If God forbid Mr. P tomorrow left us for the Endorphinmachune in the sky, what would you say would be considered his musical legacy? Did he actually leave a permanent impact on pop music as people would say about Michael Jackson or the Beatles and so forth? Do you notice his music's DNA (so to speak) in modern pop/music? What will current and future musicians/singers assimilate from his catalogue? What should they assimilate/be inspired by (i.e. rip-off) from him?

I'm curious. Ask more questions folks if you got any. Don't just try to answer mine.

Prince will forever be remembered and appreciated for his 80's work.

Besides creating many unforgettable pieces of art, Prince crossed many bridges at the time, not just musical ones, making it possible for others to follow. He has influenced popular music a great deal that way.

Well even now his legacy is being heralded whenever someone songs in falsetto or is creative with synths/drum patterns. Writers fallback and say the songs using these elements are Prince influenced. Before they used to say that the falsetto's were reminiscent of Marvyn Gaye or Curtis Mayfield. Not to mention whenever a musician writes and performs his own material and is halfway proficient at more than 2 instruments, Prince, again, is mentioned. Another form of current legacy appreciation is live performance. It seems every now and then his stage performance is held as the bar to reach or go home.

These aspects are not even touching th elegacy of his music, new or oild. He is widely recognzed and considered as the man who changed music in the 80's. That music will last forever. Hell, just making the song Purple Rain, a song that is sung by old, young, black, white, heavy metaler or soul brutha supreme, is a feat in itself. We all may tire of the song but its a complete bar jukebox song that .."is provacative..it gets the people goin'!" just as prominent when juxtaposed with Sweet Home Alabama etc.

Can we also get into the prolific (I hate that word), err..abundance of releases and styles? If not here but in a later post in the thread? This was just off the dome and I'd like to give the subject matter the time and thought it deserves?

You can bring up when and whatever regarding this very very broad topic.

I suppose I was inspired by this question because I think we all to different degrees can write and bleed digital ink detailing why we love Prince or admire his work and so forth. We all know our reasons. I was wanting us to think outside our fandoms and look at Prince and his place in Music history objectively.

That said, I also want to encourage new thoughts, off the wall ideas even about him and his work.

For example, I had a thought once that PURPLE RAIN the movie maybe was the last popular, well received live-action hoorah for the great Hollywood musical until the 2000s. From the beginning of sound in movies up to the 60s, the musical was among America's favorite genres. Then late 60s, they started to fade away and while exceptional musicals from the 60s-early 80s do exist, (THE WALL comes to mind), they didn't exactly capture the public's imagination. And by the 80s they were largely surplanted by Music Videos and MTV. But PR was an exception. But after that, the only hit musical movies were (unless somebody care to give me an example) Disney cartoons until the 2000s when the live-action musical made its comeback.

Prince's legacy is not calculable. He's too influential. Everyone likes Prince. Listen to the countless celebrity's and artists talk about how awesome he is and his influence. even in todays world u got justin bieber saying prince is wat he wants to be or Nck jonas trying to acquire every memember of the NPG for his band. Prince's music itself will not be the most remember of all time and no where near that of MJ, beatles ect... Purple Rain, When doves Cry, Let's GO Crazy, 1999, Little Red Corvette, rapsberry berret, and Kiss will be remembered until the world goes up in flames but the rest will kinda disappear. However, to those such as myself who are musicians and music afficionados Prince will be remembered in many ways more than MJ or the beatles. Prince inspires me to create so many different sounds. The way he used orgasms to add to songs and the way he arranged horns was just amazing. If Prince wanted to solidify himself he would allow youtube videos and stuff so people could watch his concerts even wen he's gone. But who cares people. Prince will always be influential. Now if we asked this question 10 years ago my answer would be quit different. But after Prince released musicology, performed a huge tour, and followed it up with 3121. It gave me all the proof i needed to say that Prince will forever be remembered. Besides he's mentioned everywhere. Tons of Prince references and jokes on tv. I don't see prince being remembered as just an 80s thing cause Prince still influences us and still releases popular albums. But as i said before who cares. Prince is still touring, still making good music. Let's just sit back and enjoy the ride. His best album might have not even come out yet haha. Plus when he goes the VAULT will be opened and who knows wats in there.

SuperSoulFighter said:

I think Chris Rock put it very well in his 1996 interview with -then- . Prince was the first one to openly mention aids in a song.

Possibly true, but while he made mention of it, he never really called it by its name, AIDS

SuperSoulFighter said:

I think Chris Rock put it very well in his 1996 interview with -then- . Prince was the first one to openly mention aids in a song.

http://www.discogs.com/Ri...ster/71694

I'm not saying some obscure Italo Disco track from 1985 would've made an impact, but it did pre-date SOTT, I'm sure there's many others too. Prince made the impact is probably the better way to put it.

In addition to what everyone else has said, and the usual stuff like being prolific, producer/multi-instrumentalist, svengali-type figure, genderfuck, blurring of racial lines etc - I think the era will also be looked on with fresh eyes in the future. The foreshadowing of the self-implosion of the music industry, direct-to-consumer marketing, early use of the internet - Prince made lots of mistakes, but these kind of things tend to get blurred out of focus when looking back - especially when it's not the hardcore fanbase who were there at the time doing the looking back.

what about his impact on (his own) fashion. His heels are a legacy in itself.

G3000 said:

what about his impact on (his own) fashion. His heels are a legacy in itself.

True. We can get into the clothes/drag.

Which like with Elton, at times impeded or hindered or aided.

He will be remember as michael Jackson's side note and lil brother competitive wise

wrong

kidmelody2012 said:

He will be remember as michael Jackson's side note and lil brother competitive

rdhull said:

wrong

kidmelody2012 said:

He will be remember as michael Jackson's side note and lil brother competitive

when people think 80's they think michael 1st not prince.......so my statement is true

kidmelody2012 said:

rdhull said:

wrong

when people think 80's they think michael 1st not prince.......so my statement is true

Wrong again. When people think of the 80's they think Michael, madonna, Prnce, and Springsteen

And when they focus on Michael they talk about his weirdness and how it all went wrong.

With Prince, they alays say how he ruled it and how folks loved all the songs of that time. Not to mention the movie Purple Rain.

Your statement is as ridiculous as your avatar.

OK, if Prince died today....

Immediately After Death

There will be shock within America, Astralia and much of Europe, and mild curiosity through other parts of the world. The tendancy to praise stars after their deaths will kick in full swing with Prince. He's musically far, far, faaarrrrr more interesting that Michael Jackson ever was and that will come to light.

The album sales that are boosted thanks to deaths will also happen to Prince, but in this case, the "curious" others who know nothing of him will probably jump on the bandwagon.

Weeks/Months after his Death

Reissues of his older material, and probably vault material, etc. will be released. Should there EVEr be a way that vault material will be released, this will be the real kicker for Prince's legacy. His arsenal of material dwarfs any of his contemperaries, and as Prince said himself about the vault material, "Somebody will release this stuff.", so I think he antiicipates that it will be released.

We have to remember, that early in 2001, Kevin Smith said that he was told Prince had recorded over 30 music videos with full constume and sets which were stored in the vault for songs that were unreleased. I think Prince is actually anticipating these releases.

Prince has always been the true king of pop. And, god forbid he pass away, with the help of his vault material and the obvious respect he has earned from peers and new generations of musicians, this will come to light after his deatth.

Shit, if he played his cards right, he could astound folks today alive.

imago said:

OK, if Prince died today....

Immediately After Death

There will be shock within America, Astralia and much of Europe, and mild curiosity through other parts of the world. The tendancy to praise stars after their deaths will kick in full swing with Prince. He's musically far, far, faaarrrrr more interesting that Michael Jackson ever was and that will come to light.

The album sales that are boosted thanks to deaths will also happen to Prince, but in this case, the "curious" others who know nothing of him will probably jump on the bandwagon.

Weeks/Months after his Death

Reissues of his older material, and probably vault material, etc. will be released. Should there EVEr be a way that vault material will be released, this will be the real kicker for Prince's legacy. His arsenal of material dwarfs any of his contemperaries, and as Prince said himself about the vault material, "Somebody will release this stuff.", so I think he antiicipates that it will be released.

We have to remember, that early in 2001, Kevin Smith said that he was told Prince had recorded over 30 music videos with full constume and sets which were stored in the vault for songs that were unreleased. I think Prince is actually anticipating these releases.

Prince has always been the true king of pop. And, god forbid he pass away, with the help of his vault material and the obvious respect he has earned from peers and new generations of musicians, this will come to light after his deatth.

Shit, if he played his cards right, he could astound folks today alive.

Exactly . AND haha i can't wait till we have holographic Prince concerts lol.

kidmelody2012 said:

rdhull said:

wrong

when people think 80's they think michael 1st not prince.......so my statement is true

When people think of GREAT music they think of Prince.

kidmelody2012 said:

He will be remember as michael Jackson's side note and lil brother competitive wise

Meh. I see what you are saying, but it's mostly way off. Unless you are talking about Janet Jackson.

If Michael Jackson is like The Beatles (more popular/easily digested by the masses/gone too soon).

Then, Prince is like The Rolling Stones (nastier/less accessible to the masses/still doing epic shows).

Do most people view The Stones as a "sidenote" and "little brother" The The Beatles? Largely no.

Only fans that were there when both The Beatles and The Stones got big in the 60's ever frame/viewed these groups this way.

Similarly, people that draw comparisons between Prince and MJ are typically old school 80's fans that bought into the media hype at the time.

[Edited 1/7/13 6:51am]

[Edited 1/7/13 6:52am]

[Edited 1/7/13 16:02pm]

riocoolnes said:

imago said:

OK, if Prince died today....

Immediately After Death

There will be shock within America, Astralia and much of Europe, and mild curiosity through other parts of the world. The tendancy to praise stars after their deaths will kick in full swing with Prince. He's musically far, far, faaarrrrr more interesting that Michael Jackson ever was and that will come to light.

The album sales that are boosted thanks to deaths will also happen to Prince, but in this case, the "curious" others who know nothing of him will probably jump on the bandwagon.

Weeks/Months after his Death

Reissues of his older material, and probably vault material, etc. will be released. Should there EVEr be a way that vault material will be released, this will be the real kicker for Prince's legacy. His arsenal of material dwarfs any of his contemperaries, and as Prince said himself about the vault material, "Somebody will release this stuff.", so I think he antiicipates that it will be released.

We have to remember, that early in 2001, Kevin Smith said that he was told Prince had recorded over 30 music videos with full constume and sets which were stored in the vault for songs that were unreleased. I think Prince is actually anticipating these releases.

Prince has always been the true king of pop. And, god forbid he pass away, with the help of his vault material and the obvious respect he has earned from peers and new generations of musicians, this will come to light after his deatth.

Shit, if he played his cards right, he could astound folks today alive.

Exactly . AND haha i can't wait till we have holographic Prince concerts lol.

Graycap23 said:

kidmelody2012 said:

when people think 80's they think michael 1st not prince.......so my statement is true

When people think of GREAT music they think of Prince.

You are joking, I know you are just joking

MJ did only release 2 great albums in that decade.. the 80's.

Prince did release about 10, including 2 double albums,

MJ.. the king of pop, a fine dancer, entertainer and singer.

Prince.. the king of sexual funk, a fine musician, singer, his own producer, etc.

To think Prince is second to MJ is nonsense, ok maybe recordsales, but otherwise.. the art made speaks for itself..

Imo those 2 were high, on equal level.

Whatever I love their music, both used to be a genius.

thedance said:

Graycap23 said:

When people think of GREAT music they think of Prince.

You are joking, I know you are just joking

MJ did only release 2 great albums in that decade.. the 80's.

Prince did release about 10, including 2 double albums,

MJ.. the king of pop, a fine dancer, entertainer and singer.

Prince.. the king of sexual funk, a fine musician, singer, his own producer, etc.

To think Prince is second to MJ is nonsense, ok maybe recordsales, but otherwise.. the art made speaks for itself..

Imo those 2 were high, on equal level.

Whatever I love their music, both used to be a genius.

Jackson has wayyyyy more 80's classics than prince....think about it...im talking classics not hits

Cow bells. It was the cow bells.