I feel like after this album didn't sell as much as prince probably expected, he gave up on trying to make commercial songs like So far So Pleased and Wherever U Go Whatever U Do which ironically were never released as singles..

Am i wrong?

[Edited 10/16/11 16:52pm]

I think so. Musicology and 3121 are better examples to me on him writing hit songs. Musicology really worked. Though he didn't have any pop hits, he did have 2 hit r&b singles.

You could also say that the 3121 promotion worked because he did have a number one album.

In his last interview with Tavis Smiley he said all of MPLSound could "go on the radio tomorrow". I don't know if the rest of LotusFlow3r was intended that way, but it sounds 2 me like he may have been thinking about hits in the back of his mind when he made that album.

Sorry, but 3121 di it best.

Rave wasn't the sucess the record company and Prince expected it to be. That can be hard for the artist coz they think they've produced a great album but they have to go with how the public response to it and what's in-the trend. I think if he brought out Lotusflower at that time I think a lot of the tracks would of got radio play and even a few hits from it. Lotus is a strong solid album.

I think he still tries but I don't think he really knows what a hit is anymore. A lot of time has passed since 1979, which is when Prince claimed he learned how to write hits. And the fact he thinks MPLSound could be successful on the radio today just shows how out of touch he really is. Maybe his ego prevents him from seeing the truth.

I think his best music is that which is the most authentic to his true self and is in no way concerned with any kind of chart. Maybe that's why so much of Rave falls flat for me. It feels like he's pandering.

However, Prince has such a strong musical conviction that he can make even his weakest music seem great when he performs it live. And then there's the fact that what's weak to you may be some other fan's favorite.

paisley2002 said:

In his last interview with Tavis Smiley he said all of MPLSound could "go on the radio tomorrow". I don't know if the rest of LotusFlow3r was intended that way, but it sounds 2 me like he may have been thinking about hits in the back of his mind when he made that album.

It's also possible that Prince is kidding himself and/or delusional.

I remember when this album came out - I was 20 years old and so excited at the possibility that Prince could go mainstream again - so much promise - he was on TRL, had a new years show, could capitalize off of 1999's success w/ the milleneum change, and embraced the strategy of santana of bringing in multiple guests

Then he selected his single for the album. The "big" premiere, which I remember waiting for, was TGRES -- that was the huge video. and it flopped. It's just not a hit, nor was it mainstream or even relevant for what was playing at that time. I remember being so dissapointed that Prince blew it again. If his TRL premeire was "Baby Knows," "So far so pleased," or even "Hot Wit U" - things may've gone diffierently.

Jatrig said:

I remember when this album came out - I was 20 years old and so excited at the possibility that Prince could go mainstream again - so much promise - he was on TRL, had a new years show, could capitalize off of 1999's success w/ the milleneum change, and embraced the strategy of santana of bringing in multiple guests

Then he selected his single for the album. The "big" premiere, which I remember waiting for, was TGRES -- that was the huge video. and it flopped. It's just not a hit, nor was it mainstream or even relevant for what was playing at that time. I remember being so dissapointed that Prince blew it again. If his TRL premeire was "Baby Knows," "So far so pleased," or even "Hot Wit U" - things may've gone diffierently.

It speaks volumes (and not in a good way) that an artist of Prince's caliber is supposed to now pander his music to a bunch of kids on Broadway screaming everytime someone says, "Britney!" to make it on radio. Prince has done pop and it worked but his brand of pop music is still light years ahead of the mediocre crap that flies today. Now we've got Chris Brown 'reaching for the condoms' and Trey Songz showing more abs than vocal skills! These dudes aspire for Prince's career longevity. The female artists of today have been trying to remake 'Nasty Girl' without doing a straight up rip off for the past ten years!

Jatrig said:

I remember when this album came out - I was 20 years old and so excited at the possibility that Prince could go mainstream again - so much promise - he was on TRL, had a new years show, could capitalize off of 1999's success w/ the milleneum change, and embraced the strategy of santana of bringing in multiple guests

Then he selected his single for the album. The "big" premiere, which I remember waiting for, was TGRES -- that was the huge video. and it flopped. It's just not a hit, nor was it mainstream or even relevant for what was playing at that time. I remember being so dissapointed that Prince blew it again. If his TRL premeire was "Baby Knows," "So far so pleased," or even "Hot Wit U" - things may've gone diffierently.

Both Prince and Clive Davis can share the blame for the TGRES debacle. For one. Davis loved it so much that he thought it should be the first single, and "promised" Prince it would be a hit. How he thought he heard a hit outta that lazy shit, I'll never know.

And then, Prince took forever and a fuckin' day to even get the video done and premiered. The song MAY have had more momentum if he had the video ready to roll when the song was released to radio. But in my eyes, the song was nothing special to begin with, so I don't know how much the song would've done even if the video's timing was better.

Another first single should've been chosen. And according to Prince, No Doubt's label wouldn't allow the release of "So Far, So Pleased", the much better choice for a first single.

piepie1976 said:

I think he still tries but I don't think he really knows what a hit is anymore. A lot of time has passed since 1979, which is when Prince claimed he learned how to write hits. And the fact he thinks MPLSound could be successful on the radio today just shows how out of touch he really is. Maybe his ego prevents him from seeing the truth.

I think his best music is that which is the most authentic to his true self and is in no way concerned with any kind of chart. Maybe that's why so much of Rave falls flat for me. It feels like he's pandering.

However, Prince has such a strong musical conviction that he can make even his weakest music seem great when he performs it live. And then there's the fact that what's weak to you may be some other fan's favorite.

WOW! This is a perfect conclusion to the title to this thread. I so agree on you that he thought MPLSound could be successful on the radio is really out of touch. It sounds NOTHING like anything on the radio, and the majority of the radio audience would not accept it...I can only see is 'Dance 4 Me'...AND that is a stretch. Haha

I also agree with you that his best music are those that are most authentic to his true self. Songs such as: Into The Light/I Will is one prime example that makes it clear his own type of sound is reachable for a hit. He has so many songs that are weird that will make it, I think. Take some songs from 'The Truth' album like 'Don't Play Me, '3rd Eye'..I mean he has a lot.

BUT the closing statement you said is perfect! O Prince..Just get into your creative self...Just write that weird statement that comes to your mind.

I mean look at 'Alphabet Street' where in the bloody hell did that come from? But It's a HIT! CLASSIC

bobbyperu said:

Check the concerts forum!!!!!! There's an article there (in German) about Prince hiring a Swiss dj to remix Dance 4 Me. So he may be serious about getting it on the radio. Even talks abou t 3 new albums...

wasn't this 2 years ago? if my memory serves me right it was played over the pa before the Montreux gigs.