I had an cringe-worthy experience yesterday.

My cousin and her daughters (ages 12 & 15) paid us a visit yesterday.

We (the adults) began reminiscing about the music of our day when we where their age.

SO of course they mention Prince and how I was/am such a big fan.

NEITHER ONE KNEW WHO PRINCE IS.

I recovered from the shock and went to google to try and show them Prince videos. Of course, everything on Youtube is blocked. The only thing I managed to find was the video to KISS.

They looked at that like and immediately asked if he was gay.

ANYWAY...these are regular girls...into One Direction and Justin Bieber and stuff, so I wasn't expecting them to say "Oh yeah, we like Prince." I just wasn't expecting them to not even recognize the name. They of course know who Michael Jackson and the Beatles are.

So...how do YOU think that Prince will be considered as we roll along in this new decade and the decades to come? Is there (in your opinion) any chance that he can become a relevant force in current music again? When we're older and talking with our grandkids...do you think that they will say; "Oh yeah, I know Prince." the way most people know Elvis and Madonna... or will the purple one be a little-known musical icon that only music afficionados will recognize (like David Bowie or Depeche Mode)?

What do you think?

This thread is so gay, it's going to throw a tea dance soon.

This is VERY common now, especially outside the US or Europe.

Here in Asian, NOBODY knows who he is, not even from pictures of him.

And many of the American/European types don't know songs by him.

I played Raspberry Berrett, Pop Life, and U Got the Look as questions at

various pub quizes, and NOBODY got the questions correct. I was....flabbergasted.

I can relate to your little story, a bit frustrating right?

but, Prince is a has-been to young people these days.

Just enjoy what you like, + ignorre the ignorants.

at least that is what I am doing.

i do not care for one direction or justin beiber. THEIR gayness... has scared me away from their god-awful music

apart from a few of his songs which are listenable. the fact that i (am NOT justin bieber) have to be reminded of that because of our shared moniker (NOT bieber) upsets me. wish him the best. one direction can fall off a cliff...

^^^Imago & thedance;

(As I type this, "Kiss" is playing on the lite-music station that we listen to at work )

I'm not expecting kids to be listening to Prince anymore than they'd listen to the Ramones.

BUT...maybe it's because I'm such a fan...I just assumed that Prince was a true icon along the vein of Michael Jackson, Elvis, and Frank Sinatra.

As a teen I didn't know a Frank Sinatra song from a Bing Crosby one...but I sure as hell knew the name.

So...besides lightening up on the crazy Youtube censorship...do you think there's a way that Prince can truly become the ICON that he deserves to be for future generations???

btw - I forced my kids to watch Purple Rain (not completely against their will but they wanted to watch something else)...they liked it. Especially my 12 year old daughter.

purplepolitician said:

apart from a few of his songs which are listenable. the fact that i (am NOT justin bieber) have to be reminded of that because of our shared moniker (NOT bieber) upsets me. wish him the best. one direction can fall off a cliff...

Bieber and One Direction will be footnotes i nmusic history...the way Menudo and New Kids On The Block are today.

I'm past caring what kids think of Prince. Or anyone, for that matter.

All I care about now is if he puts out music and plays concerts, and that I get to see them.

From my experience the only kids who know Prince at all is because their parents were fans and shared that music with them.

Of course to be fair, I was always aware of Prince more or less. I knew of him, I especially remember the "SLAVE" and symbol/name changes days. But put a gun to my head, I couldn't name one song of his except maybe "Purple Rain." I only explored him after he made his comeback with MUSICOLOGY which happened when I was maybe 20 and well I thought "well lets see who this cat is all about" so I gave him a chance. Went through the Wal-Mart (I'm not maing this up) bargain bin and picked up AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY.

That began my fandom.

Who knows, when Prince makes his big public push for his new album this year, more kids will discover him this way?

I hope you immedietly corrected their false belief that Prince is GAY..He is NOT!

Prince needs to act his age and diversify..ie Lionel Richie, Rod Stewart.............and have a reality show.........................

Have a fashion line .............elegant casual/business wear..........he would make a killing.....

and stop being a JW.......and enjoy life..............

Cheers

Max

p.s..Prince is NOT gay!

^ a bit off topic: sexuality doesn't matter..

Freddie Mercury,

Elton John.

George Michael

those are gay icons, and great singers/ musicians.

I agree, Prince is 100% straight, but if he were gay I would still love his (older) music... (at least I would love his music released on WB).

Who cares if he is or not?

Really I'm glad that such things as orientation doesn't affect whether I like his music or not. Look at the people still hung up about David Bowie and his self-professed bi-sexuality back in the day.

WHO CARES?

MaxiMPact said:

I hope you immedietly corrected their false belief that Prince is GAY..He is NOT!

Prince needs to act his age and diversify..ie Lionel Richie, Rod Stewart.............and have a reality show.........................

Have a fashion line .............elegant casual/business wear..........he would make a killing.....

and stop being a JW.......and enjoy life..............

Cheers

Max

p.s..Prince is NOT gay!

we had sex with our eyes once. was not impressed

MaxiMPact said:

I hope you immedietly corrected their false belief that Prince is GAY..He is NOT!

p.s..Prince is NOT gay!

I thought the org voted on this years ago?

Prince is essentially the Chuck Berry of his generation, Michael Jackson is the Elvis. One is a foundational indisputable figure, but not instantly recognized figure by the masses.

I'm glad more and more kids have never heard of him these days. Maybe he'll realize it himself and stopping putting a horrible sellout song or two on his albums trying to gain them as fans.

MaxiMPact said:

I hope you immedietly corrected their false belief that Prince is GAY..He is NOT!

I'm not gay either.

thedance said:

I can relate to your little story, a bit frustrating right?

but, Prince is a has-been to young people these days.

Just enjoy what you like, + ignorre the ignorants.

at least that is what I am doing.

A few months ago I met a 23 (!) year old guy who dared to admit that he knew the song Purple Rain, but didn't know it was Prince's (later he was also unable to recognize Diamonds and Pearls).

horrifying . On the bright side; he was aware of Prince's existence and didn't ask anything about him being gay

shayde said:

Prince is essentially the Chuck Berry of his generation, Michael Jackson is the Elvis. One is a foundational indisputable figure, but not instantly recognized figure by the masses.

I like that!