13 Dec Hot Chip Proclaims PRINCE Is Still King
In a new article featured in The Guardian, Hot Chip talks about why PRINCE is still King and such an influence today.
Taylor: “Prince was a pop musician – he never went off and made an unlistenable avant-garde record. But he could still do disorientating things in the studio. He might speed up one backing vocal while slowing down another, and make it all fit together with a regular-speed lead vocal, all at the same time. I also love the sparseness of his productions. Whereas most funk records are full of bass, he was happy to strip it away. Kiss is extremely minimal – I think it only has eight tracks of music in it – and yet it’s still this huge pop song.”
Taylor also talks about the rarities of Prince released through the years:
Taylor: “I’ve given a lot of money to bootleggers over the years. I used to buy tapes in Camden market and even now I’ll trade with people when I come across someone who’s got things I don’t have. You can find a lot of stuff from his vault [Prince’s vast collection of unreleased material, including albums, films and fully produced music videos] fairly easily, and that’s what I’ve been listening to over the last five or so years – more than the original albums. There are hundreds of brilliant things there, as good if not better than the music that came out.
Some stuff from the Parade era is great, such as Others Here With Us, a bizarre and frightening song. Movie Star, which came out on the Crystal Ball compilation, is another favourite – it’s a witty send-up of a successful person in the mid-80s who does loads of drugs and attends all the premieres. I also love the original version of Irresistible Bitch, from about 1982, which is a very dark disco tune with growly, raspy vocals. I’d love him to officially release all the songs from his vault, but for whatever reasons, Prince is very protective of his own catalogue.
Goddard talks about Prince being the ultimate showman
Goddard: “When it comes to playing live, Prince is just so confident in his ability. He teases the crowd with segues between popular songs, covers and extended versions, and is quite happy to play slow jams for half an hour if that’s what he feels like. As a musician, I understand how hard that is to achieve. Seeing him feels like a link to the great showmen and band leaders of American music – James Brown always comes to mind.”
Make sure to read the FULL article HERE.-DocFB
Diagnosis: Guardian, we cool again?
Modernaire
Posted at 02:40h, 22 DecemberWAS King.
This whole article/writer is enamored with a long gone Prince. A pre-JW, WB era Prince. The joy-fantastic Prince. The genius Prince.
What we have now is basically an indie Christian Rock Star sort of keeping it on the down low just enough for unassuming Prince fans of his classic work mainly, to keep going to shows.
cathye o
Posted at 22:16h, 13 Decemberthanks doc for another excellant article. been trying to convince people since the early 80’s how beyond briillant prince is, was & will always be. to michael jackson as king, so screw yourself you grossly overrated pig.
Royal Rican Prince
Posted at 20:14h, 13 DecemberHe is MUSIC
Michael
Posted at 13:15h, 13 December“…but for whatever reasons, Prince is very protective of his own catalogue…”. The main reason is quite obvious. But as the years pass by, he may loosen up a bit if the secondary reason – Control/Money – work in his favor as they should. Or he could become another Elvis Presley, with many ‘rarities’ released long after he’s physically gone.
Booyah
Posted at 08:42h, 13 DecemberDoc, I don’t see a link to the actual article.
Terri Walsh
Posted at 08:38h, 13 DecemberI sooo wish he would have done the 12-12-12- concert! Outside of Prince’s abilities & mastery, is his confidence….well-deserved righteous, well-earned CONFIDENCE.
It’s sexy as hell and it makes him riveting, absolutely riveting, to watch and listen to.
The era the author speaks of is a truly fearless Prince….and although now…the religion has him a little hamstrung….in a self-censoring way….he is always ever interesting and as spectacular as always….but I do miss risk-taking experimental Prince the most.
It ain’t over that’s for sure loololol 🙂
M21nights
Posted at 08:26h, 13 DecemberSpot on! Prince will always be the KING OF MUSIC!!!!
Twinkly1
Posted at 08:19h, 13 DecemberYou know Doc, Hot Chip is right on the money. There is not and has not been another like Prince — song for song, pound for pound, lyric for lyric, string for string. Was there any question?