Once again, we morn the loss of a pop music icon, a star whose genius was cut short in its prime. If that were only the case.
You see, Prince, in spite of his talent, never had a real chance at being a genius. Such is the way of the music industry. Any artist whose music ideas stray from the status quo will soon find their efforts residing in a circular file.
If Prince had indeed followed a path of creative innovation, there would be no Prince. Pop music frowns on innovation and creativity, unless it's gimmicks designed to attract publicity; a following; money. This is the arena where we see Prince's true genius. Everything else is hype - the purpose of giving existence to something that really isn't there.
Not to disparage Prince's talent, but his amazing ability to effortlessly play different styles of music is one example of this hype. I know plenty of gigging guitarists who do this regularly with no effort. The simple reason being the more styles you play, the more opportunities for gigs. It is real world norm. There's nothing special about it.
Commentators who go on about this type of "genius" are typically ignorant of the actual music scene - a reflection of Hollywood celebrity fluff that dominates today's culture.
Prince was unique. Prince was talented. Prince was gifted. He may have even harbored the seeds of innovative genius, but as with seeds cast in an arid desert, he never had a chance.
g.f.s. 4/23/2016
You see, Prince, in spite of his talent, never had a real chance at being a genius. Such is the way of the music industry. Any artist whose music ideas stray from the status quo will soon find their efforts residing in a circular file.
If Prince had indeed followed a path of creative innovation, there would be no Prince. Pop music frowns on innovation and creativity, unless it's gimmicks designed to attract publicity; a following; money. This is the arena where we see Prince's true genius. Everything else is hype - the purpose of giving existence to something that really isn't there.
Not to disparage Prince's talent, but his amazing ability to effortlessly play different styles of music is one example of this hype. I know plenty of gigging guitarists who do this regularly with no effort. The simple reason being the more styles you play, the more opportunities for gigs. It is real world norm. There's nothing special about it.
Commentators who go on about this type of "genius" are typically ignorant of the actual music scene - a reflection of Hollywood celebrity fluff that dominates today's culture.
Prince was unique. Prince was talented. Prince was gifted. He may have even harbored the seeds of innovative genius, but as with seeds cast in an arid desert, he never had a chance.
g.f.s. 4/23/2016