Very interesting and thought-provoking answers. The maturity and capacity of analysis of some of the younger posters here is quite impressive for teenagers Thanks for sharing ur answers and opinions

I also noticed that post-1995 albums are easier to listen to and enjoy for non-Prince fans than the "classic" stuff. I personally enjoy post-95 material as much as pre-1995: it's different but I enjoy the evolution of his work and what made me love Prince in the first place is still everywhere in his post-WB music.

minneapolisFunq said:

I don't know how likely it is that a newer fan jumped on the bandwagon because of his post millenium music lol.

As a fan in my 20's, I "discovered" prince as a child and I agree that most probably didn't begin to like him because of his more recent music! For me, I remember being a kid with the radio on, playing outside and loving life with the sound of prince tunes in the background. As a teen, I rediscovered him through "The Hits" album I found at a used CD store and was shocked to find I loved every new song I found more than the previous and I was hooked.

Yet to address some of your questions, I not only love his 80's work, but was/am equally addicted to much of his 90's stuff that some people just can't stand. As far as it compares to today's music, well, everyone knows there is no comparison.

I do often feel like I was born in the wrong era, like the best of music has passed me by, and often I don't fit in with what others my age listen to/dress like/act like.

This is actually a very great topic & I adore you for posting it. I'm 19 & grew up listening to Prince. I remember being about 4 years of age watching Purple Rain & singing along. He's always been one of my idols. Some of my friends my age are into Elvis, well I'm into Prince! His music is beautiful, some things that we're scared to say, he sings. I have a shrine in my room of Prince. My mom was worried for quite some time about me listening to too much of his music. There were some albums that she didn't want me getting, but I did anyway & danced my ass off for hours. Everything about him, i respect. Yes, I've noticed alot of complaints about his recent music. But the way I see it, if you were a fan then, it shouldn't change. Although he has thru his music, still respect Him. He's just like everyone else.

Favourite songs.

BAMBI

ANNA STESIA

LOVE SIGN

GLAM SLAM

SEXUALITY

DIRTY MIND

LET'S WORK

HOUSEQUAKE

IF I WAS YOUR GIRL FRIEND

THE QUESTION OF YOU

THE HOLY RIVER

ADORE

PRIVATE JOY

WHEN DOVES CRY

ELEPHANTS & FLOWERS

MOUNTAINS

AMERICA

EROTIC CITY

[Edited 6/11/11 23:45pm]

[Edited 6/11/11 23:58pm]

Giselle said:

This is actually a very great topic & I adore you for posting it. I'm 19 & grew up listening to Prince. I remember being about 4 years of age watching Purple Rain & singing along. He's always been one of my idols. Some of my friends my age are into Elvis, well I'm into Prince! His music is beautiful, some things that we're scared to say, he sings. I have a shrine in my room of Prince. My mom was worried for quite some time about me listening to too much of his music. There were some albums that she didn't want me getting, but I did anyway & danced my ass off for hours. Everything about him, i respect. Yes, I've noticed alot of complaints about his recent music. But the way I see it, if you were a fan then, it shouldn't change. Although he has thru his music, still respect Him. He's just like everyone else.

Favourite songs.

BAMBI

ANNA STESIA

LOVE SIGN

GLAM SLAM

SEXUALITY

DIRTY MIND

LET'S WORK

HOUSEQUAKE

IF I WAS YOUR GIRL FRIEND

THE QUESTION OF YOU

THE HOLY RIVER

ADORE

PRIVATE JOY

WHEN DOVES CRY

ELEPHANTS & FLOWERS

MOUNTAINS

AMERICA

EROTIC CITY

[Edited 6/11/11 23:45pm]

[Edited 6/11/11 23:58pm]

I see your point, but keep in mind that there's a huge difference between being a music fan and being a fanatic. I respect him as a man no matter how bad music he puts out. But I won't pretend to like his new material just because I loved his old material. Just the same as with musician friends, I'll either tell em it's HOT. Or I just don't say much about it, except maybe pointing out what was good, and what can be better. I'm not promoting hate towards a great musicians as he is though. But some constructive critisicm is always good imo.

I'm 22. My sister who is 36, left Sexy MF and Peach on my mp3 player, after listening to it I went out and bought Love Symbol and 3121. Purple Rain shortly followed... etc etc $200 ONA CD... etc etc Searching for hours for CNote, Rave In2, Gold Nigga torrents... etc etc

Yes interesting topic. It sounds like many of the younger fans still find the Golden Age of Prince to be 1980-1988. That is surprising and I thought it was just like that for us old timers because were around back then. There are a lot of amazing songs post 1988 but not really that many amazing albums as a whole.

Reading some pretty interesting comments

I just want 2 say (and we seem to cover this all the time)

That all music has or will sound dated. That's a part of life, that shouldn't be a bad thing.

I can tell music from the 50's music from the 60s vs the 70's I can tell music from the late 80's vs the early 80's and I can tell music from different periods in the 90's

Different instrumentation different technology different expirementation etc etc

The1592 said:

Well, I'm 18 and I've been a fan since 2007, so here are my thoughts...

How do u perceive his classic albums?

Some are great (Parade, Sign O The Times), and some sound like horribly dated pop music (Purple Rain). Good music is good music. I like old stuff like The Beatles, and I like more modern artists like Radiohead and Lady Gaga. I think some of Prince's 80s music is genius, but not all of it.

I don't hate Purple Rain, by the way. I think the songs are great, I just think the production and heavy 80s synthersizer sound of it makes it sound ridiculous in 2011.

Do his post 1995 material sound weaker to you than his classic stuff that's from your parents' generation?

No. Some of it does, but I honestly think as a songwriter, Prince has improved. His music might not be as fun or 'groundbreaking', but I think in terms of lyrics, something like "Dreamer" is far superior to "Head" or "Jack U Off". Musically, "The Rainbow Children" (i know it's 10 years old now) proves he's still a talented composer and "Lotusflow3r" proves he's still a great instrumentalist.

I also find that when playing Prince music for friends and family who don't like him, they tend to like his more recent music. Probably because he's not as 'weird' or 'freaky' anymore. Some critic said that around the mid-90s, Prince went from being a 'groundbreaker' to a 'craftsman', and I think that's very true. Fans might not find his music particularly interesting or essential anymore, but I think his albums are still very pleasant and enjoyable.

Don't his classic album sometimes sound odd or dated for your younger ears?

Odd? No. Dated? Yes, sometimes, especially "Purple Rain". However, I don't listen to very much modern music. I've always liked older music from the '60s-'80s. I imagine anyone who listens to today's pop music might not 'get' Prince's older stuff.

Do his recent albums sound contemporary to u?

Sometimes, although I prefer the ones that don't. I like Prince when he's trying something new. Be it the jazzy "Rainbow Children", funky instrumental albums ("NEWS"), or guitar heavy rock music, like on "Lotusflow3r". However, I find "MPLSound" and "20Ten" to be very embarrassing. He sounds like he's trying to go for that 80s sound to make his old fans happy, but to me (a younger fan), he's failing miserably at it. I'd rather him do something more 'artsy' and timeless than something that sounds 'contemporary'.

How do you perceive these "classic" years and all the myths that's around them.

I don't really understand what you mean by myths, but I think his 80s work tends to be overrated (not that it's bad, but it wasn't all perfect), and I think his 90s and 00s work tends to be underrated (not that's it's all great).

I think Prince is still a great artist, although that's tough for me to say after his last two albums ("MPLSound" and "20Ten"). I think his fans are just too used to him, that his (new) music doesn't really interest them anymore. That's why I said I wish he'd do something different, like venturing more into jazz or rock music, rather than trying to recapture his 80s glory. It's never gonna happen.

-- by the way, I'm very happy you asked this question. It seems like most people here hate younger fans, and they get angry when someone tries to say he's still making great music, or that not all of his 80s music was perfect.

[Edited 6/6/11 13:25pm]

Yes, i agree with you about Purple Rain, i first heard it in 1995 and even then I thought it sounded dated!

I also never really got into SOTT because it sounded very dated and this was back in 97 when I first heard it.

However, some of his early stuff doesn't sound dated at all, Parade for example.

I personally liked Lotusflow3r and MPLSound (IMO his best since 1996's Emancipation) but not 20TEN which seemed corny and too dated.

TheFreakerFantastic said:

The1592 said:

Well, I'm 18 and I've been a fan since 2007, so here are my thoughts...

How do u perceive his classic albums?

Some are great (Parade, Sign O The Times), and some sound like horribly dated pop music (Purple Rain). Good music is good music. I like old stuff like The Beatles, and I like more modern artists like Radiohead and Lady Gaga. I think some of Prince's 80s music is genius, but not all of it.

I don't hate Purple Rain, by the way. I think the songs are great, I just think the production and heavy 80s synthersizer sound of it makes it sound ridiculous in 2011.

Do his post 1995 material sound weaker to you than his classic stuff that's from your parents' generation?

No. Some of it does, but I honestly think as a songwriter, Prince has improved. His music might not be as fun or 'groundbreaking', but I think in terms of lyrics, something like "Dreamer" is far superior to "Head" or "Jack U Off". Musically, "The Rainbow Children" (i know it's 10 years old now) proves he's still a talented composer and "Lotusflow3r" proves he's still a great instrumentalist.

I also find that when playing Prince music for friends and family who don't like him, they tend to like his more recent music. Probably because he's not as 'weird' or 'freaky' anymore. Some critic said that around the mid-90s, Prince went from being a 'groundbreaker' to a 'craftsman', and I think that's very true. Fans might not find his music particularly interesting or essential anymore, but I think his albums are still very pleasant and enjoyable.

Don't his classic album sometimes sound odd or dated for your younger ears?

Odd? No. Dated? Yes, sometimes, especially "Purple Rain". However, I don't listen to very much modern music. I've always liked older music from the '60s-'80s. I imagine anyone who listens to today's pop music might not 'get' Prince's older stuff.

Do his recent albums sound contemporary to u?

Sometimes, although I prefer the ones that don't. I like Prince when he's trying something new. Be it the jazzy "Rainbow Children", funky instrumental albums ("NEWS"), or guitar heavy rock music, like on "Lotusflow3r". However, I find "MPLSound" and "20Ten" to be very embarrassing. He sounds like he's trying to go for that 80s sound to make his old fans happy, but to me (a younger fan), he's failing miserably at it. I'd rather him do something more 'artsy' and timeless than something that sounds 'contemporary'.

How do you perceive these "classic" years and all the myths that's around them.

I don't really understand what you mean by myths, but I think his 80s work tends to be overrated (not that it's bad, but it wasn't all perfect), and I think his 90s and 00s work tends to be underrated (not that's it's all great).

I think Prince is still a great artist, although that's tough for me to say after his last two albums ("MPLSound" and "20Ten"). I think his fans are just too used to him, that his (new) music doesn't really interest them anymore. That's why I said I wish he'd do something different, like venturing more into jazz or rock music, rather than trying to recapture his 80s glory. It's never gonna happen.

-- by the way, I'm very happy you asked this question. It seems like most people here hate younger fans, and they get angry when someone tries to say he's still making great music, or that not all of his 80s music was perfect.

[Edited 6/6/11 13:25pm]

Yes, i agree with you about Purple Rain, i first heard it in 1995 and even then I thought it sounded dated!

I also never really got into SOTT because it sounded very dated and this was back in 97 when I first heard it.

However, some of his early stuff doesn't sound dated at all, Parade for example.

I personally liked Lotusflow3r and MPLSound (IMO his best since 1996's Emancipation) but not 20TEN which seemed corny and too dated.

Damn, this I've thought for quite a while. Purple Rain, Graffiti Bridge, Batman and some of Love Sexy is production wise as a whole the most dated sounding albums of his as a whole on the 80s.

Purple Rain was his strongest album when it comes to concept, songs and flow. But the sound is very dated, yes!

Dirty Mind was just nice, a little gritty, live and analog

Controversy was cleaner, but had some of that plus introduced us to

1999 which had the 80s sound many tried to duplicate, but wasn't able to

Purple Rain tried to do something similar but more "live" sounding. It ended up sounding more dated, except maybe Darling Nikki. Darling Nikki together with Another Lonely Christmas and some songs on Love Sexy has some of the coolest drum patterns ever by Prince and Sheila E.

dyvrdown said:

i would change that to.. most of his post 2001 stuff. after rainbow children is when i think he started losing it, musically. except for lotusflower, and a few songs here and there.

blasphemy !!

OldFriends4Sale said:

Reading some pretty interesting comments

I just want 2 say (and we seem to cover this all the time)

That all music has or will sound dated. That's a part of life, that shouldn't be a bad thing.

I can tell music from the 50's music from the 60s vs the 70's I can tell music from the late 80's vs the early 80's and I can tell music from different periods in the 90's

Different instrumentation different technology different expirementation etc etc

For me, it's not even so much that Purple Rain sounds old, it's that I don't like that 80s sounds - I think it's the synthesizers. In particular, "I Would Die 4 U" and "Let's Go Crazy" sound really ridiculous to me, even though I like the songs, there's just something about the album versions that I don't like. I still think the songs are great when he does them live.

Truthfully, in my opinion ...we all know through many of his albums that Prince likes to try different styles of music. By saying that, I believe that the music he currently makes now is just as great as the songs he made back then...because it is IN FACT his music and he STILL reaches out to so many people. His current music sounds more coming from a man that's really experienced and looks into life a little deeper now & sounds more spiritual. I think that some fans can't let go of how he used to be and just accept him for who he is now. If that made any sense. It made sense to me. lol