# Why is Prince considered to be a genius? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896 "2016-04-23T13:39:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/1 "2016-04-23T13:39:40Z")
I’m not looking for debate or paens to a favorite icon. I’m looking for a technical or factual musical answer. Aside from his gender bending persona, what is it in his music that leads people to consider him such a great musical presence? I have listened to a good deal of his music in the last couple days, and I cannot hear anything notable. Some songs seem to be just rhythm tracks. Nothing melodically or harmonically seem to stand out as different. Is there really any there there? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/2 "2016-04-23T13:56:52Z")
Not for me. My SO was watching a tribute last night. It all sounds the same to me with no notable melodies. I don’t hate his music (like disco for example) but for me his music is just meh. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/3 "2016-04-23T15:04:40Z")
I wonder too if he suffered from what I like to call the “Beatle Effect”. You can be Sir Paul McCartney, OBE, etc. and filthy rich, 60 years old or more and still playing sold out stadiums, but all they want to hear is the stuff you wrote in your 20’s. it must get very depressing if you like to think you still have talent for composing. ---
**Author:** ![stosh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@stosh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/4 "2016-04-23T15:04:56Z")
I feel the same way. I did not hate or love his music, I did not even realize he was that well liked. It seems like when ever anyone dies, they become Icons. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/5 "2016-04-23T15:12:06Z")
Many musicians were highly recommended impressed by his talent. Google his performance on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” at the George Harrison memorial to see. A lot of his talent was in areas that aren’t flashy or obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/6 "2016-04-23T15:27:22Z")
With saying anything to my kids about why, yesterday I put on his original version of “I wanna be your lover”. Not a song they’d ever heard, within two bars of the intro, and with no prompting, they were up off the couch and funkin’ their little bottoms off. The proof of the pudding and all that… His name was Prince, and he was funky. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/7 "2016-04-23T15:40:03Z")
Hmmm. So far, no substantive answers. Wrote a catchy rhythm track that \*\*Novelty Bobble’s \*\*kids found danceworthy. Not quite genius level, though. I’ll keep hoping for something more enlightening. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/8 "2016-04-23T15:52:17Z")
Instead of trying to paraphrase what it says, go read [this article in Rolling Stone.](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/prince-nothing-compared-2-him-20160421) I can get that his musical style wasn’t for everyone, and it’s not your cup of tea, it will not resonate. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t a musical genius. I could give two shits for the Beatles, but I’m not going around saying “meh, they’re not all that”. I’m not a Prince fanboy, although I do like some of his music. But I have to respect someone who can have this said about him: > [@](#): > > ([flavorwire.com](http://flavorwire.com)) But for all their talents, we’re not sure any (other musicians) can rival the man who’s still the most outrageously talented musician in music today, bar none. Prince announced his arrival to the world with For You, on which he played and arranged all of the 27 instruments featured on the album (also handling production duties for good measure), and he hasn’t let up since. And it’s not just that he’s not only competent with anything he picks up — it seems that he’s inevitably amazing, from outrageous fretboard pyrotechnics like the famous outro to “Purple Rain” to killer keyboard solos like the one on “When Doves Cry.” ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/9 "2016-04-23T16:03:30Z")
As the previous poster said, Prince is an extraordinarily talented musician. He played multiple instruments and was an outstanding vocalist. Whether that makes someone a “genius”? I don’t know. I really don’t know what makes a person a genius, though it’s probably something along the lines of someone who does things that were just not imaginable or without precedent. A musical innovator. One thing that needs to be pointed out is that, like most musicians, the public has never heard even a fraction of his music collection. But apparently in Prince’s case, that fraction is even smaller. There have been reports of a secret vault with thousands and thousands of unreleased songs. Most of the public also only followed Prince’s crossover music (Purple Rain). They didn’t follow his later career in the 1990s. “Damn you” is one of my favorites, as is “Diamonds and Pearls.” Both of those songs were more R & B songs and less popular than his earlier hits. He wasn’t creating a new genre of music like early jazz or rock and roll musicians, but he had probably as much impact on the evolution of electric and synthetic music (modern pop) as Madonna and Michael Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/10 "2016-04-23T16:03:59Z")
Seems clear to me that he was innovative, original, prolific, and extremely talented in terms of his ability to compose and actually play a variety of instruments. I think that would qualify as a ‘musical genius’. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/11 "2016-04-23T16:04:39Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > Not for me. My SO was watching a tribute last night. It all sounds the same to me with no notable melodies. I don’t hate his music (like disco for example) but for me his music is just meh. All of it? The Current is streaming most of his catalog A-Z (some they couldn’t make FCC safe :p) - its 26 hours. I went to bed last night with DMSR and woke up this morning to Little Red Corvette. Neither with sound anything like Positivity, which just finished, followed by Ripopgodazippa - which is different yet again - jazzy. It may not be your cup of tea, but it isn’t 26 hours of the same song. A lot of his popular stuff is a sound from the 1999/Purple Rain era - i.e. what you are likely hearing is 10 years of a forty year career. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/12 "2016-04-23T17:03:36Z")
He was also very influential in discovering and producing new talent, writing songs (some of which (some of the ones other people recorded) you probably don’t even know are his), and just plain musicianship. When asked what it feels like to be the world’s greatest guitarist, Eric Clapton replied, “I don’t know. Ask Prince.” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/13 "2016-04-23T17:29:26Z")
This looks like it could actually do better in Cafe Society. I’m going to report for a forum change. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/14 "2016-04-23T17:47:34Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > All of it? The Current is streaming most of his catalog A-Z (some they couldn’t make FCC safe :p) - its 26 hours. . (And who in the hell knows what is in “the vault” or if we will ever get to hear it.) ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/15 "2016-04-23T17:48:51Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > When asked what it feels like to be the world’s greatest guitarist, Eric Clapton replied, “I don’t know. Ask Prince.” Not really true: > [@](#): > > An old chestnut of musical praise, once attributed to Jimi Hendrix, was repurposed to involve Eric Clapton and Prince. [http://www.snopes.com/eric-clapton-quote-about-prince/](http://www.snopes.com/eric-clapton-quote-about-prince/) If Prince was a genius, I think it’s because of a combination of factors: he played a lot of musical instruments at a high level; had a facility for composing music in a lot of styles; and could manufacture a chart-topping hit seemingly at will. Not to mention his dancing, his videos and cinematic efforts. All in all, an exceptionally creative person. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/16 "2016-04-23T17:56:09Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > As the previous poster said, Prince is an extraordinarily talented musician. He played multiple instruments and was an outstanding vocalist. Consider this musician as one who is not impressed. Prince? Meh. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/17 "2016-04-23T18:21:13Z")
**Moderator Action** Since this is about a musical artist and his music, let’s move this to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/18 "2016-04-23T18:38:09Z")
In [Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/tom-morello-20111122), Prince was ranked at just number 33. Before anyone poo-poos the ranking, know that it was constructed on the opinions of other guitarists, including the likes of Ritchie Blackmore, Dave Davies, Rick Derringer, Kirk Hammett, Lenny Kravitz, Robby Krieger, Nils Lofgren, Brian May, Roger McGuinn, Tom Morello, Joe Perry, Robbie Robertson, Carlos Santana, Eddie Van Halen, and Joe Walsh, among many others. mmm ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/19 "2016-04-23T18:48:33Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > When asked what it feels like to be the world’s greatest guitarist, Eric Clapton replied, “I don’t know. Ask Prince.” How would Prince know what it feels like to be Jimmy Page? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896/20 "2016-04-23T19:05:54Z")
Even if you don’t like his music, I can’t see how anyone could deny his technical virtuosity on a multitude of instruments including voice, his compositional ability, his fluency in many styles of music (Pop, rock, country, jazz), or the originality of his sound. He may well have been the most talented musician/songwriter to date in popular music. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-prince-considered-to-be-a-genius/752896.md?page=2)