Seriously, it is an interesting question. It seems as if ever since Lovesexy was a commercial success in Europe but a failure in the US, Prince has been unsure of what it is he wants: commercial or artistic success. Hit singles or musical growth. Batman and D&P were successful in the US,.but the tour was in Europe & Japan.
But now that he doesn't believe in the album market or the internet anymore, he COULD be totally free... Go chanting with Tibetan monks, play the Sahara blues with Tinariwen (who knows them? They kick ass!) but... At the end of the day, this 53 year old still wants pop hits. Hence R&R Affair...

First, I don't see how anyone can say America doesn't have culture, when most of America's inhabitants are from various parts of the world. No shortage of culture or art here. I think it's just the difference in lifestyles/ideas. But if culture/art is what draws inspiration, there's no shortage of culture/art in America.

Spiritotter said:

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

Hasn't he vibed and been inspired by jazz musicians? I certainly don't see Jazz as 'pop' culture unless we both have a different definition of 'pop'.

I can't agree that he stayed on the 'pop' trend, post-Revolution when post-Revolution, he seemed to go away from that 'poppy' sound of the Revolution era and gravitated and experimented much more toward soul/r&b/rock/soul rock/gospel/spiritual/jazz/political type music, even though he still dabs into some pop/pop ballads, so obviously there's been some inspiration drawn from the American music scene, and you could hear that in many of his socio-political type songs over the years. I also can't see how he hasn't had any exposure or inspiration from the European music scene, during his travel on toursl throughout Europe, over the years, and his meeting up with Europeanmusicians/artists and collaborating with them. I'd say he draws inspiration from both the American and European scene.

Seems post-Revolution it gave him more of an advantage to take risks with his music. In my opinion, Americna radio today lacks 'risks' and pretty much seems to stay with the 'pop' and 'electronica' trend latel, that you hear on the radio much too often. You don't hear a variety of different sounds, like when Prince first introduced the Minneapolis sound or when there was a British invasion in American music. Now it all sounds the same, and if you're not sounding like Beyonce/Rihanna or the watered-down r&b of Bieber or the 'poppy-bubblegum' vibe of Katy Perry/ and the Madonna clone of Lady Gaga, and the Grace Jones come lately, Nicki Minaj, then American radio is not interested in you as a solo artist.

Prince's music has always been a bit on the alternative/risky side, and even if you're not hearing his newer songs as much as his classics on the radio today, he doesn't seem to see that as a threat, by jumping into the 'poppy-electronica' trend to stay relevant.

Spiritotter said:

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).

I don't see how a musician can have a 30-year plus catalogue, achieved success, and is an internationally known artist, and someone can say that musican hasn't grown up musically, and is still seeking fame, when he already achieved fame as a musician, has experimented with various forms of music which allowedhim to grow musically from that experimenation. So why would he be looking for something he already achieved? Not putting him on a pedestal when I say this at all, so please don't draw that from my comment. Just seems odd that someone who is already famous, and has always been risky with his music over the years, which allowed him to grow musically through that, would need to 'grow up' musically, and have a need to seek fame he already has.

[Edited 10/12/12 11:41am]

Good posts Elijah.

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?

When you're playing to audiences who very often don't speak the same language as you, despite being able to speak and understand English, it must give some extra drive to please them. Plus it's a compliment that other cultures and languages respect your music. It's this that also helped the becoming of an international and not just local star. Still Prince seems always happy to be back home in the US and so while EU might feed his soul, home, the US is where the heart is. I'd like to go into the difference of heart/soul but that's a whole other discussion.

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.

Anyone would benefit and if I were Prince with no work contracts and the money, I'd be living abroad for lengthy periods of time on different continents because it's the greatest education you can ever get about life to challenge your existing mental concepts of what is 'normal, happiness, health, wealth,' etc.

Elijah pretty much answered the rest of the post perfectly.

Cultural diversity exists everywhere, on all continents, but in some places more than others. I don't think US can compare with EU in terms of cultural diversity because foreign inhabitants in US have all become 'Americanised' and live in a country that has a uniform 'normality' government, mentality, rules, language, news etc. The mass amount of populations in EU countries that speak different languages, with differing food, government etc. automatically makes for abundance in culture. Language and culture are intimately related and with culture comes values, beliefs, customs, behaviors, and artifacts. That's not to say that everyone is EU or anywhere else is culturally aware/open. There are still people who have never left their village and know nothing of the world and its diversity out there.

it's because the european crowd chants 'oh wee oh'.

it charges the air with purplee energies & swaddles him in magical wizardry