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.
Pop life
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the poverty bringing you down?
Is the mailman jerking you 'round?
Did he put your million dollar check
In someone else's box?
Tell me, what's the matter with your world
Was it a boy when you wanted a girl? (boy when you wanted a girl)
Life it ain't real funky
Unless it's got that pop
Dig it
Pop life
Everybody needs a thrill
Pop life
We all got a space to fill
Pop life
Everybody can't be on top
But life it ain't real funky
Unless it's got that pop
Dig it
Tell me, what's that underneath your hair?
Is there anybody living there? (anybody living there)
You can't get over, if you say you just don't care (don't care)
Show me a boy who stays in school
And I'll show you a boy aware
Dig it
Pop life
Everybody needs a thrill
Pop life
We all got a space to fill
Pop life
Everybody can't be on top
But life it ain't real funky
Unless it's got that pop
Dig it
Oh
What you putting in your nose?
Is that where all your money goes (is that where your money goes)
The river of addiction flows
You think it's hot, but there won't be no water
When the fire blows
Dig it
Pop life
Everybody needs a thrill
Pop life
We all got a space to fill
Pop life
Everybody wants to be on top
But life it ain't real funky
Unless it's got that pop
Everybody needs a thrill
Pop life
We all got a space to fill
Pop life
Everybody can't be on top
But life it ain't real funky
Unless it's got that pop
In "Pop Life," Prince offers a playful critique of our society's fixation on fame and material wealth. The lyrics paint a picture of a world where success is measured by a person's bank account, looks, and social status. He questions the audience about their own lives, asking if their poverty, gender identity, and other obstacles are making them feel inferior. He points out that many people are willing to compromise their physical and emotional well-being to achieve a fleeting sense of exhilaration. But ultimately, he suggests that true fulfillment and joy can only be found by embracing the things that make life worth living; by staying true to ourselves, and by valuing our unique experiences and qualities.
Throughout "Pop Life," Prince makes several allusions to the ephemeral nature of success and the pitfalls of celebrity culture. For instance, the line "Did he put your million dollar check in someone else's box?" draws attention to the way that wealth can be fickle and unpredictable. Similarly, the reference to someone putting on a false front ("Is there anybody living there?") speaks to the idea that people often project a false image of themselves in order to achieve popularity or success. Other lines, like "What you putting in your nose?" and "The river of addiction flows," suggest that the pursuit of pleasure and adrenaline can lead to destructive behaviors.
Line by Line Meaning
What's the matter with your life
Is there something troubling you in your life?
Is the poverty bringing you down?
Are you feeling sadness or despair due to financial struggles?
Is the mailman jerking you 'round?
Is the mailman being unhelpful or uncooperative with you?
Did he put your million dollar check In someone else's box?
Were you meant to receive a million dollar check, but someone else received it by mistake?
Tell me, what's the matter with your world
Is there something troubling you in the world in general?
Was it a boy when you wanted a girl? (boy when you wanted a girl)
Did you have expectations for a certain outcome that didn't come to fruition?
Don't you know straight hair ain't got no curl (no curl)
Don't you realize that certain things are just not possible?
Life it ain't real funky
Life isn't as enjoyable or exciting as it could be
Unless it's got that pop
Unless there is something exciting or thrilling about it
Dig it
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Pop life
A fun, exciting and thrilling lifestyle
Everybody needs a thrill
Everyone needs excitement and adventure in their lives
We all got a space to fill
We all have something we're meant to do or achieve
Everybody can't be on top
Not everyone can be the best or most successful
Tell me, what's that underneath your hair?
Is there something hidden or unspoken about yourself?
Is there anybody living there? (anybody living there)
Is there a real, authentic person inside of you?
You can't get over, if you say you just don't care (don't care)
You won't be able to move on from something if you pretend it doesn't bother you
Show me a boy who stays in school
If you can find a boy who is dedicated to their education
And I'll show you a boy aware
Then you will see a boy who is informed and knowledgeable about the world
What you putting in your nose?
What substance are you snorting?
Is that where all your money goes (is that where your money goes)
Are you spending all of your money on drugs?
The river of addiction flows
Addiction can consume a person and be hard to overcome
You think it's hot, but there won't be no water When the fire blows
You may enjoy the excitement and thrill of addiction now, but it will eventually lead to a destructive end
Everybody wants to be on top
Everyone wants to be the best or most successful
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind