At last it would seem as though Prince has recognised that releasing a ballad such as "Betcha by Golly Wow", "Eye Hate u", "Dinner with Delores", "Greatest Romance"...etc is not such a good move when choosing a first single to promote a new album. I am glad he has selected Musicology as the release. It is more what the masses are likely to listen to, therefore request and therefore willing to put dollars on the counter for. We all know he can do many styles, especially ballads...but they are not good release choices. I wonder if this is Princes doing or Sony? I heard Prince wanted to release "What do u want me to do" as the first-string single to the launch of the Musicology album. Apparently, it is his fav track on the album I read somewhere. The video is good quality, performance piece...his signature, and of good production quality also. Fingers crossed! Does anyone agree with me that since diamonds and Pearls....Prince's single releases are what has been his commercial downfall? I cannot help but think albums such as Emancipation should have had "Sleep Around" as the 1st release, Rave should have had "So far so pleased", Rainbow Children "1+1+1 is 3" etc....???

batman89 said:

Where did you hear this? I thought his favourite track is 'Call My Name'.

BinaryJustin said:

Actually he said Call My Name was his favorite, on a morning radio show.

I thought this would be a thread about Call My Name hitting the airwaves finally

On Friday night, I was at a party consisting of a wide range of ages and tastes.
On a whim, I handed the host the downloaded version of 'Musicology' and the guests wouldn't let the title track go!
I swear, the song was played, at many requests, over and over.
After about the third spin, someone finally asked who it was.

I proudly and loudly said his name aloud once again

The more I listen to it, the more I think ICP&C would be good choice for a single, if only for a change. Most of his singles have been ballads, this is rather upbeat and has dirty, raw edge to it. And it would make for a fun video, IMO.

Personally, WHAT DO U WNAT ME 2 DO is the best song on the album, and would make an excellent single for the summertime.

I disagree. "What...2 Do" is an o.k. song, but I think "If I Was the Man in Ure Life" should be the next single. It has alot more energy. WDUWM2D is nice, but boring.

They should have separate singles for USA and UK / Europe. USA needs its upbeat material like "Illusion" while UK could bow down for "Call My Name". Of course, you'd need to make two videos as well...

And that's gonna cost.

batman89 said:

Quite the opposite actually. I don't know anyone who likes that type of shit.

i'm convinced that cinnamon girl needs to be a single. it is a perfect example of a top 40 summer hit! it's catchy and current with no trendy sounds or dated sounds. it also has good crossover possibility for adult contemporary. having your song on top 40 is what helps to sell records the most. with sony behind the song, it is a gauranteed hit!

EvilWhiteMale said:

You don't know anyone, period. Seriously, there's a bunch of articles calling the song "infectious", and surely they were written by someone.

batman89 said:

The Most Beautiful Girl...?

I agree with the thought of making Cinnamon Girl a single. It's far from my favorite track on the album, but it has top40 hit written all over it. Now, having said that, this probably means that P will not release it as a single. But hey, he's doing a lot of things right these days (commercially speaking), so hopefully I'm wrong.

Releasing Betcha By Golly Wow as a single period - let alone the lead single - was one dumb ass decision. Stupid as hell.

Musicology will be one hot commodity if the right singles are released to radio, and they have videos done on more than a $7 budget and videotaped by Larry Graham on his Jehovacorder.
[This message was edited Sun Apr 11 13:38:29 2004 by Octavius]

Aerogram said:

So, the articles are always right? The majority of music listeners don't like this type of stuff. You'll see.

I think Cinnamon Girl or A Million Days would sell the album better, but even those songs will be forgotten about. They're the only two songs I can listen to on the album, but they're far from being classics.

EvilWhiteMale said:

Hi, my name's Doozer.

SassierBritches said:

I agree with you.

I guess it all depends on who in the market you are trying to target. I get the feeling the targets are those that aren't really into today's music, but for lack of a choice on what's popular put up with it. Those that remember back in the days when you had a choice in the style of the music to listen to, and enjoyed experimenting with different sounds without guilt or the demands of conformity. I think that is what made the 80s so great there was so much variety and range available to everyone. Now it feels like you are beat over the head with who you should like and think is wonderful. The CD Musicology brings that gently to the table again, each song having a different sound, if you don't take to one, you most likely take to another. But that has always been the Prince I have known and loved.

Doozer said:

Hi Doozer. What can I do for ya?

Single selection and strong promotion are critical to the success of an album. It seems like Prince has surrounded himself with a bunch of "yes men" who only agree with every inclination he has when it comes to putting music out there for public consumption. I would hope that the man would actually have some people with balls around him, people with guts enough to tell him that he's about to make a huge mistake if.....

Hell, instead of having Londel harass dedicated fans and threaten them with legal action for doing the very thing keeps his music circulating, Prince should come to planet org from time to time and let the people here decide which song(s) will be released as singles. I would think that he values his fans opinions as much as he does our money.

EvilWhiteMale said:

Just a friendly introduction from someone who likes Musicology...that's all.

Octavius said:

....but the same Yes-Men were NO-Men when it came to WhenDovesCry.
but he insisted, and look where that went.

....but at the same time, IfIWasYourGF was the 2nd release off SOTT. a GREAT song...but it sank as a single. and basically the album that had so much (more) potential, never reached as many as it should have (upon initial release.)

Musicology is a step in the right direction, as far as singles go. my 2nd choice would definitly be ICP&C, but WDUWM2D? is a definite daring
release that could pay off in a way that Strollin' could of if it was released as a proper single.
because it definitly sounds NOTHING LIKE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE RADIO, yet it has a catchy hook (my girlfriend loves this song, because of the chorus. she doesn't feel much else on the album though.)

i was not at all impressed with the song as a download, but on the album, it definitly hits you difrently. it could definitly hit the airwaves that same way---although it would still be a risk (juust like IIWYGirlfriend.)

yet ICP&C doesn't sound like anything else on the radio either---but it is so GD Funky, it wins my vote for the next single.


but as history has proven (over&over,) it seems to be P's final call and you never know what he is gonna do.


-peaceternalY'all

.

I think commercially Cinnamon Girl has 'HIT' all over it....but I also like ICP&C cos its just so damn funky...but I doubt that would be a mainstream hit.....maybe do cinnamon girl as 2nd single followed by either a ballad - Call my name or WDUWM2D - then as fourth single ICP&C....I think he should at least capitalise on the buzz over musicology by following it up with another 'radio friendly' song before he takes any 'risks' .....but what do I know.....but if he wants 2 carry the tour on in the states and UK then he's gonna have 2 keep his name in the press 4 at least 6-10 months...ie (with the backing of Sony) have at least 2 'mainstream hits' ...and I think cinnamon girl is most suited 4 'the masses' ...its catchy and has decent lyrics which would make 4 great video given todays 'world news climate' ....anyone agree?

the best thing he could do 4 me would b 2 release a dvd of the musicology show...but I can understand Y he wouldn't do that till after the tour.....I'd still go and see him live even if I had the DVD,....but joe bloggs might not....mind u joe bloggs may not buy the dvd but he would probably go 2 the show if it got good press....but again...what do I know

SassierBritches said:

Just a small quibble here- nothing is a guaranteed hit. Not everything Prince does, nor everything Sony does. Otherwise everything Prince or Sony put out would hit and we know that isn't the case. I agree it stands a better chance than he's had since at least 1999 (Rave), though!

EvilWhiteMale said:

i seen the video on vh1,mtv...and heard it on the radio....i must say i would've thought he's have a better single out than a -prince by numbers- old school styled jam .....waits patiently for the next single

I dont think its that great a single ,though it has grown on me alot and I thought it was pure shit when I first heard it.
I would personally choose Illusion as the 1st single ,it seems to have the the broadest range of appreciation and I could have seen it doing really well. Then I would have chosen A Million Days or Reflection as a slower tempo single and probablys Cinnamon Girl as its a good catchy pop song ,which perhaps has become a little sickly to some fans never the less itrs in your brain quick and thats what makes a good single.
But then again maybes appealing to the mainstream aint P's intention.

batman89 said:

YOU HIT NAIL ON HEAD

POOK THINK SAME THING ABOUT SLEEP AROUND AND SO FAR SO PLEASED!

ALSO BABY KNOWS

THING IS

CALL MY NAME COULD HAVE BEEN R AND B SINGLE THAT FINALLY WORK!

richierich said:

Of course it's his intention. He just simply miscalculated the first single again. As pleasant as Musicology is it doesn't stick in one's head. If I dare say so it's actually a little boring.