Prince vs. Tchaikovsky
Prince died today at the age of 57, apparently from the effects of a flu attack.
Tchaikovsky passed away on November 6, 1893 at the age of 53, cause uncertain, possible suicide.
I recently snagged The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, edited by his brother Modest, for the laughably low price of $0.99. Over 3,000 letters in one volume reveal a composer driven by curiosity, self-criticism, and relentless improvement. As I read, the contrast with contemporary pop icons becomes striking.
Let’s start with Prince. He was an exceptional singer, a second-rate lyricist, a highly skilled but somewhat limited composer, and a guitar virtuoso with immense technique and versatility-but he lacked a fully original voice. He was also a phenomenal showman.
He wasn’t a genius.
Let’s break this down. Nominally a tenor, Prince had a fluid falsetto and could reach down into the baritone range with confidence. He conveyed the content of his lyrics well but had none of the ability that the great singers–Sinatra, is the epitome here–have, to impart nuance and shadings that cut against the surface meaning of a lyric. Grade: B+
Compare him to Bob Dylan, or earlier masters like Ira Gershwin or Oscar Hammerstein II. Which of Prince’s lyrics belongs in that top tier? Or with James Taylor’s “Mean Old Man?” None. Grade: C+
Let’s let some time pass before we give a final grade to Prince’s ability as a composer. “When Doves Cry” is a terrific track. So is “1999.” My favorite, “Kiss” has great charm. But here’s the thing: every aspect of his art was subordinate to Prince’s desire to project the image of a righteously cool, dispassionate, and superior dude. The brand ruled, but the product suffered as a result. While inventive, his harmonic approach never attained the sophistication of the era’s top composers. Grade (tentative): B+
Anyone who’s spent time in the New York or LA music scenes knows that the A-list of guitarists includes players easily on par with Prince. He was exceptionally skilled, but every generation produces players with a more distinctive voice-Charlie Christian, Chet Atkins, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, John Mayer, Jack Johnson…take your pick. Prince had superb technique and a vivid imagination, yet his influences were often apparent, and deference to his heroes kept him from fully establishing an original style. Grade: A-
Without no doubt, Prince put on a show. Grade: A+
Dive into Tchaikovsky’s letters, and you quickly see what made him remarkable. Smart, humble, and constantly striving to improve-though he did admit he considered himself a better composer than Camille Saint-Saëns and wasn’t shy about criticizing Brahms. Peter Ilich embraced feedback, worked relentlessly on his craft, and never called himself a genius. Yet his “flawed” compositions have endured for 150 years. By contrast, Prince Rogers Nelson was a supremely talented pop musician-let’s leave it at that.
4/21/2016
