Honestly, what is a genius anyway? If I say Justin Bieber is a genius, how could you prove me wrong? Much better to look at the accomplishments of the artist in question, without debating whether he or she falls into the poorly defined category of “Genius.” I think Prince’s rep easily withstands scrutiny.
Also, what difference does it make if the music does anything for you personally or not? If Mozart doesn’t do anything for me does that mean he was a bad composer?
Dear me - that’s sounds like a bit of grade inflation itself. So there is no such thing as a genius in the world of instrumental jazz for instance ( i.e. a majority of it )? Most symphonies? Sonatas? Lopping off quite a bit of the musical world that way, are we not?
Writing lyrics doesn’t seem anymore intrinsically difficult than composition from where I sit. I mean I’m not going to argue against Elvis Costello being a lyrical genius ( I think he is ), but if you don’t think John Coltrane was a compositional genius…well, then you’re nuts. IMHO :).
How disagreeable do you have to be to piss off one of the most reasonable people on this board (Wordman)?
Genius is not defined like that that I know of.
Ignorance fought! Now we just need to determine how rare rare is. Which I’ve done for you. Approximately the top 1%.
Why don’t you read the posts and make up your own mind? You are the kind of poster who makes for a tedious mob.
It doesn’t take a genius to get under Wordmans skin. I don’t think his sacred rock guitar players are geniuses so he tells me to F myself, representing, “as a guitar player” no less. On a thread about whether some dude is a genius, pro or con? Then he reports himself like a Jr G-man.
That’s reasoned and brilliant, maybe by Prince standards?
You lost me. Whose ignorance is fought by this cite? What did you do for me?
Now that’s unkindly!
Perhaps you could educate the board and provide your criteria for geniushood?
It’s a definition for genius. You didn’t know what genius meant so I provided a useful cite. With that definition, it’s self evident that not only is Prince a genius he is a genius among geniuses. It’s almost a formal proof.
Thanks, but I was already aware of the dictionary definition. I just don’t see how debating whether a given artist has “an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work in science, art, music, etc.:” is ever going to lead to anything but people shouting their opinions at each other. The only thing that’s objective in that is the IQ measure, which clearly isn’t what people are talking about with artistic genius. I think it’s better to just simply look at a specific artists accomplishments than try to figure out if he fits into such a poorly defined inherently subjective concept.
Indeed.
WordMan, I have typed up similar posts in the past. Sadly, they weren’t worth the time it took to type it.
Don’t ever say this to anyone on these boards again.
Your posts seem to be coming off fairly close to trolling (or intentionally trying to rile other posters up in this thread), so I’m going to ask you to stop making these kinds of posts. You can disagree with posters on here without coming off as being purposefully infuriating
In short, both of you and everyone else who is temped to join this: It’s time to take it to the Pit if you want to continue the discussion with this level of hostility.
Yes - I apologize for my tone and will take it to the Pit next time. Thank you.
Is this a “explain why other people believe Prince was a genius” thread or a “convince me that I should like Prince” thread?
As it stands, this thread is not an honest conversation and it doesn’t seem to me that it’s worth the effort that people are putting into it.
FWIW, the OP only posted once more after starting the thread – they’ve been MIA in this thread for a while.
Exactly my point. He did earn it. He earned it in the only ways that can be measured. You seem to be trying to make the case that no one is a genius unless they impress you.
Indeed.
Had to update this zombie. In this article, it is shared that, at the end of his infamous RRHoF solo on While My Guitar Gently Weeps, when Prince finishes and just tosses his guitar, Prince’s guitar tech posted on a Prince website that he caught the guitar (that was a key part of his job*) and gave it to Oprah, per Prince’s directive. Man, it’s good to be Oprah.
*I listened to a podcast featuring Mike Scott, Prince’s guitarist in the New Power Generation in the 90’s. He said Prince liked to toss guitars because “it was the pimpest thing he could do” - come across as a cool badass who just doesn’t give AF. Prince famously did this to Capt Kirk of The Roots on Fallon, breaking his vintage Epiphone Wiltshire. Mike Scott explained that: a) Prince was simply used to having Takumi there to catch guitars and put a good show before guitar health; and b) when he tossed the wrong guitar - he tossed one of Mike’s at a show - he is apologetic and pays for a new guitar. In mike’s case, as with Kirk’s, he said “what’re gonna do? It’s Prince. Just roll with it and it will work out.”
NPG brings up the weirdest memories for me. I always picture the video for Diamonds and Pearls. I was probably 10 or 11 when it came out and in a day and age of MTV, VH1 and The Box, you couldn’t turn on the TV without seeing that video. Then, along with that was the video for Gett Off and of course the infamous 1991 MTV music awards with the assless yellow suit.
He was the subject of so many comedy bits and late nite monologues and constantly compared to Michael Jackson, not for their artistry but who was the strangest.
Also, and again this all just flashes into my head when I hear NPG. I didn’t know the New Power Generation was the band. To me that was Rosie Gaines’ name. I go back to the Diamonds and Pearls video. It was by “Prince and the New Power Generation” and it was Prince at the piano and her singing. Again, I was like 10 and I didn’t like that song that much but it was just on so often. She was also in the Cream video as well.
So, yeah, all of that runs through my head whenever I hear NPG and no I’ll probably have those songs stuck in my head since I went and looked them up on youtube.