As difficult as it is to escape the gaze of peering fans during the age of the internet, Prince has seemingly been able to resume the reclusiveness and mystery he was once known for before the advent of the 'net.

Since 96, with the release of Emancipation, the development of L41A collective website, the proliferation of the web, esp. Prince.org, the continued growth of alt.music.prince... for the last 7 years, the collective online fan community has literally tracked this man's daily movements.

This peaked last year, when Prince enthusiasts were given unprecedented access to him and his work through the Celebration at Paisley Park, and more importantly through access to soundchecks and afterparties/aftershows. Prince seemed to deliver what many asked for--piano album, acoustic show, etc.--and was the most engaging and interactive as he had ever been with his audience.

Now, the stage lights are off, the website limited to minimal content, and Prince's next move is as much a mystery as it was when fans could only depend on cryptic news releases like "the revolution is taking time off after the Purple Rain tour to look for the ladder" (1985), or "Prince is retiring" (1993) or any of those moments that we were left clueless.

We are now at the height of fan speculation... and the resumption of Prince's mystique. He may break the silence tomorrow, or keep us waiting for longer. But 4 months of silence on the 'net equals like a year of real time invisibility.

Who'd a thought Prince could reclaim his privacy so easily? Props to him. He got us, like old times, in "waiting to C the Dawn" mode again.

More power to 'im.

I've been thinking that he got much more attention than in the past years with the release of TRC, ONA and the ONA tour... Much praise, many televised shows talking about him, some mag covers etc... Some might call that new fame and maybe that's what Prince wants to avoid: be famous again like he was let's say during the Purple Rain era... Maybe he's simply not into that fame thing anymore... And maybe he's just taking a rest well deserved and has more personnal things to take care of... I bet he is having quite a good time reading what me might speculate on the org... And probably come back with what we said in his mind so his come back might more effective...

klaatu said:

Hmmm, I think he LOVES the fame thing & always will. I hope I'm wrong but I think he'll always crave the spotlight...

CalhounSq said:

Maybe to a certain extent but it probably bores him quick...

klaatu said:

I'm not sure if you're saying that he got more attention prior to the 'net... if so, then yes but back then he had more control over the media gaze, if you don't count the tabloids. So I contend he was still able to maintain his privacy/publicity on his own terms.

The 'net diffused that greatly. But it seems like he's back in control.

PEER INTO THE EDIT.
[This message was edited Thu Apr 3 0:42:20 PST 2003 by NuPwrSoul]

That religion that he is in tells him not to have anything to do with the wicked outside world. Study it and you will find out what this is all about.

Our hope is that he gets smart, misses the limelight and finds out about the falsehoods of the organization that has got him in their bondage.

lovebird said:

Jeezus!

I think this is healthy for him.
Getting time to spend with family and friends, without the glare of a spotlight, can only be a good thing. It's nice to see someone with his amount of talent not go completely nuts, as we've recently seen happen, no names mentioned.
And as longtime Prince fans know, he's always working on something, so it's not a question of if he'll be back, but when.
Prince has probably reached a point in his life where he feels he doesn't have to obsessively chase the spotlight. When he's ready to do his thing, he'll do it.

Supernova said:

I'm tellin you, ERRRYDAY

NuPwrSoul said:

Indeed. I think he is back in control.

It's impossible to guess what Prince has been doing the last 4 months, but if the walls of Paisley Park could speak I'd think they'd tell a story of an extremely focused artist who is getting all the joy and nourishment he needs from his family and his work.

Prince is in a situation he hasn't been in since the 80s. He's basking in the glow of one of his most critically acclaimed periods while simultaneously enjoying the hell out of the challenge inherit in that success.

The quieter he gets, the more hopeful I become.

---
[This message was edited Thu Apr 3 1:32:46 PST 2003 by Brendan]

CalhounSq said:

Right?

Hey lovebird, here comes your ride...

fuck Prince

AaronFantastic said:

Hey Aaron was that shit even necessary?

NuPwrSoul said:

hey, you were talking about Prince weren't you?

AaronFantastic said:

Yes like all the other threads in this forum. Please find another one to jack.

NuPwrSoul said:

wasn't jacking. i'm very on-topic. it was, however a joke. i didn't know that jokes weren't allowed on your threads even though you really didn't set the thread up for any type of discussion, per se. just your thoughts. no real question to debate. i was only doing the best with what i had to work with

AaronFantastic said:

No, jokes are not allowed!!!

On the real, it was set up for a discussion just like any other post. I posted an idea, and folks can either agree, take issue, add on, subtract, whatever. Illuminate.

I don't really see how "fuck prince" does anything, even humorously. maybe "fuck prince's privacy" but just "fuck prince"? naaah c'mon mayne you can do betta than that

NuPwrSoul said:

ah, it's just an old standby. really, it covers everything, when you're in one of those moods

NuPwrSoul said:

Keep it real NUPWR !

I glad that Prince has gone underground.When he comes out again he will be FUNKIN !

Im always waiting and will be on call, standby, etc. what the frig eva I have to be as far as Prince is concerned

I thought Newpwr's comments were rather insightful.

add nothing, subtract nothing...just

NuPwrSoul said:

hehee

"The quieter he gets,the more hopeful I become."---Brendan

That line was definitely worth quoting.