"Musicology - music without the ology" Prince on the Tonite show with Jay Leno

It seems to me just a little hypocritical that Prince is spouting all this stuff about bringing the kids to the concerts to hear REAL music and musicians when on his latest album he has samples, programming and, much worse, drum machines.


All this coming after the brilliant, innovative, album [TRC] simply his best LP since the Symbol album and the first since C&D where REAL music was the focus.

Musicology is good [xcept Pimp and Life O'the party] but TRC eclipses it. With the xception of the Musicology single the tracks on M seem low key almost bland by comparison.

I still enjoy Musicology and hope it does well, but I believe Prince's music is at its best with real drums, bass, keyboards and played by real musicians.

Anyway enuff already.

well I see where your coming from.. and I was questioning this also. but I think he is referring to the Musicology Tour (Live).. not the studio work.

KAB said:

I'm a big fan of TRC, but do you really thing Illusion Coma Pimp & Circumstance is more bland than something like Mellow or Muse 2 the Pharoah? I think Mellow may as well have been called "Pretty but harmless - some will find bland".

I'm a big fan of TRC, but do you really thing Illusion Coma Pimp & Circumstance is more bland than something like Mellow or Muse 2 the Pharoah? I think Mellow may as well have been called "Pretty but harmless - some will find bland".[/quote]


I think both Muse and Mellow are more ballads and as such should be compared with Call my name and On the Couch and in this comparison, in my opinion, the TRC tracks are much more enjoyable.

Both ICPC and LOTP may not be bland perse but both songs are weak musically and lyrically and are a throw back to the NPS and RAVE days. Not good.

Sdldawn said:

I think he was referring to the live show but he's sending mixed and confusing messages:

"come and watch us play real instruments so you learn how to sample them in the studio"

KAB said:

Prince was clearly promoting the tour with that statement. Prince has always used machines throughout every era of his recording career but that is not to be confused with his live shows. He was the one who really helped to popularize the drum machine with his inventive and innovative use of it. I think people know what he is talking about. Live and studio are 2 different things the live show is showcasing what it is all about! With that said school is in session.

musicology is a great statement to inspire people to do things all by themselves, like it or not, you cannot deny that he did the album all by himself, and it inspires me and inspire lots of musicans. This album is all about songcraft, it does not matter that he is giving a lesson of techincal proficiency on all instruments, but he DO is giving a great lesson on songcraft and artistic independence. this is musicology for me.

Are drum machines really that evil?

It's like any other instrument- it's what you do with it. Drum machine beats can be lazy and stale or fresh and inventive.

yeah, if i was your girlfriend and when doves cry wouldn't work very well without the linn drum.

Thanks to all for your comments, and whereas i don't necessarily agree with them all i do take the points made.

As to whether past songs would sound better or worse with or without live drums [and instruments] or drum machines - well who knows? We've only heard the original versions and have to come love them as they are. Anyway this is the past not the present i.e Musicology.

Drum machines aren't evil but as you can probably guess i much prefer Prince songs where he's backed by real drums and bass.

Musicology shows fantastic musicianship, i agree, but it does still confuse me why, with the focus on music without the ology, and with possibly the best drummer and bass players he's ever worked with that he's still using this technology.

Afterall it was Prince who invented this "music without the ology" idea.