During the opening few minutes on "Talking Funny", a discussion on comedy by Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais and Louis CK, Rock talks about Prince's genius.

When discussing new comedy material, he said that he "grew up on Woody Allen and Prince - I like short geniuses. Every year Woody Allen would have a new movie, every year Prince would have a new album and that's the way I look at it, a completely new body of work." Gervais then said that "when you go and see Prince, you want to see his greatest hits" to which Rock responded "maybe today I want to see the hits, but there was a moment, a 20 year period in Prince's career where I just wanted the new shit - I couldn't wait for the new shit".

I know how he feels. I remember pre-internet waiting for blurbs in Rolling Stone about when the new album would come out and then the anticipation of going to the record store on that day and spending hours, days and weeks listening, analyzing and just thinking this is like nothing I have never heard before. ATWIAD, Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy - those were epic times!

Still have great anticipation for a new release, but Rock sumed it up nicely.

I loved that period of time (80s and early 90s).

Sometimes a single would be released far in advance of the the album, like the album, containing the the words "Music from the forthcoming album..." which just stoked me out even more.

Sometimes the album would just friggen drop.

But always, it was something new. Something I'd never heard before, and something he'd never done before.

I haven't been excited over a new Prince release since Rave (which disappointed). Hell, I even gave 20ten

a spin knowing it was probably going to be paint-by-numbers Prince.

I'm older now and don't get excited about music like I used to, but I do still remember the excitement a new

Prince album would bring me.

Hell, a new Prince album used to be an 'event'.

SagsWay2low said:

Hell, a new Prince album used to be an 'event'.

Exactly! But now, new albums just seem to be strikes against his legacy, and nothing more.

Gervais then said that "when you go and see Prince, you want to see his greatest hits" to which Rock responded "maybe today I want to see the hits, but there was a moment, a 20 year period in Prince's career where I just wanted the new shit - I couldn't wait for the new shit

Indeed, this is THE fan/artist relationship trajectory for every career in nearly every genre. Why fans think Prince's career is immune from this dynamic...I don't know.

Nobody wants the Francis Ford Coppola of now, they want him 30 years ago.

Young Elvis got voted on the stamp.

People want their Michael Jackson black.

Nobody is going to put Lebron or Kobe over Jordan. Just as my old man won't put Jordan over Dr. J or Wilt Chamberlain or Jerry West.

SagsWay2low said:

I loved that period of time (80s and early 90s).

Sometimes a single would be released far in advance of the the album, like the album, containing the the words "Music from the forthcoming album..." which just stoked me out even more.

Sometimes the album would just friggen drop.

But always, it was something new. Something I'd never heard before, and something he'd never done before.

I haven't been excited over a new Prince release since Rave (which disappointed). Hell, I even gave 20ten

a spin knowing it was probably going to be paint-by-numbers Prince.

I'm older now and don't get excited about music like I used to, but I do still remember the excitement a new

Prince album would bring me.

Hell, a new Prince album used to be an 'event'.

Same here, but i still get excited for the new stuff as well!

Colbert said:

During the opening few minutes on "Talking Funny", a discussion on comedy by Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais and Louis CK, Rock talks about Prince's genius.

When discussing new comedy material, he said that he "grew up on Woody Allen and Prince - I like short geniuses. Every year Woody Allen would have a new movie, every year Prince would have a new album and that's the way I look at it, a completely new body of work." Gervaisthen said that "when you go and see Prince, you want to see his greatest hits" to which Rock responded "maybe today I want to see the hits, but there was a moment, a 20 year period in Prince's career where I just wanted the new shit - I couldn't wait for the new shit".

I know how he feels. I remember pre-internet waiting for blurbs in Rolling Stone about when the new album would come out and then the anticipation of going to the record store on that day and spending hours, days and weeks listening, analyzing and just thinking this is like nothing I have never heard before. ATWIAD, Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy - those were epic times!

Still have great anticipation for a new release, but Rock sumed it up nicely.

He did - and you did as well. I think this speaks to the change in the times more than any decline in Prince's work from that golden era to present day. I always say that Prince could release that is more brilliant than anything he has ever done and it would not get half the recognition that Purple Rain got. It is a different day. Epic albums that stayed on the charts for years and produced multiple singles, videos, and remixes are no more. The internet age has made that kind of marketing campaign for album a thing of the past.

To be truthful,I think Prince has done well. Not many major artists with his tenure have maintained critical acclaim, profitable record sales, and sold out concerts across 4 decades. Prince has managed avoid obsolescence and,in some instances, break new ground in the marketing and distribution of his work. I remember how Prince was so unique because he would have a killer non-album B side on all his singles - how many radio classics like Erotic City and How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore didn't come from some reasonably well-known album?

Despite glitches, Prince did embrace the net early and did some things that no one else could. I don't care what anyone says, NPG music club was great if you took all the downloads and got the front row conerts seats and free aftershows like I did. He was able to translate the big 12" single with B side to the cyber single release - even if some were not well received (I happen to love Purple and Gold so bump it). The retail deals that he struck with Best Buy, Target, and newspapers worked and he made exponentially more money on them than he would have under regular record industry arrangements.

Artists their best work is in the first 10 years of the career, after that there of course sometimes a great masterpiece, but most of the albums are not that good anymore like the albums from the first 10 years.

I think Prince still makes good music, and I think every artist can't do anything anymore like what they did years ago. I don't get people don't understand that, and people keep saying Prince makes shit music, but he ain't. He maybe don't make another Parade or Purple Rain, but he makes still good music, the new music from the new artists aren't any better, actually more worse.

I'm happy with his music, what he made last 5/10 years, It's still great or good. People can't get over it that you can't make another Parade, Purple Rain or 1999. No one can. U2 can't make a another Joshua Tree, Acthung Baby or War. And The Rolling Stones can't make a another Exile on Main St., Sticky Fingers or Let It Bleed.

[Edited 4/27/11 7:54am]

i'll take hot new music, please. prince concerts are great parties, and for the last few years i only go to party and hang with like-minded fans. the music is only secondary now. he needs to put out something smokin' and new. in fact, i'll keep my money in my pocket til he does that. no more concerts til there's a new album of GOOD music to promote.

"I know how he feels. I remember pre-internet waiting for blurbs in Rolling Stone about when the new album would come out and then the anticipation of going to the record store on that day and spending hours, days and weeks listening, analyzing and just thinking this is like nothing I have never heard before. ATWIAD, Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy - those were epic times!"

Ah, sooooo true !!! perfectly put !!! I remember just staring at the LP or CD, looking at every detail, font, imagery, liner notes...listening to it on repeat, learning the lyrics, ANALYZING the music (after every 7th beat there is a double beat on ICNTTPOYM - that sorta stuff), feeling the music, the passion, the voice......AWESOME times !

Now, everyone has to know everything months in advance - no surprises, fun - too much information, too easily at hand. Download a single - don't bother with the "art" that is contained within the songs on the rest of the album...as you don't download it..because you haven't heard it before and so it's not instantly familiar !!!

Such a shame that hidden gems lie undiscovered for so many who just download what they've heard already - because it is familiar; they can sing the chorus already, it takes no effort to listen to, dissect, "get into it". It's like only ever eating fast food, never taking the time to check the menu at a great restaurant !!

Just imagine if i-tunes and the like existed back in '87 - I would most likely have taken a listen to a few seconds snippet of If I Was Your Girlfriend, The Cross, Ballad of Dorothy Parker and thought " nah, sound weird or too slow / boring" and skipped them - yet they are all pure genius and I love them !!!

It's a fast food generation now - everything has to be instant, easy, dumbed down and disposable !!!

Geeze, sounding like an oldie now !!! Back to my zimmer !!!!

skywalker said:

Gervais then said that "when you go and see Prince, you want to see his greatest hits" to which Rock responded "maybe today I want to see the hits, but there was a moment, a 20 year period in Prince's career where I just wanted the new shit - I couldn't wait for the new shit

Indeed, this is THE fan/artist relationship trajectory for every career in nearly every genre. Why fans think Prince's career is immune from this dynamic...I don't know.

Nobody wants the Francis Ford Coppola of now, they want him 30 years ago.

Young Elvis got voted on the stamp.

People want their Michael Jackson black.

Nobody is going to put Lebron or Kobe over Jordan. Just as my old man won't put Jordan over Dr. J or Wilt Chamberlain or Jerry West.

AND Nobody wants lady gagga , they want Madonna??? hmmmm i´m not sure

Colbert said:

Gervais then said that "when you go and see Prince, you want to see his greatest hits" to which Rock responded "maybe today I want to see the hits, but there was a moment, a 20 year period in Prince's career where I just wanted the new shit - I couldn't wait for the new shit".

I know how he feels. I remember pre-internet waiting for blurbs in Rolling Stone about when the new album would come out and then the anticipation of going to the record store on that day and spending hours, days and weeks listening, analyzing and just thinking this is like nothing I have never heard before. ATWIAD, Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy - those were epic times!

Now that is the absolute TRUTH! The whole TRUTH! And nothing but the TRUTH!

Early Madonna over Lady GaGa, YES! I agree with Skywalker. He makes a great point.

myloveis4ever said:

skywalker said:

Indeed, this is THE fan/artist relationship trajectory for every career in nearly every genre. Why fans think Prince's career is immune from this dynamic...I don't know.

Nobody wants the Francis Ford Coppola of now, they want him 30 years ago.

Young Elvis got voted on the stamp.

People want their Michael Jackson black.

Nobody is going to put Lebron or Kobe over Jordan. Just as my old man won't put Jordan over Dr. J or Wilt Chamberlain or Jerry West.

AND Nobody wants lady gagga , they want Madonna??? hmmmm i´m not sure

myloveis4ever said:

skywalker said:

Indeed, this is THE fan/artist relationship trajectory for every career in nearly every genre. Why fans think Prince's career is immune from this dynamic...I don't know.

Nobody wants the Francis Ford Coppola of now, they want him 30 years ago.

Young Elvis got voted on the stamp.

People want their Michael Jackson black.

Nobody is going to put Lebron or Kobe over Jordan. Just as my old man won't put Jordan over Dr. J or Wilt Chamberlain or Jerry West.

AND Nobody wants lady gagga , they want Madonna??? hmmmm i´m not sure

Depends who you are asking, I suppose.

myloveis4ever said:

skywalker said:

Indeed, this is THE fan/artist relationship trajectory for every career in nearly every genre. Why fans think Prince's career is immune from this dynamic...I don't know.

Nobody wants the Francis Ford Coppola of now, they want him 30 years ago.

Young Elvis got voted on the stamp.

People want their Michael Jackson black.

Nobody is going to put Lebron or Kobe over Jordan. Just as my old man won't put Jordan over Dr. J or Wilt Chamberlain or Jerry West.

AND Nobody wants lady gagga , they want Madonna??? hmmmm i´m not sure

Ill take Madonna for 500 please Trebeck