Alexandernvrmind said:

WetDream said:

Can't believe what i'm reading!!

Happy.....really?! It's a horrendous, flat track along with the majority of his other productions. It's mainstream nonsense. Jesus, for him to produce for Prince....it would be a nightmare come true.

Prince can drop Ol' Skool Company, Laydown Xtended, Sticky Like Glue, Black Sweat, Breakfast Can Wait, etc (all well into his 50's)....Tracks that have what Pharrell and others are trying to do with computer loops, but (as par for the course with Prince) done with actual musicianship.

The fact that Prince is still dropping so many diverse tracks, hip tracks, this far into his career is incredible and he needs no mainstream producer to dumb him down in an attempt to get him in the charts. Prince is an artist....a musician, not a fucking product! He should be keeping it real and attempting to show everyone what real music by real musicians is all about....LIKE WHAT HE'S DOING OR NOT.

Sometimes i wonder if i'm on a Prince site.

Prince singing Happy or Blurred Lines....hahahaha, my god....that would be the most embarrassing move of his career.

Take off the purple shades.... Prince would die to be able to write a song like happy. All the songs you named sucked and were Prince's attempt to be current and he didn't pull it off. Happy vs Black Sweat.... Are you nuts... Your post is laughable Dumb him down... Can you get dumber than Stick Like Glue? The man needs help with his R&B stuff for real.... Beats, lyrics, music arrangements, vocal arrangements, working up a black sweat ... Really? That horrific panting and meow cat calls on Chocolate Box. One word man HORRIBLE He needs help with his rock stuff too but at least with those tracks he is capable of pulling off the live performance because he still has the chops and can play that guitar. Man P is just looking bad these days [Edited 5/29/14 20:24pm] [Edited 5/29/14 20:26pm]

Okay, I agree that Chocolate Box is horrid... but Black Sweat! Black Sweat is the shit. Saying that, while I think a Pharrel and Prince collaboration would be interesting, and possibly very good, I don't want it to happen. I want Prince to continue in a rock direction.

thisisreece said:

Alexandernvrmind said:

WetDream said: Take off the purple shades.... Prince would die to be able to write a song like happy. All the songs you named sucked and were Prince's attempt to be current and he didn't pull it off. Happy vs Black Sweat.... Are you nuts... Your post is laughable Dumb him down... Can you get dumber than Stick Like Glue? The man needs help with his R&B stuff for real.... Beats, lyrics, music arrangements, vocal arrangements, working up a black sweat ... Really? That horrific panting and meow cat calls on Chocolate Box. One word man HORRIBLE He needs help with his rock stuff too but at least with those tracks he is capable of pulling off the live performance because he still has the chops and can play that guitar. Man P is just looking bad these days [Edited 5/29/14 20:24pm] [Edited 5/29/14 20:26pm]

Okay, I agree that Chocolate Box is horrid... but Black Sweat! Black Sweat is the shit. Saying that, while I think a Pharrel and Prince collaboration would be interesting, and possibly very good, I don't want it to happen. I want Prince to continue in a rock direction.

Who is the best A-list rock producer these days? I have no idea. It's not Scott Storch is it? Who produces rock?

WetDream said:

dreaminaboutu said:

lwr001 said:

thisisreece said:

BobGeorge909 said:

kewlschool said:

Whats with all the ageism against Madonna?

Older people can be sexy and should be allow to express it. If you don't like it, don't watch or support older artists.

Older people can definitely be sexy....she isn't. Jane Seymour...yum yum. Blythe danner, beautiful. Nina Heartly....milfimus maximus. All over fitty.

She's not my taste in sexy, but she is sexy.

I love Pharrell's"Happy" and "Frontin", however, Pharrell samples too much for my taste. I don't feel like he is an original. Yes, he has pulled some good music out of his butt for some artist, but he really isn't in Prince's caliber of musicianship. Ceelo and Prince, yes, Pharrell and Prince, no way.

Jamzone333 said:

I love Pharrell's"Happy" and "Frontin", however, Pharrell samples too much for my taste. I don't feel like he is an original. Yes, he has pulled some good music out of his butt for some artist, but he really isn't in Prince's caliber of musicianship. Ceelo and Prince, yes, Pharrell and Prince, no way.

I didn't realize Pharrell sampled a lot. I just assumed that he was good/crafty at producing beats and hooks. I guess all it really takes to sample of a song is just a few seconds of it. Perhaps he picks just a few bars or hooks from obscure songs from a different era and then remixes and stretches it into an entire song. Which are some of the songs that he sampled?

[Edited 5/31/14 22:50pm]

SeventeenDayze said:

Pharrell Williams offers an insanely catch bit of musical nonsense in his first solo album in eight years. Getty Images

Pop

Pharrell Williams

Girl

[Columbia]

2½ stars

Good, clean, dumb fun.

Pharrell Willams knows that pop music is at its best when it doesn’t attempt to rise above its station. That’s capital P Pop, mind you – throwaway, radio-friendly fodder, the sort that is meant to be at once instantly lovable and instantly forgettable. Within that particular subset of pop, Williams is lord and master, a man able to write, produce, assemble and perform eminently likable fluff.

Can there be a more insanely catchy bit of musical nonsense in the current pop climate than “Happy,” the hit single Williams assembled, or the rest of “Girl,” his first solo album in eight years? Not likely.

Three more potential smash singles off the disc – “Brand New,” “Gust of Wind” and “I Know Who You Are” – are so catchy that they’re close to annoyingly so.

Of course, Williams’ voice did most of the heavy lifting on two of last year’s biggest hits, Robin Thicke’s plastic soul anthem “Blurred Lines” and Daft Punk’s ode to ’70s disco “Get Lucky,” so it’s only fitting that both of those genres are amply represented throughout “Girl.” But Williams is clever, and as a producer with a ridiculously well-stocked resume of hits, he knows how to assemble a timely collection of beats and grooves. The guy is good with dense, polyrhythmic drum arrangements, but he’s just as good with classic funk grooves, a la Prince or recent Justin Timberlake, with the occasional nod to the ever-classy Earth Wind & Fire. The album has a beautiful sway in its hips, from first to last.

“Girl” feels like a grab-bag of tunes thrown together rather rapidly to cash in on the fact that Williams (and his ridiculous hat) has been everywhere lately, from the Grammys to the Oscars and back again. Williams, however, is clearly talented enough to pull it off with conviction. Will “Girl” be remembered in 10 years? Probably not. But it will certainly last through the summer of 2014. In fact, listening to it makes you long for a day when you might be able to roll down the car window and crank it up.

– Jeff Miers

CynicKill said:

SeventeenDayze said:

To me, it seems like the music business is like a merry-go-round. It spins and spins until everyone's ride is over and they have to get off and let the next generation to come in. Some don't know when to quit though...

Madonna!

why should she? "I'm gonna stop making loads of $ becuz some people want me 2....wait a minute...2 da hell with some people..they can kiss my a**"

Alexandernvrmind said:

Alexandernvrmind said:

scorp84 said:

SeventeenDayze said:

I didn't realize Pharrell sampled a lot. I just assumed that he was good/crafty at producing beats and hooks. I guess all it really takes to sample of a song is just a few seconds of it. Perhaps he picks just a few bars or hooks from obscure songs from a different era and then remixes and stretches it into an entire song. Which are some of the songs that he sampled?

[Edited 5/31/14 22:50pm]

He samples the LEAST of any of his contemporaries and even less than Prince during the early-mid 90's.

"Blurred Lines" with Robin Thicke. Apparently, a sample was lifted from Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On". Prince doesn't have to sample, Prince can make new music everyday. Pharrell isn't a real musician if you have to sample beats and hooks. Not to be cruel, but does Pharrell play an instrument? I remember a video he did with Lenny Kravitz some years back, I thought I saw him behind a drum set, but I am unsure.

laurarichardson said:

Alexandernvrmind said:

yep...that was before Prince dissed him

Pharell on Oprah Master series the same thing... mentioned Michael-Stevie as influences... nothing about Prince. Pharell is so clearly influenced by Prince... but Prince disses these guys. And records songs with Selena Gomez... and that friggin tranny he used to date

Its nuts... P really gets on my nerves

--- What is nuts is you think someone at P's level should be kissing Timberlake's ass. All these guys do his rip P off and bring nothing to the table new. If he works with a producer it should someone bringing new to the table not guys who rehash what he already did. In the meantime he continues to sellout shows and rock the industry and laugh all the way to the bank.

I couldn't have said it better...thanks! Prince has making music since 1977! And before that...

CynicKill said:

Pharrell Williams offers an insanely catch bit of musical nonsense in his first solo album in eight years. Getty Images

on March 5, 2014 - 3:15 PM

• inShar

Pop

Pharrell Williams

Girl

[Columbia]

2½ stars

Good, clean, dumb fun.

Pharrell Willams knows that pop music is at its best when it doesn’t attempt to rise above its station. That’s capital P Pop, mind you – throwaway, radio-friendly fodder, the sort that is meant to be at once instantly lovable and instantly forgettable. Within that particular subset of pop, Williams is lord and master, a man able to write, produce, assemble and perform eminently likable fluff.

Can there be a more insanely catchy bit of musical nonsense in the current pop climate than “Happy,” the hit single Williams assembled, or the rest of “Girl,” his first solo album in eight years? Not likely.

Three more potential smash singles off the disc – “Brand New,” “Gust of Wind” and “I Know Who You Are” – are so catchy that they’re close to annoyingly so.

Of course, Williams’ voice did most of the heavy lifting on two of last year’s biggest hits, Robin Thicke’s plastic soul anthem “Blurred Lines” and Daft Punk’s ode to ’70s disco “Get Lucky,” so it’s only fitting that both of those genres are amply represented throughout “Girl.” But Williams is clever, and as a producer with a ridiculously well-stocked resume of hits, he knows how to assemble a timely collection of beats and grooves. The guy is good with dense, polyrhythmic drum arrangements, but he’s just as good with classic funk grooves, a la Prince or recent Justin Timberlake, with the occasional nod to the ever-classy Earth Wind & Fire. The album has a beautiful sway in its hips, from first to last.

“Girl” feels like a grab-bag of tunes thrown together rather rapidly to cash in on the fact that Williams (and his ridiculous hat) has been everywhere lately, from the Grammys to the Oscars and back again. Williams, however, is clearly talented enough to pull it off with conviction. Will “Girl” be remembered in 10 years? Probably not. But it will certainly last through the summer of 2014. In fact, listening to it makes you long for a day when you might be able to roll down the car window and crank it up.

– Jeff Miers

Did this writer really put Justin Timberlake and Earth, Wind and Fire in the same sentence? Wow....And, I think this album will be remembered beyond the summer. Who writes these articles? Shees....

purplepolitician said:

Y'all blanks move that dope is my jam. Glad they stopped playing happy as much. It was cool at first. Never gonna happen with p though. * had to say something on topic edit [Edited 6/1/14 8:56am]

Move that Dope=guilty pleasure Catchy song and the video makes me laugh for some reason

SeventeenDayze said:

purplepolitician said:

SeventeenDayze said:

Move that Dope=guilty pleasure Catchy song and the video makes me laugh for some reason

It's the beat . Whippin the China like kunta kinte

Yeah, it's a bit different from "Happy", right? Glad to see that Pharrell isn't completely doing to the dark side (i.e. Top 40 radio).

Jamzone333 said:

Jamzone333 said:

"Blurred Lines" with Robin Thicke. Apparently, a sample was lifted from Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On". Prince doesn't have to sample, Prince can make new music everyday. Pharrell isn't a real musician if you have to sample beats and hooks. Not to be cruel, but does Pharrell play an instrument? I remember a video he did with Lenny Kravitz some years back, I thought I saw him behind a drum set, but I am unsure.

Pharrell plays drums and keyboards.As a musician,he's the real deal.He's more than just a sampling "beatmaker",if that's what you're implying.

scorp84 said:

Jamzone333 said:

"Blurred Lines" with Robin Thicke. Apparently, a sample was lifted from Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On". Prince doesn't have to sample, Prince can make new music everyday. Pharrell isn't a real musician if you have to sample beats and hooks. Not to be cruel, but does Pharrell play an instrument? I remember a video he did with Lenny Kravitz some years back, I thought I saw him behind a drum set, but I am unsure.

No it was not a sample. It was simply created with slightly different chords ( like what he had done with "Give It 2 Me" with Madonna)avoiding samples. All of the instrumental tracks were recorded by Pharrell. He's a trained drummer and keyboard player. He has been producing since the early 90's (along with Chad Hugo). If you took the time to listen to his production discography, you would likely discover that direct samples are far and few between with the Neptunes. Regardless, it's about the feeling, not the tools used. "Real music for real musicians". Bullshit.

He samples and when he does not sample he is ripping off other people's music. Blurred Lines is Got To Give Up. He did not sample the orginal song just used a few chords. Perhaps it is not enought chords to get sued over but he certainly did not come up with an original song. He has a long way to go to be at Prince's level but as long as some idiot music writers are comparing him EWF he will keep riding off the hype.

laurarichardson said:

Alexandernvrmind said:

yep...that was before Prince dissed him

Pharell on Oprah Master series the same thing... mentioned Michael-Stevie as influences... nothing about Prince. Pharell is so clearly influenced by Prince... but Prince disses these guys. And records songs with Selena Gomez... and that friggin tranny he used to date

Its nuts... P really gets on my nerves

--- What is nuts is you think someone at P's level should be kissing Timberlake's ass. All these guys do his rip P off and bring nothing to the table new. If he works with a producer it should someone bringing new to the table not guys who rehash what he already did. In the meantime he continues to sellout shows and rock the industry and laugh all the way to the bank.

You better preach!!!!!!!!!

I read the writer state a "nod to EWF". I also didn't read that in comparison to Timberlake.

CynicKill said:

I read the writer state a "nod to EWF". I also didn't read that in comparison to Timberlake.

Are you Justin Timberlake posing as a Prince fan on this site? Good grief....JT shouldn't even be in the same zip code as EWF.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

laurarichardson said:

Alexandernvrmind said: --- What is nuts is you think someone at P's level should be kissing Timberlake's ass. All these guys do his rip P off and bring nothing to the table new. If he works with a producer it should someone bringing new to the table not guys who rehash what he already did. In the meantime he continues to sellout shows and rock the industry and laugh all the way to the bank.

You better preach!!!!!!!!!

Maybe they don't want to mention Prince because they're afraid P might file a lawsuit

laurarichardson said:

scorp84 said:

laurarichardson said:

He samples and when he does not sample he is ripping off other people's music. Blurred Lines is Got To Give Up. He did not sample the orginal song just used a few chords. Perhaps it is not enought chords to get sued over but he certainly did not come up with an original song. He has a long way to go to be at Prince's level but as long as some idiot music writers are comparing him EWF he will keep riding off the hype.

Actually it is an original song. If it weren't original, it would be a cover. Sounding like "Got to Give It Up" is what he was going for, but the fact remains they are not the same song. Everybody finds inspiration from somewhere. The chords were altered and the subject matter pales no comparison. All the controversy would cease to exist if this song didn't become a hit. Being on Prince's level has absolutely nothing to do with the two talents working together. Is Rita Ora more Prince's speed? I would expect a much better outcome from an artist that has continued to mature musically for the better part of 2 decades than a lot of other producers. They both can learn a great deal from each other if all ego is put aside.

Don't you think Robin Thicke was a jerk for suing Marvin Gaye's estate "just in case" the MG estate sued Robin Thick and company first? That's a shady tactic right there and it kinda ruined how much I liked RT at the time.