Why Prince Will Be An Icon Forever
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Why Prince Will Be An Icon Forever

For-ev-er.

20
Why Prince Will Be An Icon Forever
New Yorker

It seems that we don't really appreciate genius until he is gone. I am referring to Prince, the artist. Prince wrote the soundtrack of my life. People often can't get past his sexual lyrics and have written him off over the years as well...crazy!

He had a theory that people that had issues with his lyrics, had issues with sexuality overall. Aren't most geniuses crazy? In my mind, he just said it like it was. He sang about things that were taboo. He said things that were shocking. He wore things that were shocking (Any die-hard Prince fans remember those bikini underwear, trench coat and leg warmer days!!).

If you let yourself giggle over his "get-up," open your ears and get past the look, you would realize he is amazing. His 1980 concert at the "Bottom Line" in New York City broke all barriers. His vocal range was tremendous, his guitar riffs out of this world, and his dance moves in four inch heels were killer. He wrote, arranged and played ALL of the instruments on his first album "For You." He was an 18 year old kid that refused to let anyone tell him how to do anything when it came to his sound. He could have had the producer of "Earth Wind and Fire" but he refused to work with him.

He had his own sound...For a while. He would get a hit then move on. He would get tired of that sound and create a new one. And a new one after that, and new one after that. To me,most music today all sounds the same. Between the sampling, the outright copying of other artist's sound, and lyrics, and the auto-tuning of people who cannot sing, (I.E-Paris Hilton, Britney Spears) It's no wonder Prince had a 40 year career!

I was 12 when I first heard "Wanna Be Your Lover." I thought it was a girl singing. I would dance around in my room to it. His image was quite risqué back then. He either wore very tight pants and his shirt unbuttoned to his navel or skin tight leopard jump suits with bell bottoms. His image did not become well known until he came out with "1999." He pushed the boundaries between male and female with an androgynous look. A man with make up on, all of a sudden everyone was talking about Prince. Teenage girls were wearing frilly blouses and purple army jackets. People were talking non-stop about his look. A lot of people questioned his sexuality, trying to determine if he was gay or straight. But for Prince, it was all about the music.

It was all I cared about too! I could care less if showed up in a video wearing a dress! I played "1999" over and over until my cassette tape broke and had to run out that day and buy a new one. I was obsessed! Then one year later, "Purple Rain" came out and it turned my world upside down. The guitar riffs, the screaming, the completely unknown new sound that he invented that set my car speakers on fire. I played it over and over everywhere I went. I worked in the books and records department at Caldor at the time and my coworkers would call me up and yell "Do you have to play 'Purple Rain' again?" My answer was "yes! yes I have to!".

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

9768
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

942008
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

119000
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lots of people sat on the cinema wearing 3D glasses
Pinterest

Ever wonder what your friend meant when they started babbling about you taking their stapler? Or how whenever you ask your friend for a favor they respond with "As You Wish?" Are you looking for new and creative ways to insult your friends?

Well, look no further. Here is a list of 70 of the most quotable movies of all time. Here you will find answers to your questions along with a multitude of other things such as; new insults for your friends, interesting characters, fantastic story lines, and of course quotes to log into your mind for future use.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments