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 Sinรฉad 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)
NยทEยทWยทS (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.
Guitar
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll take my keys
Let's start a band
We can play in my sheets
I'll play the bass if you take the lead
I'll keep the time if you keep the beat
Play me a song
Anything that you like
All those lyrics you write
On your guitar
On your guitar
Put your hands round my neck
Now pluck my strings
I know it depends on the music I bring
Keep playing me like a guitar
Hit all my notes
Be my super star
And
Play me a song
Anything that you like
The progressions, the end, all those you write
All those lyrics you write
On your guitar
On your guitar
So don't be shy
Come play your song
I'm down to listen all night long
Just set the mood
Bring love and tunes
And we can both perform
Bring your guitar
I have my keys
Boy come play my melody
Let's play all night
A symphony
Let's let the music set us free
And play me a song
Anything that you like
The progressions, the end, all those you write
All those lyrics you write
On your guitar
On your guitar
The lyrics to Prince's song "Guitar" depict a passionate and sensual scene between two musicians. The singer invites their partner, who has a guitar, to come and play music together. The lines "take your guitar, I'll take my keys" suggest that the singer is a pianist, and they propose starting a band with just the two of them. As they play in their bedsheets, the singer offers to play the bass while their partner takes the lead melody.
The chorus repeats the invitation to "play me a song, anything that you like" and emphasizes the power and beauty of a song written on a guitar. The bridge includes some sexually suggestive lines, with the singer inviting their partner to "put your hands round my neck, now pluck my strings." The metaphor continues as the singer urges their partner to "play me like a guitar, hit all my notes" and become their super star. The song ends with the two musicians being lost in their own music, letting it "set them free."
Overall, "Guitar" is a song about the romantic and creative potential of music. It suggests that making music together can be a sensual and intimate experience that brings people closer together. Prince's lyrics also hint at the power dynamics between different instruments and roles in a band, suggesting that there is a certain allure to playing the bass or the lead guitar.
Line by Line Meaning
Take your guitar
Let's start making music together
I'll take my keys
I'll play the keyboard and provide the accompaniment
Let's start a band
Let's create music together
We can play in my sheets
Let's make beautiful music in the bedroom
I'll play the bass if you take the lead
I'll provide the foundation, while you take the lead melody
I'll keep the time if you keep the beat
I'll provide the rhythm, while you maintain the tempo
Play me a song
Share your music with me
Anything that you like, The progressions, the end, all those you write
Play anything you want, including the chords, the melody and the lyrics you've written
On your guitar, Put your hands round my neck
Use your guitar to create beautiful music that resonates within me
Now pluck my strings, I know it depends on the music I bring
Create alluring music by responding to the mood I set
Keep playing me like a guitar, Hit all my notes, Be my super star
Continue to play music that appeals to me, and excel at it
So don't be shy, Come play your song, I'm down to listen all night long
Don't hesitate, share your music with me and I'll listen attentively all night
Just set the mood, Bring love and tunes, And we can both perform
Create an atmosphere of love through music that we both can provide
Boy come play my melody, Let's play all night, A symphony
Let's make music all night long, and orchestrate a symphony
Let's let the music set us free, And play me a song, Anything that you like, The progressions, the end, all those you write, All those lyrics you write, On your guitar, On your guitar
Let's enjoy and be liberated by making music, and play any song, including those you've written, that you like on your guitar
Lyrics ยฉ DistroKid
Written by: Abraham Perello-Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Solace Easy
One of the Top 5 Masters of the Electric Guitar.
* Technical Prowess
* Innovator of New Styles of Playing the Instrument
* Mastery of All Styles of Playing the Instrument
* Ability to Transmit Deep Emotions
* Instant, Fluid Improvisation
* Songwriting Mastery with the Instrument
R.I.P. - Rest in Purple!
Christopher Tracy
I will never understand why this song wasn't a hit.
Ambrose
Because it sounds like something out out a high-school musical
Michael Frazia
@Karen Jewell I love both as well...if you are gonna grab a riff, you may as well grab a great one
Karen Jewell
โ@Michael Frazia I agree & love them both ๐
zzor zzor
That's like asking why Ice T's metal band wasn't a hit in the metal community.
Xavier V Lawrence
@Mental Lentil I think it was meant to be the way it is. It's like a jam session or an impromptu concert he's been known for...
Rich Xx
It's easy to get caught up in drama of the lead guitar playing, but the rhythm guitar is actually on another level. A complete musician. We won't see his like ever again.
Ingrid H.
so true
who
LOL
Kay Robbie
What I simply admired about Prince besides him being a musical genius is his unapologetic way of expressing his feelings thru his music. He is clearly saying that he will never love anyone more than his music.Brillant.