On record over the last however many years a lot of us are agreed that the man has 'lost it'. However the one area that I truly think noone from any genere can touch him in is the soul ballad. The man is still a genius in this arena and perhaps he needs to focus on this and take the Adele route for his next CD?!.

Virtually every CD he has done since 2000 has had top drawer ballads on i.e. future soul song, the dance [epic track], on the couch, call my name and too many others to name.

I'd go so far as to say that if some of these were done by any other R&B artist they'd be a hit all day long.

Anyone agree and what have been your fave tracks since say 2000?.

[Edited 2/15/12 10:27am]

funkyhead,

I liked Reflection. It appeared to me, at least at the time of its release, an unusually different type of ballad for Prince, touched by soul, past lives and 'fros.

But, no, P should focus on making groundbreaking trademark Prince albums in the vein of his 1980-1988 era.

love,

Spirit

funkyhead said:

On record over the last however many years a lot of us are agreed that the man has 'lost it'.

A lot of us DON'T agree.

Graycap23 said:

funkyhead said:

On record over the last however many years a lot of us are agreed that the man has 'lost it'.

A lot of us DON'T agree.

Yup.

There've been some great songs on the last few albums as well, in different genres. At least to me. Even 20Ten had 'Lay it down'.

'Chelsea Rodgers' from Planet Earth gets a lot of play from me. Hadn't heard any disco style P songs for a long time.

I must admit, though, the ballads have indeed been his forte for the last few years.

mightycow said:

There've been some great songs on the last few albums as well, in different genres. At least to me. Even 20Ten had 'Lay it down'.

'Chelsea Rodgers' from Planet Earth gets a lot of play from me. Hadn't heard any disco style P songs for a long time.

I must admit, though, the ballads have indeed been his forte for the last few years.

chelsea rodgers was a potentailly great track totally ruined by some of the worst ,albeit heartfelt, lyrics.

WetDream said:

Graycap23 said:

A lot of us DON'T agree.

Yup.

surely you jest?!

I dont agree with your assertation that P has "lost it"

Rather, like all artists his ability to crank out hit after hit has diminished in his latter years but his ability as a musician, composer, producer are still very much in tact by his output since 2000.

However, I do agree that most of his strongest work since 2000 are in fact the ballads. I love all the ones you listed and this is where his strengths appear to be at this point in his careeer.

I was just thinking today that I hope he is knee deep in editing himself to find a great pop song that will once again appeal to the masses. Many people say Black Sweat was that song but I disagree. Besides not being promoted properly it just isnt that great. But he still has that knack and ability to pull this off once again.

Taking the Adele route is not in his DNA as much as I love that album. He will always produce a variety of tracks (pop, R&B, funk , ballads) so lets just hope he takes his time and releases something really worthwhile this year....

2020 said:

I dont agree with your assertation that P has "lost it"

Rather, like all artists his ability to crank out hit after hit has diminished in his latter years but his ability as a musician, composer, producer are still very much in tact by his output since 2000.

However, I do agree that most of his strongest work since 2000 are in fact the ballads. I love all the ones you listed and this is where his strengths appear to be at this point in his careeer.

I was just thinking today that I hope he is knee deep in editing himself to find a great pop song that will once again appeal to the masses. Many people say Black Sweat was that song but I disagree. Besides not being promoted properly it just isnt that great. But he still has that knack and ability to pull this off once again.

Taking the Adele route is not in his DNA as much as I love that album. He will always produce a variety of tracks (pop, R&B, funk , ballads) so lets just hope he takes his time and releases something really worthwhile this year....

Time will not heal the religious shackles holding Prince back and limiting his work.

Graycap23 said:

2020 said:

I dont agree with your assertation that P has "lost it"

Rather, like all artists his ability to crank out hit after hit has diminished in his latter years but his ability as a musician, composer, producer are still very much in tact by his output since 2000.

However, I do agree that most of his strongest work since 2000 are in fact the ballads. I love all the ones you listed and this is where his strengths appear to be at this point in his careeer.

I was just thinking today that I hope he is knee deep in editing himself to find a great pop song that will once again appeal to the masses. Many people say Black Sweat was that song but I disagree. Besides not being promoted properly it just isnt that great. But he still has that knack and ability to pull this off once again.

Taking the Adele route is not in his DNA as much as I love that album. He will always produce a variety of tracks (pop, R&B, funk , ballads) so lets just hope he takes his time and releases something really worthwhile this year....

Time will not heal the religious shackles holding Prince back and limiting his work.

Gots to agree with you on that point GC...

funkyhead said:

the one area that I truly think noone from any genere can touch him in is the soul ballad.

yeah, you think

funkyhead said:

mightycow said:

There've been some great songs on the last few albums as well, in different genres. At least to me. Even 20Ten had 'Lay it down'.

'Chelsea Rodgers' from Planet Earth gets a lot of play from me. Hadn't heard any disco style P songs for a long time.

I must admit, though, the ballads have indeed been his forte for the last few years.

chelsea rodgers was a potentailly great track totally ruined by some of the worst ,albeit heartfelt, lyrics.

you think, yeah

Graycap23 said:

2020 said:

I dont agree with your assertation that P has "lost it"

Rather, like all artists his ability to crank out hit after hit has diminished in his latter years but his ability as a musician, composer, producer are still very much in tact by his output since 2000.

However, I do agree that most of his strongest work since 2000 are in fact the ballads. I love all the ones you listed and this is where his strengths appear to be at this point in his careeer.

I was just thinking today that I hope he is knee deep in editing himself to find a great pop song that will once again appeal to the masses. Many people say Black Sweat was that song but I disagree. Besides not being promoted properly it just isnt that great. But he still has that knack and ability to pull this off once again.

Taking the Adele route is not in his DNA as much as I love that album. He will always produce a variety of tracks (pop, R&B, funk , ballads) so lets just hope he takes his time and releases something really worthwhile this year....

Time will not heal the religious shackles holding Prince back and limiting his work.

what "religious shackles"? Be specific

Tremolina said:

Graycap23 said:

Time will not heal the religious shackles holding Prince back and limiting his work.

what "religious shackles"? Be specific

Prince used 2 make records based on "what was on his mind" at the time.

Now he filters EVERYTHING thru his religious beliefs and in my opinion the work is suffering because of it.

funkyhead said:

perhaps he needs to focus on this and take the Adele route for his next CD?!.

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

IMO, you are confusing "still truly good" with 'consistent'. For me, 'consistent' doesn't really cut it. Cookie-cutter ballads are boring.

Graycap23 said:

Tremolina said:

what "religious shackles"? Be specific

Prince used 2 make records based on "what was on his mind" at the time.

Now he filters EVERYTHING thru his religious beliefs and in my opinion the work is suffering because of it.

I see. However, there is plenty of stuff Prince says and does that doesn't seem "filtered" at all. In my opinion, one of the problems is that Prince has simply made too many "soul ballads" already. Almost whenever he does a new one, it's like he is on the automatic pilot, juts po(o)pping them out...

That's why I disagree with the OP too. Prince isn't really good anymore with soul ballads.

Graycap23 said:

Tremolina said:

what "religious shackles"? Be specific

Prince used 2 make records based on "what was on his mind" at the time.

Now he filters EVERYTHING thru his religious beliefs and in my opinion the work is suffering because of it.

Amen to that.

Graycap23 said:

Tremolina said:

what "religious shackles"? Be specific

Prince used 2 make records based on "what was on his mind" at the time.

Now he filters EVERYTHING thru his religious beliefs and in my opinion the work is suffering because of it.

Or is it everything he does is filtered thru your view of his religious beliefs? We all see specific songs that are spiritual in nature but to somehow extrapolate that into all the work seems to be a reach. At 53 going on 54 I would assume the maturity of his views was bound to happen religion on not.

I doubt that you hold the views on life now as you did when you were a teen. Most people are not static in their views over the course of a lifetime.

Lastly what is it that you would like him to do that he is not doing (due to religion)? Please try to be specific. thanks.

tricky99 said:

Graycap23 said:

Prince used 2 make records based on "what was on his mind" at the time.

Now he filters EVERYTHING thru his religious beliefs and in my opinion the work is suffering because of it.

Or is it everything he does is filtered thru your view of his religious beliefs? We all see specific songs that are spiritual in nature but to somehow extrapolate that into all the work seems to be a reach. At 53 going on 54 I would assume the maturity of his views was bound to happen religion on not.

I doubt that you hold the views on life now as you did when you were a teen. Most people are not static in their views over the course of a lifetime.

Lastly what is it that you would like him to do that he is not doing (due to religion)? Please try to be specific. thanks.

It has nothing 2 do with me.

Just listen 2 the lyrics 4 yourself. I can clearly see/hear some self censorship. (maybe it's my imagination but that is my opinion on the subject)

To say Prince has lost it would to be to concede that the majority of music created by other musicians never had "it". While Prince may not be firing on all cylinders like he did at his peak the music is still of great quality. That doesn't mean it groundbreaking or better than the past but certainly it is music of quality. One only has to turn on the radio to acertain the truth of this statement by comparing it with music that is now popular.

Graycap23 said:

tricky99 said:

Or is it everything he does is filtered thru your view of his religious beliefs? We all see specific songs that are spiritual in nature but to somehow extrapolate that into all the work seems to be a reach. At 53 going on 54 I would assume the maturity of his views was bound to happen religion on not.

I doubt that you hold the views on life now as you did when you were a teen. Most people are not static in their views over the course of a lifetime.

Lastly what is it that you would like him to do that he is not doing (due to religion)? Please try to be specific. thanks.

It has nothing 2 do with me.

Just listen 2 the lyrics 4 yourself. I can clearly see/hear some self censorship. (maybe it's my imagination but that is my opinion on the subject)

What do u mean? That he doesn't use cuss words lol. I don't think a sh*t here or a f*ck there is the deciding factor in the quality of his music. Surely there's more to your issue than that.

tricky99 said:

Graycap23 said:

It has nothing 2 do with me.

Just listen 2 the lyrics 4 yourself. I can clearly see/hear some self censorship. (maybe it's my imagination but that is my opinion on the subject)

What do u mean? That he doesn't use cuss words lol. I don't think a sh*t here or a f*ck there is the deciding factor in the quality of his music. Surely there's more to your issue than that.

Lol.............cuss words has NOTHING 2 do with this discussion.

Graycap23 said:

tricky99 said:

What do u mean? That he doesn't use cuss words lol. I don't think a sh*t here or a f*ck there is the deciding factor in the quality of his music. Surely there's more to your issue than that.

Lol.............cuss words has NOTHING 2 do with this discussion.

Well exactly what is your case? I've seen you bring up this issue ad-nasuem. Its pretty meaningless if you can't describe what you mean. How exactly do you know Prince is censoring himself without knowing what thoughts are being censored? Do you have the "original" lyrics to a contemporay song of his that he censored prior to release?

If you are talking changing lyrics to old songs that's his call. Would you have him singing things he longer believes just to fulfill your needs?

tricky99 said:

Graycap23 said:

Lol.............cuss words has NOTHING 2 do with this discussion.

Well exactly what is your case? I've seen you bring up this issue ad-nasuem. Its pretty meaningless if you can't describe what you mean. How exactly do you know Prince is censoring himself without knowing what thoughts are being censored? Do you have the "original" lyrics to a contemporay song of his that he censored prior to release?

If you are talking changing lyrics to old songs that's his call. Would you have him singing things he longer believes just to fulfill your needs?

Just an opinion............leave it at that.

Graycap23 said:

tricky99 said:

Well exactly what is your case? I've seen you bring up this issue ad-nasuem. Its pretty meaningless if you can't describe what you mean. How exactly do you know Prince is censoring himself without knowing what thoughts are being censored? Do you have the "original" lyrics to a contemporay song of his that he censored prior to release?

If you are talking changing lyrics to old songs that's his call. Would you have him singing things he longer believes just to fulfill your needs?

Just an opinion............leave it at that.

Ok, cool but its a pretty empty opinion if you refuse to articulate what u mean. What's the point of you keep throwing it out there?

tricky99 said:

Graycap23 said:

Just an opinion............leave it at that.

Ok, cool but its a pretty empty opinion if you refuse to articulate what u mean. What's the point of you keep throwing it out there?

funkyhead said:

Graycap23 said:

Prince used 2 make records based on "what was on his mind" at the time.

Now he filters EVERYTHING thru his religious beliefs and in my opinion the work is suffering because of it.

Amen to that.

You juts made the case that P is still making great soul ballads and now you're agreeing with that.

OK.

Tremolina said:

funkyhead said:

Amen to that.

You juts made the case that P is still making great soul ballads and now you're agreeing with that.

OK.

nope!, ballads are where he allows some of his sexy back, just listen to the wonderful Elixer - DAYUM that's a sexy as he's been in a long while. Likewise ,IMHO the reason why he isn't the creative force he once was on albums is without a doubt his own religious self cenrsorship.

He hasn't lost it, and I would go opposite on the ballads.

I think his soul ballads are mostly stuck in a rut. The same old beats, the same old multilayed vocals, rather than proper background singers. The same old themes.

Future soul and Call My Name are so run of the mill for Prince, as it the On the Couch type song.

I find it much more interesting when he mixes it up. Somewhere Here on Earth is the best ballad in the last 10 years I would say, and The Last December is one of his best ever. But they are not ballads in the typical sense.

Genre wise, I still think the middle ground of pop is Princes strongest suit, even if it ends up on the fence with fans.

Tracks like 4ever, The one U wanna C, Cinnamon Girl are bubblegum pop but damn good bubblegum pop.