thedance said:

novabrkr said:

No, it's not.

You often come off as very irrational in your attempts to justify your dislike for something.

"Clouds" is a Prince song. He's used lofi sounds and raw mixing styles for ages. You should be familiar with his approach by this point.

I disagree as well, amateurish??

No it's not. The production is fantastic, great bass, Linn and more drums, and piano, I love the guitar solo.. a very organic and "fresh" pop-funk production, imho.

I "Clouds", the best Prince song in a very long time..

"Clouds" is still on repeat here..

Agreed. 'Clouds' is far from amateur on any level.

OperatingThetan said:

thedance said:

I disagree as well, amateurish??

No it's not. The production is fantastic, great bass, Linn and more drums, and piano, I love the guitar solo.. a very organic and "fresh" pop-funk production, imho.

I "Clouds", the best Prince song in a very long time..

"Clouds" is still on repeat here..

Agreed. 'Clouds' is far from amateur on any level.

agreed,,, no one has been a harsher critic of P than I have the last 4 years.

to say Clouds is amateurish is laughable... strongest R&B record from him in a while... Played it loud in the car several times... think I will go do it again lol!

V10LETBLUES said:

To say the song is amateurish is an understatement. Let's start with the first thing you hear, the drum progaming. In this day in age I have not listened to something as rote, clunky and amauturish in a long long time. If there is a preset on an old Casio labled "sucks ass" that's what they used. Let's forget about the content of the lyrics and focus on the craftsmanship of them. Just the half assed way they seem to be clumsly read rote off a sheet without seemly every thinking they could be done better, phrased slightly better. And thats the entire record as a whole, no love or passion is evident, just slapped together. Now lets look at the lazy cliched 80's arrangement. Starts out with a lame drum machine beat, then plows along bored hitting all the cliches along the way, the god awful rap, the mandatory solo and back to the lazy song. Some here like to talk crap about what's on the radio today, but at least you hear people that put far more effort and passion into the work, from the performers to the production. You may not like the songs or the genres, but the spark is there. I can hear it. Taylor Swift, Beyonce,Iggy, Katty Perry, Bruno Mars, Adele, Kanye on and on. You can hear the spark. You can't fake enthusiasm. There is no enthusiasm in Clouds, just going through the motions from everyone involed. [Edited 8/29/14 9:47am]

Setting aside the whole subject of Prince and the new track Clouds, you seem to be seriously tripping on expectations. You have a list of complaints but can't just accept the track for what it is. Nobody is holding you prisoner and rubbing your nose in poo.. step away from the poo if such is how you percieve it, sir

.

Remember this mantra, step away, breathe, and you will soon regain your cloud

.

And then you will be able to listen to Clouds without getting clouded thinking

.

V10LETBLUES said:

To say the song is amateurish is an understatement. Let's start with the first thing you hear, the drum progaming. In this day in age I have not listened to something as rote, clunky and amauturish in a long long time. If there is a preset on an old Casio labled "sucks ass" that's what the used. Let's forget about the content of the lyrics and focus on the craftsmanship and just the half asd way they seem to be clumsly read rote of a sheet witjout seemly every thinking they could be done better, slighty phrased better. And thats with the entire record, no love or passion is evident, just slapped together. Now lets look at the lazy cliched 80's arrangement. Starts out with a lame drum machine beat, then plows along bored hitting all the cliches along the way, the god awful rap, the mandatory solo and back to the lazy song. Some here like to talk crap about what's on th e radio today, but at least you hear people that put far more effort and passion into the work, from the performers to the production. You may not like the songs or the genres, but the spark is there. I can hear it. Taylor Swift, Iggy, Katty Perry, Bruno Mars, Adele on and on. You can hear the spark. You can't fake enthusiasm. There is no enthusiasm in Clouds, just going through the motions from everyone involed.

His Linn drum programming is an issue of taste more than anything else. It has become something of a signature sound for him, there's nothing here that I find of lesser "quality" or precision than he's always done. Its something you either like or you don't. With respect to the arrangement, Im not sure if youre using the right word for what you're trying to express because the arrangement of the song is actually not 80's at all IMO. The vocal arrangement is pretty modern, the bass parts are more 70's than 80's. Only the keys evoke the 80's for me. The combination the different arrangments I would say isn't something I find cliched at all because you dont have too many people trying to bring about this kind of sound these days. Its clearly an old-school sounding track, but thematically and the vocal parts are contemporary.

V10LETBLUES said:

the spark is there. I can hear it. Taylor Swift, Beyonce,Iggy, Katty Perry, Bruno Mars, Adele, Kanye on and on. You can hear the spark. You can't fake enthusiasm. There is no enthusiasm in Clouds, just going through the motions from everyone involed. Go and listen to the records of any of the above listed artists and then listen to Clouds, I challenge you not to notice how absolutly amateurish Clouds sounds. [Edited 8/29/14 9:55am]

I was trying to figure out what you meant by "lack of enthusiasm" and "spark"... and then I reread the list of artists you're comparing him to. Noone when they're 50+ has the same perspective, neurological, hormonal, or physiological functioning as they do when they're 18 or 25 or even 35. It doesn't make sense to expect someone his age to be just as "excited" as someone the age of Iggy Azalea ( ) or Taylor Swift.

I remember I used to criticize Leonard Cohen's later music because it lacked the spart of his early brilliant work that he became famous for.. then I just realize he's the same person but he's in a very different place. His voice changed, his tastes changed. This happens to everyone. You can criticize or lament it or you can understand what its really about and realize that is the natural cycle of life. We all get old, change, change again and again and again and then we die.. The end.

lezama said:

lezama said:

V10LETBLUES said:

V10LETBLUES said:

Violetblues is just riling you up, people, don't feed the trolls!

funkaholic1972 said:

It comes off like an outtake from 20ten. There's no melody, no hook, and absolutely no energy in the song. Another boring linn droning on (let me guess, this album is another 'return to classic form') accompanied by Prince singing with all the enthusiasm of a heroin addict on day two of his detox. Yawn. To Prince's credit, at least the lyrics aren't as cringe-worthy as the majority of his recent output. They are, however, like the rest of the song, completely forgettable.

I’d be willing to wager the rest of the album is going to be as ground-breaking as a broken plastic shovel. Of course, Prince is nearly sixty years old, so it’s hardly fair to expect him to have an original idea rummaging around his head--it’s clear he ran out of those twenty-five years ago--it’s just too bad that his music has regressed to the point where it’s so mundane that it wouldn’t even be accepted by Now That’s What I Call Elevator Music vol. 5.

Clouds is a very worthy effort by Prince. I think the problem with Prince's music over the last 15 years is that he DOESN'T have that great synth sound that he did in the 80's! That to me, is what his music has been lacking lately.

joyinrepetition said:

Clouds is a very worthy effort by Prince. I think the problem with Prince's music over the last 15 years is that he DOESN'T have that great synth sound that he did in the 80's! That to me, is what his music has been lacking lately.

he used to run the keys and linn thru guitar pedals and amps to get that killer sound .. i think now he records it all clean and maybe uses some computer effects .. just doesn't cut it like those old experiments with real, not virtual, instruments .. thats why u get that thin plastic sound even on a sampled linn

I'm digging this.

-A lot of people of have mentioned it being safe, but the only thing safe to me is the chorus (shower bit), but to me the chorus is the weakest part. The rest of the song is pretty dope.

-I especially dig "Bullying just for fun, no reason there's so many guns"

-Love her voice, & it's on point.

-The guitar solo at the end is short & sweet, but I'm still thirsty for more, although I always am.

-Can't wait to hear the rest of the album! Really looking forward to PE!

_I just hope this song & this album get some damn air play

CLOUDS is rellay growing on me. It takes a few listens before if sinks is, and I think that is a good sign. Those kind of songs are the ones that lasts.

GO P!!

alexanderalm said:

CLOUDS is rellay growing on me. It takes a few listens before if sinks is, and I think that is a good sign. Those kind of songs are the ones that lasts.

GO P!!

The songs that blow you away at the first listen are those that last. Like When Doves Cry, Kiss, Sign o the Times, Thieves in the temple, 7, etc.... He used to be a genius to create such songs. I don't get that feeling at all with clouds.

I'm not in love with the song. A conformant pop song with a too-long talking in the middle, the vocoder (again!). But the problem, for me, is the originality: it seems to me a standard radio pop song written from everyone from music maelstrom. Where is the pop musician breaking the pop song rules in every song? Automatic pilot and go on.

ok..I've lived with it for a few days....and the result to me is.....its 'ok'...just ok imho.....

not a bad album track at all..although it sounds like an 'album track' rather than a 'single' to my ears

sure, there's nothing groundbreaking, but what I do hear is a little more 'grown up'.... a strange choice for a lead off single, but there again 3121's first single (Te Amo Corazon) was similar in that it was a laid back 'mature' sounding song...and that album did well...(and I still really like that song)

for an album to take 4 years to come out AND via his old arch enemy Warner Brothers, I kind of expected something more dance oriented...something at least different to whats on the radio....but at least it's not Fallinlove2night

linus4000 said:

Maybe clouds is more a teaser and not the real single for pop radio and a video... Clouds could do well on urban radio, though.... I like it, just the second verse where prince speaks does ruin the flow a bit, imo And i have to admit, the linn drum sounds a bit dated in 2014 [Edited 8/30/14 2:45am]

I thought The Breakdown was the teaser, without any big promotion.

ludwig said:

linus4000 said:

Clouds has proven to be a solid groove so far, subtle and sultry with thoughtful stream of consciousness lyrics repeated like mantras. It's the song Ti Amo Corazon wanted to be and a stylistic triumph for Prince has he integrates his own classic sound to a 21st century vibe seamlessly.

I like the emphasis on the tactile, with the kiss on the neck and the flower on the back. For sure we live our lives so fast these days we don't stop for the elemental pleasures. I think this song makes great sense -- the anti drug message is typical Prince.

I've had it on repeat for the week, and...to me the lyrics are really sweet, yet dense, subtle, and mature...

it's clear he's trying to process a realtionship (s) or understand a generation that

communicates, and exists virtually.. in the 'cloud' ...and he links it to the end result of a disconnected emotional beings that engage in online bullying there's also the proliferation of gun violnce that can clearly linked back to being isolated from rich human relationships in realtime, face to face...in the context of today, it's def a current societal commentary

he bascially doesnt want to put his relationships onstage anymore, but... he does keep going for the young'uns who insta-everything ...so if thats the case...he's got a conundrum on his hands lololol

i love the song, and if you look at it in the context of an album, along with the breakdown...and the title artificial age....i think there's going to be alot to chew on when when it comes out ...his age is one thing, how he feels is something else entirely (?)...

i understand where he is in a way...i'm 51 and as social media adept as any 20-something, but having grown up pre-internet, having the background of being able to form and maintain relationships outside of a technological base, i can see where & why he says the things he does...

orrrrr maybe i'm overthinking lololol

he should use my avatar for the cover!

terrig said:

I've had it on repeat for the week, and...to me the lyrics are really sweet, yet dense, subtle, and mature...

it's clear he's trying to process a realtionship (s) or understand a generation that

communicates, and exists virtually.. in the 'cloud' ...and he links it to the end result of a disconnected emotional beings that engage in online bullying there's also the proliferation of gun violnce that can clearly linked back to being isolated from rich human relationships in realtime, face to face...in the context of today, it's def a current societal commentary

he bascially doesnt want to put his relationships onstage anymore, but... he does keep going for the young'uns who insta-everything ...so if thats the case...he's got a conundrum on his hands lololol

i love the song, and if you look at it in the context of an album, along with the breakdown...and the title artificial age....i think there's going to be alot to chew on when when it comes out ...his age is one thing, how he feels is something else entirely (?)...

i understand where he is in a way...i'm 51 and as social media adept as any 20-something, but having grown up pre-internet, having the background of being able to form and maintain relationships outside of a technological base, i can see where & why he says the things he does...

orrrrr maybe i'm overthinking lololol

Insightful. Whatever the interpretation, this song has some serious sensorial depth to it and I think it's fitting that a mantra song like that should be one big chorus.