You still haven't answered that Maxwell question.

Hell Na!

Identity said:

You still haven't answered that Maxwell question.

But that doesn't really "count" because you asked that when the question was one of whether or not lifespan had to do with success or failure, so I figured you were relating Maxwell to that.

He missed an entire decade of the prime of his career, so yeah. That is something he'll never get back. Like Axl Rose, he might come back with an album, but it won't be the same.

NDRU said:

He missed an entire decade of the prime of his career, so yeah. That is something he'll never get back. Like Axl Rose, he might come back with an album, but it won't be the same.

Yes it will the Industry loves a good comeback. D is already on his way to one....

I like D'Angelo, but yes, sadly I do think he missed his time in the sense of being a commercially relevant artist. The difference him and others with long absences like Dr. Dre, Kate Bush, Gun N' Roses, Lauryn Hill and Sade is that all of those artists had HITS. International crossover songs your average music fan of any genre would have heard. D'Angelo never had those, his success was almost entirely inside his genre. He was in a position to where he could have crossed over if he'd continued because neosoul was hot at that time. But it's not anymore.

That said, I'm looking forward to his new album and the videos from the shows looked pretty dope.

Well to be honest though, D never really had a smash hit record. He came close with "Lady", "Brown Sugar" and "Untitled" but he didn't have the hit success that the others had... Maxwell had more hits than he did.

Have you seen the state of R&B music lately? Especially when it comes to male singers. He didn't miss a damn thing!

Who's taken his place? Frank Ocean? The Weeknd? Trey Songz? FOH!

Paris9748430 said:

Have you seen the state of R&B music lately? Especially when it comes to male singers. He didn't miss a damn thing!

Who's taken his place? Frank Ocean? The Weeknd? Trey Songz? FOH!

Great point!

Though I like the Weeknd...

[Edited 2/2/12 14:55pm]

Paris9748430 said:

Have you seen the state of R&B music lately? Especially when it comes to male singers. He didn't miss a damn thing!

Who's taken his place? Frank Ocean? The Weeknd? Trey Songz? FOH!

Preach!

Honestly nothing has happened in 10 years. And still no one sings as good as D.

P.S. Maybe part of the problem for him was what on earth to do after VooDoo. That would tax me.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

NDRU said:

He missed an entire decade of the prime of his career, so yeah. That is something he'll never get back. Like Axl Rose, he might come back with an album, but it won't be the same.

Yes it will the Industry loves a good comeback. D is already on his way to one....

I'm not saying he can't come back, but it can't be the same as having been here all along. But who knows? Maybe it's better? Fame is a curious thing.

NDRU said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Yes it will the Industry loves a good comeback. D is already on his way to one....

I'm not saying he can't come back, but it can't be the same as having been here all along. But who knows? Maybe it's better? Fame is a curious thing.

I actually think it will be better for him this time. He knows now what real fame is & what its like 2 b a sex symbol. His insecurities are not there like it was back then. Which is why he left in the first place.If he stayed in it longer back then he could have possibly overdosed. To me he looks more happy and at peace with himself this time. I followed his career closely....He was not comfortable on stage in the beginning ....

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

NDRU said:

I'm not saying he can't come back, but it can't be the same as having been here all along. But who knows? Maybe it's better? Fame is a curious thing.

I actually think it will be better for him this time. He knows now what real fame is & what its like 2 b a sex symbol. His insecurities are not there like it was back then. Which is why he left in the first place.If he stayed in it longer back then he could have possibly overdosed. To me he looks more happy and at peace with himself this time. I followed his career closely....He was not comfortable on stage in the beginning ....

Yeah I read that he wasn't comfortable on stage back then but when I look at those VooDoo Tour clips it's so hard to fathom. He was SO good. His band was the best. Their shows were three hours long! He didn't seem uncomfortable to me. Talk about professionalism.

Suffice it to say he was too shy and too earnest to be a sex symbol, which is why I feel he went into it more as a goof.

When I look at him now he does seem a lot more relaxed and happier. He's not as lean as he once was but by no means fat. He looks good and some think he looks better. My point is I don't think he cares like THAT anymore.

smoothcriminal12 said:

Honestly? I'm starting to believe that he missed his time. 12 years ago Voodoo came out, and people started realizing that this guy could change music. Brown Sugar was something new in a time where Biggie and Tupac were dominating radio. I really felt that D could've done something back then. Voodoo confirmed his potential as a heir to the greats.

But then he fell off the mark. Getting caught up with the popo multiple times. 12 years later and this guy is just coming back. Don't get me wrong, I love Charade, Another Life, and Sugah Daddy. I just kind of have this...feeling in the back of my mind that perhaps it's too late. That he missed his mark. If the follow up to Voodoo had come out in 2005 we would've been fine. But 2012 and just now this cat is coming back? Still with no sign of an album? I don't know man...I'm not sure what to think.

Thoughts?

You're functioning under the supposition that there is a time limit for musicians.

There is not.

D'Angelo, if he's a true steward of his talents, can prosper musically for years if he

chooses. The only reason why someone w(c)could surmise that D'Angelos has

missed his time (whatever that means) is because we live in a pop-microwave-culture

where if you are a celebrity who is not in the face of your fans every second of the day,

you are long forgotten.

duccichucka said:

....is because we live in a pop-microwave-culture

where if you are a celebrity who is not in the face of your fans every second of the day,

you are long forgotten.

smoothcriminal12 said:

duccichucka said:

....is because we live in a pop-microwave-culture

where if you are a celebrity who is not in the face of your fans every second of the day,

you are long forgotten.

Musicians are still existing in this "microwave culture". I don't think D doesn't know that.

Wow he sort of missed the whole download culture. When he last toured his show wasn't instantly broadcast for the world to see.

Fish out of water much?

Asking this questionas is like asking if Morris Day and Jesse Johsnon should've stayed with the Time and done the Purple Rain tour? or Should St. Paul have stayed with the Family and done the Shelia E/ Mazarati/Family tour? The question should be did R&B miss D'Angelo?

Good music stands the test of time. R&B is sooooooo wack right now. He can still generate a buzz as long as he doesn't pull a Lauryn Hill unplugged! When he hits the states people are gonna be so happy for what he brings..they'll be printing headlines like "Soul music is back..." "The return of real r&b music"...."Credibility to r&b music returns" etc. Imagine how Chris Brown, Ne-yo, Trey Songz and those guys are felling right now. Musiq is somewhere thinkin' "damn"! Eric Benet is like finally some back up!

Sure we all would have liked for D to put some stuff out sooner.He didn't and the wack got popular. Now he returns...better late than never!

Hmmm the Grammies are coming up; any chance of D showing up as a presenter and/or performer (I dream)?

Good way to get the face out with a new album on the way.

Well he sure didn't spend that missed time practising guitar - what the hell was Questlove on about him being on a Zappa level? So patently not.

Did he miss his time in terms of being a hot commodity in R&B. Yes.

Can he make a U.S. comeback. Based on the new tour clips I'd say why not. Music could use less autotuned B.S. right about now.

But here's problem#1. He's not the type of performer/singer that the current listening audience gravitates to now days: i.e. Chris Brown, Usher, those folks with 9 backup dancers and sparks flying out their shoes. D is more old school, not flashy. The cool dude from around the way who can just hang. Play to that audience. Keep his damn clothes on. Even if he is more comfortable than he was the first time around. Don't go there again.

Possible problem #2 is that D right now seems to me to be an unpretentious version of Van Hunt. Which is good for him. But, like Van Hunt he will most likely have a specific audience that will always follow him. In D's case (Prince fan's who are p.o.'d he still ain't playing the 10 minute "Head" set in concert, and fans that like live music/the live band sound on record). But they won't like him trying to be R&B & alt/rock. So no "Space Oddity" type stuff ... unfortunately. Classic Bowie most likely isn't on their shuffle list.

I don't think he will be a big comeback hit with R&B fans who say loved "Brown Sugar", etc., and now find they've been reworked to sound like Prince b-sides from 1986/87. It's been said that hardcore R&B fans hate it when you totally change your sound (see Van Hunt).

But hey I'm one of the "debbie downer, naynsayers" according to some here.

I just want to hear the album.

Mong said:

Well he sure didn't spend that missed time practising guitar - what the hell was Questlove on about him being on a Zappa level? So patently not.

For someone we've never heard play before he ain't half bad (I guess I'm giving him a break because I know how damn hard that thing is to play) and that solo is nice.

Quest was just being hyperbolic, a characteristic we should all be accustomed to by now. I doubt any of us thought he'd be THAT good. But what I've heard isn't out of place. He's not Madonna bad.

Ifsixwuz9 said:

Did he miss his time in terms of being a hot commodity in R&B. Yes.

Can he make a U.S. comeback. Based on the new tour clips I'd say why not. Music could use less autotuned B.S. right about now.

But here's problem#1. He's not the type of performer/singer that the current listening audience gravitates to now days: i.e. Chris Brown, Usher, those folks with 9 backup dancers and sparks flying out their shoes. D is more old school, not flashy. The cool dude from around the way who can just hang. Play to that audience. Keep his damn clothes on. Even if he is more comfortable than he was the first time around. Don't go there again.

Possible problem #2 is that D right now seems to me to be an unpretentious version of Van Hunt. Which is good for him. But, like Van Hunt he will most likely have a specific audience that will always follow him. In D's case (Prince fan's who are p.o.'d he still ain't playing the 10 minute "Head" set in concert, and fans that like live music/the live band sound on record). But they won't like him trying to be R&B & alt/rock. So no "Space Oddity" type stuff ... unfortunately. Classic Bowie most likely isn't on their shuffle list.

I don't think he will be a big comeback hit with R&B fans who say loved "Brown Sugar", etc., and now find they've been reworked to sound like Prince b-sides from 1986/87. It's been said that hardcore R&B fans hate it when you totally change your sound (see Van Hunt).

But hey I'm one of the "debbie downer, naynsayers" according to some here.

I just want to hear the album.

Let the music do the talking.

YES, he did.

CynicKill said:

I'm not so sure either. Of course I'll buy it, but I have the feeling that NO ONE ELSE is waiting for this album.

I poke around a number of music and entertainment blogs and the announcements and clips of his European shows recevied few comments, compared to the pages upon pages of conversation about other artists.

Apart from the big time fans, I don't think most people will be interested unless he comes with something big on radio (ala Maxwell's pretty wings comeback).

Frankly, apart from this site, I haven't heard folks really talk about D'Angelo in many many years.

Nah people are talking about it! This ain't Remy Shand we're talking about! Icons(Prince,Clapton.B.B. King,etc) in music have given this cat props. Granted his stage presence may be rusty. A 12yr layoff will do that. But doin' shows and giggin' will work that off. But hey why use words.... take a listen and tell me what male r&b artist since his layoff has delivered a live sound like this:

http://www.okayplayer.com...nload.html

Enjoy

(oh peep the piano medley)

Militant said:

I like D'Angelo, but yes, sadly I do think he missed his time in the sense of being a commercially relevant artist. The difference him and others with long absences like Dr. Dre, Kate Bush, Gun N' Roses, Lauryn Hill and Sade is that all of those artists had HITS. International crossover songs your average music fan of any genre would have heard. D'Angelo never had those, his success was almost entirely inside his genre. He was in a position to where he could have crossed over if he'd continued because neosoul was hot at that time. But it's not anymore.

That said, I'm looking forward to his new album and the videos from the shows looked pretty dope.

I really don't want "Commercial" Music .... I just want good music .... it's not the same Prince has been making Good music for near 15 years with out a "commercial" hit ....

Leave the HITS to Madge and Britney .....

We talking D'Angelo here....

Dreamer2 said:

Militant said:

I like D'Angelo, but yes, sadly I do think he missed his time in the sense of being a commercially relevant artist. The difference him and others with long absences like Dr. Dre, Kate Bush, Gun N' Roses, Lauryn Hill and Sade is that all of those artists had HITS. International crossover songs your average music fan of any genre would have heard. D'Angelo never had those, his success was almost entirely inside his genre. He was in a position to where he could have crossed over if he'd continued because neosoul was hot at that time. But it's not anymore.

That said, I'm looking forward to his new album and the videos from the shows looked pretty dope.

I really don't want "Commercial" Music .... I just want good music .... it's not the same Prince has been making Good music for near 15 years with out a "commercial" hit ....

Leave the HITS to Madge and Britney .....

We talking D'Angelo here....

Militant said:

I like D'Angelo, but yes, sadly I do think he missed his time in the sense of being a commercially relevant artist. The difference him and others with long absences like Dr. Dre, Kate Bush, Gun N' Roses, Lauryn Hill and Sade is that all of those artists had HITS. International crossover songs your average music fan of any genre would have heard. D'Angelo never had those, his success was almost entirely inside his genre. He was in a position to where he could have crossed over if he'd continued because neosoul was hot at that time. But it's not anymore.

That said, I'm looking forward to his new album and the videos from the shows looked pretty dope.

Hits don't make the songs any good. Rihanna has hits.....and host of folks that bore me 2 tears have hits.