:

Prince has no muse, no struggle, nothing to write from anymore. That's why in the past 10 years, his music has went downhill and become dishwater.

When he's in a relationship that is tough, or was fighting w/ WB, those are the times he wrote some of his best music.

His freedom has come with a price. But thank baby Jesus he owns the masters to "Sex In My Bones" and "Wedding Feast".

So are you saying that Prince or an artist has to go thru something negative or perhaps have a difficulty with a muse to make good music. Perhaps I'm a admirer of the brother's music and I still think it's still good and I'm not, to use the term loosely 'jaded' just yet. I don't think everything he does is GREAT but, I don't think anything he's done is crap ... Erp ... Perhaps 'Big Tall Wall' but, that's not an official release ... LoL

I know we all have our opinions and here is mine for what it's worth.

I have to agree with Ernest. It's not that an artist has to go through something negative to make good music, but music is emotional to a lot of people and we (the listeners) want to identify with the song on a personal level.

He has always been a bit elusive and shied away from the general public, but in the past his songs were situations and emotions that the normal folks could identify with. Now.... less so.

Granted there are songs on 20TEN that have the potential for a real person to identify with the topic, but for whatever reason they are shallow. The songs (IMO) and the emotion behind the songs no longer seem authentic. And I think that maybe it is possible he has removed himself too far from general society, which makes it difficult for us to identify with him and his music.

As controlling as we all know he is, he has created the world that he is living in and that is what he writes and sings about, but it sure ain't the same world I live in!

And off topic....I laughed so hard I cried the first time I heard Big Tall Wall. It was so awful, I thought it was a joke!

a lot of what's being said holds true for many artists who have been in the game along time. Listen to Elton John's current output for instance, or the Stones, Dylan, anyone. As people get older and wiser and their lives become more comfy from years of getting anything they want, there's not as much to grouse about. There's no fire under their butts making them want to write about it, unless they go through a bad relationship, hear about news that makes them angry, etc.

Dogsinthetrees said:

Dogsinthetrees said: