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.
Baby I
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One, two, three
Ah
Woo
Hey, look me over
Tell me do you like what you see?
But honey, I'm rich on personality
Hey, check it all out
Baby, I know what it's all about
Before the night is through
You will see my point of view
Even if I have to scream and shout
Baby, I'm a star
Might not know it now
Baby, but I are, I'm a star, yeah
I don't want to stop, till I reach the top
Sing it, we are a star
Hey, take a listen
Tell me do you like what you hear?
If it don't turn you on
Just say a word, I'm gone
Honey, I know ain't nothing wrong with your ears
Oh
Hey, check it all out
Better look now or it just might be too late
My luck's gonna change tonight
There's gotta be a better life
Take a picture sweetie, I ain't got time to waste
Oh, baby I'm a star
You might not know it now
Baby but I are, I'm a star
Oh, I don't want to stop, till I reach the top
Sing it, we are a star
Everybody say, nothing comes too easy
When you got it baby, nothing comes too hard
You'll see what I'm all about (see what I'm all about)
If I gotta scream and shout (gotta scream and shout)
Baby, baby, baby, baby
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hoo, might not know it now
Baby but I are, I'm a star
Ooh, hoo
I don't want to stop, till I reach the top
Sing it, star, ooh, hoo
Baby, baby, baby
Oh, baby, I'm a star
Baby, baby, baby
Somebody
We all are a star, yeah
Aww
(Baby I'm a star, we are a star, yeah)
(Baby I'm a star)
We are a star, yeah, doctor
Baby, baby, baby, baby (ooh)
Baby, baby, baby, baby (ooh)
We are a star
The song "Baby I'm a Star" by Prince and The Revolution is a upbeat, self-confident and celebratory expression of Prince's unique creativity and musicianship. The track begins with a count-in and Prince's spoken invitation to "look him over" and to "tell him if he likes what you see." From these opening lines, the song moves into a statement of self-assurance that derives not from material wealth but from a "rich personality." The song expresses confidence in Prince's abilities as a performer, singer, musician, and songwriter. Prince invites his listeners to take a closer look, to listen more carefully, and to discover that they too are "a star." The song is full of repeated phrases, call-and-response vocal interplay, and numerous instrumental solos and fills, reflecting the wide-ranging influences of R&B, rock, funk, and pop.
Throughout the song, Prince engages with his audience in a playful and witty dialogue. He assures them that he knows what it's "all about" and that he will get his "point of view" across "even if he has to scream and shout." The repeated refrain that "Baby I'm a star" becomes a rallying cry for the song's exuberant chorus, which invites listeners to sing along and to take pride in their own creativity and individuality. The song's infectious beat, catchy melody, and high-energy performance make it an enduring classic of Prince's discography.
Overall, "Baby I'm a Star" is an uplifting and joyful song about self-confidence, creativity and the power of music. It celebrates Prince's unique charisma and artistry, while also encouraging others to discover and express their own talents. The song's exuberance, wit, and musicality make it a standout track on the "Purple Rain" album and a favorite among Prince fans and music lovers.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, look me over
Tell me do you like what you see?
Hey, I ain't got no money
But honey, I'm rich on personality
I may not have money, but I have a lot of other qualities to offer. Do you like what you see?
Hey, check it all out
Baby, I know what it's all about
Before the night is through
You will see my point of view
Even if I have to scream and shout
I have a message to convey, and I'm determined to do it, even if I have to raise my voice.
Baby, I'm a star
Might not know it now
Baby, but I are, I'm a star, yeah
I don't want to stop, till I reach the top
Sing it, we are a star
I'm confident in myself and believe that someday, I'll reach the top. We're all stars in our own way.
Hey, take a listen
Tell me do you like what you hear?
If it don't turn you on
Just say a word, I'm gone
Honey, I know ain't nothing wrong with your ears
If my message isn't resonating with you, it's okay to say so. I won't stick around if it's not working.
Hey, check it all out
Better look now or it just might be too late
My luck's gonna change tonight
There's gotta be a better life
Take a picture sweetie, I ain't got time to waste
You better pay attention, or you might miss out on all the good things coming my way. I'm seizing the opportunities that come my way, and I don't have time to waste.
Everybody say, nothing comes too easy
When you got it baby, nothing comes too hard
You'll see what I'm all about (see what I'm all about)
If I gotta scream and shout (gotta scream and shout)
Baby, baby, baby, baby
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Success doesn't come easily, but if you have what it takes, nothing can stand in your way. You'll see the real me if I have to be loud and persistent.
Hoo, might not know it now
Baby but I are, I'm a star
Ooh, hoo
I don't want to stop, till I reach the top
Sing it, star, ooh, hoo
I may not be a star right now, but I know I have what it takes to get there. I won't stop until I reach my goals.
Baby, baby, baby
Oh, baby, I'm a star
Baby, baby, baby
Somebody
We all are a star, yeah
All of us are stars in our own way, and we should be proud of ourselves. I'm confident in myself and know that I'm destined for greatness.
(Baby I'm a star, we are a star, yeah)
(Baby I'm a star)
We are a star, yeah, doctor
Baby, baby, baby, baby (ooh)
Baby, baby, baby, baby (ooh)
We are a star
We are all capable of greatness, and we should remind ourselves of that fact. We all have something to offer and should take pride in our unique strengths and qualities.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Purple Velvet
Same here... I feel you and can relate. While it seems that he was widely appreciated here in France by the admirers of his music since the early 80’s, the medias during the 80’s and 90’ mainly presented him somehow like ” the rival of..” , ” that eccentric guy with highly danceable hits”, ” excellent musician but kind of a weirdo”, occasionaly they added something like ” that superstar with a cute face and provocative songs” and never skipped an occasion to point the non relevant fact " he’s short”, talked much more about his looks and hairdoes than about his musical range and abilities. So If you hadn’t friends who knew his music, could let you hear it (and I hadn’t those), well...
I spent the 90’s and 2000’s knowing only his major hits through radio and my jazz dance teacher who let us warm us on some tracks from Diamonds and Pearls, but the sheer amount of his work went under radar for me. I liked what I knew, but had enough curiosity to go beyond the limited portrait they painted.
I’m somehow sour at the medias for making me miss this phenomenal musician, by discussing everything BUT the music. And after the nineties, when he went more into jazz, they simply stopped talking about him.
I honestly can say I haven’t heard about him once in the mainstream medias after he got his name back, and until the day he died.
This very day, they all said it was really sad, the man was a great musician, funny on stage, reminded once again the biggest hits ( favorite tracks ? They all answered Purple rain, Cream and Kiss. I can’t recall someone saying for instance " Something in the Water" " Condition of the heart", " under the cherry moon” , " Temptation" " Sign o’ the times ” or simply " Controversy" to list a few of those which where instant wins for me)...and nothing more.
I discovered the real extend of his incredible talent and versatility through a very interesting podcast, where real admirers and music specialists discuss and explain each album during hours, social context, texts, musical construction, and so on...
Irony n1: he excelled in almost every musical genre I liked, and I didn’t know it. The ideal composer and musician for me was easy to find at the record store... and nobody told me.
Irony n2: I’m finally liking especially the more instrumental/ experimental/original/ bizarre compositions, much more than the radio hits.
NAROA LOVE 1111
DIVINO ESCUCHARLO 🏆 2022
ESTA SOY YO,....❤️🎶👈
LA SABIDURIA SE APRENDE
EL EXITO SE LUCHA
LA HUMILDAD SE NACE
EL AMOR SE SIENTE
EL RESPECTO SE GANA
EL ODIO TE ENFERMA
EL DESEO TE FORTALECE
EL CASTIGO TE HUMILLA
LA ALEGRIA TE REJUVENECE
LA FELICIDAD TE AMAS
LAS BENDICIONES VIDA
LA GRATITUD BENDICIONES
Miami Things aka RA Car Reviews
This man was EVERYTHING.
As many have said, he IS music. But…he IS sex. He IS energy. He IS playfulness. He IS depth. He IS angst. He IS beauty. He IS funk, and fashion and fun. He IS pleasure, and pain. He sings “most people in this world are born dead, but I was born alive.” So apropos. I hope he found his way back home. ❤
Iva Iva
Yeah,he was born alive other's death? What an arrogance..Well, guess who are still living, right,the one's who was born death!
Tony
Excellent post
Lisa Hyde-Boland
PERFECT Assessment.
MWOSOH King 👑
Prince owned the whole stage, it was his play ground 😂. This generation misses authentic talents.
youtubejoop
The woke movement kill everything. You cant write a song nowadays try to write a lovesong with the zillion pronounced they come up with
Intellectual Rebel
I mean we have Billie Eillish and conan Gray, but in my opinion, while Conan's great in studio, his live performances just don't have Prince's energy.
KremIsis
no, it doesn't?, just talents no longer have the perspective of becoming celebrities.
R M
Listen
R M
Sadly, music is really at a standstill. Groups I didn't listen to back in the day, I do now. Even a large majority of this generation is listening to artist of the past. Maybe it's time for the record labels to listen