1. Prince had not got involved in Batman?

Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic and Graffiti Bridge would have been merged into a new, mediocre pop-rock album called Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic that would have sold like a bottled fart. Prince wouldn't have a really big record again until Diamonds and Pearls.

2. Prince had not gone after the $$$ in the 1992 contract but instead opted for more creative freedom (masters, frequency of release)?

Honestly, he was just running out of steam creatively. I don't think any decision one way or the other would have helped his artistic life. The dude was coming off a decade-long winning streak by the time the 90's rolled around.

3. Prince and Mayte's son had not died?

I think Prince would have taken some time off for his son, maybe even retire for a while. He seemed so fucking pumped to be a dad. I think a break would have been really good for him, personally and creatively. He put himself through a lot of wear and tear recording and touring all day and night. Mayte suggested that their relationship was a lot of "hot and cold" so I don't think the marriage would have held up forever.

4. Prince had not become a Jehovas Witness?

I think peoples' answer to this depend on #3. I personally think that Prince could have bounced back from the popularity slump he faced after D&P if he just took some time off during the 90's instead of continually releasing subpar materal. For Prince to have never become a Jehova's Witness, he would have to be in a much better place spiritually and emotionally. In that alternate timeline, he never creatively neuters himself as he did in the real 2000's. His latter output would be more intense, as he would be able to keep up with the dark, moody sound that characterizes the 2000's (see records like Demon Days, † and Futuresex/Lovesounds.) More stuff like "Black Sweat" or "F.U.N.K." and less "Musicology" or "Chocolate Box" Since his popularity would have held up longer, he wouldn't be so adamant about inventing half-baked Internet distribution models. More traditional marketing leads to bigger sales leads to continued pop appeal leads to more traditional marketing leads to...

5. Prince had not died in 2016?

Real-world Prince seemed okay with the look and feel of the 2010's. Disco is back, everything is pastel colored, diversity is encouraged. He seemed into the bright colors and retro themes that dominate this decade. Assuming that the events of my timeline hold up, it would have been a good decade to be a fan. I think that the nostalgia storm that is the 2010's would encourage him to rerecord a lot of vault material a la Xtraloveable, but since he doesn't censor himself, the tracks are actually good. Art Official Age still happens. He properly tours the album with the stage and everything. The afro grows so large that he looks like Chewbacca at the spa. Eventually, he disappears into the fro, never to be seen again.

[Edited 3/9/17 17:08pm]

kingricefan said:

I thought Prince was at the peak of his popularity before Batman was released? I distinctly remember reading in an interview with Tim Burton that Warner Bros. forced him to include Prince music into the Batman soundtrack and that he (burton) wasn't happy about that. I think there was an entire scene written into the movie (the one with Nicholson in the parade throwing fake money at the crowd while 'Trust' is played) just to feature 'Trust'. If you watch that scene it's actually pretty weak and really feels like it was just thrown into the movie. It feels rushed. Prince was drawn to Batman because he identified with the two sides of Bruce Wayne/Batman. Prince was a Gemini ('I've got two sides and they both friends') and even named his character in the Batman videos Gemini. I do remember there being flack when Batdance was released- radio deejays were complainign about the song that there was hardly any singing in it, just an over-extended guitar solo (which 'they' ended up slicing down so it was more radio friendly). I thought that the backlash started after Batman was released?

I was excited about P doing Batman and to this day it's my fav cuz of P and Michael Keaton and Tim Burton, but I soon found out that the hardcore Batman fans were less than thrilled and some really resented P being involved.

I've even seen that Batman be deliberately left off lists cuz fans say P ruined it for them.

Here's 1...what if he was a woman?

Think on that 1.

endiadj said:

He does an wonderful job on soundtrack, you bet!
I SWEAR I love that Batman soundtrack. I love 99% that album and will play it over and over.
The song in happy feet was amazing also I can't doing the happy feet dance.

AnonymousFan said:

This is the exact reason why I think being a JW helped him out tremendously when it came to knowing what love was really was all about. He may not have been perfect when it came to having relationships with others. I think in order for anyone to have a decent relationship with the people they come into​ contact with is knowing what love actually is. I commend Larry Graham for being a mentor. It is was Prince truly needed in his life! If a person never was taught how to love in the first place then how can expect him to love? I think he had much respect for Larry because Larry showed him the way the do it.
And while we are on the subject, I would have LOVED to see Prince's and Mayte's children. They definitely made a great couple and I know the children would grown up to something completely special.

Shockedelicus said:

True statements, except for some of Number 5.
I think he would still make appearances in clubs, festivals and doing some private shows.
[Edited 3/11/17 7:03am]

daKotaGeNesis said:

Shockedelicus said:

1. Prince had not got involved in Batman?

Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic and Graffiti Bridge would have been merged into a new, mediocre pop-rock album called Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic that would have sold like a bottled fart. Prince wouldn't have a really big record again until Diamonds and Pearls.

2. Prince had not gone after the $$$ in the 1992 contract but instead opted for more creative freedom (masters, frequency of release)?

Honestly, he was just running out of steam creatively. I don't think any decision one way or the other would have helped his artistic life. The dude was coming off a decade-long winning streak by the time the 90's rolled around.

3. Prince and Mayte's son had not died?

I think Prince would have taken some time off for his son, maybe even retire for a while. He seemed so fucking pumped to be a dad. I think a break would have been really good for him, personally and creatively. He put himself through a lot of wear and tear recording and touring all day and night. Mayte suggested that their relationship was a lot of "hot and cold" so I don't think the marriage would have held up forever.

4. Prince had not become a Jehovas Witness?

I think peoples' answer to this depend on #3. I personally think that Prince could have bounced back from the popularity slump he faced after D&P if he just took some time off during the 90's instead of continually releasing subpar materal. For Prince to have never become a Jehova's Witness, he would have to be in a much better place spiritually and emotionally. In that alternate timeline, he never creatively neuters himself as he did in the real 2000's. His latter output would be more intense, as he would be able to keep up with the dark, moody sound that characterizes the 2000's (see records like Demon Days, † and Futuresex/Lovesounds.) More stuff like "Black Sweat" or "F.U.N.K." and less "Musicology" or "Chocolate Box" Since his popularity would have held up longer, he wouldn't be so adamant about inventing half-baked Internet distribution models. More traditional marketing leads to bigger sales leads to continued pop appeal leads to more traditional marketing leads to...

5. Prince had not died in 2016?

Real-world Prince seemed okay with the look and feel of the 2010's. Disco is back, everything is pastel colored, diversity is encouraged. He seemed into the bright colors and retro themes that dominate this decade. Assuming that the events of my timeline hold up, it would have been a good decade to be a fan. I think that the nostalgia storm that is the 2010's would encourage him to rerecord a lot of vault material a la Xtraloveable, but since he doesn't censor himself, the tracks are actually good. Art Official Age still happens. He properly tours the album with the stage and everything. The afro grows so large that he looks like Chewbacca at the spa. Eventually, he disappears into the fro, never to be seen again.

[Edited 3/9/17 17:08pm]

True statements, except for some of Number 5. I think he would still make appearances in clubs, festivals and doing some private shows. [Edited 3/11/17 7:03am]

Possible. He always seemed to enjoy playing infinitely more than the process of touring.

Those hard-core Batman fans were also very, very upset that Michael Keaton was cast as the Caped Crusader. There was lots of discussion on how Keaton would ever be able to pull off that role, but he did it!

LBrent said:

kingricefan said:

I thought Prince was at the peak of his popularity before Batman was released? I distinctly remember reading in an interview with Tim Burton that Warner Bros. forced him to include Prince music into the Batman soundtrack and that he (burton) wasn't happy about that. I think there was an entire scene written into the movie (the one with Nicholson in the parade throwing fake money at the crowd while 'Trust' is played) just to feature 'Trust'. If you watch that scene it's actually pretty weak and really feels like it was just thrown into the movie. It feels rushed. Prince was drawn to Batman because he identified with the two sides of Bruce Wayne/Batman. Prince was a Gemini ('I've got two sides and they both friends') and even named his character in the Batman videos Gemini. I do remember there being flack when Batdance was released- radio deejays were complainign about the song that there was hardly any singing in it, just an over-extended guitar solo (which 'they' ended up slicing down so it was more radio friendly). I thought that the backlash started after Batman was released?

I was excited about P doing Batman and to this day it's my fav cuz of P and Michael Keaton and Tim Burton, but I soon found out that the hardcore Batman fans were less than thrilled and some really resented P being involved.

I've even seen that Batman be deliberately left off lists cuz fans say P ruined it for them.

kingricefan said:

Those hard-core Batman fans were also very, very upset that Michael Keaton was cast as the Caped Crusader. There was lots of discussion on how Keaton would ever be able to pull off that role, but he did it!

LBrent said:

I was excited about P doing Batman and to this day it's my fav cuz of P and Michael Keaton and Tim Burton, but I soon found out that the hardcore Batman fans were less than thrilled and some really resented P being involved.

I've even seen that Batman be deliberately left off lists cuz fans say P ruined it for them.

Right???

MK is my favourite Batman...2nd only to Adam West cuz that's who I grew up with.

Adam West and although I liked Michelle Pfeiffer and I wanted to like Halle Berry's Catwoman, no one can replace Eartha Kitt!

Mwrar, Batman!