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.
What'd I Say
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't let go it hurts
I still see you I still feel you
Can't escape this mess
This time I won't
Be around
I won't hear you
I've died sometime ago
And I've realized
That this is my home
I'm gone tonight
Don't say I wasn't there
Don't say that you don't care
I know it hurts
You've been the worst
Don't say I wasn't there
Don't say that you don't care
I know it hurts
You've been the worst
In Prince's song, "What'd I Say," the lyrics speak to the perception of the singer from the people around her. She has been labelled as both a devil and angel, portraying the struggle between good and evil within her. However, she clarifies that she is just a girl in trouble, who is not necessarily in danger. Some people have tried to save her from the pain and vulnerability of being a woman, but she acknowledges her emotions and allows herself to cry.
The artist suggests that her experiences and emotions qualify her to be understood by others and to be a part of their dreams. She tries to express her feelings, but somehow the music hides it and conceals her message. Ultimately, she decides to keep her feelings hidden in her dream, where she can be vulnerable and feel safe while still qualifying her to be understood.
The song seems to be about the complexities of being a woman, dealing with societal expectations and perceptions, and learning to be vulnerable and accept one's emotions. The lyrics suggest that emotions are not a weakness, but a strength, and that it is essential to embrace and feel them fully.
Line by Line Meaning
Some say I got devil
Some people think I'm bad or evil
Some say I got angel
Some people think I'm good or angelic
But I'm just a girl in trouble
I'm a girl who's going through a difficult time
I don't think I'm in danger
I don't think I'm at risk of physical harm
Don't think I'm in danger
I'm sure I'm not at risk of physical harm
No, I know I'm not in danger
I'm absolutely certain I'm not at risk of physical harm
But some have tried to sell me
Some people have tried to convince me to do something or buy something
All kinds of things to save me
Various things that they claim will help me or make things better
From hurting like a woman, and crying like a baby
From feeling emotional pain and expressing it in a way that's often associated with women and babies
Something like a woman, crying like a baby
Expressing emotions in a way that's typically associated with women and babies
And all the things that I have seen
Everything that I've experienced or witnessed
Qualify me for a part in your dream
Make me eligible or suitable to be a part of your dreams or fantasies
Qualify me for this dream
Make me eligible or suitable to be a part of this specific dream or fantasy
And though I'd like to tell it
Although I'd like to express it or communicate it
Exactly how I feel it
Precisely how I feel it or experience it
Somehow the music
For some reason, the music
Hides it and conceals it
Obscures it or makes it difficult to discern or understand
Oh, it hides
It completely conceals or obscures
Can be hidden in a part of my dream
Can be concealed or kept secret within a specific dream or fantasy
Gonna hide it in my dream
I'm going to consciously conceal or keep secret within a specific dream or fantasy
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Cesar Granillo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lumière
Seriously, is there anything Prince couldn't do?!? He truly was the GOAT
Micheal Freeman
Never was IS 💜💪🏽👑🦁☮️🌍 PRINCE LIVES
Kelly Young
My all time favorite singer.... Prince. Nobody ever in the entire world ever compared to Prince!
Ken Adams
Prince is and always will be the best 2 me, Been listening since 78 But love so many :) Peace Babe
Vibes..
Nothing compares to Prince !
April West
One of my favorites . This is a jewel !!!... Love Prince, love Ray Charles !!***
muluemebet kebede
This is beautiful thank you!! This is rock and roll!! Miss him!💔☔️🎸👏🏽
wasteland70
My hero is Prince, my dads is Ray. Just insane. Prince was incredible and still is
April West
This is the best thing this side of Ray Charles. Wish I could of seen Prince and Ray together. One of my favorite songs. Ray is one of my favorites. I'm so lucky to hear Prince do a bit of this song. LOVE HIM !!
Deborah Liedel
There is a video with P and Ray i think it was when he played with Stevie Wonder if I remember correctly, I think it was the 3 of them! I seen it here on YouTube! Around 3 to 4 yrs ago.