ok all u knowledgeable people out there, here is a question that i've sort of asked before but this time, i want names.
...is there any musicians out there today who can rival prince's massive all round talent as a writer, singer,live performer and ,of course, as a musician.
...im looking for names so that i can check them out, ok, thanks.

Ok, OK, you coaxed me out of hiding. Yes, I am, actually. It's quite a burden, but I try to stay humble...

no.

um, stevie wonder kix p's booty a bit, i'm afraid...

Anyone as talented as Prince? At what???

Of course, this isn't a good place to ask that type of question. Kind of like at a skinhead rally asking the crowd whether Jews get a bum rap or not...

Anyway, when you talk about span of musical genres and musical vocabulary - this is where Prince separates himself from everyone in my opinion. His music is like the lake in the middle of jungle. All types of animals drink there. All type of music lovers can meet at his music. He is a GENIUS at combining, integrating, and mastering different types or forms of music.

The reason we would never agree on his best albumn is because we love him musically for different reasons...our own OTHER musical taste (mine for example, hard core hip hop rap) I would venture is very different amongst ourselves.

Now, is he the most talented? It's 2002 and play some of his music from the 70's, 80, 90, and now 2000's and see if it sounds dated. Play the radio and hear so many artists do what he did 20 years ago and determine what the implications of that is about. Then put on "Joy in Repetition" and let's end this discussion immediately. The answer is a resounding "NO". No one is as talented as Prince in my opinion. Stevie Wonder is great but face it - is his music AS DIVERSE as Prince??? Is ANYONE'S?...Listen to The Vault, Purple Rain, Choas and Disorder, and The Rainbow Children and tell me whose musical vocabulary is as extensive as Prince's. No, I don't list those as his best, but check out the musical variations within just those.

The REAL question isn't "Is Anyone as talented as Prince?". Come on, we already KNOW that answer!!! The REAL question is "Why doesn't everyone value his music like we obviously do?" I say due to ignorance...enlighten someone, open their eyes, I do it and they are flabergasted...you're fine - most people think Prince retired over 10 years ago. To those who don't recognize his genuis, I say, "SHUT UP ALREADY...DAMN!!!..."

bjork has my vote...

her songwritting, her acting, she is a trained opera singer, her album strenghts, her videos, her orchestration arrangements...and on and on and on...

prince is a better dancer though

SkletonKee said:

I've been heard this before and now I'm REALLY interested in her... Please tell me a Bjork CD to purchase that may be her best work...I'll buy it this weekend...my curiousity is at a peak.

SkletonKee said:

Acting and videos have nothing to do with musical talent. But she wears better bird-influenced gowns at award shows.

no.

Mr David Grohl is doing a splendid job in a genre Prince has never touched. Whether Mr Grohl could cope with funk is another matter of course.

Bowie isn't half bad. Zappa was quite good. Wendy and Lisa are right up there with Prince's best.

My Mum...she gave birth to a human seven times. Prince can't.

When I say "a human" I mean, of course, seven humans...otherwise I would be talking about a sci-fi movie.

Other than that I can't think of anyone.

yep Easily there are many but who is gonna wanna hear about them?? Sly Stone for instance did Prince's whole Career before Him but Bro Man just doesn't seem in any hurry to come back.Stevie Wonder when He wants to can just kick it into another Gear.George CLinton,Maurice White,Issac Hayes&about 499 Other People but who will give them a fair Chance??

SheSaidLoveMe said:

If you buy a Bjork album-I'd reccommend Debut, her first and (to me) her best.

Bladerunner said:

ohh, i didnt notice the lil disclaimer at the top of the thread..but i still stick by my statement...thanks for the clarification..

SheSaidLoveMe said:

Hard to pick just one...Either, like thebubpsquad said, get Debut...or Vaspertine (her last album)...I think getting to combo would allow you to experience the massive variety in Bjork's music...

and dont forget to rent "Dancer In The Dark"...not only will it give you a wonderful introduction to her music, but the story will blow your mind away...

Prince is the closet defination of a true, only musical genius, with his diversity on every level, justifies this. So most of us know this, so i will not repeat. I had an interestin argument with 'Kingsausage', a while a go on this issue.

But if i had 2 say whos 2nd, i'd say Billy Corgan, simply cuz he is similar 2 Prince, he writes, plays instuments, thus performs his own work. He is very much in control, like Prince his 1st priorite is music, and has a mature and insightful attitude. Just listen 2 the emotive, sorrowful, Disarm or the classic gothic rock number, Tonight, Tonight. Or the song dat creates it own syle and genre, Ava Adore. U'll know.

Sam

SkletonKee said:

mistermaxxx said:

Gimme a break. They've all been in the business long before Prince. They have had a lot more of a 'fair chance.'

I have been to so many different concerts in my life and
noone that I have seen can touch Prince live.
including David Bowie, the Stones, Paul Mccartney,etc,etc.
After seeing Prince, the rest were sort of hohum.

Bladerunner said:

maybe he means...who on this site will give them a chance? its very obvious that theres a huge constituent of Prince fans who only listen to his music..They idolism to the point where they can no longer be objective about other art...

thats why its sorta silly to ask these types of questions...because, most people will refuse to consider other artist and they take this as an oppurtunity to slam them...

ya know what i mean?

SkletonKee said:

to Quote Barry White Right ON!

J Mascis.

Check out his multi-instrumental work and song writing skills as he WAS Alt. Rock bands Dinosaur Jr. and J Mascis & The Fog.

He doesn't have a honey dipped voice, but he will grow on you.

Ron Jeremy!!!

DAVID BOWIE!!! Enough said!!

SkletonKee said:

Well, I'm not one of those people. I don't even listen to Prince on a daily or weekly basis unless it's something new just released. Matter of fact, I don't own every album he ever made. In most cases I don't even think I'm a hardcore Prince fan. I don't know about a "huge" constituent of Prince fans who only listen to Prince, though I do know there is that small percentage who might overshadow the majority that don't.

And I still think he could have quit after 1990 and his brilliance would still be intact.

When I think about every single aspect musically that combines the whole I can't think of anyone outside of Jazz that could be the equivalent, though there is one young buck artist out there right now that has the potential. And I think had Hendrix lived long enough he had that potential. Contrary to what most seem to believe his interest in music was more than just rock, blues and psychedelic music.

Songwriting (lyricism) is a totally subjective thing, and in my opinion he has equals and those that surpass him. But I think the lyricists touted the most are the ones that you connect with. Not always the ones that are wordsmiths, or know how to turn a phrase into something revelatory.

Someone here once said he has a voice on each instrument he plays. There's no better way to put that, really.

There are more advanced guitar players, drummers, piano/keys, bass players than Prince, but there is no doubt he has a distinct prowess as an instrumentalist on everything he plays. And he isn't by any means "average" on any instrument.

Although I could think of other singers whose voices I like better, Prince's vocal range is something to behold.

The biggest test is the music. What one sets out to achieve MUSICALLY (not commercially, for all you folks who crave being popular on the charts). Prince was very erratic in the 90s. That doesn't mean he didn't create a spec of dross in the 80s as some would have you believe, it just means that he was much more consistent and hungry back then.

But his conceptual boldness, and more importantly, his grasp of it is beyond any of his contemporaries for sure. Regardless of what people say who dislike TRC, it was a risk to release. For more than one reason. And his willingness to take risks as an artist is part of the piece of the puzzle when considering the questions at the top of this thread. He has the balls and the talent to pull certain things off that most can't. That most don't even think about.

Most are mere performers. Many are artists. Many others are visionaries. Some who are compared to him are artists, but not visionaries.

Not just his versatility, the degree of versatility is his strength. There are tons of versatile musicians. You won't find a whole lot of solo artists that have his degree of versatility. And how successfully his musical concepts develop.

Live performance. We can only compare who we have seen. His live shows are legendary when he's not being complacent and singing cruise control medleys. There, he is peerless compared with those I have seen.

The only thing that Prince has tried and doesn't have the gift for is hip hop. When he's rapping and NOT TRYING to "rap" (see Irresistable Bitch and the mid section of Muse To The Pharaoh) is when he's more equipped to carry it off.

Blackboab's question was about the entire package.

Not commercial success alone (which he's had plenty of),

not instrumental greatness alone,

not live shows alone,

not songwriting alone,

not composing alone,

not singing alone,

not prolific output alone,

not a fertile, creative mind for music alone,

not conceptual boldness alone,

not versatility alone - the degree of versatility,

not solely his willingness to experiment,

not conceptual success alone,

not being capable of innovation alone...many have one or many of these things. But ALL of these things? Prince carries that package well. His disgruntled fans sticking with him for so long bespeaks how well he has carried that package.

He can play most people's music with authority, but most can't play Prince's music. You'd have to get one from this genre, another from that genre, etc.

When it comes to Funk, there might be others you'd pick first. When it comes to Rock, there might be others you'd pick first. When it comes to the all-around entire package, Prince is an all-around hardcore.

He's sort of like Miles and Zappa, in that if you're a funk, rock, pop, or a fan of music that is uncategorical to the ear, his catalog is extensive enough, and authoritative enough for every serious music fan to find something they enjoy.

After babbling on about it; Blackboab, if you want some in the spirit of Prince, try Shuggie Otis. I'm sure everyone here knows about Prince's most pointed to influences Sly Stone, Stevie, etc.

But if you want to listen to others who have the spirit of Prince and a lot of talent, try Shuggie, Frank Zappa, Terence Trent D'Arby, David Bowie. Of course only two of those guys are making music today.

Had Prince retired or passed on I don't think the opinion formed because of this question would be come to as flippantly as some SEEM to have come to it. Because I don't think he would be taken for granted by some. Notice how some of those mentioned are dead or no longer making music? You can't take those artists for granted.

NO, of course Not! There are very excellent Musicians out there but No One is as Talented as Prince His Royal Badness Mr. P. Discussion closed!

Natasha said:

Yeah, what she said!

Nu uh...

SkletonKee said:

Sorry, but only Sly and Stevie are the ones on his list that are even close. The other ones he came up with aren't nearly as diverse or can do as many things as well. and to claim 'about 499 more' is just ridiculously WACK! and shows no eye for the kind of talent Prince has. You don't even have to be in love with Prince's music to know that.

Paul Mccartney is a great musician.. and even tho he is much older than prince.. he has achieved much more than prince, and to me, he is AS talented or maybe more.. the different types of music he's done.. eye even have ol' paul doin techno music (talk about up 2 date) on his first solo album he did all his instruments.. yada yada yada.. and eye've seen him live.. and he was great.. and eye saw prince in the same month, and eye came 2 the conlusion they were equally as great, even tho eye get to see prince's rehersal.. it was all cool

but yes, prince is a REALLY talented person..

Billy Corgan's voice does let him down.