15 Prince Quotes on Art, Freedom, and Cool
Prince’s appeal and acclaim extend far beyond his musical genius — though that is, no doubt, what initially catapulted him to superstardom in the late 1970s, ’80s, and beyond. The artist, widely considered to be one of the greatest musicians of his generation, was also a rule-breaker, a peace-lover, and an advocate for artistic freedom and expression throughout his lifetime.
Born in 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Prince famously got a record deal with Warner Bros. Records when he was 19, and his star just kept rising from there. In his lifetime, he produced an incredible 42 studio albums, including the ever-popular soundtrack for the 1984 film Purple Rain and his 1982 album, 1999.
He took home seven Grammys and a whopping 33 nominations over the course of his musical career. His sound was a unique blend of funk, soul, R&B, synth-pop, rock, jazz, and even hip-hop, and his voice was distinctly ethereal. In a 2016 Vulture article following Prince’s untimely death at age 57, one critic said, “He could sound innocent, forlorn, bluesy, funny, horny, seductive, desperate, mysterious, and like a cyborg (he does that all over 1999).”
Beyond his dexterous musicality, Prince was also a style icon and progressive trendsetter. He was known for his androgynous wardrobe and gender-fluid fashion sense, often playing with makeup, glitter, and frills in his stage outfits. According to his eldest sibling, Sharon Nelson, Prince especially loved wearing purple because “it made him feel princely.” The color purple has since come to be associated with other characteristics Prince embodied, such as a defiance of gender norms and flamboyance.
Prince was also a huge advocate for women in the music industry, and made a point to have a strong female presence in his bands. In short, he was an artist who walked the walk and truly believed that music could be a way to heal the world. Below, we’ve rounded up 15 of Prince’s most illuminating, insightful quotes through the years, reminders of the enormous, far-reaching legacy he left behind.
