i dont have an answer yet.

"How am I not myself??"

I would say all of them. Except when he was Jamie Starr, Alexander Nevermind, Paisley Park, Joey Coco, Christopher Tracy, Gemini, Camille, Tora Tora, and Azifwekare.

squirrelgrease said:

I would say all of them. Except when he was Jamie Starr, Alexander Nevermind, Paisley Park, Joey Coco, Christopher Tracy, Gemini, Camille, Tora Tora, and Azifwekare.

I agree. He's always been himself

Prince was Prince in 1978-1995.

1996-2010 he has been an imitation of himself.

on the album "controversy" he musically goes all the way for the first time in his life ever. therefor this album comes closest to who prince is both as a musician and a human being.

vitalbacon said:

on the album "controversy" he musically goes all the way for the first time in his life ever. therefor this album comes closest to who prince is both as a musician and a human being.

I agree that Controversy was where he first displayed what would become his true fingerprint on music history (seamlessly blending funk, soul, rock, r&b, and pop).

Well, first of all I think we're all on a journey toward finding our true selves, so philosophically I don't think he's reached that place yet, almost by definition.

Second of all, P is of course the only one even vaguely qualified to answer the question, but while we're pondering and sharing opinions, I'll throw my 2c in too

I feel that Prince had a glimpse of his true self (spiritually speaking), moreso than most, before he had the wisdom to give it any solid grounding, which led to dizzying fame, inspired performances and growing isolation - seemingly creating a rift between him and the rest of society that he tried to mend through spiritual exploration.

I believe that there were things he knew that he didn't truly understand yet, which created an instability in his sense of self and God.

When that instability was painfully tested in the mid-late 90s, he seemed in some ways to end up back at square one, with religion providing a "safe" option for him within which to start rebuilding.

I think that every album and era show us glimpses of who he truly is, albeit different aspects, but he allowed himself to be more vulnerable in his music in his pre-emancipation days (ironic, but not altogether surprising), whereas now his musical and creative genius bulges within a spiritually conservative framework - one that I suspect won't be able to contain his true essence for much longer.

He strikes me as one of the very few who knows where it is that he's going, he just hasn't figured out how to get there. Yet.

In the 90s, he freed himself from what he saw as corporate bondage and, within a few years, seemed to pick up new chains through religion, perhaps because the prospect of allowing himself to be truly free in his creativity and spirituality became too daunting.

Every album, every era, every new 'revelation' he has had over the years represents a step in the journey - even the ones that appear from the outside to be a step backwards.

Prince sings and speaks so much about freedom in many different contexts. It's clearly a strong theme in his life and yet potentially represents his greatest hurdle.

I feel that when he finally lets go of his fears and allows himself to be truly free, then he will realise his true self and that will be an era not to be missed

I would say 1978-1988. Its was a mix of shyness, insecurity, sexual obsessiveness, bravado, religion, alienation and optimism.

thedance said:

Prince was Prince in 1978-1995.

1996-2010 he has been an imitation of himself.

yup

There is little bit of real prince in every album and a little bit of the "other guy" too.

i guess im gonna go with the obvious answer, not really to deep or anything like everyone elses, but i would have to say For you i mean really.. if it was your very first album wouldn't you give it all you got ?

squirrelgrease said:

I would say all of them. Except when he was Jamie Starr, Alexander Nevermind, Paisley Park, Joey Coco, Christopher Tracy, Gemini, Camille, Tora Tora, and Azifwekare.

thedance said:

Prince was Prince in 1978-1995.

1996-2010 he has been an imitation of himself.

If Prince from 1978-1995 was the guy responsible for such gems as "Jughead", I prefer the Prince from 1996-2010.

I watched a Miles Davis interview where he said he asked Prince "How does it feel to wake up and be new person?"

Thinking back on what Davis said I think he was referring to the way Prince switches styles (music, fashion, taste, etc) Or perhaps he truly believes what he said. Hmmm.

all of em'

he's just-changed

alot

then again

he has had a career since 1979.......................

anyone can go through alot in that time

and

thats mostly why folk moan today

cuz he's too himself .................!

go figure

Chiquetet said:

Well, first of all I think we're all on a journey toward finding our true selves, so philosophically I don't think he's reached that place yet, almost by definition.

Second of all, P is of course the only one even vaguely qualified to answer the question, but while we're pondering and sharing opinions, I'll throw my 2c in too

I feel that Prince had a glimpse of his true self (spiritually speaking), moreso than most, before he had the wisdom to give it any solid grounding, which led to dizzying fame, inspired performances and growing isolation - seemingly creating a rift between him and the rest of society that he tried to mend through spiritual exploration.

I believe that there were things he knew that he didn't truly understand yet, which created an instability in his sense of self and God.

When that instability was painfully tested in the mid-late 90s, he seemed in some ways to end up back at square one, with religion providing a "safe" option for him within which to start rebuilding.

I think that every album and era show us glimpses of who he truly is, albeit different aspects, but he allowed himself to be more vulnerable in his music in his pre-emancipation days (ironic, but not altogether surprising), whereas now his musical and creative genius bulges within a spiritually conservative framework - one that I suspect won't be able to contain his true essence for much longer.

He strikes me as one of the very few who knows where it is that he's going, he just hasn't figured out how to get there. Yet.

In the 90s, he freed himself from what he saw as corporate bondage and, within a few years, seemed to pick up new chains through religion, perhaps because the prospect of allowing himself to be truly free in his creativity and spirituality became too daunting.

Every album, every era, every new 'revelation' he has had over the years represents a step in the journey - even the ones that appear from the outside to be a step backwards.

Prince sings and speaks so much about freedom in many different contexts. It's clearly a strong theme in his life and yet potentially represents his greatest hurdle.

I feel that when he finally lets go of his fears and allows himself to be truly free, then he will realise his true self and that will be an era not to be missed

Great post. And so far the only one really trying to answer the question. The other posts mostly answer the question "On which album or in which era was Prince truly close to somebody else?"

I thought he seemed the most genuine during the "One Night Alone" tour. Members of the NPGMC got to go to rehearsals and actually talk with him and play his instruments. When he spoke to us, it felt real. He didn't come across fake or trying to be friendly, he just was.

jwsullivan said:

I have no answer either.

But I think the most genuine musical statements that came from him were from 86-87. It didn't sound like he was trying to prove a point.

Easy, Lovesexy.

I think Prince has ALWAYS been himself...who he was just changed throughout the times, like alot of people. He has always expressed himself through his music...whatever he was at a certain moment, we go from the music. The man he has become today is because of the man he was all those years ago. Like it or Love it...it's still Prince and he is perfect just the way he is right now!!

always or never.

I don't think there's truly any "being yourself"... we act differently according to the situation we're in...

PicklesMcMillan said:

i would have to say For you

mm i'm leaning in that direction too

He seemed to have a very natural and personal approach to music in 1987-1988 and later on in 1993-1996. He was talking like a musician with a vision and that is what I think he is, deep down.

DaphneLovesPR1NCE said:

I think Prince has ALWAYS been himself...who he was just changed throughout the times, like alot of people. He has always expressed himself through his music...whatever he was at a certain moment, we go from the music. The man he has become today is because of the man he was all those years ago. Like it or Love it...it's still Prince and he is perfect just the way he is right now!!

I agree that he has always been himself - but also that one's self is a social construction everchanging through life and across contexts.

But I think the OP has a goos point. Because just because you are always yourself, it doesn't mean you express it all through your creative output.

My own experience is that either:

1) He stopped putting as much of himself into his music from the 90s and on, the result being a little more superficial, though still at times great and rocking,

or:

2) He changed into a person from the 90s and on who is a little more superficial, though still still at times great and rocking.

Which it might be I have no idea.

all these blabla-answers like "he has always been himself" are just way too obvious. just give it a go and name an album, come on...

Isn't he always exactly who he is? Much to the chagrin of those who want him to be something else tha they expect.

I've seen people fall of the Prince bandwagon with each album, but I'm sure the most dramatic was When Dirty Mind came out, and some people were just cussing about how degenerate and embarressing he was because of songs like Sister. I've heard it from peeps that were young adults at the time.

vitalbacon said:

on the album "controversy" he musically goes all the way for the first time in his life ever. therefor this album comes closest to who prince is both as a musician and a human being.

you may be right about the music, but his physical appearance had started morphing into "prince" the public image on this album

i'm still undecided, but i'm leaning in favor of For You.

i can appreciate how an artist has many different facets to their creativity and identity, but i'm thinking there has to be one solid true I.D. for any artist

i think that's true for all of us as individuals as well, imo.

vitalbacon said:

all these blabla-answers like "he has always been himself" are just way too obvious. just give it a go and name an album, come on...

OK, OK, OK.... If I just had to pick an era, IMO, he was most "himself" around the late 80s. He was really dipping and dapping in alot of different things and I think that that is who he is. He likes to try different things. I'd be interested in hearing what Prince has to say about when he was most himself....

I honestly believe though that he's always been himself...he doesn't want to be any 1 specific thing, he wants to embody all these different musical styles, and that is what he's done his entire career. He writes his own music, and despite what everyone else wants, he writes and sings what makes him happy at that time!! So yeah, he's always been himself!! Prince knows he's awesome, he's said it himself, "I don't look at myself thru other peoples eyes..."