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.
The Question of U
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do I look for, what shall I do?
Which way do I turn when I'm feeling lost?
If I sell my soul, now what will it cost?
Must I become naked?
No image at all?
Shall I remain upright?
Or get down and crawl?
When I decide which road to choose
What is the answer to the question of you?
You
can interpret Prince's song The Question of U in several ways. Still, the central message seems to focus on the struggle to find one's identity, the search for meaning, and the challenge of making life-changing decisions. The song starts with a series of rhetorical questions addressed to the central theme of the song, 'the question of you.' In the first two lines, Prince seemed to be seeking guidance, and the next few lines evoke uncertainty and doubt.
He asks, "What do I look for, what shall I do?" indicating confusion and a need for direction. The phrase "If I sell my soul, now what will it cost?" could be interpreted as Prince's willingness to give up a crucial part of himself, yet he's not sure if it's worth it or not. The following lines suggest that he's confused about how to present himself to the world. He wonders if he should stay true to himself or change to fit societal expectations.
In conclusion, Prince's The Question of U appears to be an introspective song about self-discovery, struggle, and making choices. The questions posed throughout the song reflect the artist's vulnerability, as he shares his innermost thoughts with his listeners, giving them a peek into his personal journey.
Line by Line Meaning
So what is the answer to the question of you
What is the true essence of your being and how can I understand and connect with it?
What do I look for, what shall I do?
What qualities and actions should I focus on to truly know and love you?
Which way do I turn when I'm feeling lost?
When I feel confused and uncertain, what path can I take to find my way back to you?
If I sell my soul, now what will it cost?
If I compromise my values and beliefs to win your favor, what will be the consequences?
Must I become naked? No image at all?
Do I need to shed all my pretenses and be completely vulnerable and genuine in order to truly connect with you?
Shall I remain upright? Or get down and crawl?
Should I maintain my dignity and integrity, or humble myself completely to gain your approval?
All of the questions in my life will be answered
All of my doubts and uncertainties will be resolved
When I decide which road to choose
Once I make a decision on how to approach and connect with you
What is the answer to the question of you?
What is the true essence of your being and how can I understand and connect with it? (repeated for emphasis)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind