Prince Dead at 57

[Larry Gude]

I get purple suit, gol[f] swing, and DJ'ing. But what is the reference to "morning a star?"

Poor editing. Mourning

 

[Tilted]

Poor editing. Mourning

Okay. I should have been able to figure that out.

 

[Tilted]

I'm kind of surprised at the amount the news cycle is attaching to his death. In my lifetime, I can recall maybe three musician's deaths that were substantial. Artists whose contributions to the music industry were seriously monumental that the kind of work they did may likely never be repeated, and stood head and shoulders above their peers.

They would be, in no particular order - Elvis, Lennon and Michael Jackson. Each of them have a cultural legacy that will live long past me.

I never felt that way about Prince. I never heard of him before Purple Rain. There have been many music icons over the last 30 years whose music I barely listened to, largely due to a pattern I realized later - if I didn't like the song in a few seconds, I changed the station. Pretty much means most rap artists and soft ballad singers since the 80's went unheard (by me). I could probably name 3 Mariah Carey songs, and they'd all be 20 years old or more. I know of two Bryan Adams songs - I don't care for either of them, and it amazes me that any other song was a hit.

I think I can name maybe four Prince songs, and I don't care for any of them. I don't hate them, it's just if they came on, I wouldn't leave it on to intentionally listen to it.

I'm curious what the 4 (Prince), 3 (Mariah Carey) and 2 (Bryan Adams) songs would be?

I like Mariah Carey myself, though not to anywhere near the same degree that I like Prince. She had a remarkable voice and produced a nice batch of pop hits - many of which were danceable and useful in deejaying. But I didn't see her as anything special as an artist. I like Bryan Adams a lot, more than Mariah Carey. But I also don't think of him as anything special artistically. He's got some great energizing songs that I have included in various playlists, but he doesn't rise to the level that I have a 'Best of' playlist for him.

 

[Hank]

It's not snob, though I am, to state how one feels. No one should feel a sense of loss over any of those people based on some societal standard of 'artist a's passing should make you feel bad because they were great' . Freddy's passing was like mj, I knew he was great but it was little surprise nor did their music mean all that much to me and Freddy is, by far, the best of the bunch talent and skill wise. By far.

By far? Come on, Man!

That makes no sense. If bowie and prince are top 20 how is Freddy not? Snob.

Makes sense to me!

 

[Larry Gude]

By far? Come on, Man!

!

Well, what's the criteria?

 

[Hank]

Well, what's the criteria?

You're the one that said it. You said talent and skill wise. Prince is a multi-instrumentalist, and excels at each one, great songwriter (even if you don't like it), producer, just as many if not more hits than Freddy, and he is an amazing live performer... I can respect that you think Freddy edges Prince, but by far? I don't think so.

 

[vraiblonde]

I'm not a big Prince fan but I agree that he was enormously talented and has a rightful place among the greats.

 

[Larry Gude]

You're the one that said it. You said talent and skill wise. Prince is a multi-instrumentalist, and excels at each one, great songwriter (even if you don't like it), producer, just as many if not more hits than Freddy, and he is an amazing live performer... I can respect that you think Freddy edges Prince, but by far? I don't think so.

Freddy played numerous instruments. Was a far better vocalist. Was more creative. By FAR.

Think of Princes resume, his songs. All of a kind, right?

Look at Queen and other stuff, including opera, that Freddy did. Queen did ballads, rock, pop. A rather eclectic mix of sounds and styles within an album let alone their career.

Prince? I don't mean to dismiss him. He was prolific and fantastic at what he did and could have been the lead guitar player in a lot of rock and some metal bands. But, by and large, he did one thing very well.

 

[Hank]

Freddy played numerous instruments. Was a far better vocalist. Was more creative. By FAR.

Think of Princes resume, his songs. All of a kind, right?

Look at Queen and other stuff, including opera, that Freddy did. Queen did ballads, rock, pop. A rather eclectic mix of sounds and styles within an album let alone their career.

Prince? I don't mean to dismiss him. He was prolific and fantastic at what he did and could have been the lead guitar player in a lot of rock and some metal bands. But, by and large, he did one thing very well.

Freddy's songs aren't "all of a kind"? Please! It's rock music. And it's not just Freddy... Are these songs worth anything without Brian, Roger & John co-writing/writing? You know that John Deacon wrote some of their biggest hits.... So, if you are putting Freddy (singular) vs. Prince, you lose.... Maybe Queen vs. Prince, but not just Freddy. It was a team in their case and there ain't no "I" in Team or Freddy.

And I "see" your opera and "raise" a film that brought in $68,392,977 in box office sales and who knows what in merchandising & video sales.

 

[Larry Gude]

Freddy's songs aren't "all of a kind"? Please! It's rock music. And it's not just Freddy... Are these songs worth anything without Brian, Roger & John co-writing/writing? You know that John Deacon wrote some of their biggest hits.... So, if you are putting Freddy (singular) vs. Prince, you lose.... Maybe Queen vs. Prince, but not just Freddy. It was a team in their case and there ain't no "I" in Freddy.

And I "see" your opera and "raise" a film that brought in $68,392,977 in box office sales and who knows what in merchandising & video sales.

Ah! So, now we reduce it to a matter of mere filthy lucre, eh?

 

[Hank]

Ah! So, now we reduce it to a matter of mere filthy lucre, eh?

Nah, just pointing out that he had film success as well.

 

[Larry Gude]

Nah, just pointing out that he had film success as well.

Yup.

 

[Dakota]

And I "see" your opera and "raise" a film that brought in $68,392,977 in box office sales and who knows what in merchandising & video sales.

And he had the #1 albums and single in the country at the time.


Honestly, I think some of his best music was before and after that....


Anyway, I remember back in the 80's going to the county fair and thinking OMG... if another dance group comes out and dances to "Lets go crazy" I am going to just scream for 10 minutes.

Now after catching up in this thread, I might have to make a list of my top 20.

 

[Hank]

And he had the #1 albums and single in the country at the time.


Honestly, I think some of his best music was before and after that....


Anyway, I remember back in the 80's going to the county fair and thinking OMG... if another dance group comes out and dances to "Lets go crazy" I am going to just scream for 10 minutes.

Now after catching up in this thread, I might have to make a list of my top 20.

Purple Rain was incredible, but I like the minimalism of his early stuff... You can definitely watch him grow as a songwriter starting with the first album and then after, throughout his career. I can sit and just watch him play just guitar for hours. One of my favorite players.

Pretty Impressive:

Studio albums 39
Live albums 4
Compilation albums 6
Video albums 17
Music videos 136
EPs 13
Singles 104
Remix albums 1

 

[acommondisaster]

As great as prince was take McCartney and triple that .You like Prince we understand that but to have him in the classification of Elvis or John Lennon or McCartney is insane.

I'm not the least bit insane. I didn't say I'd classify him as a McCartney or a Lennon, I said I'd trade a McCartney or a JAGGER to have him back. Wasn't a big fan of Elvis music and I generally turn the station when a Stones song comes on (same with Aerosmith and RHCP).
Prince wasn't a sellout and I admire that he didn't bow to pressure to conform to how a "rock star" must live their lives. I like that he never became anything but what he really was. An astute business man, talented song writer, actor, singer, musician. A good and generous neighbor. Not many people in the world have all of that on their resume.

 

[Dakota]

Purple Rain was incredible, but I like the minimalism of his early stuff... You can definitely watch him grow as a songwriter starting with the first album and then after, throughout his career. I can sit and just watch him play just guitar for hours. One of my favorite players.

Pretty Impressive:

Studio albums 39
Live albums 4
Compilation albums 6
Video albums 17
Music videos 136
EPs 13
Singles 104
Remix albums 1

Agree and I don't think he has seen the credit deserved for his ability to play the guitar the way he did.

I have to ask you and other fans... if it comes out that he died of AIDS, would your view of him change? Would that be what people will remember about him or will it still be his music?


I have read so many articles here and there and am surprised in the year 2016 how ignorant and uneducated people are about HIV and AIDS. If Prince was HIV positive for many years and taking medication, he would have had HIV associated pain and all HIV meds due is slow down the progression of the disease. AIDS activist are pissed off now because they say that the rumors Prince had AIDS hurts all the work they have done over the past couple of decades. They don’t want people to think an HIV diagnoses means you have a pending monster flowing in your veins but frankly, that is exactly what an HIV positive person has. If an HIV person catches a flu or illness, it makes the meds less effective and can certainly cause one to go from HIV positive status to AIDS VERY QUICKLY. Once a person has AIDS, there are treatments but it isn’t a cure and it drastically reduces the quality of one’s life. Sources are trying to say his religion was the reason he didn’t seek treatment but perhaps he realized and accepted his fate, thankfully for all the extra time the meds had given him.

Whatever the cause of his death, if it does turn out to be that he died from AIDS related complications, I really think his image needs to be saved along with the education on this disease in the matter in which the narrative is told.

I think AIDS activist are hurting the cause when they want to pretend the monster doesn’t exist there and are acting like the person just has HPV or something.

Yeah… I know what I posted earlier but I know the HIV/AIDS realization is possible. He was with Vanity who was originally with Rick James and also Madonna who put herself out there as a huge freak back in the late 80’s and 90’s and that is just who we know about.

If it turns out he was HIV positive for years, we are going to see soon after how large the giant circle jerk is in Hollywood and in the entertainment business.

60 percent (roughly) of all HIV/AIDS cases are men on men sex but the other 40 percent isn't...

 

[Hank]

Agree and I don't think he has seen the credit deserved for his ability to play the guitar the way he did.

I have to ask you and other fans... if it comes out that he died of AIDS, would your view of him change? Would that be what people will remember about him or will it still be his music?
.

Ok. You lost me with the whole AIDS thing, but my view of him would not change one bit. I'm not shallow like that.

 

[Dakota]

Ok. You lost me with the whole AIDS thing, but my view of him would not change one bit. I'm not shallow like that.

Yeah I can see why... I combined my AIDS activist rant here because they are the ones jumping up and down in rage over the reports that Prince “MAY HAVE” died from AIDS related issues. So many activist are trying to preach it isn't possible to die from AIDS now if you take your medication when just HIV positive and I am amazed at the ignorance these activist are trying to communicate because that simply isn't true.

Not that anything has been confirmed about how Prince died but I did think about the possibility of AIDS and I won’t lie, I felt like I took a little longer to also come to the conclusion that it wouldn’t change my opinion. I feel my hesitation was more so convincing myself it could be true rather than judgement... but it could be true.

 

[BlueSunday]

I'm not the least bit insane. I didn't say I'd classify him as a McCartney or a Lennon, I said I'd trade a McCartney or a JAGGER to have him back. Wasn't a big fan of Elvis music and I generally turn the station when a Stones song comes on (same with Aerosmith and RHCP).
Prince wasn't a sellout and I admire that he didn't bow to pressure to conform to how a "rock star" must live their lives. I like that he never became anything but what he really was. An astute business man, talented song writer, actor, singer, musician. A good and generous neighbor. Not many people in the world have all of that on their resume.

This man does and he is all so a great family man and I wouldn't trade him for Prince as great as Prince was.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntS2cdvYTVE

 

[acommondisaster]

This man does and he is all so a great family man and I wouldn't trade him for Prince as great as Prince was.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntS2cdvYTVE

Wow, we really do have different views on good music - I guess that's what makes it all interesting. I wouldn't walk across the street to see Springsteen. Man of the people with a fake farm to take advantage of tax loopholes, Obama supporter, and social hypocrite -cancelling a concert in NC because of the transgender bathroom debacle but giving concerts in Saudi Arabia. While I'm no authority on his music, it all sounds the same to me.

But then there's 2 and a half minutes of sheer heaven. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7INsVaR-S-w