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Reply #30 posted 12/26/10 6:25pm

toejam

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I've come to the conclusion that fans that complain that he's just playing the 'some old songs' are mostly too obsessed for their own good and need to branch out a bit more.

The dude is 52. Name one other artist over 50 with the level of celebrity as Prince who doesn't play their 'same old hits' at large arena shows? U2?, Springsteen?, Rolling Stones?, Billy Joel?, Cat Stevens/Yusef?, Madonna?, Michael Jackson? (the This Is It tour was basically going to be a revampled History tour, which was just a revampled Dangerous tour, which was just a revampled Bad tour lol). Heck, even the generation that came after him are becoming 'hits' bands - Jamiroquai, Metallica, Foo Fighters etc. And please don't bring up Miles - the comparrisons with him are way misguided for several reasons.

The fact that he does change the arrangements, and still plays the occasional non-hits show (aftershows, Montreux 2009 etc.) is just a bonus.

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Reply #31 posted 12/26/10 6:47pm

COMPUTERBLUE19
84

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toejam said:

I've come to the conclusion that fans that complain that he's just playing the 'some old songs' are mostly too obsessed for their own good and need to branch out a bit more.

The dude is 52. Name one other artist over 50 with the level of celebrity as Prince who doesn't play their 'same old hits' at large arena shows? U2?, Springsteen?, Rolling Stones?, Billy Joel?, Cat Stevens/Yusef?, Madonna?, Michael Jackson? (the This Is It tour was basically going to be a revampled History tour, which was just a revampled Dangerous tour, which was just a revampled Bad tour lol). Heck, even the generation that came after him are becoming 'hits' bands - Jamiroquai, Metallica, Foo Fighters etc. And please don't bring up Miles - the comparrisons with him are way misguided for several reasons.

The fact that he does change the arrangements, and still plays the occasional non-hits show (aftershows, Montreux 2009 etc.) is just a bonus.

Agreed

"Old man's gotta be the old man. Fish has got to be the fish."
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Reply #32 posted 12/26/10 7:16pm

ThreadBare

dupe thread

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Reply #33 posted 12/26/10 10:18pm

muskiediver

funkomatic said:

While listening to a recording of the concert on Dez. 18th, the thought came to my mind: Prince kills himself creatively by playing the same old songs again and again!

You might say, listen to some aftershows. Of course he does play different stuff sometimes. But still the hit medleys or the old songs are such a dominant part of his stage appearance. It's like a cage, I think he needs to free himself of on a much more regular basis.

A musician needs far more different experiences on stage in order to develop fresh ideas and develop as an artist.

It's a high price you pay, if you are in it for the big dollars.

Totally disagree with you.

Prince is performing to give the audience what they paid for. The reviews have been great so he is doing what he needs. You need to see Prince at a club or Paisly Park in the mid 90's. No matter, he is and always will be the greatest artist you were ever a fan of in your life!

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Reply #34 posted 12/27/10 12:36am

Astasheiks

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funkomatic said:

While listening to a recording of the concert on Dez. 18th, the thought came to my mind: Prince kills himself creatively by playing the same old songs again and again!

You might say, listen to some aftershows. Of course he does play different stuff sometimes. But still the hit medleys or the old songs are such a dominant part of his stage appearance. It's like a cage, I think he needs to free himself of on a much more regular basis.

A musician needs far more different experiences on stage in order to develop fresh ideas and develop as an artist.

It's a high price you pay, if you are in it for the big dollars.

I've come to conclusion, Prince probably don't give a jamn what a few people on a message board think of his set list especially if he still clocking $'s

I wonder how much he's made on these few concerts in NJ/NY. Besides didn't both NY shows sold out or close to it, didn't they? And what was the price range for tickets???

[Edited 12/27/10 0:39am]

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Reply #35 posted 12/27/10 3:34pm

Dolphinking23

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

Live, he will always have to please the masses. As much as Orgers and die-hards may like the obscure hits/ the new material , it just wouldn't equal a big box office.

His approach is similar to what Paul McCartney, Elton John, the Rolliing Stones, Bowie, Stevie or even the late MJ have been doing. When you become an elder statesman, you give the fans what they want, even if you are just treading water.

Creatively speaking, same logic applies. in studio, where else can they go? They have a comfort zone and stick with it. They revisit their past sounds to some degree and may dabble a bit in some of the newer sound, but they still keep their signature sound.

I don't think Prince is a joke by any means, but he's at a point musically both in studio and on the stage where he may continue down this path. His problem is compounded by the fact that except for a few albums over the past few years, some of his material have been released in alternative means (newspapers/Target/Europe), so ticket buyers in America would be clueless to some songs.

And like I mentioned in another post recently.. Alot of promoters demand these legends like the ones you mentioned, to play their hits.. I am not an MJ spammer or anything but I remember before the This Is it Project came about the O2 promoters wanted to do a Thriller anniversary tour and they werent going to pay Michael unless he performed ALL of the songs from the Thriller album and those songs had to be done live in their entirety ,without pre-recorded tracks. So my point is, Promoters of this tour may have very well put it in their contract that Prince has to peform a set that consists of the hits.. Hell, I think this is evident by the way the promoter posted the MSG/NYC show's setlist on his twitter page

[Edited 12/27/10 15:36pm]

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Reply #36 posted 12/27/10 3:45pm

Spinlight

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toejam said:

I've come to the conclusion that fans that complain that he's just playing the 'some old songs' are mostly too obsessed for their own good and need to branch out a bit more.

The dude is 52. Name one other artist over 50 with the level of celebrity as Prince who doesn't play their 'same old hits' at large arena shows? U2?, Springsteen?, Rolling Stones?, Billy Joel?, Cat Stevens/Yusef?, Madonna?, Michael Jackson? (the This Is It tour was basically going to be a revampled History tour, which was just a revampled Dangerous tour, which was just a revampled Bad tour lol). Heck, even the generation that came after him are becoming 'hits' bands - Jamiroquai, Metallica, Foo Fighters etc. And please don't bring up Miles - the comparrisons with him are way misguided for several reasons.

The fact that he does change the arrangements, and still plays the occasional non-hits show (aftershows, Montreux 2009 etc.) is just a bonus.

revampled? lol

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Reply #37 posted 12/27/10 4:12pm

WisdomNLove

funkomatic said:

While listening to a recording of the concert on Dez. 18th, the thought came to my mind: Prince kills himself creatively by playing the same old songs again and again!

You might say, listen to some aftershows. Of course he does play different stuff sometimes. But still the hit medleys or the old songs are such a dominant part of his stage appearance. It's like a cage, I think he needs to free himself of on a much more regular basis.

A musician needs far more different experiences on stage in order to develop fresh ideas and develop as an artist.

It's a high price you pay, if you are in it for the big dollars.

ummmm, that was the first time THOUSANDS of people saw Prince perform for the 1st time, those are the songs THEY Want to hear and PAY to hear. Prince doesnt perform in NY for YEARS and you dont want him to not play any of his HITS??? GTFOH

these are the songs that MOLDED his career so to say DONT PLAY THEM is an insult.

its not like Prince is in the studio everyday SINGING/RE-RECORDNING his HIT songs. Performing and RECORDING are TWO VERY different things. INSPIRATION comes from all different places , I'm sure Prince may get inspired by performing his HIT songs LIVE.

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Reply #38 posted 12/28/10 4:26am

toejam

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Spinlight said:

toejam said:

Michael Jackson? (the This Is It tour was basically going to be a revampled History tour, which was just a revampled Dangerous tour, which was just a revampled Bad tour lol)...

revampled? lol

LOL I must have that disease... what's it called?

"Stupid?"

lol

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Reply #39 posted 12/28/10 7:19am

databank

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The thing is that he makes an average 1 million bucks a concert and that means bringing a lot of people inside!!! If he was playing in smaller venues, he could allow himself to play recent material or free jazz or whatever'd cross his mind. I love most of his recent studio material, always will and most likely will always do, but i don't even bother to download new live bootlegs these days, as i couldn't care less for his live shows (unless he does special stuff like the Nokia Theater in 2009 or the Montreux shows). Of course there's always the aftershows but even these don't seem as wild as they used to. I understand that Prince needs to make big bucks and to conquer new fans (who will obviously run to their wrecka stow and buy his Warner albums the day after the concert) but i'd appreciate if he would alternate greatest hits shows in huge venues and more experimental/new material shows in smaller venues. It's a HUGE frustration that 99% of the studio tracks he recorded since 1995 haven't ever been played live, and it's even more frustrating for me to go to his show like i did last july and to have to hear Purple Rain, Let's Go Crazy, Kiss and 1999 for the 1000th time. I mean i love these songs but if i wanna hear them live i'll listen to my Purple Rain Tour and Parade Tour recordings!!!

What i want 2 hear live now is 20Ten, and this whole back catalogue of songs he released for the last 15 years!!!

That or him going wild with John, Renato and Rhonda on impromptu jams!

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Reply #40 posted 12/28/10 8:14am

TwiliteKid

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Paris9748430 said:

If you don't like it, go see Bruce Springsteen.

Go see Duran Duran.

I'm sick of reading people bitch about Prince's setlist when he's hardly the only classic artist that performs mostly classic material.

You think Rolling Stones fans give a shit that they've heard Satisfaction for the 100,000th time?

Springsteen fans would riot if he didn't play Born in the U.S.A. or Glory Days!

Bruce isn't a good example, actually. He rarely plays either of the tracks you mentioned, and unlike Prince, still perfroms several songs from whichever album he is touring in support of. I can't deny that many fans use those songs to run grab another beer, but he still plays them.

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Reply #41 posted 12/28/10 8:17am

TwiliteKid

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Paris9748430 said:

Efan said:

Have you ever been to a Bruce Springsteen concert? I have, and I have never heard him play those songs. Springsteen is pretty far from an oldies-only setlist.

Here's a list of sets he played on his 2009 tour.

Don't see a whole lot of new stuff here.

http://www.brucespringste...lists.html

[Edited 12/26/10 17:46pm]

He played 4 or 5 songs from Working On A Dream just about every night, as well as a handful of songs from recent albums like Magic and The Rising. You won't see Prince dipping into recent albums like that.

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Reply #42 posted 12/28/10 9:46am

Jatrig

PurpleDiamond2009 said:

I dont think thats a fair comment to make. Other old skool artists such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springteen even Micheal Jackson when he was still alive, all these artirts have played their old hits while performing and not one fan has made a complaint about it. So why is that the case with Prince? neutral I dont think its killing his creavitiy, some fans love to hear him play his old hits like myself. I have no issue with it.

The reason is that these other artists were not nearly as prolific as Prince. Us fans know how many songs Prince created that are truly brilliant and worthy of the live stage. We were teased with the Gold Experience shows, and then w/ the Xenophobia set lists - where he played new or obscure material. Other artists haven't ever tempted their fans in this way. MJ only had his hits to play. Prince has so much more. Also important is to define "hit" -- a "hit" is a song that resonated w/ the masses. As Prince fans, we all know that so many amazing songs were never heard by the masses (due to radio play, etc...) - in fact, we're proud of this fact in some ways.

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Reply #43 posted 12/28/10 9:50am

NelsonR

he plays what the people want to hear...

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Reply #44 posted 12/28/10 3:30pm

funkomatic

WisdomNLove said:

funkomatic said:

While listening to a recording of the concert on Dez. 18th, the thought came to my mind: Prince kills himself creatively by playing the same old songs again and again!

You might say, listen to some aftershows. Of course he does play different stuff sometimes. But still the hit medleys or the old songs are such a dominant part of his stage appearance. It's like a cage, I think he needs to free himself of on a much more regular basis.

A musician needs far more different experiences on stage in order to develop fresh ideas and develop as an artist.

It's a high price you pay, if you are in it for the big dollars.

ummmm, that was the first time THOUSANDS of people saw Prince perform for the 1st time, those are the songs THEY Want to hear and PAY to hear. Prince doesnt perform in NY for YEARS and you dont want him to not play any of his HITS??? GTFOH

these are the songs that MOLDED his career so to say DONT PLAY THEM is an insult.

its not like Prince is in the studio everyday SINGING/RE-RECORDNING his HIT songs. Performing and RECORDING are TWO VERY different things. INSPIRATION comes from all different places , I'm sure Prince may get inspired by performing his HIT songs LIVE.

GTFOH? Thanks for your kind words! BTW: I didn't say he shouldn't play the hits in NY!

(To be honest: I don't like most of his new material anyway. Some people in this thread think that I want to make Prince play my dream setlist or something like that. Wrong!)

I just tried to explain my hypothesis to you. To me Prince isn't inspired at all for a very long time now. His new stuff seems to be rather superficial without really trying to challenge himself anymore.

Of course are performing and recording two different things. But I'm pretty sure, it matters more than you think if you devote yourself to your new ideas on both levels. You have to go deep as an artist, you have to be clear about your artistic vision and even have to fight for getting it across. IMO that's exactly what's missing from Prince's new material: going deep and really try!

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Reply #45 posted 12/28/10 3:52pm

WisdomNLove

funkomatic said:

WisdomNLove said:

ummmm, that was the first time THOUSANDS of people saw Prince perform for the 1st time, those are the songs THEY Want to hear and PAY to hear. Prince doesnt perform in NY for YEARS and you dont want him to not play any of his HITS??? GTFOH

these are the songs that MOLDED his career so to say DONT PLAY THEM is an insult.

its not like Prince is in the studio everyday SINGING/RE-RECORDNING his HIT songs. Performing and RECORDING are TWO VERY different things. INSPIRATION comes from all different places , I'm sure Prince may get inspired by performing his HIT songs LIVE.

GTFOH? Thanks for your kind words! BTW: I didn't say he shouldn't play the hits in NY!

(To be honest: I don't like most of his new material anyway. Some people in this thread think that I want to make Prince play my dream setlist or something like that. Wrong!)

I just tried to explain my hypothesis to you. To me Prince isn't inspired at all for a very long time now. His new stuff seems to be rather superficial without really trying to challenge himself anymore.

Of course are performing and recording two different things. But I'm pretty sure, it matters more than you think if you devote yourself to your new ideas on both levels. You have to go deep as an artist, you have to be clear about your artistic vision and even have to fight for getting it across. IMO that's exactly what's missing from Prince's new material: going deep and really try!

I understand what you are trying to say however how can you say whether someone is INSPIRED or not, if he was NOT inspired he wouldnt STILL be recording music. He is NOT the same person he was years ago so his music naturally wont sound the same. Prince has gone deep and done it all creatively.....now he can record whatever type of music he likes. I am a writer myself and just because YOU dont think someone isnt "going deep" in their lyrics or what have you doesnt mean there was a SOLID effort put into what was produced. He has a PLETHORA of creative and deep songs, enjoy what you have and appreciate the fact he still is writing and performing.

Prince doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. He is a LEGEND. You dont like the new stuff, pull out a catalog CD, watch purple rain and enjoy that. Respect the fact he is still writing and performing because he really doesnt have to do anything.

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Reply #46 posted 12/28/10 4:04pm

Marrk

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Main concerts, Prince is as predictable as Michael became, no doubt about that. I don't mind knocking both. Both devoid of ideas and tied to expectations and the past catalogue. Joe public are not interested in new Prince music.

Madonna is more experimental in concert, despite me not being a fan and the feeling she has less talent, she's just more daring. Good for her. Does that make her a better artist? i don't know, but maybe.

Aftershows don't save Prince either anymore. 'Viage2', i got that boot when released, all instrumentals, Shelby overdose and a bored-sounding Prince. He really sounds done to me.

Dead like Mike.

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Reply #47 posted 12/28/10 4:42pm

funkomatic

WisdomNLove said:

funkomatic said:

GTFOH? Thanks for your kind words! BTW: I didn't say he shouldn't play the hits in NY!

(To be honest: I don't like most of his new material anyway. Some people in this thread think that I want to make Prince play my dream setlist or something like that. Wrong!)

I just tried to explain my hypothesis to you. To me Prince isn't inspired at all for a very long time now. His new stuff seems to be rather superficial without really trying to challenge himself anymore.

Of course are performing and recording two different things. But I'm pretty sure, it matters more than you think if you devote yourself to your new ideas on both levels. You have to go deep as an artist, you have to be clear about your artistic vision and even have to fight for getting it across. IMO that's exactly what's missing from Prince's new material: going deep and really try!

I understand what you are trying to say however how can you say whether someone is INSPIRED or not, if he was NOT inspired he wouldnt STILL be recording music. He is NOT the same person he was years ago so his music naturally wont sound the same. Prince has gone deep and done it all creatively.....now he can record whatever type of music he likes. I am a writer myself and just because YOU dont think someone isnt "going deep" in their lyrics or what have you doesnt mean there was a SOLID effort put into what was produced. He has a PLETHORA of creative and deep songs, enjoy what you have and appreciate the fact he still is writing and performing.

Prince doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. He is a LEGEND. You dont like the new stuff, pull out a catalog CD, watch purple rain and enjoy that. Respect the fact he is still writing and performing because he really doesnt have to do anything.

It's as simple as that: He is not inspired because I don't hear it. That's my subjective impression! (Of course you could try to find other arguments like his choice of setlists, feedback outside of the Prince fan community, sales, instrumentation, composition, songwriting etc.)

The fact that he's still recording music doesn't prove anything. IMO he releases albums for the sake of it (it's his job), not because he thinks this is the best work I've ever done, the world needs to hear this one!

Of course he is not the same person as he was years ago. I'd even say it would be terrible if it was that way, though it seems as if he still tries to look like the good old Prince with all the make up, wigs and sunglasses on just to mask his real age.

I wouldn't even want him to sound the same. That's f..... boring! The time has changed, so has the music. The here and now needs different artistic visions than 25 years ago.

I agree with you that Prince doesn't need to do anything. But: He needs to do a lot, if he wants to get my interest back again. That's what I'd like to share with you! There might be some other people who feel the same way, others don't. It's just about discussing Prince and his music, isn't it?

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Reply #48 posted 12/28/10 5:17pm

WisdomNLove

funkomatic said:

WisdomNLove said:

I understand what you are trying to say however how can you say whether someone is INSPIRED or not, if he was NOT inspired he wouldnt STILL be recording music. He is NOT the same person he was years ago so his music naturally wont sound the same. Prince has gone deep and done it all creatively.....now he can record whatever type of music he likes. I am a writer myself and just because YOU dont think someone isnt "going deep" in their lyrics or what have you doesnt mean there was a SOLID effort put into what was produced. He has a PLETHORA of creative and deep songs, enjoy what you have and appreciate the fact he still is writing and performing.

Prince doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. He is a LEGEND. You dont like the new stuff, pull out a catalog CD, watch purple rain and enjoy that. Respect the fact he is still writing and performing because he really doesnt have to do anything.

It's as simple as that: He is not inspired because I don't hear it. That's my subjective impression! (Of course you could try to find other arguments like his choice of setlists, feedback outside of the Prince fan community, sales, instrumentation, composition, songwriting etc.)

The fact that he's still recording music doesn't prove anything. IMO he releases albums for the sake of it (it's his job), not because he thinks this is the best work I've ever done, the world needs to hear this one!

Of course he is not the same person as he was years ago. I'd even say it would be terrible if it was that way, though it seems as if he still tries to look like the good old Prince with all the make up, wigs and sunglasses on just to mask his real age.

I wouldn't even want him to sound the same. That's f..... boring! The time has changed, so has the music. The here and now needs different artistic visions than 25 years ago.

I agree with you that Prince doesn't need to do anything. But: He needs to do a lot, if he wants to get my interest back again. That's what I'd like to share with you! There might be some other people who feel the same way, others don't. It's just about discussing Prince and his music, isn't it?

yes you and everyone is entitled to their own opinion but you just made me laugh real hard when you said "this is prince's job" for you to think Prince has to actually WORK? and this is a JOB for him? LOL!!! I bet this is all FUN for him!!! any artist who has the freedom to give away music FOR free is not a slave to anyone or opinions!

the fact of the matter is someone, somewhere will enjoy what he puts out today, tomorrow, whenever, a fan lost today is one gained tomorrow, people change, music changes, ears change....i love a handful of artists growing up but Prince is the ONLY artist I will respect and like, because the QUALITY of his music has never changed, has the STYLE changed, YES, but to my ear he has always tried to stay true to himself.

but I understand what you are saying and hope you finding some of Prince's future music enjoyable to your ear

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Reply #49 posted 12/28/10 6:10pm

Marrk

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WisdomNLove said:

a fan lost today is one gained tomorrow,

Check your ratio. Prince has lost way more than he's gained.

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Reply #50 posted 12/28/10 7:05pm

BlackAdder7

the beatles killed themselves creatively by playing the same old songs..

the stones...

etc

etc

etc...

beethoven killed himself creatively

and mozart

etc

etc

etc

your logic is not logical.

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Reply #51 posted 12/28/10 8:02pm

Pokeno4Money

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I think we need to stop thinking about just ourselves.

Yeah they are "the same old songs" to us, but those songs are funky fresh to a whole new generation of fans that either weren't into his music back in the day or may not have even been alive back in the day.

Seriously, there's millions of younger people out there who know Prince as just an ultra-religious old guy who plays mellow music. If they get exposed to "the same old songs" that turned us onto Prince years ago, it's likely they will start to dig him just as much as we did/do. Prince is smart enough to know this, he ain't dumb.

My girlfriend was born the year Prince released his first album, so she was too young to experience his glory days. She's familiar with his music and movies because I have them all and play them often, but she never felt a connection.

No exaggeration, she had THE time of her life at the Izod on the 17th. She is dying to see him in concert again, she can't wait until she gets the tour shirt so she can wear it, and for the first time she is begging me to lend her some of his CD's.

So another devoted Prince fan is born, all because she got blown away by a concert in which he was "playing the same old songs". And what he plays in concert has zero impact on his creativity, if he wants to he can still come up with new gems in the recording studio such as Laydown ... and then ten years from now people will be complaining about those songs being overplayed confused

"Never let nasty stalkers disrespect you. They start shit, you finish it. Go down to their level, that's the only way they'll understand. You have to handle things yourself."
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Reply #52 posted 12/28/10 8:08pm

HonestMan13

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Marrk said:

WisdomNLove said:

Check your ratio. Prince has lost way more than he's gained.

If the ORG is any indication Prince hasn't lost any fans they've just become under the radar/stalker-types who pop up when he does something newsworthy.

Since the WELCOME 2 AMERICA shows were announced I've seen more names on threads of longtime ORG members I've never heard of before.

When eye go 2 a Prince concert or related event it's all heart up in the house but when eye log onto this site and the miasma of bitchiness is completely overwhelming!
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Reply #53 posted 12/28/10 10:01pm

Avaspeaks

I think it's great that Prince is playing massive audiences again here in America. But to be fair, I think that people that are buying tickets for these shows are not paying to see him perform the OLD hits. They are paying to see him perform the hits THEY KNOW.

The way I see it, if he played a few songs in a row from his latest album, the place would go silent.

If he played Ronnie Talk to Russia, Wouldn't You Love To Love Me, Starfish and Coffee, or The Continental, the place would go silent.

I mean the man can't even play all of his old hits so how can you expect him to play a larger amount of newer stuff? I mean let's face it, Prince has newer songs but not as many newer hits so the newer hits that he does have like say Musicology or The One U Wanna C, I am sure he would

I think if he mixes it up with a song like Black Sweat, then Kiss, The Most Beautiful Girl in The World, Soft and Wet and then maybe follow up with Alphabet Street for good measure he can still please the casual fans, longer time fans, maybe some diehards and still be able to peak the interest of newer or more casual fans that may not be as familiar with his work.




I say let's enjoy him while we can and while he still can do 1 min dance solis to KISS.....
[Edited 12/28/10 22:02pm]
[Edited 12/28/10 22:07pm]
[Edited 12/28/10 22:13pm]
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Reply #54 posted 12/28/10 10:17pm

Avaspeaks

I mean 1 min dance solos to KISS! Excuse my typos.
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Reply #55 posted 12/28/10 11:38pm

WisdomNLove

Marrk said:

WisdomNLove said:

Check your ratio. Prince has lost way more than he's gained.

trust me, a new prince fan is born everyday, i know kids under 10 who dig his music (their parents are fans) , they are just not ON THE INTERNET

every Prince fan on Earth does NOT come to Prince.org, but alot from MARS do *dead*

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Reply #56 posted 12/28/10 11:39pm

WisdomNLove

Pokeno4Money said:

I think we need to stop thinking about just ourselves.

Yeah they are "the same old songs" to us, but those songs are funky fresh to a whole new generation of fans that either weren't into his music back in the day or may not have even been alive back in the day.

Seriously, there's millions of younger people out there who know Prince as just an ultra-religious old guy who plays mellow music. If they get exposed to "the same old songs" that turned us onto Prince years ago, it's likely they will start to dig him just as much as we did/do. Prince is smart enough to know this, he ain't dumb.

My girlfriend was born the year Prince released his first album, so she was too young to experience his glory days. She's familiar with his music and movies because I have them all and play them often, but she never felt a connection.

No exaggeration, she had THE time of her life at the Izod on the 17th. She is dying to see him in concert again, she can't wait until she gets the tour shirt so she can wear it, and for the first time she is begging me to lend her some of his CD's.

So another devoted Prince fan is born, all because she got blown away by a concert in which he was "playing the same old songs". And what he plays in concert has zero impact on his creativity, if he wants to he can still come up with new gems in the recording studio such as Laydown ... and then ten years from now people will be complaining about those songs being overplayed confused

love this!! biggrin

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Reply #57 posted 12/28/10 11:52pm

funkomatic

Pokeno4Money said:

So another devoted Prince fan is born, all because she got blown away by a concert in which he was "playing the same old songs". And what he plays in concert has zero impact on his creativity, if he wants to he can still come up with new gems in the recording studio such as Laydown ... and then ten years from now people will be complaining about those songs being overplayed confused

No doubt about that, Prince does gain a lot of fans by playing the same old songs. Why shouldn't he? That's quality stuff!

Nonetheless, If you're always trying to recapture what was decades ago, it does have an impact on your development and mindset as an artist: You play a role without really exploring the part of where you're today as an artist and as a person.

You could tell me, it's the same thing with other big artists. Of course it is! Does it make it any better? No, I don't think so.

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Reply #58 posted 12/29/10 9:37am

Avaspeaks

funkomatic said:

Pokeno4Money said:

So another devoted Prince fan is born, all because she got blown away by a concert in which he was "playing the same old songs". And what he plays in concert has zero impact on his creativity, if he wants to he can still come up with new gems in the recording studio such as Laydown ... and then ten years from now people will be complaining about those songs being overplayed confused

No doubt about that, Prince does gain a lot of fans by playing the same old songs. Why shouldn't he? That's quality stuff!

Nonetheless, If you're always trying to recapture what was decades ago, it does have an impact on your development and mindset as an artist: You play a role without really exploring the part of where you're today as an artist and as a person.

You could tell me, it's the same thing with other big artists. Of course it is! Does it make it any better? No, I don't think so.

All artists that have been blessed with an extremely long career and a huge catalog of hits will experience this. Sometimes, they can have really great comeback albums that makes a ripple, like Prince did a couple of times, U2, Carlos Santana, Radiohead, Bruce, etc. But Prince is not stupid, nor has he lost his creative mojo, it's just that I think Prince himself has finally accepted that he is a "legend" or "icon" or whatever you want to call it and with that comes the concerts that he will have to play that contains a catalog of "hits" in his playlist.

I think he will mix it up more but only mix up newer "hits" with "older hits" biggrin

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Reply #59 posted 12/30/10 1:03pm

Astasheiks

avatar

databank said:

The thing is that he makes an average 1 million bucks a concert and that means bringing a lot of people inside!!! If he was playing in smaller venues, he could allow himself to play recent material or free jazz or whatever'd cross his mind. I love most of his recent studio material, always will and most likely will always do, but i don't even bother to download new live bootlegs these days, as i couldn't care less for his live shows (unless he does special stuff like the Nokia Theater in 2009 or the Montreux shows). Of course there's always the aftershows but even these don't seem as wild as they used to. I understand that Prince needs to make big bucks and to conquer new fans (who will obviously run to their wrecka stow and buy his Warner albums the day after the concert) but i'd appreciate if he would alternate greatest hits shows in huge venues and more experimental/new material shows in smaller venues. It's a HUGE frustration that 99% of the studio tracks he recorded since 1995 haven't ever been played live, and it's even more frustrating for me to go to his show like i did last july and to have to hear Purple Rain, Let's Go Crazy, Kiss and 1999 for the 1000th time. I mean i love these songs but if i wanna hear them live i'll listen to my Purple Rain Tour and Parade Tour recordings!!!

What i want 2 hear live now is 20Ten, and this whole back catalogue of songs he released for the last 15 years!!!

That or him going wild with John, Renato and Rhonda on impromptu jams!

AMEN!

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Forums > Prince: Music and More > Prince kills himself creatively by playing the same old songs again and again!