Prince's chart success is pretty hit or miss, sometimes because he picks the wrong single, if he released one at all. Which songs could have been hits had they gotten airplay?

"Love," "Dreamer" and "Guitar" really stand out to me. They're simple, accessible genre songs that a mainstream audience would have eaten up, but alas, not even a video for any of them.

Shockedelicus said:

"Guitar"

Wasn't there a video for this? I think there was even a TV commercial showing a part of it.

hmm, some of the stuff that he gave away:

- The Dance Electric

- All Day All Night (so catchy)

some others with better promotion:

- The One

- Endorphinmachine

- Love Sign

Recent years:

- Black Sweat

- Sticky Like Glue

MickyDolenz said:

Shockedelicus said:

"Guitar"

Wasn't there a video for this? I think there was even a TV commercial showing a part of it.

Nope, just a commercial, same with Dreamer.

surely Chocolate Box and Crimson and Clover seeing as they had really good videos made? All he needed to do was put out a cd single or download. Cou;d've been an easy hit in the UK where he usually charts around the lower regions of the top 40.

Prince will not simply be able to release a single and it be a hit. Why do you think he doesn't do that crap anymore? Cuz he had a string of failures. I don't think Prince can have a hit single again.

Even though Fury was released, it should have been the lead single. I was shocked when VH1 made that buzz about Te Amo Corezon only to reveal such a boring ass video and song. Fury should have been the first single.

So Far, So Please from Rave should have been the first single.

Off of Musicology, Illusion Coma Pimp and Circumstance should have been the second single.

Prince really needs to steer clear of ballads and down tempo songs as first singles.

hhhhdmt said:

hmm, some of the stuff that he gave away:

- The Dance Electric

- All Day All Night (so catchy)

some others with better promotion:

- The One

- Endorphinmachine

- Love Sign

Recent years:

- Black Sweat

- Sticky Like Glue

"Sticky Sticky, Don't you think I aint when I am?" Love that jam

SagsWay2low said:

Prince really needs to steer clear of ballads and down tempo songs as first singles.

Unless Prince has some payola money (and/or have a guest rapper), I don't know what difference it makes what he releases. The last time he had a big single was in 1994.

[Edited 4/27/11 11:08am]

SagsWay2low said:

Even though Fury was released, it should have been the lead single. I was shocked when VH1 made that buzz about Te Amo Corezon only to reveal such a boring ass video and song. Fury should have been the first single.

So Far, So Please from Rave should have been the first single.

Off of Musicology, Illusion Coma Pimp and Circumstance should have been the second single.

Prince really needs to steer clear of ballads and down tempo songs as first singles.

If that song had been a single and hit we'd all be here arguing about how a bloodless throwaway, created only for the masses with no creative effort put into it whatsoever was the only way he can manage to get a hit these days.

or maybe that's just me.

Spinlight said:

Prince will not simply be able to release a single and it be a hit. Why do you think he doesn't do that crap anymore? Cuz he had a string of failures. I don't think Prince can have a hit single again.

'Hit' from who's point of view though? Radio? Critics? Us?

There's not an album that's been released where you can't grab at least 'one track' that wouldn't do well on the radio (Urban Radio / Top 40).

I totally disagree with ya Spin ...

PurpleLove7 said:

There's not an album that's been released where you can't grab at least 'one track' that wouldn't do well on the radio (Urban Radio / Top 40).

Getting a hit has more to do with "promotion", and since Prince is not on a major, can't really afford it. Also he's over a certain age, and there's always been agism in radio as far as top 40 goes. When was the last time Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Earth Wind & Fire, etc. got any radio play with new material? Unless he is willing to get some gimmick or do duets with young popular acts or work with young producers like Charlie Wilson, Carlos Santana, or Ron Isley (who are all on major labels with money), I don't see Prince getting on the radio. Even the stations that play Prince's old music, doesn't play anything post Warner Brothers, and very few songs after the Sign O' The Times album. He can also go the cover albums route, which works for Rod Stewart, Michael McDonald, or Barry Manilow. But they still get little if any radio airplay. Prince's image doesn't really help either with some of the younger generation. They're the ones who determine what is popular or not.

MickyDolenz said:

PurpleLove7 said:

There's not an album that's been released where you can't grab at least 'one track' that wouldn't do well on the radio (Urban Radio / Top 40).

Getting a hit has more to do with "promotion", and since Prince is not on a major, can't really afford it. Also he's over a certain age, and there's always been agism in radio as far as top 40 goes. When was the last time Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Earth Wind & Fire, etc. got any radio play with new material? Unless he is willing to get some gimmick or do duets with young popular acts or work with young producers like Charlie Wilson, Carlos Santana, or Ron Isley (who are all on major labels with money), I don't see Prince getting on the radio. Even the stations that play Prince's old music, doesn't play anything post Warner Brothers, and very few songs after the Sign O' The Times album. He can also go the cover albums route, which works for Rod Stewart, Michael McDonald, or Barry Manilow. But they still get little if any radio airplay. Prince's image doesn't really help either with some of the younger generation. They're the ones who determine what is popular or not.

MickyD is 'Dead ... On It'. You're right, there is a certain demographic where P's music is now. He's 'Adult Contemporary' now and stations like V-103 in Chicago (where I'm from) or Hot-105 here in South Florida (where I live) play the WB era music, you're exactly right. I could care less honestly that they play his music of today but, it does bring a smile to my face to hear somethin' of his on the radio, even if it's over 10yrs old ...

PurpleLove7 said:

Spinlight said:

Prince will not simply be able to release a single and it be a hit. Why do you think he doesn't do that crap anymore? Cuz he had a string of failures. I don't think Prince can have a hit single again.

'Hit' from who's point of view though? Radio? Critics? Us?

There's not an album that's been released where you can't grab at least 'one track' that wouldn't do well on the radio (Urban Radio / Top 40).

I totally disagree with ya Spin ...

Isn't "hit on the radio" implied?

Prince's recent output isn't even lauded by the majority of his hardcore fans anymore. In fact, he acknowledged in a 2010 interview that he knew his music wasn't popular anymore.

Spinlight said:

PurpleLove7 said:

'Hit' from who's point of view though? Radio? Critics? Us?

There's not an album that's been released where you can't grab at least 'one track' that wouldn't do well on the radio (Urban Radio / Top 40).

I totally disagree with ya Spin ...

Isn't "hit on the radio" implied?

Prince's recent output isn't even lauded by the majority of his hardcore fans anymore. In fact, he acknowledged in a 2010 interview that he knew his music wasn't popular anymore.

I can't argue that point. Since he's a 'independent' artist now, the masses won't know the new music, only the hardcore.

grace jones is 433 years old, and "Williams Blood" got mad airplay here in belgium. it reached #2, if i recall correctly. age has nothing to do with it. just put out some good music and get the fuck behind it instead of either:

(a) jumping immediately to a new, half-baked project

(b) sabotaging your own album by trying to shove a protegee down our throats (tamar)

there are so many tracks for prince that would've been hits over the last decade, but it's his own fault, and it's the primary reason that most people (i.e., people who are not on the org or moquake or dr. funkenberry) don't think he's had a new album since..........

Shockedelicus said:

MickyDolenz said:

Wasn't there a video for this? I think there was even a TV commercial showing a part of it.

Nope, just a commercial, same with Dreamer.

No, there is a video for Guitar.

[Edited 4/27/11 17:24pm]

MaddMaxx said:

grace jones is 433 years old, and "Williams Blood" got mad airplay here in belgium. it reached #2, if i recall correctly. age has nothing to do with it. just put out some good music and get the fuck behind it instead of either:

(a) jumping immediately to a new, half-baked project

(b) sabotaging your own album by trying to shove a protegee down our throats (tamar)

there are so many tracks for prince that would've been hits over the last decade, but it's his own fault, and it's the primary reason that most people (i.e., people who are not on the org or moquake or dr. funkenberry) don't think he's had a new album since..........

That might be the case in Belgium, but he won't get any airplay in the USA, which is youth and hip hop based. Grace Jones has rarely recieved radio play in the states even when she was young.

MickyDolenz said:

MaddMaxx said:

grace jones is 433 years old, and "Williams Blood" got mad airplay here in belgium. it reached #2, if i recall correctly. age has nothing to do with it. just put out some good music and get the fuck behind it instead of either:

(a) jumping immediately to a new, half-baked project

(b) sabotaging your own album by trying to shove a protegee down our throats (tamar)

there are so many tracks for prince that would've been hits over the last decade, but it's his own fault, and it's the primary reason that most people (i.e., people who are not on the org or moquake or dr. funkenberry) don't think he's had a new album since..........

That might be the case in Belgium, but he won't get any airplay in the USA, which is youth and hip hop based. Grace Jones has rarely recieved radio play in the states even when she was young.

i'm originally from the u.s., and grace got plenty airplay in my area.

MaddMaxx said:

MickyDolenz said:

That might be the case in Belgium, but he won't get any airplay in the USA, which is youth and hip hop based. Grace Jones has rarely recieved radio play in the states even when she was young.

i'm originally from the u.s., and grace got plenty airplay in my area.

No, she didn't. If she had, she woulda had a hit. And this ain't about Grace fuckin Jones. It's about Prince. And he doesn't do hits.

SagsWay2low said:

I think 3121 was released two years too late. In all the come back hype, grammys performance, rock n' roll hall of fame, purple rain 20th anniversary; if he had released "Black Sweat" as a lead single during that era with all the media attention he was getting it could have potentially been a hit. There were no mainstream/pop hits on Musicology, but Black Sweat could defintiely have passed for a modern/hip jam.

* Love [should have been the follow-up single to Black Sweat]

* She's Always In My Hair [should have been the follow-up single to Raspberry Beret]

* 17 Days [should have been a double A-Side with When Doves Cry]

* DMSR [should have been the follow-up single to Little Red Corvette]

* When 2 R In Love

* Mountains

* Dance 4 Me

* Black Sweat [should have been 1st single]

* Acknowledge Me [should have been the follow-up single to The Most Beautiful Girl In The World]

* Baby I'm A Star [should have been the follow-up single to I Would Die 4 U or as double A side with it]

* Daddy Pop or Thunder [either one of these should have been the follow-up single to Diamonds and Pearls]

* Private Joy

* Undisputed [should have been the 1st single]

* Face Down [should have been the 1st single]

* Jam Of The Year [should have been the follow up single to Face Down]

* Sticky Like Glue [should have been the 1st single]

[Edited 4/27/11 23:22pm]

[Edited 4/27/11 23:29pm]

Guitar and Black Sweat were definately the last singles that could've been a big hits and lead off a proper promo campaign for an album.

I actually have no love for Black Sweat whatsoever, but non-fans liked it, it sounded current whilst still sounding like Prince, was a dance/funk track that was devoid of preaching and had a title reminiscent of 'nasty Prince' and it had a slick, simple video.

Lack of promotion by Prince is the general problem. As far as releases go, Heres what I would have done differently........

He should have been at the front in The Family and allowed him to play out a funk band route in tandem with ATWIAD. He should of added The Dance Electric in the mix too.

Leaving She' always in my hair off ATWIAD. It fit the mould and would have made for a great single.

Girls & Boys should have been the worldwide second single off Parade. It was funky and modern and plugged the up and coming film. Mountains bombed because it didn't fit with the current radio and you couldn't dance to it.

If I was your Girlfriend as a single stalled SOTT. He should have gone SOTT, I could Never Take, U Got the Look, Strange Relationship.

He should have released Lovesexy title track as the second single, When 2 R in love as the third.

Ideally, Lovesexy should have have been a double album with the Black Album. One side dark one side light. It could have been double A side light /dark singles. Alphabet St / Cindy C, then Lovesexy / Superfunkycalafragasexy.

He should have stayed with WB and struck a new deal to get his masters.

Come / Gold should have been a double album with major promotion by Prince.

Dolphin should have been the lead off Gold, not I hate U.

Emancipation should have been a single album.

jaawwnn said:

SagsWay2low said:

Even though Fury was released, it should have been the lead single. I was shocked when VH1 made that buzz about Te Amo Corezon only to reveal such a boring ass video and song. Fury should have been the first single.

So Far, So Please from Rave should have been the first single.

Off of Musicology, Illusion Coma Pimp and Circumstance should have been the second single.

Prince really needs to steer clear of ballads and down tempo songs as first singles.

If that song had been a single and hit we'd all be here arguing about how a bloodless throwaway, created only for the masses with no creative effort put into it whatsoever was the only way he can manage to get a hit these days.

or maybe that's just me.

I don't disagree with this.

But it's the obvious single. The scope of my thinking as it pertains to the premise of this thread was based merely on what would have been a hit, and not the merits of the song itself.

Spinlight said:

PurpleLove7 said:

'Hit' from who's point of view though? Radio? Critics? Us?

There's not an album that's been released where you can't grab at least 'one track' that wouldn't do well on the radio (Urban Radio / Top 40).

I totally disagree with ya Spin ...

Isn't "hit on the radio" implied?

Prince's recent output isn't even lauded by the majority of his hardcore fans anymore. In fact, he acknowledged in a 2010 interview that he knew his music wasn't popular anymore.

He's being overly modest and lying to himself...

squirrelmeat said

I agree! I was having this same debate with someone on another thread last week (lol)."Girls & Boys" was such an 'obvious' choice for the second single.It would have followed "Kiss" straight into the Top 10."Mountains" is a good 'album track' but it doesn't have that extra something to become a hit single.I don't even think it's very catchy.