Born and raised in Minneapolis, Prince signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records at the age of 19, soon releasing the albums For You (1978) and Prince (1979). He went on to achieve critical success with the influential albums Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982). His sixth album, Purple Rain (1984), was recorded with his new backing band the Revolution, and was also the soundtrack to the film of the same name in which he starred. Purple Rain garnered continued success for Prince and was a major commercial achievement, spending six consecutive months atop the Billboard 200 chart. The soundtrack also won Prince the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. After disbanding the Revolution, Prince released the album Sign o' the Times (1987), widely hailed by critics as the greatest work of his career. In the midst of a contractual dispute with Warner Bros. in 1993, he changed his stage name to the unpronounceable symbol logo. Hollow circle above downward arrow crossed with a curlicued horn-shaped symbol and then a short bar (known to fans as the "Love Symbol") and was often referred to as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (or TAFKAP) or simply The Artist.
After signing with Arista Records in 1998, Prince reverted to his original name in 2000. Over the next decade, six of his albums entered the U.S. top 10 charts. In April 2016, at the age of 57, Prince died after accidentally overdosing on fentanyl at his Paisley Park home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota. He was a prolific musician who released 39 albums during his life, with a vast array of unreleased material left in a custom-built bank vault underneath his home after his death, including fully completed albums and over 50 finished music videos. He also released songs under multiple pseudonyms during his life, as well as writing songs that were made popular after being covered by other musicians, most notably "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinéad O'Connor and "Manic Monday" by the Bangles. Estimates of the complete number of songs written by Prince range anywhere from 500 to well over 1,000. Released posthumously, his demo albums Piano and a Microphone 1983 (2018) and Originals (2019) both received critical acclaim.
Prince sold over 100 million records worldwide, ranking him among the best-selling music artists of all time. His awards included the Grammy President's Merit Award, the American Music Awards for Achievement and of Merit, the Billboard Icon Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2016, and was inducted twice into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician)
Studio albums
For You (1978)
Prince (1979)
Dirty Mind (1980)
Controversy (1981)
1999 (1982)
Purple Rain (1984)
Around the World in a Day (1985)
Parade (1986)
Sign o' the Times (1987)
Lovesexy (1988)
Batman (1989)
Graffiti Bridge (1990)
Diamonds and Pearls (1991)
Love Symbol (1992)
Come (1994)
The Black Album (1994)
The Gold Experience (1995)
Chaos and Disorder (1996)
Emancipation (1996)
Crystal Ball (1998)
The Truth (1998)
The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale (1999)
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (1999)
The Rainbow Children (2001)
One Nite Alone... (2002)
Xpectation (2003)
N·E·W·S (2003)
The Chocolate Invasion (2004)
The Slaughterhouse (2004)
Musicology (2004)
3121 (2006)
Planet Earth (2007)
Lotusflow3r (2009)
MPLSound (2009)
20Ten (2010)
Plectrumelectrum (2014)
Art Official Age (2014)
HITnRUN Phase One (2015)
HITnRUN Phase Two (2015)
Posthumous releases:
Piano and a Microphone 1983 (2018)
Originals (2019)
Welcome 2 America (2021)
Prince also released two albums credited to Madhouse, three albums credited to the New Power Generation, and one credited to the N.P.G. Orchestra:
Madhouse:
8 (1987)
16 (1987)
The New Power Generation:
Goldnigga (1993)
Exodus (1995)
Newpower Soul (1998)
The N.P.G. Orchestra:
Kamasutra (1997)
For Serbian singer Princ, please use Princ.
Arrogance
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Here he is) Yeah
(Here he is)
(Here he is)
What makes a man want to rule the world? (A double A double arrogance)
(You got it)
Make him man enough to say he's 50-50 girl (A double A double arrogance)
What makes a man want to curse and swear? (A double A double arrogance)
(You got it)
Then blame it on heaven 'cause he's already there
Pimp rag, tootsie pop, and a cane
What makes a man want to play guitar? (A double A double arrogance)
(You got it)
Same thing that makes him want to be a star (A double A double arrogance)
(You got it)
What makes him want to see his name in lights? (A double A double arrogance)
(You got it)
It was the same thing that made Eve take the first bite
Pimp rag, tootsie pop, and a cane
(Don't make me get up, there he is, get him, don't make me get up)
Like a flame and she came and I was no longer cold
That's a little shady, for this lady was only sixteen years old
The song "Arrogance" by Prince and the New Power Generation is a commentary on the nature of arrogance and what drives it. The lyrics ask why someone would want to rule the world, behave arrogantly and blame their actions on heaven. Prince suggests that it is a double dose of arrogance that makes a man want to do these things. The lyrics also explore the idea of why someone would want to play guitar, be a star, and see their name in lights, suggesting that the same arrogance drives these desires.
Another part of the lyrics that stands out is Prince's mention of a pimp rag, tootsie pop, and a cane. These items are often associated with pimps, and could be seen as a commentary on the arrogance of men who believe they can control and profit off of women. The final line of the song is particularly striking, as Prince sings about a shady situation with a sixteen-year-old girl. This line is open to interpretation, but suggests that even at a young age, people can be drawn into the cycle of arrogance and the desire for power and control.
Overall, "Arrogance" is a thought-provoking commentary on the nature of arrogance and the desires that drive it. By exploring these themes through music, Prince challenges listeners to think about the motivations behind our own actions and to question the source of our desires for power and control.
Line by Line Meaning
Why are you so arrogant?
Questioning the reason behind one's own overconfidence
(Here he is) Yeah
Affirmation towards a present entity with a slight agreement
(Here he is)
Reinforcement towards a present entity
(Here he is)
Reinforcement towards a present entity
What makes a man want to rule the world? (A double A double arrogance)
Pondering on the aspects of one's dictatorial behavior with conceit as the primary driver
(You got it)
Agreement towards a previous statement
Make him man enough to say he's 50-50 girl (A double A double arrogance)
Asserting that a man must be brave enough to split the control in a relationship
(You got it)
Agreement towards a previous statement
What makes a man want to curse and swear? (A double A double arrogance)
Enquiring on the cause of a man's use of expletives which portrays excessive pride
(You got it)
Agreement towards a previous statement
Then blame it on heaven 'cause he's already there
Blaming one's arrogance on something beyond their control
Pimp rag, tootsie pop, and a cane
Materialistic items owned by the person in question
What makes a man want to play guitar? (A double A double arrogance)
Analyzing the driving factor behind a man's desire to play guitar with excessive self-confidence in the mix
(You got it)
Agreement towards a previous statement
Same thing that makes him want to be a star (A double A double arrogance)
Drawing similarities between desiring musical stardom and being excessively arrogant
(You got it)
Agreement towards a previous statement
What makes him want to see his name in lights? (A double A double arrogance)
Questioning the reason behind one's display of their name in a prominent manner with excessive pride as the driving force
(You got it)
Agreement towards a previous statement
It was the same thing that made Eve take the first bite
Drawing a parallel between Adam and Eve's appetite for knowledge and the person's appetite for arrogance
Pimp rag, tootsie pop, and a cane
Materialistic items owned by the person in question
(Don't make me get up, there he is, get him, don't make me get up)
An exclamation or warning to prevent any conflict or aggressive exchanges by the person in question
Like a flame and she came and I was no longer cold
Describing a passionate encounter with a partner as a means of breaking away from arrogance
That's a little shady, for this lady was only sixteen years old
Admitting to a potentially controversial involvement with a minor partner
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind