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.
SHUT THIS DOWN
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We came to shut this down
Everybody knows
This is how it goes
Ain't no playing around
Just keep your eyes on me
If you wanna get pleased
My hand is money
My ice is cold
Whatever you holdin'
You better fold
'Cause when we drop this
It's gonna make a sound
All around the world
When we come to town
We come to shut this down
You looking at me
But you never see
How i got so funky
It's a mystery
Must be genetics
My DNA
Electromagnaticsim
You can't get away
I get you baby
All sweaty and hot
I'm gonna get you where you never get got
Baby
We come to shut this down
If you got the jelly
I got your jam
I don't think you understand, we gonna do
This man
Gonna shut this down
We ain't playin around
You gotta that crew
Come on pretty
We gotta do the do
Let me do what we do
We come to shut this down
My hand is money
My ice is cold
Whatever you holdin'
You better fold
'Cause when we drop this
It's gonna make a sound
All around the world
When we come to town
We come to shut this down
Whatchu waiting for
Get out on the floor
Move your body round
Y'all know how we do
This the old school
Straight purple mack baby
We come to shut this down
In "Shut This Down," Prince exudes confidence and charisma as he proclaims his intention to dominate the scene and leave a lasting impression. The lyrics convey a sense of power and control, as well as a seductive energy that Prince is known for.
The opening lines, "We came to shut this down," set the tone for the song and establish Prince's determination to make a significant impact. He asserts that everybody knows the rules and that there is no room for playing around. The repeated line, "Just keep your eyes on me if you wanna get pleased," suggests that Prince's captivating presence and performance will bring satisfaction to those who witness it.
Prince references his wealth and material possessions, describing his hand as money and his ice as cold. This conveys his extravagance and the sense of luxury that surrounds him. The line, "You better fold," implies that others should recognize his superiority and submit to his influence because when he releases his music, it will have a resounding impact worldwide.
Prince proclaims that his unique and funky nature is a mystery, suggesting that it might be a result of his genetics and DNA. This hint at his innate talent alludes to his musical genius and the mesmerizing effect he has on his audience. He promises to make listeners sweat and succumb to his seductive prowess.
The chorus emphasizes the purposeful and deliberate nature of Prince's mission to "shut this down." With an invitation for everyone to join him on the dance floor and move their bodies, he exudes a playful and vibrant energy. The mention of "old school" and "purple mack" pays homage to Prince's signature style and musical legacy.
Overall, "Shut This Down" is a confident declaration of Prince's determination to leave a lasting impression as he takes control of the scene and mesmerizes his audience with his powerful presence and seductive charm.
Line by Line Meaning
We came to shut this down
We arrived with the intention of completely dominating and taking control of this situation
Everybody knows
It is widely recognized and understood
This is how it goes
This is the typical course of events
Ain't no playing around
There is no time for fooling around or wasting time
Just keep your eyes on me
Direct your attention and focus solely on me
If you wanna get pleased
If you desire satisfaction or enjoyment
I'm bout to shut this down
I am about to take full control and dominate this situation
My hand is money
I have the ability to generate wealth and success
My ice is cold
The jewelry I wear represents my wealth and status
Whatever you holdin'
Whatever you possess or claim to have
You better fold
You should give up or back down
'Cause when we drop this
Because when we release or unveil something
It's gonna make a sound
It will have a significant impact or create a sensation
All around the world
Across the entire globe
When we come to town
When we visit or arrive in a particular place
You looking at me
You are observing or staring at me
But you never see
But you fail to truly understand or comprehend
How i got so funky
How I acquired such a unique and appealing musical style
It's a mystery
It is an enigma or something difficult to explain
Must be genetics
It is likely due to my inherited traits or characteristics
My DNA
The genetic material that makes up my identity
Electromagnaticsim
An energetic force or power that cannot be escaped
You can't get away
You cannot avoid or evade my influence
I get you baby
I understand you, connect with you, or captivate you
All sweaty and hot
In a state of exertion and excitement
I'm gonna get you where you never get got
I will bring you to a level of pleasure or satisfaction you have never experienced before
If you got the jelly
If you possess the desired qualities or attributes
I got your jam
I have exactly what you need or desire
I don't think you understand, we gonna do
I don't believe you fully grasp the extent of what we are capable of
This man
This is who I am or how I operate
Gonna shut this down
I am going to completely take control and dominate this situation
We ain't playin around
We are serious and not engaging in any games or frivolous activities
You gotta that crew
You have to bring along that group of people
Come on pretty
Come on, attractive person
We gotta do the do
We have to engage in intimate or sexual activities
Let me do what we do
Allow me to engage in our usual actions or behaviors
Whatchu waiting for
What are you waiting for?
Get out on the floor
Move onto the dance floor
Move your body round
Gyrating and dancing your body in various directions
Y'all know how we do
You all understand and are aware of our typical actions or behaviors
This the old school
This represents the classic or traditional style
Straight purple mack baby
An extraordinary and impressive display, characterized by a confident swagger and charm
We come to shut this down
We have arrived with the intention of completely dominating and taking control of this situation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ADAM MIDGLEY, THOMAS ROSIJI GRIFFITH, ROBERT ROSIJI-GRIFFITHS, Robert Rosiji Griffith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind