|
The Words and Music of Prince (The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection) | 
 enlarge | Author: James E. Perone
Publisher: Praeger Publishers
Category: Book
List Price: $44.95
Buy New: $35.95
You Save: $9.00 (20%)
New (14) Used (5) from $29.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 155119
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.1
ISBN: 0275994740
Dewey Decimal Number: 781.66092
EAN: 9780275994747
ASIN: 0275994740
Publication Date: April 30, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Prince's early albums Dirty Mind, 1999, and Purple Rain, established him as a major force in American pop music. His combination of rock and funk was unique, and drew both critical praise and commercial attention. The 1990s found Prince forming a new group, moving back in the direction of R&B, and eventually adopting an unpronounceable symbol as his moniker. By the end of the millennium, he was again exploring an eclectic collection of musical styles and enjoying a resurgence of interest in his well-known song "1999." Prince is one of the few artists of the entire rock era who successfully bridged the gap between traditional R&B and rock audiences with his musical eclecticism. He now stands among the best-selling pop musicians of the rock era. In this revealing study, author James Perone highlights the complexities and ambiguities of Prince's life work, while at the same time clarifying why it is that Prince remains such a widely popular figure in American music. After a brief introductory biographical treatment, Perone goes on to analyze all of Prince's musical output-both as specific pieces, and as part of a larger body of work. Perone doesn't allow any of the elements of Prince's entertainment career (including his early contractual problems, his series of proteges, his name change, and his views on gender and race) to pass without reflection. As a result The Words and Music of Prince operates as a sort of creative biography for both the man and the artist. The work also includes six illustrations, a bibliography, a discography, and an index.
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Can I Give This Less Than 1 Star???? October 29, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
What a mess of a book. I thought I was going to get an artist insight on the music of Prince - what I got is some guy who clearly isn't a Prince fan but an analyst on Prince's music giving his own misguided opinions and misguiding fans in the process. James Perone gives little new information on what we already know about each and every Prince album and track and for those who do not know Prince - he provides a confusing outlook on what Prince's music was all about. He makes comparisons to Prince with every artist from James Brown to Rick James and in between but with no real substance of why there are similarities. I can compare almost any artist to any other artist by saying they sound like someone else. Yes, Prince is often compared to James Brown and Jimi Hendrix, but we all know that Prince rose above all that and become his own artist that others have imitated and looked up to (Hello, Andre3000). I couldn't get past the reviews for the track "Controversy." How, as a Prince fan or NOT, can you overlook the most controversial part of the song??? Yes, the lyrics are suggestive and personal and give great meaning to it's time, but it's the inclusion of the Lord's Prayer that gives that song it's over the top finesse that only Prince can deliver. I can't continue with this one sided opinion of a book that gives no new insight to the artist that it was written about. I wish I could return this book - instead - in the trash it goes.
 A 'must' for any in-depth appreciation of Prince's works September 12, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Avid fans of Prince and collections catering to fans of rock music will find this a fine in-depth survey covering the basics of Prince's life works, blending an introductory biography of the artist with an in-depth analysis of all his musical pieces both individually and collectively. The author is a professor of music at the college level: his survey offers an outstanding analysis of Prince's purposes and directions and is a 'must' for any in-depth appreciation of Prince's works.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
|
|
|
Disclaimer: This is an Amazon storefront - the products referenced on this site are manufactured and sold by other parties and sold through Amazon.com We make no representations regarding either the products or any information vendors offer about their products. Any questions, complaints, or claims regarding the products must be directed to the appropriate manufacturer or vendor, or to Amazon.com. |
| |
