so far...they talked about him in the intro... being monsterously big on stage and shy and withdrawn in person...

CRAPSKIES!


I totally forgot to set my DVR for this!

The Interview was cute for an occassional PRINCE fan...but Matt, didnt ask any good questions...no new info!

damnit!

Whose distributing the new album, why are you giving the cd away at concerts, no mention of concert showing at theatres...what about the purple rain anniversary plans?

what can we expect from PRINCE after this tour...ya know the goooood questions MATT!

Transcript from msnbc:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4531634/

The coronation of ‘His Purple Highness'

As Prince is preparing to be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he says he's ready to seduce a whole new generationToday show

Updated: 8:12 a.m. ET March 15, 2004

He's won multiple Grammy’s and even an Oscar and yet another honor when Prince is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now, with a new CD and preparations for a tour underway, Prince says he's ready to introduce himself to a whole new audience. “Today” host Matt Lauer talked to “The Artist”:

The moves, the sound and oh yeah, the color purple -- add it all up and you have the musical genius of Prince.

Today, he is preparing for a coast to coast tour, the first in six years, and has just completed his new CD "Musicology." prince treated me to a sneak preview during a recent visit to New York City.

Although he say's he's been around, in the past few years many fans wondered why prince had vanished from the spotlight.

Prince: “Well, originally, it started out as a feud between me and my record company. And then it ended up being sort of a period of time where I could just reflect and get my get my head on straight. The music -- the music has been ongoing. I've never stopped writing, never stopped recording.”

For more than a quarter of a century, prince has been making music, and entertaining audiences with his outrageous performances. But these days, his style toned down, his charisma almost effortless.

Prince: “I think throughout ages that I've been playing there was a great deal of emphasis put on the show -- the way we presented the material to props and gimmicks. And I think a lot of that detracted from the musicianship. And what we're trying to do now is focus on that and the songwriting.

Growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Prince started playing music at a very early age and taught himself to play more than 20 instruments by ear alone.

But "playing" the music wasn't enough. Prince wanted ultimate creative control and at the age of 19, he became the youngest producer in Warner Bros. history.

Prince: “There weren't a lot of artists who were free to say what they wanted to on records. And they were put into molds. The freedom that I had came from a long, hard fight of trying to get them to understand that I wanted to be different.”

That was 1978. At the time, overtly sexual performances were almost non-existent. Prince brought the concept into the mainstream

Prince: “Well, you know, Matt, you really just, you can't help but be sexy. I mean, that's (Laughter) just is what it is. You know, sex isn't so much what you say. It's how you say it and the way you sing you know? We just, we like sexy music and it comes out that way.”

So how does the man who stretched the boundaries feel about where they are today?

Prince: “Back then there was an envelope to push.”

Matt Lauer: “Did you like pushing it?”

Prince: “I just said what I felt, you know? A lot of times I didn't know I was pushing the envelope until later. In today's climate you've got everybody thinking that that's a holy grail to do something explicit. And what happens is it's not explicit anymore because everybody's doing it.”

Lauer: “So if pushing the envelope came somewhat naturally to you, you're pretty convinced that today pushing the envelope is the way that a young artist makes a name for themselves.”

Prince: “Well, they seem to think so. But in reality I think to not push the envelope at this point is probably pushing the envelope.”

Prince believes part of the problem is that young artists are forced to use sex and show a lot of skin because they haven't taken the time to get a musical foundation.

Prince: “Well unfortunately a lot of kids didn't learn how to play music. One of the reasons we're going out on the road and we're titling this tour as “Musicology” because we want to bring that back. We want to teach the kids and musicians of the future the art of songwriting, the art of real musicianship.”

Lauer: “If a young musician came to you today, what would you tell them?”

Prince: “Well, I'll just give you an example when I was rehearsing with Beyonce for the Grammy’s, I sat her down at the piano and I helped her to learn just some simple scales and then tried to encourage her to learn the piano because there's a language that musicians know that's a little different than, say, just a singer.”

1984's purple rain made prince a household name. Nine years later, he changed that name to a symbol as a form of protest against his record company. The media dubbed him, "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince." So what did his friends call him?

Prince: “Sir.”

Lauer: “What else?”

Prince: “Master, no, just kidding. (Laughs)

Four years ago, the symbol was out and Prince was back, recapturing the name that helped him sell more than 100 million copies of his 20 plus albums. But Prince never spent much time promoting them, and rarely granted interviews until now.

Lauer: “Is there a certain push to retain relevance in the music industry at this stage of your career?”

Prince: “I really feel a need to school a new generation of musicians. Technology is cool. But you've got to use it as opposed to letting it use you.”

Lauer: “But when you sit down for ‘Musicology,’ for example, and you're coming up with the tracks for that CD is there any conscious thought, Prince, to say, ‘Well, this sounds like what they're listening to. This'll get me on the radio for the young audiences.’”

Prince: “Absolutely not.”

Lauer: “You don't care?”

Prince: “No, I never really sat down and did music that way. ‘When Doves Cry’ came out it sounded like nothing that was on the radio. ‘Let's Go Crazy’ was number one on R&B stations and there's nothing that's been like that on radio since.”

He's won multiple Grammy’s, even an Oscar, and now at the age of 45, Prince is being inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Prince: “I never really needed approval for what it is that I do. I love that I'm appreciated and I love the respect that I get. But accolades and awards -- you know it's all still big business.”

He openly talks about his music, but when it comes to the subject of his personal life, Prince is sure to keep the two separate.

Prince: “Well, people speculate on your personal life all the time anyway. So I just think it's important to keep my private life private and my public persona more into music, you know? I'm really a musician at heart. That's what I do.

Lauer: “Does it add to the mystery, though? I mean, do you think it adds an air of mystery that perhaps sells records and gets and sells tickets to concerts?”

Prince: “No, I'm not that mysterious. I'm a pretty open book. Yeah, people know my music I would say know me.”

© 2004 MSNBC Interactive
[This message was edited Mon Mar 15 6:34:15 2004 by PhilG]

the one great thing about this interview.. when asked what his employess called him during the symbol days, prince stands there with a pool cue and says,

"sir..."

and then, very deadpan, "master."

then he quietly adds, "just kidding."

Prince is a great musician, no question. But, the whole "I want to school folks" concept is pretty tired. There are still a LOT of great young musicians -- a lot of them play behind the acts P is talking about when they go on the road. They might not be heard as frequently on studio/radio-played cuts. But, they're out there. It didn't end with him.

Besides, is he going to publically ask for rap lessons?

ThreadBare said:

he doesn't have to. The rapper would run off with one of prince's beats before the rapper said anything anyway.

Bobgeorge, you are exactly right. What is a rapper going to teach prince. I give him alot of credit for talking about the lack of quality musicians out here now. If there out there, where are they? You have to start with the basics.

Bull said:

It seems that you all suffer from the same disease - the inability to hear past Prince & Co. I went to see Victor Wooten, Dave Weckel & Mike Stern recently. They would eat prince & the boys ALIVE as far as musicianship goes. Mike's older, but Dave & Vic are in their 30's early 40s. As for young talent -
Kem
Dwel'e
Javier
Cherokee
Van Hunt
D'Angelo
Lathun
Rashaad Patterson
Raphael Saddiq
The list goes on. I'm not even gonna mention the host of musicians playing behind all the pop bands like Britney & Christina A, etc. A lot of those musicians are world class players. Prince needs to recognize that a lot of young black artists aren't riding his tip and would rather play soulful music than do r&b-rock mixes. Its a different generation. He is and will always be respected, but its awfully arrogant to assume that because these young guys aren't playing music in the vein of his royal badness that they aren't any good. I agree that there is a much larger focus on getting paid than learning to play. Blame that on the biz and the overglorification and diluting of pop music. Its not that there isn't any talent, the problem lies with who gets the AIRTIME.
And Prince has a LOT to learn about rap. I think he should refrain from doing so altogether. He never needed to anyway. His flow is wack as hell though.

"Prince: “Well, I'll just give you an example when I was rehearsing with Beyonce for the Grammy’s, I sat her down at the piano and I helped her to learn just some simple scales and then tried to encourage her to learn the piano because there's a language that musicians know that's a little different than, say, just a singer.”


OUCH not exactly the most flattering comment hey

BlaqueKnight said:

PREACH!!!

ThreadBare said:

where are these musicians at??? they're not being recognized. In my book, "if it's not written, it didn't happen."

if they aren't heard, they AIN'T known!!!

BlaqueKnight said:

-----
Don't you think Prince is talking about people he has played with. It is his opinion that he has not come across anyone that he felt could play. He obviously has not played with every musician on the earth.

A lot of the people you mention are talented but some are always going to be in the background because they do not have the look, chrisma, or stage presence to be a star. Some are not going to reach Prince's level because they just can't sell records.

I hate to be the one to inform a lot of RnB stars are riding Prince's tip and hard. I wish they weren't I wish they would do something orignal. Anything would be better than non-stop rapping and Prince rip-offs.

Prince is right about one thing in this interview. If you turn on RnB radio today you don't hear a When Dove's Cry or a Let's Go Crazy and sadly enough you never will.

Bull said:

-----
A rapper can't teach Prince shit. Prince could teach a rapper how to play an instrument and put on a decent show. Maybe how to have a carreer that last beyond 3 cd's.

BlaqueKnight said:

And on your short list I see at least two that I know for a fact a huge fans, who ride P's tip hard --namely D'Angelo and Cherokee. And I don't think that he's talking about real musicians. I think he's talking about the Lil' Jon's, 50 cent's, Ashanti's, JaRule's, ... people who get major press but have little to - NO musical talent, not to mention stage personality.

And just because they prefer playing "soulful" music (like Prince hasn't done that) doesn't mean that they're good at it. Some of the people you listed above I like. But for the most part the music they put out all sounds the same. Every song on the album sounds just like the 3 you heard before it ... and none of it sounds even remotely original compared to anything that came out in the 70's or 80's.
[This message was edited Mon Mar 15 18:49:47 2004 by Ifsixwuz9]

Ifsixwuz9 said:

Yes, i think it is those people who he is talking about. The major rap stars that can't play a damn.

Ifsixwuz9 said:

I think it's fairly hard to compare this 1990s-to-present Era of the Singular Producer to that era, when you were more likely to still have popular, talented artists and groups garnering the lion's share of publicity and press.

But, the lack of press doesn't mean that folks aren't still talented musicians. I hear what you're saying about the implication being a narrower field of, say, rappers. But, Prince is making a gross generalization. For every Ludacris (of whom I'm thankfully ignorant, instrument-wise), there's a Cee-Lo or Andre 3000 who can play something.

He's not a music teacher. He's a pop star who's having a resurgence of interest because of some well-deserved celebration (the induction) and sentiment (PR anniversary). I hope he doesn't let his elation further compel him to don the hat of The Savior of Music.

Lest folks start making some unflattering comparisons: "Oh, I need to learn piano? Maybe Herbie Hancock can fit me into his schedule. Maybe Brad Mehldau... Bass? Rhonda Smith or John Patitucci, please. Victor Wooten, if he's not busy. Guitar? Russell Malone or Adam Levy will do nicely. Drums? Ladell Abrams, please..."

Like I said before, excellent musicianship didn't end with him -- by any means.

Ifsixwuz9 said:

Okay...my list is short because unlike some orgers, I'm not going to sit here and rattle off everyone I can think of. I was just siting a few examples to make a point. I agree the Lil Jons, Ashantis, etc are less than adequate when it comes to musical skills. The problem I see is the insensitivity on this fanatical site to anyone who DOES have talent. Prince hasn't recorded a single commercially released CD all on his own, so there are musicians who work on his material as well. And not every artist that comes out SHOULD write, produce, compose, etc. their own songs. Like I've said before, not every artist wants to be a blend of styles, either. Prince has NEVER been the most soulful artist, so he's not a good book to read from when siting that case. If you think all of the "neo" soul music sounds the same, you probably aren't listening closely. It doesn't. I can tell a Musiq Soulchild cut from a Maxwell cut within the first few seconds of hearing it - can you?
Prince is in a different position than the artists of today are. What you all fail to understand is that artists nowadays DON'T GET 3 albums to define themselves anymore. You HAVE TO HIT ON YOUR FIRST RECORD OR YOU GET DROPPED. Get it? Probably not. Fans usually don't. There is no more artist development in the music biz. They want YOUNG and marginally talented so they can make their projected sales before the quarter ends. They want merchandising sales, so PRETTY is ALMOST a must (for women). You can't get another Prince under those conditions. Artists have to do it on their own, without time and development like the "good ole days".

"Don't you think Prince is talking about people he has played with. It is his opinion that he has not come across anyone that he felt could play. He obviously has not played with every musician on the earth.

A lot of the people you mention are talented but some are always going to be in the background because they do not have the look, chrisma, or stage presence to be a star. Some are not going to reach Prince's level because they just can't sell records."

No, I don't think that Prince would arrogantly say that the people he has played with are all less talented than he is; especially since that's not true. Understand that selling records is about $$$. If Prince were a new artist putting out the shit that he dropped via NPGMC, no label would have him because even though he's talented, he wouldn't fit into any category that could make them mass $$$. I mentioned people who ARE talented. The arguement that there is no talent is a weak one. Somebody earlier said that if they don't hear it, it doesn't exist...but if you're not LISTENING FOR IT, you won't hear it. Prince is a bad cat, but he's no savior of music as ThreadBare pointed out. He only has to deal with situations where HE is concerned and from HIS perspective. As a megastar with a solid fanbase who's living outside the realm of being in the new music business, I'd say he's pretty detached to be making blanket statements.

"A rapper can't teach Prince shit. Prince could teach a rapper how to play an instrument and put on a decent show. Maybe how to have a carreer that last beyond 3 cd's."

1. Prince can't rap. His flow is weak and his lyrics are CORNY AS HELL. He'd fail miserably as a rapper. As a matter of fact, he's proven this already. Since there are good rappers with tight flow and high tech, I'd say that a rapper COULD teach Prince soemthing if he were willing to learn. I suspect he would be.
2. Prince COULD teach a rapper how to put on a better show, but having a career beyond 3 CDs has NOTHING to do with talent. The business ain't the same as it was when Prince started. If Prince started in the late 90s, he too would be struggling if he were signed to a major. Its BUSINESS.
I swear y'all hang onto every word Prince says. He's a talented entertainer, but he doesn't know everything and he is certainly not always right. He's just a man.

It was a very fine interview. Prince and Matt were chillin' in the limo, listening to the new album, shooting pool, etc. It was cool.

ThreadBare said:

I think it's very fair to compare those eras. There were plenty of mediocre to crappy artists in the 70's and 80's. Most of the time they were referred to as novelty acts. They had their one hit and then you never heard from them again, thankfully. But, for the last decade or so those are the acts that just will not go away. Rap acts get the most heat because thats the easiest genre of music to break into. All you have to do is rhyme, and you don't really need to do that well. As long as you are being pushed by the record company you can have a record on the radio.

I don't think Prince is over generalizing anything. He didn't say anything about the musicians who back up thse popular acts being crap. He's takling about the actual so called stars. And if he tried to teach Beyonce how to play the piano so what. If she really does know how to play she should have played something to shut him up.

If I were fairly new to the music business and the business of being a preformer there are worse people who could try to give me unsolicited musical advise Prince. And that's not to say there aren't better guitar players, keyboard players or drummers than him. Or for that matter better musical teachers than him.

Look Prince is old school. Back in the day the older musicians always took the younger ones under their wings to show them a trick or two or give them advise about the business of show business. That's how it was done until Puffshithead and the like made it seem like all you needed was a sampling machine to be a musician.

BlaqueKnight said:

I don't need you to list more artists I was just pointing out that at least two that I saw on the list are heavily influenced by Prince.

Some people that post on this site are fanatical about Prince, but so what. It's a Prince fan site you should expect that. Just as if you were on Sting's site and people were fanatical about him.

What you may think is talent somebody else may not. For instance let's take one of the people you list in your original post -- Kem. I think he sounds like a second rate Al Jarreau, but that's just me. You like him, I don't, big deal.

I really don't know what you consider soulful. But, I can guess you're talking about somebody like Anthony Hamilton. Ok, fine his voice is more soulful than Prince's. Anthony Hamilton was born and raised in the south singing in a church choir. Prince was not. They are from two entirely different surroundings and their music reflects that. And I don't recall anyone on this thread saying that every new soul or neo soul artist owes a debt to Prince Rogers Nelson or that music begins and ends with him. The point is a fair amount of them are heavily influenced by him. To point out someone else you mentioned, Musiq -- on his latest single (I don't know the name) there are parts where he sounds exactly like Prince.

And as for not being able to tell the difference between Musiq and Maxwell. After they start singing yes the voices are different. But up until that point sometimes the music pretty cookie cutter.

And yes I would hazzard a guess that most on this site know that the bottom line in the music industry today is making money. And that's the problem.

Ifsixwuz9 said:

This couldn't be further from the truth. Its MUCH HARDER to break in the biz as a rapper because there are SO MANY RAPPERS. You need to know how to do more than rhyme, also. I don't feel like elaborating right now. Prince is old school,and is beyond deling with the same issues younger artists have. All he had to ever worry about was the music. This is not so anymore.

mochalox said:

Ive posted some pics from the interview here:
http://www.prince.org/msg/7/85025

Ifsixwuz9 said:

What's with this "heavily influenced" tag? Anytime any artist pays any knid of respect to Prince pubically, they get labeled as if they are all just sitting around listening to Prince all the time like most of the FANS on this site seem to be doing. Its funny how so many of you seem to be able to hear Prince in these artists, but miss other influences. Hence my sig quote. Just because a new artist admires another artist doesn't mean he/she is basing their entire style on him/her...in this case Prince. Cherokee is "influenced", but if you listen to her first CD, very little of it sounds "Princeish". Its just WELL DONE.


And as for not being able to tell the difference between Musiq and Maxwell. After they start singing yes the voices are different. But up until that point sometimes the music pretty cookie cutter.


Cookie cutter? This just speaks on the inability to discern nuances within a certain genre of music. I have the same problem with techno. Whether you catch it or not, Maxwell & Musiq's music are as different as night and day within the soul genre. I only like some of Kem's CD. He does sound like Al. Everybody sounds like somebody. Prince sounded like Foxy and the Slyvers when he came out. Its the nuances that set people apart. Once people become familiar with the artist or when the artist develops a rep, the comparisons USUALLY stop. No one compares R. Kelly to Aaron Hall anymore, even though Kelly straight up STOLE Aaron's style. Aaron BORROWED from Charlie Wilson of the Gap Band and worked the niche sound into his own. None of the artists I named are STEALING from Prince. They probably all like Prince. He was a major influence in the 80s when most of these artists were growing up. Still, they are ALL doing their own thing yet most of the midiots on this site seem to lack the ability to see originality thats stems from anywhere other than Prince. Prince did his thing and he gets props for it, why can't others get theirs? Its understandable to dislike anartist, but there is no need to detract from their abilities because you don't like them. There are TONS of artists that I don't like, but I respect...like the Beatles. Yep. I said it.

BlaqueKnight said:

JaRule, 50 Cent, Ludacris, Mase (when he was still rapping), MaGoo, Nelly, Chingy, most of the No Limit people, Trina, etc. And these are just the popular rap acts. All are mediocre to really crappy. And there are many more who I've never even heard of because I don't listen to a lot of rap but who are played regularly on the radio.

Prince had more to deal with than just the music and it's extremely naive of you to think he didn't.

BlaqueKnight said:

Heavily influenced means they have incorporated certain little tricks that Prince used mostly early on in his career in to their acts. In Cherokee's case it's her stage performances. I have her first album and I don't think it sounds anything like Prince to be honest. I have no idea what the second album sounds like becuase the last I heard it had been put on hold, and that was every bit of two years ago.

Let me make this clear about Maxwell and Musiq. Maxwell does what I call neo soul elevator music. It's that type of music that you hear when you're on hold for customer service. On his albums most of the songs sound exctly alike, almost as if the album was playing one long song.

Musiq, on the other hand has that throw back Philly sound, but the beats on his album from song to song all sound the same. The upbeat songs all start out with that bump-thwack-bump-thwack beat and never changes through out the song.

No one compares R. Kelly and Aaron Hall because Aaron Hall isn't even recording anymore is he? Last I heard of him he was accused of rape. But I bet if Guy were still together the comparisons would continue. And yes Hall swiped his entire sound from Charlie Wilson of the Gap band. And who, in this thread anyway, said anybody was "STEALING" anything from Prince? Not I.

XxAxX said:

This is a hard subject to breach.(?)
The best musician in the world(best?) may never have been heard!
If a tree fell in a distant forest would anyone know?who would know
unless u r there! I'm sure BEYONCE took PRINCE'S TUITION in a respecful way.What else could she do? EGO.You've gotta have 1,or you wouldn't do anything creative.It's a problem i've grappled with & if you wanna eat you need to put yourself on the line & say 'I'm good @ this & i want others to hear what i've got to say'.Being overbearing is a pain in the butt though & i've lost a few musician friends who have said,"no ego's man", then gone on to egotistically lecture about how great they are.Being subtle is so important, & i'm sure Prince is very sincere, & 'leads by example' in the main.Sorry for the lecture!!

Ifsixwuz9 said:

You are basing your argument on YOUR opinion of who you think can rap. Eveybody you named is famous. WHY? Because they brought something more tothe entertainment BUSOINESS than just rap. For example, Master P owned his own masters long before Prince did. 50, Luda, and Chingy all have clothing lines, etc., Trina is working on hers and Lil Jon & Nelly have energy drinks. Its not just about music. Its a shame, but its the reality. Prince only had to worry about being creative back in 1978. Its a WHOLE DIFFERENT BUSINESS NOW.

Let me make this clear about Maxwell and Musiq. Maxwell does what I call neo soul elevator music. It's that type of music that you hear when you're on hold for customer service. On his albums most of the songs sound exctly alike, almost as if the album was playing one long song.

Tin ear syndrome at work.

Heavily influenced means they have incorporated certain little tricks that Prince used mostly early on in his career in to their acts.

Its funny how this only seems to apply to other artists in regards to Prince, but if someone were to say that Prince is "heavily influenced" by, all hell breaks loose on this site. Prince is influenced by other artists just like other artists are influenced by him. To think otherwise is pure ignorance.

BlaqueKnight said:

You can take any rapper and make him/her famous as long as you have the record company money to back them and push their song on the radio. They don't have to be good. And the fact that some rappers have clothing lines and juices is irrelevant to whether they are good rappers or not. That's just marketing.

I don't have a tin ear. I just don't jump on every flavor of the month that comes out because everybody else likes them or because my favorite artist likes them.

You are determined to put words and ideas I did not make into this discussion to make your point. Sure Prince is heavily influenced by a number of people. Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Sly & the Family Stone, etc.