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Thread started 01/14/04 4:06pm

skywalker

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We over romanticize Prince 1980-1988

Face it. The commercial sales of every album in that era, besides Purple Rain, were not that great. The reviews for over half of these albums were mixed.I am not saying that this wasn't Prince at his best-I am just saying that people (around here especially) tend to see these years as untouchable, when in reality,they are not.


1980-1988 is seen as untouchable because in those days Prince had fewer songs on each album compared to 1989-now. This made the albums seem better(more consistent)overall and the b-sides and bootlegs from that era sounded sweeter as well. If Emancipation would have only been 8 or 9 songs long we would've all called it one of his best ever and rushed out to buy the boots and b-sides containing "Mr. Happy" etc.

The quality of Prince's work from 1989-present isn't a great deal worse than what came before. His sales have dropped off for sure, but 20+ years in the business and no major record label will do that. The opinion of music critics (if it matters) has been just as mixed as always.
I just think that the change in how he presents his music as well a the cynicism that comes with age and years of listening to music has unfarily made Prince of now "not as good" as the Prince of old in the minds of many around here.

Either that or we are all to obsessed with him and his music in the 1st place.
"New Power slide...."
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Reply #1 posted 01/14/04 4:07pm

Marrk

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crock of shit.

Sorry i don't agree.
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Reply #2 posted 01/14/04 4:09pm

Supernova

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lol
This post not for the wimp contingent. All whiny wusses avert your eyes.
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Reply #3 posted 01/14/04 4:12pm

langebleu

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moderator

We over-generalise by making statements on behalf of other people.
ALT+PLS+RTN: Pure as a pane of ice. It's a gift.
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Reply #4 posted 01/14/04 4:13pm

Handclapsfinga
snapz



somebody's lookin for a baptism by fire here, methinx...
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Reply #5 posted 01/14/04 4:13pm

Handclapsfinga
snapz

langebleu said:

We over-generalise by making statements on behalf of other people.

clapping
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Reply #6 posted 01/14/04 4:15pm

madartista

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Handclapsfingasnapz said:

langebleu said:

We over-generalise by making statements on behalf of other people.

clapping

clapping
let me come over it's a beautiful day to play with you in the dark
http://elmadartista.tumblr.com/
http://twitter.com/madartista
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Reply #7 posted 01/14/04 4:20pm

madartista

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Besides, it's futile to critique Prince music.


wink
let me come over it's a beautiful day to play with you in the dark
http://elmadartista.tumblr.com/
http://twitter.com/madartista
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Reply #8 posted 01/14/04 4:21pm

Handclapsfinga
snapz

madartista said:

Besides, it's futile to critique Prince music.


wink

falloff
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Reply #9 posted 01/14/04 4:22pm

Adisa

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1980 "Dirty Mind"
1982 "1999"
1984 "Purple Rain"
1987 "S.O.T.T."

Four of the best albums of all time...

They also happen to be by Prince, and records sales don't reflect the quality of the music... rolleyes
I'm sick and tired of the Prince fans being sick and tired of the Prince fans that are sick and tired!
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Reply #10 posted 01/14/04 4:23pm

Neversin

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skywalker said:

Face it. The commercial sales of every album in that era, besides Purple Rain, were not that great. The reviews for over half of these albums were mixed.I am not saying that this wasn't Prince at his best-I am just saying that people (around here especially) tend to see these years as untouchable, when in reality,they are not.


1980-1988 is seen as untouchable because in those days Prince had fewer songs on each album compared to 1989-now. This made the albums seem better(more consistent)overall and the b-sides and bootlegs from that era sounded sweeter as well. If Emancipation would have only been 8 or 9 songs long we would've all called it one of his best ever and rushed out to buy the boots and b-sides containing "Mr. Happy" etc.

The quality of Prince's work from 1989-present isn't a great deal worse than what came before. His sales have dropped off for sure, but 20+ years in the business and no major record label will do that. The opinion of music critics (if it matters) has been just as mixed as always.
I just think that the change in how he presents his music as well a the cynicism that comes with age and years of listening to music has unfarily made Prince of now "not as good" as the Prince of old in the minds of many around here.

Either that or we are all to obsessed with him and his music in the 1st place.

That's just not true... Prince 1980-1988 was pretty innovative, creative, different and daring and had a unique style and sound... He leaded the pack...
Prince 1989-Present isn't innovative, creative, different or daring nor is he all that unique anymore... In this period he started to follow trends and whatever was hip at the time and therefore most of that stuff sounds dated and not all that interesting...

Neversin.
O(+>NIИ<+)O

“Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man's?”

- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
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Reply #11 posted 01/14/04 4:24pm

Anxiety

It is a FACT that you are WRONG!

(I can't back up this statement - I just wanted to get in on the action.)
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Reply #12 posted 01/14/04 4:26pm

Serious

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Neversin said:

skywalker said:

Face it. The commercial sales of every album in that era, besides Purple Rain, were not that great. The reviews for over half of these albums were mixed.I am not saying that this wasn't Prince at his best-I am just saying that people (around here especially) tend to see these years as untouchable, when in reality,they are not.


1980-1988 is seen as untouchable because in those days Prince had fewer songs on each album compared to 1989-now. This made the albums seem better(more consistent)overall and the b-sides and bootlegs from that era sounded sweeter as well. If Emancipation would have only been 8 or 9 songs long we would've all called it one of his best ever and rushed out to buy the boots and b-sides containing "Mr. Happy" etc.

The quality of Prince's work from 1989-present isn't a great deal worse than what came before. His sales have dropped off for sure, but 20+ years in the business and no major record label will do that. The opinion of music critics (if it matters) has been just as mixed as always.
I just think that the change in how he presents his music as well a the cynicism that comes with age and years of listening to music has unfarily made Prince of now "not as good" as the Prince of old in the minds of many around here.

Either that or we are all to obsessed with him and his music in the 1st place.

That's just not true... Prince 1980-1988 was pretty innovative, creative, different and daring and had a unique style and sound... He leaded the pack...
Prince 1989-Present isn't innovative, creative, different or daring nor is he all that unique anymore... In this period he started to follow trends and whatever was hip at the time and therefore most of that stuff sounds dated and not all that interesting...

Neversin.


co-sign
With a very special thank you to Tina: Is hammer already absolute, how much some people verändern...ICH hope is never so I will be! And if, then I hope that I would then have wen in my environment who joins me in the A....
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Reply #13 posted 01/14/04 4:28pm

violator

Let me just say that when I was listening to Prince back in that '80 - '88 period, there was a sense that you were listening to the best that music had to offer at that time. Not that there weren't others making worthwhile music but definitely a sense that no one was making music any better.

For me, that ended around 1988...
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Reply #14 posted 01/14/04 4:37pm

marcdeondotcom

I think there is something to this post in that P has flooded us with NPG releases.. 3 disc sets, 5 disc sets, etc. Perhaps if we had less, we'd be just as nuts about him as we were from 1980-1988.
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Reply #15 posted 01/14/04 4:41pm

violator

marcdeondotcom said:

I think there is something to this post in that P has flooded us with NPG releases.. 3 disc sets, 5 disc sets, etc. Perhaps if we had less, we'd be just as nuts about him as we were from 1980-1988.


But think about it, if it was quality music who would really care about the quantity?
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Reply #16 posted 01/14/04 4:50pm

EverlastingNow

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madartista said:

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

langebleu said:

We over-generalise by making statements on behalf of other people.

clapping

clapping


clapping
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Reply #17 posted 01/14/04 4:51pm

EverlastingNow

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violator said:

marcdeondotcom said:

I think there is something to this post in that P has flooded us with NPG releases.. 3 disc sets, 5 disc sets, etc. Perhaps if we had less, we'd be just as nuts about him as we were from 1980-1988.


But think about it, if it was quality music who would really care about the quantity?



worship
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Reply #18 posted 01/14/04 5:24pm

SupaFunkyOrgan
grinderSexy

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The fact that Prince grew in leaps and bounds from album to album, like an extraterrestrial monster belies your statement.
2010: Healing the Wounds of the Past.... http://prince.org/msg/8/325740
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Reply #19 posted 01/14/04 5:33pm

Handclapsfinga
snapz

EverlastingNow said:

violator said:

marcdeondotcom said:

I think there is something to this post in that P has flooded us with NPG releases.. 3 disc sets, 5 disc sets, etc. Perhaps if we had less, we'd be just as nuts about him as we were from 1980-1988.


But think about it, if it was quality music who would really care about the quantity?



worship

good things sometimes come in small packages. horns
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Reply #20 posted 01/14/04 5:36pm

bananacologne

Answers you seek, eager you are...

fear leads 2 misunderstanding,

misunderstanding leads to naiivety,

naiivety leads 2 purple kool aid, purple kool aid leads 2 NPGMC etc etc...
bored
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Reply #21 posted 01/14/04 6:04pm

MattyJam

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I agree with every word.

People say Prince is following the pack, and whilst I can see what they mean with a lot of the generic R&B shit he was pouring out as album filler (Da Da Da, Hot Wit U etc) I think he's produced a hell of a lot of truly innovative material post 1988.

What about tracks like In This Bed I Scream? Circle Of Amour? Last December? The Everlasting Now? One Nite Alone? The One? The Holy River? I Will? Dreamin About U? Days Of Wild? Come On? A Case Of U? The Future? The Love We Make? Truth? The Ride? Sweet Baby? Billy Jack Bitch? P Control? I Love U But I Don't Trust U Anymore? Don't Play Me?

And I know there's thousands I've forgotten to mention.

These aren't pandering to trends. These aren't weak compared to his eighties material. This is some of his best stuff.
[This message was edited Wed Jan 14 18:06:56 PST 2004 by MattyJam]
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Reply #22 posted 01/14/04 6:14pm

bananacologne

MattyJam said:

What about tracks like In This Bed I Scream? Circle Of Amour? Last December? The Everlasting Now? One Nite Alone? The One? The Holy River? I Will? Dreamin About U? Days Of Wild? Come On? A Case Of U? The Future? The Love We Make? Truth? The Ride? Sweet Baby? Billy Jack Bitch? P Control? I Love U But I Don't Trust U Anymore? Don't Play Me?


'A CASE OF YOU'??? ...U are kidding...right? eek
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Reply #23 posted 01/14/04 6:14pm

squirrelgrease

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bananacologne said:

Answers you seek, eager you are...

fear leads 2 misunderstanding,

misunderstanding leads to naiivety,

naiivety leads 2 purple kool aid, purple kool aid leads 2 NPGMC etc etc...
bored


falloff
[This message was edited Wed Jan 14 18:44:44 PST 2004 by squirrelgrease]
If prince.org were to be made idiot proof, someone would just invent a better idiot.
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Reply #24 posted 01/14/04 6:17pm

violator

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

EverlastingNow said:

violator said:

marcdeondotcom said:

I think there is something to this post in that P has flooded us with NPG releases.. 3 disc sets, 5 disc sets, etc. Perhaps if we had less, we'd be just as nuts about him as we were from 1980-1988.


But think about it, if it was quality music who would really care about the quantity?



worship

good things sometimes come in small packages. horns


Well let me introduce myself...
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Reply #25 posted 01/14/04 6:33pm

Handclapsfinga
snapz

violator said:

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

EverlastingNow said:

violator said:

marcdeondotcom said:

I think there is something to this post in that P has flooded us with NPG releases.. 3 disc sets, 5 disc sets, etc. Perhaps if we had less, we'd be just as nuts about him as we were from 1980-1988.


But think about it, if it was quality music who would really care about the quantity?



worship

good things sometimes come in small packages. horns


Well let me introduce myself...

falloff
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Reply #26 posted 01/14/04 7:44pm

lovebizzare

sigh
"We"? Please quit assuming that you and your posts speak for everyone on this board.

Many think '80-'88 was Prince in his prime; many think nothing he's done since touches the genuis of 1999, SOTT or PR, or the creativity of Parade or LoveSexy.

To say that the his post '88 work is the equivilent(SP?) of the stuff from '80-'88 just because it wasn't big commercial successes and got "mixed reviews" is ridiculous.

Please stop telling people they're wrong for thinking his post '88 work isn't that great. It's not your place to tell people what they should like and shouldn't like; it' also not your place to tell people why thye don't like it, you don't know why for every single person, you ain't God.

You liked Emancipation, right?, Some people didn't, end of story.
~KiKi
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Reply #27 posted 01/14/04 7:46pm

Romance1600

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Well if 1989-2003 didn't pale in comparison, maybe we won't need to feel all gooey-eyed about 1978-1988 smile
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm a sucker for a major chord
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Reply #28 posted 01/14/04 7:49pm

rdhull

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lovebizzare said:

:

Please stop telling people they're wrong for thinking his post '88 work isn't that great. It's not your place to tell people what they should like and shouldn't like; it' also not your place to tell people why thye don't like it, you don't know why for every single person, you ain't God.

.

well somebody's gotta do it

falloff
"Climb in my fur."
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Reply #29 posted 01/14/04 7:53pm

lovebizzare

rdhull said:

lovebizzare said:

:

Please stop telling people they're wrong for thinking his post '88 work isn't that great. It's not your place to tell people what they should like and shouldn't like; it' also not your place to tell people why thye don't like it, you don't know why for every single person, you ain't God.

.

well somebody's gotta do it

falloff

rolleyes


lol hush.
~KiKi
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