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PrintableIt's like comparing Prince to the Beatles. I do think Stevie & the Beatles wrote better songs in terms of melody, but I also think that was more their focus. But there is more to music than just words & melody.
Play in the Sunshine is kind of a one note song, is it worse than What's the Fuss? You could say the same of James Brown. Sex Machine doesn't have a great melody, but is it worse than I Wish? These guys aren't just songwriters, they're musicians & recording artists. They're about the recording itself, as well as the performance, or even just creating a new sound. One of Miles Davis' biggest songs is So What. Is that worse than Some Bryan Adams song just because it has a simpler melody? It's not that easy. My Legacy
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Our culture has short term memory. I'm older than most here so I'll just say that Stevies is BRILLIANT as is Prince but you can't compare them, they are just two different.
For a man who could never see black and white to write some of the lyrics about race and poverty, (just enough for the city to name but 1)many of us could relate to is testimate to Stevie's genius. So be easy with the fucking disrespect. I never thought those Eddie Murphy blind jokes were funny  | |
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joseph8 said: Our culture has short term memory. I'm older than most here so I'll just say that Stevies is BRILLIANT as is Prince but you can't compare them, they are just two different.
For a man who could never see black and white to write some of the lyrics about race and poverty, (just enough for the city to name but 1)many of us could relate to is testimate to Stevie's genius. So be easy with the fucking disrespect. I never thought those Eddie Murphy blind jokes were funny I agree but let's not forget that we are on a Prince board.[/b] | |
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I wouldn't compare Prince and Stevie if my life depended on it, they're different as night and day to me and both are geniuses. | |
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I haven't followed Stevie's career closely, like I have with Prince's..
but I love Stevie's classics like Songs In The Key Of Life and Hotter Than July. Both are genius'es, but Prince's music moves me a lot more than Stevie's. Prince 4Ever.  | |
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..interesting!  THE B EST BE YOURSELF AS LONG AS YOUR SELF ISNT A DYCK[/r]
**....Someti | |
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CerpinTaxt said: SPOOKYGAS said: Prince is a visionary, can u say the same about Stevie Wonder?
rimshot? LMAO! SHAAADE! | |
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SPOOKYGAS said: Prince is a visionary, can u say the same about Stevie Wonder?
Have you ever listen to Stevie's Music Of My Mind? The music that Stevie created on THAT album with one Moog Synthesizer alone made him a visionary.  | |
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BlaqueKnight said: I've said this before in the past: Musically, Prince sometimes pulls a lot of tricks and shortcuts to achieve what he does whereas Stevie doesn't.
As for genres, that has no bearing on musical abilities. A great pianist, for example, is a great pianist no matter what style they play. Just because they choose not to play a certain genre doesn't necessarily mean they are incapable of it. Example: Stevie Ray Vaughn had the finger dexterity to play classical but he played the blues because he loved the blues. Stevie Wonder chooses R&B as his genre because he obviously has more of a cultural affinity than Prince ever did. Prince has spent his career trying to be different from black folk while Stevie has always embraced his culture. Stevie's cultural honesty, like his musical brilliance is rooted in truth...not taking shortcuts. Prince's musical trickery (like using 2-note chords to construct songs and then stacking them with different sounds or echoing his guitar solos with synths to make them sound fuller and "different" are a couple of examples off the top of the dome) makes his material very interesting but when you analyze what was played, it still comes up as what it is. I'm not taking anything from either of them; just stating differences. End of.  | |
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I guess the difference between the two as songwriters is this for me: Prince has always proven himself to be an awesome writer of dance songs and love songs, but as far as writing the level of accessible, multi-generational impacting, socially affecting songs that Stevie has, I don't think he's there.
Not saying that's necessarily bad. Stevie is Stevie and Prince is Prince. But there's still a gap between the level of influence I see from the likes of Marley, Stevie and, to some extent, MJ as for being artists who were able to marry musically awesome tunes to socially aware songs. Personally, I think it's because Prince has invested so much time into perpetuating his image. As a narcissist, a lot of his energy has gone to looking in the mirror. | |
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BlaqueKnight said: I've said this before in the past: Musically, Prince sometimes pulls a lot of tricks and shortcuts to achieve what he does whereas Stevie doesn't.
As for genres, that has no bearing on musical abilities. A great pianist, for example, is a great pianist no matter what style they play. Just because they choose not to play a certain genre doesn't necessarily mean they are incapable of it. Example: Stevie Ray Vaughn had the finger dexterity to play classical but he played the blues because he loved the blues. Stevie Wonder chooses R&B as his genre because he obviously has more of a cultural affinity than Prince ever did. Prince has spent his career trying to be different from black folk while Stevie has always embraced his culture. Stevie's cultural honesty, like his musical brilliance is rooted in truth...not taking shortcuts.Prince's musical trickery (like using 2-note chords to construct songs and then stacking them with different sounds or echoing his guitar solos with synths to make them sound fuller and "different" are a couple of examples off the top of the dome) makes his material very interesting but when you analyze what was played, it still comes up as what it is. I'm not taking anything from either of them; just stating differences. Excellent analysis!  | |
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SPOOKYGAS said: Prince is a visionary, can u say the same about Stevie Wonder?
I certainly can Only a true "visionary" could make an album like 'Songs In The Key Of Life' or 'Innervisions'. | |
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BlaqueKnight said: I've said this before in the past: Musically, Prince sometimes pulls a lot of tricks and shortcuts to achieve what he does whereas Stevie doesn't.
As for genres, that has no bearing on musical abilities. A great pianist, for example, is a great pianist no matter what style they play. Just because they choose not to play a certain genre doesn't necessarily mean they are incapable of it. Example: Stevie Ray Vaughn had the finger dexterity to play classical but he played the blues because he loved the blues. Stevie Wonder chooses R&B as his genre because he obviously has more of a cultural affinity than Prince ever did. Prince has spent his career trying to be different from black folk while Stevie has always embraced his culture. Stevie's cultural honesty, like his musical brilliance is rooted in truth...not taking shortcuts. Prince's musical trickery (like using 2-note chords to construct songs and then stacking them with different sounds or echoing his guitar solos with synths to make them sound fuller and "different" are a couple of examples off the top of the dome) makes his material very interesting but when you analyze what was played, it still comes up as what it is. I'm not taking anything from either of them; just stating differences. I wasn't going to post anything in this thread, but I'm glad I saw this post. Right on the money! I've lost the use of my heart, But I'm still alive, Still looking for the life, The endless pool on the other side, It's a wild wild west, I'm doing my best, I'm a soldier of love, Every day and night, I'm soldier of love, All the days of my life. | |
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blessedk said: BlaqueKnight said: I've said this before in the past: Musically, Prince sometimes pulls a lot of tricks and shortcuts to achieve what he does whereas Stevie doesn't.
As for genres, that has no bearing on musical abilities. A great pianist, for example, is a great pianist no matter what style they play. Just because they choose not to play a certain genre doesn't necessarily mean they are incapable of it. Example: Stevie Ray Vaughn had the finger dexterity to play classical but he played the blues because he loved the blues. Stevie Wonder chooses R&B as his genre because he obviously has more of a cultural affinity than Prince ever did. Prince has spent his career trying to be different from black folk while Stevie has always embraced his culture. Stevie's cultural honesty, like his musical brilliance is rooted in truth...not taking shortcuts. Prince's musical trickery (like using 2-note chords to construct songs and then stacking them with different sounds or echoing his guitar solos with synths to make them sound fuller and "different" are a couple of examples off the top of the dome) makes his material very interesting but when you analyze what was played, it still comes up as what it is. I'm not taking anything from either of them; just stating differences. I wasn't going to post anything in this thread, but I'm glad I saw this post. Right on the money! "You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup...Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend." - Bruce Lee
"Water can nourish me, but water can also carry me. Water has magic laws." - JCVD | |
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phunkdaddy said: SPOOKYGAS said: Prince is a visionary, can u say the same about Stevie Wonder?
Just for good measure. He needs more than 1! | |
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bboy87 said: sosgemini said:
but I match your I Just Called with Prince's Diamond's & Pearls...an equally syrupy treat. And don't forget Jughead  I never got this hate for Jughead. I actually like that song. I think Prince´s got much worse songs like "Poom Poom Poom" "When Michael Jackson is just singing and dancing, you just think this is an astonishing talent. And he has had this astounding talent all his life, but we want him to be floored as well. We really don´t like the idea that he could have it all." | |
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[Bait snip - luv4u] |
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SPOOKYGAS said: [Bait snip - luv4u]
If Prince wasn't a Jehovah's Witness, he might well say you were an arse yourself, i'll rest easy in the thought that if he gets to see your post, he'll secretly think it at the very least. |
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SPOOKYGAS said: [Bait snip - luv4u]
The fuck is up with the blind jokes?  "We may deify or demonize them but not ignore them. And we call them genius, because they are the people who change the world." |
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bboy87 said: SPOOKYGAS said: [Bait snip - luv4u]
The fuck is up with the blind jokes? *sigh!* Different day, same toilet....  | |
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Harlepolis said: bboy87 said: The fuck is up with the blind jokes? *sigh!* Different day, same toilet.... yeah...  "We may deify or demonize them but not ignore them. And we call them genius, because they are the people who change the world." |
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bboy87 said: SPOOKYGAS said: [Bait snip - luv4u]
The fuck is up with the blind jokes? Chile he is so done...  | |
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Timmy84 said: bboy87 said: The fuck is up with the blind jokes? Chile he is so done...  | |
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Marrk said: SPOOKYGAS said: [Bait snip - luv4u]
If Prince wasn't a Jehovah's Witness, he might well say you were an arse yourself, i'll rest easy in the thought that if he gets to see your post, he'll secretly think it at the very least. Then he would be a hypocrite then wouldn't he? Prince has used a Stevie Wonder 'blind joke' in one of his very own songs...so all you high and mighty holier than thou lot can go try and collect the steam of my shite! |
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ewww lawd....I Just Called To Say I Love You just is the worst song ever written imo...Prince has neva, nevaaaa done anything as cringworthy.
lawd Thanks for the laughs, arguments and overall enjoyment for the last umpteen years. It's time for me to retire from Prince.org and engage in the real world...lol. Above all, I appreciated the talent Prince. You were one of a kind. | |
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I've lost the use of my heart, But I'm still alive, Still looking for the life, The endless pool on the other side, It's a wild wild west, I'm doing my best, I'm a soldier of love, Every day and night, I'm soldier of love, All the days of my life. | |
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One song ain't gonna ruin Stevie in my eyes, lol | |
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Timmy84 said: One song ain't gonna ruin Stevie in my eyes, lol
I once had that song as a ringtone so i can't hate on it.I've lost the use of my heart, But I'm still alive, Still looking for the life, The endless pool on the other side, It's a wild wild west, I'm doing my best, I'm a soldier of love, Every day and night, I'm soldier of love, All the days of my life. | |
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I'm going to do a generalization here:
Everyone under the age of 30 loved "I Just Called To Say I Love You" until they saw people online telling them to listen to Innervisions or Talking Book. Okay, maybe not, but you just know that SOME of the people who say they hate that song have enjoyed it. It's really not that bad of a song. | |
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blessedk said: Timmy84 said: One song ain't gonna ruin Stevie in my eyes, lol
I once had that song as a ringtone so i can't hate on it.Yeah, some folks like that song, lol I remember trashing on it but to me Stevie is still the best even with that song. You see how critical I am of some MJ songs, same thing with Prince. They're all great in their own ways. | |
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