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Prince as still got it, as long as 'it' doesn't include songwriting Prince shows... Still great, Prince tv performances, still like no-one else and princes performance in the hands of Janelle Monae all point to the one thing, he's an amazing performer but he can't write songs anymore. I don't come in to this forum very often but often enough to know there's two teams, old prince vs. New prince/olds prince combined but to me his performance on the new Janelle Monae record proves he can still sing like a dirty fucker but when I hear his own new stuff, it sounds like the obvious rhymes of a 13 year old. Many will disagree, but it is undeniable that Prince's place in the modern lexicon is all based on his 80s to early 90s... pre JH. He can't write the words that inspire the music that inspire the production that made him great, but once you take his inability to write lyrics out of the equation, he shines. The only logical conclusion is that his religion has stifled his creativity. The juxtaposition between his sexuality and spirituality was the source and removing one of those things has resulted in simplistic songs that don't inspire the musical follow-through. The thing about his abilities to still bring it, as long as he hasn't written it, tell me that if he went back to finding his own conversation with his spirituality that he could still bring it on his own. I was at a Sydney show last year when his guitar wasn't working. Not sound bad, not playing bad, plain old the guitar wasn't making any sound. So what did Prince do when it cam to the guitar solo, he pretty much fucked the piano. When caught out, he resorts to his own ways. It's still there that juxtaposition, he just needs to drop the 'organised' aspect of his religion and make the album that's been building up inside... I assume  may display symptoms of sarcasm | |
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Great title for a thread! That's exactly how I feel. I loved the 2010-11 Prince shows because they weren't tied to a particular album so he could dig up some great unheared-before stuff from his back catalogue (Uptown, Girl, Mutiny...) which he knows diehard fans want to hear. The guy has so much experience as a live performer that he can do anything onstage, lead a big band, play rock guitar, even have a sampler set and it wil rock...
However, when it comes to writing, he seems to go round in circles. For the very same reason: he's done it all before. And he seems to be okay with going over the same "ooh I'm so cool, I'm so sexy" themes over and over again.But for those of us who've heared it all before, that becomes boring. Is it because of religion? Or because of his superstar lifestyle? Or because he's so used to getting his way that the people around him just say;"yessir, what would you like?" I cannot answer that. All I can say that it has been awhile since Prince really had something to say in his music. And it's NOT because he's growing older because talent never leaves you as long as you live! So I still have hope that Prince can come up with something as good as Solomon Burke's Don't Give Up on Me or Bob Dylan's Tempest. (They were in their 60s/70s, so age has nothing to do with it.) But it's getting harder & harder to believe that. [Edited 9/25/13 10:43am] [Edited 9/25/13 10:53am] | |
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agree totally !
I mean the lyrics today are nothin like they used to be ...
but i do think that has to do with age ...
many people just think "he doesnt need it anymore" ... or he isnt hungry ...
Colonel Angus may be smelly. colonel angus may be a little rough . but deep down ... Colonel angus is very sweet. | |
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"Family Name", "Last Decemeber", "She Loves Me 4 Me", and "Mellow" are the last songs where Prince's songwriting was creative and interesting. Especially a topical song like "Family Name". I liked that Prince didn't mince any words about the appropriation of Black people's surnames and the negative affects of slavery. And these songs were recorded during his conversion to the JW faith. I just think he is trying to serve too many fan constituents. The best thing Prince could do is write for himself. Damn what hardcore fans think or what casual fans think. 3121 #1 THIS YEAR | |
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I don't blame people turning to religion but it is there as a form of control and in this case it quite clear to see it stifled the creativity in Prince's writing. To truly write a 'classic' one has to write from the heart and not be afraid of offending anyone. He complained about Warners controlling him yet lives his values based on a book albeit the Bible, but written words. Time to think for yourself again Prince!! [Edited 9/25/13 13:22pm] | |
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I really feel that all great, prolific songwriters have a good 10 years where the creative juices just flow but after that it becomes much harder and the great songs are few and far between. (Lennon/McCartney in the 60's, Stevie Wonder in the 70's, Sting with the Police etc..) Prince's 10 year window passed over 20 years ago and as you know the great songs from him ( if there are any even considered great) have been few and far between. I think he is still capable of writing great songs but it will take more outside help to chip away at all the junk he writes to find them. The problem is that he does not seem to want any outside help | |
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What a bunch of B.S. I think some of you would be happy is P was some washed up coke head who is d kicking out great songs (in your opinion) instead of finding inner peace. Religion is not about being controled it is about being able to control anything that life throws at you because you know in your heart a higher power is running things.
That being said I seriously doubt we have heard all of P's material and the things he has been putting out are radio friendly and pleasing to the ear. In the end a good pop only needs a good hook and P has not been short of them lately.
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Organised religion and a higher power are not the same thing. My point is that there is something holding him back. There's clearly still a spark in him, it just isn't coming through in his lyrics and music. I think if he opened to the idea of working with a producer, the result might surprise everyone, or it might not. Who knows really? He often states that he enjoys working with young people, but in practice, he just has young people working for him, not with him and their main job seems to be agree with Prince. Maybe he's not got the creativity of earlier days but where's the quality control? Who's there saying, 'umm, Prince, "There's no time for sleeping 'cause the night is so young. It's time for you and me to have a little fun" sounds like a kid wrote it, maybe you should work on it more' He's always had his simple playful songs but they held a place in a spectrum that also included Joy In Repetition and Purple Rain. may display symptoms of sarcasm | |
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You are wrong.
Listen to "The Breakdown". |
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moderatorTotally agree. That said, I really enjoyed Groovy Potential and Breakfast Can Wait. Everything else, especially the stuff that's been released post-20ten, has felt more slack than even the most forgettable stuff from that album. I've seen the future, and boy it's rough... | |
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yeah, Better with Time, Here, Colonized Mind, Sea of Everything (yeah i said it, I love that song), etc. are SO the work of a 13 year old. go cut ur ears off OP'er! | |
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Did Prince write "Jughead"?
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That was the songwriting career low for him. Anything from the last decade is FAR better than that song. So,dizzzidecazz, your argument/theory/argument doesn't hold very much water. "New Power slide...." |
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not released yet. [Edited 9/25/13 20:53pm] Prince 4Ever.  | |
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Prince's live act is nowhere near what he was at his peak. Not even close. Anyone who says otherwise is delusional. He is still an amazingly skilled musician when he feels like it, but don't expect him to show you that for the entire show. Gone are the nipple flashing girls, the cool outfits, the playful smiles, the dirty ditties. It's all gone. He can't dance much or do any of the acrobatic things that were staples during the 80's and 90's. I can't blame him for aging though.
I can blame him for being uptight and stoic. His front-man game is awful for the 3rdeyegirl concept. Watch the She's Always In My Hair clip he uploaded on Youtube for proof. He's acting like he's playing a Tom Joyner cruise instead of leading a modern era rock band, lol. "There are no computers on this stagaaagge" I want to say "mutherfka, computers are COOOOL. This is the tech generation. Audiences today expect computers to be integrated into everything, including music and bragging you don't have/need one is really more of a turn off (as is bragging, btw).
I think Prince has not grown with the modern world, his instincts are off, it shows in his music, so imo, he no longer has it. | |
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Militant said: You are wrong.
Listen to "The Breakdown". So much hope for another simple conventionally written ballad...Prince fans still got it? Don't think so! | |
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Militant said: You are wrong.
Listen to "The Breakdown". I like that one too, but...it's only one! As we say in Holland, one swallow doesn't make a summer. [Edited 9/26/13 1:14am] | |
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We do whatnow? Speak for yourself mate! | |
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I'm sure that if you took the recent 'Girlfriend', made it a bit more Lo-fi, and stuck it somewhere on the 'Sign Of The Times' album; then gave that album to a new Prince fan that wasn't familiar with it, I bet you that that song would end up among that person's 5 favorite songs of that album.
It's got: a) multi-layered vocals; b) borderline dissonant harmonies in the singing; c) brass flourishes; d) funky bass; e) tacky keyboards; f) 'it'. Add to this that it is way tighter than anything of that time.
Some people here got so deep into the same old groove of thinking that they fear the world outside of it.
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purple1968 said:
What a bunch of B.S. I think some of you would be happy is P was some washed up coke head who is d kicking out great songs (in your opinion) instead of finding inner peace. Religion is not about being controled it is about being able to control anything that life throws at you because you know in your heart a higher power is running things.
That being said I seriously doubt we have heard all of P's material and the things he has been putting out are radio friendly and pleasing to the ear. In the end a good pop only needs a good hook and P has not been short of them lately.
So anyone who does follow any of the thousands of religions out there is a coke head??? I wish Prince well and he has the right to do whatever he wants but to be a good songwriter you need to live a little and have new experiences to write about and everything revolves around your religion then that's what comes across in your music. I loved the rainbow children even though some the lyrics were not great but the music was topnotch. But hey, that's just my opinion | |
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Prince may not write the same as he did in the past, but I feel he still is an awesome songwriter. | |
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Madhouse6 said: purple1968 said:
What a bunch of B.S. I think some of you would be happy is P was some washed up coke head who is d kicking out great songs (in your opinion) instead of finding inner peace. Religion is not about being controled it is about being able to control anything that life throws at you because you know in your heart a higher power is running things.
That being said I seriously doubt we have heard all of P's material and the things he has been putting out are radio friendly and pleasing to the ear. In the end a good pop only needs a good hook and P has not been short of them lately.
So anyone who does follow any of the thousands of religions out there is a coke head??? I wish Prince well and he has the right to do whatever he wants but to be a good songwriter you need to live a little and have new experiences to write about and everything revolves around your religion then that's what comes across in your music. I loved the rainbow children even though some the lyrics were not great but the music was topnotch. But hey, that's just my opinion I think you need to reread what that poster said because they obviously weren't implying people who follow religion were coke heads. | |
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This is just me musing & has nothing to do with anything or anyone else: * The word "religion" always makes me cringe. * How about just having a personal "relationship" with God rather than having organized, man made religion? * I hear the word religion so often and it makes me cringe, cringe, cringe every time I read it or hear it. Religion is like wearing chains.
Personal relationship is FREEDOM! * [Edited 9/26/13 6:39am] | |
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Tempest said: The word "religion" always makes me cringe. * How about just having a personal "relationship" with God rather than having organized, man made religion? * I hear the word religion so often and it makes me cringe, cringe, cringe every time I read it or hear it. Religion is like wearing chains.
Personal relationship is FREEDOM! Welcome 2 The Dawn | |
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---- He's acting like he's playing a Tom Joyner cruise instead of leading a modern era rock band, lol. Are you smoking crack. I have forwarded that clip to hard core as we as casual fans and they love that clip. You cannot be so thick headed to not understand what he means by no computers. He is fronting a rock band what role would you have computers play in a live rock show. He is not doing a EDM show. Honestly it is time for you to get off the purple boat when you are not enjoying what of the best live performers out on the road today. | |
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No you want dude to be miserable so you can get hear some good songs. How sad is that? As far as living a little do you really think P has not lived a couple of lives at 55 years of age. Out of all of the new material that has been posted how much of it has had anything to do with religion directly? I would say none of it so your statements really are based on your opinion which are devoid of facts. | |
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Organized religion was established at least in Cristianity so Christians could have fellowship with other Christians. I cannot speak for other religions but Christianity is not about being a lone wolf. I honestly think some of you have never taken the time to read the bible are any religious text on your own to even under stand why religions became organized in the first place. You would think with all that time you spend developing your personal relationship you would take the time to read religious text. | |
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* Who said I am a lone wolf? Do I need to attend an institutionalized church to have fellowship with other believers? Or, do I need to be a part of organized "Christianity" to love & serve the Lord? The answer to that question is NO. The first century church got together and fellowshipped in homes (& in the synogogue to learn the Scriptures). * Btw, I do read the Bible. God's Word is precious to me. I don't need organized religion to do that. * You're certainly free to do the organized religion thing. Been there. Done that. I prefer the freedom to love & serve God as He leads me to. I allow others to do the same.
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Also, "the Church" or "a church" is not a building or an organized religion in it's true Biblical context. According to the Bible, it's an assembly of people. I know that in today's world, everyone calls the building "church". However, from a Biblical perspective, that's not the case. We don't "go to church" we are "the church". It's a living organism. Not a building.
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You guys misunderstood my post. prince has always been in touch with his 'god' but his faith, like the majority of religions are controlling and when you read any religious book (bible, Koran etc) then you are bound by restrictions - you can't pick and choose. If you believe 'your holy book' is the way to live, then fine but remember it was some person's view. I understand that he does not want to curse and agree with that because let's face it who wants to see a 55yr old swearing and gyrating but I certainly feel it has stifled his thinking and I have been following him since 1981. BTW - I still prefer his crap songs over other peoples 'good songs'. | |
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1. You choose to not be apart of an institutionalized church so you are not having fellowship with other Christians. Your choice but call it what it is.
2. If the first century church got together and fellowshipped in homes that would be mean they got together in a group and organized.
3. I did not say you need organized religion to read the bible it just seems that if you read it you would understand the concept of church does not really have anything with beloning to an insitution but is really about fellowship. In addtion, sometimes without fellowship, support and guidence (i.e.bible study) people fall to the wayside. For some people church on Sunday is the best day of the week and it by know means make them weak or controlled. - | |
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