Just realized something about Prince

[SangeMele]

23. kwassa

Hi there, this is coming from a mixed dude and a HUGE Prince fan, his influences big and small ran the gamut.

The sole biggest Funk artist that influenced him was Sly & the Family Stone (and as we know sly had a multiethnic band) and another influence Grand Funk Railroad(non black group)

James Browns stage control-style was the bigger influence than the actually music. But Prince was mostly an ax man. We did not see Prince pull that kind of stage showmanship into the live act until around 1984/85 via Baby I'm A Star and Possessed. Then songs like the 1986 Parade B side: Love or Money, Sign o the Times 1987 Housequake etc

One of Prince BIGGEST influences and friend who colored the foundations of Prince's music was Joni Mitchell.

Other people that were big influences from music, style, expression: Santana, Steve Wonder, David Bowie, Marvin Gaye, Charlie Chaplin, Chaka Khan, the Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Led Zeppelin, Mozart
And Chris Moon(British), who worked with Prince early in the 1977-1979 period. Check out their history. The co-wrote Soft & Wet. And Chris had a big part in Prince understand mixing Spirituality & Sexuality.

"The rockabilly obsession was sparked by seeing the Stray Cats in London, before they came back to the States and broke. We were all blown away with them - the look, Brian Setzer's amazing sound, just the sheer authenticity of it. We started wearing pompadours immediately!" -Dez Dickerson (guitarist 4 the noituloveR)

Funk Folk Rockabilly have been the 3 constants in Prince's music from start 2 finish.

Add in also movies: Idol Maker, Blade Runner, Amadeus & 1940s film and starlets
Not to mention the overall landscape of Minneapolis Minnesota

1950s 'Black' culture style, Pimps, Hippies, Italian/Italian-American Mafioso & Valentino, New Wave & of course his latter Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall, were all 'social-cultures' that he drew long lasting influences from.

1985 Interview
It was obvious from the Purple Rain tour that, with the extended jams on some of these songs, you were paying tribute to James Brown. Would you agree? Who, besides James Brown, were your major musical inspirations and influences? Obviously you were thinking of Hendrix, Clinton and Sly Stone.

Prince:James Brown played a big influence in my style. When I was about 10 years old, my stepdad put me on stage with him, and I danced a little bit until the bodyguard took me off. The reason I liked James Brown so much is that, on my way out, I saw some of the finest dancing girls I ever seen in my life. And I think, in that respect, he influenced me by his control over his group. Another big influence was Joni Mitchell. She taught me a lot about color and sound, and to her, I'm very grateful.

In your Rolling Stone interview, you said you were surprised by so many people comparing you to Hendrix because you've always been more into Santana than Hendrix as a guitarist.

Prince: A lot has to do with the color of my skin, and that's not where it's at. It really isn't. Hendrix is very good. Fact. There will never be another one like him, and it would be a pity to try. I strive for originality in my work, and hopefully, it'll be perceived that way.

Rolling Stone Mag 1985
How do you feel about people calling the record "psychedelic"?

PrinceI don't mind that, because that was the only period in recent history that delivered songs and colors. Led Zeppelin, for example, would make you feel differently on each song.

What do you think about the comparisons between you and Jimi Hendrix?

Prince:If they really listened to my stuff, they'd hear more of a Santana influence than Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix played more blues; Santana played prettier. You can't compare people, you really can't, unless someone is blatantly trying to rip somebody off. And you really can't tell that unless you play the songs.


Are there any current groups you listen to a lot or learn from?

Prince: Naah. The last album I loved all the way through was [Joni Mitchell's] The Hissing of Summer Lawns. I respect people's success, but I don't like a lot of popular music. I never did. I like more of the things I heard when I was little. Today, people don't write songs; they're a lot of sounds, a lot of repetition. That happened when producers took over, and that's why there are no more [live] acts. There's no box office anymore. The producers took over, and now no one wants to see these bands.


Black as a social assignment came about during the 1970s Black Power Movement. Prior to the people assigned as 'Colored' were referred to as Negro or Mulatto. For most of America's history the ''black' African' was never considered the same as the 'Mulatto'.

But after it all many people of clear mixture may identify one way openly so they don't get any backlash for 'being ashamed of their 'blackness'', and identify another way inside or privately.