Prince "3121" Album, Track-By-Track

Good review. I'm listening right now and I'd have to agree with you on most of your points. It's a shame "Fury" doesn't live up to the SNL performance 'cause that was insane. I'd say either that or "Black Sweat" is my favorite track on the album.

jay telling prince how to make music, lol. the arrogance of experts.

EatMyShorts, do you have a crush on me? :)

Hahahaha. Love this post and your comments. Scared to hear the albyoom. Only saw one o the SNL perfs, it was all about some chick, Himself barely sang?

er, i'd think Prince knows more about music than you. Just love when experts condescendingly critique legends. Thats a good album. "Fury" is the shit, how you gonna be mad at that song because of a guitar solo. Respect a legend.

Haha, I don't think "well the singer knows more about music than you" is a sensible response to mine or anyone's music criticism.

Prince probably knows as much about music as anyone in the world. That hasn't prevented him from making all sorts of wack shit over the years. And I'm gonna be as real about my favorite artist's low points as I am about his high points, precisely because I respect him so much.

I've only listened to it twice. I liked it a lot, but I've decided not to play it again until the 21st. I'll be the first to admit, when it comes to new Prince albums, I get very emotional, so it does affect my opinions of them, but from what I heard, I liked a lot. Especially "The Dance". Very "Beautiful Ones"-ish.

I AM A FAN OF PRINCE AND I LIKE THE 3121. ALL OF IT. SOME MORE THAN OTHERS. I HAVE GROWN AS HE AND THING THIS IS GOOD QUALITY. THE RAP I THINK IS NOT HIS CUP OF PURPLE STUFF. HE FEELS AS IF HE IS GETTING JUST A BIT OF THE RAWNESS BACK TO HIMSELF BUT HIS MATURITY THERE ALSO. NOT CLASSIC PRINCE BECAUSE CLASSIC WOULD MEAN HE WOULD BE SINGING ABOUT THE SEXUAL IMMORAL THINGS AGAIN & WE LOVED IT BECAUSE WE WERE TO. THIS IS FONKAY GROVIN PRINCE AND THAT IS PRINCE TODAY. I WAS SKEPTICAL BUT I AM RELAXED NOW. RATING FROM 1 TO 10. . I GIVE IT A 8.

I've been listening to this 3121 since 314. that's when i found it leak to the internet (hmmmm it just so happens that i was able to do the same thing with MUSICOLOGY before it's "official" release, coincedence?) & this is one of his "across the board/charts" hits like "1999"/"purple rain"/"sign o the times"/"lovesexy(black album)"/"diamonds & pearls". i'm going to end this here because i can not possibly put into words how much different/same, new/old, experimental/old school, pop culture references (both new & old) are on this release. I haven't heard this much GOOD diversity since "the slaughterhouse" & "the chocolate invasion".

so in closing, look at the cover of the cd, he's not looking away from you, he's leading you into the cd. 3121 is on his back to let you know, this is where he's at right now. you're welcome to come, but you're never gonna leave......(or something like that) PLEASE feel free to debate me on this.
later 'gator
ajk_44035

I finally got to hear 'Black Sweat'. You are spot on. It starts out sounding like a reason to run out and buy the album (cause with Prince, I only really need one reason), but then the lyrics come in.... damn... maybe next time.

For a beat like that, he'd have been better off not doing his falsetto voice. He probably could have done those same lyrics (albeit it weak) using his regular 'when doves cry' voice, and it would have gone over a lot better. That falsetto just knocks the beat into the dirt.

You know, I'm starting to think artist should just retire after making their best album. It seems like everybody allways puts down any album after that.

Oh, but it isn't on par with his classic album.

No shyt. Artists pretty much have one prime.. People should be happy with any solid cd after that. This happens with so many singers/bands and I get rather tried of reading about it.

Adding to htat... Most fans are singers/bands from the past are nothing more than whiney morons.

I'm with you ajk_44035. This man is just so diverse and how can his music even be put in to any category? 3121 is just another good work of art by the man.

It Good To See Him Going Back To His Roots

Where is all the hype from this album coming from?!?!

If you want Great Prince music...put in an album from the 80's!

If you're wondering...yes, Prince has made great music in the 90's and 2000 era but they are scattered though out this albums; Far and few between if you ask me.

I'll take another TRC album b4 3121 anyday!

BTW, there are 2 great songs on this album...

3121 and Satisfied!

I just wish I was as satisfied with the rest of 3121

:) (pun intended)

Ok...I really like "Beautiful, Loved and Blessed" too!!!

I just wish "Fury" wasn't as polished! Could have been the best song on the album.

Okay, I forgot to mention that I really appreciate the song, "Black Sweat"! If you like his falsetto voice like I do, it makes the song even better.

Sooo...

On this Album there are 4 Really Good Songs!

3121(I like the experimental aspect)

Black Sweat(He's getting closer to find "it" Again!)

Beautiful, Loved and Blessed(Very Mellow)

Satisfied(Ohhh Yeah...this is the Slow Jam every album needs!!)

Im a Prince fan since the 80's and since the beginning he has become a growing artist. I think this album represents something greater to come.(hopefully) Although he need to rock out a little more. But its a good album.

You guys are just drunk. Funny how u critique someone else's art. Get a life...or get a guitar and shut up.

come on! it's a "light" album. spreading around but loosing overall conjunctions. doesn't it sound like michael jackson somewhere? good ideas in one point and another, but that is already understood when you speak about a prince's album.

I think tis cd is weak, it needs more deep nasty funk instead of this watered down piece of cheesy cheese cake. I like 3121 but after there there isn t a track that makes me want to keep playing it over and over, by the way the dance is an old song redone from a few years back. Fury could realy rock harder.
I agree with jsmooth reveiw.
I am sooo bored with the shit he s putting out when he can funk so much better. Marks 4/10

4 outta 10!!!

I agree.

I'd also like to say thanks to JaySmooth for the spot-on review! You're my kinda Prince Listener!

Unfortunately for Prince, and any other great artist in history that has a vast number of styles in their body work, they are criticized by everyone that wishes for a single style that they personally appreciate. This problem is compounded when artist like prince have had huge hits like 1999, Purple Rain, Sign “O” Times and Diamonds and Pearls. All 4 of those albums have distinct differences in style and attracted a lot of life long fans. Some people said that Purple Rain was a sell out and too commercial and departed too far from the punk/dance style of 1999. A lot of people said that Sign “O” Times was weird and too funky, not enough like Purple Rain. And Diamonds and pearls was too POP, too much candy, not funky enough, so on and so on. Either the work is good or it is not. In my opinion there are few exceptions in Prince’s body of work, most are outstanding. You shouldn’t put a artist in a box. You should appreciate the fact that some artist try out new things to them. You should listen to every album as if you’ve never heard anything from that artist before! Judge that work against your expectations from music in general. Anytime you do that, Prince beats expectations almost all the time. 3121 is a solid album that was designed to be a commercial success and have mass appeal. Perhaps it tries to be too much to too many people. Perhaps you are getting too old to appreciate an attempt from an artist like Prince to appeal to a whole new generation of music lovers. I hope this album succeeds. Either way….I will love this album just like I love 1999, Purple Rain, Sign “O” Times, Diamonds & Pearls, and many other albums from this great artist.

Word to the wise over at Universal. You need to release “The Word” next. I’m an atheist and I love this song. This song makes me want to put the top down and drive all night listening to it over and over. What a beautiful and perfect song.

3121 is great ! the Master of funk is back at his best
I love black sweat and i cried when i heard the dance

I definitely agree with F Pittman. Prince's music rolls easily across multiple genres and compared to many of his earlier works it may not be the funky, smoldering music many would like to hear repeated ad nausem. BUT, if you compare it to the music being put out by today's "artists" you will come up with the only answer that makes any sense: Prince is showing them how it should be done! The best of today's music performers all owe Prince a huge debt for the music that has influenced them. And now an even greater debt for showing them that longevity can be a reality if they stay true to their craft and continue to make great musical choices. "The Word" is incredible, "3121" is classic Prince funk, "Incense and Candles" (ok despite the rapping) is seductive Prince sensuality, and "Fury," while I agree could have been much harder, remains one of the best on the album. For an album cut though, it begs for the arena, full band treatment.
Kudos to Prince for keeping my fan sensibilities Satisfied!

Prince, is a great artist, everyone knows that. But we cannot relive the past, there will be no 1999, there will be no Purple Rain or Sign o of the times. Those albums were masterpieces, that cannot be duplicated. 3121,is a good album, it as some good jams on it. Let's stop comparing his work and lets just jam

longtime prince fan....i've been around since prince had an afro....i also am amused by critics that use critiques as an attempt to show their all-knowing musical knowledge....by picking songs to death on trivial issues....

after the mess that was musiqology....this was a welcome addition to my prince collection....there wasn't anything on it that i didn't enjoy listening to....for the critics...one word...."picky".....ridiculous to put down a song because of a guitar highlighted here instead of a keyboard highlighted there....

i saw nothing wrong with prince's spoken part of incence and candles....it fit in nicely with the flow....

a lot of prince's stuff loses something in the recording.....lots of it goes over better live....and so the cd's are somewhat lackin'...i'd gotten tired of defending prince to non fans....glad he's put out one that i don't have to defend....

i like this one....lots.....

Jaye: You had your reasons for disliking Musicology, I had my reasons for disliking some of this album.. can't we hold differing opinions without having to belittle or discredit each other?

I've just discovered Prince and his music last year but to me 3121 is already the best cd I heard in a loooong time. Amazing songs and to think he played most instruments all by himself!!!

I get so tired of hearing fans complain about wanting the "old Prince tunes". Life is about growth and with a artist like Prince, you simply get on the bus and enjoy the ride he takes you on. You got to understand that to Prince going backwards and doing what he's "already done" is like drawing a circle around yourself and not being able to step outside of it... Prince has never limited himself to one sound, so why should we?? I look to each new Prince album as a new adventure. It's like "ok Prince where are we going this time?". Sometimes the ride is fantastic, and sometimes there are spots where you scratch your head and say "that didn't work", but thumbs up for doing something different. It's a shame that some of the new "hot" hiphop artist such as Outkast, Timberland, Pharell and etc dont pay more homage to Prince as he paved the road and set the standards to some of the beats they are producing..... In the end I enjoyed 3121 and I find it a well balanced album of commerical hits and gems for the diehard prince fan....

Prince is steadily making better records. The last 4 or 5 have been kinda so so. Its more alive than Musicology, but the songs are still too safe. I like Fury but I'd rather hear him do it live. The SNL performance (which will reair Saturday night 3/25/06) was AMAZING. Prince was killing it in all HIS PURPLE GLORY!

i've been a fan since i was ten or rather since purple rain,and i have 2 say this new record is in my top five Prince records.Nobody can re-invent the wheel quite like him.I fancy myself as having a pretty good ear 4 great music and usually i have 2 listen 2 something over &over b4 it will begin 2 grow on me.That is not the case with '3121'.From the title track until the last this is classic s*%t! 2 shorten my review I will let u know in 5 words or less my take on each song: 3121=funky,Lolita=contagious beat,Te amo corazon=lovely,Black Sweat= 'Kissish'club banger,Incense&Candles=luv makin' music,Love=sweet mix of soul,Satisfied='On the Couch'part 2,Beautiful,Loved & Blessed=top ten ready &pretty,The Dance=ok,gotta go more than 5 words here ,listen 2 this one from beginning 2 end and u will feel as if you've been entrapped in the soul of 'His Royal Badness'.He really gets n2 this one and as the song builds 2 an un4gettable ending your hair will stand on end as he belts out some of the most heart-wrenching and soulful lyrics ever !The other cuts r awesome 2 but these r the ones that made the biggest impression on me.But dont take my word 4 it experience '3121' 4 your self & enJOY

wasn't trying to belittle you bro....sorry you took it that way....peace...

I've not always been a Prince fan but I have listened to this CD 3 times already and I just got it a few hours ago. The diversity of this album is amazing and the songs and music are fantastic. People will be talking about this album for years to come.

Loved it!! Didn't take me directly back to the 80s but at least I got a little taste of it. Like Jaye said live is better, I'm looking forward to that.

I SAID IT ONCE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN,THIS CD IS GREAT! INCENSE&CANDLES MADE MY GF'S PANTIES WET! I LOVE THAT LITTLE ZAP&ROGER THING AT THE BEGINNING.THE MAN IS TOTALLY IN THE ZONE ON THIS ENTIRE CD EXCEPT MAYBE FOR GET ON THE BOAT WHICH AINT BAD IT'S JUST NOT MY FAV.IF YOUR HAIR DOESNT STAND ON END WHEN U LISTEN TO THE DANCE THEN YOU'VE MISSED THE BOAT.HOW A MAN 5'2 CAN BELT OUT LYRICS LIKE THAT IS AMAZING.HE SCREAMS LIKE A WHITE WOMAN AND WE LOVE IT.HE IS ALSO THE ONLY PERSON ON EARTH WHO CAN GET AWAY WITH BEING A HYPOCRITE.LADIES DONT SHAVE YOUR LEGS B4 U LISTEN ,IT WILL GROW BACK OUT BY THE 5TH SONG.4REAL !

I am one of those that believe "Parade" is the best album to come from the 80's (well, maybe the only one). That's why "Black Sweat" is a disappointment. Anyway, i think Prince's just ruining his statistics (up to "Come" - don't forget this one guys -, aa almost perfect 15,5/16 - damn the weak points in "Graffiti Bridge" -). I wish he kept on making stuff like C-Note, NEWS and One Nite Alone. U can't go back, man , go different...

NEW POSITION, THE ONLY "DISAPPOINTMENT" I SEE IS THE FACT THAT U R STUCK IN THE 80S.INSTEAD OF WISHING THE MAN WOULD KEEP MAKING SONGS LIKE THE ONES U LISTED Y DONT U JUST GO DUST THOSE RECORDS OFF AND LISTEN 2 THEM INSTEAD OF HATIN' ON HIS NEW STUFF ? PARADE IS AN AWESOME RECORD BUT I THINK THE MAJORITY OF PRINCE FANS AGREE SIGN O THE TIMES IS THE BEST ALBUM 2 COME FROM THAT DECADE PERIOD.AND I DONT MEAN JUST THE BEST PRINCE CD I'M TALKIN' ABOUT EVERYBODY.PRINCE HAS EVOLVED MUSICALLY OVER THE YEARS AND DOESNT WANT TO KEEP MAKING THE SAME SONGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.IF HE STARTS DOING THE RE-ISSUE THING U WILL KNOW HIS CREATIVE GENIOUS IS LOST. BUT FROM YOUR COMENTS IT SOUNDS 2 ME THAT IS WHAT U WOULD LIKE.ITS THE 21st CENTURY BY THE WAY

sorry "princetalking", i was saying just the opposite...
I love when prince tries new or different stuff (like C-Note, NEWS and One Nite Alone). I'm saying EXACTLY that. This 3121 is a whining reminder of the days he can't bring back. Does this thing sound new 2 U? To me it sounds like he was in the right path when he was trying to change direction in the 00's but now he lost it again, blinded from the unexpected success. U should read more carefully before making any comments.
ps: #1 - Parade, #2 - Black Album, #3 Sign o' the Times (for me, not a FAN, just an funk luva, that has an open ear for other stuff as well).

dust off yo brain...

it is a fantastic uplifting album by a fantastic person. everyone should own a copy of this great album. i love it.

i am only 14 but i find his music fantastic. i love prince

HEY NEW POSITION U SHOULD READ MORE CAREFULLY.THE NAME IS PRINCE THA KING NOT PRINCE TALKING.U SHOULD LISTEN MORE CAREFULLY B4 U COMMENT ON A GENIUS AT WORK.MAYBE IN 20 YEARS U WILL BE SLURPIN THIS RECORD 2.CLEAN YO EARS OUT MY MAN

this is in response to mat's comments about prince's new joint.i wish u and all the other fools who think ya'll know what kinda music his royal badness should b makin would please shut up ! 4 someone who cant even read music i think prince has done a pretty satisfactory job n the music industry 4 over 28 years now.look at all these one-hit wonders and prince wannabe's out here now.some artists are lucky 2 have one hit record under their belt and then they just seem to fall off.these get a little taste of fame and all its privilages and then seem to lose the drive and determination that got them tothat point.prince could have quit making records a long time ago.he has more than enuff $,he has the fame 2 but what separates him from the rest is the fact that he is still hungry after all these years.someone made a comment a couple years ago that suddenly rings very true.this person said that prince will not be truly appreciated until he is dead.now that i think about it i believe that more and more each day.If elvis was still alive he would probably have never gained quite the legendary status he has acheived over the 28 years he's been dead. If the beatles hadnt broke up would any body care about them ? the same goes 4 marley,hendrix morrison and so on.think about this ;Bob Dylan one of the greatest singer songwriters in history still makes records and tours regularly.nobody cares except his fans right ? but if dylan dies today he will be on every magazine and news publication 4 the next 50 years !Prince is still around making great music . not everything he does works 4 everyone but that is the reason why his great material stands out from the rest.afterall he's prince not perfect

Preach on brother Royalty ! preach on ! by tha way,aint prince the king now ? I think elvis would agree.all these haters would bow down if they were in his presence and U KNOW IT!!!!!

that was a very constructive comment indeed, princethaking ...for a moron

THIS IS THA LAST TIME IM GOIN 2 ADDRESS U 'NEW PO'.U R FREE 2 SAY WHAT U LIKE & CRITIQUE PRINCES' MUSIC ANYWAY U LIKE BUT U KNOW AS WELL AS I DO THAT IF PRINCE HIMSELF WERE 2 ASK U WHAT U THOUGHT ABOUT '3121' U WOULD B SLURPIN' IT INSTEAD OF HATIN' ON IT CASE CLOSED!!U NEED 2 TRY A NEW POSITION YO SELF AND QUIT TRYIN 2 BE A MUSIC CRITIC.GO PUT UNDER THE CHERRY MOON IN UR VCR AND 1999 IN YO 8-TRACK AND PRETEND ITS STILL '86.

so i guess this is the last time 4 me 2. Maybe YOU would be slurping but in my case he better not ask. Anyone who listens to music can have an honest opinion without others blaming him for that, otherwise we would all be sheep. After all, he's trying to sell this stuff to us, so criticism is fair (and mugs and t-shirt and shit like that). I will stop listening to his old stuff when HE stops pretending it's 1984. Prince is the one that is stuck to the past, not me.
I will not comment your lack of understanding for what i'm saying here to end this here as you said. Sorry for my previous comment....

i love beautiful loved and blessed it is in my head so much. its great to sing to i love it. everyone should have it on there ipod. i only just discovered prince when he performed at the brits this year he was fantastic. how can anyone say that he is rubbish.

OH MY GOD I CANNOT BELIEVE ALL OF YOU SO,SO STUPID PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ACTUALLY WASTE TIME ARGUEING ABOUT THIS LITTLE PURPLE MAN WITH NO TALENT.ARE YOU KIDDING ME ? DOES HE ACTUALLY HAVE A NEW CD OUT ? HE SHOULD SAVE THE EMBARRASMENT AND NEVER RELEASE ANOTHER THING PERIOD!! HIS CAREER WAS OVER 20 YEARS AGO WHY DOES ANYONE CARE ABOUT THIS LITTLE SHRIMP WHO CANT HOLD A CANDLE TO THE KING OF POP MICHAEL JACKSON.IM SO SICK OF THIS MJ WANNABE RUNNING AROUND WITH HIS BUTCHEEKS HANGING OUT LIKE HE'S SEXY.PA-LEASE!!!HE IS SO JEALOUS OF MJ ITS PATHETIC!!! I DONT CARE HOW MAY DUMB LITTLE SONGS HE MAKES HE WILL NEVER MAKE A BILLIE JEAN.THIS NEW VIDEO ,WHATS IT CALLED,BLACK SWEET? WELL I THINK ITS JUST SAD TO SEE THAT LITTLE UGLY,HIGH-YELLOW MAN STILL TRYING TO APPEAL TO THE YOUNG CROWD BY MAKING VIDEOS FOR HIS STUPID LITTLE SONGS.LOOK AT HIS FACE AT ALL THE WORK HE HAS HAD DONE ITS PATHETIC !!MAYBE NOW THAT HE HAS MADE A COMEBACK HE WILL ASK MICHAEL FOR SINGING LESSONS SO WE WANT LAUGH AT HIM FOR TRYING TO SOUND LIKE A SCARED WHITE LADY.I HAVENT HEARD HIS NEW CD,'3112' BUT I DONT REALLY HAVE TO IN ORDER TO SAY THAT I KNOW IT SUCKS!! GO GET THRILLER OR DANGEROUS IF YOU WANT TO HERE REAL SOUL.DONT WASTE ANY MONEY ON THIS IMITATOR ANY LONGER HE HAD A FORK STUCK IN HIM A LONG,LONG TIME AGO!!

allright one last time 'new po'. you r right i admit if it wasnt 4 difference of opinion we would no doubt b like sheep.I think its fine 2 agree 2 disagree myself but i think we can both agree that '3121' ,like it or not, is better than just about anything we here on the radio these days.I'm just glad the man is still making music after all these years when so many fall off after a record or so. Read the post this idiot wrote a few hours ago and tell me what u think about it. peace

please regognize! prince is one the most talented artist in our time since james brown,elvis,m.j. so lets please respect him 4 the diverse realmz he s continously brought our generation a piece of him. respect it or move around.i even love chaos& disorder,we should feel feel extremely fortunate 2 xperience 2 get a sample of the ride.

I'm a french prince's fan since DIRTY MIND. The truth is... He's still here (like it or not), and thank GOD he is. Just leave him alone and let him enjoy what he does. He doesn't have to be on top anymore, so let him take some pleasure on doing his thing. Prince gives us his music, we should just take it as it is, as anyother kind of art..

this is a reply to tears4fears i like both michael jackson and prince. i don't see you having a go at michael jackson reselling his singles. get your facts right before you start having a go at a fantastic person.the album is actually called 3121. michael jackson is fust as good as prince they are equalls. they just sing different songs. just cause you hate different things

I guess I'm just from some other planet. I read this reveiw a week before I got the cd. When I read it I believed it to be true because the descriptions of the flaws mentioned were similar to those I've given to some of the cd's over the last decade. I for on Hated Musicology. It should have never happend. So then I get the cd and give it a listen and became pissed at faulty reveiw. I'm a purple boy thru and thru but will be honest if Prince makes a sucky disc. I think this cd is great. This is the first prince cd in a while where I like Every song. I thought Rainbow Children was the greatest disc since the 80's but I still didn't like every song. I don't know what sort of CD this author wants Prince to make but I hope he never records it. Or was that Musicology? He said the music to The Word was boring. Black sweat is tight and dance envoking from beginning to end. The author's music taste was not sophisticated enough to appreciate how lovely Te Amo Corazon and the Dance (which I believe to be one of the great Prince songs). I could go on all day but all this to say that this author has no creditability(sp) with me. 3121 is the real thing and I can't beleive I'm saying that about a Prince cd in 2006.

In a few years maybe months, your going to look back and say "Damn that was a good album" That's the way it is with every Prince album you don't get it until it's pass. Do you think he's really trying to get a hit record? Look at those pictures of 3121 do you think he needs the money? He's just having fun with his music and doing what he loves. My first impression of the 3121 CD is very good.

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO MEGHANS DUMB LITTLE POST .MICHAEL HAS MORE TALENT IN HIS PINKY TOE THAN THAT PURPLE MIDGET!!DONT U EVER TRY TO COMPARE THAT LITTLE YELLOW DWARF TO THE KING!!THRILLER HAS SOLD MORE THAN A BILLION COPIES WORLD WIDE.DO YOU HOW MANY TIMES THAT MEANS IT HAS GONE PLATINUM? PRINCE HAS NEVER HAD A RECORD GO 'COPPER' MUCH LESS PLATINUM!! MJ HOLDS THE THROWN THAT PRINCE CAN ONLY DREAM ABOUT.

M.J is nothing but a child abuser who had some hits years ago, all he can do is dance! he cant play any instrument and doesn't write his own songs most of the time,just look at the credits on any prince album enough said

WHAT EVIDENCE DO U HAVE TO SUPPORT YOUR LUDICROUS REMARK ABOUT MJ BEING A CHILD ABUSER ? LAST TIME I LOOKED HE WAS FOUND INNOCENT OF THOSE CHARGES.HE IS A RICH BLACK MAN WHO LOVES CHILDREN AND FOR THOSE REASONS HE HAS BEEN A TARGET FOR VINDICTIVE PARASITES WHO ONLY WANT TO DESTROY HIS IMAGE FOR MONETARY GAIN.THESE FALSE ACCUSATIONS TOWARDS THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER IN HISTORY HAVE HELPED RUIN A GREAT CAREER.MJ HAS PUT OUT 6 SOLO RECORDS IN HIS REMARKABLE CAREER,ALL MEMORABLE AND UNIQUE.PRINCE HAS PUT OUT MORE THAN I CARE TO REMEMBER AND ONLY A COUPLE OF THOSE ARE WORTH A LISTEN.PRINCE DID DO THE SMART THING THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER BY MANAGING TO STAY OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT AND KEEP A MYSTERIOUS PERSONA ABOUT HIM.MICHAELS BIGGEST MISTAKE UNFORTUNATELY WAS TO OPENLY EXHIBIT HIS LOVE FOR KIDS IN A WORLD FULL OF UNSCROUPULOUS PEOPLE AND IT HAS COST HIM HIS REPUTATION AND SADLY HIS CAREER PROBABLY.SO IN CLOSE DONT TAKE EVERYTHING U HEAR AT FACE VALUE AND DRAW YOUR CONCLUSIONS FROM WHAT U READ OR SEE ON TABLOID NEWS.LOOK IN TO BOTH CASES OF ABUSE AGAINST MICHAEL AND U WILL DISCOVER WHAT WAS ACTUALLY AT THE HEART OF THE CHARGES.IT IS A COLOR PRINCE IS MOST FAMILIAR WITH.NO NOT PURPLE,BUT INSTEAD A COLOR HE HAS SEEN FOR HIS ENTIRE CAREER EVERYTIME MJ RELEASES A NEW RECORD TO THE RAVE REVIEWS HE IS'NT ACCUSTOMED TO. GREEN !

to tears4 fears, but u still have'nt answered the musical question! and OJ simpson was found innocent as well!

TO SHOCKADELICA:DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GO LOOK 2 SEE WHO HAS HAD MORE #1 ALBUMS AND CDS N THEIR CAREERS.AND WHO CARES WHO WROTE WHAT SONGS AND HOW MANY? IM WELL AWARE THAT PRINCE WRITES ALL OF HIS SONGS AND PLAYS ALL THE INSTRUMENTS ON HIS RECORDS IM ALSO AWARE THAT PRINCE CANT EVEN READ MUSIC SO THE FACT THAT HE HAS WRITTEN AND RECORDED SO MUCH MUSIC IS INCREDIBLE.BUT HONESTLY ,WHO CARES HOW MANY SONGS U WRITE IF HALF OF THEM ARE STINKERS.PRINCE'S NUMBER OF GOOD SONGS DO NOT COMPARE TO THE LARGE AMOUNT OF PURE CRAP HE'S DONE OR HAVE U FORGOTTEN EMANCIPATION OR CRYSTAL BALL AMONG OTHERS.MUSIC IS ABOUT QUALITY NOT QUANTITY.OJ SIMPSON MAY HAVE WELL BEEN GUILTY BUT WHEN A RACIST-ASS COP GOES AROUND PLANTING EVIDENCE WHAT DID U EXPECT WOULD HAPPEN?IN MY OPINION JUSTICE WAS WELL SERVED. DONT 4GET TO LOOK UP THOSE #1 SONGS AND ALBUMS NOT TO MENTION TOTAL SALES BEFORE U HIT BACK

hi i would like to chime in on this michael jackson vs prince debate.first of all im a huge fan of both so i want take sides here but i will say in jacksons defense that i've known for years that he plays several instruments on his music.he plays keyboards,synthesizer,drums'percussion'guitar and he is a very good pianist.just read the cd jackets from history or Bad and you can see for yorself.on the other hand i dont think anyone can knock Prince's body of work.he has written and produced some of the most beautiful songs in the history of music.are you aware that he wrote nothing compares to u ,which sinead o'connor made a #1 or 'what if god was one of us',which was also a hit ? these two legends are both great in my opinion so respect them while they are still here.be glad you lived in the era of these two wonderful artists.I love '3121' by the way and this site should be reserved for those who want to offer their views of it.debate somewhere else please!!!!

to soulluve,THIS IS A HEALTHY DEBATE,,butt-out please this is what the net is all about,,argueing ....or butt-in ha ha ha.but i must admit M,J is very suitable for juvenial minds, he is not really capable of anything more where as prince can command a better grasp of music and it's phychological impact also prince wrote I FEEL 4 U for CHAKA KHAN AND HE WROTE "THE BANGLES,,MANIC MONDAY,,enough already!!!

HEY SHOCK ITS KINDA IRONIC ISN'T IT THAT OTHER PEOPLE MADE HITS OUT OF THOSE SONGS WHERE AS PRINCE COULDNT.AND HE DID RECORD A COUPLE OF THEM HIMSELF THAT IM AWARE OF.YOUR DISLIKE OF JACKSON HOLDS NO MERIT AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED.HE ISN'T THE KING FOR NOTHING.YOU CANNOT ARGUE A NEGATIVE I'VE ALWAYS HEARD

tears4 fears,,if i remember correctly YOU started this by slagging of the purple one on a site about PRINCE! and his new cd. woulden't you be better placed on a M.J site? oh i forgot M.J hasn't released anything for awhile has he,so i suppose you,ve got to go somewhere. at the end of the day how about getting PRINCE and M.J to do a song together!! that will shut us both up ha ha ha,but i suspect M.J would find PRINCE a bit to weird!

I like this album better than musicology. my fave on 3121 is #5 incense and candles. omg I just LOVE IT! I agree that some funk is missing but the first track reminds me that The Artist still has ultimate Funk potential- Jay smooth is right, he's got it in him! I'm a fan til the end tho!

Some people seem to be awful critical, I loved 3121 as well as Ive loved all Prince albums since I was 8 when 1999 came out, its different and shows off the talent of a guy who can do any music under the sun, What my #1 question is where were all the critics with albums like chaos and disorder? Some people are complaining about not enough guitar on 3121 chaos and disorder is loaded with it, point being Prince has been recording great music non stop and I feel its a shame he has to link up with a major label just to get people to hear it.

There is no comparison between Prince and Michael Jackson. Prince wins hands down. Someone claimed that MJ does play instruments. Have you ever seen him play the instruments? I went to an MJ show and he never grabbed an instrument. He did nothing but dance and yell accross the stage. I wouldn't doubt that him being listed as a songwriter or instrument playing was staged just like his marriage to Ms. Presley. Someone also mentioned it's about quality sonwriting. Prince has definitely come out with more important songs than MJ. It's that Prince has come out with so much more. Some of his most beauriful songs come from his spiritual side and some people can't deal with that.

hey tommyoz thats your opinion and u know what they say opinions r like right ? U say u saw mj and all he did was dance and yell, well u see thats all the king has to do and if i ever get the chance to see him live i hope thats what he's still doing.nobody in the world can move like mike!! prince has that little split that he does and thats it.nobody wants to come to a mj show and watch him sit on his ass all night playing a friggin' piano or keyboard.And by the way he plays most of his instruments in the recording process just look in the credits on any of his records and you'll see.you also have no idea what an important song is either obviously. U dont think Black or white' or 'Man in the mirror' is important ? how bout 'Heal the world' ? and do you know he wrote 'I believe i can fly' 4 R-kelly? u cannot get any more inspirational than that and these r just the tip of the iceberg.MJ has got so,so many beautiful uplifting songs there are 2 many 2 count.Are u aware that mj has just finished recording a cd with all proceeds going to katrina relief ? He has inlisted the help of many hot artists in the making of it also like Timbaland,Pharell,KAnye west etc... So i hpe your ready 4 the KING to reign again this year. Get your straws out and get ready to slurp the greatest performing entertainer to ever grace us with their presence. Im already humbled.Thank god,buddha,allah and whoever your spiritual advisor may be 4 the one and only KING OF POP. After all,doesnt a prince bow b4 a king ?

Your right that is my opinion. I can rebute so much of what you just said but i'ts all just opinion. We would be going back and forth and we would never change each others minds. However, I will say this.
"Black or White? - this topic has been covered so much before.
"Man in the Mirror" - now this one is the only one that you mentioned that is good that supposingly he wrote. He should take some advice from this song.
It's " We are the World" not "Heal the World" - this was supposingly co written by Michael. The concept of this song was taken from Bob Geldof's "Do they know it's Christmas" This was not an original idea.
I don't know where your getting your info from but Michael did not write "I believe I can Fly" This was purely a R Kelly song. Check the Grammy pages R. Kelly won for best songwriter for this song. He has actually written for Michael Jackson.
Just because the credits say he plays the instruments doesn't mean he actually does. You never see him live playing an instrument period. Look at what Milli Vannili got away with. I think most people would disagree with you. You must show some versatility to be a complete artist. So I guess the only way he can sell a record is to donate the proceeds to the Katrina relief. Prince already hit #1 with his latest 3121. His previous record Musicology went to #3. If people would listen a little closer to what Prince is trying to say, they could learn a lot from him and so can you. You must become a Prince before your a King anyway. Michael is a manufactured star. Prince has risen to the top.

also if you remember, prince had a number1 hit single without even having a name!! THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD.also why is TEARS4FEARS even on this site!!or is he really WHACKO JACKO eating sour grapes.

TO TOMMYOZ: THE NAME OF THE SONG IS 'HEAL THE WORLD' AND IT IS ON MJ'S 'DANGEROUS' CD SO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE U OFFER ANYMORE INPUT ON HIS MAJESTY.BUT,WE ARE THE WORLD IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF MICHAELS COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT TOWARDS WORLD ISSUES.THANKS FOR PLUGGING THAT ONE I HAD ALMOST 4GOT HE SUNG ON THAT . HEY,WHERE WAS PRINCE DURING THAT? I GUESS HE DIDNT FEEL POVERTY AND HUNGRY KIDS WERE A WORTHY ENOUGH CAUSE 4 HIM 2 GET INVOLVED HUH ? AND U SAY MJ IS A MANUFACTURED STAR SO I GUESS YOUR NOT OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE JACKSON 5 AND A 10 YEAR OLD MJ PLAYING A GUITAR(WHICH IS AN INSTRUMENT BY THE WAY)DRUMS (ANOTHER INSTRUMENT) AND YES MJ DID WRITE 'I BELIEVE I CAN FLY ' BUT R-KELLY CHANGED THE ARRANGEMENT AND SOME WORDS SO HE ENDED UP GETTING CREDITED WITH WRITING IT CHECK MJ'S LINEAR NOTES ON HIS 'NUMBER ONES'CD AND SEE 4 YOURSELF.DONT MAKE A FOOL OF YOURSELF AGAIN BY POSTING SO MANY INACCURACIES UNTIL YOU CHECK THE FACTS.YOU'RE DEALING WITH AN MJ AFICIONADO HERE SO DONT INSULT ME WITH YOUR IGNORANCE OF KNOWLEDGE.YOU ALSO SAY 'MAN IN THE MIRROR' IS THE ONLY GOOD SONG HE WROTE.WELL ONCE AGAIN THATS JUST YOUR FEEBLE MINDED,ANTI-MJ OPINION WHICH I'VE ALREADY SAID B4 ARE ONLY LIKE ASSHOLES CAUSE EVERYBODYS GOT ONE.AND HOW MANY INSTUMENTS HAVE U EVER SEEN PRINCE ACTUALLY PLAY BESIDES GUITAR AND PIANO?I SAW HIM LIVE IN '97 AND HE RARELY PICKED UP A GUITAR OR PLAYED ANYTHING.ALL I SAW HIM DO WAS THAT LITTLE SPLIT MOVE HE DOES (THAT HE STOLE FROM JAMES BROWN) AND THAT SPIN MOVE THAT HE LEARNED IN BALLET CLASS I BELIEVE.PRINCE ONLY WISHES HE COULD MOVE LIKE MIKE.YOU'VE SEEN MJ MOONWALK NOBODY IN THE ENTIRE WORLD CAN DO THAT BUT HIM.I BET HE CAN WALK ON WATER 2. SO PA-LEEEZ STOP ALL THIS MICHAEL HATEING! IT ONLY MAKES U LOOK WORSE TO ATTEMPT TO KNOCK A LEGEND.AND LIKE I TOLD THIS OTHER KNUCKLEHEAD SHOCKADELICA (WHO IS PROBABLY TOMMYOZ ALSO SINCE I CANT FATHOM THAT THERE COULD BE TWO PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT WOULD SHARE THE SAME IGNORANT MIND) WHO HAS MORE HITS AND WHO HAS SOLD MORE RECORDS? WHO HAS OVER A BILLION FANS WORLDWIDE(CHECK THE HITS ON HIS WEB SITE)WHO HAS A 'BILLIE JEAN'? NOT PRINCE.IT IS A CLASSIC SONG WORTHY ONLY OF A KING.NEVER A PRINCE.GET THE HATE OUT OF YA'LLS HEARTS AND BOW BEFORE HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

HANG ON I THINK MJ ONLY DOES CHARITY WORK AND SO ON TO HIDE HIS FEABLE SONGS WITH SICKINING "I AM JESUS" LIKE LYRICS, HE IS A STUPID 40 ODD YEAR OLD MAN WHO NEEDS TO GROW UP! INSTEAD OF SPENDING MILLIONS A YEAR ON STUPID PAINTINGS AND FARM ANIMALS AND BLOODY FAIRGROUNDS!! WOULDNT ALL THAT MONEY BE BETTER SPEND ON CHARITY? OR DOES HE NEED IT TO PAY OFF THE PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO SLEEP WITH HIM?..BY THE WAY 3121 IS GREAT.TO TOMMYOZ,,NICE TO SEE SOME SENSE ON THIS "PRINCE" SITE ,, OH IF MJ WAS A FAT, BALDING, NEARLY FIFTY YEAR OLD MAN WOULD YOU LET YOUR KIDS SLEEP WITH HIM THEN?

OH YEAH LIKE MJ PLAYS GUITAR,I REALLY LOVE THOSE AMAZING SOLOS HE DOES!!

One last comment to your beliefs as I have better things to do. Prince contributed his own song called "Tears in your eyes" for the We are the World LP. The song is about Jesus Christ dying for the tears in your eyes. Prince gives credit to the most high. I am not going to sit here and put Michael down as I do hope that all people do well. But like I said if you compare these 2 there is no comparison in my opinion.

WELL SHOCKADELICATE INCASE U FORGOT MICHAEL TRIED TO HAVE AN AMUSEMENT PARK IN HIS OWN BACKYARD 4 POOR AND UNDER PRIVILEDGED KIDS 2 COME PLAY AT BUT OF COURSE THE GREEDY NATURE OF MAN EMERGED AND NOW HE HAS HAD TO CLOSE IT.PEOPLE WILL DO ANYTHING 4 MONEY THESE DAYS SO I FIGURE MJ HAS BEEN PRETTY LUCKY 2 HAVE ONLY 2 DIFFERENT BLOODSUCKERS TRY 2 SQUEEZE MONEY OUT OF HIM IN THE I5 YEARS NEVERLAND WAS OPEN.ALSO I THINK A 40 ODD YEAR OLD MAN(PRINCE IS 48 TO BY THE WAY)CAN DO WHATEVER HE DAMN WELL PLEASES WITH HIS MONEY.MJ NEVER HAD A CHILDHOOD BECAUSE HIS DEMANDING FATHER PUSHED HIM INTO SHOWBUISNESS WHEN HE WAS 7.MJ IS OBVIOUSLY VERY ECCENTRIC AND WITH THE KIND OF FAME AND FORTUNE HE HAS HAD I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY HE MAY HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH REALITY IN SOME AREAS.THAT SAID IT STILL DOES NOT GIVE YOU OR ANYONE ELSE THE RIGHT TO JUDGE HIM WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE TO PROVE HIM A CHILD MOLESTER.ITS PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT TAKE HEARSAY FOR FACT INSTEAD OF READING BETWEEN THE LINES THAT HAVE GIVEN MJ THE REP HE'S GOT NOW.U R NOT GOD SO DONT PLAY HIM

to tears4fears,, prince does give money to worthy causes he just doesnt bragg about it like WHACKO does,plus i think the most IGNORANT mind is someone just like u and WHACKO ,who cant accept that there ARE better MUSICIANS than the man who spends more money on making himself look like he has been badly burned in a fire than getting on with WRITING and PLAYING intense MUSIC, not just going AHWW look it me i can walk BACKWARDS!!! A TEN YEAR OLD PLAYING GUITER thats all you need to say dude,,love his solos though i must admit!!

SHOCKADELICATE YOU ARE HOPELESS AND NARROW MINDED SO IM GIVING UP ON TRYING TO GET A POINT ACROSS TO YOU.I ALSO REALIZE NOW THAT SINCE U REFERRED TO ME AS 'DUDE' WHAT SIDE OF THE TRACKS YOU COME FROM.WHAT I MEAN IS I DONT KNOW ANY OTHER BROTHERS THAT CALL ONE ANOTHER 'DUDE' IF YOU GET MY DRIFT.I ALSO MEANT THAT MJ HAS BEEN PLAYING THE GUITAR SINCE HE WAS TEN BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT POINT WENT RIGHT OVER YOUR HEAD.LIKE I SAID BEFORE QUIT HATIN' ON A LIVING LEGEND.U KNOCKIN' MIKE IS LIKE SOMEBODY TRYIN' TO SAY THE YANKEES SUCK!GET REAL 'DUDE'!!U AINT NEVER GONNA SALE THAT TICKET ! MAN YOU ARE SO JEALOUS OF MJ ITS PATHETIC.LETS TALK ABOUT THE PRINCE CD AGAIN IM BORED.

i absolutely love this new prince !! much better than 'musicology' i think. i actually listened from beginning to end.wonderful funky ! will u guys please stop puttin down michael jackson !! hasnt he went through enough already ? this is about the puple one

TEARS,,i think u are mentally ill, its taken this long to start talking about the 3121 cd and not MJ!,,,,,seriously though,they both make records that sell and thats more than we can do...right?

This to the comment laid by someone:

4 someone who cant even read music i think prince has done a pretty satisfactory job n the music industry 4 over 28 years now...

Prince has taught himself to read music, unlike Phil Colins. It USED to be that he couldn't read music (except guitar tab), but that hasn't been the case in over 12 years.

I'm glad that the last three years have given us back performing-Prince (sans the splits and heel kicks -- bum knee/ankle), but I must say that this album doesn't really do it for me. BLACK SWEAT is cool, but loses itself steam.

I actually LOVED Chaos and Disorder and Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic. I bought 3121 just to support the man who made me want to learn how to write and produce music, but I wish it'd have been ... funkier, grittier, aimed at yo' ass. And he can't use the excuse of God for this album's lack of dirt... because LOVESEXY was funky beyond all belief, and it was firmly entrenched in the Sacred.

I would have loved for him to have ripped it up on AMERICAN IDOL, for instance, instead of doing his falsetto croon... but, you know with Prince, you take what he gives you.

I hope he tours again, soon. I need my Prince fix!!!

You can't be 77453 serious?!?

I lust listened to the album and I think it's typical Prince, giving us a diverse journey into music. I have read all the previous comments and I agree with some and strongly disagree with others such as the kid saying M.J. is better than Prince, that is laughable at best. It is very hard to measure a entertainer up against a musician. I am amazed that very few of you dont mention some of his greatest albums such as "For You", "Prince" "Dirty Mind" and "Controversy". Some of you may be to young for those albums, but they are just as good, if not better than some of his 80's releases. Anyway, 3121 is hot from beginning to end. It is worth the $$$$. And I may be solo on this opinion but "Musicology" was a good change of pace from some of the mindless garbage that is out there today. my favorite Prince of all time has to be "Chaos and Disorder". The anger and frustration behind the music and lyrics were mind bending trip through his world. It showed WB that he, is the reason not them. He said it best "I rock, therfore I am, I don't need you to tell me, I'm in the band". So Prince my brother, keep pumping them out, do your thang, keep telling them other cats to saty out of your lane. (uh oh I think I just came up with the next lyric off his next hit) laugh. My mic is off.

I luv his songs 3121*,Lolita*,Te amo corazόn*,Black Sweat*,Insence and Candles*,Fury*,Beautiful Loved and Blessed*,The Dance*,The Word and Love and a little bit Satisfied but the songs that i mostly like are those with the stars

where are thus purple days, 're thesy gone for good ?