In Reply to: Prince apparently was quite talented. He was no genius. posted by Mike K on April 22, 2016 at 08:40:08:
Prince was an artist that my children followed. I just thought of him as a well marketed pop star until this morning. I have really have been rocked back on my heels as to how much of genius he was.
He played all the instruments on his first album. He was proficient at playing 27 musical instruments. Unlike so many musical icons before him, he was a very private individual. Little is known of his private life. He was a celebrity that was still a common man.
There have been many reports of Prince performing unannounced at small venues after having played for thousands just hours before. He seemed to enjoy playing, and he performed songs of other artist at these impromptu performances. It seemed he realized he had to interface with the common man without all the trappings of stardom.
I have learned, so very much about the enigma that is Prince, this last day or so. He was prolific and apparently recorded all the time. I have been pleasantly surprised at the number of artist who performed works by Prince either knowingly or via a pseudonym. For those that only think of Prince as a pop performer they would be surprised to know how often he collaborated with classical conductors and other artist of other musical disciplines.
In keeping with the polymath of the man, he was known to seek out and engage some of the greater minds of today in philosophy, sociology, and economics. He was able to negotiate as a very young man super record deals. He wise beyond his years.
I am not as much of a pop follower, but my son played a studio session recorded by Prince when he was 19. To my surprise it was all straight ahead Jazz - no vocals. It isn't clear as to which instruments were played (or not played) by Prince during this studio session. I think we are just at the brink of hearing the what the genius has recorded. Shelia E claims she recorded at least 100 songs with Prince that have never been released.
The more the media has eulogized this man the more I am inclined to the title genius. I look forward to hearing the recordings he made that are not so pop oriented. I regret I did not take greater not of Prince while he was with us.
DaveT
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Follow Ups
- RE: Prince apparently was quite talented. He was a genius. - DaveT 04:08:37 04/23/16 (6)
- RE: Prince apparently was quite talented. He was a genius. - Mike K 19:24:34 04/23/16 (1)
- RE: Prince apparently was quite talented. He was a genius. - GEO 06:37:47 04/25/16 (0)
- RE: Prince apparently was quite talented. He was a genius. - GEO 07:21:33 04/23/16 (3)
- It isn't only that his output is staggering... - musetap 18:22:02 04/23/16 (2)
- RE: It isn't only that his output is staggering... - GEO 19:27:14 04/24/16 (1)
- RE: It isn't only that his output is staggering... - fantja 19:27:08 04/29/16 (0)