Know your audience and write at your audience’s knowledge level are pretty basic fundamentals of writing. When I write about Prince, I normally assume that my audience knows who he is, what time period he became a huge pop star, and can name a few of his hits. I normally don’t have time to do Prince for Dummies. But today, I am feeling generous and I’ll give you the basics.
1. Who is Prince? He was a huge pop star in the 80s. Today, he is a Rock-n-Rock Hall of Famer and is one of the most prolific and diverse performers alive. If you still don’t know who he is, ask your parents, you were probably conceived to his music.
2. Does he still go by "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince?" No! If you want to piss off hardcore fans ask them that question or write it on their Facebook walls to guarantee an end to your real or virtual friendship. Prince has been Prince again for the past 10 years! He changed his name to the love symbol on June 7th, 1993 (his 35th birthday); it was part of his failed attempt to break his contract with Warner Bros. Records. On May 16th, 2000, when his contract expired, he resumed using his former performing moniker (His legal name is Prince Rogers Nelson, named after his dad’s band).
3. What should a casual fan know about his personal life? Nothing! Do not read any biographies about Prince or any interviews with him. Stick to his music only. He is a despicable person. The general rule is that Prince will screw or screw over anyone he knows. Females normally experience both. See number four for more on this subject.
4. What is Prince’s Sexual Orientation? Prince is straight although he is often perceived to be gay or bi-sexual primarily due to his androgynous appearance.
5.What race is Prince? He is black and is not bi-racial like most people assume because of his light skin color and the casting of a Mediterranean actress as his mom in Purple Rain. The creation of this misconception was intentional, on the part of Warner Bros., to garner a multi-racial audience for their rising star. Although he is not bi-racial, he is credited for creating a bi-racial style of music that blends rock and R&B to appeal to people of all colors.
6.How tall is Prince? This question is just rude and none of your business. But if you must know, he is reportedly 5’2. It is hard to tell with his high heels.
7. What Prince albums are best for the casual or new Prince listener? Really anything from 1978 and 1988 is quintessential Prince and pure perfection. Here is what you need for a starter collection in the order of importance:
- Purple Rain (1984): His most famous and highest selling album to date. It is flawless from start to finish, and is the album where you will find “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Darling Nikki,” and the “Beautiful Ones,” a deconstructed ballad that is nothing short of amazing. Even better than the recording of this song is watching Prince hump the piano during the performance of the "Beautiful Ones" in the movie Purple Rain. Speaking of Purple Rain, it is an awesomely bad movie with horrible dialogue and no plot, but worth purchasing for the performances, which have stood the test of time.
- Sign o’ the Times (1987): his two-disc opus that is his most critically acclaimed work. This album is proof that Prince was years ahead of his time; it sounds just as relevant today as it was in 1987. The accompanying concert DVD is equally outstanding.
- 1999 (1982): This album was Prince’s breakout album containing the hits "Little Red Corvette," "1999" and "Delirious,” this rockabilly tune made me a fan. The double album can best be summarized by the song: “Dance, Music, Sex, Romance.” It all in there, in no particular order, on all the tracks. 1999 is Pure Purple Perfection that foreshadows the great things to come for Prince and the Revelation with their next album. This album is an absolute must have for even the most casual of Prince listeners.
- Dirty Mind (1980): Everyone should have at least one Prince album filled with sex songs. This album gives you "Head" (an ode to oral sex) and "Sister" (the incest tune that makes you dance).
- The Gold Experience (1995): Although most of Prince’s work in 1990s can be dismissed, the Gold Experience is required listening. It is considered, by most fans, to be his Purple Rain of the 1990s. It contains the last big hit of his career "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," which he no longer plays live because it was written for his first wife. He now prefers “I love U but I don't trust U anymore,” which chronicles her adultery. Although his second wife was already on the scene before the first one left. See this is precisely why you shouldn’t read his biography.
- 3121 (2006): Prince experienced a resurgence in his career in the 21st century with his critically acclaimed but horribly boring Musicology (2004) and his album 3121, which garnered him several Grammy nominations. 3121 works as fun dance album as long as you don’t have any of Prince songs from 1980s in your playlist. Still a solid offering that is worth giving a listen.
- LOtUSFLOW3R (2009): Although this three-disc set received mixed critical reviews, some fans and critics argue that his latest offering stands up well against his best work from the 80s. Although that statement is too strong, this album is intriguing enough to make it worth buying. (Plus, you get it now at your local Target for $4.99) The set consists of the main disc Lotusflow3r, which is a brilliant Jimi Hendrix inspired rock guitar album, a moderately fulfilling dance album called MPLSoUND (which stands for Minneapolis Sound – the music style associated with Prince and his protégées), and also silver coaster, called Elixer [sic] by Bria Valente, the debut CD by his latest protégée. Prince has a perpetually bad habit of giving record deals to the talentless bimbos he happens to banging at the time. But nonetheless, buy this album for the Prince meets Jimi Hendrix aura; it will either change or reaffirm your view on the legalization of pot.
