I get that we all have a variety of tastes in music and that Prince really wasn't a lot of people's taste at all. Challenging some may say, odd most would say, but to suggest that Prince was merely "a bloke who had a few half decent songs nearly 20 years ago" is a very strange statement IMO, so I hope you don't mind me chipping in:
Prince, in a very similar way to The Beatles and Elvis (or more correctly in both their cases, their management and producers), changed, some may say revolutionised, the musical landscape over a c20+ year period.
He did indeed (unlike the Beatles and Elvis of course) only have a handful of big hits, he also only had one UK number one (should've had two but the Batman single actually sold out before it could hit a potential number one that year due to poor forecasting by the label, by the time they repressed it (two weeks later) the moment had passed), but there is very little music in the last 20 years that has been created across Rock, Pop, Funk, Soul, Blues, Jazz that has not in some way paid tribute or been influenced by what he did and how he worked. Not just my opinion, there are very few if any artists that would not note him in their playlists or as an inspiration.
Prince, like George Martin re-wrote music producing for his generation, he also rewrote the book on how songs are written and how bands and artists are managed and even (through some inspired madness an ridiculous name changing antics) he changed the ownership of rights for not only musicians, but artists across all media from music, to film, graphic design and two dimensional art... no one else stood tall at a time that the big corporations held a tight leash and as a result pretty much drew an end to his own high profile career through his broader actions.
He broke the rules on decency; some may suggest a bad point, but in doing so, allowed artists to speak more freely and use real language to both engage their listeners as well as reflect the true sound of the people.
He bridged a political and racial mess that was in meltdown across America in the late 1970's (this was a time that there was still a clear black radio network and a white radio network, as well as separate charts) and became the first true crossover artist. He did this in his late teens/early twenties. Unlike the Beatles before him, who charted and played only on white charts/radio, he covered both platforms equally. The Beatles are in retrospect now well-known and documented for essentially copying (some would say ripping off) the likes of Buddy Guy and Chuck Berry, before finally acknowledging them as influences long after they had made their fortunes. He didn't, Prince noted the likes of Chet Baker, Chuck Berry and Miles Davis on sleeve notes and at live shows from the start.
He pioneered music sharing, free music, digital music and music downloads both on his own network and in partnership with fledgling sites of this nature, long before iTunes and the like made it a big bucks business.
It's probably worth noting that he still holds the record(s) for highest attendance at live shows (multiple shows at one venue, not one individual show) worldwide and in the UK, so despite "a bloke who had a few half decent songs nearly 20 years ago", he was quite liked.. not just in his 'prime' either. The last record was set at the sell-out O2 set of 21 dates in 2007...
He moulded and created a series of artists in their own right, The Time, The Bangles, Vanity 6, Nona Gaye, Candy Dulfer, Shelia E, Carmen Electra, Rosie Gaines, Sheena Easton, Wendy & Lisa; again long before the likes of Psyco records, Stock Aitken and Waterman and Louis Walsh's boy-band production lines of pop stars. His songs also launched the careers of a variety of artists worldwide including Sinead O'Connor as well as writing songs specifically for Chaka Chan, Madonna, Patti La Belle and Kate Bush to name four reasonably well known artists.
Alongside these 'names' (depending on your US based music knowledge/taste), he built a state of the art studio and rehearsal complex that once again set a new standard for the era/generation in both technical equipment and how it was used. He definitely used it too.. it's said he could play (pending sources or if you can name that many) 27 different instruments to the highest graded standard and was known in the early days to play every instrument on his recordings as well as manning the recording booth, mixing desk and then completing post production.
The rehearsal set/sound stage he built was a permanent place to build and practice every live show for himself and a vast array of his own and others acts.. many of which have gone down in history as the most spectacular and crisp shows to have been seen. Nothing like this complex existed worldwide in the music world before his vision became reality.
Worth noting that Prince's career (as in chart topping around the world) spanned in excess of 30 years. The last (most recent) 8-9 years I'm not counting as any chart success or large venue sell outs are really not mainstream popular, so 1977- 2007 seems a fair cut-off.
I cannot think of another person who single handed has had such an impact to shift the creative landscape in the modern era (oddly, given this forum) outside of maybe George Lucas and his creation of Lucasfilm, ILM, THX etc.
Yes, I'm a fan and yes, I wrote my University Thesis on his life, works and influence on the modern music scene.. :lol:
Yep, Nirvana did play a part in a music scene that for a short period changed a part of the rock and possibly pop music scene, Prince on the other hand has left a true legacy.
