At the risk of showing my ignorance let me say this:

I don't believe that MUSIC ought to be defined by charts and what not. Do you believe that any of the so called classical music would've charted today? think of a great composer such as a Mozart or Beethoven (two whom I have never learned to appreciate myself), and tell me that you think their music (of the ages) would even be created in the culture that we find ourselves in.

I for one can listen to INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, not having words attached to it allows me to experience it without preconceptions. The title is a necessary EVIL, because we really need labels, to pigeonhole things in our file cabinets.

Much of Prince's music is a real sonic treat, but the artistry gets lost in the lyrics that he attaches to the music.

A question -- what Prince tune has been decried for lyrical content which otherwise is a musical masterpiece? I'll start of with a Dirty Mind classic:

Head
Just love that music, the words... i dunno about

There is no message in the bottle edit
[This message was edited Sun Jun 22 8:01:53 PDT 2003 by kmc]

'What exactly is wrong with instrumental music?'..??

i think it's the lack of lyrics...

NME said:

ok... aside from the lack of lyrics

There ain't nothing wrong with instrumental music. I'm a big fan of Beethoven's symphonies, and in particular his ninth symphony. A lot of Prince fans boast about Prince being a musician and yet they can't cope with his songs without lyrics. I can't understand that. He is a musician so why should he have to sing to every song? Why does he have to put words to something that works well by itself?

"La La La, He He Hee"
hated the f*ck out of those lyrics, but the music is cool and irresistable. Haven't you oftentimes played Prince music for the MUSIC and cringed at the words comin' out of his mouth? be honest! I mean, the man is a poet no doubt, but he also has written things for pure shock value. I believe I read somewhere that he came up with this song to prove to Sheena Easton that "sense" and "lyrics" weren't mutually inclusive.

Theres nothing wrong with instrumental music

As long as it is done well

Alexa De Paris , Madhouse etc etc

And not some cacophonous noise

Ehem , Hmmm , Errrm N.E.W.S

Much love Pochacco

kmc said:

hell yeah, everytime i listen to "sexy dancer" (which woulda worked fine as a straight-up instrumental, as opposed to the semi-instrumental joint it is) and a huge chunk of the stuff he's done nowadays.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC!!!
Madhouse 16 was great at the time..esp TEN!!
North is aiight
West is good
East is GREAT!!!

As Prince matures and experiences different genres, hopefully his fans will appreciate it and grow too.

I personally think the instrumental interlude on The War is his best, cuz it is so simple.

Nothing wrong for sure, except that as a pure musician, and even though he's pretty good, Prince remains light years away from Beethoven, Coltrane, Miles, Hancock...and his musicians, although being also pretty good, are no Ron Carter, Jaco Pastorius and the likes...NEWS (apart from East) is OK but lacks personality and originality (apart from EAST)

What made Prince famous and at the same time recognised as an amazing artist is his ability to belnd together the different musical styles.

Whenever he tries to stick to one only (piano album, instrumental albums...), although he remains good, he suddenly makes no difference with many other artists and stands far beyond the best of them.

Face it people: who will listen to NEWS 30 years ahead ? (I mean in the general public, not diehards)

Prince is 1999 (such a fresh-sounding album after 20 years!), Parade..., Prince is not about creating or even mastering a particular musical style but about putting them together

TRC made me believe that he was back (I mean creatively speaking), precisely for this reason. But now my hopes are really fading out...

Half of my music collection is classical.

Instrumental music is the best, as it has to lift the soul without saying a word.

However, Prince just doesn't do it. Sure songs like Alexa De Paris are a welcome break, but when he starts chucking out albums of the stuff, the weakness of the material shows through.

What doesn't help Prince is that his choice of instruments leaves it stuck in a 70s groove.

Ever since 98 and his old school revival, he has been stuck with dated sound. Thats why songs like Northside were just shoved under the carpet by most fans. In 88, he would have done the same song, but with wonderful use of sound and colour, trying new things.

Prince needs to wake up. He's not "growing as an artist" as some people think. People that say that simply haven't been exposed to the real deal. He's repeating others, and doing a bad job.

That keyboard he has, stuck on the "Stevie" setting, needs to go.

Prince is lying when he tells us "real music by real musicians". He needs to insert the word "crap" inbetween "real" and "music".


For the record, I think "aboretum" is Princes best instumental by a long long way.

kmc said:

In my opinion? Nothing.

nuthin'

'What exactly is wrong with instrumental music?'..??
Well I dont think anything's wrong with it.. in fact I love NEWS, I love Prince's instrumental music.. BUT he has made some faboules lyrics... I love the beautiful ones, if you take away the lyrics, I'd still love the song, but it wouldn't be that special.. That's just ONE example.. but there is nothing wrong with Instrumtalmusic, definitely nothing wrong with Prince's instrumental music, for sure!