I'm 38 years old, and my wife is 29. She loves the radio - current hits, new shit. When we met, I immediately made her a Prince mix CD and bought Purple Rain for her. She liked the music, but ... it didn't stick. The mix CD had some classic tracks and some new-ish stuff (3121, 20TEN, Musicology) on it.

And, yeah, it didn't stick.

I've been complaining about HITNRUN since it came out. Bought it on CD and gave it to her. And guess what? "It's the first album I've really liked from him," she said.

So here's Prince. 57, and connecting with younger people. When I look at the album through her eyes, HITNRUN is actually a pretty damn good record.

He's still making great music. And I think he knows he needs to go beyond us hardcore fans to stay relevant.

Thankfully, he's not gone full "Bitch, I'm Madonna" on us.

totheteeth said:

I tried playing it the other day on the stereo in the living room. My wife didnt really get a chance to hear it because half way through the first song, my 2 year old daughter started crying saying she didnt like this music and wanted her music on. So we all listened to the Wiggles instead.

This story made me cry.

Rebeljuice said:

I tried playing it the other day on the stereo in the living room. My wife didnt really get a chance to hear it because half way through the first song, my 2 year old daughter started crying saying she didnt like this music and wanted her music on. So we all listened to the Wiggles instead.

prince hasn't succeeded in reaching out to 2-year-olds yet. maybe that should be his next target.

so whats his agenda with this album? i think just to make quick money with jayz..touring is alot of work for his age

[Edited 9/18/15 9:20am]

Funkyalien said:

The whole country has bad taste.

KingSausage said:

>"She loves the radio - current hits, new shit."

>"It's the first album I've really liked from him," she said.

She's going to like it. It sounds current. I don't get how this makes P any smarter than us? It's different strokes for different folks. Just because it sounds current doesn't mean every young person is going to like it. I'm 20, I thought it was okay. Listenable. I'm not exactly going to bang it out every week like I do the tracks from Lovesexy or Purple Rain. But it's alright. I deplore 95% of mainstream current music but I gave this album a chance because it's Prince.

skywalker said:

totheteeth said:

I'm 38 years old, and my wife is 29. She loves the radio - current hits, new shit. When we met, I immediately made her a Prince mix CD and bought Purple Rain for her. She liked the music, but ... it didn't stick. The mix CD had some classic tracks and some new-ish stuff (3121, 20TEN, Musicology) on it.

And, yeah, it didn't stick.

I've been complaining about HITNRUN since it came out. Bought it on CD and gave it to her. And guess what? "It's the first album I've really liked from him," she said.

So here's Prince. 57, and connecting with younger people. When I look at the album through her eyes, HITNRUN is actually a pretty damn good record.

He's still making great music. And I think he knows he needs to go beyond us hardcore fans to stay relevant.

Thankfully, he's not gone full "Bitch, I'm Madonna" on us.

I'm just impressed you are banging a 29 year old.

My two 10 year old boys love the new album too. Normally they request chart stuff in the car, but they have been very happy, over the last 12 months, to select Fall In Love, then Art Offical Cage and now, most of the new album.

KingSausage said:

KingSausage said:

Are we supposed to be happy that he's directly appealing to people who like garbage new music on commercial radio? I liked it better when Prince made great albums that people admired for their artistic achievement, musicianship, songwriting skills, redefining and blending of genres, and true innovation.

Guy's wife just likes the record.

laurarichardson said:

KingSausage said:

skywalker said:

KingSausage said:

skywalker said:

Was Parade one of the best selling albums of 1986? Numberswise, it was kind of a flop, no? Is this an indication of the "quality" of the album? [Edited 9/18/15 19:36pm]

I wouldn't say "nobody bought it," would you?

No, but (I am guessing that) the point that laurarichardson was making is in line with what I was saying earlier:

-

Prince's best stuff and his best selling stuff aren't usually the same....unless we are talking Purple Rain.

-

Example: Diamonds and Pearls was a BLOCKBUSTER hit album for Prince and a lot of people love it. Yet, hardcore fans rarely speak of D&P with the same reverence that they do when talking about Parade, SOTT, or Lovesexy....all of which sold moderately to poorly in the US considering what a big fucking deal Prince is/was (especially in the 80's).

-

Was Prince at his peak in the 80's? Yes. Yet, he routinely was outsold by people like Bon Jovi, New Kids on the Block, Whitney Houston, George Michael, Phil Collins, Madonna, and (gasp) Michael Jackson.

-

Bottom line: You said, "...Prince made great albums that people admired for their artistic achievement, musicianship, songwriting skills, redefining and blending of genres, and true innovation."*

-

And while I agree with that sentiment, I also say that (post Purple Rain) the albums that likely fit this definition for old school Prince fans didn't sell as many copies as they should/could have. Chalk that up to Prince doing unconventional promotion, choosing offbeat singles, and not touring the US when he should have. Per usual.

-

*This is a fairly subjective idea right? I mean, one could argue that Rave un2 the Joy Fantastic checks all of these boxes.

[Edited 9/18/15 20:53pm]

Rebeljuice said:

I tried playing it the other day on the stereo in the living room. My wife didnt really get a chance to hear it because half way through the first song, my 2 year old daughter started crying saying she didnt like this music and wanted her music on. So we all listened to the Wiggles instead.

Welcome to my life! Don't know if I should laugh or cry though...

skywalker said:

Rebeljuice said:

KingSausage said:

skywalker said:

Funkyalien said:

Rebeljuice said:

I tried playing it the other day on the stereo in the living room. My wife didnt really get a chance to hear it because half way through the first song, my 2 year old daughter started crying saying she didnt like this music and wanted her music on. So we all listened to the Wiggles instead.

prince hasn't succeeded in reaching out to 2-year-olds yet. maybe that should be his next target.

Prince is his own man, he doesn't need to copy Michael Jackson.

totheteeth said:

I'm 38 years old, and my wife is 29. She loves the radio - current hits, new shit. When we met, I immediately made her a Prince mix CD and bought Purple Rain for her. She liked the music, but ... it didn't stick. The mix CD had some classic tracks and some new-ish stuff (3121, 20TEN, Musicology) on it.

And, yeah, it didn't stick.

I've been complaining about HITNRUN since it came out. Bought it on CD and gave it to her. And guess what? "It's the first album I've really liked from him," she said.

So here's Prince. 57, and connecting with younger people. When I look at the album through her eyes, HITNRUN is actually a pretty damn good record.

He's still making great music. And I think he knows he needs to go beyond us hardcore fans to stay relevant.

Thankfully, he's not gone full "Bitch, I'm Madonna" on us.

I ain't too surprised. I don't really fancy Prince targeting this kind of audience though, I'd rather have him targeting hipsters with instrumental/experimental albums.