Let's Go Crazy: agressive sound and unconventional structure.

Take Me With U: pure pop, that's true

Beautiful Ones: strange animal

Computer Blue: madness, brilliance, not commercial at all

Darling Nikki: X-rated lyrics and weird production

When Does Cry: cuttind edge

I Would Die 4U : weird lyrics

Baby I'm A Star: the other mainstream song

Purple Rain: too long and intense to fall into the pop cathegory

Verdict: this ain't no mainstream album, lol

JoeTyler said:

Let's Go Crazy: agressive sound and unconventional structure.

Take Me With U: pure pop, that's true

Beautiful Ones: strange animal

Computer Blue: madness, brilliance, not commercial at all

Darling Nikki: X-rated lyrics and weird production

When Does Cry: cuttind edge

I Would Die 4U : weird lyrics

Baby I'm A Star: the other mainstream song

Purple Rain: too long and intense to fall into the pop cathegory

Verdict: this ain't no mainstream album, lol

That's the album right there in a nutshell...

JoeTyler said:

Let's Go Crazy: agressive sound and unconventional structure.

Take Me With U: pure pop, that's true

Beautiful Ones: strange animal

Computer Blue: madness, brilliance, not commercial at all

Darling Nikki: X-rated lyrics and weird production

When Does Cry: cuttind edge

I Would Die 4U : weird lyrics

Baby I'm A Star: the other mainstream song

Purple Rain: too long and intense to fall into the pop cathegory

Verdict: this ain't no mainstream album, lol

Remember how when "Purple Rain" came out, both the soundtrack and the movie catapulted Prince into the big time and he suddenly became a household name, sold a shitload of copies, and was topping the Pop charts?

Remember how when "Around the World in a Day" came out after it, most of the masses that flocked to him during "Purple Rain", hopped off the bandwagon and ran like hell?

Nuff said.

Compared to the type of shit Prince did before and after that, "Purple Rain" is Prince for the masses, or Prince goes Pop.

armpit said:

JoeTyler said:

Let's Go Crazy: agressive sound and unconventional structure.

Take Me With U: pure pop, that's true

Beautiful Ones: strange animal

Computer Blue: madness, brilliance, not commercial at all

Darling Nikki: X-rated lyrics and weird production

When Does Cry: cuttind edge

I Would Die 4U : weird lyrics

Baby I'm A Star: the other mainstream song

Purple Rain: too long and intense to fall into the pop cathegory

Verdict: this ain't no mainstream album, lol

Remember how when "Purple Rain" came out, both the soundtrack and the movie catapulted Prince into the big time and he suddenly became a household name, sold a shitload of copies, and was topping the Pop charts?

Remember how when "Around the World in a Day" came out after it, most of the masses that flocked to him during "Purple Rain", hopped off the bandwagon and ran like hell?

Nuff said.

Compared to the type of shit Prince did before and after that, "Purple Rain" is Prince for the masses, or Prince goes Pop.

This is exactly what I'm trying to say.

armpit said:

JoeTyler said:

Let's Go Crazy: agressive sound and unconventional structure.

Take Me With U: pure pop, that's true

Beautiful Ones: strange animal

Computer Blue: madness, brilliance, not commercial at all

Darling Nikki: X-rated lyrics and weird production

When Does Cry: cuttind edge

I Would Die 4U : weird lyrics

Baby I'm A Star: the other mainstream song

Purple Rain: too long and intense to fall into the pop cathegory

Verdict: this ain't no mainstream album, lol

Remember how when "Purple Rain" came out, both the soundtrack and the movie catapulted Prince into the big time and he suddenly became a household name, sold a shitload of copies, and was topping the Pop charts?

Remember how when "Around the World in a Day" came out after it, most of the masses that flocked to him during "Purple Rain", hopped off the bandwagon and ran like hell?

Nuff said.

Compared to the type of shit Prince did before and after that, "Purple Rain" is Prince for the masses, or Prince goes Pop.

No, it's Prince doing great/catchy/memorable music that got great reviews and a movie that was supported by Warners with a big promotional campaing so it was a success.

But the music was not mainstream. Catchy/memorable doesn't mean mainstream.

No matter how you look at it, WDC are PR are certainly more adventurous than Stayin Alive or How Deep is Ur Love, for example...

and do you really think that Computer Blue, Darling Nikki or even Let's Go Crazy are mainstream songs???

[Edited 8/15/11 15:30pm]

Well some people were born after '84 so of course to THEM the songs are "mainstream" but I don't buy it lmao

What the hell is mainstream anyway? If purple rain didnt sell like it did, would it still be mainstream?

Since you're saying it sounds mainstream, How do you know something is mainstream before its mainstream. I dont get it.

[Edited 8/15/11 15:59pm]

formallypickles said:

What the hell is mainstream anyway?

it's subjective, really

but for many people it's about a simple drum line, catchy/repetitive chorus, soft production and easy rhymes/mundane lyrics...

the stuff Lionel was doing in 1984, for example...

JoeTyler said:

formallypickles said:

What the hell is mainstream anyway?

it's subjective, really

but for many people it's about a simple drum line, catchy/repetitive chorus, soft production and easy rhymes/mundane lyrics...

the stuff Lionel was doing in 1984, for example...

So Lionel created mainstream music?

formallypickles said:

What the hell is mainstream anyway? If purple rain didnt sell like it did, would it still be mainstream?

Since you're saying it sounds mainstream, How do you know something is mainstream before its mainstream. I dont get it.

[Edited 8/15/11 15:59pm]

Umm, let me see...

Maybe my mainstream is different, I don't know. But I still consider the Purple Rain era mainstream.

Timmy84 said:

Well some people were born after '84 so of course to THEM the songs are "mainstream" but I don't buy it lmao

Please . People my age don't even know who Prince is. It's really sad. NO WAY is Purple Rain too mainstream for anyone born after '84. That's bs.

TylerHippie said:

formallypickles said:

What the hell is mainstream anyway? If purple rain didnt sell like it did, would it still be mainstream?

Since you're saying it sounds mainstream, How do you know something is mainstream before its mainstream. I dont get it.

[Edited 8/15/11 15:59pm]

Umm, let me see...

Maybe my mainstream is different, I don't know. But I still consider the Purple Rain era mainstream.

So Mainstream = Popular , Right?

formallypickles said:

TylerHippie said:

Umm, let me see...

Maybe my mainstream is different, I don't know. But I still consider the Purple Rain era mainstream.

So Mainstream = Popular , Right?

Yes. To me it does.

formallypickles said:

JoeTyler said:

it's subjective, really

but for many people it's about a simple drum line, catchy/repetitive chorus, soft production and easy rhymes/mundane lyrics...

the stuff Lionel was doing in 1984, for example...

So Lionel created mainstream music?

MANY would say that he CREATED mainstream R&B...

paniuroczy said:

Timmy84 said:

Well some people were born after '84 so of course to THEM the songs are "mainstream" but I don't buy it lmao

Please . People my age don't even know who Prince is. It's really sad. NO WAY is Purple Rain too mainstream for anyone born after '84. That's bs.

They know who Prince is they just dont care for his music.

Times are changing. it's just how the world rolls.

People like the new-new.

There's definitly tracks I get sick of hearing on it. That being said, it's still a masterpiece!

JoeTyler said:

formallypickles said:

So Lionel created mainstream music?

MANY would say that he CREATED mainstream R&B...

Lionel gets no respect.

Its often the creators that get no respect

Imitation is the new creation...lmao

[Edited 8/15/11 16:22pm]

formallypickles said:

JoeTyler said:

MANY would say that he CREATED mainstream R&B...

Lionel gets no respect.

Its often the creators that get no respect

Imitation is the new creation...lmao

[Edited 8/15/11 16:22pm]

hehe

many times mainstream is the dumbed-down version of a genre that used to be cutting edge

I mean, from Public Enemy to 50Cent, something went wrong...

I hate to inform you but Prince has been mainstream for quite a few months now. lol

paniuroczy said:

Timmy84 said:

Well some people were born after '84 so of course to THEM the songs are "mainstream" but I don't buy it lmao

Please . People my age don't even know who Prince is. It's really sad. NO WAY is Purple Rain too mainstream for anyone born after '84. That's bs.

I meant to those Prince fans.

Admittedly, I didn't read all 8 pages of this thread before commenting because... well... it's 8 pages.

People throw the word "mainstream" around in music A LOT. If you're saying that Prince "sold out" and went with a mainstream sound just to build his fanbase, then you're wrong. When Doves Cry, Computer Blue, Darling Nikki and Let's Go Crazy are way too strange to be considered sure-fire pop hits before they were released. And Purple Rain itself is 9 minutes long.

Did Prince hope that by crafting the album with the most immediate, hook-friendly music that his unique sound could possibly deliver that he'd strike a chord in audiences looking for something fresh and exciting? Yes. Did his music become mainstream as a result? Yes. Do you ignore Purple Rain because of this? Sounds like it. Is this a shame? Yeah, pretty much.

I'm hoping by "mainstream," you really mean "overplayed." Cuz THAT I understand.

formallypickles said:

paniuroczy said:

Please . People my age don't even know who Prince is. It's really sad. NO WAY is Purple Rain too mainstream for anyone born after '84. That's bs.

They know who Prince is they just dont care for his music.

Times are changing. it's just how the world rolls.

People like the new-new.

You mean the dumb-dumb?

UltraLash said:

Admittedly, I didn't read all 8 pages of this thread before commenting because... well... it's 8 pages.

People throw the word "mainstream" around in music A LOT. If you're saying that Prince "sold out" and went with a mainstream sound just to build his fanbase, then you're wrong. When Doves Cry, Computer Blue, Darling Nikki and Let's Go Crazy are way too strange to be considered sure-fire pop hits before they were released. And Purple Rain itself is 9 minutes long.

Did Prince hope that by crafting the album with the most immediate, hook-friendly music that his unique sound could possibly deliver that he'd strike a chord in audiences looking for something fresh and exciting? Yes. Did his music become mainstream as a result? Yes. Do you ignore Purple Rain because of this? Sounds like it. Is this a shame? Yeah, pretty much.

I'm hoping by "mainstream," you really mean "overplayed." Cuz THAT I understand.

If he had just said that, this thread would last a page. Because all of us would've said I UNDERSTAND!

UltraLash said:

Admittedly, I didn't read all 8 pages of this thread before commenting because... well... it's 8 pages.

People throw the word "mainstream" around in music A LOT. If you're saying that Prince "sold out" and went with a mainstream sound just to build his fanbase, then you're wrong. When Doves Cry, Computer Blue, Darling Nikki and Let's Go Crazy are way too strange to be considered sure-fire pop hits before they were released. And Purple Rain itself is 9 minutes long.

Did Prince hope that by crafting the album with the most immediate, hook-friendly music that his unique sound could possibly deliver that he'd strike a chord in audiences looking for something fresh and exciting? Yes. Did his music become mainstream as a result? Yes. Do you ignore Purple Rain because of this? Sounds like it. Is this a shame? Yeah, pretty much.

I'm hoping by "mainstream," you really mean "overplayed." Cuz THAT I understand.

Kinda. Everyone knows "When Dove's Cry", "Let's Go Crazy" and "Purple Rain". Those songs get overplayed by casual music fans. How many casual people know "Pop Life" or "I Wanna Be Your Lover"?

^ Kinda?

And I'm sure there's a good portion who know "I Wanna Be Your Lover". Some "casuals" would probably know some songs from "Sign O' The Times" and onwards. It ain't like all they knew was from Purple Rain.

Timmy84 said:

TylerHippie said:

Timmy84 said:

And I'm sure there's a good portion who know "I Wanna Be Your Lover". Some "casuals" would probably know some songs from "Sign O' The Times" and onwards. It ain't like all they knew was from Purple Rain.

Compare that portion to the portion that know Purple Rain.

I don't know, I think it's too much of a generalization to think all people who listen to other forms of music would only know songs from a certain period in an otherwise popular performer's catalog.

TylerHippie said:

armpit said:

Remember how when "Purple Rain" came out, both the soundtrack and the movie catapulted Prince into the big time and he suddenly became a household name, sold a shitload of copies, and was topping the Pop charts?

Remember how when "Around the World in a Day" came out after it, most of the masses that flocked to him during "Purple Rain", hopped off the bandwagon and ran like hell?

Nuff said.

Compared to the type of shit Prince did before and after that, "Purple Rain" is Prince for the masses, or Prince goes Pop.

This is exactly what I'm trying to say.

I know, I 'get' you . That disc is the most mainstream thing Prince ever has (and probably ever will) do and really is basically just watered-down Paisley Park.

Of course, people are going to continue to try and insist that's not so for whatever reasons, which is weird to me considering that over the years whenever anyone starts a thread asking which Prince music to recommend to a friend they're trying to 'convert' (that won't scare them off), Purple Rain is the first disc mentioned, that kinda thing....

Timmy84 said: