I admit. I dislike his flamboyant stuffs.

But I respect Prince as a multi talented musician.
He's a very gifted musician. There arent many people out there who's as goood as him.

I was just thinking.
Is there any musician you can think of whose musical abilities are comparable to Prince's musical ability?

Prince is unique

Ummm....I got nothin!! maybe some ol skoolers but not any one i can think of that's out now!!

Not to be a cliche of myself, but whatever: Bowie. Absolutely.

I see them as two sides of the same coin as artists. If in some alternate reality they were able to seriously sit down and collaborate, the results would be frightening. In a good way. In the best way.

Anx said:

Please! Bowie is a very talented conceptual artist but as a musician he could not hold the same stage as P. He is more of a stylist when it comes to his compositional skills. Prince is the most complicated popular musician of the last 50 years.

There's nobody who even comes close!

ratt said:

not only is he super talented,but he is daring...he records and releases stuff that others couldnt even imagine & if they could they would consider it risky $$$y wise ...examples -batdance ,kiss (no bassline),when doves cry(no bassline)...If I was your girlfriend...Bambi...just to name a few ALL BRILLIANT!!!

Frank Zappa?

jdcxc said:

you'd be surprised at david bowie's "compositional skills", as well as his abilities as a musician. check out the liner notes to any bowie album from the '70s or even from the '90s to current, and you'll see he does a lot more than sing pretty and look good in suits.

One obscure word: Momus. Any takers?

Zappa - without a doubt.

Stevie Wonder - surely?

I'd rate many a musican up there with Prince: Steve Vai, Josh Homme, Dave Grohl, Fiona Apple, John Frusciante, Graham Coxon, Jimi , Buddy Holly, Carlos, etc, etc, etc...

Is this the right question? Do you mean, name other multi-instrumentalists as talented as Prince?

blasphemouse said:

i can see that. i think prince's music, at best, is more diverse and appealing...though i bet momus's knowledge of music would knock prince under the table.

John entwhistle;
Greatest bass player ever.
Great french horn player. Great piano player. Great trumphet player;

HOWEVER

Prince can also write lyrics and has an amazing falsetto on top of his musicianship.


Hendrix was close with his bass and guitar playing plus who knows how good he would of got on piano?

Prince is the best all round!

Anx said:

Bowie is who I thought of. But does Bowie play all the instruments on albums?

coolcat said:

Not on entire albums, but on many songs he has played several instruments. The "Buddha of Suburbia" album was recorded by Bowie with the help of two other musicians, and it's one of his finest (and most underrated) albums.

Anx said:

What do you think of the Labyrinth soundtrack?

Stevie Wonder of course... does he play all the instruments on his albums?

coolcat said:

I don't think much of it, though I love the song "Underground" - I think I may be the only Bowie fan I know who likes that song. Love the video, too.

Stevie Wonder
Bjork
Ani DiFranco
Wendy & Lisa
Meshell

Anx said:

I love that album. I'm not really a Bowie fan, but for some reason I thought 'Underground' would be considered a classic among Bowie fans.

Can't!!

I don't know of anyone else who's proficient on guitar, bass, keys and drums. I know Paul Mcartney can play them all, but is he proficient?

I can think of 2 musicians off the top of my head that are virtuosos on guitar and piano but don't play the drums...

PJ Harvey can play a boatload of instruments.

Anx said:

co - all that.

GangstaFam said:

Drums too?

The members of Queen. Especially Freddie Mercury and Brian May.

coolcat said:

She's pretty good at 'em too.

Paul McCartney

Danny Elfman

BIRELI LAGRENE

http://www.youtube.com/wa...YMDL3OPJs4 (playing violin)

http://www.youtube.com/wa...IZDi0vjJU8 (playing Django style acoustic guitar at age 13)

http://www.youtube.com/wa...vCONrGg8WA (playing How High The Moon on acoustic guitar at age 12)

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ed&search= (playing jazzguitar)

http://www.youtube.com/wa..._TjjM5zYSU (Bireli playing All the things you are on a fretless bass in Jaco Pastorios style)

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ed&search= (playing a song by Edward Grieg - absolutely beatiful, long intro)
[Edited 11/24/06 13:19pm]

The keyboardsolo is even more amazing than the guitarsolo on this one IMO (Shawn also played drums and bass etc) http://www.youtube.com/wa...I3QnZEL0F8

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ihCY2llB9E Shawn Lane (here playing keyboards and guitar)
[Edited 11/24/06 16:15pm]