Jatrig said:

2elijah said:

Oh okay, I see what you mean, but I actually got the feeling that artists like Janelle and Esperanza brought inspiration to him , as well as incentive o him by the way he's been showing support and admiration/embracing their creative skills musically. However, you or I may see those two artists as beneath him creatively, not sure that is how he sees it, because we don't know him personally.

Another thing, is let's say, by your view he puts out the amazing music you've been waiting for, but other fans may not see it on that same level. He's put out so many different styles of music, that you can't lock him into one category. For example, when I heard the "C-Note" album that I purchased online when he had the NPGMC club, which has the "Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Copenhagen" tracks on it, I was surprised that was the Prince of the 80s that sang "Raspberry Beret" and "Darling Nikki". Many of my friends who are casual Prince fans would have no idea that was Prince if I suddenly played those tracks for them. However, I always wondered why "Empty Room" was on there, because it didn't fit in. It was more of the rock-based Prince. Now there's a plethora of his music I have never heard,--some I like--some I didn't, but for the most part, didn't mean I didn't appreciate his musicianship. I've always appreciated that he never allowed himself to be locked into one type of music or limited his ability to play various forms of music.

You have the R&B Prince;Rock Prince;Funk Prince;Pop Prince;Rockabilly Prince: Blue light in the Basement Slow Jams/Love songs Prince; Jazz Prince;Spiritual Prince;So I do agree that he is an amazing musician, one you cannot put on one category and definitely not predictable, music-wise, which is a good thing. So yes, who is out there that he can compete with on that level?

[Edited 3/16/11 13:37pm]

You're point is a good one - this discussion is always gonna be limited by our subjective opinions as to what qualifies as good, or cutting edge, and what Prince's personal feelings are.

Thanks, that's why I feel, it really is up to what type of music the individual enjoys hearing from him, since we all have our specific tastes. Good topic though.

funkyandy said:

WisdomNLove said:

I strongly feel just because a group of people feel an artist's particular body of work isnt "great", it DOESNT mean the artist didnt put in a solid effort. In some cases this is true but not all.

Alot of fans didnt like Planet Earth however when you listen to each song closely it was a solid effort put in lyrically, melodically and production wise from top to bottom.

Prince has no competition y'all say...others say he needs competition to improve...who would win the competition? How would they know they've won?

Do we rate artists on how many instruments they play and whether they can 'sing and dance and do it all?'.

Or on the spirit of an artist and how they make us feel?

Sometimes I need Prince other times I need MJ, Metallica (Master Of Puppets album only) James Brown, Stevie, Funkadelic, Bjork, Tori A, Tchaikovsky, Dizzy, Philip Glass, Swami (Militant's band)....and so on...

You have Revolution's (and others) view that Prince can do no wrong and is pretty much God incarnate (paraphrasing OK?)...yet if he's so comfortable in his music why can't he collaborate?...except on his own terms?..isn't that a weakness?...what is he afraid of? It's music, not something life threatening.

A 'god' who reigns supreme doesn't need to 'check the competition' or criticise them. Has Prince commented negatively on any artist?...I can think of a few.

Regarding MJ...did he or didn't he say MJ called his album Bad, because he couldn't fit the word 'pathetic' on the cover?...can someone debunk that rumour thoroughly please?

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[Edited 3/17/11 14:19pm]

omg Revolution!...leave me out of it!...I said that days ago...gonna get me in trouble!

.

Jatrig said:

WisdomNLove said:

It has absolutely nothing to do with being a fan of the artist. LEGENDS dont have competition. If there was no Prince there would be no Janelle Monae. Case closed.

[Edited 3/17/11 8:31am]

My whole point is that Prince may not have competition regarding individual CAREERS - he's second to none. Janelle or anyone else can't top him. I'm, however, defining "competition" on an album by album - present-moment basis -- 20Ten v. Anachroid type of basis. that's what i'm talkin about. i realize that on the whole, Prince's career likely won't be touched by anyone in the contemporary biz

lol you really cant compare an artists 2nd album and 5 year career, to another artists like 30th album and 30 yr career

FunkyDissCo said:

The real problem is this: Prince isn't competing with anyone anymore, because nobody's interested anymore in what he's doing, whatever it be.

I guess that's what's driving him crazy.

what planet are you living on? because people do care about what he's doing. if you're talking about TMZ or the general press yeah because he's not drugged out and getting arrested or going to rehab every month, there are tons of celebrities at the height of their careers that "nobody" cares about.

[Edited 3/17/11 15:20pm]

funkyandy said:

omg Revolution!...leave me out of it!...I said that days ago...gonna get me in trouble!

.

sorry dude, I had an unsent reply that I must have hit the wrong button on....and re-sent your response....What's the matter, you say something u are ashamed of?

WisdomNLove said:

Jatrig said:

My whole point is that Prince may not have competition regarding individual CAREERS - he's second to none. Janelle or anyone else can't top him. I'm, however, defining "competition" on an album by album - present-moment basis -- 20Ten v. Anachroid type of basis. that's what i'm talkin about. i realize that on the whole, Prince's career likely won't be touched by anyone in the contemporary biz

lol you really cant compare an artists 2nd album and 5 year career, to another artists like 30th album and 30 yr career

But why not? Why does one's prior catalouge and status have any relevance to comparing one's album with another's album. Should Purple Rain have been given less critical acclaim because it was released in 1984, only 5 years after Prince came on the scene or is it appropriate to judge it on its merits - regardless of where the creator ws in his career or stature?

Jatrig said:

WisdomNLove said:

lol you really cant compare an artists 2nd album and 5 year career, to another artists like 30th album and 30 yr career

But why not? Why does one's prior catalouge and status have any relevance to comparing one's album with another's album. Should Purple Rain have been given less critical acclaim because it was released in 1984, only 5 years after Prince came on the scene or is it appropriate to judge it on its merits - regardless of where the creator ws in his career or stature?

yes it does matter. everyone eventually starts to run out of ideas. Big difference between your sixth album and your 30th

2elijah said:

So now it's a requirement for fans to spend their days worrying about a musician/artist's personal finances or when he pays his/her bills? Why do that when we have our own to deal with? Not to mention, now it's become a requirement that they should win or receive a reward on a yearly basis? Well damn, let me go see if I missed that text, email or letter that came n the mail with those fan requirements.

Again, no one is putting him on a pedestal, but who is his competition that he isn't already an inspiration for?

Wrong.
This is about competition.
And when Mr. 'Number 1 at the bank' does not pay his bills, all of a sudden, that is an indication he hast lost part of his competitivity.
No worries here about that.
I got plenty from my own situation.

And about teh pedestal: that is not the question. It was a remark about competition. He isn't in one for a few years now.

Revolution said:

funkyandy said:

omg Revolution!...leave me out of it!...I said that days ago...gonna get me in trouble!

.

sorry dude, I had an unsent reply that I must have hit the wrong button on....and re-sent your response....What's the matter, you say something u are ashamed of?

to you too!

Sorry orgers...uhh, now about that competition...

He made that "my only competition is me in the past" comment already in 1997-98. I can't remember how it was worded exactly on "Don't Play Me". Should be close enough.

It doesn't necessarily mean just "I'm the best" - although I'm sure he had that in mind too - but that none of his contemporaries at the time sounded like him or had the same type of approach to making music as he did. He was constantly putting out music at the time and the latest ones had also been multi-disc sets. So he "refused to compete" with the rest, because there were so very few similar areas where the others could compete with him.

novabrkr said:

He made that "my only competition is me in the past" comment already in 1997-98. I can't remember how it was worded exactly on "Don't Play Me". Should be close enough.

It doesn't necessarily mean just "I'm the best" - although I'm sure he had that in mind too - but that none of his contemporaries at the time sounded like him or had the same type of approach to making music as he did. He was constantly putting out music at the time and the latest ones had also been multi-disc sets. So he "refused to compete" with the rest, because there were so very few similar areas where the others could compete with him.

Well stated.