The man is just not hungry anymore. He is resting on his laurels. He doesn't have quality control the way most artist do. They hire producers to weed out the bad music and/or writing and steer the music into a zone that sparks interest by making it good.

At some point he will realize that time is real and see that he might not have much more of it left in this world and pay more attention to the quality of what he puts out so he can be remembered well. A lot of older musicians are releasing some of the best music of their careers because they have been slapped by the hand of mortality. The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and lately Black Sabbath. All of them have realized that they won't live forever and are trying to rectify their legacy. I can only hope that Prince realizes this before he actually has to leave this earth.

You know you can listen to more than one artist at a time, right? Prince isn't the end-all-be-all of music. Who cares if his new stuff, blows? Find something new to listen to.

when was the last time Paul McCartney had a song on the radio that you remember?

it happens to all artists

Bob Dylan seems like the only one who is able to put out decent stuff time after time

Even with his last breath, he will have done and been more than most. Keep doing what you're doing Prince! I love your music past & present. I'm glad I chose you as my all-time favorite artist because you still give me the chills, thrills, and excitement that no other singer, entertainer, performer ever has and I thank you for that.

TO those of you who find Prince "boring" - move on. Stop wasting time.

edit - double post.

[Edited 6/16/13 19:04pm]

Shockedelicus said:

You know you can listen to more than one artist at a time, right? Prince isn't the end-all-be-all of music. Who cares if his new stuff, blows? Find something new to listen to.

^ You are right: Lately I have been listening to Pink Floyd "A foot in the door" and their "Pulse, live 1995". As well as Genesis "Three Sides Live 1981".

Great music. Also by socalled real musicians.

3rdeyedude said:

Genesia said:

Again with this shit?

To throw shade is what's "in."

thedance said:

Isn't it a paradox, Prince is definately a real musician, like he says whan playing live in concerts..: "Real music by real musicians".. yes.. U can hear he is, live in concerts. Prince is truly gifted, no doubt. One of the greatest - ever.


HOWEVER on records he is after all one of the most boring "real musicians" these years:

Just to name a recent album: "Planet Earth". Or "20Ten" or "3121".



This is quite another artist than the guy who created "1999". Or "Purple Rain" or "Parade". Or "Lovesexy".


Why follow a "real musician" like Prince is, today... when.. the end result on his albums isn't that "vital" like it used to be..?



Most of the time today U can't hear (in his recorded music) that he really is that skilled.


I understand why young people today, thinks Prince is irrelevant. You can't really hear his greatness anymore.


Truly a paradox to me, one of the greatest musicians making "tame" music..: I need to have my idol back, making wonderful music on the edge again. Instead of that kind of "tame" music (most of it, not all).


Am I too critical, am I expecting too much from a "real musician" - his purple majesty.. = Prince ?

I don't understand your point: this is just a new angle for posting the "Prince is finished" thread of the week.

We've had one like this last week, and the week before that, and the week before that, and so on for years... THIS is boring.

So what are you trying to say if you ain't got nothing new to say?

Peace.

metallicjigolo said:

thedance said:

Isn't it a paradox, Prince is definately a real musician, like he says whan playing live in concerts..: "Real music by real musicians".. yes.. U can hear he is, live in concerts. Prince is truly gifted, no doubt. One of the greatest - ever.


HOWEVER on records he is after all one of the most boring "real musicians" these years:

Just to name a recent album: "Planet Earth". Or "20Ten" or "3121".



This is quite another artist than the guy who created "1999". Or "Purple Rain" or "Parade". Or "Lovesexy".


Why follow a "real musician" like Prince is, today... when.. the end result on his albums isn't that "vital" like it used to be..?



Most of the time today U can't hear (in his recorded music) that he really is that skilled.


I understand why young people today, thinks Prince is irrelevant. You can't really hear his greatness anymore.


Truly a paradox to me, one of the greatest musicians making "tame" music..: I need to have my idol b ack, making wonderful music on the edge again. Instead of that kind of "tame" music (most of it, not all).


Am I too critical, am I expecting too much from a "real musician" - his purple majesty.. = Prince ?

I'll answer your question, but you first...

That's the eternal problem to "The Dance"'s threads he won't answer his own questions but we're all supposed to. He's not going to give up on Prince but some of us should by his reasoning.

databank said:

thedance said:

Isn't it a paradox, Prince is definately a real musician, like he says whan playing live in concerts..: "Real music by real musicians".. yes.. U can hear he is, live in concerts. Prince is truly gifted, no doubt. One of the greatest - ever.


HOWEVER on records he is after all one of the most boring "real musicians" these years:

Just to name a recent album: "Planet Earth". Or "20Ten" or "3121".



This is quite another artist than the guy who created "1999". Or "Purple Rain" or "Parade". Or "Lovesexy".


Why follow a "real musician" like Prince is, today... when.. the end result on his albums isn't that "vital" like it used to be..?



Most of the time today U can't hear (in his recorded music) that he really is that skilled.


I understand why young people today, thinks Prince is irrelevant. You can't really hear his greatness anymore.


Truly a paradox to me, one of the greatest musicians making "tame" music..: I need to have my idol back, making wonderful music on the edge again. Instead of that kind of "tame" music (most of it, not all).


Am I too critical, am I expecting too much from a "real musician" - his purple majesty.. = Prince ?

I don't understand your point: this is just a new angle for posting the "Prince is finished" thread of the week.

We've had one like this last week, and the week before that, and the week before that, and so on for years... THIS is boring.

So what are you trying to say if you ain't got nothing new to say?

Peace.

I'll add that I don't buy this "real music/real musician" bullshit. If you go that way Prince ain't a "real" musician because he can't read music: this is ridiculous to categorize musicians like that. Electronic music is as "real" as traditionnal instruments. Purely electronic music has been the last major esthetic revolution in music in the 90's. Aphex Twin's Windowlicker had more to add to music history than any jazz album from 1999. Björk is more brilliant composing on a bloody iPad than most rock bands will ever be playing live music. This is really something Prince should know of all people, being involved in the music creation process as he is. The level of involvement and the skills at what he does is what defines an artist. "What he does" can be composing on a computer: if the results are there, if the music is well-thought, well-crafted and has a rich emotional and/or intellectual content it's more "real" than any elevator music played by a full music band at a wedding

Bighead said:

The man is just not hungry anymore. He is resting on his laurels. He doesn't have quality control the way most artist do. They hire producers to weed out the bad music and/or writing and steer the music into a zone that sparks interest by making it good.

At some point he will realize that time is real and see that he might not have much more of it left in this world and pay more attention to the quality of what he puts out so he can be remembered well. A lot of older musicians are releasing some of the best music of their careers because they have been slapped by the hand of mortality. The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and lately Black Sabbath. All of them have realized that they won't live forever and are trying to rectify their legacy. I can only hope that Prince realizes this before he actually has to leave this earth.

I agree.The "hunger" isn't there anymore.I guess that's to be expected,when an artist has done as much as Prince has and has been around that long.Still,it would be nice to get at least one more truly inspired album from Prince.

3rdeyedude said:

databank said:

I don't understand your point: this is just a new angle for posting the "Prince is finished" thread of the week.

We've had one like this last week, and the week before that, and the week before that, and so on for years... THIS is boring.

So what are you trying to say if you ain't got nothing new to say?

Peace.

^ Ok let me answer you... what I am trying to say is:

I find it a bit strange a skilled "real musician" like Prince can't come up with music that sounds like it's from a skilled musician.

His recent stuff sounds so "ordinaire", and also look around. It's the "non musicians" who are sucessful today in the media. Imo that is really a shame. I wish Prince the best, he is a living legend, but "some of us" have to say something about the lack of quality - in his studio music.

I can only speak what I hear. Maybe I am hoping for a change, that he is taking more risks again, instead of "playing safe". I truly miss the famous "Prince sound" in his music.

I just wish Prince would start to create good music and have some succes again, yeah I guess I am a bit frustrated as a fan. And I have been frustrated for quite some time now, that's true (like you say).

Maybe Prince himself is reading this thread, maybe -most likely- he is not reading. I just hope for a real change. I want Prince to create interesting music, I want him to be more daring.. and to be succesful.

As I see it, he is in a shadow now. I could mention a lot of thing that maybe would bring him back in the spotlight (tour dvd's, remastered backcatalogue, opening his vaults etc).

It's like Prince is his own "worst enemy".

It all could be really great, but it isn't. I still have a minor hope for this year 2013, to be big.. I still hope Prince has saved some great songs for an upcoming album. Let's see. And cross our fingers.. once again. (a rather long mesage, sorry about that).

[Edited 6/17/13 2:06am]

thedance said:

databank said:

I don't understand your point: this is just a new angle for posting the "Prince is finished" thread of the week.

We've had one like this last week, and the week before that, and the week before that, and so on for years... THIS is boring.

So what are you trying to say if you ain't got nothing new to say?

Peace.

^ Ok let me answer you... what I am trying to say is:

I find it a bit strange a skilled "real musician" like Prince can't come up with music that sounds like it's from a skilled musician.

His recent stuff sounds so "ordinaire", and also look around. It's the "non musicians" who are sucessful today in the media. Imo that is really a shame. I wish Prince the best, he is a living legend, but "some of us" have to say something about the lack of quality - in his studio music.

I can only speak what I hear. Maybe I am hoping for a change, that he is taking more risks again, instead of "playing safe". I truly miss the famous "Prince sound" in his music.

I just wish Prince would start to create good music and have some succes again, yeah I guess I am a bit frustrated as a fan. And I have been frustrated for quite some time now, that's true (like you say).

Maybe Prince himself is reading this thread, maybe -most likely- he is not reading. I just hope for a real change. I want Prince to create interesting music, I want him to be more daring.. and to be succesful.

As I see it, he is in a shadow now. I could mention a lot of thing that maybe would bring him back in the spotlight (tour dvd's, remastered backcatalogue, opening his vaults etc).

It's like Prince is his own "worst enemy".

It all could be really great, but it isn't. I still have a minor hope for this year 2013, to be big.. I still hope Prince has saved some great songs for an upcoming album. Let's see. And cross our fingers.. once again. (a rather long mesage, sorry about that).

[Edited 6/17/13 2:06am]

Well, that's your opinion and I respect it, but it's only an opinion. I for one totally enjoyed Prince's new music in the last few years. I find Ain't Gonna Miss U when U're Gone as enjoyable as any Prince song from 1987 and Screwdriver as enjoyable as Peach in 93, I was totally in love with the Lotusflow3r trilogy, I love Andy's album, I loved most of the songs on 3121 and even if Planet Earth and 20ten are a bit weaker IMHO, I still enjoy most of the songs.

Of course I don't expect Prince to be avant-garde again. Very few people have managed to be avant-garde past their prime years. Bowie maybe from 1993-1997 but he then came back to a more traditionnal sound and I'm OK with that. Clinton was also quite impressive in the 80's despite his golden age being the previous decade, but then he started to do the same thing over and over again in the 90's and beyond and I'm OK with that too. The guys from YMO (Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Honoso and Yukihiro Takahashi) managed to be avant-garde until now but they are quite a unique exception. Even Bill Laswell is kinda repeating himself by now. The thing is that artists (writers, musicians, filmmakers, painters, whatever) tend to actually "tell the same story" all the life over and over again, with a few variations. When they are young the variations are bigger and they are also more relevant in the historical context. Afterwards they keep exploring the same path again and again and I'm fine with it. Being an artist myself I understand how one will try to find their own style and then try to explore it in any possible way.

Some will say "listen to such or such new song, it's crap!". Yeah maybe a few aren't so good. I despise "Fury" and I'm not so much into "Rich Friends". But if you go that way then "You're My Love", "With This Tear" and "Dance Un2 The Rythm" were not wonderful either, it's just that now Prince doesn't give the weakest songs to others so he ends-up singing some of them lol

I think all the people who claim Prince is not what he used to be are just like the people who say "the world was a better place when I was young". No, it wasn't, they just got old and bored and disillusioned. Prince is as good an artist as he ever was, he's just not anymore someone who makes the music of his time and this is what people can't accept. They have to, though.

Plus, I'll add that whenever Prince tried to do something ore daring he was shot down by his fans community. Look at N.E.W.S. or The War: how many fans liked these records? Most call them elevator music when they are actually among Prince's more audacious bodies of work. Same with Kamasutra: sure it's corny and clumsy as hell but no one ever noticed the fact that at least, this one time Prince had tried to do something different. He failed but the intention can at least be respected.

Everything that was in Prince's music, that made me love it when I was young, in his "classic" era, I still find in his music: the sophisticated arrangements, the deadly funk grooves I ever heard, the sexiness, the audacity of it... It's still there, in almost every note he plays.

So in the end who's right? You or me? Neither: it's only a question of points of view... It's just that I don't see the point of these weekly "Prince is over and done" threads. Prince won't change his music because of some unsatisfied fans even if he reads them. The guy knows where he stands and what he wants to do. So it's just boring, just as much by the way as the less common but quite regular "Prince is the most talented musician of all times" threads. What y'all guys need is a sense of perspective. Prince is neither over and done nor is he the greatest musical genius of all times. He's just a musician doing what he does. U like it, fine. U don't like it, there are billions of other records to listen to

thedance, I think there's a more positive way of seeing this issue, even from your point of view. You state that Prince's golden age is 1978-1995, that is, his Warner years. But you also say that you like some of his recent music, though not as much as the old records.

So: how many artists do you know that have published an impressive body of work during almost 20 years and then continue recording interesting music, though not as brilliant as before? Prince's case is almost unique. After the huge amount of excellent music that he has published (and not published), I think we should be amazed when listening to just one more brilliant or even just very good song by him. We cannot pretend a career to retain the heights of Prince's during the 80's to last for 50 years! The fact that a guy that has released such awesome music continues writing at least interesting music is almost unbelievable.

Do you like The Rainbow Children? Or Lotus Flow3r? Or Andy Allo's Superconductor? I think you've said in some threads that you like some of his recent music, though not as much as before. If that's the case, I think that's enough to ask of Prince! We cannot wait for another Purple Rain!

The point is that people like TheDance and me believe that somewhere deep inside Prince has still some interesting new music hidden. But, like others said, I feel he is resting on his laurels and is not willing to do "The Work" anymore.

While some still enjoy his current output, most of the fans here don't (at least not as much anymore). And there is a good reason for that, most new tracks are just sketches and not completed songs. And the production is often very boring/dated. So the results are often not very interesting.

I am still here because I enjoy this website, and love his eighties/early nineties output, and because I still have the hope that one day Prince will come with a really good new album or song. So don't tell me to leave or to shut up, cuz I (and others here) have just as much rights as others to comment on current Prince and his new music.

It also has to do with expectations. Prince has lured me in with his Minneapolis Funk, tracks like Lady Cab Driver, Controversy and When Doves Cry, and all the The Time albums. He doesn't make anything like that anymore, bare a few exceptions (I liked a few tracks on 20Ten, at least there was some funk on there, although not very edgy I still found it enjoyable)...

I am basically just craving for Prince to make some nasty funk again! So yeah, I am also a tad bit frustrated, hehe!

funkaholic1972 said:

The point is that people like TheDance and me believe that somewhere deep inside Prince has still some interesting new music hidden. But, like others said, I feel he is resting on his laurels and is not willing to do "The Work" anymore.

While some still enjoy his current output, most of the fans here don't (at least not as much anymore). And there is a good reason for that, most new tracks are just sketches and not completed songs. And the production is often very boring/dated. So the results are often not very interesting.

I am still here because I enjoy this website, and love his eighties/early nineties output, and because I still have the hope that one day Prince will come with a really good new album or song. So don't tell me to leave or to shut up, cuz I (and others here) have just as much rights as others to comment on current Prince and his new music.

no one is telling you to leave or to shut up. Alot of us are simply tired of the constant whining of fans who want the good old days back. You have every bit a right to be here, that's true, but if you really dislike it so much, there are plenty of other artists you can follow. Prince is not and never has been the be end all end of music.

Prince will never match his peak again. It will never happen, simple as that. And besides no one is expecting The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Paul Mccartney, Fleetwood Mac or any other artists/band to seriously create a new album that is comparable to their best albums. It just doesn't happen.

Sucks is a bit harsh. There are songs on Musicology/3121/PE/Lotus/MPLS/20Ten/downloads that rival his 80s works (although I do think Planet Earth was the low point of his "comeback" years, especially after the SuperBowl performance).

.

Prince doesn't have "hits" anymore. One, because he just doesn't write 'em that way anymore, plain and simple. Two, people are not clamoring for NEW PRINCE. Most people couldn't name one song off of his last 5 albums. Three, the entire music system has changed and he's a dinosaur in it.

.

The fact that he's still recording at all, and still in the magazines and papers is astonishing.

.

Madonna is not in the foreground of music, and she was more popular than Prince in the 80s and 90s. George Michael is not relevant at the moment, and had as many hits as Prince. MJ (RIP), was largely ignored (musically) in the 2000s. Why do we hold Prince to a higher standard?

.

I loved Madonna in the 80s and 90s. I could not name one song off her latest albums. Same with GM and MJ. They're just not the same hitmakers as they once were, and neither is Prince.

I thank fuck he left a pile of great music for us to listen to. That's really his ownly saving grace these days. That and things like bootlegs leaking, little trinkets like Chocolate Box and the Parade demos leaking in Ex quality the other year bring it home how far artistically he's fallen. It's got to the point i expect only one killer song on an album. 20Ten lacked even that. I now only pop on here to see what's up occasionally. If that means i don't sound like much of a fan, well so be it.

.

He's not as good as he thinks he is, especially now. There's far too many stories of him being an arsehole to people for me to care too much. I do not like people like that. He's so far up his own arse it's incredible. At this point i don't care about his fortunes. I couldn't care less if he has an upturn in his writing and recording. To be fair i've liked about half this 3rd Eye stuff, but half to me means he's happy to just be there meandering along, treading water and being all average.

.

Shit happens, artists get old, lose their creativity, inspiration and fire. Despite what he proclaims, it happened to him too. I think he's for the most part, gone.

Meh edit.

[Edited 6/17/13 5:44am]

why compare 199 lovesexy to planet earth 20ten ...they r different musical enTITies...why would u want the same

I like R&RLA, Screwdriver and Ain't Gonna Miss U as much as I like certain stuff from the 80s. I really like the "singles" aspect of his latest releases, almost hoping he wouldn't release albums anymore. Let the songs live on their own.

.

I remember when Te Amo Corazon came out and people bashed it left and right. Obviously it was a bad fit for the 3121 album, but on its own it's quite nice.

funkaholic1972 said:

The point is that people like TheDance and me believe that somewhere deep inside Prince has still some interesting new music hidden. But, like others said, I feel he is resting on his laurels and is not willing to do "The Work" anymore.

While some still enjoy his current output, most of the fans here don't (at least not as much anymore). And there is a good reason for that, most new tracks are just sketches and not completed songs. And the production is often very boring/dated. So the results are often not very interesting.

I am still here because I enjoy this website, and love his eighties/early nineties output, and because I still have the hope that one day Prince will come with a really good new album or song. So don't tell me to leave or to shut up, cuz I (and others here) have just as much rights as others to comment on current Prince and his new music.

Nobody is telling to you to shut up or leave the site. The Dance starts these threads asking us to answer "why we still follow?" and telling us "we have to agree" with his viewpoint. Yet he can't bring to pull himself away from Prince but spends time trying to convince others to give up their enjoyment. We got into this same discussion on another thread and I told you that y'all would be here in years having this same discussion because you're not going anywhere and here we are two weeks later. Hold onto your hope, that is your right but why create a weekly thread questioning others hope and telling them it's a waste of time.

MIRvmn said:

Prince puts no effort into his songs anymore like he use 2 thats why we end up with boring albums with only 3-4 decent songs on each of them. Lotusflow3r is an exception and I was very surprised that he was able 2 release such a good album, it means hes able 2 do it if he really wants 2.

He never did: most of the so-called hits were recorded overnight

Well, I tried the opposite. On Gunsnhalen's advice, I listened to what he said was the best track on "Yeezus" - an album whose songs were all rated on a scale of 1 - 5 by GnH, and no song was given less than a 4. Now, I disagree with GnH on many musical subjects, but I absolutely respect his knowledge of, and dedication to, music. He's a thinker.

He rated "Blood on the Leaves" as the best song on the album. He absolutely gushed over how great it is. And, of course, Kanye himself has described everything he does as awesome, so I figured: Listen to "Blood on the Leaves". If this truly is the best of the best, let's see how it stacks up to Prince.

Z.O.M.G.

That song sucked so bad there are not words fit for a family audience to use to describe it. I made it through exactly two minutes of it.

It's nothing but autotune! How in the Sam Hill can anyone think vocals that sound like they were recorded underwater are listenable, much less good?!?

Nothing about that song, or at least its first two minutes, was remotely good or...good. I mean, NOTHING. The "music" sounds like it was recorded on a 1992 Casio keyboard. The lyrics...well, I've forgotten them all so that should tell you something.

Therefore, if "Blood on the Leaves" is the pinnacle of modern-day music, then Prince could release the sound of him belching after a heavy meal of beans and it would still be better than anything Kanye West "creates".

.

[Edited 6/17/13 8:47am]

databank said:

thedance said:

Isn't it a paradox, Prince is definately a real musician, like he says whan playing live in concerts..: "Real music by real musicians".. yes.. U can hear he is, live in concerts. Prince is truly gifted, no doubt. One of the greatest - ever.


HOWEVER on records he is after all one of the most boring "real musicians" these years:

Just to name a recent album: "Planet Earth". Or "20Ten" or "3121".



This is quite another artist than the guy who created "1999". Or "Purple Rain" or "Parade". Or "Lovesexy".


Why follow a "real musician" like Prince is, today... when.. the end result on his albums isn't that "vital" like it used to be..?



Most of the time today U can't hear (in his recorded music) that he really is that skilled.


I understand why young people today, thinks Prince is irrelevant. You can't really hear his greatness anymore.


Truly a paradox to me, one of the greatest musicians making "tame" music..: I need to have my idol back, making wonderful music on the edge again. Instead of that kind of "tame" music (most of it, not all).


Am I too critical, am I expecting too much from a "real musician" - his purple majesty.. = Prince ?

I don't understand your point: this is just a new angle for posting the "Prince is finished" thread of the week.

We've had one like this last week, and the week before that, and the week before that, and so on for years... THIS is boring.

So what are you trying to say if you ain't got nothing new to say?

Peace.

that was eaxctly what i was gonna say. i enjoyed the latest albums from prince. the only thing boring around here is fans who don't know when to pack it in and leave

RodeoSchro said:

Well, I tried the opposite. On Gunsnhalen's advice, I listened to what he said was the best track on "Yeezus" - an album whose songs were all rated on a scale of 1 - 5 by GnH, and no song was given less than a 4. Now, I disagree with GnH on many musical subjects, but I absolutely respect his knowledge of, and dedication to, music. He's a thinker.

He rated "Blood on the Leaves" as the best song on the album. He absolutely gushed over how great it is. And, of course, Kanye himself has described everything he does as awesome, so I figured: Listen to "Blood on the Leaves". If this truly is the best of the best, let's see how it stacks up to Prince.

Z.O.M.G.

That song sucked so bad there are not words fit for a family audience to use to describe it. I made it through exactly two minutes of it.

It's nothing but autotune! How in the Sam Hill can anyone think vocals that sound like they were recorded underwater are listenable, much less good?!?

Nothing about that song, or at least its first two minutes, was remotely good or...good. I mean, NOTHING. The "music" sounds like it was recorded on a 1992 Casio keyboard. The lyrics...well, I've forgotten them all so that should tell you something.

Therefore, if "Blood on the Leaves" is the pinnacle of modern-day music, then Prince could release the sound of him belching after a heavy meal of beans and it would still be better than anything Kanye West "creates".

.

[Edited 6/17/13 8:47am]

damn. don't be shy now, tell us what you really thought