Prince's recent comments about not recording anymore can be translated as follows: 1. He is at the time in his career when his creativity isn't where it used to be. 2. He is very frustrated that he can't get a piece of the internet pie and there isn't much he can do about it.

With respect to his creativity, it makes me sad that my hero is 53 years old and his creative output is winding down. But, I'm also happy and amazed at his body of work that I have enjoyed my entire life.

I'm sure there are many gems in the vault that will see the light of day, but I doubt he creates many new gems in the future. I think we need to accept reality and celebrate his career rather than criticize the fact that nature is taking its course.

His inability to control the internet is another example of Prince letting his poor business judgment get in the way of his music. I'm sure he is frustrated with the fact that artists get screwed by online music services and the rampant piracy on the internet. However, not recording or releasing music doesn't hurt anyone but him and his fans.

He is 53, he doesn't have many good years to perform these songs. Prince at 53 is still cool. Prince at 63 will be different regardless of the fact that he looks great for his age. Wasting a year or two because he wants to make a point is critical at this stage. He has the rest of his life for his "greatest hits" era. He needs to use these last few years to add to his legend to the extent that he still has good music that hasn't been released.

The goal is no longer that he gets paid. Money isn't an issue for him. He can still carry the flag for artists rights without sacrificing the last few years of his brilliant career. The goal is that his wonderful music be heard. God blessed him with his talent so he can share it with others. The money issue is getting him sidetracked.

We all know that there will be a huge Charlie Foxtrot about his vault when Prince dies. He barely could get it right when he was alive so we know that releasing his music will be a mess when he is dead. It is a shame that he is wasting his last few years, but I thank him for all that he has done.

donnyenglish said:

The goal is no longer that he gets paid. Money isn't an issue for him.

Are you sure about this?

Regarding his unreleased material after he dies - Prince will probably want to lock that down one way or another, just being the control freak that he is - So either he will actually take advantage of it and cash in his piggy bank before he pops his clogs, or he'll do something so that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands after he's gone (which isn't really a bad thing, or possibly something spiteful so they don't get released at all depending on where his head is at when the time comes).

Honestly, I think he took a wrong turn at some point, and instead of just saying 'WHOOPS!... Sorry folks, bit silly that eh?! Let's try and get back on track' - obviously he's not that kind of person so he keeps on trucking down the road he chose. His actions and output belittle his talent and ability.

P.S - Watch out for the 'don't do this, don't say that' crowd swooping down in 3,2,1.... your thread title is kinda inflamatory.

P.P.S. I had to google Charlie Foxtrot

donnyenglish said:

2. He is very frustrated that he can't get a piece of the internet pie and there isn't much he can do about it.

He has had several pieces of the internet pie and decided to throw them away every time.

He could easily have another slice of it if he stopped all this digital is bad, internet is dead foolishness.

donnyenglish said:

Prince's recent comments about not recording anymore can be translated as follows: 1. He is at the time in his career when his creativity isn't where it used to be. 2. He is very frustrated that he can't get a piece of the internet pie and there isn't much he can do about it.

"I no longer records songs. I do not want to record as long as the crisis in the music industry will not be resolved. No one earns money. I'll go to the White House to discuss with the government the issues on copyright. It's the Wild West. Everything must be clean."

- Prince "quoted" in the recent interview for "Le Parisian" (the same interview as "The Guardian")

Prince.. "I do not want to record as long as the crisis in the music industry will not be resolved. No one earns money."

Mmm, how much were you payed upfront for 20Ten then Prince? Ooops, silly me, no one earns money.

He devoted an gave his life to recording music an doing great gigs

Its only natural that he goes thru a writers block from time to time

An we all know that sometimes LESS is more .. So no-one wants prince to just make music for the sake of it an write a song .. when he has nothing to say .. I think he needs a new thng to focus on .. maybe a new movie ..

But I think his work rate shows u that he is clearly a guy who let music take over his life

an it is still an always will be a major passion ... I just think he needs time out to enjoy life an other things ... once in a while ..

Dear Prince, please start listening to your back catalogue again, it might inspire you. We all love it, wish you did too....

[Edited 6/26/11 7:55am]

TheDigitalGardener said:

Prince.. "I do not want to record as long as the crisis in the music industry will not be resolved. No one earns money."

Mmm, how much were you payed upfront for 20Ten then Prince? Ooops, silly me, no one earns money.

WHEN MONEY MIXES WITH ART (it falls apart)

Make TOP QUALITY MUSIC .. Sing every song like its your last .. give your all .. do the best you can

WHY SHOULD I, COS IT DON'T MAKE ME ANY MONEY?

You should do it for yourself an for your fans who will enjoy it an gain from it .. keep on serving .. forget money .. You were around in the days when artists could make money from records .. an you made lots of money .. Now you are around in the days when artist dont make money from records .. NOT MUCH anyway .. But you should still do the your very best .. the fact that people will hear it .. should be enuff motivation .. You're in a powerful position .. where alot of people are interested in what u gotta say,sing .. You can use it positivitly like u almost always have ... How many 50year olds,18year olds or 99year olds wish that they were in that position? .. Most of us have things to say an opinions .. that no one is interested in too much ... yet you are in a position where alot of people will listen .. Thats a great thing .. that no amount of money can buy.... you been blessed with tallent an fans who have put you in that position ... whatever you feel passionate about .. love, hate . advice .. things u learnt an want to give .. impact u want to make .. you can change the world in a small way way .. so when you are ready to GET UP OFF THAT THING an go to work .. We are more than ready an eager to listen ..

I am more interested in albums than GIGS ... But i you never record again .. You already gave more great music than pretty much anyone else who ever lived or will live .. for which i am grateful ... but I feel that there is something more left to give .. but its ool u take time out to be a better man an bf an gig an enjoy urself ... an thats needed .. just we the fans .. love u to record an album or 2 every now an then ..

Prince.. "I do not want to record as long as the crisis in the music industry will not be resolved. No one earns money."

Mmm, how much did you make from your deal witn Target for Lotus then Prince? Oops, silly me, no one earns money.

An most fans cant afford to go to many gigs .. I wish I could

but i aint got the money ... so a LIVE DVD would be awesome .. i seen some clips of recent gigs an you are on top form these days an would be awesome to have a dvd .. PEACH LIVE.. EMPTY ROOM live is the bomb

everything live is the bomb .. an u give new life to old songs with each performance ..

an DVDS still sell more than CDS lol

poor fans cant afford to travel to gigs an stuff ... but can afford to travel to hmv an get ne dvd .. maybe DVDS are the next step ... documentres.. movies .. etc

beestonpoet1981 said:

An most fans cant afford to go to many gigs .. I wish I could

but i aint got the money ... so a LIVE DVD would be awesome .. i seen some clips of recent gigs an you are on top form these days an would be awesome to have a dvd .. PEACH LIVE.. EMPTY ROOM live is the bomb

everything live is the bomb .. an u give new life to old songs with each performance ..

an DVDS still sell more than CDS lol

poor fans cant afford to travel to gigs an stuff ... but can afford to travel to hmv an get ne dvd .. maybe DVDS are the next step ... documentres.. movies .. etc

But he want's you to go to the gigs...

pepper7 said:

beestonpoet1981 said:

An most fans cant afford to go to many gigs .. I wish I could

but i aint got the money ... so a LIVE DVD would be awesome .. i seen some clips of recent gigs an you are on top form these days an would be awesome to have a dvd .. PEACH LIVE.. EMPTY ROOM live is the bomb

everything live is the bomb .. an u give new life to old songs with each performance ..

an DVDS still sell more than CDS lol

poor fans cant afford to travel to gigs an stuff ... but can afford to travel to hmv an get ne dvd .. maybe DVDS are the next step ... documentres.. movies .. etc

But he want's you to go to the gigs...

well if he sends me the money to be ble to afford to .. I would love it .. would be amazing lol

beestonpoet1981 said:

pepper7 said:

But he want's you to go to the gigs...

well if he sends me the money to be ble to afford to .. I would love it .. would be amazing lol

I think Prince knows what he's doing... I'm sure you'll find the money for him..

TheDigitalGardener said:

Prince.. "I do not want to record as long as the crisis in the music industry will not be resolved. No one earns money."

Mmm, how much were you payed upfront for 20Ten then Prince? Ooops, silly me, no one earns money.

donnyenglish said:

Prince's recent comments about not recording anymore can be translated as follows: 1. He is at the time in his career when his creativity isn't where it used to be. 2. He is very frustrated that he can't get a piece of the internet pie and there isn't much he can do about it.

BINGO.

electricberet said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

Prince.. "I do not want to record as long as the crisis in the music industry will not be resolved. No one earns money."

Mmm, how much were you payed upfront for 20Ten then Prince? Ooops, silly me, no one earns money.

For free my arse.

Please don't tell me you are one of the ones who believe he did it for free.

TheDigitalGardener said:

electricberet said:

For free my arse.

Please don't tell me you are one of the ones who believe he did it for free.

Of course not. He plays for fortune and velvet curtain calls, rides a black limousine and sleeps in a good hotel. But unlike Joni Mitchell, or the clarinet player she's singing about, he has no idea what a lucky person he is.

Remember in the 90s when Prince spoke favorably about the Internet? He kept saying that he would start selling his music on-line without the big record companies.Regarding file-sharing,he said something like "it's inevitable,just like rain".I think that he felt that *this* would be something that he could control but it didn't turn out that way.The Internet gives the people control over what they listen to,how they listen to it,and how they obtain it.Prince hates things that he can't control.So now he's left on the sidelines,sounding like a bitter old man.Back in the 90s,I never thought I'd see him in this position

electricberet said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

For free my arse.

Please don't tell me you are one of the ones who believe he did it for free.

Of course not. He plays for fortune and velvet curtain calls, rides a black limousine and sleeps in a good hotel. But unlike Joni Mitchell, or the clarinet player she's singing about, he has no idea what a lucky person he is.

Sorry, thats what I get for not listening to the full song.

I think Prince should just focus on touring and remastering his catalog.Forget about releasing new albums.

SoulAlive said:

Remember in the 90s when Prince spoke favorably about the Internet? He kept saying that he would start selling his music on-line without the big record companies.Regarding file-sharing,he said something like "it's inevitable,just like rain".I think that he felt that *this* would be something that he could control but it didn't turn out that way.The Internet gives the people control over what they listen to,how they listen to it,and how they obtain it.Prince hates things that he can't control.So now he's left on the sidelines,sounding like a bitter old man.Back in the 90s,I never thought I'd see him in this position

And there you have it.

Prince does what he wants 2 to do be it right or wrong and then the bitchin starts!

SoulAlive said:

I think Prince should just focus on touring and remastering his catalog.Forget about releasing new albums.

He would still have to use the record industry he's fighting against to release the remasters. I can't see it happening.

electricberet said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

Prince.. "I do not want to record as long as the crisis in the music industry will not be resolved. No one earns money."

Mmm, how much were you payed upfront for 20Ten then Prince? Ooops, silly me, no one earns money.

yeah, great song, but Joni got paid to sing it!

His creativity is gone? Really? Just two years ago people were saying how LotusFlow3r was the best album since the Gold Experience...

I thought people said his creativity was gone after hearing Graffiti Bridge???

How about resigning yourself to the fact that you don't know all of what he's recorded the past few years and probably won't for a long time.

People on the org love to get ahead of themselves...

I don't think his creativity is gone but he surely has problems not having things his way, as SoulAlive put eloquently.

His creativity isn't gone to zero but it is a fraction of what it used to be. ...just a side effect of getting older.

FunkiestOne said:

His creativity isn't gone to zero but it is a fraction of what it used to be. ...just a side effect of getting older.

Untrue. If you look at Classical composers like Richard Wagner, you'll see this idea about age and declining creativity is false. He made his best work right up until his death. It may be true that the culture we have created around pop stars is detrimental to creativity. Wagner had to hustle to get his work produced his entire life. He was well off, but he had to impress benefactors to get money. He wasn't surrounded by yes men, and the money wasn't endless.

I also think that Prince's religion and lack of desire to educate himself about the world is proabaly a damper to his creativity.

JudasLChrist said:

FunkiestOne said:

His creativity isn't gone to zero but it is a fraction of what it used to be. ...just a side effect of getting older.

Untrue. If you look at Classical composers like Richard Wagner, you'll see this idea about age and declining creativity is false. He made his best work right up until his death. It may be true that the culture we have created around pop stars is detrimental to creativity. Wagner had to hustle to get his work produced his entire life. He was well off, but he had to impress benefactors to get money. He wasn't surrounded by yes men, and the money wasn't endless.

I also think that Prince's religion and lack of desire to educate himself about the world is proabaly a damper to his creativity.

Good point. You could also use Beethoven as an example.