Music was exceptionally good at times. Too bad he had such an egocentric image...

I just don't get what the hype about Prince is all about. He's bizarre, he sounds (and sort of looks like) a girl, and he once tried to convince everyone that his name was a symbol.

Prince is okay w/me since his real first name is Prince...and not that symbol as I originally thought.  Does anyone remember that song he did from the first Batman movie?

love purple rain love the artist prince

I saw him once in 1985 (back when his concert tickets cost $11.00), and then again in 2003.  He really hadn't changed ~ just cleaned things up a bit.  Talent wise, he stays up top.   I  DO agree with kattwoman though, he did get strange there for awhile ~ nice to see he snapped out of it.  Purple Rain and 1999 are just as popular today as they ever were.

This man is a legend.

If I had to choose one of the great artists that ever walked planet earth, I would definitely include Prince in my top 10. I love Prince. I love Prince. In fact, he is my favorite artist (if I had to choose). Not just his amazing music, but his stage pressence. He possesses all of the qualities (individualism, universalism, edge, flexibility, vocal talent, stage pressence, entertainment factor, rarity, and originality) of an individual who maintains the "IT" (or incredible talent) factor in modern music persuasion. Not only does Prince write his songs and compose them (using his gift of playing a variety of instruments) he lays down the tracks and he produces everything on his own. If Prince chooses to collaborate, he collaborates, but does not allow himself to be swayed to do something he doesn't want to. Not just this, but Prince is so culturally connected, his music audience consists of every generation of people. Some individuals may find Prince weird or odd because Prince has eclecticism and a good conception of his individualism, but that proves that he is true to himself and clearly knows who he is. Prince has changed music for the better and that makes him qualified and very much worthy to be named the "Prince" of music.

Prince without a doubt is one of the best musicians of his era. He puts artists these days to shame. I have always Loved him and always will.

Without a doubt one of the most talented artists of the rock era, Prince, in all his royal weirdness, killed his own career-at least in light of where he could have gone. Brilliant for who he was and what he did, he made the mistake of actually listening when the New York Times compared him to Mozart. He was not Mozart, not a rapper (thank God) and not some weird symbol. He was Prince. As such, he remains one of the most naturally gifted musicians ever. Few performers of the rock era- and certainly no one today- can come close to his genius.

Prince is one of those few acts you may not like particularly but you have to respect as a genuine talent. He's an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and a groundbreaking and original songwriter and I challenge anyone to say they dont like at least one of his songs. I'm not a fan myself but I do rate a good dozen of his songs highly

yes he is a musical genius, but he does have a terrible habit of resting on his laurels, for that reason i only gave him a 3...i do respect him though

Brilliant artist. His songwriting exploits are well known. Good musician as well. His guitar playing on Purple Rain was quite good. Though I think sometimes he tries too hard to channel a little Hendrix into his style of play (Know your limits, Prince!) Also rumored to have recordings of him and Miles Davis. He'll probably wait until the window of Marketing Oppurtunity is right to release them. Cruel world.

prince is talented but odd. the whole issue over his name was ridiculous. time that could have been better spent. he still was called prince when talked about

A legend in his own mind. Didn't have much to say lyrically except how f***ing sexy he considered himself...

He's talented and he's HOT!!!

Never did like him, but he sometimes wrote some good songs

the symbol is a little off, even as musicians go, but his stuff is unique. His songs are unforgettable, which is the quality that most separates the playa's from the pretenders.

Prince totally ROCKS!!! He is the ultimate musical genius and a true performer. How could anyone not love him? And if you don't a gree with me on this than you are obviously in denial.

Prince is one of my favorite performers. I have just about ever CD he's put out. Little Red Corvette is one of my favorite songs.

is that his/her name again? Who knew?

I was wondering, what does his sexuality have to do with it?

I have ambivalent views about Prince. On the one hand his early albums were quality funk efforts. His later stuff, while well-made and sometimes interesting, got a bit mainstream for my taste. My main problem is the with the man himself to whit his inflated ego and ownn sense of self-importance. I remember him collecting a gong at the Brits awards and his 'thank God' acceptance. Wincing embarrassment.

Not my favorite musician, but definately one of my favorite song writers...pure genius....

It took me several years to appreciate Prince as a performer (in fact well after his mass popularity had faded), but I have always appreciated his song writing which is on par with his greatest contemporaries (eg Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello). This is evidenced by the number of songs he was penned for other artists (eg The Bangles' "Manic Monday") and those covered (eg "Kiss" by Tom Jones/Art Of Noise). As with any prolific artist, Prince has experimented in several genres but has rarely strayed too far from his roots R&B, pop and rock; however, this has resulted in a rather lengthy body of work which can be daunting to the casual fan. Such a large catalogue means that one is left with either the main singles compilation "The Very Best Of Prince" (2001) or the more encompassing matching set "The Hits 1" and "The Hits 2" (1993). The latter two disks are much better due to the fact that they contain the lesser known (and often better) tracks like "I Feel For You" (sans Chaka Khan hair), "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?", "When You Were Mine" (my personal favorite), "Nothing Compares 2 U" (complete with some hair), "Pink Cashmere," and "Pope." The bottom line is that Prince was one of (if not) the most successful pop/rock artists of the 1980's, and due to his immense song writing abilities, his influence on music and subsequent artists is permanent.

one of my all time favorites love his unusual style !!!!

A TOTAL WEIRDO ,COULDNT QUITE GET THE GUY. THOUGH I THINK "WHEN DOVES CRY" IS A FANTASTIC SONG.

gotta love Prince!! love his voice and clothes

His pre-x#@ days were pretty good.

I think he changed his name into that symbol for a while just to distract evryone from his lack of talent.

Very overrated. Most of his music is terribly boring and preditable, not particularly well sung, played, realized or produced. Perhaps the most pretentious act out there today. Greasy kid stuff...

Major props for 25yrs+ in the biz his collaborations with so many talents show his genius Best of luck on your next projects + he married a Canadian!

So, So, So overrated

sure he's not gay. we all believe that -not the real jbjb only her friend

Quite possibly the most influencial musician of the last 20 years.Prince is a musical genius!.

So being original makes u 'crap' these days does it? Why should the guy present himself as a 'pop singer'? How dull it would be to have several male pop singers all doing the same boring thing. Prince is a creative God. If ever there was someone who was as creative, as original, and as superb as this man at his peak I've yet to hear of them. "Sign 'O' The Times" remains my favourite album of all time, a wonderful reminder of his musical legacy. The guy rocks, it's just a shame he's not as successful as he once was.

please change your name

I swear on my life, this guy is bisexual.

The guy has some talent. There are a couple of songs he does that I find creative and appealing musically. But why does he have to be so smutty with his lyrics? A talented musician should not have to use sex to sell himself. Yes, I know. It's not the 50s anymore. Shame on me for thinking that common decency even matters. He also seems to have an overrated view of himself. The whole "artist formerly known as" thing is an example. It's as if he was saying, "I'm just too profound to be put into words." If he presented himself as a pop singer instead of an "artist" I might take him more seriously.

A SOULFULLL GENIUS LEAVS MICHAEL IN THE DUST

Prince is pop crap. I really never liked him and never will. He is way too weird for my liking. That name change thing is going a little overboard. However, he was huge in the '80s and had a few songs that I liked.

I have to agree with nece4819om about such unworthy opinions about artists such as Prince! The man has worked hard over the past 20+ years that he has been around, and has never been afraid to try something different. Just when you think you have him pigeonholed, he throws something else at you, and says "GOTCHA!!!"

There is nothing else to say except that Prince is sexy as hell and one of the most talented men alive. The 80s and 90s would not be complete without his one-of-a-kind music. I don't understand how anyone could not think he is brilliant. Listen to purple rain and you'll understand it all!

How can anyone listen to this crap?

MY MAN RULES. HE IS PURPLE ROYALTY. PRINCE, USING HIS BIRTH NAME AGAIN, GETS BETTER ALL THE TIME. U MUST C HIM LIVE!!! IT'S ORGASMIC!! THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY HE MOVES, SINGS, GRINDS, MOANS, STARES, AND MAKES LOVE TO HIS INSTUMENTS...OOOOOOH, GOTTA GO, NEED PANTY CHANGE.....

Certainly one of the most talented musicians of the past two decades. "Dirty Mind" is a truly great record, as is "Sign O The Times". The rest of his career is better represented by the hits.

He is the greatest! He can play every known musical instrument, he can dance, he has great fashion sense, and his looks, my god, his looks!!! He is THREE fine!!!

Sexy mofo is RIGHT! This man is so incredibly talented, he makes me want to crawl under my covers with his picture and dream of a life that is just a little bit closer to THE KING OF POP MUSIC. Oh? You thought it was Michael Jackson? Hell no. He is the KING OF MUSIC VIDEOS.....NOT pop music....

Yea, the 90's work is pretty bad. But Prince has written a good bunch of songs, never ceasing to be innovative, interesting, and controversal. "When Doves Cry" rocks, and so does Purple Rain in general.

One of the greatest musicians around. He can play so many different types of music. He is one of the best!

One of the few good artist of contemporary times. He got into trouble when he started believeing his own press, instead of producing music.