Who was the greatest in the 1920s, the late 1800s? I know there were all genres of music and greats who created different sounds. I guess I am not an expert on all great musicians in the past, but I do know musicians from years and years back and I say Prince trumped them all. I loved James Brown, but Prince had a universal charisma, his lyrics were exceptional, his guitar playing and everything else. What musicians are we impressed with now from the past, Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven, etc. I think Prince is on their level. Maybe I don't understand the "science" of music and different genres and generations, maybe I'm wrong, but Prince was darn good. Maybe we'll see some more greatness from the vault in years to come.

Because Prince was a product of OUR time

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Imagine James Brown during segregation? "I don't want nobody to give me nothing...open up the door... I get it myself"

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That shit was tantamount to "Dirty Mind" & "Controversy" back in civil rights day!

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Prince is OUR genius...but let's keep some perspective

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Mozart

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Rachmaninoff

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Nina Simone

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Prince is OURS...but even he appreciated...was ne...humbled by the beautiful plethora of musical talent before him

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Check how he "borrowed" from Elvis, James B, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Santana, Joni, Fleetwood, Sly, Jimi, Beatles etc...

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Is he the best ever?...

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Subjective

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For me though...yes...in our generation...yes...because his music and lyrics are the constant soundtrack of our life

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Best ever - for ever-ever?

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...that is a loooong time of music to get through!

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Oh the oxymoron!

[Edited 6/22/16 19:04pm]

sharonbell said:

Who was the greatest in the 1920s, the late 1800s? I know there were all genres of music and greats who created different sounds. I guess I am not an expert on all great musicians in the past, but I do know musicians from years and years back and I say Prince trumped them all. I loved James Brown, but Prince had a universal charisma, his lyrics were exceptional, his guitar playing and everything else. What musicians are we impressed with now from the past, Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven, etc. I think Prince is on their level. Maybe I don't understand the "science" of music and different genres and generations, maybe I'm wrong, but Prince was darn good. Maybe we'll see some more greatness from the vault in years to come.

I love Prince and I am a severe fan but no, he is NOT the greatest of all time, highly subjective and to be honest, in factual. He is definetely one of the "greats", he's a legend BUT he was only around for 57 years. He just left us.

And Prince wasn't the ONLY one that could do what did. I mean there are plenty of high exposure artists who were composers/multi-instrumentalists/producer/writers.

Prince is defintely one of the greats.

my father was born in the early 40s Prince wasn't a known/recording artist till the late 70s
Prince cannot account for the 40s 50s 60s even 70s.
So technically ALL Time would not work or be realistic

GhostChick said:

sharonbell said:

Who was the greatest in the 1920s, the late 1800s? I know there were all genres of music and greats who created different sounds. I guess I am not an expert on all great musicians in the past, but I do know musicians from years and years back and I say Prince trumped them all. I loved James Brown, but Prince had a universal charisma, his lyrics were exceptional, his guitar playing and everything else. What musicians are we impressed with now from the past, Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven, etc. I think Prince is on their level. Maybe I don't understand the "science" of music and different genres and generations, maybe I'm wrong, but Prince was darn good. Maybe we'll see some more greatness from the vault in years to come.

I love Prince and I am a severe fan but no, he is NOT the greatest of all time, highly subjective and to be honest, in factual. He is definetely one of the "greats", he's a legend BUT he was only around for 57 years. He just left us.

And Prince wasn't the ONLY one that could do what did. I mean there are plenty of high exposure artists who were composers/multi-instrumentalists/producer/writers.

Prince is defintely one of the greats.

I forgot Tom Rundgren in the list

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Played every instrument...arranged....produced...composed....sang....arranged choreography...stage management...costume design...etc

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And this song is the...

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people were calling him that since the day after he died. Jon Bream called him the best pop star ever. he was, no one did as much as well as him in pop music. no one.

Connected said:

GhostChick said:

I love Prince and I am a severe fan but no, he is NOT the greatest of all time, highly subjective and to be honest, in factual. He is definetely one of the "greats", he's a legend BUT he was only around for 57 years. He just left us.

And Prince wasn't the ONLY one that could do what did. I mean there are plenty of high exposure artists who were composers/multi-instrumentalists/producer/writers.

Prince is defintely one of the greats.

I forgot Tom Rundgren in the list

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Played every instrument...arranged....produced...composed....sang....arranged choreography...stage management...costume design...etc

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And this song is the...

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ok but did he do all of the very well?

Prince was the G.O.A.T. next topic

Have to say that as far as a guy who altered or transformed culture/music, many guys come ahead of him. the early rockers, james, jimi but head to head he beats all of them.

No other artist in history had his talent, charisma or showmanship. Prince was a bad mutha-----

sharonbell said:

Who was the greatest in the 1920s, the late 1800s? I know there were all genres of music and greats who created different sounds. I guess I am not an expert on all great musicians in the past, but I do know musicians from years and years back and I say Prince trumped them all. I loved James Brown, but Prince had a universal charisma, his lyrics were exceptional, his guitar playing and everything else. What musicians are we impressed with now from the past, Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven, etc. I think Prince is on their level. Maybe I don't understand the "science" of music and different genres and generations, maybe I'm wrong, but Prince was darn good. Maybe we'll see some more greatness from the vault in years to come.

.

Because humans have existed for thousands of years and thus there are a lot of musicians in the running for that title. Also, because it's ultimately a subjective belief.

mozart didn't sing or dance did he? neither did beethoven. Duke ellington was known as a composer, not a pianist/singer/dancer. Cab Calloway danced his ass off and sang great but I've never seen him even play an instrument. anyone you care to name falls short in some way. and that's no insult, prince was the best.

unless we're talking bing crosby. Bing would dance Prince into the ground.

These things really bother you?

One of the things that has always made Prince so attractive to me

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In a life lesson

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As an artist, whilst he was selfish

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Prince was actually very collaborative...the roster of musicians he played with...the amount of personnel in his bands

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The proteges

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Musically, I think there is evidence to say he was humble in understanding the knowledge of those before him...

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Mavis, Chaka, Maceo, Larry, Stones

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And also understood the contemporaries

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This is a great legacy...to draw/pool so much talent and harness it...

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Prince was the sum of so many parts

Due to the Flynn effect, future generations will eventually recognise Prince as the greatest overall musician of all time. Even today, so much of his music goes over people's heads.

GoldStandard said:

Due to the Flynn effect, future generations will eventually recognise Prince as the greatest overall musician of all time. Even today, so much of his music goes over people's heads.

Flynn effect - bullshit pop psychology

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Anyone who talks in absolutes when it comes to emotional/spiritual/mental/psychological senses through music is talking wikipedia bollocks!

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Please do not bandy about real stuff to be pithy/glib or clever

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Prince is OUR DON....but never diminish others work to say he is THE DON

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And that is the truth RUTH!

Because even though he is most of ours favorite, he simply isn't the greatest of all-time.

Also, art is subjective. Best to one person is worst to another.

It's a carousel conversation.

suomynona said:

Because even though he is most of ours favorite, he simply isn't the greatest of all-time.

Also, art is subjective. Best to one person is worst to another.

It's a carousel conversation.

I am appropriating this line as my own for future use.... you don't own it anymore!!!

I think he was the greatest single all-around performer of the past almost 40 years. But, for me, The Beatles remain at Number 1. As a group, not as individual performers. I have always put them as 1, Bowie and Prince as equals at 2. Prince was better than Bowie in many ways, but David came first.

Different strokes for different folks. I say justin bieber.

PeteSilas said:

I would say that P was the greatest of "our generation". There were many greats before him..too many to list. And I agree with Connected about Todd Rundgren...he had massive skills also..(singing, writing, producing, studio tricks, playing every instrument well).. "Something/Anything?" (to me) is his own "S.O.T.T"...Todd said years ago that P woud show up at his concerts (mid 70's) and try to speak with him..P's symbol guitar looks similar to the one Todd played back then.

in Pop culture, The Beatles will always remain the biggest act in the world ever, unbeatable.

Prince still remain the greatest in his generation...

All that matters is , was Prince the greatest to you!! To me yes , no one esle came near the man.

SPYZFAN1 said:

I would say that P was the greatest of "our generation". There were many greats before him..too many to list. And I agree with Connected about Todd Rundgren...he had massive skills also..(singing, writing, producing, studio tricks, playing every instrument well).. "Something/Anything?" (to me) is his own "S.O.T.T"...Todd said years ago that P woud show up at his concerts (mid 70's) and try to speak with him..P's symbol guitar looks similar to the one Todd played back then.

Yeah this & as NorthC said...Zappa!

[Edited 6/23/16 6:54am]

Iamtheorg said:

These things really bother you?

Post of the day.

Connected said:

SPYZFAN1 said:

I would say that P was the greatest of "our generation". There were many greats before him..too many to list. And I agree with Connected about Todd Rundgren...he had massive skills also..(singing, writing, producing, studio tricks, playing every instrument well).. "Something/Anything?" (to me) is his own "S.O.T.T"...Todd said years ago that P woud show up at his concerts (mid 70's) and try to speak with him..P's symbol guitar looks similar to the one Todd played back then.

Yeah this & as NorthC said...Zappa!

[Edited 6/23/16 6:54am]

where did todd say that? how would he remember him if he didn't know who he was? Prince was a nobody in the mid 70's and stars have lots of people trying to speak to them. also, what's a good song of his to listen too? I'll check him out.

[Edited 6/23/16 11:32am]