Prince grew up with a love for music and a dream for how his life would involve it. I think his early childhood years felt were pretty much lacking ‘unconditional love’; not coincidentally, something he’s been looking for ever since. A shy boy turns into a focused young musician with an idea of how he was going to find a life of happiness through ‘making it.’ So, how was he going to succeed?

One of his earliest ideas revolved around artistic control when he approached the majors, one that he would ultimately return to view as his saving grace. Nevertheless, Warner Brothers saw their product, and a rare one too. This could work. A mythology was created. That would be his most effective marketing ploy and will continue to intrigue those who think he is something other than a simple guy with a quite extraordinary talent. Contrary to popular belief, that talent was just as much about musical virtuosity as it continues to be about engaging others by simply being other than what you expect. Prince believed in his persona, just as much as the fans liked to buy into it. It was, afterall, a dream. Not reality.

I have to say those early years were managed exceptionally well, primarily because both Prince’s vision of ‘making it’ and the record company that helped him succeed, were in unison. Purple Rain was it. It would never be repeated. In hindsight, it’s surprising that neither party understood that things could never be the same. Understandably, Prince allowed himself the belief that he could do anything he wanted to thereafter, and that it would work. Such conviction in one’s beliefs makes for a ruthless businessman, if not a particularly astute one. That said, he’s always weathered the hardships in his own inimitable fashion. This much was obvious to those 'in the know' but there was something else, something no one predicted. Prince believed in something special and giving that up is perhaps his hardest coming to terms. He started losing his belief when he felt others around him didn’t resonate with the strength of his own convictions.

As much as Lovesexy was his dream, The Rainbow Children is his reality. It’s an accurate portrayal of how things have turned out for him. His ‘father figures’ were always going to leave their son. His ‘unconditional loves’ were always going to be conditional. And most importantly, his belief in his artistic spirit was always going to centre through his belief in God. So, where does it end? In many ways, I think it already has. I think Prince’s final struggle will be reconciling how he is going to break from what he has always known; his music. Publicly toying with retirement is one thing but being ready for it is an entirely differnent matter. I sense Prince is trying to find his peace. He’s learning to elevate himself beyond anyone’s misplaced expectations, including his own.

I respect that everyone deserves happiness. Quite simply, Prince has realised that his will never come from us. I believe Prince is sensitive to a turning of events, and is actually looking for a sign that will bring closure. There will be one soon enough, afterwhich there will be no turning back. It has always been this way with Prince. As you know, he is quite the emotional type. Yes, history will learn to respect a remarkable journey through his music but let's try and enjoy the moments now, for what they truly are. Thanks for listening...

Interesting and well written, but I disagree...Prince is nowhere near retirement...He is still improving...he has gotten better on guitar, he's on a whole new level now...His voice may have even gotten better. It sounded so clear on the ONA tour. I don't think people retire until they become stagnant and i don't think Prince is anywhere near that. I do think he maybe ready to give up on popularity all together and pursue experimental music for a while. I was at the concert at BB KIngs, which I loved, and i could tell others loved it, but i could also tell that some others didn't like it at all. I think they are screwed, cuz at this points i think Prince is gonna do whatever he wants...but it's still gonna be genius

Eventual retirement from "performing" - perhaps. Retirement from music? No.

But I agree Anji, we need to appreciate the moments while we still have them - nothing is guaranteed tomorrow.

I always love reading your threads Anji.

Another great one as usual.

fantastic post, and i agree.

Great thread! Good or bad, I have appreciated every step along the way.

The evidence of your ideas is all in the music as well. Prince wanting to "make it" was evident throughout his early stages, from his prolific recording, to his need to shock, to his wild performances, to his demotion of The Time from the bill in order to not be upstaged. After "Purple Rain," he had realized that dream of making it, but the overtones of "Around the World in a Day" and "Parade" seem to indicate that Prince didn't find happiness. Just listen to "Hello," "She's Always in My Hair," and "Sometimes It Snows in April" for answers. From that point on, Prince was on a mission to find bliss, whether it be through soul searching ("The Ladder," Lovesexy, Graffiti Bridge,) or other methods (changing his name, owning his music, touring constantly). I think he may have finally found his peace with God. Good for him.

Anji said:

I am glad that we cant smell through the internet yet because this shit stinks

LaMont said:

"There is no virtue in being uncritical; nor is it a habit to which the young are given. But criticism is only the burying beetle that gets rid of what is dead, and, since the world lives by creative and constructive forces, and not by negation and destruction, it is better to grow up in the company of prophets than of critics."

-Richard Livingstone, On Education

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

perfect! i love ya!

cborgman said:

but yeah...lamont, if you ain't got anything worthwhile to say, save a few pixels of space. anyhoo, i see what you're sayin, anji...but then again, you can't really retire from sumfin you love to do and live for. you may step outta the spotlight, close up shop, whatever...but art stays with ya till your last breath.

hell, it clings on to ya in the afterlife as well...

Anji, respect and all that shit... but you need some pussy REAL bad!!!

I don't Ever want Prince to retire from Music or Performing. Are you Seriously Jacked-Up? His fans would go Bonkers since nobody Compares as such a Talented , Sexy Musician of such Funky Multitude.

I support Prince but he sure knows that some people really loves his music and don't constantly diss his things...

drclay said:

I was talking with a friend last night, and we pretty much agree on this subject. That's not to say this will necessarily be the case but I think the thought of leaving us is in Prince's head. As an example, he thanked who he called 'brother Larry' during one of the recent ONA performances and the crowd's reaction was how can I put it, less than polite. I won't repeat Prince's response, and I believe it was barely audible to the crowd, but it was a clear sign that these thought are in his head. One thing's for sure, he wasn't teasing, or responding in a playful manner.

Unlike you, I actually think when Prince does leave, he'd like to do it in a good, positive way. Like you say, I don't think that represents 'making it' by topping the charts anymore but rather, finding closure. That's what this thread is about. Whilst I concur that this is a fascinating period for Prince, turning out some truly inspired recordings and performance, I also think this era will lead somewhere else. Perhaps, somewhere better for Prince.

Anji said:

there are a lot of assumptions in this piece
but i have never got the impression from listening to any of prince's work
that he was overtly concerned with "making it"
purple rain was a commercial success, but i don't believe
that it was written to be so
his music was growing and purple rain was the natural progression
of controversy and 1999
it just hit a nerve at that space and time and the whole thing exploded into a phenomenon
if anything i think prince rebelled against the success
and that is why we have atwiad
a complete detraction from all his previous work

i actually believe there is much weight to prince's mythology
and it isn't as fabricated as you seem to think
the idea has always been that nothing comes to dreamers but dreams
and prince embodied the spirit of one who worked hard for his success
and still does so, the guy doesn't stop, that is why he is so prolific

i also see no proof of prince ever losing faith in his convictions
tha brotha has never sold out, and has always kept true to his art
even at the risk of alienating his own fanbase
prince can do sign o the times all day long and make much money
but he chooses to push forward and stay true to his vision

lovesexy was never a dream, and holds true for what prince has always stood for
right from the conception of for you till the present day.
rainbow children is a progression of this, and where he
currently is in his spiritual and mental evolution

it is obvious we haven't even begun to see the best from this artist
and i think the last few years of freedom from managers etc
have lead to a breath of new life which can be felt
in the dynamic of his music

artists dont create to appease others, or to seek satisfaction
from winning awards that commend their work
they create because the soul demands it

therefore i dont believe he is looking for closure
i dont believe he is looking for anything
except possibly, more insight of the light, that governs our universe

..

AnimalKingdom said:

Good point. I think this issue will also be tied in with finances and the kind of lifestyle Prince will decide to lead when he leaves. We'll have to wait and see, but the process of cutting down his somewhat 'unecessary' expenses / financial burdens e.g. property, is well under way. Whilst I don't think this necessarily started from a 'retirement' perspective, it will certainly help him when he goes that way. So, whilst we have the benefits of his performances captured on both record and visuals, and from the man himself, we may as well enjoy them for what they are (as opposed to what they could have been).

By the way, I also think the Aladdin DVD is really very enjoyable. I couldn't believe it, there can't be any fans in Kensington LOL! I walked into HMV, not holding much hope that it would be there, and there it was. Yeah baby! It's definitely not one for the obsessive, sometimes delusional, die-hards but then again, he doesn't appear to ever want to cater for those types anyway. In fact, I'm quite sure he dislikes them as much they rebel against him. Oh well. Anyway, being a novice when it comes to technical transfers etc, I actually thought the moments were captured well; especially the humour, historic references and message. Good God, that performance of Sometimes It Somes In April was heartbreaking. There were some icky touches for me, such as the stills and the funny 'fan' moments, but it didn't detract significantly from what was a relaxed, very stripped down, excellent musical performance.

MartyMcFly said:

..

yeah he likes to write some long shit

but then i cant talk

..

Anji said:

If you refuse to repeat what Prince said then it isn't an example of Prince's thoughts on retirement. In your opinion it is an example of Prince's thoughts on retirement but its only your opinion because you aren't sharing all your info. It makes for a weak arguement.
[This message was edited Wed Aug 27 10:40:07 PDT 2003 by thedoorkeeper]
[This message was edited Wed Aug 27 10:40:36 PDT 2003 by thedoorkeeper]

I like that response, Step, but Lovesexy didn't resonate with his fans in concert in quite the same way as he wished it. To understand this more clearly, one needs to take a look at what happened when he closed the Lovesexy shows. He literally spent 20 minutes at the celebration with his group before he left for a nightclub, by himself, alone. Interestingly, he then spent the rest of that night in the club sectioned off from the rest of the crowd, alone. It's thought that he felt rejected and wanted to close that chapter in his life. He wasn't feeling the people vibe with the same convictions he felt. That's what I meant when I used the word 'dream.' He was beginning to realise some more of what his reality would become. It's not surprising to me that he later disbanded the Lovesexy band, as good as they were.

Like I said, he's quite the emotional type and when he looks for closure, he just gets out and removes any trace or memory. Contrary to popular belief, I also am of the opinion that the Batman era embodied much of that Lovesexy ethos for Prince, in his heart (if not on record), as quite clearly did the Graffiti Bridge era. Unfortunately, the rejection of that project also signalled a significant change in Prince's attitude and work thereafter. I remember once asking all of you why the 'Symbol' album appeared so militant. He professed that his name was Prince and that he was funky. Within a year, he rejected that very notion too. What we are seeing here, is a man that looks for closure when things don't work out for him. I am suggesting that a turn of events may bring closure to the struggle with appeasing his remaining fanbase. There aren't that many of us left, afterall.

.
[This message was edited Wed Aug 27 11:08:21 PDT 2003 by Anji]

Moonbeam said:

I have learned to, too.

Anji said:

Interesting thread Anji, as usual with you. I often find myself comparing Prince to other great musicians with respect to the diversity of their work, work ethic, ability to evolve, longevity in the biz, awareness of their history, etc. A couple that come to mind right now are Duke Ellington and Bob Dylan. Like Prince, they were the shit when young, then had ups and downs in their popularity and tried new things (Duke - B'way shows, "symphonic suites"; Dylan - the messianic thing) that were deemed critical flops, however they always kept a band together and kept out there. Unlike some performers that retire from touring and then test the wind before "unretiring", Duke, till he went into the hospital, and Dylan, with no end in sight, were/are incapable of remaining offstage. I think that the music drive's P more than anything else and he could no more stay in the shadows than you or I could refuse food after a 3 day fast.

By the way, Jackflash, did you know The Stones are playing at The Astoria tonight, just two minutes away from where I'm posting this?

Just thought you'd be interested

.

giotto said:

Are you going? If so, have fun! BTW, is it a small club, theater or arena?

jackflash said:

Small theatre, just across the Centre Point building in Tottenham Court Road, in the heart of London.

The Astoria has a rather illustrious history and is just as infamous as The Marquee.

.

jackflash said:

Yeah, I understand that it would be natural to compare Prince to these artists on a number of levels. I don't have an inkling about any of their behavioural make-ups but from what I have observed with Prince, he appears to take the 'my way or highway' attitude when things aren't going the way he wants (much to the unhappiness of those who felt like they have supported him). I could mention any number of associates, colleagues, past romances etc.

All these responses are essentially about his happiness, regardless of who or what is discarded in the process. He certainly has demonstrated little obligation towards those who have felt closest to him, if he feels he's being compromised in one way or another. That's a particular behavioural trait that may not be unique to Prince but it certainly has been demonstrated over and over again in his career.

The question stands, what if Prince feels his music is compromising his happiness? I can already sense the responses: music is his happiness. Think again.

.
[This message was edited Wed Aug 27 12:35:12 PDT 2003 by Anji]

No...I dont think he's struggling to retire.
I think he's trying to just be content and struggling to find that.

"Hey brother! Thought we lost you. Yes! I can't believe it but they picked LA to do a surprise show. I was stunned. When they handed out wristbands at the screening I had thought that it was for one of those dance parties that everyone loves to complain about. Then, to add more confusion, Morris Day showed up behind me in the Club check-in line! So then I thought "Cool - they got The Time to play the aftershow!"

A lot of people split from the screening during the last ten minutes to get prime positions for the show, but I figured they would make us wait a long time so I stayed in the theatre to the bitter end and I'm glad I did since they gave out posters to those of us who exited after the screening was over. I walked back to my car to leave the poster and casually sauntered back up the escalators to BB Kings, went in, got a drink and hung out on the patio overlooking the Universal Citywalk. I turned around and seconds later came face to face with Eric Leeds! I was too stunned to say anything, but I looked behind him and sure enough, there was Rhonda, Renato and John huddling on the patio with the rest of us! My pulse quickened and I slammed my drink, ran to a payphone and called my cousin (who had declined the screening) and said, "Get your ass down here - Prince is playing!"

Soon as my cousin showed up (10:30) and we walked back through the door they started with "Shhh". I was in awe, and ultimately so glad he made it an instrumental performance. Not to be an ass kissing fan, but sometimes his 'stage persona' can detract from his musicianship and since I like to think he is trying to shed the old bullshit, it was so gratifying to see him just play and lead the band. Eric was phenomenal. Renato was mad on the keys and Prince wailed a few solos out. Just an hour but pure bliss. I'll never forget it and how lucky it was he chose LA! I wish you had been there Anj, I really do."

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

true words dansa. creative people never lose that yearning to create. prince will be doing something creative until
God calls him...

"He causes to become." God has called him, or so he believes. Are you talking about death, Charles?