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.
Soul Man
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't somebody tell me, what is the soul of a man
I'm going to ask the question, answer if you can
Can anybody tell me, what is the soul...
Soul of Man - is most in demand
Soul of Man - the hidden hand
Soul of Man - set your spirit free
I saw a crowd stand talking, I came up right on time
I was hearing the doctor and the lawyer, say a man ain't nothing but his mind
But I think we are so much more
Soul of Man - we pray we plead
Soul of Man - help is guaranteed
Soul of Man - bless your soul, bless your soul
Soul of Man - the soul of man
What have you found to ease your soul, tell
What have you found to set your spirit free
Soul of Man - through the golden years
Soul of Man - the blood, the tears
Soul of Man - never left behind
Soul of Man - the soul of man
I read the bible often, I tries to read it right
As far as I can understand, a man is more than his mind
When Christ stood in the temple, the people stood amazed
As he showed those doctors and lawyers
How to raise a body from the grave
In Prince's song "Soul Man," he poses a question to the listener, asking them if they can answer what the soul of a man is. He follows up by saying that the soul of a man is the most in-demand and the hidden hand. He believes that the soul of a man is what sets your spirit free and that it is what we pray and plea for. He then asks the listener if they have found something to ease their soul and set their spirit free. In his eyes, the soul of man is never left behind. Towards the end of the song, he references a story from the Bible where Christ raises a body from the grave, demonstrating that a man is more than just his mind.
It is evident that Prince believes in the power of the soul and its importance in our lives. He sees it as the key to happiness and success, and the answer to life's questions. Through the lyrics of this song, he encourages people to explore their souls and to never neglect that part of themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody tell me, answer if you can!
Prince wants to know the answer to his question and is pleading with the listener to provide one.
Won't somebody tell me, what is the soul of a man
Prince wants to know what the soul of a man truly is and is asking someone to explain it to him.
I'm going to ask the question, answer if you can
Prince is repeating his question and again asking for someone to provide an answer.
Can anybody tell me, what is the soul...
Prince is once again asking his question, hoping that someone will provide a satisfying response.
Soul of Man - is most in demand
The soul is highly valued and sought after by many.
Soul of Man - the hidden hand
The soul is a powerful force that guides and influences a person's actions and decisions.
Soul of Man - set your spirit free
The soul can provide a sense of liberation and freedom for a person's spirit.
Soul of Man - the soul of a man
The soul is an integral part of what makes a man who he is.
I saw a crowd stand talking, I came up right on time
Prince observed a group of people engaged in discussion and joined them at an opportune moment.
I was hearing the doctor and the lawyer, say a man ain't nothing but his mind
Prince overheard professionals with high regard asserting that a person's mind is the only thing that defines them.
But I think we are so much more
Prince disagrees with the previous sentiment and believes that people have much more to offer than just their minds.
Soul of Man - we pray we plead
People desperately seek the presence and guidance of the soul.
Soul of Man - help is guaranteed
The soul can provide assistance and support to those who seek it.
Soul of Man - bless your soul, bless your soul
The soul can bring blessings and positivity to a person's life.
Soul of Man - the soul of man
Once again, the soul is emphasized as an essential component of human existence.
What have you found to ease your soul, tell
Prince is curious about what individuals do to find inner peace and contentment.
What have you found to set your spirit free
Prince is wondering what actions individuals take to liberate themselves from the constraints of the world.
Soul of Man - through the golden years
The soul is a constant presence throughout a person's life, from youth to old age.
Soul of Man - the blood, the tears
The soul endures through life's struggles and challenges, represented by blood and tears.
Soul of Man - never left behind
The soul is an eternal component of a person's being and cannot be left behind or ignored.
Soul of Man - the soul of man
For the final time, the soul of a man is emphasized as a crucial aspect of human identity and essence.
I read the bible often, I tries to read it right
Prince is a frequent reader of the Bible and attempts to interpret its teachings accurately.
As far as I can understand, a man is more than his mind
Prince asserts that his interpretation of the Bible reveals that a person's identity and worth extend beyond their mind and intellect.
When Christ stood in the temple, the people stood amazed
Prince references a famous story from the Bible in which people were in awe of Christ's power and teachings.
As he showed those doctors and lawyers
Prince is specifically referencing Christ's ability to instruct and overpower professionals in authority positions.
How to raise a body from the grave
Prince is underscoring Christ's miraculous powers and suggesting that he was more than just a human being.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Benjamin Trenerry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lelandthompson2267
He was channeling the South when so many people played the harmonica...
Somewhere someone with enough money,,,
Should start the harmonica school...
The blue brothers School of harmonica!
Belushi would love it.
@peteryewell
- Steve Cropper (Guitar left) wrote this song among many others you would know, he was in the Stax Records house band that backed Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, etc. He also was in Booker T & The MG's (all these bands were intertwined). Look him up, you'll be amazed at his story.
- Matt "Guitar" Murphy (Guitar right) - Howlin Wolf, Memphis Slim.
- Donald "Duck" Dunn (Bass) - Booker T, also Stax, Eric Clapton during 80's (Money & Cigarettes album +).
- Paul Schaeffer - Letterman Tonight Show band leader, many other bands (ie Honeydrippers w/ Robert Plant)
- Alan Rubin, "Blue" Lou Marini, and Tom "Bones" Malone - horns, these guys are jazz background with crazy resumes (Juliard, Zappa, Blood Sweat & Tears, Sinatra, Duke Ellington, etc)
- Steve Jordan (Drums) - also Letterman Band, Keith Richards solo albums, John Mayer
It's really insane and amazing how they assembled this band initially for an SNL skit. I don't know, but have to believe that they at least had hoped to create a real band out of it. This lineup is just ridiculous otherwise. Good wiki page covers it here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blues_Brothers
@davidt50
Dan Aykroyd's dancing is epic, insane and beyond amazing. 45+ years later it is still over the top enjoyable
@ra15899550
No doubt about it! Insane and off the chain! Still lovin' it in 2024!!
@mistamycall
Dan Akroyd went full crazy on this one ...
@Ms19720713
こんなにイカしてたなんて🎉🎉🎉
ブルースハープも最高ですね❣️❣️❣️😆😆😆
@dc1397
Looks like he was doing football drills.
@fredwerza3478
How much was rehearsed and how much of it was spontaneous?
@ericsantana1184
Rest in Peace John Belushi, Cab Calloway, John Candy, Henry Gibson, Carrie Fisher, Donald duck Dunn, Aretha Franklin, and BB King.
@marthijnvandenbroeck8766
and lets not forget John Lee Hooker!
@billfitzmaurice3837
@@marthijnvandenbroeck8766 And Ray Charles.
@marthijnvandenbroeck8766
and James Brown!