More proof that Prince was a classical artist
mainThis is the original Clare Fisher string arrangement for the Prince penned song “Nothing Compares 2 U”, a song he wrote for The Family (on their self titled album).
This video features the original singer Paul Peterson & saxophonist Eric Leeds.
Apparently, Prince’s album Parade was named for the Erik Satie ballet score. Prince recorded most of the album in France, where he lived at the time.
The concept of ‘proof’ seems to have been stretched to unlimited, democratic size.
It’s a perfectly pleasant, and very good, arrangement of a pop song. Hardly a first: the Beatles got it rolling with some recordings with one of the London orchestras — wasn’t it the Sergeant Pepper album? Others have worked with classical musicians since (and not just in “crossover” — just arrangements wanting a bit more than the usual deafening electric guitars overamplified, with ear-busting timpani and some synthesizers). Just pop songs, nicely arranged.
Hardly makes them “classical.” I appreciate your tributes to the talent of Prince — and there are other very talented musicians around in pop, rock and other non-classical fields. Let’s hope they get their due when appropriate.
Didn’t the commenter called “Rationalist” kick every butt in the comments section of the last post on this topic?
By all means – Alvaro, Peter, et consortes – have another go!
Amuse me.
What I find amusing is how blogs and various websites are so quick to jump on the “musical genius” bandwagon when talking about deceased pop artists.
And at the same time, these same people wouldn’t dare refer to any actual classical musician as a genius. It’s criticize and attack, criticize and attack, over and over.
But sure, Prince was a genius.. and a classical musician to boot. yeah, I’ll go along.
/facepalm
Please clarify if this is click bait or dog whistle, Norman!
Their may be others, but their is only one Prince and there will never be another.
Thankfully, THERE are dictionaries that people can use when THEY’RE not sure about THEIR spelling of words.
And while there may only be one “artist formerly known as prince”, it doesn’t make him a genius, or one of the great musical luminaries of our time.
He was a pop singer. And that’s about all we can say. He wrote pop tunes. Nothing else. Nothing with more depth to it, nothing with more complexity to it.
Amen to that. And when the context has been established, people can enjoy such artists and judge them on their merits within the right context, which is only fair. So, this man may have been a ‘genius’ in his genre, but that does not say anything in relation to other genre or other types of music.
According to the smile of my neighbour, his dentist is a genius, but I don’t expect him to conduct an orchestra.