Darshy said:

BECAUSE THE PUBLIC ARE STUPID

Maybe if we shout at them in capitals, they might just understand.

erik319 said:

*kazoo edit

[Edited 4/8/12 9:46am]

lmao

djThunderfunk said:

We need to hide all DeLoreans and flux capacitor's from stillwaiting. And for the love of God, don't share your plutonium with him!!

[Edited 4/8/12 9:43am]

And if you ever get stuck on an island with one video, you would probably choose a concert with Shelby and Andy singing all the songs, while I get SOTT. I get real music, and you get "Put Your Hands Up."

stillwaiting said:

djThunderfunk said:

We need to hide all DeLoreans and flux capacitor's from stillwaiting. And for the love of God, don't share your plutonium with him!!

[Edited 4/8/12 9:43am]

And if you ever get stuck on an island with one video, you would probably choose a concert with Shelby and Andy singing all the songs, while I get SOTT. I get real music, and you get "Put Your Hands Up."

I don't understand how this comment relates to the fantasy you posted or to the humor I replied with.

Jibba Jabba.

[Edited 4/8/12 10:22am]

[Edited 4/8/12 10:25am]

CrabalockerFishwife said:

GIOShokadelica said:

He knows how to act

This is debatable.

dang, U beat me to it!

'dre

As a few others have posted, Prince is not underrated. Unknown to many, yes, however his skills have always been recognized by those who are aware of him.

ufoclub said:

novabrkr said:

How the fuck is he underrated?

He is one of the most respected and loved musicians ever. There are a lot of people that don't like him of course, but that's just due to their underdeveloped understanding of music and stereotypical views on gender roles.

It's true that a lot of people are unaware of Prince's skills or throw them ot of their memory. Something about Prince doesn't stick with the public. It might be simply that he needs a superhero publicist at all times.

Madonna on the other hand seems to stick with the public even if she's doing nothing or releasing unsuccessful films. People think of her and thin pop genius and remember things.

I think the more recent flodding of youtube with great Prince stuff is helping start a ripple of awareness.

It doesn't matter what people that aren't even interested in music think in that regard. Most people do not even know who John Coltrane is, but that doesn't mean he is "underrated".

Prince has been given an incredible amount of praise in the press and he's been described in superlatives most through his career. Just look at all those interviews, press clips and award ceremony introduction speeches where is always described as one of the greats. I don't think I've seen the word "genius" being connected to any other popular music icon as often as it has been used to describe Prince. That's about as far from being underrated as it gets.

I find threads like these frustrating because they're based on a false assumption of Prince's public image. They always mix up notions of media visibility with recognition and the reception of his work. Why does it bother some people on this site so much that teenagers that listen to just contemporary pop do not happen to listen to Prince?

skywalker said:

If Prince is underrated, it is for one singular reason: His lack of business/promotion.

Prince easily could have the kind of pop culture impact of U2 or Madonna upon each album release and tour.

When he wants to play the game, like in 2004, he does.

However, I think that he doesn't give a shit and doesn't seem to want to stick with a project as long as U2 or Madonna do.

Bottom line: He doesn't market himself as well as he could to the masses. That's why he is underrated.

[Edited 4/7/12 20:12pm]

Sai it again!!!

He isn't underrated, maybe unappreicated. He is well admired in the music community.

rdhull said:

stillwaiting said:

With a Time Machine, I could fix it. Other than that, I know his business sense is a huge reason why. He's proven he would be a great GM for my Orlando Magic. He'd probably hire Isiah Thomas as coach, and then have Shelby be director of scouting, and put Andy Allo as director of marketing. When the Magic get behind more than 30 points, Shelby would come in and start the "Put Your Hands Up" intellectual chant.

To make this as brief as possible, If I could go back in time and be a Warner's executive, I'd put a contract in front of him in July 1984, requiring a new album be released only every 3 years, not a day sooner. There would be a requirement of an outtakes collection every 10 years, and it would be up to Prince how much music would be on it. It could be 2 discs, it could be 20, as long as the best songs ended up on the albums every 3 years.

To ensure he agree to this, there would be a $40 million advance to sign the contract, and a $10 million advance for every album. He would only do one interview every album release, to ensure there was still some mystery element to him. There would be sales incentives for his royalty rates, but they would not be so absurd that he would try to sell out any more than he already had.

His concerts would be contracted to include 22 full length songs with no medleys, and would require a well-paid high quality musician on every instrument. Warners would pay for the musicans out of the terms of the deal. No backup female singers yelling "Put Your Hands Up" 500 times a night. Each show would be contracted to be 2 hours and 20 minutes minimum, and Prince would be required to sing a good portion of the show. No holding the microphone to let the audience do the work.

The Album releases could have ended up like this:

1987 SOTT (Singles 1 Kiss 2 Housequake (first two singles before albums's release) 3 SOTT 4 U Got The Look 5 I Could Never 6 Forever In My Life 7 Paisley Park

1990 (Whatever) (Singles 1 Thieves In The Temple 2 Anna Stesia 3 Raspberry Beret 4 When 2 R In Love 5 Nothing Compares 2 U

1993(Whatever) (Singles 1 Cream 2 Diamonds And Pearls 3 7 4 She's Always In My Hair

With this marketing strategy, Prince doesn't have the over publicity he had before, he actually saves great songs for different albums, he still has the awesome album tracks, and instead of most of the concerts being great, all of them are, giving him the reputation as a Top Sales artist who is also critically acclaimed. Nobody goes to a concert wondering why Tony M, Damon D, and Kirk Johnson are on stage in stupid Star Trek Next Generation Uniforms.

There is a massive buildup for every album, with a true marketing strategy, and Prince treats people like people, which gives him a great reputation in the business. He releases live albums for each tour, and the occasional video. In 2006, he releases a 10 DVD box set of unreleased shows that sells for $89.99, and gets rave reviews.

The band would've been epic. Wendy & Lisa would've remained onstage, but their main role would be more of a creative consultant's role in the studio.

Guitars: Miko, Wendy, and sometimes Dez Dickerson

Bass: Sonny T

Drums: Sheila E, and eventually shared role with Michael B

Keys: Lisa, Dr Fink, and sometimes Tommy B

Horns: Eric Leeds, Atlanta Bliss, and sometimes Greg Boyer

This is the Prince we could've had at best. This guy would have reputations like U2, like The Beatles. Despite all the crap Prince has pulled, I'm still happy with his career, but it is easy to think about what could have been.

His reputation is solid as one of the greatest to ever do it. That other shit you posted is on some lame authoritarian bullshit.

I could not have said it better

thecloud said:

skywalker said:

If Prince is underrated, it is for one singular reason: His lack of business/promotion.

Prince easily could have the kind of pop culture impact of U2 or Madonna upon each album release and tour.

When he wants to play the game, like in 2004, he does.

However, I think that he doesn't give a shit and doesn't seem to want to stick with a project as long as U2 or Madonna do.

Bottom line: He doesn't market himself as well as he could to the masses. That's why he is underrated.

[Edited 4/7/12 20:12pm]

Sai it again!!!

Yep spot on

novabrkr said:

How the fuck is he underrated?

He is one of the most respected and loved musicians ever. There are a lot of people that don't like him of course, but that's just due to their underdeveloped understanding of music and stereotypical views on gender roles.

Yes, he has loads of respect BUT there is no one guilty of pushing the stereotypical gender roles more than Prince these days except MAYBE Rick Santorum. There's a theocratic order, chump. Women are to be seen and not heard, they are to be subject to their man as man is subject to god. Don't even ask about his homophobic nonsense, either. Just because Prince used to dress like a girl doesn't mean he thinks homosexuality was/is a valid lifechoice. He probaby thinks it's a deformation of the DNA due to environmental factors and the NEw World Order pushing for BPA to be in our plastic feminizing men.

If he wasn't a JW and Rck Santorum somehow got the GOP nomination he might ask Prince to be his VP. Right before he turns America's government into some Christian-based version of the Taliban legislating their pin-headed view on morality.

jonylawson said:

relax its early days

30-50 years probably he will start getting PROPER dues

Bingo.

'Underrated' is overused. Prince is far from underrated. He is very successful and well respected.

Not that I would have wanted it but an easy way to have built his profile would have been to have spaced out his releases, esecially 1984 through 1987. Build the hype.

But thats for the masses, fuck them

kishi said:

'Underrated' is overused. Prince is far from underrated. He is very successful and well respected.

I agree.

As the OP already mentioned, he has a few Grammy's, he's making the Rolling Stone lists, he is recognized as being the inspiration of other artists.

Exactly what is supposed to happen for him to be "rated" just right?

steakfinger said:

novabrkr said:

How the fuck is he underrated?

He is one of the most respected and loved musicians ever. There are a lot of people that don't like him of course, but that's just due to their underdeveloped understanding of music and stereotypical views on gender roles.

Yes, he has loads of respect BUT there is no one guilty of pushing the stereotypical gender roles more than Prince these days except MAYBE Rick Santorum. There's a theocratic order, chump. Women are to be seen and not heard, they are to be subject to their man as man is subject to god. Don't even ask about his homophobic nonsense, either. Just because Prince used to dress like a girl doesn't mean he thinks homosexuality was/is a valid lifechoice. He probaby thinks it's a deformation of the DNA due to environmental factors and the NEw World Order pushing for BPA to be in our plastic feminizing men.

If he wasn't a JW and Rck Santorum somehow got the GOP nomination he might ask Prince to be his VP. Right before he turns America's government into some Christian-based version of the Taliban legislating their pin-headed view on morality.

If only he'd shared the stage with other legends. Say, James Brown and Michael Jackson. Maybe then people would respect him more.

RodeoSchro said:

If only he'd shared the stage with other legends. Say, James Brown and Michael Jackson. Maybe then people would respect him more.

If that is the case............good thing he did NOT do that.

RodeoSchro said:

If only he'd shared the stage with other legends. Say, James Brown and Michael Jackson. Maybe then people would respect him more.

Baba Booey! Baba Booey!

I do not think that Prince is underrated...
1. Music critics rate him higher than Madonna and the other guy whose name we can not say on this forum.
2. The general public ... well, Prince has what he wants, his marketing strategy always was very strange.
3. Prince does not play 30 instruments, come on here
4. There are no less talented artists than Prince.
5. Prince - one of the key artists ever
6. Madonna has 7 or 8 Grammy Awards (less than Beyoncé, for example), not 13
7. Stop the drama

swanny said:

Not that I would have wanted it but an easy way to have built his profile would have been to have spaced out his releases, esecially 1984 through 1987. Build the hype.

But thats for the masses, fuck them

Perhaps the central theme of my post that was ripped to shreds by the "Experts" on here. Nobody was around to tell him no. Under the Cherry Moon is a fun laugh for the converted, but the movie in large part made him appear to be a big joke, no longer capable of being a superstar. SOTT was such a great album, and didn't even sell a million(remember, the RIAA counted double albums as two units, so SOTT being Platinum meant it sold just over 500,000 copies.)

toejam said:

I think Prince is generally underrated by the masses simply due to his imagery, and his contradictorary nature. He just doesn't fit neatly into the boxes that society expects. E.g. the whole "Is he black or white, straight or gay?" thing... the religion vs. sexuality thing... He's too "pop" for the alternative scene, and too "alternative" for the pop scene... Is it rock? is it funk? or is it RnB?... It's like he's the most popular "underground" artist there is.

Fact is the "general public" like things that fit neatly into boxes, but Prince seems to have a knack - a desire if you will - to find those grey areas between the boxes and exploit them to his benefit. That's his strongest selling point, but also the thing that prevents him from reaching uber-fame.

Well put!

You know when you're a huge fan of an artist, (with a few exceptions) you always feel the artist hasn't gotten his or her due. Whether you're talking to a Bob Dylan, Donny Hathaway, Elvis Costello or Lady Gaga fan, they all feel thier hero is disrespected by critics, by the press or by mainstream America and not fully appeciated for their true talent(s). If you can, take a look at some Rolling Stone album reviews from the seventies -- Led Zeppelin, Bowie hell even the almighty Stones at times got horrible reviews yet these artists are considered icons today.

As for Prince's very questionable career moves -- to his credit he's never been locked up, didn't marry his cousin, never confessed on TV to dropping acid, hasn't posed naked on a highway in Florida nor bitten the head from any animal living or dead...

Don't worry, I think our fella is doing just fine