andyman91 said:

- True....let´s hope he does it with his hits on a kick ass MTV Unplugged. "The truth" isn´t the ultimate unplugged, although it seemed to be his response to the dozens of MTV unplugged out there back then.

Do you know how long I've been waiting for an unplugged. I waited forever for KISS unplugged and I'm still waiting for Prince. The suspense is killing me.
M

There are probably a few reasons Prince is not up there with the Beatles & Jimi & other greats in people's minds (except ours). The Beatles were associated with more serious movements. The 60's, they led the British invasion, they pioneered psychedelica with others. Jimi's effect on guitar is obvious. Bruce Springsteen is seen in the tradition of Dylan--socially conscious, serious. James started a new style of music. Marvin Gaye & Stevie made the transition from light pop to serious music & themes just like the Beatles. Even U2 is taken more seriously by some.

Prince is lumped in with Michael Jackson & Madonna and the 80's. While their artistic merits can be argued, their style is not typically seen as having much substance. They are seen as entertainers, and Prince is seen the same way by most people. Similarly, the Bee Gees could be (for the sake of argument) the greatest group of all time, but I don't think Saturday Night Fever will allow that as their legacy.

andyman91 said:

- Sad but true. Unfortunately the 80s is seen today as the no-substance decade. Somebody mentioned here that Chris De Burgh is much better than we think. I think The Police is a very strong band, as strong or stronger than The Doors, but the 80s are underrated. And I agree again when you say the Beatles were associated to society changes. Lots of their lyrics aren´t that deep, but they were responsible for social transformation.

I think the ´legacy´ thing will only be put together some decades from now. After Prince is dead, for example, and people start seeing his body of work as one piece only.

Right. Right now his legacy is based on people who "remember when..." Basically 1982-1986.

When people years from now approach his stuff as a whole, it will be heard differently. He won't be compared to Madonna, because Madonna's music doesn't approach Prince's in terms of technique & artistry. Madonna may be remembered, but I don't think it will be for her music.

Anyone who tells me they don't like Prince, I instantly know that they don't know sh*t about music. If you truly love music, prince has made something that would appeal to you. I believe that. I've met literally 100's of musicians and when I bring up Prince they show the love. That is what counts. Being a music lover myself, i consider Prince the greatest musician of all time. All time.


Most of u all have made some nice points and I will add my 2cents. Prince will not get his due until he is dead. America rarely gives a Black man his due while he is alive. Now I know you guys are going to get all over me for introducing "race" as a part of the equation but it is a factor. if you don't believe it's a factor look at history and you will see what I mean. Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, hell even Tupac ( i don't like tupac) got way more respect after they died. Muhammed Ali became an old man before he got any respect. Remember how he was treated when he was a young powerful black man?

Graycap23 said:

thanks for saying that

prince already addressed this in "the everlasting now" with the following verse:

"don't no matter how much money u made
all the cars u got and the women u laid
mess with the flag and to them u're still a spade"

he was talking about himself in the first person singular.

Mercedes73 said:

I thought that was a reference to Sly (from the Family Stone) and the flag-trouble he had....

Most of u all have made some nice points and I will add my 2cents. Prince will not get his due until he is dead. America rarely gives a Black man his due while he is alive. Now I know you guys are going to get all over me for introducing "race" as a part of the equation but it is a factor. if you don't believe it's a factor look at history and you will see what I mean. Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, hell even Tupac ( i don't like tupac) got way more respect after they died. Muhammed Ali became an old man before he got any respect. Remember how he was treated when he was a young powerful black man?

I think Prince's legacy will depend primarily upon at what point in the future mankind dresses itself in shit like his blue Rave suit (exposed buts and all). You KNOW that outfit is some sort of fashion evolutionary link between our modern gear and that one-piece jump suit shit they wear on Star Trek...

Graycap23 said:

You are right, except death makes everyone a legend--Abraham Lincoln, John Lennon, Vincent Van Gogh, Mozart, Kurt Cobain, Kennedy. All respected in life, but legends once they died, same as Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Martin Luther King.