It's a good question. Prince obviously loves Stevie and in 85 or so was listening to the Journey...album during an interview.

I remember reading how Prince was compared to Stevie in the beginning, "the next Stevie Wonder" the young genius who played all these instruments, and Prince deliberately did not want that comparison and avoided listening to too much Stevie while he made his first album.

bigbrother said:

By all accounts Prince was/is a big Stevie Wonder fan, but of all the people who influenced prince, I find Stevie to be the least evident in Prince's music. Which songs seem to be heavily influenced by Stevie Wonder?

I don't hear Stevie in any of Prince's songs but I'm thinking the admiration Prince has for him leans more toward Stevie's work ethic, his musicianship and respect for his longevity and adaptability within the industry.

NDRU said:

It's a good question. Prince obviously loves Stevie and in 85 or so was listening to the Journey...album during an interview.

I remember reading how Prince was compared to Stevie in the beginning, "the next Stevie Wonder" the young genius who played all these instruments, and Prince deliberately did not want that comparison and avoided listening to too much Stevie while he made his first album.

Yeah as I said, Stevie did influence him but not in the way people think. I hardly hear much of Stevie in Prince's music... and I say that as a fan of both. But the way Stevie tooled his career definitely played a part in how Prince conducted things.

Timmy84 said:

NDRU said:

It's a good question. Prince obviously loves Stevie and in 85 or so was listening to the Journey...album during an interview.

I remember reading how Prince was compared to Stevie in the beginning, "the next Stevie Wonder" the young genius who played all these instruments, and Prince deliberately did not want that comparison and avoided listening to too much Stevie while he made his first album.

Yeah as I said, Stevie did influence him but not in the way people think. I hardly hear much of Stevie in Prince's music... and I say that as a fan of both. But the way Stevie tooled his career definitely played a part in how Prince conducted things.

Yes, they don't specifically sound like each other, but there are certainly similarities such as the diversity of their music, the "genius" label, the crossover appeal without artistic compromise...

I have heard some moments in Prince's music that have reminded me of Stevie Wonder

The beginning section of Condition of the Heart

The end of My Computer

...that is all that comes to mind at the moment

I agree the influence is most predominant in the use of synths, but it's not really evident in the songwriting (excluding perhaps the first two albums like mentioned). It might be the case that the Secret Life Of Plants was one of those records that pushed him towards ATWIAD and Parade. Like Stevie he also seems to enjoy writing "schmaltz" pieces every now and then.

However, your music doesn't have to sound a lot like someone else's music in order to having learned a lot from that other person's approach.

novabrkr said:

However, your music doesn't have to sound a lot like someone else's music in order to having learned a lot from that other person's approach.

Real true.

When I first heard this song, I was instantly reminded of Prince..... and you'll see why when you hear it:

s t r e t c h

I definitely believe he was influenced by him, but I don't think it sounds obvious at all.

The song Here has a little bit of a Stevie sound to it.

Thing is, there is one huge difference in that Stevie is the master of melody, and Prince just can't match that in his music.

I actually agree with the OP (and I have every post-1970 Stevie Wonder album), except for the first 2 albums, in which I find Stevie's influence all over the place, particularly the slow, atmospheric, tracks.

I see Sly more than Stevie... which goes without saying.

Rick James and Prince are similar too, but I also believe (as does Rick) that Prince was inspired by him to a certain degree.

alphastreet said:

Rick James and Prince are similar too, but I also believe (as does Rick) that Prince was inspired by him to a certain degree.

Rick definitely rivaled Prince in the funk category. I dare say that Rick did a better job of adopting James Brown's Big BAND theory than Prince. When I think of artists that are known for the use of actual musicians and instruments in their music and live performances, its James Brown 1st, then Stevie, then Rick and then Prince. I'm talking SOLO artist before anybody goes bringing up EW&F

joyinrepetition said:

Stevie was a huge influence on Prince and it can be heard on his first two albums.

Also on SOTT. Hot Thing.

rdhull said:

joyinrepetition said:

Stevie was a huge influence on Prince and it can be heard on his first two albums.

Also on SOTT. Hot Thing.

What??? I don't hear NO Stevie influence in Hot Thing at all. I hear a bit of James and what Prince had already brought to the table by himself. No Stevie. I have to agree with Gray, y'all stretching it a bit.

Listen to Prince's live version of this Stevie song & then listen to Calhoun Square...

Prince was definitely influenced by Stevie....

Prince was inspired to use the Camille voice from Stevie, that's about it...

Timmy84 said:

rdhull said:

Also on SOTT. Hot Thing.

What??? I don't hear NO Stevie influence in Hot Thing at all. I hear a bit of James and what Prince had already brought to the table by himself. No Stevie. I have to agree with Gray, y'all stretching it a bit.

I hear a lot of the Stevie synth and horns for Sir Duke in the song

rdhull said:

Timmy84 said:

What??? I don't hear NO Stevie influence in Hot Thing at all. I hear a bit of James and what Prince had already brought to the table by himself. No Stevie. I have to agree with Gray, y'all stretching it a bit.

I hear a lot of the Stevie synth and horns for Sir Duke in the song

I don't hear it lol

[Edited 11/5/11 0:15am]

Timmy84 said:

rdhull said:

I hear a lot of the Stevie synth and horns for Sir Duke in the song

I don't hear it lol

[Edited 11/5/11 0:15am]

No way, sorry lol