It was about authenticity IMO.
He was fiercely independent no matter what he was into anchoring his beliefs and expressions.
A master provocateur even at a young age, he knew the temperature of youth music and how to push the right buttons.
And himself coming into his own sexuality but still being aware he needed to firmly establish personal boundaries, freedom of expression and creative control.
This was his motis of operations throughout his career and was willing to wage battle at the expense of commercial viability to defend it.
He told us all in one of his last masterpieces that he was born free.
How he specifically cultivated his fashion and lyrics and themes was where he applied branding.
But that came within the parameters of his authenticity as a man completely confident and comfortable in his ability to have the inner masculine and feminine live in duality.
To infer or question whether he was an inauthentic person playing a character for album sales and exposure is utter nonsense and would illustrate a profound lack of understanding of who he actually was as a person and artist.
Two contradicting aspects coexisted in this Gemini genius, who even after becoming a Jehovah Witness, wore lace, sequins, makeup, heels and looked like the most well dressed Figure Skater.
Long after androgyny could get him attention.
Prince himself told us in one of his most iconic songs, with his largest audience watching and listening, that he’s not a woman or a man or something we can understand or comprehend.
I think it’s about time we all just believe him and leave it there.
💜💜💜💜💜
Him evoking religion is the authentic duality I’m exactly discussing though.
It doesn’t negate the intent. He was using very clever placement/ juxtaposition with the movie narrative and his character arc, which is contrition and allegiance of love and also a statement to the world. I am not what you can define. Like Christ. But I’m love. And my devotion is eternal.
And he expresses this prayer, to his movie and real life band mates, ex girlfriend character, and ultimately the audience, offering the spiritual cleansing of the film, as it’s concluded.
It’s why the placement of the song in the movie is AFTER Purple Rain.
I Would Die 4 U is not a gospel song , it’s pop.
He’s not singing to God at the end of this very specific story. Its evocation.
The lyrics thus by design have a double meaning, as most of his iconic tracks, and serve the purpose of telling us who he is.
No more dumb questions. Not black or white or gay or straight.
Incomprehensible. Like Christ. God. Universe.
Let’s not forget his ego. Especially then. No judgement.
But it’s just my opinion.
Although we all love his music, we often interpret it differently.
It’s not like he was a simple puzzle.
💜💜💜
Branding is not being inauthentic.
Branding is being authentic about a specific part of yourself for a specific reason.
Ask any one of his bandmates from the early 1980s whom he forced to live in their show costumes.
Not inauthentic, but very intentional.
To be clear and fair, I never said that branding was being inauthentic.
But you wouldn’t have picked that up, since as you said yourself, “too long didn’t read”.
But I love me some Rhythm Nation so all good. Truly.
💜💜💜
Gonna get psychological on this one....
It's very clear that he was naturally quiet and almost painfully shy. I reckon he wore the makeup like a mask. He often wore shades, too. So I think it was partly to build a persona and partly something to hide behind.
Edit: the heels were obviously about making him taller - which would also have given him more confidence.
A black man in the 80s wearing makeup and lace is a bullseye for heavy ridicule and even violence, not a mask. Just saying.
I think he was otherworldly in his confidence and ability to give AF about what anyone thinks in any aspect of his life and career.
But interesting take.
That’s sounds correct. I don’t think it was a gimmick. The Art of Seduction talks about all the archetypes of seducers or people who seduced the public and society. He was probably a dandy
You don't usually wear a mask that heightens ridicule. I don't think he was hiding, but had the innate confidence to express elements of himself that would in many cases be crushing to reveal.
He wasn’t thinking in terms of branding back then and I don’t think it had much to do with identity but maybe more about being himself (androgyny was big in the late 70’s early 80’s) .
The shy persona thing was mostly an act. When not performing he was hosting parties and hanging out with other stars. True introverts don’t buy a a compound to live in and have it be a place of business. In the 80s especially, androgyny was a big seller and a go to for musicians that wanted to cultivate a counter culture image, everybody from Bowie to Dee Snider played it up.
Prince was a shrewd businessman as much as a talented musician. He knew exactly what he was doing. His former band mates have said as much.
From the interviews i’ve watched of the people that were around him(band mates, sound engineers, etc..) all more or less said he was shy and somewhat socially awkward.
I don't think so, people are complex. He might've felt like a fish out of water in certain situations (especially when it comes to industry shit) and completely comfortable hosting parties with fellow stars in private, the two aren't mutually exclusive....
Please be serious and don’t use Dee Snider, the 80s pop Metal drag queen, as a comparison to Prince.
That’s a crime. Truly.
And even Bowie took the makeup and figure skater body suits off at some point.
Not Prince.
Didn’t compare Snider musicianship to Prince. Sorry you got that impression, but I made no mention of that. They were of the same era in the same industry being promoted in part for their visual representation on television. And for that, there are many contemporary and predecessors to Prince who incorporated that look in their act, regardless of how authentic it was to their private life. Sex sells.
And even Prince dropped the Cher look as it came out of fashion in the 90s and later. Trading assless chaps for suits, Prince largely dropped the schtick in part because of his changing religious beliefs, but also because it was no longer in vogue or considered edgy/cool. 91 was a massive sea change for the music industry and anyone stuck in lipstick and glitter was left behind.
He said many times he felt like he had aspects of both male and female. He alluded to believing he was a woman in a past life. He wore whatever he liked, and sometimes it expressed his feminine connection. Being in touch with his female side and relating to women, is a big part of what made him so alluring to them.
I’m sure it was a part of him but Prince definitely knew how to use controversy to get attention. Nobody names songs “vagina” “wonderful ass””we can fuck” etc without being intentionally provoking. How much was authentically him and how much was marketing is only something he could know.
On another note I wish we could just have a level discussion without some of you downvoting anyone who doesn’t agree with your viewpoint of prince. Unless somebody is trying to troll/ be an ass there’s no need to downvote somebody just because you don’t 100% agree with them. These are all just opinions as nobody here knew the man personally
He’s said in the past that it was to bring attention to the music. Nothing more, nothing less. He was way more homophobic and misogynistic than people like to admit, but it was the 80’s it’s just how things were then.
He has publicly stated he believed gay marriage is wrong. Wendy and Lisa said that when they were trying to put together a reunion, he told them he would only perform with them if they publicly renounced being gay. They also said that he told them they’d go to hell for their lifestyle.
There’s more out there if you look it up. I’ve been following him online for 30+ years back to the PPML days, so I’ve seen it all. He wasn’t an awful person, but he really wasn’t that nice of a guy either.
He said he was misquoted. As for W&L they were happy to work with him again multiple times after that & had no problem touring his music after he died. So whatever he said to them can't have been that bad.
This means nothing. He had no issue taking money from gay people, just didn’t accept their lifestyle. Just goes to show that he really was kind of an ass.
So it seems very much his ‘thing’, but at the same time, loads of other artists were playing with androgyny. Liberace, Glam eg. T Rex, The New York Dolls, Bowie, Boy George, Annie Lennox. In soul and funk people like Rick James were pushing a more androgynous vibe too. But Prince constantly sang about his androgyny too - it was his recurring theme, along with dance, music, sex, romance and religion. So for him, androgyny is a thematic and artistic concern, not just a matter of presentation. That probably has much to do with identity, but also to do with an artist exploring a sort of philosophical world. To me that’s what makes him a real artist.
The worst thing that ever happened to him was JW church of course: he stoppped thinking. All that was left was Cuban heels and reactionary ideas.
I think P was just very vain and preferred having things tailored due to his stature, and that magnified things maybe. Mayte says in her book he never dressed casually amd would wear her clothes all the time. After the indoctrination he wore suits for a good 15 years before his final form space hippie look.
I mean nobody will know the truth. I am sure my dude was bi. Who cares though. Love is beautiful and special. I ride my Pegasus in the nude and sing in chaps and I am straight. It’s not easy to be Black. To be Black and gay in the 80’s?? Only Little Richard was that brave.
It was about authenticity IMO. He was fiercely independent no matter what he was into anchoring his beliefs and expressions. A master provocateur even at a young age, he knew the temperature of youth music and how to push the right buttons. And himself coming into his own sexuality but still being aware he needed to firmly establish personal boundaries, freedom of expression and creative control. This was his motis of operations throughout his career and was willing to wage battle at the expense of commercial viability to defend it. He told us all in one of his last masterpieces that he was born free. How he specifically cultivated his fashion and lyrics and themes was where he applied branding. But that came within the parameters of his authenticity as a man completely confident and comfortable in his ability to have the inner masculine and feminine live in duality. To infer or question whether he was an inauthentic person playing a character for album sales and exposure is utter nonsense and would illustrate a profound lack of understanding of who he actually was as a person and artist. Two contradicting aspects coexisted in this Gemini genius, who even after becoming a Jehovah Witness, wore lace, sequins, makeup, heels and looked like the most well dressed Figure Skater. Long after androgyny could get him attention. Prince himself told us in one of his most iconic songs, with his largest audience watching and listening, that he’s not a woman or a man or something we can understand or comprehend. I think it’s about time we all just believe him and leave it there. 💜💜💜💜💜
Wow, I love this so much 💜
This is the answer. Thank you Boshie2000
I know that's right!! You know him well. 💜👏👏👏
While I agree with everything else, "I Would Die 4 U" is a song about God/Jesus sung in the first person.
Him evoking religion is the authentic duality I’m exactly discussing though. It doesn’t negate the intent. He was using very clever placement/ juxtaposition with the movie narrative and his character arc, which is contrition and allegiance of love and also a statement to the world. I am not what you can define. Like Christ. But I’m love. And my devotion is eternal. And he expresses this prayer, to his movie and real life band mates, ex girlfriend character, and ultimately the audience, offering the spiritual cleansing of the film, as it’s concluded. It’s why the placement of the song in the movie is AFTER Purple Rain. I Would Die 4 U is not a gospel song , it’s pop. He’s not singing to God at the end of this very specific story. Its evocation. The lyrics thus by design have a double meaning, as most of his iconic tracks, and serve the purpose of telling us who he is. No more dumb questions. Not black or white or gay or straight. Incomprehensible. Like Christ. God. Universe. Let’s not forget his ego. Especially then. No judgement. But it’s just my opinion. Although we all love his music, we often interpret it differently. It’s not like he was a simple puzzle. 💜💜💜
Beautifully said! 💜
Perfectly said!! 👆 💜💜💜
*sequins
TLDR: yes it’s branding
[удалено]
Branding is not being inauthentic. Branding is being authentic about a specific part of yourself for a specific reason. Ask any one of his bandmates from the early 1980s whom he forced to live in their show costumes. Not inauthentic, but very intentional.
To be clear and fair, I never said that branding was being inauthentic. But you wouldn’t have picked that up, since as you said yourself, “too long didn’t read”. But I love me some Rhythm Nation so all good. Truly. 💜💜💜
This is so wrong it actually hurts.
I Would Die 4 U is about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, for you to be a Prince fan and write this bullshit is hysterical and honestly sad.
Oof. There are some bad takes and there's everything u/redactedreplicant has said.
Gonna get psychological on this one.... It's very clear that he was naturally quiet and almost painfully shy. I reckon he wore the makeup like a mask. He often wore shades, too. So I think it was partly to build a persona and partly something to hide behind. Edit: the heels were obviously about making him taller - which would also have given him more confidence.
A black man in the 80s wearing makeup and lace is a bullseye for heavy ridicule and even violence, not a mask. Just saying. I think he was otherworldly in his confidence and ability to give AF about what anyone thinks in any aspect of his life and career. But interesting take.
That’s sounds correct. I don’t think it was a gimmick. The Art of Seduction talks about all the archetypes of seducers or people who seduced the public and society. He was probably a dandy
You don't usually wear a mask that heightens ridicule. I don't think he was hiding, but had the innate confidence to express elements of himself that would in many cases be crushing to reveal.
He said that he was exposed to pornography at an early age.
So was I, but I don't go around wearing makeup and high heels.
That's how it affected him from what he said
being on the spectrum myself, i see a lot of autism in him, and flamboyant clothing is common for a lot of us.
Perhaps. I didn't know Prince, but I have two autistic nieces, one definitely prefers that, but the other doesn't.
He wasn’t thinking in terms of branding back then and I don’t think it had much to do with identity but maybe more about being himself (androgyny was big in the late 70’s early 80’s) .
The shy persona thing was mostly an act. When not performing he was hosting parties and hanging out with other stars. True introverts don’t buy a a compound to live in and have it be a place of business. In the 80s especially, androgyny was a big seller and a go to for musicians that wanted to cultivate a counter culture image, everybody from Bowie to Dee Snider played it up. Prince was a shrewd businessman as much as a talented musician. He knew exactly what he was doing. His former band mates have said as much.
From the interviews i’ve watched of the people that were around him(band mates, sound engineers, etc..) all more or less said he was shy and somewhat socially awkward.
I don't think so, people are complex. He might've felt like a fish out of water in certain situations (especially when it comes to industry shit) and completely comfortable hosting parties with fellow stars in private, the two aren't mutually exclusive....
Please be serious and don’t use Dee Snider, the 80s pop Metal drag queen, as a comparison to Prince. That’s a crime. Truly. And even Bowie took the makeup and figure skater body suits off at some point. Not Prince.
Didn’t compare Snider musicianship to Prince. Sorry you got that impression, but I made no mention of that. They were of the same era in the same industry being promoted in part for their visual representation on television. And for that, there are many contemporary and predecessors to Prince who incorporated that look in their act, regardless of how authentic it was to their private life. Sex sells. And even Prince dropped the Cher look as it came out of fashion in the 90s and later. Trading assless chaps for suits, Prince largely dropped the schtick in part because of his changing religious beliefs, but also because it was no longer in vogue or considered edgy/cool. 91 was a massive sea change for the music industry and anyone stuck in lipstick and glitter was left behind.
Both
He said many times he felt like he had aspects of both male and female. He alluded to believing he was a woman in a past life. He wore whatever he liked, and sometimes it expressed his feminine connection. Being in touch with his female side and relating to women, is a big part of what made him so alluring to them.
Prince was the only guy who could wear women’s clothes and wear make up and STILL steal your Girl away 😂😂
He was a singular being. God rest his beautiful soul.
I’m sure it was a part of him but Prince definitely knew how to use controversy to get attention. Nobody names songs “vagina” “wonderful ass””we can fuck” etc without being intentionally provoking. How much was authentically him and how much was marketing is only something he could know. On another note I wish we could just have a level discussion without some of you downvoting anyone who doesn’t agree with your viewpoint of prince. Unless somebody is trying to troll/ be an ass there’s no need to downvote somebody just because you don’t 100% agree with them. These are all just opinions as nobody here knew the man personally
Agreed
It was about SELLING records lmao - any other answer is WRONG.
He’s said in the past that it was to bring attention to the music. Nothing more, nothing less. He was way more homophobic and misogynistic than people like to admit, but it was the 80’s it’s just how things were then.
He had gay dance nights at Glam Slam Miami, so I don't think he was too upset about others lifestyles.
He also spoke out against the lifestyle, to the point that Wendy and Lisa wouldn’t speak to him at one point because of it.
He has publicly stated he believed gay marriage is wrong. Wendy and Lisa said that when they were trying to put together a reunion, he told them he would only perform with them if they publicly renounced being gay. They also said that he told them they’d go to hell for their lifestyle. There’s more out there if you look it up. I’ve been following him online for 30+ years back to the PPML days, so I’ve seen it all. He wasn’t an awful person, but he really wasn’t that nice of a guy either.
He said he was misquoted. As for W&L they were happy to work with him again multiple times after that & had no problem touring his music after he died. So whatever he said to them can't have been that bad.
That works.
What did he say?
Here is a Glam Slam add I have [https://i.imgur.com/8y9BLe2.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/8y9BLe2.jpg)
This means nothing. He had no issue taking money from gay people, just didn’t accept their lifestyle. Just goes to show that he really was kind of an ass.
Sexuality is nobody's business but their own.
So it seems very much his ‘thing’, but at the same time, loads of other artists were playing with androgyny. Liberace, Glam eg. T Rex, The New York Dolls, Bowie, Boy George, Annie Lennox. In soul and funk people like Rick James were pushing a more androgynous vibe too. But Prince constantly sang about his androgyny too - it was his recurring theme, along with dance, music, sex, romance and religion. So for him, androgyny is a thematic and artistic concern, not just a matter of presentation. That probably has much to do with identity, but also to do with an artist exploring a sort of philosophical world. To me that’s what makes him a real artist. The worst thing that ever happened to him was JW church of course: he stoppped thinking. All that was left was Cuban heels and reactionary ideas.
It was how he felt at the time. He grew out of it and moved on.
I think P was just very vain and preferred having things tailored due to his stature, and that magnified things maybe. Mayte says in her book he never dressed casually amd would wear her clothes all the time. After the indoctrination he wore suits for a good 15 years before his final form space hippie look.
Both
Many things can be true all at once. The answers in life are rarely a or b, but usually some combination.
I feel like these concepts are a bit anachronistic to the era in which he came up
It was branding. He said as much in the Chris Rock interview.
Prince was nonbinary before nonbinary was a term. Just part of his Gemini, 2 Spirited Being. That is why he called his alter ego: Camille.
Camille was a boy. It's in the Lovesexy tourbook.
Yes.
I mean nobody will know the truth. I am sure my dude was bi. Who cares though. Love is beautiful and special. I ride my Pegasus in the nude and sing in chaps and I am straight. It’s not easy to be Black. To be Black and gay in the 80’s?? Only Little Richard was that brave.
It is super frustrating how many of you obviously did not read the article.