independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Prince: Music and More > Is Prince Better than the Sum of his Influences?
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Page 1 of 2 12>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 12/15/08 10:15pm

Imago

Is Prince Better than the Sum of his Influences?

Sly, George Clinton, Jimmy Hindrex, Joani Mitchell, Alshley Simpson, and the late James Brown--all of them have exerted their influences on Prince's music over the years.


One need not go out on too much of a tangent to see the name "Purple Rain" as being at least in some way influenced by the title "Purple Haze" if only in its moniker--or the attire of Prince in the style of Hendrix with a little Liza Minnelli or Vera Wang thrown in there depending on his mood.

But, (maybe I can say this cause I'm truly ignorant of music technique), it I've never heard anything that Hendrix has done that has actually made me think there was no way Prince could match him--I know it's a tomato-taMAH-to type of thing for some folks, but for me, I just don't see Prince as fairing too poorly against the great Hendrix.

About the only person I think he doesn't match well is George Clinton. Now I admit I don't know much about funk, but when I listen to Clinton's music as opposed to Prince's supposed funky music, it just sounds like Clinton eats, breaths, and craps funk , while Prince only flirts with it. Clinton's funk is the kind that makes you want to go home and slap yo momma!

But Prince overall, just seems to be greater than the sum of his influences. MJ influenced the boys of NYSYNC, Led Zeppelin Influenced a slew of metal bands, and Bruce Springsteen inflenced the likes of Bon Jovi---but none of the newer cats come close to matching their influences. It just seems to me that Prince takes it to a higher level.


In the after life, after all our beloved stars have passed away, I picture a court with musicians laid out all over, in spirited attire, jovially conversing at first, but all the chatter giving way to whispering and reverence as the one true Saint of Pop Music descends down a golden stairway towards them... That one true saint of course... Is Prince.... wearing Vera Wang and no panties. worship

.
[Edited 12/16/08 7:34am]
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 12/15/08 10:20pm

SPOOKYGAS

avatar

Wendy and Lisa are way better than Prince. As for your question, I dunno, maybe.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 12/15/08 10:26pm

Imago

SPOOKYGAS said:

Wendy and Lisa are way better than Prince. As for your question, I dunno, maybe.

I don't think the problem with Prince is that he's not as good as Wendy and Lisa. I think he could be far better.

The problem is that he needs to follow his muse and stop copying El Debarge all the time. First, in the 80s he was copying his hairdos,... now it's everything.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 12/15/08 10:50pm

SPOOKYGAS

avatar

Imago said:

SPOOKYGAS said:

Wendy and Lisa are way better than Prince. As for your question, I dunno, maybe.

I don't think the problem with Prince is that he's not as good as Wendy and Lisa. I think he could be far better.

The problem is that he needs to follow his muse and stop copying El Debarge all the time. First, in the 80s he was copying his hairdos,... now it's everything.



I was of course extracting the urine with the GirlBros comment...as for your question, still not sure, its all about the algebra innit?
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 12/16/08 5:43am

kaptainkrunk

how is prince copying el debarge yall people on here be reaching so far u should write fiction novels el debarge is a washed up drug user and prince life and career both in a opposite direction
ok and wendy and lisa being better whoa thats not even worth a comment
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 12/16/08 5:55am

Marrk

avatar

No. Hell No! if you want us to answer the question posed in the title of this thread literally, of course not!

confused
[Edited 12/16/08 6:10am]
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 12/16/08 6:24am

angel345

Though I remember Little Richard saying that Prince is just like him, I see more of Jimi Hendrix style in him. The only difference is that Prince made a fortune and Hendrix died penniless and tragic.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 12/16/08 6:48am

XxAxX

avatar

SPOOKYGAS said:

Imago said:


I don't think the problem with Prince is that he's not as good as Wendy and Lisa. I think he could be far better.

The problem is that he needs to follow his muse and stop copying El Debarge all the time. First, in the 80s he was copying his hairdos,... now it's everything.



I was of course extracting the urine with the GirlBros comment...as for your question, still not sure, its all about the algebra innit?



nod my conclusion exactly. i'm not big on sums, adding, subtracting, muil;tiplication - that's all best left to the accountants among us. then again, prince himself is into all that 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 stuff so maybe this is a good time for a math thread. i dunno
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 12/16/08 6:51am

jcurley

To be honest I genuinely think prince is. I don't agree with with the Hendrix Being better comment however. In relation to Prince it's now an old cliche, if you are not defined by one thing you are simply not defined. In terms of guitar Prince in the last two years has really turned that around and I suspect that is why his music is weaker. If you look at live performances of weaker tracks like fury it becomes a totally different sound live-I'm assuming that Prince now competes with a peer group we are not privy to and so "song" becomes less important. Clinton V Prince? Again I can see what you mean-Clinton is dirrrrrty which it should be-Prince is tidy in the main.

Sounds obsessional I know but when I think of Prince I also think of the film Amadeus. I have forgot the nemesis character-Salurer? (know it is not that) but his greatest resentment against Mozart is that he feels Mozart does not feel the music or is grateful for the gift but is however visionary and superior in how he can bring it together and almost see it from above.

In terms of Prince's success I think this is absolutely crucial
1. People do not have the patience to see multi talent
2. People need to be linked to what they perceive as passion for one thing or they think you are to some degree fraudulent-jack of all trades...

So a long way to yes Prince is better than the sum of his influences
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 12/16/08 6:57am

jcurley

sorry misread your hendrix comment -I do agree with that
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 12/16/08 1:25pm

Jeffiner

Imago said:

Sly, George Clinton, Jimmy Hindrex, Joani Mitchell, Alshley Simpson, and the late James Brown--all of them have exerted their influences on Prince's music over the years.


One need not go out on too much of a tangent to see the name "Purple Rain" as being at least in some way influenced by the title "Purple Haze" if only in its moniker--or the attire of Prince in the style of Hendrix with a little Liza Minnelli or Vera Wang thrown in there depending on his mood.

But, (maybe I can say this cause I'm truly ignorant of music technique), it I've never heard anything that Hendrix has done that has actually made me think there was no way Prince could match him--I know it's a tomato-taMAH-to type of thing for some folks, but for me, I just don't see Prince as fairing too poorly against the great Hendrix.

About the only person I think he doesn't match well is George Clinton. Now I admit I don't know much about funk, but when I listen to Clinton's music as opposed to Prince's supposed funky music, it just sounds like Clinton eats, breaths, and craps funk , while Prince only flirts with it. Clinton's funk is the kind that makes you want to go home and slap yo momma!

But Prince overall, just seems to be greater than the sum of his influences. MJ influenced the boys of NYSYNC, Led Zeppelin Influenced a slew of metal bands, and Bruce Springsteen inflenced the likes of Bon Jovi---but none of the newer cats come close to matching their influences. It just seems to me that Prince takes it to a higher level.


In the after life, after all our beloved stars have passed away, I picture a court with musicians laid out all over, in spirited attire, jovially conversing at first, but all the chatter giving way to whispering and reverence as the one true Saint of Pop Music descends down a golden stairway towards them... That one true saint of course... Is Prince.... wearing Vera Wang and no panties. worship

.
[Edited 12/16/08 7:34am]


I don't think Prince is necessarily 'better' than some you've mentioned, in their own specific genre, but where the genius comes in is that he took ALL of those musical influences and mixed them up, he was influenced by a LOT of different stuff, and by blending it all together, and creating something totally unique, I think that's where he wins hands down!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 12/16/08 7:28pm

BEAUGARDE

There's a difference in Prince's funk is as different from Clintin's as Clinton's is to James Brown's.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 12/18/08 9:08pm

trueiopian

No way.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 01/01/09 4:58pm

XxAxX

avatar

trueiopian said:

No way.



is too
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 01/01/09 5:36pm

Mach

Lord No eek
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 01/01/09 6:55pm

Revolution

avatar

Without question...Prince is as good as any one of his influences, but does (and has done) so much more....all while still being a pretty-man.

He's the real deal...all others are pretenders.
Thanks for the laughs, arguments and overall enjoyment for the last umpteen years. It's time for me to retire from Prince.org and engage in the real world...lol. Above all, I appreciated the talent Prince. You were one of a kind.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 01/01/09 6:57pm

Giovanni777

avatar

Great subject and question, and the answer is most definitely YES.
"He's a musician's musician..."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #17 posted 01/01/09 7:09pm

purplecam

avatar

Revolution said:

Without question...Prince is as good as any one of his influences, but does (and has done) so much more....all while still being a pretty-man.

He's the real deal...all others are pretenders.

I agree with you 100%
I'm not a fan of "old Prince". I'm not a fan of "new Prince". I'm just a fan of Prince. Simple as that
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #18 posted 01/01/09 7:23pm

cherrymoongirl

Imago said:

Sly, George Clinton, Jimmy Hindrex, Joani Mitchell, Alshley Simpson, and the late James Brown--all of them have exerted their influences on Prince's music over the years.


One need not go out on too much of a tangent to see the name "Purple Rain" as being at least in some way influenced by the title "Purple Haze" if only in its moniker--or the attire of Prince in the style of Hendrix with a little Liza Minnelli or Vera Wang thrown in there depending on his mood.

But, (maybe I can say this cause I'm truly ignorant of music technique), it I've never heard anything that Hendrix has done that has actually made me think there was no way Prince could match him--I know it's a tomato-taMAH-to type of thing for some folks, but for me, I just don't see Prince as fairing too poorly against the great Hendrix.

About the only person I think he doesn't match well is George Clinton. Now I admit I don't know much about funk, but when I listen to Clinton's music as opposed to Prince's supposed funky music, it just sounds like Clinton eats, breaths, and craps funk , while Prince only flirts with it. Clinton's funk is the kind that makes you want to go home and slap yo momma!

But Prince overall, just seems to be greater than the sum of his influences. MJ influenced the boys of NYSYNC, Led Zeppelin Influenced a slew of metal bands, and Bruce Springsteen inflenced the likes of Bon Jovi---but none of the newer cats come close to matching their influences. It just seems to me that Prince takes it to a higher level.


In the after life, after all our beloved stars have passed away, I picture a court with musicians laid out all over, in spirited attire, jovially conversing at first, but all the chatter giving way to whispering and reverence as the one true Saint of Pop Music descends down a golden stairway towards them... That one true saint of course... Is Prince.... wearing Vera Wang and no panties. worship

.
[Edited 12/16/08 7:34am]

falloff
ps- He might be better than Ashley Simpson. Thats right, I said it!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #19 posted 01/02/09 5:43am

mrwiggles

Ironically this is something I've been pondering the past few days since my 'return to the fold'.

This is something the celebrated cultural critic Nelson George talked about

some years ago in a documentary. He said what it took all these other cats to

do with these big bands, Prince can do all of that by himself.

Now IMHO Sly, George, Bootsy and James produced some of the baddest grooves on

the planet. But this lil badass here is something else altogether. To see and

listen to his development from jamming on vamps early in his journey on cuts

like Let's Work, Head, Dirty Mind into the stratosphere of orchestration as he

got older. It's just prolific. And he never seems to run on empty. He is on

some other chyt.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #20 posted 01/02/09 8:01am

Dayclear

Prince is better than everything nod
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #21 posted 01/02/09 8:09am

2freaky4church
1

avatar

Yes, but he does need to shake the MJ off his boot.
All you others say Hell Yea!! woot!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #22 posted 01/02/09 8:36am

Vendetta1

Giovanni777 said:

Great subject and question, and the answer is most definitely YES.
Who is Prince better than?
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #23 posted 01/02/09 5:46pm

XxAxX

avatar

Mach said:

Lord No eek

nuh huh, is too. do the math baby, do the math! prince + influences + fame + fortune = prince > influences thumbs up!




.
[Edited 1/2/09 17:50pm]
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #24 posted 01/02/09 5:51pm

colorblu

mrwiggles said:

Ironically this is something I've been pondering the past few days since my 'return to the fold'.

This is something the celebrated cultural critic Nelson George talked about

some years ago in a documentary. He said what it took all these other cats to

do with these big bands, Prince can do all of that by himself
.

Now IMHO Sly, George, Bootsy and James produced some of the baddest grooves on

the planet. But this lil badass here is something else altogether. To see and

listen to his development from jamming on vamps early in his journey on cuts

like Let's Work, Head, Dirty Mind into the stratosphere of orchestration as he

got older. It's just prolific. And he never seems to run on empty
. He is on

some other chyt.


Exactly!! thumbs up!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #25 posted 01/02/09 5:53pm

ThreadBare

1. Great question showing awesome depth and a sense of musical history (whoever you are, posing as Imago hmm ).

2. Prince occupies a neat place amid that pantheon of artists, in that his debt to them (er, excepting Simpson) is pretty evident. He owes his amazing success to being their beneficiary, having big ears (in terms of being able to draw from his musical contemporaries and peers -- sometimes shadily), having the talent to be an artist in his own right with his own voice, and luck & timing.

3. None of this, of course, explains the heels.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #26 posted 01/03/09 8:51am

methodcal

avatar

Dayclear said:

Prince is better than everything nod


Definitely co-sign that.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #27 posted 01/03/09 9:39am

sexxydancer

methodcal said:

Dayclear said:

Prince is better than everything nod


Definitely co-sign that.

I agree! wink
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #28 posted 01/17/09 8:29pm

trueiopian

XxAxX said:

trueiopian said:

No way.



is too


is not razz
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #29 posted 01/24/09 9:45am

alphastreet

SPOOKYGAS said:

Wendy and Lisa are way better than Prince. As for your question, I dunno, maybe.


In bed.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Page 1 of 2 12>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Prince: Music and More > Is Prince Better than the Sum of his Influences?