Prince's music

[Gospel Bass Player]

I'm detecting a hint of sarcasm.

No sir...not at all...I must admit...I haven't heard every Prince song...but, I do wanna check out the Emancipation cd.

 

[Robroy]

So far, it hasn't changed and they've actually gotten worse (or better?) since his death. I've been adding Youtube videos to my favorites playlist left and right only to return to them and see that they've been removed.

For me, the funny part is that the last time I paid for pre-recorded music was in 1997. And completely unintentionally, the music I bought was a double disc CD compilation by Monty Python called "The Final Ripoff".

And technically, it wasn't music.

But pre-recorded ephemeral music is not as much a part of a 62 year old's life as it is a 20-something's or teenagers. I'm very careful what I spend my time listening to. Only so many hours in the day, and a century of music.

Counting classical, several centuries.

 

[Jamvan]

I know you already said you don't like Purple Rain, @Robroy, but for those who haven't seen this yet (as it's usually quickly eradicated from YouTube every time it gets posted), here's the very first time it was played live which, ultimately, was edited into the final version heard in the movie as well as the soundtrack. For some reason, apparently Facebook is beyond the reach of Prince's legal team as this has been posted for several days now and it has yet to be taken down. I personally don't know how this song doesn't completely move you but I also can't figure out how some people love Skrillex. Different strokes...

 

[Robroy]

No sir...not at all...I must admit...I haven't heard every Prince song...but, I do wanna check out the Emancipation cd.

I have a hard time getting past his lyrical themes and persona.

Steve Hackett (Genesis' original lead guitar player) once said something in an interview about wanting to grow beyond doing songs about the "dating ritual". I moved past that in the early 70's. Songs about sex simply bore me. I'd rather do it than listen to songs about it.

 

[Gospel Bass Player]

I have a hard time getting past his lyrical themes and persona.

Steve Hackett (Genesis' original lead guitar player) once said something in an interview about wanting to grow beyond doing songs about the "dating ritual". I moved past that in the early 70's. Songs about sex simply bore me. I'd rather do it than listen to songs about it.

Understood...can't argue with that. However, I surely can't speak for Prince or his musical philosophy. There are songs like Sign O' The Times that dealt with a more political/social agenda. He even sang about Aids, Drugs and awareness.

 

[Robroy]

Understood...can't argue with that. However, I surely can't speak for Prince or his musical philosophy. There are songs like Sign O' The Times that dealt with a more political/social agenda. He even sang about Aids, Drugs and awareness.

Yeah, it wasn't all "bad".

And if I may touch on the inspiration part for a sec: I think that sometimes even terrible music ideas can be inspirational, in two ways:
1. You learn what NOT to do.
2. It's application may make it horrible, but on hearing it and wincing, you suddenly envision an application where it may work like nothing else ever has.

Politically, Prince was anti homosexuality, which shocks the heck out of a lot of his fans, for obvious reasons.

 

[BassGH]

Prince's music always sounds thin to me in a way that seriously grates on my nerves. Course, same goes for Bruce Springsteen, Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan and tons and tons of 80s music.

Give me 50 cent, Cake, Patsy Cline, jazz boxes, Amy Winehouse and Black Sabbath. Put those teles away and quit jangling my nerves.

But rip to prince nonetheless. Quite an impressive career to say the least.

 

[kikstand454]

Not to diverge too much off the topic here....... But I just watched single ladies again, just to be sure I didnt miss something the first thousand times I've seen it--- what exactly is groundbreaking about this again? It's just three hot women, dancing a semi- rehearsed dance routine, with two seperate lighting effects switching back and forth. There is litteraly nothing redeeming about it except beyonces backside. The song is catchy pop at best, but hardly amazing.

The fact that it was implied that this even compared to ANYTHING in princes catalog- let alone considered " better"- is absolutely mind blowing.

I'm sorry, I can not follow you.

 

[wraub]

Slight tangent- Watch Prince in some of the live vids floating around right now.
Observe the way he commands a stage. Total domination.

Watch/read tales of him entering a club, a party, pretty much any room at all, and notice the power of his presence, and the adulation of men and women both.

Now, remember that he was 5 feet tall and weighed like a hundred pounds.

Impressive.

 

[bikeplate]

Sad to hear he passed. Not much older than me. I liked some of his music. I'll admit I haven't listened to everything. I feel his strengths were writing great pop songs and production. Bring able to play many different instruments was cool too.

 

[TyBo]

Prince seems to me to have been quite good at a lot of different things. But I don't find any one talent he had to be top of the toppermost ^_^ . As a guitarist ... he was a good singer, as a singer ... he was a good dancer, as a dancer ... he was a good keyboard player, as a keyboard player ... he was a good songwriter ... etc. He combined a lot of talents, and was a compelling performer, but James Brown or Little Richard or Jimi Hendrix he ain't. Just did not have that level of chops, instrumentally or vocally. He was a talented songwriter and arranger, and could definitely hold the stage with his presence. And nurtured a number of other talented performers. But I just don't see all the "genius" talk regarding him, don't see that in him or his songs or his music. But beyond the labeling hype, Prince had a positive impact on the music world and was a welcome presence, who will be missed.

 

[Ampig]

Prince's music always sounds thin to me in a way that seriously grates on my nerves. Course, same goes for Bruce Springsteen, Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan and tons and tons of 80s music.
So you're basically saying any recordings with a Telecaster sound thin to you. Brilliant.

Give me 50 cent, Cake, Patsy Cline, jazz boxes, Amy Winehouse and Black Sabbath. Put those teles away and quit jangling my nerves.

But rip to prince nonetheless. Quite an impressive career to say the least.

 

[Robroy]

The song is catchy pop at best, but hardly amazing.

That's what I thought, at first.

But yes, as you have pointed out, art is subjective. That's why I understand that people thought Prince was amazing though I didn't. My response to his music is similar to your response to the Beyonce song and video.

 

[Mildew Jones]

Gorn Cap, do a search on "The Undertaker", there is some stuff up right now on youtube. 3 piece, bass guitar drums, screaming extended lead guitar work...may be more up your alley. Also, search on "small club", 19-8-88 the gig date, (on youtube for this stuff), an incredible after show gig, more spectacular guitar playing.
Enjoy,
MJ

 

[Altitude]

Prince seems to me to have been quite good at a lot of different things. But I don't find any one talent he had to be top of the toppermost ^_^ . As a guitarist ... he was a good singer, as a singer ... he was a good dancer, as a dancer ... he was a good keyboard player, as a keyboard player ... he was a good songwriter ... etc. He combined a lot of talents, and was a compelling performer, but James Brown or Little Richard or Jimi Hendrix he ain't. Just did not have that level of chops, instrumentally or vocally. He was a talented songwriter and arranger, and could definitely hold the stage with his presence. And nurtured a number of other talented performers. But I just don't see all the "genius" talk regarding him, don't see that in him or his songs or his music. But beyond the labeling hype, Prince had a positive impact on the music world and was a welcome presence, who will be missed.

I disagree with a lot of that but it doesn't matter. You could have said all of that about Bowie too. Those things are not why Prince was a legend. He was a legend because of the way he captivated people, held their attention, created a little mystery around himself, made himself into a singular, unique, unforgettable brand. I would have said all of this two weeks ago; he didn't have to die.

(*Edit - in your final sentence you came around to the same point I did.)

 

[TyBo]

I disagree with a lot of that but it doesn't matter. You could have said all of that about Bowie too. Those things are not why Prince was a legend. He was a legend because of the way he captivated people, held their attention, created a little mystery around himself, made himself into a singular, unique, unforgettable brand. I would have said all of this two weeks ago; he didn't have to die.

(*Edit - in your final sentence you came around to the same point I did.)

Well, it's not really the same point, but I did end on a positive note about Prince. I don't think he was bad, I just think he was a bit over-hyped. And yeah, I would say the same thing about Bowie. And yeah, their deaths haven't changed my opinion on these things. Prince and Bowie both had a strong presence as public images, with musical talent to go with that. But musical geniuses? Nah.

 

[NuriJ]

I acknowledge and respect the man's talent. He was musically brilliant. No doubt about it. It's a tragedy that he passed. A lot of people are mourning and it's really sad he's gone.
If you ever get the chance to surf a record store or happen to find it, his Crystal Ball Disc Collection, plus live disc encompasses a grand scale of his lesser known hits. Not only that, his first album titled "I'm Yours" was immediately what I had gone to listen to upon hearing that he died.
It's truly a shame that as many pop and controversial songs he wrote and played, there is 10x the amount that wasn't ingested by pop culture. I may be biased but although he is gone, I'm excited to listen to and hear the things he was cooking in the studio by himself.
His music.....maybe there's something I'm missing. It seems to be mostly 80s style, electronic-ey, drum machine-y pop music. That's fine. Lots of people love that. I'm not a fan. Not of that kind of music in general and not of the Prince songs I know. I'm not trying to disrespect his memory or his talent or his vast catalogue of music. Not at all. I'm trying to understand it. I know he was a great musician but I don't hear it in his music...at least the music I know. Are there deep tracks that are.......better? No, better isn't the right word. But different from how I described how I perceive his music. Is there more funky stuff he's done? More rock and roll?

 

[bass12]

I agree with some here in that I think that much (if not most) of what Prince turned out recording-wise was lacklustre. However, I think this was partly the result of the (seeming) ease with which music poured from him. He was a true artist in the sense that he didn't just produce to create hits - he produced because that's what he had to do. I also think that his unrestrained output was a bit of a f*** you to the people who tried to put constraints on, or who criticized him for, how much material he released.

 

[Robroy]

I disagree with a lot of that but it doesn't matter. You could have said all of that about Bowie too. Those things are not why Prince was a legend. He was a legend because of the way he captivated people, held their attention, created a little mystery around himself, made himself into a singular, unique, unforgettable brand. I would have said all of this two weeks ago; he didn't have to die.

(*Edit - in your final sentence you came around to the same point I did.)

Interestingly, I am even less of a fan of Bowie than Prince. Prince did a song or two that I liked. I can't say the same thing about Bowie. I never "got" his schtick. But I confess that art is subjective.

I can think of a couple of politicians that captivate people. I'm still not impressed with them. Don't get me wrong. Marketing is a paying skill. Ask Taylor Swift.

 

[Altitude]

Well, it's not really the same point, but I did end on a positive note about Prince. I don't think he was bad, I just think he was a bit over-hyped.

A guy could argue that since 1996 he was un-hyped, since he had no label representation other than his own. He managed to keep himself relevant for a long time in a very fickle business.