Prince Rogers Nelson was born on June 7th 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His big break came with the release of the album 1999 and its title track of the same name. The guy can sing, play guitar and even rap. He cannot be categorized as a rock pop or R&B; artist, he just is. He is Prince.
10 – 1999
Taken from the album of the same name released in October 1982. A heavy accent on synthesizers are in this song and though it can be called a pop song it helped launch his career and to this day still retains a very catchy, head-nodding, funky appeal. The video has all the things Prince is famous for; the erotic bondage theme, the outlandish, colorful clothing. It was my first introduction to Prince and to MTV and the wide array of vocals on the track (including Lisa Coleman from ‘Wendy and Lisa’) as well as it being the first video featuring a black artist to get widespread airplay, make this song a breakthrough in more ways than one.
9 – PURPLE RAIN
The title track from the 1984 film and the name of the album. His most successful album ever. The song has passionate, moody vocals and biting guitar chords that became a trademark of the album. Heavy on metaphor the term ‘Purple Rain’ is said to refer to heaven.
8 – DIAMONDS AND PEARLS
From the album of the same name. He was going through an R&B; period at this stage. The album contained a bit of rap too. This is the best song on the album and is most memorable by the great background vocals of Rosie Gaines. A great track on a mediocre album.
7 – RASPBERRY BERET
This song tells the story of a guy working in a shop who falls for a customer. As usual the accent is on love, lust and humor. It is a wistful pop song; the violin on the intro gives it a hillbilly feeling. Taking from the album ‘Around The Word In A Day’, this song vividly reminds me of the time I fell for a customer whilst working in a shop.
6 – STRANGE RELATIONSHIP
Irreverent pop song from the album ‘Sign O’ The Times’. This is one of the few songs on the album to put a smile on your face with its whimsical nature. The lyrics don’t really make much sense to me but I imagine Prince intended it that way, because sometimes relationships make no sense.
5 – LITTLE RED CORVETTE
Erotic rock song from the album ‘1999’ that uses Prince’s liking for metaphors. The Little Red Corvette is a woman who is much too fast and needs to slow down. A perfect blend of soft rock and sensuality using Prince’s twanging guitar. This was a portent of things to come in the form of Purple Rain.
4 – U GOT THE LOOK
From the album ‘Sign O’ The Times’. A dance song performed with Sheena Easton. In the video she looks stunning but the reason I like the song is the theme of boy meets girl, seen through almost adolescent, innocent eyes in the song. You see someone you like them, end of story.
3 – NOTHING COMPARES 2 U
Made famous by the cover version from Sinead O’Connor but written and performed by Prince in 1981 with his group The Family. It is striking for its sincere and deep lyrics of love and loss. Love the song because it is a song we all want to recite to our perfect partner and it shows a deep, sensitive side of Prince minus the guitars.
2 – SIGN O THE TIMES
One of the few songs that makes me stop and think about life and about everything connected with it. The state of the world since the double album was released in 1987 hasn’t really changed and in this songs’ take on the world’s madness is spot on. The line ‘Man aint happy unless man truly dies’, is one that will stay with me forever. A great song and one of the few you have to sit down to listen to as it is quite moody and not a dance or love song.
1 – WHEN DOVES CRY
A track from Purple Rain, and his greatest ever song. The stunning guitar solo at the start, the screeching vocals and all round catchiness of the song make it his best. The lyrics conjure up many images and once again he likes to use metaphor. The two doves represent people who in turn represent good and beauty.
Sources: prince.org
