...what do you think he means?

I was just having a glance at stuff on that website we know he's posting stuff on but we're not supposed to know he's posting stuff on (thanks Ally ) and the thought occurred to me...

He was playing '7' and asking the crowd to sing along. This was a festival concert. How many of the audience would know the lyrics to '7'?

Then I wondered... almost simultaneously... that's how quickly I'm thinking these days... when Prince boasts about having too many hits and not enough time to play them (in concert) what songs is he thinking about? Does he think that because he's released it it's in the popular conscience? That he released it as a single, and it's in the popular conscience? Or, it was top twenty... that's a hit... it was top ten... etc... What does Prince mean?

If he only played top ten songs... how long would his show be?

It's Xmas Day and I've been drinking beer and eating food... my mind is hazy.

Prince's top ten songs (in America):

1999

Little Red Corvette

Purple Rain

Let's Go Crazy

I Would Die For You

When Doves Cry

Pop Life?

(Raspberry Beret didn't, did it?)

Kiss

Anotherloverholenyohead?

Sign O the Times

U Got the Look

Alphabet St

Batdance

Thieves in the Temple

Gett Off

Cream

Diamonds and Pearls

My Name is Prince

Sexy MF

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

Gold?

and that's about it... isn't it?

I'm talking Billboard Top 100 - not any of the other numerous charts by genre

Any others people can think of/know? Not that many...

So... he must be thinking Top Twenty... at least...

What do you lot think?

And how many of these songs does he play in his concerts?

BoySimon said:

...what do you think he means?

I was just having a glance at stuff on that website we know he's posting stuff on but we're not supposed to know he's posting stuff on (thanks Ally ) and the thought occurred to me...

He was playing '7' and asking the crowd to sing along. This was a festival concert. How many of the audience would know the lyrics to '7'?

Then I wondered... almost simultaneously... that's how quickly I'm thinking these days... when Prince boasts about having too many hits and not enough time to play them (in concert) what songs is he thinking about? Does he think that because he's released it it's in the popular conscience? That he released it as a single, and it's in the popular conscience? Or, it was top twenty... that's a hit... it was top ten... etc... What does Prince mean?

If he only played top ten songs... how long would his show be?

It's Xmas Day and I've been drinking beer and eating food... my mind is hazy.

Prince's top ten songs (in America):

1999

Little Red Corvette

Purple Rain

Let's Go Crazy

I Would Die For You

When Doves Cry

Pop Life?

(Raspberry Beret didn't, did it?)

Kiss

Anotherloverholenyohead?

Sign O the Times

U Got the Look

Alphabet St

Batdance

Thieves in the Temple

Gett Off

Cream

Diamonds and Pearls

My Name is Prince

Sexy MF

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

Gold?

and that's about it... isn't it?

I'm talking Billboard Top 100 - not any of the other numerous charts by genre

Any others people can think of/know? Not that many...

So... he must be thinking Top Twenty... at least...

What do you lot think?

And how many of these songs does he play in his concerts?

I got more hits than Madonna has children....so at least 30 right there!

Well, 22, and if he played them all from start to finish show to show, people wouldn't have much to argue about... but he doesn't... when did he last play Thieves? Batdance? Sexy MF? My Name is Prince?

And then... top ten only... well that leaves out lots of songs... I Wanna Be Your Lover, Dirty Mind, Controversy, Sexuality, Delirious, Mountains, If I Was Your Girlfriend, Raspberry Beret, Letitgo, etc, etc

He has also said the audience determines the set lists. By the audience's reactions to the songs.

I wonder how the audience influences a sampler set?

I'm being picky, yes, but I'm suffering under the weight of thie 'too many hits, too little time' claim.

Define!

Sure. Whatever.

I mean: he says A, but does B.

If he has so many hits, why does he play only a subset of them?

If he doesn't play his hits, as he does as he only plays a subset, why not play the interesting stuff more regularly?

Compare the NSJ 2011 shows with what he did in Gent or Paris.

Then compare Paris with Gdynia 2011 or Hop Farm.

I know I know

What I'm actually wondering is what we all on the org believes Prince believe is 'hit', hence he has so many of them that he couldn't possibly play them in one evening;s concert soiree!

This is a glib thread about what Prince says and what he means... I wondered whether some would like to indulge...

Also... so many hits... well... stop the covers and throw in another six or seven of your own! (that's a serious suggestion... O'm not that Xmas Happy!)

I always thought this line was just bragging....the truth it, he didn't have THAT many big hits.

A lot of singles flopped (not going top 10), even in the 80's. After D&P it really went down concerning hits.

Compare it to the other big artists from the 80's, and there weren't that many hits.

[Edited 12/25/11 2:20am]

he had more than his fair share of hits...he had at least one top ten hit every year for about 12 or 13 years in a row in the us and uk...not many artists can say that...he had around 20 top ten hits in both countries and wrote about ten more...he has had 43 top 40 hits in the uk in his own name....and lots more he has written...

.

Raspberry Beret, Pop Life: yes

anotherlover, sexy mf, my name is prince, gold: no

plus for instance i could never take..., delirious, round and round and... 7

[Edited 12/25/11 7:12am]

rather he not mention that . .I know u have em.. would like him to jam whatevrs flowin thru & do what u feel, its not like the band wont be able to switch on a drop of a dime .. i loved that housequake thing he started doin on that piano/mixer thing that was tight .. wants to go to a cele at PP like some u did .. maybe someday i hope

[Edited 12/25/11 12:12pm]

BoySimon said:

I was just having a glance at stuff on that website we know he's posting stuff on but we're not supposed to know he's posting stuff on (thanks Ally ) and the thought occurred to me...

what website?

Well, I think we could count songs that weren't hits... for him, but were for others. Manic Monday, NC2U, I Feel 4 U, etc...

it is 1 aspect of his live act where humility is not a factor

Even his non hits are hits

I don't see a reason why a TOP 20 song couldn't be considered a "hit"

I think Prince says that to brag and be a little cocky with himself. Haha. I mean it's obvious he has many hits, has songs that reach the bar. Just songs that makes you JAM! However he does not play enough of them at random. I personally rather him play rare song that not many people know about. I love the hits, it takes me places, and just contains that nostalgic feeling. BUT he has written so many wonderful songs that I believe the audience will go wild if they heard them. Some Songs I would die for live would be:

Computer Blue

Gett Off ( Yeah right! Maybe he can change the lyrics to "23 scriptures in a one night stand" Haha)

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

WHAT A SHOW THAT WOULD BE RIGHT? lol

EyeJester7 said:

I think Prince says that to brag and be a little cocky with himself. Haha. I mean it's obvious he has many hits, has songs that reach the bar. Just songs that makes you JAM! However he does not play enough of them at random. I personally rather him play rare song that not many people know about. I love the hits, it takes me places, and just contains that nostalgic feeling. BUT he has written so many wonderful songs that I believe the audience will go wild if they heard them. Some Songs I would die for live would be:

Computer Blue

Gett Off ( Yeah right! Maybe he can change the lyrics to "23 scriptures in a one night stand" Haha)

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

WHAT A SHOW THAT WOULD BE RIGHT? lol

I think Prince says that to brag and be a little cocky with himself

that worked with Little Richard, Ali and James Brown...but not so well w/ Prince, esp seeing that he wants to be seen as a spiritually enlightened person; this entails humility

Yeah, hits that he never, will never play..

Efan said:

It's a concert. He's just saying things. Like when he says he's gonna blow the roof off this joint. He's not really gonna blow the roof off the joint. That would be dangerous.

^ That.

Praxis said:

EyeJester7 said:

I think Prince says that to brag and be a little cocky with himself. Haha. I mean it's obvious he has many hits, has songs that reach the bar. Just songs that makes you JAM! However he does not play enough of them at random. I personally rather him play rare song that not many people know about. I love the hits, it takes me places, and just contains that nostalgic feeling. BUT he has written so many wonderful songs that I believe the audience will go wild if they heard them. Some Songs I would die for live would be:

Computer Blue

Gett Off ( Yeah right! Maybe he can change the lyrics to "23 scriptures in a one night stand" Haha)

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

WHAT A SHOW THAT WOULD BE RIGHT? lol

I think Prince says that to brag and be a little cocky with himself

that worked with Little Richard, Ali and James Brown...but not so well w/ Prince, esp seeing that he wants to be seen as a spiritually enlightened person; this entails humility

You got that right! Eye want to see the humility too! This did work with Little Richard..He takes credit for everything though. He invented the way everybody does anything...lol. James brown seemed more humble to me. Haha..Prince has reason to 'brag' because he has evidence to back it up; but I can't stand when his bragging becomes arrogant physically. MEANING: You can't take pictures of me. 5 body guards, not signing of autographs.

Praxis said:

EyeJester7 said:

I think Prince says that to brag and be a little cocky with himself. Haha. I mean it's obvious he has many hits, has songs that reach the bar. Just songs that makes you JAM! However he does not play enough of them at random. I personally rather him play rare song that not many people know about. I love the hits, it takes me places, and just contains that nostalgic feeling. BUT he has written so many wonderful songs that I believe the audience will go wild if they heard them. Some Songs I would die for live would be:

Computer Blue

Gett Off ( Yeah right! Maybe he can change the lyrics to "23 scriptures in a one night stand" Haha)

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

WHAT A SHOW THAT WOULD BE RIGHT? lol

I think Prince says that to brag and be a little cocky with himself

that worked with Little Richard, Ali and James Brown...but not so well w/ Prince, esp seeing that he wants to be seen as a spiritually enlightened person; this entails humility

You got that right! Eye want to see the humility too! This did work with Little Richard..He takes credit for everything though. He invented the way everybody does anything...lol. James brown seemed more humble to me. Haha..Prince has reason to 'brag' because he has evidence to back it up; but I can't stand when his bragging becomes arrogant physically. MEANING: You can't take pictures of me. 5 body guards, not signing of autographs.

RodeoSchro said:

Efan said:

It's a concert. He's just saying things. Like when he says he's gonna blow the roof off this joint. He's not really gonna blow the roof off the joint. That would be dangerous.

^ That.

how can u agree 2 something YOU WEREN'T THERE 2 witness first hand?

L4OATheOriginal said:

RodeoSchro said:

^ That.

how can u agree 2 something YOU WEREN'T THERE 2 witness first hand?

the you, Rodeo, and alex show is comedy to me now for some reason

saw the forum shows in LA .. didnt appreciate him sayin it every time .. was annoying

I Wanna Be Your Lover

robertlove said:

I always thought this line was just bragging....the truth it, he didn't have THAT many big hits.

A lot of singles flopped (not going top 10), even in the 80's. After D&P it really went down concerning hits.

Compare it to the other big artists from the 80's, and there weren't that many hits.

[Edited 12/25/11 2:20am]

Wow! I'm not sure I understand your comment. Prince has had A LOT of hits. The pinnacle of Prince's career was in the 80's and you really can't compare any other decade. Every artist has their era. Just because Prince didn't have as many top 10 songs in 1990-present doesn't make him any less prolific.

He means that the average/casual fans expect

I Wanna Be Your Lover

1999

Little Red Corvette

Purple Rain

Let's Go Crazy

When Doves Cry

Raspberry Beret

Kiss

U Got the Look

SOTT

Alphabet St

Batdance

Cream

Diamonds and Pearls

TMBGITW

that's more than half of the concert...and now he probably doesn't wanna play many of those songs anymore...