I am tired of hearing this. After SNL folks would come up to me and say "wow I didn't know Prince played guitar" After the Superbowl I have asked people what they thought of the performance and they would say " I didn't know he played guitar that well" or " I didn't know he played guitar at all! "




I think some of the videos like Kiss which was one of his high charting singles may be the last reference point for a lot of people. That video featured singing and dancing so I think he got thrown into the artist that sing and dance category like MJ and Janet Jackson as opposed to being seen as a live musician with raw talent. However at the same time I still for the life of me can't understand how there are people out there that don't realize Prince is a great guitar player by now. I'm glad P is starting to play more guitar during television appearances for this very matter.

I have met other musicians that look at me weird when I list Prince as one of my favorite guitar players, and then I have to break out all kinds of different songs that feature great guitar work. Can anybody relate?
[Edited 2/25/07 13:00pm]

Whenever I hear someone say that they didn't know Prince played guitar, my only thought is, "Then you don't KNOW Prince!"

These people probably only saw little clips of him singing Purple Rain, 1999, or Kiss. They don't know anything about him other than his sexual persona, symbol name change, and reclusive behavior. They're the same kind of people who laugh when I tell them I'm a Prince fan. After 11 years, I've learned to ignore them.

I can relate... it's a bitch

UCantHavaDaMango said:

What's funny is that he is holding a guitar in both Purple Rain and 1999 but I guess it just doesn't add up for some folks.

Meloh9 said:

I know! They must have only seen the clips that show him from the waist up! Like when he starts singing "Purple Rain, Purple Rain..." and he's got the sad puppy dog eyes. That's the extent of their Prince knowledge. Oh well, it's enough for them to sing along everytime P performs it on TV...

Have in mind that the younger generation still has as a reference the Kiss video.

Prince's apparent eccentricity (i.e. name change) has often pulled the focus off the thing that makes him great - his music. However, it's not all his doing. He has been blessed with so many gifts besides musicianship, such as dancing and bandleading and individuality that often casual fans can be forgiven for not taking it all in. I mean, when most people see a man with a guitar and 4 inch heels on t.v. its sorry to say that the next day at the watercooler they will say "man, did u see that guy in the ladies shoes and eye liner last night", and rarely "did u hear that guitar solo".

Meloh9 said:

Well, I've seen pictures of Justin Timberlake with a guitar. Only in his case it was more of a prop for a photo shoot--proving he's a poser, not a player.

I guess people have become so jaded by all the manufactured pop idols of the last 10 years that they just assume everyone is a fake.

Why waste your valuable time with such people?

Graycap23 said:

they are all over the place, I don't seek them out I just happen to bump into everyday folks or musicians that don't even know that Prince plays guitar

I love watching Prince play guitar, he's amazing at it. I loved when he was at the super bowl and he changed guitars three times, so sexy. hehe. Gosh I adore this man.

I usually just get MY guitar and hit people over the head with it at that point.

Negritaluvyu said:

Negritaluvyu said:

Me too.
But first, I always make sure the ref isn't lookin'.

Yeah it is very frustrating to be a Prince fan and have people say the same lame ass comments about Prince and the guitar. During the Superbowl I wanted to see Prince get down on all the instruments, Sign O The Times style and really blow everyones minds. But oh well I will just have to leave Prince's performance at the R&R Hall of Fame on my Myspace page for a reference for everyone else. What's more frustrating is the fact that no one puts prince up there with more of the greats like Hendrix or Petty when it comes to the guitar!!

Illustrator said:

classic!!!

You know what the real problem is, Meloh, those people are ignorant.


Anyone with half a brain that's older than 17 should know that Prince not only plays guitar, but rocks the fuck out of it!!!!

One guy said to me "does he play lead?"

First thing people think is Purple Rain, 2nd thing is 80's dance music.

Its just that he is NOT known as a formidable guitar player. Once people see/hear him their whole concept has been
forever affected.

I would have to grab them by the throat like in the Jay and Silent Bob movie when some dude said The Time sucks

You think you got it bad? I run into people who say his guitar playing stinks!! I hear it all the time, people saying he's nothing but effects. Shit my music theory teacher and a student who plays guitar said his playing at the superbowl was sloppy and horrible!!!

I hate that too. I'm like
At first when I saw only the name of your thread, I thought you were one of those people. I can't tell you how relieved I was to learn you were commenting on those people, not being one of them.

Those people who say that are cornballs. Most people who know of Prince know Purple Rain and how the hell could then not remember him on the guitar with that song alone? I swear some people are dumber than rocks.

what do you care whether people know he plays guitar or not. is your life so empty that how you feel is affected by what people know of Prince?

dumbass said:

what a fucked up thing to say, this is a site about the discussion of Prince and his entertainment, why are you on here?, people like you is why Ive pretty much stopped posting on here, this site is just entertainment to me just like his music, and Im sure most people on here see it the same way I do, I guess there are douche bags like you everyehere

dumbass said:

hehe I guess names do go with personalities.

ANYWAY,
what kind of loserish
da-
omg.

HELLO.
I mean cmon now, even people who HATE prince knows he plays the guitar. I mean how obvious is it that he plays the guitar. I mean ... GAHHH

Negritaluvyu said:

sure, people do know, but not everybody, so why would some people who don't get you "tired" of finding this out unloess you have nothing else in your life to concern yourself with.
[Edited 2/25/07 18:55pm]

cutn said:

it is not a fucked up thing to say. I may be surprised to find out that someone doesn't know that Prince plays guitar, but to have an adverse emotional reaction is absolutely ridiculous. again, do you have nothing else going on in you life that your emotions are wrapped up in what other people know about something that has absolutely no bearing on you, society or life whatsoever, especially something as trivial as Prince playing guitar.

I don't see how finding this ridiculous precludes me from visiting this site as a Prince fan. Had he said he was surprised that people don't know Prince plays guitar, that would be understandable and set a course for a discussion about what people know or don't now about Prince. but "tired" of people not knowing it, as if everyone's life should be warpped around knowing or remembering every detail about Prince just because his is, makes this topic not about what people know or know about Prince but how it makes him "tired" of it.
[Edited 2/25/07 18:54pm]

dumbass said:

Ok people get tired of things, right now Im tired of being sick. So I guess I should be surprised Im sick ?