Just a thought I had when listening to the Voodoo album last night.

Is there anything D'Angelo does that doesn't sound like P?

jasontate said:

which voodoo were you listening to? if you didnt hear any other influences other than prince, then you weren't listening too close. he's a product of his influences, be it prince, sly, marvin, funkadelic, shuggie otis, etc. the only song sounded like it truly belonged on a prince album was "untitled", which was basically a tribute to prince, who d'angelo damn near idolizes. yopu may not dig d'angelo, but even prince is checking for him
[Edited 10/22/04 4:59am]

Is this post flame-bait or a real thread?

And yeah, what Scrapluv said.

Scrapluv said:

Hi,

Thanks for the post. It wasn't meant to be a put down. I really like to Voodoo album, I think the fact that D's voice is so like P's. The other thing, is that when firends are over they all think it's Prince. Maybe this is because this is what they relate too. Anyway i'm rambling. I suppose it was other people's opinions I was interested in hearing. I'm sure a critic in the UK once called D'Angelo a Prince clone.

I think he copies Prince and wants his fame and talent. I was listening to the old D'Angelo CD and the song that goes, "S---, Damn, Motherf-----, well when I heard it, I just got the impression that D'angelo was sitting up close to the speaker listening to the way Prince says "motherf-----" and wanted to say it the same way. Because, to me, when I hear D'Angelo sing"motherf-----," I think of Sexy MF, not just cos the words are the same, but the way the word is said.

Oh, and Bilal, too. He thinks he is "talented" as PRINCE just cos he tries to sing like him. It's mimicking -- that's what it is. Just because you sound like PRINCE doesn't make you as talented as Prince. What Bilal sings is trite and he will never be clever enough to come up with a song like Little Red Corvette or Bambi.
[Edited 10/22/04 7:07am]

good grief.

sometimes...i mean i know it's a prince forum and all, but D'Angelo and Bilal are talented guys who - yeah, are influenced by prince, but this "he thinks he's as talented as Prince cos he tries to sing like him" childish stuff. Give the mofos a break.

Hey I like D'angelo
sure he uses the Prince fomula a bit
but he really has his own flava
I wouldnt call him a wanna-be
he just has good taste

jasontate said:

i can see the similarities, but tp simply say he's a prince clone is to ignore his other influences. shit, funkadelic is all over voodooand do yuou REALLY think "chicken grease" isnt a jb lick?

TheDreamingPeasant said:

ru serious? hilarious, haha

...and you know what, prince is a copy cat himself, my uncle pronounces motherf* exactly the same way.... for about 50 years now!
c'mon, d'angelo got the same quality as prince had back in the 80's, i think you're mistaken with that?

TheDreamingPeasant said:

i guess every cat that sings in a falsetto voice with jazz phrasing is mimicking prince now? riiiight.....

Someone's coming for this thread . . .

I remember gettin that album and first playing it round a mates house...the first thing he said to me was, "the only reason you got this was because it sounds like Prince!" So I just told him the real reason I got it is because he sounds like Al Green better than Prince ever did

I agree with 3bogs totally.

D'Angelo is ridiculously talented. He should be singled out & not just tossed off as some imitating clone who fakes the funk. Where is the knowledge around here on that. The man can play everything & write tunes like a demon for goodness sake !

If at anytime he sounds like Prince then I think thats a good thing cos at least you know he's listening & taking it forward. And he has taken it forward better than most (along with Meshell Ndegeocello).Anyone who knows soul & funk on this board (& there are a few for sure) knows that Prince hasn't made a record anywhere near as good or funky as Voodoo since Voodoo came out 5 years ago.

Did Prince ever sound like Sly Stone or Stevie Wonder or James Brown ?? Damn right he did & that's why he has been an innovator, cos he was being majorly influenced by the true innovators.

When I saw D'angelo live it was just like watching a Prince gig from '86,but no one in the house really knew it just like I wouldn't know if Prince copped every James Brown move from a early 70's gig. People got to realise on this board that things don't actually start & end with Prince.

Voodoo is one of the only albums released in the past 5 years that I can listen to regularly without skipping tracks. It's a masterpiece & those that know know.
Anyone who releases a masterpiece can be dubbed a 'Prince Rip-Off' all they like in my book, it just means they dont know what the hell they are talking about.

Hopefully he'll come back soon & grace us with his funky ass presence & shut people up once & for all with this Prince rip off bullshit

Are you really asking if he mumbles like Prince? 'Cause I don't hear a lot of singing on that album.

I thought Prince was inspired by D'Angelo..or was that just a weird comment I read somewhere on the org some time ago? On Crystal Ball he's mentioned, so I think they probably admire eachother's Music, but you know, how people feel about Prince, even other singers....

funkymf said:

Is Prince a rip off or James Brown, George Clinton and Sly or a real artist?

They all have influences. D'Angelo is unique in his own right, and he admits to "all" his musical influences.

And the older artist learn new tricks from those that imitate them also. Prince has added some of D'Angelo's version of his music in his own formula.

I won't call him a rip off, but Prince is obviously what he digs the most.

Whats so damn bad about being a P wannabe?