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Reply #30 posted 12/05/03 11:14am

DMSR

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Supernova said:

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Supernova said:

DMSR said:

Have Prince's lame videos affected his career and legendary status?

Silly question.

A musician's musical legacy supercedes and outlives any video nonsense.

highfive that's just what i was gonna say!

thumbs up!


I agree, but since around 1980 videos have obviously become more important as a form of an artist's expression, an extension of the music. Prince's videos did nothing to enhance the songs or his image. Imagine Billie Jean with a lame video...or imagine Erotic City with a kickass video..

Prince obviously thought film and videos were important, he made more movies than most rock stars, but I think his ego got in the way and he couldnt giv up the control to someone else. (Spike Lee's video sucked and I doubt it was all Spike's ideas). Even his live video clips don't really capture his stage presence or any interaction with the crowd. Check out "Paradise City" if you want to see a great live clip.
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Reply #31 posted 12/05/03 11:33am

psykosoul

Prince lame videos affected his airplay, but not his career and legendary status. Madonna wouldn't have sold half the records has to date if her performance clips weren't done for shock value. If Madonna had never set a cross on fire in Like A Prayer or kissed a few lesbians her videos would probably be just as lame as Prince's. But she has to rely on that gimmick now to sell records. Other than selling sex, I still don't quite get what her talent is. The same could be said for Michael Jackson and his special effects and mini-movies. Out of the 4 albums he's made since the Thriller phenomenom, none of them would have been as successful without the videos. Prince is the only one of the three whose talent relies on musicianship. Sure he's attempted to sell sex like Madonna, but you're more likely to get a guitar solo out of it as well.
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Reply #32 posted 12/05/03 11:34am

EverlastingNow

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DavidEye said:

"First of all,let me just say that I am a huge fan of Prince and his music.But his videos look stupid and cheap"---Madonna,1991


lol



You know what's funnier?? She makes all these fancy expensive videos now, and she's STILL referred to as the Material Girl in the press. So her and her fancy videos of today aren't really adding that much to her career either.

Prince didn't have to do the fancy videos that MJ or Madonna did, he was too busy making MUSIC. And he was also making albums for other artists the whole time too. I'd rather have the cheap looking Alphabet St video and the mind blowing album it came from ANYday, then to have the expensive million dollar Rock My World video and the SHITTY album that it came from.
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Reply #33 posted 12/05/03 11:45am

otan

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EverlastingNow said:

DavidEye said:

"First of all,let me just say that I am a huge fan of Prince and his music.But his videos look stupid and cheap"---Madonna,1991


lol



You know what's funnier?? She makes all these fancy expensive videos now, and she's STILL referred to as the Material Girl in the press. So her and her fancy videos of today aren't really adding that much to her career either.

Prince didn't have to do the fancy videos that MJ or Madonna did, he was too busy making MUSIC. And he was also making albums for other artists the whole time too. I'd rather have the cheap looking Alphabet St video and the mind blowing album it came from ANYday, then to have the expensive million dollar Rock My World video and the SHITTY album that it came from.

Okay. Yeah. I'll buy that, put it in a bag, and take it home.

But his lame videos HAVE affected his career and legendary status, to answer the original question.

He COULD have taken videos more seriously and put out some killer vids to go with killer tunes, instead of the AVERAGE stuff he did put out, which would then give both, good music AND good videos. But hey, what do I care. Love the music, don't dig the videos. I'm no MJ fan, that's fo sho.
The Last Otan Track: www.funkmusician.com/what.mp3
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Reply #34 posted 12/05/03 11:59am

VINCENT

YODAHENDRIX said:

VINCENT said:

otan said:

DavidEye said:

I once heard a rumor that the early Prince videos (pre-Purple Rain) were intentionally simple and basic because Prince was "saving himself" for motion pictures.He wanted to save money for movies,where he could then branch out and do the things he couldn't do in a four-minute music video.


But,I think a number of his videos are outstanding...

"When Doves Cry"
"Raspberry Beret"
"Kiss" (very simple but very effective)
"I Wish U Heaven"
"Batdance"
"Cream"
"7"

Okay. First off, IN MY OPINION, no, not outstanding.

They were all filmed at Paisley Park, and they ALL have a 1959 Broadway Musical stage design look to them, because he was too cheap to go out and film a video ANYWHERE other than his soundstage.

Second. He rarely used FILM. Half those vids were made using videotape - I Wish U Heaven comes to mind immediately, so that the video, while choreographed and performed well, STILL looked cheap and amateurish.

I would LOVE to see Prince let somebody else make a video for him, but this is just another area where he can't let go, can't let somebody else handle it for him.

--

And don't get me wrong. The 1959 broadway musical look - it would be cool on one or two songs, but, honestly, the style is DATED. It was used extensively in the 80's, to the point that ANY video now made on a set looks faked, unless you bring in the CGI shit, a-la Missy.

Look at outkast, for example. Bombs Over Bagdad, it's done outdoors, with Dre running - it has a VERY energetic feel, with all them kids running, etc. So, to go from THAT, into the set of "Hey Ya" is cool, it's refreshing, not stale and predictable. Ditto with Big Boi's "I Like the way you move".

I would say, in my opinion, Prince's vids are his weakest link. SOMEBODY should have showed him a MJ video, or JANET video, and said "look at what is being done."


Again Jean-Baptiste Mondino directed I wish u Heaven along with Alphabet Street. He is a fabulous Director.

He didn't do alphabet st.


Yes he did. He is the director of Alphabet Street. He was very disappointed by the result himself.
[This message was edited Fri Dec 5 11:59:23 PST 2003 by VINCENT]
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Reply #35 posted 12/05/03 12:42pm

JAMIESTARR

DavidEye said:

"First of all,let me just say that I am a huge fan of Prince and his music.But his videos look stupid and cheap"---Madonna,1991


lol

Stupid and cheap hmmm just like Madonna!
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Reply #36 posted 12/05/03 12:47pm

rdhull

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JAMIESTARR said:

DavidEye said:

"First of all,let me just say that I am a huge fan of Prince and his music.But his videos look stupid and cheap"---Madonna,1991


lol

Stupid and cheap hmmm just like Madonna!

falloff
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Reply #37 posted 12/05/03 12:59pm

otan

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JAMIESTARR said:

DavidEye said:

"First of all,let me just say that I am a huge fan of Prince and his music.But his videos look stupid and cheap"---Madonna,1991


lol

Stupid and cheap hmmm just like Madonna!

Hey - she costs a lot of money - YOU saw the Music video. That bling don't come free.
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Reply #38 posted 12/05/03 1:15pm

PrimordialOoze

DavidEye said:

"First of all,let me just say that I am a huge fan of Prince and his music.But his videos look stupid and cheap"---Madonna,1991


lol



Bahahaha!

She's such a bitch.
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Reply #39 posted 12/05/03 4:51pm

Voog

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I understand where you are coming from thinking Prince's videos are lame... but I always enjoyed them very much and found them entertaining. I love movies and video clips with great art direction and cinematography, but music videos are about the music and the artist. Prince's videos are pure, not overdone. Seing a genius at work is far from lame.


DMSR said:

Prince never really made any good videos, mostly performance run of the mill clips. This is ironic because he was one of the few musicians to make a successful movie. I think the problem may be Prince never wanted to hire a top notch video director, he tried to do it all himself.

I think if he could have made some cutting edge videos like MJ, Madonna, Puffy or something like what Outkast is doing, it would have helped his career and legacy.
[This message was edited Fri Dec 5 4:49:43 PST 2003 by DMSR]
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Reply #40 posted 12/05/03 6:41pm

Supernova

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DMSR said:

Supernova said:

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Supernova said:

DMSR said:

Have Prince's lame videos affected his career and legendary status?

Silly question.

A musician's musical legacy supercedes and outlives any video nonsense.

highfive that's just what i was gonna say!

thumbs up!


I agree, but since around 1980 videos have obviously become more important as a form of an artist's expression, an extension of the music. Prince's videos did nothing to enhance the songs or his image. Imagine Billie Jean with a lame video...or imagine Erotic City with a kickass video..

Prince obviously thought film and videos were important, he made more movies than most rock stars, but I think his ego got in the way and he couldnt giv up the control to someone else. (Spike Lee's video sucked and I doubt it was all Spike's ideas). Even his live video clips don't really capture his stage presence or any interaction with the crowd. Check out "Paradise City" if you want to see a great live clip.

Well, see I think it's like this:

Prince is Old School when it comes to the whole video revolution. With very few exceptions I don't think he ever had any intense interest with making some fancy, schmancy, big production videos that would potentially make the music take a back seat to the image presented (see "Thriller"). Prince largely put his energy much more into LIVE SHOWS on the road (this is not to say some of the tours were not big productions - but they were live gigs), the way music promotion is traditionally done, ON THE ROAD. This is what he chose.

As a child of the pre-'80s/pre-video revolution my fondest memories of music are not attached to limited music videos. My most profound memories of music are enhanced by the imagination of what my ears interpreted. I've never seen a music video that outstripped what was left to my imagination.

Although I was an '80s teenager, I know of a world without music videos. Videos are important for a certain demographic when it comes to getting kids' money when the iron is hot (his image was out there in video form when that iron was hot), but not important in the long run of any musician with obvious merit. Proving your mettle in a live setting is where a musician proves his/her worth. Phuck kiddie videos.

`
[This message was edited Fri Dec 5 20:17:09 PST 2003 by Supernova]
This post not for the wimp contingent. All whiny wusses avert your eyes.
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Reply #41 posted 12/05/03 6:46pm

SupaFunkyOrgan
grinderSexy

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It sure the hell hasn't helped him that's for sure. It's too damn bad that he didn't relinquish artistic control in this realm because his videos suck, well except the performance videos (like little red corvette or 1999) and videos like Batdance, Rasberry Beret, Mountains & when doves cry were great. His recent videos sucks midget ass wind.
[This message was edited Fri Dec 5 18:48:16 PST 2003 by SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy]
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Reply #42 posted 12/06/03 11:34am

moonshine

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Jean-Baptiste Mondino didn't direct the Alphabet Street either (to whomever said that) ,it was a local director Michael Barnard , the whole video was a complete rush-job.
[This message was edited Sat Dec 6 11:35:28 PST 2003 by moonshine]
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Reply #43 posted 12/06/03 12:08pm

Spookymuffin

Just look at that Chaos & Disorder Track video, I like it there, on the NPGMC. barf
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Reply #44 posted 12/06/03 4:11pm

lovebizzare

REAL musicians (Madonna and MJ are NOT musicians) aren't remembered, praised, celebrated, ect. beacause of their music videos.
His "lame" music videos resulted in him not being hot with teenagers. People 25 and older don't but music because of a hot new exciting music video. Music videos help someone stay relevent with the youth.
So in answer to the original question: no.
~KiKi
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Reply #45 posted 12/06/03 4:29pm

BinaryJustin

I love the Alphabet St. video because it is unashamedly, intentionally cheap.
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Reply #46 posted 12/06/03 4:38pm

lust

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Anyone who thinks prince's music videos are lame and amateurish hasnt seen the vid for "When 2 r in love" which makes "Thriller" look cheep as fuck!!!
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.oh oh i think im sobering up, more beer...NOW
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If the milk turns out to be sour, I aint the kinda pussy to drink it!
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Reply #47 posted 12/06/03 5:08pm

Abbie

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DMSR said:


I think if he could have made some cutting edge videos like MJ, Madonna, Puffy or something like what Outkast is doing, it would have helped his career and legacy.
[This message was edited Fri Dec 5 4:49:43 PST 2003 by DMSR]


I think you answered your own question in your question-
he has achieved legendary status; whether his videos have been naff or not- he is a legend! bow
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Reply #48 posted 12/06/03 10:41pm

TonyC

rdhull said:



why does everyone like I Wish U Heaven? thats so tacky lookin etc imo


Well, it was great compared to his other crappy videos, so that's part of the appeal. Plus, I still think it is a cool video and works well with the song. I love the way the cloud guitar moves across the screen and the apple and the way Prince looks...damn, I wish I had it on my computer so I could watch it right now.
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Reply #49 posted 12/06/03 10:44pm

TonyC

moonshine said:

Jean-Baptiste Mondino didn't direct the Alphabet Street either (to whomever said that) ,it was a local director Michael Barnard ,


I always heard that Prince directed that one himself. That video is just the biggest joke and made Prince look bad...I see what you mean about liking it because it is super-cheesy, but I can't get to that place. It is just an abberation of nature and should have been destroyed.
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Forums > Prince: Music and More > Have Prince's lame videos affected his career and legendary status?