Like no matter how good the songs were, at the end of the day the album was mainstream to me.

TylerHippie said:

Cerebus said:

Regardless of how it comes across online I have rarely EVER attacked anyone here. An opinion passionately articulated, even one that results in a heated argument, does not equal an attack. Plus, its never personal with me. We can verbally spar and have a good laugh the next day.

However, I do disagree with you. To begin with, I'm not sure where you get that he set out to win Grammys. Regardless, there are plenty of Grammys (especially prior to the late 90s) that went to very un-mainstream albums. It used to be somewhat the norm that they were awarded for, ya know, actual artistic merit. Also, how does winning a Grammy suddenly make something bad? How does being underground make something good? I still say if you lived it it would make more sense. You're looking at it in hindsight as "Prince's biggest selling album", "Prince's most popular era", and those things are true. But at the time, when it was happening, that simply wasn't the case. It was new, fresh, groundbreaking and unique.

.

I don't know. Maybe I can't explain it the way I see it. Ya know?

Like no matter how good the songs were, at the end of the day the album was mainstream to me. How come Around The World In A Day wasn't recieved like Purple Rain? ATWIAD has just as many inovative songs.

Purple Rain was obviously an attempt to be mainstream. I think it's been clear for quite some time that Prince had made comments about wanting the Bob Seger/Bruce Springsteen money. He said those actual words to people in his camp who have relayed it ad nauseum. Sure enough, he got it.

That does not, however, diminish the artistic integrity. In today's society, people obsess over the level to which a person sells out without realizing that if you are getting paid for your music at all, you've sold it out. Prince being a sellout doesn't mean Prince makes bad art. He made quite good art, but art that was burgeoning and new at the time. He was one of the first innovators of a sound that had just recently been minted and pressed for general public use.

The issue at hand should not be the artistic merit of PR - which cannot be denied. The album is a complete masterpiece, on a global scale, and one of the best selling albums of all time. The artistic impact records like Purple Rain had began resonating mere months after its release. People have been re-making Purple Rain for decades now and owe all their creativity to Prince opening the door to them. Is PR too mainstream? In terms of sales? Yes it is quite mainstream. In terms of art? It is NOW, but at the time it was brand new. Nobody had ever heard a record like that in their life much less dreamed it could happen.

Spinlight said:

TylerHippie said:

I don't know. Maybe I can't explain it the way I see it. Ya know?

Like no matter how good the songs were, at the end of the day the album was mainstream to me. How come Around The World In A Day wasn't recieved like Purple Rain? ATWIAD has just as many inovative songs.

Purple Rain was obviously an attempt to be mainstream. I think it's been clear for quite some time that Prince had made comments about wanting the Bob Seger/Bruce Springsteen money. He said those actual words to people in his camp who have relayed it ad nauseum. Sure enough, he got it.

That does not, however, diminish the artistic integrity. In today's society, people obsess over the level to which a person sells out without realizing that if you are getting paid for your music at all, you've sold it out. Prince being a sellout doesn't mean Prince makes bad art. He made quite good art, but art that was burgeoning and new at the time. He was one of the first innovators of a sound that had just recently been minted and pressed for general public use.

The issue at hand should not be the artistic merit of PR - which cannot be denied. The album is a complete masterpiece, on a global scale, and one of the best selling albums of all time. The artistic impact records like Purple Rain had began resonating mere months after its release. People have been re-making Purple Rain for decades now and owe all their creativity to Prince opening the door to them. Is PR too mainstream? In terms of sales? Yes it is quite mainstream. In terms of art? It is NOW, but at the time it was brand new. Nobody had ever heard a record like that in their life much less dreamed it could happen.

well said, but it seems that all that matters to tylerhippie is sales numbers

uuhson said:

Spinlight said:

Purple Rain was obviously an attempt to be mainstream. I think it's been clear for quite some time that Prince had made comments about wanting the Bob Seger/Bruce Springsteen money. He said those actual words to people in his camp who have relayed it ad nauseum. Sure enough, he got it.

That does not, however, diminish the artistic integrity. In today's society, people obsess over the level to which a person sells out without realizing that if you are getting paid for your music at all, you've sold it out. Prince being a sellout doesn't mean Prince makes bad art. He made quite good art, but art that was burgeoning and new at the time. He was one of the first innovators of a sound that had just recently been minted and pressed for general public use.

The issue at hand should not be the artistic merit of PR - which cannot be denied. The album is a complete masterpiece, on a global scale, and one of the best selling albums of all time. The artistic impact records like Purple Rain had began resonating mere months after its release. People have been re-making Purple Rain for decades now and owe all their creativity to Prince opening the door to them. Is PR too mainstream? In terms of sales? Yes it is quite mainstream. In terms of art? It is NOW, but at the time it was brand new. Nobody had ever heard a record like that in their life much less dreamed it could happen.

well said, but it seems that all that matters to tylerhippie is sales numbers

Woah, I never said anything about sales.

TylerHippie said:

Cerebus said:

Regardless of how it comes across online I have rarely EVER attacked anyone here. An opinion passionately articulated, even one that results in a heated argument, does not equal an attack. Plus, its never personal with me. We can verbally spar and have a good laugh the next day.

However, I do disagree with you. To begin with, I'm not sure where you get that he set out to win Grammys. Regardless, there are plenty of Grammys (especially prior to the late 90s) that went to very un-mainstream albums. It used to be somewhat the norm that they were awarded for, ya know, actual artistic merit. Also, how does winning a Grammy suddenly make something bad? How does being underground make something good? I still say if you lived it it would make more sense. You're looking at it in hindsight as "Prince's biggest selling album", "Prince's most popular era", and those things are true. But at the time, when it was happening, that simply wasn't the case. It was new, fresh, groundbreaking and unique.

.

I don't know. Maybe I can't explain it the way I see it. Ya know?

Like no matter how good the songs were, at the end of the day the album was mainstream to me. How come Around The World In A Day wasn't recieved like Purple Rain? ATWIAD has just as many inovative songs.

I'm not sure you need to "explain it" anymore. I think we get what you're tying to say. It might just be time for you to admit that you're greatly outnumbered in regards to people totally and completely disagreeing with you. You can have whatever opinion you like, no skin off my back. But like I've already said a couple times, you didn't live it. It was NOT a mainstream album to begin with. I got shit for listening to that album. I got shit for proudly tacking the poster in the middle of my wall. I was called weird and made fun off, because Prince was considered weird. It was only as the movie took off and the singles kept coming that Prince became a bigger than life phenomenon.

Your ATWIAD question is a totally different conversation. I don't see how it relates to your belief that PR was "too mainstream" in the slightest. However, a lot of people would tell you that it was released too quickly following Purple Rain (including Warner Bros).

Spinlight said:

Purple Rain was obviously an attempt to be mainstream. I think it's been clear for quite some time that Prince had made comments about wanting the Bob Seger/Bruce Springsteen money. He said those actual words to people in his camp who have relayed it ad nauseum. Sure enough, he got it.

Is PR too mainstream? In terms of sales? Yes it is quite mainstream. In terms of art? It is NOW, but at the time it was brand new. Nobody had ever heard a record like that in their life much less dreamed it could happen.

Never knew that, but I've also gone out of my way to ignore all that shit for the last 28 years (good lord that's a long time). Still haven't read a single book about the guy. Never will unless he writes one himself. And even then it will only be a curiosity thing, because I sure wouldn't expect it to be the truth.

Uhhh-yep.

Cerebus said:

TylerHippie said:

I don't know. Maybe I can't explain it the way I see it. Ya know?

Like no matter how good the songs were, at the end of the day the album was mainstream to me. How come Around The World In A Day wasn't recieved like Purple Rain? ATWIAD has just as many inovative songs.

I'm not sure you need to "explain it" anymore. I think we get what you're tying to say. It might just be time for you to admit that you're greatly outnumbered in regards to people totally and completely disagreeing with you. You can have whatever opinion you like, no skin off my back. But like I've already said a couple times, you didn't live it. It was NOT a mainstream album to begin with. I got shit for listening to that album. I got shit for proudly tacking the poster in the middle of my wall. I was called weird and made fun off, because Prince was considered weird. It was only as the movie took off and the singles kept coming that Prince became a bigger than life phenomenon.

Your ATWIAD question is a totally different conversation. I don't see how it relates to your belief that PR was "too mainstream" in the slightest. However, a lot of people would tell you that it was released too quickly following Purple Rain (including Warner Bros).

Yes it was. Prince wanted to do what Michael did in 83'. He wanted to be at the Grammys, winning them I guess. Spinlight also stated Purple Rain was an attempt at mainstream so hey.

It's mainstream to me.

TylerHippie said:

uuhson said:

well said, but it seems that all that matters to tylerhippie is sales numbers

Woah, I never said anything about sales.

"purple rain sucked because it was well recieved and people bought many copies of it; conversly around the world in a day is gods gift to us mere mortals since it didnt perform as well, and is an 'underdog'."

paraphrased of course

uuhson said:

TylerHippie said:

Woah, I never said anything about sales.

"purple rain sucked because it was well recieved and people bought many copies of it; conversly around the world in a day is gods gift to us mere mortals since it didnt perform as well, and is an 'underdog'."

paraphrased of course

ha ha funny. But don't do that. People are actually going to think I said that.

TylerHippie said:

Cerebus said:

I'm not sure you need to "explain it" anymore. I think we get what you're tying to say. It might just be time for you to admit that you're greatly outnumbered in regards to people totally and completely disagreeing with you. You can have whatever opinion you like, no skin off my back. But like I've already said a couple times, you didn't live it. It was NOT a mainstream album to begin with. I got shit for listening to that album. I got shit for proudly tacking the poster in the middle of my wall. I was called weird and made fun off, because Prince was considered weird. It was only as the movie took off and the singles kept coming that Prince became a bigger than life phenomenon.

Your ATWIAD question is a totally different conversation. I don't see how it relates to your belief that PR was "too mainstream" in the slightest. However, a lot of people would tell you that it was released too quickly following Purple Rain (including Warner Bros).

Yes it was. Prince wanted to do what Michael did in 83'. He wanted to be at the Grammys, winning them I guess. Spinlight also stated Purple Rain was an attempt at mainstream so hey.

It's mainstream to me.

Did you process the rest of what he said? Or did you just grab that one sentence in an attempt to validate your own opinion?

Cerebus said:

TylerHippie said:

Yes it was. Prince wanted to do what Michael did in 83'. He wanted to be at the Grammys, winning them I guess. Spinlight also stated Purple Rain was an attempt at mainstream so hey.

It's mainstream to me.

Did you process the rest of what he said? Or did you just grab that one sentence in an attempt to validate your own opinion?

I grab the main part. The "mainstream" section, that's what this thread is about.

Cerebus said:

TylerHippie said:

Yes it was. Prince wanted to do what Michael did in 83'. He wanted to be at the Grammys, winning them I guess. Spinlight also stated Purple Rain was an attempt at mainstream so hey.

It's mainstream to me.

Did you process the rest of what he said? Or did you just grab that one sentence in an attempt to validate your own opinion?

Damn shame, cuz he coulda learned something.

Sorry guys.I know what you guys are saying.

Cerebus, I hope your not typig some long ass paragraph ahaha Just kidding.

TylerHippie said:

uuhson said:

"purple rain sucked because it was well recieved and people bought many copies of it; conversly around the world in a day is gods gift to us mere mortals since it didnt perform as well, and is an 'underdog'."

paraphrased of course

ha ha funny. But don't do that. People are actually going to think I said that.

You can't divorce the issue of sales from the status of mainstream. If mainstream is a goal, it's to sell a bunch of records. To mimick a popular sound to fetch more of an audience.

It is IMPOSSIBLE for Purple Rain to have been mainstream soundwise because no other record had ever come out that blended those genres together. None. Not one. Anyone can feel free to correct me on that. The one record you could presume was the precursor to the sound on Purple Rain?

.... Is 1999. Another Prince record with top 10 hits on it.

Spinlight said:

TylerHippie said:

ha ha funny. But don't do that. People are actually going to think I said that.

You can't divorce the issue of sales from the status of mainstream. If mainstream is a goal, it's to sell a bunch of records. To mimick a popular sound to fetch more of an audience.

It is IMPOSSIBLE for Purple Rain to have been mainstream soundwise because no other record had ever come out that blended those genres together. None. Not one. Anyone can feel free to correct me on that. The one record you could presume was the precursor to the sound on Purple Rain?

.... Is 1999. Another Prince record with top 10 hits on it.

I'm not calling the songs on the album mainstream, I'm calling the reception of it mainstream(not talking about sales). Like everyone knows Purple Rain, how many people know Lovesexy, For You etc...

Like there was a time when wearing skinny jeans was underground, now it's mainstream(bad example).

TylerHippie said:

Spinlight said:

You can't divorce the issue of sales from the status of mainstream. If mainstream is a goal, it's to sell a bunch of records. To mimick a popular sound to fetch more of an audience.

It is IMPOSSIBLE for Purple Rain to have been mainstream soundwise because no other record had ever come out that blended those genres together. None. Not one. Anyone can feel free to correct me on that. The one record you could presume was the precursor to the sound on Purple Rain?

.... Is 1999. Another Prince record with top 10 hits on it.

I'm not calling the songs on the album mainstream, I'm calling the reception of it mainstream(not talking about sales). Like everyone knows Purple Rain, how many people know Lovesexy, For You etc...

Like there was a time when wearing skinny jeans was underground, now it's mainstream(bad example).

Well, skinny jeans have never been underground, babe. Prince was wearing them in the 80s along with every other person. It's called Jordache. Get into it.

I get your point, but again - you can't divorce that concept from sales. Sales naturally come along part and parcel with it mainstreamification. Again, when PR was released, it ignited instantaneously - but it was new and fresh, not exactly mainstream by the standards you're requiring.

People know PR because it sold the most.

TylerHippie said:

Spinlight said:

You can't divorce the issue of sales from the status of mainstream. If mainstream is a goal, it's to sell a bunch of records. To mimick a popular sound to fetch more of an audience.

It is IMPOSSIBLE for Purple Rain to have been mainstream soundwise because no other record had ever come out that blended those genres together. None. Not one. Anyone can feel free to correct me on that. The one record you could presume was the precursor to the sound on Purple Rain?

.... Is 1999. Another Prince record with top 10 hits on it.

I'm not calling the songs on the album mainstream, I'm calling the reception of it mainstream(not talking about sales). Like everyone knows Purple Rain, how many people know Lovesexy, For You etc...

Like there was a time when wearing skinny jeans was underground, now it's mainstream(bad example).

i think the problem with this discussion is that your 'mainstream' problem with pruple rain is that you dont like that other people like it so much. which in itself is completely retarded, but do what you've got to do.

people are trying to argue that it wasnt a mainstream sound but that doesnt matter to you

Spinlight said:

TylerHippie said:

I'm not calling the songs on the album mainstream, I'm calling the reception of it mainstream(not talking about sales). Like everyone knows Purple Rain, how many people know Lovesexy, For You etc...

Like there was a time when wearing skinny jeans was underground, now it's mainstream(bad example).

Well, skinny jeans have never been underground, babe. Prince was wearing them in the 80s along with every other person. It's called Jordache. Get into it.

I get your point, but again - you can't divorce that concept from sales. Sales naturally come along part and parcel with it mainstreamification. Again, when PR was released, it ignited instantaneously - but it was new and fresh, not exactly mainstream by the standards you're requiring.

People know PR because it sold the most.

Yeah skiy jeans were a bad example. What about Flat Top haircuts?

uuhson said:

TylerHippie said:

I'm not calling the songs on the album mainstream, I'm calling the reception of it mainstream(not talking about sales). Like everyone knows Purple Rain, how many people know Lovesexy, For You etc...

Like there was a time when wearing skinny jeans was underground, now it's mainstream(bad example).

i think the problem with this discussion is that your 'mainstream' problem with pruple rain is that you dont like that other people like it so much. which in itself is completely retarded, but do what you've got to do.

people are trying to argue that it wasnt a mainstream sound but that doesnt matter to you

Kinda, if Purple Rain was recieved like Parade,I'll proabaly listen to it more.

its sad that you cant enjoy something just because other people also enjoy it

Spinlight said:

TylerHippie said:

I'm not calling the songs on the album mainstream, I'm calling the reception of it mainstream(not talking about sales). Like everyone knows Purple Rain, how many people know Lovesexy, For You etc...

Like there was a time when wearing skinny jeans was underground, now it's mainstream(bad example).

Well, skinny jeans have never been underground, babe. Prince was wearing them in the 80s along with every other person. It's called Jordache. Get into it.

I get your point, but again - you can't divorce that concept from sales. Sales naturally come along part and parcel with it mainstreamification. Again, when PR was released, it ignited instantaneously - but it was new and fresh, not exactly mainstream by the standards you're requiring.

People know PR because it sold the most.

I don't even remember it igniting that quickly outside of his core fans and those who were a bit more adventerous. I mean, I know When Doves Cry was big, and people were paying attention. But I don't remember it as like, Madonna or Michael Jackson levels of weirdness until after the Lets Go Crazy video. As 1984 moved along (and rolled into 85) I remember it growing quickly and qetting quite huge much faster than I ever expected. I'm probably wrong about all of that, btw.

But this whole "mainstream" thing, by a lot of poeple's standards it will never be at that level. Not the way Tyler (I think) means it. I say this because no matter how big it got, a lot of people never bought into it (another reason ATWIAD was less "popular"). A lot of people still think Prince is that weird little dude from the 80s who wore lace and eyeliner. And that was NEVER mainstream.

And now I'm out. I'ma go watch Super 8.

uuhson said:

its sad that you cant enjoy something just because other people also enjoy it

Oh I enjoy the album...

Just because it's too mainstream doesn't mean I don't enjoy it. I listen to this album twice a year. In June and in November, enjoy it everytime.

Cerebus said:

And now I'm out. I'ma go watch Super 8.

Enjoy - it's really good!

TylerHippie said:

uuhson said:

its sad that you cant enjoy something just because other people also enjoy it

Oh I enjoy the album...

Just because it's too mainstream doesn't mean I don't enjoy it. I listen to this album twice a year. In June and in November, enjoy it everytime.

The title is: "Am I The Only Person Who Doesn't Listen To Purple Rain Because It Seems Too...Mainstream?"
Good thing you only listen to it in June and November though. The other months are way too mainstream!

thebanishedone said:

Tyler i like some of your topics, but this subject is pointless and goes nowhere,and why do you make topic if you ignore everything written there?

some consider trolling an artform

I don't know what you're even trying to validate with this "too mainstream" thing with Purple Rain because though it was his most polished album, Prince musically never changed from what he had done in previous albums. Also this was a SOUNDTRACK. Unless you mean to say you don't listen to it because you think, in your personal opinion, that he was selling out or kissing someone's ass to get a Grammy or sell ten million copies when that really wasn't the case. Prince didn't cross over to the mainstream, the media just finally PAID ATTENTION to him.

MISTERHANDS said:

TylerHippie said:

Oh I enjoy the album...

Just because it's too mainstream doesn't mean I don't enjoy it. I listen to this album twice a year. In June and in November, enjoy it everytime.

The title is: "Am I The Only Person Who Doesn't Listen To Purple Rain Because It Seems Too...Mainstream?"
Good thing you only listen to it in June and November though. The other months are way too mainstream!

I wonder if he won't listen to it in 2012, since that year seems to be too mainstream, you know?

And seriously if you was 19 in 1984, you wouldn't come on this board 27 years later claiming it was too mainstream. We get it, you're a 19-year-old kid who supposedly like Prince's "raw" stuff but technically Purple Rain was just as raw lyrically and musically. Honestly, think about it, 1984. Did anything sound like it? Seriously, compare the album to, say, Victory or Like a Virgin or Private Dancer. Can you honestly say it was that mainstream especially with WHAT was considered mainstream in fucking 1984? I was born that year. Go back to the musical and Hollywood events of 1984 and then compare it to Purple Rain and see if your thoughts actually stick after that. Just try it. Don't try to assert that you know in your heart cause I honestly don't think you know. You're just saying it to see what our reactions would be. But seriously, have you ever even think about what was going on in 1984. And I'm more of a casual Prince fan so it's not a Prince fam rant.