Joshy said:

That's because before last year, Prince hadn't played there since 1992. So, obviously it's going to do well since Australians rarely get big names touring Down Under.

TheGoldExperience -----


It's obvious that you are looking to argue so we can agree to disagree and here is my bottom line-


If the band YES can do a tour in the round at large arena venues in 1994 that it isn't necessarily a stupid move for Prince to do one now. Especially with his recent press coverage.

The Beautiful Ones"-well known and well loved but is it a "hit"?

"Dirty Mind" let's use your terms. Is it well known to the masses? Is .5 million a hit? (We could debate for hours how many copies were sold after "Purple Rain" came out.)

The point being that the "term" hit is a relative term (a term that we disagree on) and I was simply stating that Prince doesn't "always play the hits" he didn't "always play the hits" on the One Nite Alone tour nor on The Gold Experience Tour.

Simply stating "Wrong" doesn't really help this discussion deos it? Sorry you got all fired up about David Bowie. Are those "hit" albums you listed well known? Ask 10 people on the street and find out. Will it make you piss your pants if I ask "Wasn't Bowie's most successful period the 70's?"

Prince is still smarter than you about music and the music business.

Thanks for the discussion:-)

skywalker said:

Not at all. I'm just trying to show someone who doesn't have a clue what they're talking about that they're wrong.

skywalker said:

Wtf?! How so?

skywalker said:

Of course it is.

skywalker said:

Yes, of course it is. Because copies were also sold outside of the US and I know it's at least sold over a million worldwide.

skywalker said:

The Gold Experience shows should hardly be described as a "tour" - as Prince only did less than 3 dozen shows that year.

skywalker said:

I stated that you were wrong because you are wrong. He played hits on the ONA tour and I've proven that. What part of that don't you understand? And I'm not upset but I am pissing my pants alright. I'm pissing myself because you don't have the slightest idea of what you're talking about.

skywalker said:

You know, even with all of your deranged theories and misinformation, you're hilarious - I give you that!
[This message was edited Wed Feb 25 22:33:35 2004 by TheGoldExperience]
[This message was edited Wed Feb 25 22:34:22 2004 by TheGoldExperience]

It will be interesting to see what venues sell out and the ones that are 1/2 full. I am sure there will be a few places where he doesn't pack 'e, in BUT there are also many places where he will. It sounds like a rather lengthy tour with a vraiety of stops, so let the games begin! Round 1: Nelson vs Gibson tomorrow night

Gold Experience----


So ,cutey pie, are you gonna see Prince's Musicology tour then?

skywalker said:

If he plays in my town, of course I am.

Pssst. You spelled formerly wrong.

Wrong I say!

skywalker said:

On the European and Japanese legs of the "ONA" tour Prince played the following BIG "hits" - or hit singles - "Sign O The Times", "Alphabet Street" and "Purple Rain".

He also played "Purple Rain" on some of the US dates, despite telling the audience that he would only be playing his Jehova's Witness Tofu concept album.

I think even you - Mr Skywalker - will agree that "Purple Rain" was a hit - and a big one at that. In fact, it's probably Prince's most famous song.

Joshy said:

None of Prince's Australian shows last year sold out apart from the first night in Sydney. And the reason why those shows did well overall was because Prince hadn't played there since 1992. So, obviously it's going to do well since Australians rarely get big names touring Down Under.

blackboab said:

I wouldn't be too overly concerned over this, people. The Rolling Stones constantly sell out arenas with every tour, including the last one in 2002-2003, and they haven't had a Top 40 hit since 1989 ("Rock And A Hard Place"); Bruce Springsteen was the 2nd richest musician this past year, and his last Top 40 hit was in 1997 ("Secret Garden"). So Prince should really have no problem selling out arenas.

Avenger said:

I don't wanna rain on anybody's parade,but I don't think it's a good idea to compare Bruce Springsteen's situation to Princes'.There's no easy way to say this,but...Bruce has "maintained" his career better than Prince has.That's why he is still able to sell out arenas all over the world,years after his mid-80s "heyday".We all know that Prince is an incredible live performer but he has also alienated many people in the 90s (the name change,the war with record companies,some less-than-spectacular singles and albums,etc).And if I'm not mistaken,Bruces' new music is still popular and sells alot of copies,no? (I'm sure LoveMachine knows more about this than I do).

But as I said on another thread,who cares if Prince's shows sell out or not? It just means that it will be easier for the fans who REALLY want to go,to get tickets.And that's a good thing,right?
[This message was edited Thu Feb 26 6:01:55 2004 by DavidEye]

DavidEye said:

Very good points about Bruce who, despite a seven year gap between albums of brand new material, has held on to the bulk of his fanbase. Ditto The Who and The Rolling Stones, both of whom consistently sell out arenas and stadiums - and The Who haven't released a new album in TWENTY TWO YEARS!!!! They've managed their fanbase very well - and they haven't fucked their loyal following over too many times. You can't imagine Bruce, The Who or The Stones asking their fans to send them their music back, can you?

DavidEye said:

You bring up some good points there, none I can really disagree with. Prince has done some very questionable things over the years that ticked people off, including me (changing name to a symbol, suing web sites, releasing bad albums, etc.). Still, I believe that Prince can still sell out arenas as long as the new CD is good and released on a major label (ONE label, not multiple) and if it's promoted well. Anyway, like you say, if the fans who want to see him and are finally able to, it's a good thing overall.
[This message was edited Thu Feb 26 6:40:24 2004 by Avenger]

Prince's main "problem" is this -

As it always has been, part of Prince's genius is his versitility and that he's often quickly off to explore a something else before the audience can keep up with him. He is challenging that way.

Bruce and The Stones (Not taking anything away from them) are not so hard on their fans. Meaning, Bruce and The Stones have been able to maintain their audiences in mass numbers because (compared to Prince) they give the people what the people expect over and over again. I mean let's face it, those guys are never gonna say "Okay we are gonna on a heavily jazz influenced tour this time."

Plus, how often between album releases for The Boss and The Stones typically?

skywalker said:

I agree with you, Skywalker. I also think that Prince's versatility is one of his most endearing traits. In my opinion, nobody should be surprised at any new musical direction he takes, because he's been switching gears from day one. I don't see how this alienates anybody. I've always laughed at that view. A true artist will always change. That's not alienating anyone. It's moving forward.

skywalker said:

Did we watch the same tour!?!

I have 2 agree, im quite scared myself, wot if he dont sell that many tickets,

i didn't even know he has 20,000 fans.

But i guess sum none fans, who just enjoy he's old classics, would pop along, but 20,000 + i hope he gets it rite, i want every thing 2 go well for my little man :fingerscrossed:

skywalker said:

You gots to be kiddin' "Alphabet Street" was a huge hit

CokeJohnson said:

coke baby-

I don' want to get into another argument about what a "hit" is. But here is my viewpoint- for the hardcore Prince fan the above songs are all "hits". However, for your casual fan who owns maybe one Prince album the above songs are not all that familiar. Only 3 of the above songs are top 10 songs as sung by Prince. I am not saying that these songs are not well known to Prince fans-they are. But ask any average josephine off of the streets to name 5 Prince songs and I bet Alphabet St. won't be named.
Plus, Prince didn't consistantly play "alphabest St." on the ONA tour.

The initial thing that started this was someone had said Prince "always plays the hits". Which is not true he doesn't "always play the hits."

A predict a lot of empty seats if he does this. At this stage in his career, he's aiming way too high.

EvilWhiteMale said:

Maybe in America, but I think he'll sell out his European shows.
[This message was edited Thu Feb 26 11:52:44 2004 by Shapeshifter]

he said he was using these big in the round arenas to offer more "good" seats! not to fill the place. that would be a +, yes. but not why he's doing it . . .

OdysseyMiles said:

i agree with everything up to that. i think it is very important to remember that an artist being true to him/herself has nothing to do with change as it has to do with what's inside their mind. if prince was still able to express himself in the same way, then he would still be a true artist...he just wouldn't have been an artist who needed change in order to express himself. as it is, he does change and he needs to express himself in those ways. too quickly we hold the rest of the world up to our own truths rather than let others decide for themselves what "true" really means.

Maybe I am being overly optimistic,but I am not worried about Prince having half empty arenas. Coming off of the Grammy's it seems that he is "hotter" now than he was in '97/'98 during the "Jam of the Year" Tour.

All things considered, does it really matter if he sells out every venue? He didn't sell out every venue on the "lovesexy" tour and everyone, here especially, still gushes over how great it was.

SassierBritches said:

I gotta agree with you there. One of my favorite artists Sade hasn't made giant musical leaps, but practically everything she's done has still been brilliant and I consider her a true artist. Good point, Sas'.

skywalker said:

I wasn't really a Prince fan back then and I remember hearing comedians and some journalists say that Lovesexy was a flop. But to the fans, it was the music and the performance that mattered.

Shapeshifter said:

Possibly.

Perhapse he should spend more time in Europe.

Prince does know what he's doing.

it's the 20th anniversary of Purple Rain and he's fucking broke. So he needs to make the most of the 'anniversary' and do the larger venues.

NME said:

Broke huh? We've been hearing that since the late 80's. Whatever.

skywalker said:

you must need to use the bathroom after drinking all that Purple kool-Aid, huh..?