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Musings of a long-time Prince fan the day before a new album comes out So here it is, 10:40 Eastern Standard Time, the night before a new Prince CD comes out, and I know for certain one thing that will happen tomorrow. At some point, as I have the past 20 plus years, I will go to a store and purchase the new Prince CD. First day out so I will have to purchase it, not that I will have a lot of chances to listen to it tomorrow but that is just what I do. I have two children, a wife, a mortgage, a busy job, a grass that needs serious mowing. But I will buy it and, excited in the way I have always been excited when a new work by my chosen designated icon comes out.
I am not a fanatic nor have I ever called myself a fam, whatever that is. I am a fan and, even though I have had points of serious doubt (namely,the late 90s, where Prince's battles with the music companies almost came too much to bear)I will always be a fan. So I will find things to like about the CD. Certain songs will grab me, certain hooks will plant themselves in my head, the album will be pleasant enough. I will likely like it but not love it. And that is okay. I like where Prince is right now and I know that it would be way much too expect another "1999" or "Purple Rain" or "Sign O the Times" from the man because, damn it, he is not where he is, emotionally, spiritually, or otherwise than at those times that those albums were hatched. Prince has been to the mountaintop, had unprecedented sucess, made the discovery that he's an incredible performer who the public likes to watch, even if it is for his older glories, and, because of all this, the urgency that creates brilliance in the studio is not there. It probably will not ever be there again because I think that the truly great albums of our generation were created out of rebellion, starvation, a burning need to say something never said before in a brand new way. A 49 year old multimillionaire who has had virtually every experience a musician could possibly have and has come out the other side and found inner peace is not a likely source of rebellion. So Prince is not the Prince of the 80s and never will be again. Prince is safe now. Prince is a Fortune 500 company now. Prince is a name brand. Prince is Sears. He is not the cocky ingenue, the prodigal brat who is going to shock anyone with anything. Prince is no longer rated R but rather PG-13 on a good day and PG most days. But so is Dylan. And McCartney. And for the most part U2. And fill in your garden variety rock and roll Hall of Famer name here. And to me that is okay. Because he is still a lot better off than his contemporaries. To paraphrase Chris Rock, I think it is safe to say Prince won the battle with MJ, who is now become a victim of his own self-crafted mythology. Prince is better off than Madonna, who just seems like she is just trying way too hard these days. Or George Michael, whose personal battles with ganja have overshadowed his talent. Or Whitney Houston. Or Bobby Brown. Or Lionel Richie. Or Bruce Springstein, wherever the hell he is hiding these days. Think of a peer and on just about every level, Prince has got them licked these days. And damn if he doesn't walk around like he knows it. The CD is going to go number 1 most likely, which is a pretty impressive achievement for someone who cannot get radio play outside of the Urban AC market. And then the numbers will fall and it will end up selling 600,000 copies. And I will be disappoined for Prince, but not as much as I used to be because that is just where it's at right now and likely forevermore. Damn I was so disappointed when Lovesexy barely eeked out gold status and "Glam Slam" didn't even chart on the Hot 100. But 600,000 copies is pretty okay now and I sure would like to be getting the money P is getting for 600,000 copies versus the money that you average disposa band that comes out these days is getting for selling a couple of million. And I will keep reading Org comments and respecting the hell out of all of you for having oppinions. And I will read comments from fans, younger and older, that expected more from Planet Earth, just like you expected more from 3121 or Musicology. And I will nod and probably somewhat agree, with all due respect,roll my eyes a little bit because I have come to the realization that Prince has done so much great in his career that it's hard for us to accept good. But he's still in the game. And we are still posting. He's still here and we're still here, many of us bitten by a Prince bug a long time ago that we are not likely to shake. And I'm still excited by a new album, even if I am no longer the rebellious teenager who needed an idol who was fighting against conformity while at the same time longing for a sense of acceptance. I'm a 35 year old man who is comfortable with what I have become listening to a 49 year old man who seems to be pretty comfortable too. And in the words of Stuart Smalley, "that's okay". [Edited 7/23/07 20:29pm] All good things they say never last... | |
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 excellent post! that pretty much sums it up.
P.S. I love Planet Earth  "Half of what I say is meaningless; but I say it so that the other half may reach you." - Kahlil Gibran | |
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GottaLetitgo said: So here it is, 10:40 Eastern Standard Time, the night before a new Prince CD comes out, and I know for certain one thing that will happen tomorrow. At some point, as I have the past 20 plus years, I will go to a store and purchase the new Prince CD. First day out so I will have to purchase it, not that I will have a lot of chances to listen to it tomorrow but that is just what I do. I have two children, a wife, a mortgage, a busy job, a grass that needs serious mowing. But I will buy it and, excited in the way I have always been excited when a new work by my chosen designated icon comes out.
I am not a fanatic nor have I ever called myself a fam, whatever that is. I am a fan and, even though I have had points of serious doubt (namely,the late 90s, where Prince's battles with the music companies almost came too much to bear)I will always be a fan. So I will find things to like about the CD. Certain songs will grab me, certain hooks will plant themselves in my head, the album will be pleasant enough. I will likely like it but not love it. And that is okay. I like where Prince is right now and I know that it would be way much too expect another "1999" or "Purple Rain" or "Sign O the Times" from the man because, damn it, he is not where he is, emotionally, spiritually, or otherwise than at those times that those albums were hatched. Prince has been to the mountaintop, had unprecedented sucess, made the discovery that he's an incredible performer who the public likes to watch, even if it is for his older glories, and, because of all this, the urgency that creates brilliance in the studio is not there. It probably will not ever be there again because I think that the truly great albums of our generation were created out of rebellion, starvation, a burning need to say something never said before in a brand new way. A 49 year old multimillionaire who has had virtually every experience a musician could possibly have and has come out the other side and found inner peace is not a likely source of rebellion. So Prince is not the Prince of the 80s and never will be again. Prince is safe now. Prince is a Fortune 500 company now. Prince is a name brand. Prince is Sears. He is not the cocky ingenue, the prodigal brat who is going to shock anyone with anything. Prince is no longer rated R but rather PG-13 on a good day and PG most days. But so is Dylan. And McCartney. And for the most part U2. And fill in your garden variety rock and roll Hall of Famer name here. And to me that is okay. Because he is still a lot better off than his contemporaries. To paraphrase Chris Rock, I think it is safe to say Prince won the battle with MJ, who is now become a victim of his own self-crafted mythology. Prince is better off than Madonna, who just seems like she is just trying way too hard these days. Or George Michael, whose personal battles with ganja have overshadowed his talent. Or Whitney Houston. Or Bobby Brown. Or Lionel Richie. Or Bruce Springstein, wherever the hell he is hiding these days. Think of a peer and on just about every level, Prince has got them licked these days. And damn if he doesn't walk around like he knows it. The CD is going to go number 1 most likely, which is a pretty impressive achievement for someone who cannot get radio play outside of the Urban AC market. And then the numbers will fall and it will end up selling 600,000 copies. And I will be disappoined for Prince, but not as much as I used to be because that is just where it's at right now and likely forevermore. Damn I was so disappointed when Lovesexy barely eeked out gold status and "Glam Slam" didn't even chart on the Hot 100. But 600,000 copies is pretty okay now and I sure would like to be getting the money P is getting for 600,000 copies versus the money that you average disposa band that comes out these days is getting for selling a couple of million. And I will keep reading Org comments and respecting the hell out of all of you for having oppinions. And I will read comments from fans, younger and older, that expected more from Planet Earth, just like you expected more from 3121 or Musicology. And I will nod and probably somewhat agree, with all due respect,roll my eyes a little bit because I have come to the realization that Prince has done so much great in his career that it's hard for us to accept good. But he's still in the game. And we are still posting. He's still here and we're still here, many of us bitten by a Prince bug a long time ago that we are not likely to shake. And I'm still excited by a new album, even if I am no longer the rebellious teenager who needed an idol who was fighting against conformity while at the same time longing for a sense of acceptance. I'm a 35 year old man who is comfortable with what I have become listening to a 49 year old man who seems to be pretty comfortable too. And in the words of Stuart Smalley, "that's okay". [Edited 7/23/07 20:29pm] Finally someone HITS the nail on the head!! God damn it took long enough, i have been saying for so long now how PRINCE is not going to do 1999 or Lovesexy or Purple Rain because he's not there anymore, and quite frankly neither are we. Its great to have the memories but its not just Music its a path when you follow a true artist through their career. This is why i laugh when people compare a record like Planet Earth to something he did 15 years ago and Bitch about it, damn, get over that nonsense already, the world has changed in the last 15 years greatly, and for someone like PRINCE to stay exactly same are U crazy. GREAT POST!! "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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Prince is safe now. Prince is a Fortune 500 company now. Prince is a name brand. Prince is Sears. He is not the cocky ingenue, the prodigal brat who is going to shock anyone with anything. Prince is no longer rated R but rather PG-13 on a good day and PG most days.
It could be said that Prince was like this once (and maybe ever since) he did Batman. That was a namebrand, that was fortune 500, that was corporate, that was PG-13. Fact is, contrary to the lyrics of Face Down, Prince DID go through the wringer. He didn't go down as a washed up singer. He risked his commercial self, and his money to do things his way. Prince HAS always done things his way. Hell, Purple Rain was genius, of course, but it also was HEAVILY pushed by WB at the time--of course it was the EXACT right moment to do so--but it's not like that project was a little independent thing. Purple Rain was an exercise in mass media crossover promotion. The videos fueled album fueled the movie fueled the tour etc. Anyways, I agree with your post, I just think that (except for the  era) Prince has ALWAYS been somewhat commercial. Sure, he is an artist 1st, but it's not like he never went for the $$$ before now.
Bottom line: He always did things his way and never really compromised his artistic integrity. [Edited 7/23/07 21:00pm] [Edited 7/23/07 21:01pm] "New Power slide...." |
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Nice post, man. Likewise, I'll b picking up his album 2morrow. I have been a Prince fan here myself 4 20+ years! Listening 2 PE right now on MSN and have been 4 the past week. Being a Prince fan gives me a sense of security that no matter how things in my life can become hectic, I can always count on and look 4ward 2 a Prince album almost EVERY year! And while the journey can b rough at times, it's been a memorable ride and good 2 have other Prince fans along over these past 2 decades and hopefully, many more 2 come!!  "Just like the sun, the Rainbow Children rise."
"We had fun, didn't we?" -Prince (1958-2016) 4ever in my life | |
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Gottaletitgo,
I must say, U almost brought a tear to my eye.  Great Post!  | |
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A few little things I'll grumble about from your post. First Bobby Brow was never nor will ever be a peer to Prince, and I am not saying this as a zealous fan. Bobby was one fifth of a decent pop group who had grand ideas of his own to go solo. He did quite well, but His lone successful album is all he'll ever be known for and his subsequent run ins with the law and marriage to We know Who is fodder for laughter. Now that I've thought about it, that's my only quibble. Great post, I gotta go. Jeux Sans Frontiers | |
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wonderful. thoughtful. well done. | |
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Very nice read...and I agree! I love Prince just as much now as I did 24 years ago! Thank God for change... He gets it! That's why the ladies love him...  | |
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Love the Stuart Smalley reference. Very amusing... and a well composed and thoughtful piece of writing. | |
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 You summed it up well. Being a Prince fan is quite the experience. There are unbelievable highs and some disturbing lows, but I'll be damned if it isn't always interesting. You point out very well that it is unreasonable to expect Prince to display the same hunger that he used to, and it is likewise unreasonable to expect us as listeners to be as blown away as we used to be.Feel free to join in the Prince Album Poll 2018! Let'a celebrate his legacy by counting down the most beloved Prince albums, as decided by you! | |
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well put... i love his music....i am not daft enough like some here to expect albums to hit me like purple rain did or sign o the times....time has moved on and me and him are different people now...he is...by far...my favourite musician and always will be... yes he releases poor stuff at times ...1998 til 2002 was bleak for me but i still knew he was a genius and would come good again..people forget he had some serious shit in his personal life in the late ninties and this MUST have had an effect on him and his music so lets just enjoy the fact that he is still touring and making music.. | |
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"And I'm still excited by a new album, even if I am no longer the rebellious teenager who needed an idol who was fighting against conformity while at the same time longing for a sense of acceptance. I'm a 35 year old man who is comfortable with what I have become listening to a 49 year old man who seems to be pretty comfortable too."
I was there the first day too and couldn't have put it better. I especially like your closing sentiment. Thank you for mustering the energy to post this, you old man. | |
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I feel exactly the way u do. Kudos on the great writing. | |
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I was thinking of writing a similar post myself and I am feeling the same way as you! However, you have gone and done it and with such eloquence.
Nice post  'I loved him then, I love him now and will love him eternally. He's with our son now.' Mayte 21st April 2016 = the saddest quote I have ever read! RIP Prince and thanks for everything. | |
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 Org quotables | |
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GottaLetitgo said: Prince is Sears.
Great post, but... I know Sears. A subsidiary of Sears pays me. Prince is not Sears.  [Edited 7/24/07 7:17am] We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves. | |
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Fantastic post. I feel the same way. I'll be buying the album at lunchtime just like I did when I was a teenager buying Come on the release date. But instead of immediately stopping everything and listening to it loud on headphones, I'll probably listen to it in bits and pieces - I'll get home from work at 6, and I'll be playing with my son until he goes to bed. I have a small place, and he's a light sleeper, so if I listen to it at home, it will be at low volume. Not the way to listen to a Prince album, I know, but for the first time, I don't mind... I have a son to play with, I have a mortgage, I have housework to do, I have yardwork to do, I have a wonderful wife to hang out with, and I have a Harry Potter book to read. I'll give Planet Earth the attention it deserves, but maybe not today. | |
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Im 36 and much like u , got the wife,kids mortgage..etc..but I am a a fam...and I dont see P as a fortune 500 companies..I have witnessed his evolution , not only in his music,but as a man. He has always been a sort of underground/cult artist...who broke into mainstream w/Purple Rain.....but has always done things his way//good or bad...some folks stayed w/him others did not...new people are getting on the boat all the time...others are jumping off....ive been on for the long haul....im getting my copy of the cd during my lunch hour and I will play the hell out of it...and my kids will know some of the songs...(they already know and like guitar);.....and then in a month or two..i will be ready for some more .....always looking for the next record..... Stand Up! Everybody, this is your life!
https://www.facebook.com/...pope2the9s follow me on twitter @thepope2the9s | |
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Genesia said: GottaLetitgo said: Prince is Sears.
Great post, but... I know Sears. A subsidiary of Sears pays me. Prince is not Sears.
[Edited 7/24/07 7:17am] I was just thinking you know they have hard tools but they also have "the softer side of Sears" and that's kinda how his music is. Maybe, he's Macy's then. All good things they say never last... | |
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I appreciate the kind response...I kind of felt like Jerry Maguire last night writing the manifesto he wrote at the beginning of the movie. Why do I have this feeling that Jay Mohr is going to invite me out to lunch and I'm going to be fired from the Org or something. All good things they say never last... | |
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But 600,000 copies is pretty okay now and I sure would like to be getting the money P is getting for 600,000 copies versus the money that you average disposa band that comes out these days is getting for selling a couple of million.
Prince is better off than Janet Jackson who sold a million copies and had to pay the record company money because it didn't chart high enough. Prince is the master of the game now. His eyes were opened during his battle with Warner Bros., and everyone else is just beginning to see the light. No More Haters on the Internet. | |
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