Are you still crazy about Prince?

I am a grandmother aged 51 and would say that my passion for Prince has never waivered.

What musical era did you get into him?

The first time I saw Prince live was Lovesexy tour, Wembely Arena in July 1988, I went with a mate to keep them company.

It was also the first time I NOTICED Prince in every concept of the word.

The next night I went back with another friend (who I knew would appreciate him !!), we got tickets from touts and have continued to listen, see and watch Prince at every opportunity.

So that's 24 years ago. I've had the priviledge of seeing Prince live at all the tours that hit the UK from 1988 to date including 9 O2 shows and 3 aftershows. I have also seen him in Arras, Malahide and Zurich more recently. I have seen him grinding floorboards and mic stands in the early days, renouncing his name at Wembley stadium, large venues, small venues and the more recent hits shows.

Do you still like his music or do you wish he would venture into other genres?

I listen and/or watch Prince everyday. I still get tingles down my spine when I listen to him, certain songs make me stop in my tracks (after all these years) and watching him perform puts me on a high like no other.

I think Prince has dabbled in many other genres. But Prince is Prince and as far as I'm concerned anything goes.

Are you surprised that Prince is still doing this at his age?

I am sooooooo pleased that he contiues to perform and delivers fantastic concerts time after time. I am amazed that I still feel so passionate about prince (at my age) and still get the same excitment going to a concert. I love seeing young people appreciate his talent and enjoy his concerts.

I always love to hear the old songs, so for me the hits shows are classic.

Watching anxiously for any news of European tour this summer

nursev said:

Are you still crazy about Prince? What musical era did you get into him? Do you still like his music or do you wish he would venture into other genres? Are you surprised that Prince is still doing this at his age? Considering what a bad boy he was in his prime I'm curious what the older crowd thinks of Princey and yeah the younsters can post too that'd be interesting

Hi, I'm 45. Been a Prince fan since late 1978. I am still crazy about him, altho I don't feel "quite" the connection to some of his newer music any more. I miss the nasty sex lovin' Prince...

I do still love him over all and love seeing him in concert. I've seen him 25+ times..

Nope, I am NOT surprised he is still doing this at his age... He is in great shape and sure doesn't LOOK his age... He is in alot better shape than some of these singers who are 40!!!!!

One thing I always love seeing at his shows is the HUGE age group he attracts. in 2004 we saw

KIDS.. I mean like probably 6 ot 7 there and I saw a couple of ladies who HAD to be nearly 60!! It was awesome!!!

I am sure I will always be a big Prince fan.. I grew up with his music and he is a huge part of my life.

I'm 44.

Are you still crazy about Prince?

I still love him but not like I used to. He has moved on and changed in some ways while still remaining the same in other ways and so have I. There will never be anyone that will take his place though and considering the state of music in general these days by other artists, I'm certain of it.

What musical era did you get into him?

I got into him during the tail end of the disco era in 1979 with "I Wanna Be Your Lover". I bought the 45 and also the 45 of "Uptown" when it came out. Then, I first heard "Head" on our local "Soul Train" type TV dance show called "Black Gold" and then started hearing it on all three of the local R&B radio stations and fell in love with it. I didn't know what the song meant but it sounded funky as hell. I looked for the 45 and couldn't find it. You know, kids don't know the way 45s are released, they think everything is released on 45. When I couldn't find a 45 of it, I bought the "Dirty Mind" album and loved every track on it. A short while afterwards, I went back and bought the "Prince" album and went forwards from that point on buying the albums either on the day of their release or the first weekend afterwards (I stayed with my grandmother on weekends back then and she's the one that would give me money to buy one when it came out. Hell, she even continued it a few years after I graduated high school. ).

Do you still like his music or do you wish he would venture into other genres?

I still like a lot of it but I don't love every single bit of it like I used to. As for him venturing into other genres, that's something irritated me with him beginning with 1985 with "Around The World In A Day" so no, I don't wish he would venture into other genres. I wish he'd stick to albums with funk and rock only with a sexy bedroom type slow jam or two. I did eventually grow to love the experimentation he did in the mid to late 1980s so I'd still like to hear more of that also today.

With the Prince of the 1990s adding more rap into it, I could tolerate it at the time and liked most of it except for slow to midtempo shit hop sounding stuff like "18 and Older" or "Ripopgodazipper" which not only has a shit hop sound, but also a shit hop attitude as well. There's a difference in rap and shit hop. Rap is the faster, fun, party type stuff of the 1980s that the rappers were doing. Shit hop is the sound of rap that dominated most of the mid 1990s to today's R&B radio by other artists. The slow to midtempo, stripped down rap with the rediculous "gangsta" or "thug" attitude to it which I despise. I could tolerate a song or two on his albums back then even though I couldn't stand the sound of them because I figured that once the 2000s arrived, that there would be a major completely different style change by artists as a whole when the new decade arrived just like there's a major style change when all the previous decades arrived. Either when the new decade arrived or a year or two on into the new decade.

But when the 2000s arrived, nothing changed at all and we're into the 2010s now and still no change. It's as if the music scene by the majority of the artists is still stuck in the mid 1990s. I'm not only a funk lover, but also a music lover and I long for new music all the time. Where I could tolerate a shit hop sounding song from Prince back then, I can't now and it makes me want to vomit when I hear him record one these days because I see it as selling out to the enemy and helping a genre that needs to either go out of style or go back underground grow. I see shit hop's dominance of R&B to be the reason that R&B won't change. It's not a matter of me getting older because I welcome a complete style change from the R&B scene as a whole and have been hoping for it since I was in my 20s. Prince still delivers the jams these days which is why I still buy his new music but when I buy a new Prince album, I want to completely escape today's music scene and act as if it doesn't even exist, not be reminded that shit hop still dominates even if it is just one or two songs. The fact that it still dominates and probably always will, is just depressing.

Are you surprised that Prince is still doing this at his age?

No, I'm not surprised at all. He is music. He eats, sleeps, and breathes it and always has. What surprises me though is that all the other R&B artists of his era have to resort to doing concerts at casinos and outdoor music festivals or playing in gospel stage plays because they can't get a recording contract unless they sell out to today's sound like Charlie Wilson or Ronald Isley has. Never in my wildest dreams when I was growing up did I think that in the 2000s, the R&B scene would be dominated by shit that is slow and rhythmless as a Lawrence Welk concert. Considering how things evolved for the better from the Motown era, to the funk era of the 70s, to the disco era, to the new wave funk era of the 80s, and the house music era of the late 80s and early 90s, I thought we would be throwing down hard by now, not listening to music with a tempo more suitable for nursing homes.

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[Edited 3/13/12 14:15pm]

chellemac said:

I will be 47 in a few weeks and I still love Prince. I think I love him today more than in the 80's when I first got into him. I remember seeing him on MTV with Little Red Corvette, my favorite song. I followed him all the way through the Diamonds and Pearls era, then.......I don't really remember. I started listening to other artist, then had a baby and listened to kiddie tunes all the time.

Two years ago I saw Purple Rain on television and that got me to thinking about him again. Since then I pop on here to see what's new and shop ebay for his music. My family thinks I'm crazy. I have collected a lot of his albums and really like them all. My husband and daughter are always teasing me about him. They are both fans as well beut not like me. I alsways find a Prince connection to things and that makes them laugh. Kind of like the 7 degrees seperation of Kevin Beacon.

I just want to get an opportunity to see him in concert someday. I love his attitude and how he does as he pleases. I also feel a little sorry for him sometimes. He can do whatever he wants and I hope he is happy.

That was super sweet...esp how you see a Prince connection to so many things in life. I can totally relate to that, and usually bite my tongue now. And I laughed when you said how your husband and daughter give you a hard time. My wife and my girls do the same. My son and my sister are huge fans, but the rest of them just don't get it. Oh well. You can lead a horse to water...right?

Anyway, I really liked how you closed..."and I hope he is happy".

I don't know Prince, but I think he is really happy now. He's got a good friend in Larry Graham - whom I've talked to many times over the past ten yrs or so. Aside from the fan's view of Larry, he is a good guy, and very compassionate. Anyone would be blessed to have a friend like him.

I think Prince went a really long time without a friend who truly loved him for who was, or someone who wasn't intimidated by his mystery and stardom.

maafit said:

nursev said:

Are you still crazy about Prince? What musical era did you get into him? Do you still like his music or do you wish he would venture into other genres? Are you surprised that Prince is still doing this at his age? Considering what a bad boy he was in his prime I'm curious what the older crowd thinks of Princey and yeah the younsters can post too that'd be interesting

I'm almost 50 but feel like 30 hahahaha.

And yes I still like Prince I really dig his jazzy music from 2009 montreux e.d. now a day's

I still go to his concerts and still come back in a trans

off course I really love the years 80 till the 90's. mis him some times doing his nasty/sexy things but we all get older en "wiser"

He still got it but I'm also waiting for some real new stuff because I think he still can pull it off.

I really would also love to see him with some old friends I really like it when he's playing with renato, rhonda, morris and John.

Just turned 46 today....I totally agree that his jazzy stuff is absolutely wonderful.

He is still in his prime and performs and looks much better than most people he

started with. He got alot a butta to go. I have only seen him once in 1988, ""LoveSexy

Tour with Sheila E and Patti Labelle. Still remember it like it was yesterday. Would love to

see him jam with some ledgendary Rock artist......That would have to be awsome....Much Love

to everyone in the house......PEACE

Prince was, is and will always be the greatest artist of my life, 4 me that is enough.

creamdoll said:

maafit said:

I'm almost 50 but feel like 30 hahahaha.

And yes I still like Prince I really dig his jazzy music from 2009 montreux e.d. now a day's

I still go to his concerts and still come back in a trans

off course I really love the years 80 till the 90's. mis him some times doing his nasty/sexy things but we all get older en "wiser"

He still got it but I'm also waiting for some real new stuff because I think he still can pull it off.

I really would also love to see him with some old friends I really like it when he's playing with renato, rhonda, morris and John.

Just turned 46 today....I totally agree that his jazzy stuff is absolutely wonderful.

He is still in his prime and performs and looks much better than most people he

started with. He got alot a butta to go. I have only seen him once in 1988, ""LoveSexy

Tour with Sheila E and Patti Labelle. Still remember it like it was yesterday. Would love to

see him jam with some ledgendary Rock artist......That would have to be awsome....Much Love

to everyone in the house......PEACE

Happy Birthday!

Are you still crazy about Prince?

44 here and probably more of a fan now than ever, but he still pisses me off.

What musical era did you get into him?

Purple Rain 84

Do you still like his music or do you wish he would venture into other genres?

He has little gems in every album, but not so many these days. Prince is best when he sets the tone, but he could turn his hand to anything because he's Prince a musical genious.

Are you surprised that Prince is still doing this at his age?

Not really, i just hope he has another drop dead funky album in him. If not i'll still be around for the ride... im in to deep to drop out now...

I'm still 37, Damn U!

Are you still crazy about Prince?

Past the 'crazy' stage : fan since 1984 and 43 years old. I respect his musicianship and accomplishments and maintain that he will only truly be appreciated when he is no longer around

What musical era did you get into him?

Here in the UK I First heard Prince (and The Revolution)When Doves Cry was in the charts, then went to see PR with friends from school. Hooked from then - started collecting his back catalogue - starting with ATWID, then his earlier albums - hooked thereafter...

Do you still like his music or do you wish he would venture into other genres?

Prince is imo a musical genius - in the truest sense -but I prefer it when Prince is not chasing trends - which is why I was disappointed with Batman/ Diamonds and pearls and more intrigued by TGE, and even enjoy TRC

I still like the vast majority of his music but have a deeper appreciation for why WB were selective with releases - he needs to edit!

Are you surprised that Prince is still doing this at his age?

Not surprised at all - I don't think he'll retire - he IS music

I feel as though over time, we all mellow and I love how all of our perspectives change because of it. Prince has mellowed and has been through many changes, as we all should.

I enjoy him more now at this stage in my life (42) and his because I can watch him perform and not go completely NUTS and HYSTERICAL like I did as a teen during his Purple Rain tour, Lovesexy tour, etc. and he has matured so much to where he has let his guard down, his ego go, and has become more personal and interactive with his fans over the years.....

Being over 40 gives us a vantage point because we were there living his prime with him and have come full circle right along with him....doesn't get better than that.

nursev said:

Are you still crazy about Prince? What musical era did you get into him? Do you still like his music or do you wish he would venture into other genres? Are you surprised that Prince is still doing this at his age? Considering what a bad boy he was in his prime I'm curious what the older crowd thinks of Princey and yeah the younsters can post too that'd be interesting

Interesting topic: I thought it was us folks over 50 who were the backbone of enthusiasts--we grew up along and with Prince and his music.

Still Crazy?

Hmmmm . . . not sure if that's the right word . . . hard to explain. I've moved about 15 times since 1980 (overseas and back 3 times; US east coast, midwest, west coast, south east). I'm pretty much an introvert, and particularly in new situations, it's truly a challenging, hand-wringing event for me to meet new people (I'd almost prefer a root canal). As I've moved around, I've always held onto Prince's music--it was a constant when everything else was unfamiliar and strange . . . it'll probably sound weird, but as I moved and didn't know anyone at the new "home," Prince's music was my friend . . . still is . . .

Musical Era Introduction

During a trip home from Germany in 1979, I heard When We're Dancing Close and Slow . . . I packed two of those Prince albums in my suitcase for the return trip to Germany . . . just in case one got broken . . .

Like His Music Still/New Genres

Probably like everyone else, I have preferences in his music, but if I'm not madly in love with every single song, I appreciate his talent. I can't imagine having the kind of musical head Prince has and him just repeating a style to perfect it . . . I think he'd go nuts. It's been fun to watch him grow and evolve over the decades with all the different bands, and I look forward to his future offerings. It's kind of interesting though: some of the music that wasn't necessarily my favorite at one point is now something I do like . . . I've seen others post the same thing . . . I try to figure out why I didn't care for it originally, and I never quite do . . .

Surprise He's Still Performing

Absolutely not. How can someone with his gifts still not perform . . . I just wish some of the rest of today's . . . ah . . . talent . . . would spend some time studying him . . .

___________________________

Maybe it's confined to us Prince Elders who've been following him since his early years, but I'm genuinely proud of his achievements and awards; I've cheered his triumphs; cried and prayed for him during tragedies and difficult times; pouted and fumed about what I regard as slights to his talent . . . first thought coming to mind is Number 33 for Top 100 Guitarists of All Time last year in Rolling Stone . . .; and, ok, I'll admit it, once or twice I did want to speak sternly to him.

But as I said up top, his music has been and still is one of my dearest friends . . .

4everYoung said:

I feel as though over time, we all mellow and I love how all of our perspectives change because of it. Prince has mellowed and has been through many changes, as we all should.

I enjoy him more now at this stage in my life (42) and his because I can watch him perform and not go completely NUTS and HYSTERICAL like I did as a teen during his Purple Rain tour, Lovesexy tour, etc. and he has matured so much to where he has let his guard down, his ego go, and has become more personal and interactive with his fans over the years.....

Being over 40 gives us a vantage point because we were there living his prime with him and have come full circle right along with him....doesn't get better than that.

Not me. My perspectives on life change as I get older, but musically, I never mellowed and never will. The older I get, the harder I get and from what I've seen, the majority of the younger generation is much more mellow than we were and that's what I don't like about them. I'll still be shakin' ass decades from now while I'm holding on to a walker. And even after that when I become bedridden, I'll be rolled over on one side with my ass shakin'. Then, I'll look over to one side and see someone in their 20s listening to something slow and mellow with their head bobbin'. Talk about role reversal.

nursev said:

Are you still crazy about Prince? What musical era did you get into him? Do you still like his music or do you wish he would venture into other genres? Are you surprised that Prince is still doing this at his age? Considering what a bad boy he was in his prime I'm curious what the older crowd thinks of Princey and yeah the younsters can post too that'd be interesting

Yes I'm still a fan and I'll always love him.

nursev said:

Are you still crazy about Prince? What musical era did you get into him? Do you still like his music or do you wish he would venture into other genres? Are you surprised that Prince is still doing this at his age? Considering what a bad boy he was in his prime I'm curious what the older crowd thinks of Princey and yeah the younsters can post too that'd be interesting

Rudegirl for life!!!

nursev said:

Are you still crazy about Prince? What musical era did you get into him? Do you still like his music or do you wish he would venture into other genres? Are you surprised that Prince is still doing this at his age? Considering what a bad boy he was in his prime I'm curious what the older crowd thinks of Princey and yeah the younsters can post too that'd be interesting

I am 39 years old and I am absolutely crazy about Prince, always have been but now more than ever.

I first got into him in the 80's when I was a child and MTV played videos like Little Red Corvette, 1999, etc. I remember begging my mother to let me go watch the movie Purple Rain when it came out in the theatres but she wasn't having it - she said something like "over my dead body, you will not be watching that dirty movie, he is filthy and that movie is not appropriate for a little girl." I eventually got to see Purple Rain a couple yeas later when it was released on VHS thanks to a friend's older sister who also babysat me.

Anyway, approximately one year I woke up at like 3:30 or 4:00 in the morning to Purple Rain playing on my television the Encore channel and it had just started too!

Every day since that morning my addiction to Prince has escalated. I listen to nothing but Prince if given a choice. The hard and fast rule in my vehicle is all Prince all the time, no exceptions unless specifically authorized by myself and the only person who ever gets an exception is my husband and that is only b/c I don't want to fight I prefer to keep the peace so I will allow him to play techno (Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed, B.T., PaulVanDyke, The Crystal Method) or Trent Reznor, but that's it, no one else gets an exception to my hard and fast all Prince all the time rule.