Sometime during the late 70's, a fellow classmate turned me on to Prince. I went and watched him for a cheap show, like $7, at Denver's Rainbow Music Hall. This was shortly after his album Dirty Mind came out, and I came out of that concert a bona fide, hard core Prince fiend. I was enchanted with his mix of street funk, sexual identity conflict, blatant sexuality, and spiritual overtones. Somehow, even though these things seemed like they couldn't ever TOUCH each other, or even get CLOSE to one another for fear of contamination, his music brought them all together in an arousing mix of sensual, erotic, spiritual and close music that touched the primitive parts of even the most die hard rock fans, and made them seem all related to each other.
Forget that he played *all* the instruments on some of his albums, forget that he sang all the songs, produced them, wrote them, that was nothing compared to what the music DID to you. His musical forays into parts unknown: combining modern funk and street rythyms with gospel and anthems, his muscial style in the early 80's was just unknown and a little bit off the beaten path. But it wasn't what he did with the music, it was how it affected you, that's what it all boiled down to. Even though the music was very different, it was the way it made you feel. It made you feel sexy, primitive, and strong. It made those primitive voices that call us from deep down come to life. It made them say "This is how I *really* feel* and this is what I want to do about it!" It made you feel bold, beautiful and strong. That's what I remember most about hismusic from that time.
I've always thought that he was a musical genius. It just seemed that his music the last 12 years has been forced. He hasn't been himself. With "Musicology" I see a little bit of Mr. Prince coming back, with 3121, Mr. Prince is back. From what I hear, at the British music awards for the year, I don't know what they are called and maybe someone can confirm this, I understood that he played his old songs with NO modification. Of course, I can't verify that since I wasn't there. I also read that he has been performing his old songs without modification around the US, trying to regain his stature.
I am not sure if he just doesn't believe the JW crap anymore, or if he wants to reclaim all the money he lost during the time he was being involved ina cult.. but it seems to me that he is back on track, thank god. I've just been hearing a lot of stories that he's performing his old songs with the lust-n-gusto that he did before, and I'm so glad. God gave him the musical genius and he should make sure that he uses his talents for all its worth!
CG
