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Thread started 05/02/02 7:57pm

thechronic

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Who is Prince's biggest musical influence?

i hear sly stone in his music more than anyone else,next james brown,and third jimi hendrix in his guitar playing.
" could I be... the most beautiful man in the world! plain to see, i"m the reason that God made a man!"UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN GRADUATE! VERY PRESTIGIOUS!
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Reply #1 posted 05/02/02 8:09pm

HaReMz

james brown
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Reply #2 posted 05/02/02 8:11pm

camille2002

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He says that he models his guitar game more after santana.
And I agree, but I also agree that in some ways that he does remind me of jimmy. U know.... I think its more of a blend. I because his guitar playing sounds soft and smooth like Santana, yet its agressive and strong like hendrix. dig? Is that a fair judgement?
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Reply #3 posted 05/02/02 8:16pm

prettymansson

SLY STONE THEN JAMES BROWN !!!!! GUITAR SANTANA AND HENDRIX.
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Reply #4 posted 05/02/02 9:09pm

divo02

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What about Al Green?
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Reply #5 posted 05/03/02 12:27am

BackStagePass

Prince's biggest nfluense, other than God, is himself...
he mimicks others n appreciation of them, but he far surpasses anything they have ever attempted 2 do.

u can never say u have ever heard prince hit a sour note...the man not only has a musical ear, he is music!

he wrote the songs barry manilow, not u!
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Reply #6 posted 05/03/02 12:51am

Novy

Sly Stone
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Reply #7 posted 05/03/02 7:33am

fonkywonder

I agree that u can see elements of Sly, Jimi, James, Stevie Wonder in Prices music and style, but I can't believe u fams forgot to mention George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic. They were a major influence on Prince in terms of their stage presentation, song writing, production, even the way they incorporated keywords as the bass in songs like Flashlight.Prince's work from 81-89 u could definately feel the P-funk vibe in his music. And he adopted their most important theory in regards to music: their "I don't give a fuck, I'm gonna be me" attitude. It didn't matter if u were black, white, fat, skinny, gay, straight whatever, Parliament's music was for everyone and they embraced those who were different! That is why I love Prince....he goes against the grain. Even the music he is doing right now is so different from the contrived, manufactured mainstream rubbish that is polluting the airwaves. I'd rather be challenged by listening to TRC than the Britney Spears, Pi-Diddy and the rest of those gangsta minstrals Oops I mean rappers of the world!
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Reply #8 posted 05/03/02 8:02am

ralovely

there are the ones who influenced the Funk : EWF, K&tG ...
Those who made the funk : Clinton, JB, Prince himself
and those who influenced Prince directly : definitely Sly Stone.

Until he met LG, he rarely covered Sly : only once or twice, but it was a perfect reproduction. The man has been listening to sly during all his childhood... that's sure!
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Married to the wonderful Clementine, a.k.a. Blule. -- https://on-the.one
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Reply #9 posted 05/03/02 8:04am

KeithyT

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In addition to the other artists mentioned what about... himself maybe?

"My only competition is... well me in the past"

Always striving to better himself? He definitely has a distinct sound and self-referencing lyrics etc. Prince is a big influence on Prince. smile
Just somewhere in the middle,
Not too good and not too bad.
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Reply #10 posted 05/03/02 8:17am

ralovely

There is no genuine creation.
Every creation is always influenced by someone else's one.

He always try to improve his music. It doesn't mean that he only take his inspiration in himself.
--
Married to the wonderful Clementine, a.k.a. Blule. -- https://on-the.one
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Reply #11 posted 05/03/02 11:44am

CalhounSq

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BackStagePass said:

he wrote the songs barry manilow, not u!


Watch yo' back - 9s is gonna come after you! :O

He loooooves him some Barry Manilow! lol
heart prince I never met you, but I LOVE you & I will forever!! Thank you for being YOU - my little Princey, the best to EVER do it prince heart
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Reply #12 posted 05/03/02 12:24pm

wellbeyond

Who's Prince's biggest musical influence??...I am...




Thank you... (bows)
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Reply #13 posted 05/03/02 2:53pm

PFunkjazz

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wellbeyond said:

Who's Prince's biggest musical influence??...I am...




Thank you... (bows)


I know I often feel Prince wouldn't be so innovative if I didn't listen to him. lol
test
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Reply #14 posted 05/03/02 4:46pm

mcmeekle

Don't underestimate the influence of Michael Jackson on Prince.
I would go as far to say: No Jacko, No Prince.
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Reply #15 posted 05/03/02 6:33pm

Supernova

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If you consider a humongous afro an influence, sure...

Only one person said Stevie Wonder?

Da horror.
This post not for the wimp contingent. All whiny wusses avert your eyes.
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Reply #16 posted 05/03/02 8:58pm

Zum

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All of the above.
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Reply #17 posted 05/03/02 9:12pm

PFunkjazz

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Supernova said:

If you consider a humongous afro an influence, sure...

Only one person said Stevie Wonder?

Da horror.



S'ok; nobody said Miles Davis either.
test
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Reply #18 posted 05/03/02 10:24pm

Supernova

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PFunkjazz said:

Supernova said:

If you consider a humongous afro an influence, sure...

Only one person said Stevie Wonder?

Da horror.



S'ok; nobody said Miles Davis either.


Ha! How could I forget.
This post not for the wimp contingent. All whiny wusses avert your eyes.
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Reply #19 posted 05/04/02 3:31am

ralovely

There is a great influence from Miles Davis.
Not directly by his music, but they were very close friends.
Creation is such a complex thing ...
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Married to the wonderful Clementine, a.k.a. Blule. -- https://on-the.one
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Reply #20 posted 05/04/02 3:34am

ralovely

P also 'took' very much from his bands.
Wendy and Lisa, Sheila and Eric Leeds, Mike B and Sonny T, and the whole band of TRC.
TRC wouldn't be like this if John, and rondha weren't there. The same for ONA : ranato, maceo and greg.

such a complex thing ...
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Reply #21 posted 05/04/02 2:04pm

Supernova

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ralovely said:

P also 'took' very much from his bands.
Wendy and Lisa, Sheila and Eric Leeds, Mike B and Sonny T, and the whole band of TRC.
TRC wouldn't be like this if John, and rondha weren't there.


Rhonda doesn't play on TRC, only Graham on 2 songs. The rest is Prince on bass.

The same for ONA : ranato, maceo and greg.

such a complex thing ...


I don't think there is anything complex about that, because it could be said of any band backing any artist during any tour. The leader calls the shots, and the band responds accordingly. That's why they flesh it out during soundcheck. It's not really an instance of "taking" anything in this case. They contribute to what's already in place. Blackwell had the biggest impact on latest album.

In jazz it's different. Coltrane called the shots for his groups, but Garrison, Tyner and Jones had the freedom of improvisation. As do most jazz bands because improvisation is inherent to the genre. But it's Trane who created the structure of the compositions usually.
This post not for the wimp contingent. All whiny wusses avert your eyes.
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Reply #22 posted 05/04/02 2:45pm

ralovely

Supernova said:

Rhonda doesn't play on TRC, only Graham on 2 songs. The rest is Prince on bass.


anyway, he's playing with her for several years now


I don't think there is anything complex about that, because it could be said of any band backing any artist during any tour. The leader calls the shots, and the band responds accordingly. That's why they flesh it out during soundcheck. It's not really an instance of "taking" anything in this case. They contribute to what's already in place. Blackwell had the biggest impact on latest album.

In jazz it's different. Coltrane called the shots for his groups, but Garrison, Tyner and Jones had the freedom of improvisation. As do most jazz bands because improvisation is inherent to the genre. But it's Trane who created the structure of the compositions usually.



I'm not a musician, but a graphic designer. So I can't say but I think the creation processus is quite similar.
Creations are just a big mix of what we saw (heard) since we have eyes (ears), and what we feel all day long.

Also, prince's band members are not just any musicians. Everyone of them (almost) is really a great and true musician. Prince cannot be unsensitive (does this word have a sense ?) to their contribution.
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Married to the wonderful Clementine, a.k.a. Blule. -- https://on-the.one
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Reply #23 posted 05/04/02 3:00pm

Thumparello

Prince has taken alot of influence from alot of people. If I had to choose one guy for the overall picture it would be JAMES BROWN. Some of his music is straight out JB. His dancing style,lyrics , screaming etc. all mimic the Godfather of Soul ..JB. As for as the theatric thang it's definitely GEORGE CLINTON all the way. the Time , Vanity 6 etc. were pattern after GC's spinoffs Bootsy's Rubber Band , the Brides etc. Taking major risk with the music being creative type funk all came from George. Sly Stone , Jimi Hendrix, Bootsy Collins ,Michael Jackson are in the mix as well. Prince embodied alot and made it work. He definitely has his own style , but the influences are not to be denied either.
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Reply #24 posted 05/04/02 3:02pm

Supernova

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ralovely said:

Also, prince's band members are not just any musicians. Everyone of them (almost) is really a great and true musician. Prince cannot be unsensitive (does this word have a sense ?) to their contribution.


No doubt about it. Of course some are better than others. It's "insensitive", btw. Not being a smartass, just answering your question.smile
This post not for the wimp contingent. All whiny wusses avert your eyes.
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Reply #25 posted 05/05/02 2:10am

ralovely

Supernova said:

It's "insensitive", btw. Not being a smartass, just answering your question.smile


tx
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Married to the wonderful Clementine, a.k.a. Blule. -- https://on-the.one
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Reply #26 posted 05/05/02 10:18am

sojourner

I thought i once heard the man say that Santana is his biggest musical influence.
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Reply #27 posted 05/05/02 12:26pm

BNATURAL

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sojourner said:

I thought i once heard the man say that Santana is his biggest musical influence.


i think he was referring to his guitar playing
It's better to have and not need, than to need and not have!
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Reply #28 posted 05/07/02 7:39pm

divo02

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What about Little Richard, not so much music but the style, image, etc.
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Reply #29 posted 10/25/02 3:50am

jonisinging

Between 1990 and 1993 it must have been "Mc Hammer", due 2 all the bad rapping. But i think his biggest influences are JB, Sly Stone and Stevie Wonder.
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