5 Ways Prince Challenged Entertainment Standards
It's been seven years since the luminous beacon that was Prince was extinguished from the music world. For nearly four decades, this legendary virtuoso crafted a legacy that soared far beyond the realms of any discography.
The prodigious musician defied convention in countless ways, ceaselessly challenging the entertainment industry's status quo through his groundbreaking sound, striking visual aesthetic, and unapologetic demeanor. Long before the age of social media exposed the darker side of the music business, Prince wielded his platform with courage, advocating for the rights of artists and exposing the exploitative practices of industry executives.
Ever pushing the envelope, Prince's unparalleled creativity and daring self-expression blazed a trail for subsequent artists like D'Angelo, Lucky Daye, and countless others to follow. As we celebrate the indelible mark left by this extraordinary icon, we invite you to delve into five ways Prince fearlessly shattered industry norms and left a legacy that continues to inspire.
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Aside from having a sound like no other, Prince’s style came second to none. He always found a way to push the boundaries, and with help from costume designers like Marie France, the late singer would often blur the gender lines when it came to his look.
Who could forget the illusion of Prince’s bare ass in that yellow suit he sported at the 1991 MTV VMAs during an electrifying performance of “Gett Off.” Prince’s style has made way for artists like Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes, Lucky Daye, D’Angelo, and many more.
Sound
Not many artists today can call themselves musicians. Prince was that and then some. The trailblazer was a skilled instrumentalist, playing all the instruments on a majority of his records.
However, he wouldn’t be Prince if he didn’t take a step further, developing techniques with new musical technologies like drum machines and synthesizers. Not to mention he was an expert guitarist.
Artistry
If anyone knew a thing about taking risks in the music industry, it was Prince. The “Kiss” singer’s whole career was built on risk-taking, from his fashion to his business deals.
Over two decades ago, it was taboo to discuss certain subjects, like race, sex, and politics, in songs. Unlike today where almost no topic is off limits, Prince used his platform to bring awareness of issues he felt mattered the most. He almost never repeated himself and was never afraid to experiment with other sounds.
It’s been reported that his single “Darling Nikki,” may have triggered the movement that led to the “Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics” warnings we now commonly see on the covers of albums.
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Visuals
In the 80s, Black artists struggled to get airplay on the then upcoming music video channel MTV. Artists like Prince and his 1982 track “Little Red Corvette” paved the way for a more diverse sound and look on the widely popular station.
His 1984 film Purple Rain and the accompanying motion picture soundtrack was a cultural reset.The album spawned several classic records including “Let’s Go Crazy” and “When Doves Cry,” the latter of which garnered the singer backlash for its explicit undertone. In 1985, it was nominated for “Best Choreography” at the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards.
Battle against the industry machine
Prince has been regarded as one of the most skilled and successful musicians of our modern times. However, his most significant accomplishment may arguably be his battle against the music industry. The singer was one of the first artists to call out the corporation over its treatment of artists who were making millions for them.
His biggest fight took place in the early 90s when his original label, Warner Bros, would not allow him to release music at his own pace. In the act of rebellion, “The Artist Formerly Known As Prince” formally adopted the “Love Symbol” as his stage name.
Although his music took a hit, the move brought awareness to an issue that’s still being talked about to this day, even amongst the biggest artists like Frank Ocean, andTaylor Swift, and dozens of others.
It still stands as one of the most high-profile examples of a musician standing up to the major label executives for artistic control and personal freedom.
