PUNCTUATION...it's your friend!

Prince never selling out? Might I introduce you to a band member named Tony M? lol

One of the things I most respect him for. You never see him in commercials for Pepsi or as the face of a new make-up product etc. He only ever uses his 'celebrity' status to promote his own mostly-musical ventures.

Wrong.

He sold out with 1999 and Purple rain.

He consciously changed his presentation and music for the most part to a more pop sound to gain wider acceptance.

Yes, he was one of the few who could do that while keeping his vision intact, but he did sell out.

He also sold back IN later but thats another story.

toejam said:

One of the things I most respect him for. You never see him in commercials for Pepsi or as the face of a new make-up product etc. He only ever uses his 'celebrity' status to promote his own mostly-musical ventures.

Uh-Huh.

He's gotta have been paid some money by Versace at some point, hasn't he?

motherfunka said:

PUNCTUATION...it's your friend!

hahahahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhahaha

The Batman soundtrack would like a word. I don't hold it against him for doing it but the whole project reeked of a cash grab, then as well as now.

rdhull said:

Wrong.

He sold out with 1999 and Purple rain.

He consciously changed his presentation and music for the most part to a more pop sound to gain wider acceptance.

Yes, he was one of the few who could do that while keeping his vision intact, but he did sell out.

He also sold back IN later but thats another story.

This is bullshit of the highest order. He was, what, like 20, 25 years old and living in a basement? Those albums are visionary, largely independent and coming from a totally artistic place. At that time, Prince was turning down record contracts if they wouldn't let him produce, write, etc. If that's "selling out" we should all be so fortunate.

What, in your mind, did he "change" to be more "pop", because those records sound like the logical extension and musical progression of someone who's ALWAYS been all over the map in terms of style, unfluences and sound. I'd hardly call the raciness and explicit sexuality of songs like D.M.S.R., Darling Nikki or Let's Pretend We're Married (or even Little Red Corvette for that matter) an intentional cash grab or a stab at commercial viability/increased radio play.

[Edited 2/26/13 13:35pm]

[Edited 2/26/13 13:37pm]

herb4 said:

The Batman soundtrack would like a word. I don't hold it against him for doing it but the whole project reeked of a cash grab, then as well as now.

rdhull said:

Wrong.

He sold out with 1999 and Purple rain.

He consciously changed his presentation and music for the most part to a more pop sound to gain wider acceptance.

Yes, he was one of the few who could do that while keeping his vision intact, but he did sell out.

He also sold back IN later but thats another story.

This is bullshit of the highest order. He was, what, like 20, 25 years old and living in a basement? Those albums are visionary, largely independent and coming from a totally artistic place. At that time, Prince was turning down record contracts if they wouldn't let him produce, write, etc. If that's "selling out" we should all be so fortunate.

What, in your mind, did he "change" to be more "pop", because those records sound like the logical extension and musical progression of someone who's ALWAYS been all over the map in terms of style, unfluences and sound. I'd hardly call the raciness and explicit sexuality of songs like D.M.S.R., Darling Nikki or Let's Pretend We're Married (or even Little Red Corvette for that matter) an intentional cash grab or a stab at commercial viability/increased radio play.

[Edited 2/26/13 13:35pm]

[Edited 2/26/13 13:37pm]

Come on herb..dont make me have to explain it in detail. Cant you just take my word for it? You know me, I know you, we been around a while.

Woah, U guys never heard of Rave un2 the Joy fantastic LOL? even the new 3rdeyegirl stuff lik rnrlove affair and the first version of screwdriver are kinda sell out ishh. But Prince isn't a sellout u guys overall.

In general, Prince is one of THE most artistic integrity centered pop artists of all time. Every musical act that has ever achieved fame is guilty of selling out. I mean, they want people to buy their music right?

Name me an artist worth a shit that didn't sell out?

Uptight fans get all pissy whenever Prince makes nods/concessions to mainstream trends or styles, but whenever has he NOT done that? Shit, he traded in his natural fro for Farrah's hair nearly right off the bat.

Quick faking the funk you phoney fans...

Purplethunder: That 1998 hairstyle you are posting is called pony locks. A style traditionally worn by exclusively by chicks. Prince was quite likely the only brother rockin' that look. Cool it may not have been in your eyes, but it was hardly selling out.

[Edited 2/26/13 18:43pm]

[Edited 2/26/13 18:44pm]

skywalker said:

In general, Prince is one of THE most artistic integrity centered pop artists of all time. Every musical act that has ever achieved fame is guilty of selling out. I mean, they want people to buy their music right?

Name me an artist worth a shit that didn't sell out?

Uptight fans get all pissy whenever Prince makes nods/concessions to mainstream trends or styles, but whenever has he NOT done that? Shit, he traded in his natural fro for Farrah's hair nearly right off the bat.

Quick faking the funk you phoney fans...

Purplethunder: That 1998 hairstyle you are posting is called pony locks. A style traditionally worn by exclusively by chicks. Prince was quite likely the only brother rockin' that look. Cool it may not have been in your eyes, but it was hardly selling out.

[Edited 2/26/13 18:43pm]

[Edited 2/26/13 18:44pm]

I'm only joking... I do question his judgement in working with Clive Davis, though...

The Versace Experience.

But skywalker is right. No one is perfect, but you'd have to go a long way to find an artist with as much artistic integrity as Prince.

Well, that is if you consider going to "Bruce Springsteen" a long way.

RodeoSchro said:

The Versace Experience.

But skywalker is right. No one is perfect, but you'd have to go a long way to find an artist with as much artistic integrity as Prince.

Well, that is if you consider going to "Bruce Springsteen" a long way.

Whatever. Bruce is just as much of a sell out as anyone else. He just is a master at promoting his "common man" image. I still got my Jerry Macguire soundtrack and a "Secret Garden" to prove it. Unless somehow Cameron Crowe is "more legit" than Tim Burton or Spike Lee.

skywalker said:

In general, Prince is one of THE most artistic integrity centered pop artists of all time. Every musical act that has ever achieved fame is guilty of selling out. I mean, they want people to buy their music right?

Name me an artist worth a shit that didn't sell out?

Uptight fans get all pissy whenever Prince makes nods/concessions to mainstream trends or styles, but whenever has he NOT done that? Shit, he traded in his natural fro for Farrah's hair nearly right off the bat.

Quick faking the funk you phoney fans...

Purplethunder: That 1998 hairstyle you are posting is called pony locks. A style traditionally worn by exclusively by chicks. Prince was quite likely the only brother rockin' that look. Cool it may not have been in your eyes, but it was hardly selling out.

[Edited 2/26/13 18:43pm]

[Edited 2/26/13 18:44pm]

Right on...or should I say Black on! And, Amen! And what's really ironic, hypocritical, or just ignorant is that many of the people on this site who cite Dirty Mind as the Prince essential and the most "authentic" moment in Prince's career don't realize that much of his original audience saw that as a "sell out" move. Thus, the term "sell out" is in the eye of the beholder, and the one who uses the term usually exists on a slippery slope leading to hypocrisy.

rdhull said:

rdhull said:

Wrong.

He sold out with 1999 and Purple rain.

He consciously changed his presentation and music for the most part to a more pop sound to gain wider acceptance.

Yes, he was one of the few who could do that while keeping his vision intact, but he did sell out.

He also sold back IN later but thats another story.

1999 and Purple Rain were 'commercial' successes, but they are anything but 'sell-outs'. Those are some 'out-there' records, not one thing commercial about them other than their success. Great music will always find an audience. Show me ANY kind of 'pop' music circa 1983-84 as out there and original as 'When Doves Cry or Darlin Nikki.

herb4 said:

The Batman soundtrack would like a word. I don't hold it against him for doing it but the whole project reeked of a cash grab, then as well as now.

rdhull said:

Wrong.

He sold out with 1999 and Purple rain.

He consciously changed his presentation and music for the most part to a more pop sound to gain wider acceptance.

Yes, he was one of the few who could do that while keeping his vision intact, but he did sell out.

He also sold back IN later but thats another story.

This is bullshit of the highest order. He was, what, like 20, 25 years old and living in a basement? Those albums are visionary, largely independent and coming from a totally artistic place. At that time, Prince was turning down record contracts if they wouldn't let him produce, write, etc. If that's "selling out" we should all be so fortunate.

What, in your mind, did he "change" to be more "pop", because those records sound like the logical extension and musical progression of someone who's ALWAYS been all over the map in terms of style, unfluences and sound. I'd hardly call the raciness and explicit sexuality of songs like D.M.S.R., Darling Nikki or Let's Pretend We're Married (or even Little Red Corvette for that matter) an intentional cash grab or a stab at commercial viability/increased radio play.

[Edited 2/26/13 13:35pm]

[Edited 2/26/13 13:37pm]

Prince has lived in a house of his own from the start of his career.

“I`d love to sell out completely. It`s just that nobody has been willing to buy.”
― John Waters

SuperSoulFighter said:

BobGeorge909 said:

rdhull said:

Come on herb..dont make me have to explain it in detail. Cant you just take my word for it? You know me, I know you, we been around a while.

I don't see widening your audience as selling....its widening your audience. Selling out I see as the huge Pepsi logo on your tour...Revlon make-up deal. Active promotion of a commercial while having a supposed "preference" for it. Prince doesn't actively promote anything but himself or his side projects....and god from time to time.

That being the case, the introduction Tony M (as loved as he is) is simply an attempt to widen Prince's audience as well. As is working with other artists on Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic. And ya know what? I don't consider those "selling out" either.

Honestly the closest he came to selling out was Batman. That said, it wasn't like MJ peddling Pepsi.

It seemed as if Prince DID love the Batman thing. Dressing up like half Batman/Joker, performing under a giant Batman logo, etc. He didn't have to do these things, it was just a superhero angle to his already existing thing. Furthermore, he still plays Batman songs to this day. Partyman, Scandalous, are Prince concert mainstays.

[Edited 2/27/13 7:40am]

He has sold out on many songs....Laydown, Ol Skool Company, Valentina, Mr. Goodnight, Incense and Candles, Illusion, Coma, Pimp, and Circumstance.....

skywalker said:

In general, Prince is one of THE most artistic integrity centered pop artists of all time. Every musical act that has ever achieved fame is guilty of selling out. I mean, they want people to buy their music right?

Name me an artist worth a shit that didn't sell out?

Uptight fans get all pissy whenever Prince makes nods/concessions to mainstream trends or styles, but whenever has he NOT done that? Shit, he traded in his natural fro for Farrah's hair nearly right off the bat.

Quick faking the funk you phoney fans...

Purplethunder: That 1998 hairstyle you are posting is called pony locks. A style traditionally worn by exclusively by chicks. Prince was quite likely the only brother rockin' that look. Cool it may not have been in your eyes, but it was hardly selling out.

[Edited 2/26/13 18:43pm]

[Edited 2/26/13 18:44pm]

Yeah, but that was then and this is now. This is the shit hop era and shit hop is THE most ridiculous, dull, low class gutter trash, nontalented, thugged out, ignorant, and downright boring bunch of "nothing" genre in the history of recorded music. Real musicians should try to beat that bullshit rather than join it.

I don't understand why you keep talking about "ship hop" when that era of midtempo hiphop dominating contemporary popular music is clearly over. I just get the impression that you haven't really paid attention to what is popular now, which of course, is not something I can blame you for lacking the motivation for.

skywalker said:

BobGeorge909 said:

rdhull said: I don't see widening your audience as selling....its widening your audience. Selling out I see as the huge Pepsi logo on your tour...Revlon make-up deal. Active promotion of a commercial while having a supposed "preference" for it. Prince doesn't actively promote anything but himself or his side projects....and god from time to time.

That being the case, the introduction Tony M (as loved as he is) is simply an attempt to widen Prince's audience as well. As is working with other artists on Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic. And ya know what? I don't consider those "selling out" either.

Honestly the closest he came to selling out was Batman. Honestly though, it wasn't like MJ peddling Pepsi.

It seemed as if Prince DID love the Batman thing. Dressing up like half Batman/Joker, performing under a giant Batman logo, etc. He didn't have to do these things, it was just a superhero angle to his already existing thing. Furthermore, he still plays Batman songs to this day. Partyman, Scandalous, are Prince concert mainstays.

Good points about the Batman project.

Sometimes I've wondered why did he really do it, but it seemed like he was really into it himself and wanted to add his own vision what type of soundscapes should go with it.

I don't dislike the movie and I don't dislike the record, for that matter. It was just a bit odd for him to go from Lovesexy to that.