Our parents grew up when so many amazing musicians and artists—Prince, Elvis, Madonna and more—were in their prime. When they talk about those times as the ‘glory days’, we may roll our eyes, but maybe they are right.
Is music dead to our generation? A few weeks before his death, Prince happened to come up in conversation with my friends, and some of them didn’t even know who he was. I couldn’t believe it.
Growing up in a family full of musicians, vintage record collectors, and music lovers, I’ve luckily been exposed to truly good music. Prince was a favorite, for his great music of course, but also for his skills as an artist, his showmanship, and his one-of-a-kind stage presence.
These traits are hard to come by anymore. Sure, Katy Perry might put on a great show, and Lady Gaga might catch our attention in a dress made of red meat, but are they really the next great legends that will go down as our generation’s stars?
The changing landscape of our music culture now promotes social media stars and celebrities. These people may be talented, but they certainly are not the most talented; they just happen to have the most exposure because of a combination of publicity, money, and luck.
So where will the music industry go from here? Now that a trend of popularity has overtaken the value of great talent, is there any room left for real artists like Prince to rise?
Greg Scott, a Los Angeles musician, comments, “I was lost in the world of everyday pop music, then I was told I had to watch the movie Purple Rain. My music would never be the same. The artistry, energy and hard work he put in to his work will never be matched. Some think that might have lead to his demise. I remember a story that he was told during the creation of Purple Rain he needed a lead single. He went home that night and by the next morning “When Doves Cry” was waiting for the director to hear. Top to bottom written, produced, recorded and performed by Prince.
He is the definition of a true artist. There will never be another one like him. The legacy he left behind will forever pour out of me on stage and into the studio. We, the current generation, of musicians are responsible for holding the Prince “standard.””
Music venues all around the nation have been hosting Prince tributes as a chance for fans to gather and share their love for his music. Watch Greg Scott’s performance of “Darling Nikki” at the Lucky Strike in Los Angeles here.
Prince not only had a great effect on his listeners, but also on the industry itself. He remained in control of his music and his image even when other artists were being molded by their labels. Prince was not only a singer, but a musical innovator. He played many instruments, wrote his own lyrics, was one of the best selling artists of all time, and was named the most influential artist of the rock and roll era.
In hopes of producing next week’s hit, musicians are now pressured to pump out fast-paced, auto-tuned songs with generic lyrics that lack real heart. Few artists follow Prince’s inspiration and continue to push back against the industry, producing music with heart and integrity.
Prince’s passing forces us to say goodbye, but not to Prince himself. Prince will always remain with us through his music. Rather, we must say goodbye to the way music used to be, and ask ourselves, what great musicians remain? Where will the music industry go from here?