We all can probably agree that Musicology the lead-offsingle is NOT Kiss, Sign O' The Times, or even Alphabet Street...

But the real question here is, "Is it a better lead-off single than Prince has had in at least 14 years?"

I think "Yes" is the answer...

Betcha By Golly Wow!, The One,The Greatest Romance, were all slow to mid-tempo, R & B, "Quiet Storm" stuff, that had no potential to create any real excitement outside of that context. They had poor-at-best videos, that were, (especially in the case of TGRES), delivered long after any pre-album publicity was attempted. The Work had the same James Brownesque vibe as Musicology, but no video or radio release to coincide, and no media buzz.

Musicology is a GOOD, upbeat, fun song, and the video is high-quality, maybe one of his best...

Add that to a really good marketing set-up as Prince is doing, and I say that it already is a huge success.

Thoughts?

i agree!!! this is true prince doing what he wants 2 do..when those classic singles came out (kiss,sott, when doves cry,etc..etc..) they sounded like nothing on the radio. musicology sounds like nothing being played on the radio right now.
i've said this b4, the average music listener has never heard prettyman, the work or any other "jb" like song..and that's who he is trying 2 reach..not us

personally i think reflection would have been a better lead-off single...people who "like p but only like his old stuff" had nothing but positive things 2 say about that song!!!

and while the jb comparisons are being thrown everywhere. what jb song specifically does musicology sound like?

is it cool 4 andre3000 2 wear his purple influences and be a genius and not prince 2 show his influences?

last time i checked jb made the blueprint 4 funk...it would be hard 2 not sound like him if u r making a "funk" song....

it's like a basketball fan getting tired of their favorite player doing michael jordan or dr. j-esque dunks....they laid the foundation..

I think there are good soundbytes to be had from the song...little snippets that can get in people's heads, little parts from the lyrics that people can annoy their friends with by singing over and over, little riffs that can be played as background music on TV shows...it can work, even if as a whole, it may not be the best single he's ever offered. I think it has a fighting chance, though I hope there's better material on the album.

well said , jpav.

When it all comes down to it , it's all about the PROMOTION, unfortunatly. Take "Batdance" . I"m sure when we all heard that we were like... wtf? A number one record thanks to some little movie.

jpav, I've gotta say that I agree with you on your take. It's not the hottest thing we've heard to come first out the chute of a prince album, but, with the proper radio and video airplay, "Musicology" has a chance at seeing a slightly longer life than we may be expecting. All that would stem from his current promotion in addition to the "pop" ways of the music industry: play it again and again, until they get it. I've sat through a few interesting videos just for the visual flavor, only to be rewarded by a song that I would probably not have listened to just from the first few notes or the band it comes from.

I guses we'll just have to wait and see when it does hit the airwaves....

jpav said:

I Hate U was better than this. And, as much as I did not like TGRES, I think that even that was better than this, regardless of it being a bit slower. I'll end up skipping this track on the new CD every time. I guarantee it! Sexy MF, Gett Off, Pink Cashmere, etc... were ALL better than this song!!! LOL! So, your point's kinda gone. The one good thing about this is that at least there is a video with it that looks like more than $300 went into it's production!

I don't think this was a super great lead off single at all. There is NO chance of it connecting to anyone except current Prince fans. I actually called in to request it on one of the popular radio stations in my area and they told me they wouldn't play it because people would call and complain.....not only was I REALLY pissed, but now I worry about what this means for the songs overall popularity. Man, not only does Prince skip my town in his tour, but he releases a single that the radio won't play.....Why, God, Why Me?????

I do strongly believe this song will appeal to most of the serious R&B and soul music lovers worldwide. It has the potential, plus you never hear a song with this quality on the radio anymore these days. Right on, Prince! This is why i fell in love with your music!
[This message was edited Thu Mar 25 17:09:57 2004 by ivdf]

14 years goes back to 1990.

Lead singles since then:

- Get Off
- Sexy MF
- Letitgo
- Eye Hate U (MBGITW/Dolphin, depending on your opinion)
- Dinner With Delores
- Betcha By Golly Wow
- The One
- The Greatest Romance Ever Sold

I think I covered them all, but I can't be sure because the quality is pretty lacklustre, so I tend not to take much notice.

But out of those I would say 2 tracks are more worthwhile lead singles than Musicology - and 1of them is more fun, more in touch with the market as a commercial release (bearing in mind the time of a singles release).

Musicology wlll not light any fires, simple as - I can't think of anything more trippy than Prince, he made so much music that defies boundaries - But I do NOT think Musicology will be making people say "Oh. My. God.... I CANNOT believe this is Prince - the dude who did Gett Off, Cream, and Kiss??? They were fun, but THIS is Prince????? Man this is the best pop music I've heard ever!!!!!"

I preusme this is the attitude that the record company and Prince want to foster - "Oh, wow, this is great!" - No, I don't think anyone but blind fanatics will be saying this.

Prince is probably one the most misrepresented artists ever where the commercial charts are concerned - his singles release just do not represent his work very well,

As tragic as this sounds, I can't envisage anything him releasing now rivaling anything he has released 1978-1988. Nothing I've heard 1996-2004 has made me think Prince is still a viable artist - I keep an interest because I'm a collector, and a fan, his past work and musical talent is enough for me to a current interest, but I'm under no delusion that his relecently released work is anything but pap compared to what he has produced in the past
[This message was edited Thu Mar 25 17:26:00 2004 by Romance1600]