shit that be having cats scratching their heads

im a non musician....some of his shit moves me to tears but what i deem his "greatest" guitar solo may not be from a musicians point of view

God instrumental & Purple Rain

The term musician is often self applied by people who can play an instrument really well and can play a prewritten piece of music expertly, but,

can't even come up with a creative, memorable, or interesting tune of their own. So asking some musicians for their opinions on a piece of music can often be a little bit odd.

Go by your tears! Rate with a system like:

1. Dry Eyes

2. Tearing up

3. One tear

4. More than one tear

5. Tears and drool and afterglow.

Mountains

The bass line chugs away all the way through. It's played far differently than anything else that he has done leading up. The chord changes at the end of the song that lead into the outro are pretty freaky as well. The guitar parts and drums are all just in synch. The song is one of his finest moments - especially the lyrics. Beautiful piece of work here!

Purple Rain

His music these days is just full of sound. This song isn't. He really sings this song - you can hear the passion in his vocals. The angelic screams at the end take this song to another level. The not super present guitar solo is epic and benefits from not being right in your face. A beautiful melody, a beautiful four chord song, and a lot of empty spaces makes this song one of his masterpieces.

Pink Cashmere

Brilliant! The Stevie Wonder hi hat drum sound, those strings, and the multi-layered background vocals. The beautiful guitar work! This man was a machine at one point.

His high moments are undeniable - he really is a fantastic artist! He has obviously traded in his muse in favour of a peaceful life. I hope he gets it back. MJ and Madonna didn't have a thing on this guy when he was composing. He's a horrible celebrity and it is obvious that he loves the attention and fame aspect of his life more than he does the creative process these days.

Power Fantastic.

I was amazed when I found out years later that it was just one take. I must've listened to the song a thousand times, and everytime I do, it hits me in the chest, and I don't even know what the lyrics mean.

Maybe you should've said "instrumentalists", which is what I think you meant?!

jayARDAHB said:

Mountains

The bass line chugs away all the way through. It's played far differently than anything else that he has done leading up. The chord changes at the end of the song that lead into the outro are pretty freaky as well. The guitar parts and drums are all just in synch. The song is one of his finest moments - especially the lyrics. Beautiful piece of work here!

Purple Rain

His music these days is just full of sound. This song isn't. He really sings this song - you can hear the passion in his vocals. The angelic screams at the end take this song to another level. The not super present guitar solo is epic and benefits from not being right in your face. A beautiful melody, a beautiful four chord song, and a lot of empty spaces makes this song one of his masterpieces.

Pink Cashmere

Brilliant! The Stevie Wonder hi hat drum sound, those strings, and the multi-layered background vocals. The beautiful guitar work! This man was a machine at one point.

His high moments are undeniable - he really is a fantastic artist! He has obviously traded in his muse in favour of a peaceful life. I hope he gets it back. MJ and Madonna didn't have a thing on this guy when he was composing. He's a horrible celebrity and it is obvious that he loves the attention and fame aspect of his life more than he does the creative process these days.

Nice read jay

Power Fantastic, Sometimes It Snows In April, Joy In Repetition, and I'm Yours.

Great pieces on musicianship in different genres.

jayARDAHB said:

Mountains

The bass line chugs away all the way through. It's played far differently than anything else that he has done leading up. The chord changes at the end of the song that lead into the outro are pretty freaky as well. The guitar parts and drums are all just in synch. The song is one of his finest moments - especially the lyrics. Beautiful piece of work here!

Purple Rain

His music these days is just full of sound. This song isn't. He really sings this song - you can hear the passion in his vocals. The angelic screams at the end take this song to another level. The not super present guitar solo is epic and benefits from not being right in your face. A beautiful melody, a beautiful four chord song, and a lot of empty spaces makes this song one of his masterpieces.

Pink Cashmere

Brilliant! The Stevie Wonder hi hat drum sound, those strings, and the multi-layered background vocals. The beautiful guitar work! This man was a machine at one point.

His high moments are undeniable - he really is a fantastic artist! He has obviously traded in his muse in favour of a peaceful life. I hope he gets it back. MJ and Madonna didn't have a thing on this guy when he was composing. He's a horrible celebrity and it is obvious that he loves the attention and fame aspect of his life more than he does the creative process these days.

I agree. I'd have to add Shockadelica, She's Always in My Hair, Alexis de Paris, The Ballad of Dorothy Parker and Adore to my personal list of Prince's top musical accomplishments. They capture the breadth and versatility really, really well.

Annie Christian

joyinrepetition said:

I'm Yours.

Great piece on musicianship in different genre.

& the entire FIRST album ...

the climax of Let's Go Crazy

The Exodus Has Begun...unique in its sound as is Crystal Ball...

Hallucination Rain build up to climax

She's Always In My Hair...

Gold guitar solo

Erotic City...

Mountains (film and album/12" versions) uplifting...

ufoclub said:

The term musician is often self applied by people who can play an instrument really well and can play a prewritten piece of music expertly, but,

can't even come up with a creative, memorable, or interesting tune of their own. So asking some musicians for their opinions on a piece of music can often be a little bit odd.

musician:

if you play an instrument its not really a self implied name, its what you are. maybe you're confusing musician with composer/song writer. doesnt matter if you can come up with great music or not, that doesnt mean you cant appreciate great music.

as far as the original question, as a musician i have plenty of thoughts of what i think are great songs, but ive found its really not worth trying to agree with others on what is great. popular is easy, but great is extremely subjective. i will say a favorite of mine though is the guitar solo from gold, gets me everytime.

[Edited 7/17/11 10:22am]

savagedreams said:

ufoclub said:

The term musician is often self applied by people who can play an instrument really well and can play a prewritten piece of music expertly, but,

can't even come up with a creative, memorable, or interesting tune of their own. So asking some musicians for their opinions on a piece of music can often be a little bit odd.

musician:

1. A person who is talented or skilled in music.

2. A person who plays a musical instrument, esp. professionally.

if you play an instrument its not really a self implied name, its what you are. maybe you're confusing musician with composer/song writer. doesnt matter if you can come up with great music or not, that doesnt mean you cant appreciate great music.

as far as the original question, as a musician i have plenty of thoughts of what i think are great songs, but ive found its really not worth trying to agree with others on what is great. popular is easy, but great is extremely subjective. i will say a favortie of mine though is the guitar solo from gold, gets me everytime.

The great part about it is anyone can be a musician. I don't think the OP meant to describe us as some elite group, just a group likely to (perhaps) more keenly appreciate and/or demonstrate Prince's influence within the same craft.

The best mix of musicianship, songwriting, originality and style is the Lovesexy album, in my view. Not sure what song I'd pick up from that as the best example.

ufoclub said:

The term musician is often self applied by people who can play an instrument really well and can play a prewritten piece of music expertly, but,

can't even come up with a creative, memorable, or interesting tune of their own. So asking some musicians for their opinions on a piece of music can often be a little bit odd.

Go by your tears! Rate with a system like:

1. Dry Eyes

2. Tearing up

3. One tear

4. More than one tear

5. Tears and drool and afterglow.

good reply!