Dear Prince.org,

It's often remarked that Prince's most transcendant performances (shows/aftershows) tend to be inspired away from 'home', quite often on European trips, but why do you think that is?

Is it the feeling of freedom and connection when he's surrounded by what some consider 'richer' culture, elegance or intellectual depth? Perhaps, it's the beautiful women? I am sure he loves America, too, for its love of money and, afterall, it is his home. Perhaps, it's his need for "soul", that Europe inspires?

I have often wondered how Prince's music, and psychological/spiritual development, might evolve if he submerged himself for a period of time living in what are usually considered historically deep cultures, away from the West, such as Africa or India. I am aware that he has been drawn to the East often, at least in his mind, as exemplified by his passing interests (Egyptology, the Goddess Laxmi etc), but he doesn't appear to have truly freed himself from what is often considered the 'pop' culture of the West. In that respect, I found N.E.W.S. an inspiring and refreshing breath of fresh air, musically, but one that he rarely visits in comparison to the majority of his music this past 10-20 years (e.g. Emancipation; Rave; Chocolate/Slaughterhouse, Musicology, 3121, MplSound).

If travel is out of the question, I wonder if he would benefit from being challenged by inspiring musicians who do not vibe with the mentality of 'pop' culture, because for the longest period for a musician of Prince's stature, he has been remarkably attached to the concept of 'making it' (whilst often feeling entirely disillusioned with the gatekeepers of 'success' e.g. traditional record companies). Perhaps, that is why certain members of the Revolution (e.g. Wendy, Lisa, Sheila, Eric and Renato) were so pivotal in helping expand his musical palette and perhaps, in their absence, his music seems to run that all too familiar 'pop' trend over the past 20 years, but one that is rarely befitting an elder statesman of music.

Do you think that Prince would benefit from 'growing up', musically? He clearly has the potential, but his execution is often on 'pop' grounds, which seems strange to say the least, especially when we all know he can stretch, grow and develop, musically, beyond such seemingly infantile territories. But for some reason, he resists/refuses to grow up and let go of these rather futile (insecure) obsessions with fame/making it, as demonstrated by the majority of his released output since Warner Brothers (a clear exception to the rule being The Rainbow Children/One Nite Alone/N.E.W.S. era).

What do you think?

love,

Spirit

Europe has culture whereas the other...................

callimnate said:

Europe has culture whereas the other...................

womyn

Way more appreciation 4 Black artists and music over there IMHO.

[Edited 10/11/12 6:44am]

He gets homesickness.

you hear that stretch into non traditional pop sound on ATWIAD Parade & SOTT

Sheila E's LatinCreole roots in music Eric Leeds Jazz the Melvoins & Colemans (brothers & sisters) were into a lot of experimental sounds and instruments: steel drums, middle eastern instruments, Susannah cultured life & art, bringing in the use of string sections and sound started in Purple Rain via Lisa Coleman and then ATWIAD & Parade incorporated more musicians and Clare Fischer that took the music to another level.

I always said there was a maturing that I felt he was on the verge of via Parade/1986/Dream Factory sessions, that would have kept him free from feeling like he needed to do some of the thing musically in 1990 that may have stiffled him

But I do feel he feels more free in Europe, I even saw a difference in his shows & dress in Europe vs when he came to America

Take me to the vineyards of Lavaux
Wanna see the mountains where the waters flow
Life back home depresses me, just another form of slavery
The cost of freedom is anything but free

I don't care if they are covered with snow
I don't care if the road is narrow, if it is I'll know
It was always meant to be, still in love I must believe
Whatever path I choose will lead me home
Lead me home, Lavaux

Take me to the streets of Portugal
That might be my destiny to see the waterfall
Tears or rain, they're all the same
The only way to win this game
To let everybody play and share the ball

There ain't nobody got no chains on me
I'm flying higher than any mountain, deeper than any sea
A paradox is box's key, I'm the why in mystery
You're gonna unlock the secrets if you please

I think it does. I think the culture and art and history is good for him, it inspires him. Also, just the fact it's somewhere different, a change of scene.

It's interesting also that he can easily sell out shows here, I mean London 2007 - 21 nights was unprecendented!

He was opting to do the same in America but it all depends on advance ticket sales (London was originally going to be a few dates but was extended due to demand) how many nights did he sell in Chicago? 3 nights?! ONLY?!

Does this means there aren't as many US fans or they aren't as motivated to see him? I would have thought he could have sold the same amount of nights over there?! Still maybe it costs a lot more as there are vaster distances involved in travelling to see him.

I guess the fact that London is easily accessible from all over Europe too may have helped but even so?!

If you US fans want more of him, u're gonna have to up your game to the level of the European ones!! haha

I don't know if this is typical, but I remember seeing some footage of a US concert where the audience were talking and walking about to get popcorn and coke WHILE he was performing! It seemed very disrespectful to me....I mean I understand a toilet break but THAT?!! Is this typical? If so that could be a reason.

Hop Farm 2011 was an amazing experience for me, this gig was on a country farm, amazingly only 40 minutes from my house...blew all those present away...a very special experience, especially to think such a legend was performing pretty much in my back yard, the area I grew up in.

[Edited 10/11/12 9:07am]

Probably for the same reason that Europeans are often inspired by the USA. The strange is often more inspirational than the familiar.

Maybe he's got all the inspiration out of Minniaplis he can

SpiritOtter said:

Dear Prince.org,

It's often remarked that Prince's most transcendant performances (shows/aftershows) tend to be inspired away from 'home', quite often on European trips, but why do you think that is?

love,

Spirit

Often remarked by who? European fans?

His set lists have become a bit jumbled during the European legs of his tours during the last 15 years or so. I suppose after he's done the performances in the US he just wants to stretch out more and try different things. It's nice that he starts adding more fan favourites to his sets, but I'm not always so sure about the overall flow of the shows.

For some strange reason he always starts dressing up like a damn hippie when he brings his ass over here as well

Graycap23 said:

Way more appreciation 4 Black artists and music over there IMHO.

[Edited 10/11/12 6:44am]

...and there it is.

America traditionally has a very short attention span with both music and film.

There is a long history of Jazz artists enjoying much more music appreciation from Italy, France, Holland, etc.

That being said, I think Prince has had a long history of enjoying his European audiences, from 'Parade' to 'Sign O' The Times' to 'Lovesexy'.

.

[Edited 10/12/12 13:07pm]

motherfunka said:

SpiritOtter said:

Dear Prince.org,

It's often remarked that Prince's most transcendant performances (shows/aftershows) tend to be inspired away from 'home', quite often on European trips, but why do you think that is?

love,

Spirit

Often remarked by who? European fans?

When you watch the recent European shows and compare them to the 'Welcome 2 America" shows, the European shows were far better... more music, more guitar, and more energy.

He did one spin move during some Euro version of "Cool" that looked exactly like Prince's dancing in the mid to late eighties. It was like a reverse spin followed by a mic stand grab. Killer.

His American fans tend to be pretty stupid and if he trolls around on this site he's bound to know it. It's hard to get excited when this hot mess is your only honest insight into the limited intellect of your fanbase. I can't believe he plays here at all, actually.

Not that he's the smartest tool in the shed, either...

callimnate said:

Europe has culture whereas the other...................

steakfinger said:

His American fans tend to be pretty stupid and if he trolls around on this site he's bound to know it. It's hard to get excited when this hot mess is your only honest insight into the limited intellect of your fanbase. I can't believe he plays here at all, actually.

Not that he's the smartest tool in the shed, either...

I believe that should be "sharpest", not "smartest".

Graycap23 said:

Way more appreciation 4 Black artists and music over there IMHO.

[Edited 10/11/12 6:44am]

Thank you Graycap and I think you are going to get a check, if you want it for that post!

Astasheiks said:

Graycap23 said:

Way more appreciation 4 Black artists and music over there IMHO.

[Edited 10/11/12 6:44am]

Thank you Graycap and I think you are going to get a check, if you want it for that post!

I need a check............7 figures.

Giovanni777 said:

Graycap23 said:

Way more appreciation 4 Black artists and music over there IMHO.

[Edited 10/11/12 6:44am]

...and there it is.

America traditionally has a very short attention span with both music and film.

There is a long history of Jazz artists enjoying much more music appreciation from Italy, France, Holland, etc.

That being said, I think Prince has had a long history of enoying his European audiences, from 'Parade' to 'Sign O' The Times' to 'Lovesexy'.

.

[Edited 10/11/12 10:29am]

He really should live there for a while...away from certain influences

novabrkr said:

I believe that should be "sharpest", not "smartest".

Graycap23 said:

Astasheiks said:

Thank you Graycap and I think you are going to get a check, if you want it for that post!

I need a check............7 figures.

steakfinger said:

His American fans tend to be pretty stupid and if he trolls around on this site he's bound to know it. It's hard to get excited when this hot mess is your only honest insight into the limited intellect of your fanbase. I can't believe he plays here at all, actually.

Not that he's the smartest tool in the shed, either...

Funny you say that, specially cause his largest fanbase is located in US-A.

Just a quick answer for now, I'll come back to the thread.

I believe it's the diversity that's inspiring. I'd say it's more souful than USA in that Europe is less plastic fantastic. People wise, we're less loud mouthed, and speaking more languages plus able to travel more to cultures distinctly different than our own, grows a global and cultural awareness where we stereotype less and have less bias and more tolerance. Generally speaking of coure.

To Spiritotter

Really; I don't think that Prince is stuck or whatsoever into "infantile territories"..

I do think he has grew up and is mature; what does mean:

to grow up and to evolve musically?

Noone has gone beyond to say what it's like..

Prince has not been stuck to a novice style of music, as someone who barely knows some few notes and reproduces..

Prince is such a Grand master as a guitar player, he has travelled through many styles and those have contributed to make a whole nowadays: "Prince's style"

I am quite sure that travelling long and far, moving sometimes to some other places would do everyone and him also good, because the spirit, mind and soul are transported, moved; all the acknolegments are moved as well, if one is ready to be moved..

Those occur because we are part of strange, alien areas, all our habits used are no more in alien places..

This is a kind of evolution, yes, but, does that mean to grow up? some might decline as well.

Deep into one's core, some sounds, some noises can't be removed, those belong to the memory of our cells, they nurture, they melt with other sounds, but definetely, they persist

Concerning the matter of being inspired by Europeans, did Prince say so, truly??

He is surely inspired differently, as Chopingard said:

“Probably for the same reason that Europeans are often inspired by the USA. The strange is often more inspirational than the familiar.”

He is inspired by an almost well known, but meantime mysterious Europe, the melting pot is so different here..The kind of 2 sides that Prince might be inspired by

People who live here, who have adopted or been adopted by Europe, but their soul still belong to the place they initially or the place their relatives come from..The origins stay as well deep stuck to the cells.

Those who belong to the place, since, the morning of all time, if I may say so, have been transformed little by little, because they have integrated others to them..

I wish I could hear his answer about this matter..

The subject is very interesting and we could talk such a long time, though without Prince himself discussing with us, the subject won't have a real end, a real answer...

I hate to say this, but I think Europe appreciates him more. I compared concert pics from the US and Europe and the latter always seemed to be more passionate. I think Prince probably picked up on that energy.

PurpleKittyK said:

I hate to say this, but I think Europe appreciates him more. I compared concert pics from the US and Europe and the latter always seemed to be more passionate. I think Prince probably picked up on that energy.

Nonsense! I think if he loosens up in Europe, is this necessarily a good thing? He suffocated people in Europe with his AA nonsense, that nobody asked for. Nobody in Europe ever got to see Stevie Wonder/Whitney Houston etc..on stage with him.

I personally thing he may be carefree in Europe, cause he simply think he can mess around there. He's a fool

OzlemUcucu said:

PurpleKittyK said:

I hate to say this, but I think Europe appreciates him more. I compared concert pics from the US and Europe and the latter always seemed to be more passionate. I think Prince probably picked up on that energy.

Nonsense! I think if he loosens up in Europe, is this necessarily a good thing? He suffocated people in Europe with his AA nonsense, that nobody asked for. Nobody in Europe ever got to see Stevie Wonder/Whitney Houston etc..on stage with him.

I personally thing he may be carefree in Europe, cause he simply think he can mess around there. He's a fool

lol

who's much fool? Th fool or the one following ???

ganesh said:

OzlemUcucu said:

Nonsense! I think if he loosens up in Europe, is this necessarily a good thing? He suffocated people in Europe with his AA nonsense, that nobody asked for. Nobody in Europe ever got to see Stevie Wonder/Whitney Houston etc..on stage with him.

I personally thing he may be carefree in Europe, cause he simply think he can mess around there. He's a fool

lol

who's much fool? Th fool or the one following ???

It's not like he's always really giving people what they want. My answer was only to put things in perspective and I disagree about Prince being more inspired in Europe. His latest output about Lavaux speaks volumes. It is just a shit song!

well their whole musical culture nowadays is based on our american stuff.

house, r&b, rock and what more

callimnate said:

Europe has culture whereas the other...................

Astasheiks said: