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guitars, concerts & la la la hee hee hee. In my opinion... The biggest reason Prince is "underrated" as a guitarist or not taken seriously by guitar heads is his use of clouds, symbols and whatnot. Whatever the pros and cons are about the quality of these instruments, i would argue that to the average person, they are not "serious" guitars. I think his almost exclusive uae of the hohner (or telecaster to most people) and his dabbling with strats is a concious effort on his part to come across as a serious axe-man and not just a pop-star posing with a toy guitar that matches his outfit. Also, in my opinion, his show in malahide was perfect. I don't think that there were too many hits and i could never imagine getting fed up listening to them at a gig... I might not spin them at home anymore but they are "the" songs. My wife accompanied me to the pit that day and we had a ball, as did everyone around me, singing, dancing and freaking the hell out when another intro signalled the start of another of some of the best goddam tunes ever laid down. I, like everyone here no doubt, have more obscure favourites but i'll listen to them at home. I'd rather not be the only one in a crowd digging a track while everyone else chats or makes calls. Since that day, the b-sides has been stuck in the cd player of my car. I LOVE la la la hee hee hee. I HATE I love you in me. | |
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Agreed about the stupidly shaped guitars.
He should play instruments, not toys. | |
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The biggest reason Prince is "underrated" as a guitarist or not taken seriously
by guitar heads is his use of clouds, symbols and whatnot. Whatever the pros and cons are about the quality of these instruments, i would argue that to the average person, they are not "serious" guitars. I think his almost exclusive uae of the hohner (or telecaster to most people) and his dabbling with strats is a concious effort on his part to come across as a serious axe-man and not just a pop-star posing with a toy guitar that matches his outfit.
Does it really matter though? Straight Jacket Funk Affair
Album plays and love for vinyl records. | |
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I don't think he is trying to be #1 in Spin mag for best guitarist. Most people arent appreciated on their skills until they have passed.
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I always dug the tone of that symbol guitar, though - especially on The Beautiful Experience. But you're right... I always cringe a little when that thing comes out, thinking of the 'serious' guitar cats snickerin'. |
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Could this be the reason he stopped using them????? During the recent concerts I've always wondered were they were and why he was playing what I'll call "normal" guitars. | |
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The edit on the B-sides is fine, but get hold of the extended version and be amazed. We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves. | |
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Another reason why Prince is sometimes overlooked in "best guitarists ever" lists is that they are usually compiled by rock mags/journosvwho are not that much into Prince and funk at all. Anyway, I can't resist taking this opportunity to list some of my favorite guitar players besides Prince. Carlos Santana Jimi Hendrix Jimmy Nolan (James Browns band 1960s ) John Lee Hooker JJ Cale And last but not least: Link Wray (wrong forum for this? so what?) | |
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The serious guitar cats are mostly just playing guitar. Prince is doing more than that. It's full on multiplatform creativity he uses to create a kind of narrative and drama (however silly or fantastic he wants it), and it just happens to originate with being a musician which I guess was the first creative avenue he figured out back in high school.
If he had been a filmmaker, maybe he'd be using a symbol shaped camera (just joking).
Prince using custom guitars that echo scenes in his movies or artwork on his albums is another "note" in the complicated thing he is composing that is more than music. If people don't get it, then it's because they're just not into that kind of creative blend, and probably have no interest or ability in that direction.
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Another card to throw on the table is that Prince marketed himself not as 'a guitarist' but as an 'I do it all' kind of guy.
If you think of Vai, Satriani, McLaughlin, Metheny, etc... you're directly thinking of guitar playing but in Prince's case I think the 'guitarist factor' gets a bit 'diluted' in his other skills as singer, composer, pianist, drummer, bassist, producer and it can take away from the Prince-the-guitarist concept.
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This, in tandem with the fact that his image/persona/character ostracizes his guitar playing abilities to a good amount of said "serious axe men" or "serious guitar heads." NewYorkMike = Bria Valente
The Org is trying to censor me. Beyonce ain't got shit on me. | |
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^Agreed, the 'fancy lesbian' thing can cause a lot of guitar-savvy people to just overlook Prince's playing.
Their loss.
The best thing I can say about Prince as a guitarist is that I can't stand rock and he's the only rock guitarist I can not only 'tolerate' but also 'enjoy'. He's tremendously lyrical at playing rock, unlike most rock guitarists who just shoot lots of notes making more noise than music. | |
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This.
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Re: the guitars. I was never a big fan of the penis extension that was the symbol guitar, but the cloud always looked good to me. The cloud was quitessential Prince. I'm quite sure that some rock guitarists in certain bands have quite outlandish looking instruments and are still held in high regard as guitarists.
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TheDigitalGardener said: Re: the guitars. I was never a big fan of the penis extension that was the symbol guitar, but the cloud always looked good to me. The cloud was quitessential Prince. I'm quite sure that some rock guitarists in certain bands have quite outlandish looking instruments and are still held in high regard as guitarists.
I like the Cloud too. Should Bootsy give up his Star bass? Jack White shouldn't play that rather toy-like thing? Is Jimmy Page's triple neck like a Spinal Tap joke? I don't like the Symbol thing much either, but they'll definitely be collector's items. It's cool in an iconoclastic kind of way. "So fierce U look 2night, the brightest star pales 2 Ur sex..." | |
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