Sometime before or after 20TEN was released and possibly after Andy Allo, Prince decided to switch his protégé focus away from his latest girlfriend to work with actual musicians young enough to be his children and still be in college, taking on the role of teacher.

He seems to genuinely be enjoying this role and to get something out of it on a deeper personal level, and he seems to go out of his way to be extra-generous, giving them the spotlight and talking about their talent like a proud papa.

For many longtime fans, the results have been underwhelming to say the least. While by and large the faithful were progressively getting bored of the more traditional Prince albums he was releasing, like Planet Earth, MNSOUND and 20TEN, the consensus seems to be that he went too far in the other direction, this time being too experimentally collaborative. Now I'm not saying that his music has been experimental, but he's been experimenting with the way he collaborates.

Perhaps these projects fill a void in him as a childless person, and certainly he wants some of that young blood to rejuvenate his muse -- but you get the feeling he's not doing this just for business reasons. The problem is that many of his old fans are not too happy with the results, no matter how generous he's being and what a good person he is doing something else than thinking about himself and his own legendary ego.

I've come to the conclusion there's no getting around his desire to have a musical entourage to teach to and that "Legacy Prince" will only return once he feels he successfully achieved his goal.

As such, I'm listening to PlectrumElectrum and HITnRUN as true musical protégé projects -- he didn't put someone out front and played nearly everything, he did the opposite -- let them play a large chunk of the music and put his voice and some of his chops in the mix.

It will be interesting to see the personel on his next albums -- will it be Prince playing a much larger role with his associates still contibuting something significant, another PlectrumElectrum-style collaboration or some project that he recorded largely on his own?

No matter what's next, it sounds like Prince the Teacher is a serious thing for him and being quite stubborn, he must resent some of his fans for not appreciating what he's trying to do.

Is being ultra-critical of the results the only way or is listening "in context" more likely to switch his generosity away from his associates and back to his fans who want tha PR remaster, those outtakes, a Prince "solo" project?

Aerogram said:

Sometime before or after 20TEN was released and possibly after Andy Allo, Prince decided to switch his protégé focus away from his latest girlfriend to work with actual musicians young enough to be his children and still be in college, taking on the role of teacher.

He seems to genuinely be enjoying this role and to get something out of it on a deeper personal level, and he seems to go out of his way to be extra-generous, giving them the spotlight and talking about their talent like a proud papa.

For many longtime fans, the results have been underwhelming to say the least. While by and large the faithful were progressively getting bored of the more traditional Prince albums he was releasing, like Planet Earth, MNSOUND and 20TEN, the consensus seems to be that he went too far in the other direction, this time being too experimentally collaborative. Now I'm not saying that his music has been experimental, but he's been experimenting with the way he collaborates.

Perhaps these projects fill a void in him as a childless person, and certainly he wants some of that young blood to rejuvenate his muse -- but you get the feeling he's not doing this just for business reasons. The problem is that many of his old fans are not too happy with the results, no matter how generous he's being and what a good person he is doing something else than thinking about himself and his own legendary ego.

I've come to the conclusion there's no getting around his desire to have a musical entourage to teach to and that "Legacy Prince" will only return once he feels he successfully achieved his goal.

As such, I'm listening to PlectrumElectrum and HITnRUN as true musical protégé projects -- he didn't put someone out front and played nearly everything, he did the opposite -- let them play a large chunk of the music and put his voice and some of his chops in the mix.

It will be interesting to see the personel on his next albums -- will it be Prince playing a much larger role with his associates still contibuting something significant, another PlectrumElectrum-style collaboration or some project that he recorded largely on his own?

No matter what's next, it sounds like Prince the Teacher is a serious thing for him and being quite stubborn, he must resent some of his fans for not appreciating what he's trying to do.

Is being ultra-critical of the results the only way or is listening "in context" more likely to switch his generosity away from his associates and back to his fans who want tha PR remaster, those outtakes, a Prince "solo" project?

Prince has always been a teacher. I think Maceo even called him that. I think he is just a nicer guy nowadays and actually gets along with real people and/or musicians. The results are not always great but at the end of the day I think all that matters if he is happy and the youngsters he hangs out with are happy. He has time, a shit ton of money, hot babes and is not on a record label. I just hope he is fucking Judith Hill.

3rdeyedude said:

Aerogram said:

Sometime before or after 20TEN was released and possibly after Andy Allo, Prince decided to switch his protégé focus away from his latest girlfriend to work with actual musicians young enough to be his children and still be in college, taking on the role of teacher.

He seems to genuinely be enjoying this role and to get something out of it on a deeper personal level, and he seems to go out of his way to be extra-generous, giving them the spotlight and talking about their talent like a proud papa.

For many longtime fans, the results have been underwhelming to say the least. While by and large the faithful were progressively getting bored of the more traditional Prince albums he was releasing, like Planet Earth, MNSOUND and 20TEN, the consensus seems to be that he went too far in the other direction, this time being too experimentally collaborative. Now I'm not saying that his music has been experimental, but he's been experimenting with the way he collaborates.

Perhaps these projects fill a void in him as a childless person, and certainly he wants some of that young blood to rejuvenate his muse -- but you get the feeling he's not doing this just for business reasons. The problem is that many of his old fans are not too happy with the results, no matter how generous he's being and what a good person he is doing something else than thinking about himself and his own legendary ego.

I've come to the conclusion there's no getting around his desire to have a musical entourage to teach to and that "Legacy Prince" will only return once he feels he successfully achieved his goal.

As such, I'm listening to PlectrumElectrum and HITnRUN as true musical protégé projects -- he didn't put someone out front and played nearly everything, he did the opposite -- let them play a large chunk of the music and put his voice and some of his chops in the mix.

It will be interesting to see the personel on his next albums -- will it be Prince playing a much larger role with his associates still contibuting something significant, another PlectrumElectrum-style collaboration or some project that he recorded largely on his own?

No matter what's next, it sounds like Prince the Teacher is a serious thing for him and being quite stubborn, he must resent some of his fans for not appreciating what he's trying to do.

Is being ultra-critical of the results the only way or is listening "in context" more likely to switch his generosity away from his associates and back to his fans who want tha PR remaster, those outtakes, a Prince "solo" project?

Prince has always been a teacher. I think Maceo even called him that. I think he is just a nicer guy nowadays and actually gets along with real people and/or musicians. The results are not always great but at the end of the day I think all that matters if he is happy and the youngsters he hangs out with are happy. He has time, a shit ton of money, hot babes and is not on a record label. I just hope he is fucking Judith Hill.

I know he was "teaching" way back in the 80s and 70s as well as a bandleader but the age difference is now quite large, which changes the dynamics.

If he wants to effect the direction of music in the future...getting a hold of young minds in the mix NOW is the way to do it imo.

They are teaching him too though...so it's great!

terrig said:

If he wants to effect the direction of music in the future...getting a hold of young minds in the mix NOW is the way to do it imo.

They are teaching him too though...so it's great!

Prince can't be an old teacher type because then we'd all feel so ancient.

He's supposed to be showing that even though we're all getting older, we're only just getting hotter and, like, starting new trends!

Aerogram said:

Sometime before or after 20TEN was released and possibly after Andy Allo, Prince decided to switch his protégé focus away from his latest girlfriend to work with actual musicians young enough to be his children and still be in college, taking on the role of teacher.

He seems to genuinely be enjoying this role and to get something out of it on a deeper personal level, and he seems to go out of his way to be extra-generous, giving them the spotlight and talking about their talent like a proud papa.

For many longtime fans, the results have been underwhelming to say the least. While by and large the faithful were progressively getting bored of the more traditional Prince albums he was releasing, like Planet Earth, MNSOUND and 20TEN, the consensus seems to be that he went too far in the other direction, this time being too experimentally collaborative. Now I'm not saying that his music has been experimental, but he's been experimenting with the way he collaborates.

Perhaps these projects fill a void in him as a childless person, and certainly he wants some of that young blood to rejuvenate his muse -- but you get the feeling he's not doing this just for business reasons. The problem is that many of his old fans are not too happy with the results, no matter how generous he's being and what a good person he is doing something else than thinking about himself and his own legendary ego.

I've come to the conclusion there's no getting around his desire to have a musical entourage to teach to and that "Legacy Prince" will only return once he feels he successfully achieved his goal.

As such, I'm listening to PlectrumElectrum and HITnRUN as true musical protégé projects -- he didn't put someone out front and played nearly everything, he did the opposite -- let them play a large chunk of the music and put his voice and some of his chops in the mix.

It will be interesting to see the personel on his next albums -- will it be Prince playing a much larger role with his associates still contibuting something significant, another PlectrumElectrum-style collaboration or some project that he recorded largely on his own?

No matter what's next, it sounds like Prince the Teacher is a serious thing for him and being quite stubborn, he must resent some of his fans for not appreciating what he's trying to do.

Is being ultra-critical of the results the only way or is listening "in context" more likely to switch his generosity away from his associates and back to his fans who want tha PR remaster, those outtakes, a Prince "solo" project?

If you can't do it anymore, you teach. It comes with age. Prince's carreer closely resembles the academic pathway. Promising student (first couple of albums), PhD candidate (breakthrough), postdoc (after the break through, untill musicology) and prof (the last 10 years or so).

I wish Prince would go back to labeling his protege albums as such instead of "Prince" records. The fact that he puts the PRINCE brand on them shows me this isn't merely about tutelage.

kapo74 said:

Aerogram said:

Sometime before or after 20TEN was released and possibly after Andy Allo, Prince decided to switch his protégé focus away from his latest girlfriend to work with actual musicians young enough to be his children and still be in college, taking on the role of teacher.

He seems to genuinely be enjoying this role and to get something out of it on a deeper personal level, and he seems to go out of his way to be extra-generous, giving them the spotlight and talking about their talent like a proud papa.

For many longtime fans, the results have been underwhelming to say the least. While by and large the faithful were progressively getting bored of the more traditional Prince albums he was releasing, like Planet Earth, MNSOUND and 20TEN, the consensus seems to be that he went too far in the other direction, this time being too experimentally collaborative. Now I'm not saying that his music has been experimental, but he's been experimenting with the way he collaborates.

Perhaps these projects fill a void in him as a childless person, and certainly he wants some of that young blood to rejuvenate his muse -- but you get the feeling he's not doing this just for business reasons. The problem is that many of his old fans are not too happy with the results, no matter how generous he's being and what a good person he is doing something else than thinking about himself and his own legendary ego.

I've come to the conclusion there's no getting around his desire to have a musical entourage to teach to and that "Legacy Prince" will only return once he feels he successfully achieved his goal.

As such, I'm listening to PlectrumElectrum and HITnRUN as true musical protégé projects -- he didn't put someone out front and played nearly everything, he did the opposite -- let them play a large chunk of the music and put his voice and some of his chops in the mix.

It will be interesting to see the personel on his next albums -- will it be Prince playing a much larger role with his associates still contibuting something significant, another PlectrumElectrum-style collaboration or some project that he recorded largely on his own?

No matter what's next, it sounds like Prince the Teacher is a serious thing for him and being quite stubborn, he must resent some of his fans for not appreciating what he's trying to do.

Is being ultra-critical of the results the only way or is listening "in context" more likely to switch his generosity away from his associates and back to his fans who want tha PR remaster, those outtakes, a Prince "solo" project?

If you can't do it anymore, you teach. It comes with age. Prince's carreer closely resembles the academic pathway. Promising student (first couple of albums), PhD candidate (breakthrough), postdoc (after the break through, untill musicology) and prof (the last 10 years or so).

I might find that to be an acceptable analogy if I thought that Prince couldn't do it anymore.

kapo74 said:

Aerogram said:

Sometime before or after 20TEN was released and possibly after Andy Allo, Prince decided to switch his protégé focus away from his latest girlfriend to work with actual musicians young enough to be his children and still be in college, taking on the role of teacher.

He seems to genuinely be enjoying this role and to get something out of it on a deeper personal level, and he seems to go out of his way to be extra-generous, giving them the spotlight and talking about their talent like a proud papa.

For many longtime fans, the results have been underwhelming to say the least. While by and large the faithful were progressively getting bored of the more traditional Prince albums he was releasing, like Planet Earth, MNSOUND and 20TEN, the consensus seems to be that he went too far in the other direction, this time being too experimentally collaborative. Now I'm not saying that his music has been experimental, but he's been experimenting with the way he collaborates.

Perhaps these projects fill a void in him as a childless person, and certainly he wants some of that young blood to rejuvenate his muse -- but you get the feeling he's not doing this just for business reasons. The problem is that many of his old fans are not too happy with the results, no matter how generous he's being and what a good person he is doing something else than thinking about himself and his own legendary ego.

I've come to the conclusion there's no getting around his desire to have a musical entourage to teach to and that "Legacy Prince" will only return once he feels he successfully achieved his goal.

As such, I'm listening to PlectrumElectrum and HITnRUN as true musical protégé projects -- he didn't put someone out front and played nearly everything, he did the opposite -- let them play a large chunk of the music and put his voice and some of his chops in the mix.

It will be interesting to see the personel on his next albums -- will it be Prince playing a much larger role with his associates still contibuting something significant, another PlectrumElectrum-style collaboration or some project that he recorded largely on his own?

No matter what's next, it sounds like Prince the Teacher is a serious thing for him and being quite stubborn, he must resent some of his fans for not appreciating what he's trying to do.

Is being ultra-critical of the results the only way or is listening "in context" more likely to switch his generosity away from his associates and back to his fans who want tha PR remaster, those outtakes, a Prince "solo" project?

If you can't do it anymore, you teach. It comes with age. Prince's carreer closely resembles the academic pathway. Promising student (first couple of albums), PhD candidate (breakthrough), postdoc (after the break through, untill musicology) and prof (the last 10 years or so).

Interesting theory.

FUNKYNESS said:

kapo74 said:

If you can't do it anymore, you teach. It comes with age. Prince's carreer closely resembles the academic pathway. Promising student (first couple of albums), PhD candidate (breakthrough), postdoc (after the break through, untill musicology) and prof (the last 10 years or so).

I might find that to be an acceptable analogy if I thought that Prince couldn't do it anymore.

Yeah... I don't get that feeling either. Tracks like Hardrocklover and June at least show that the old master has some diamonds left in him.