And yeah that includes Stevie & MJ

I wanted to wait until Prince month was officially over to post this so as not to get lost in the shuffle... but after the the rash of >>>> posts the last week I almost walked the idea back.

But I'm moving ahead because I really do think it's time to cut all the bullshit and REALLY recognized the most complete package of our lifetime. Other artists might have done this or that better and yeah Prince has a ton of crappy songs ... but when you add everything up, Prince is the greatest all around artist you or I have ever seen. I don't say this to shock or start shit ... I say it because it's the truth... you all might not say it ... but you all know it. That's why some lash out... they hate the fact it's true.

What you have to come to grips with is the fact it's ok to have your personal favorites... you may like more MJ songs and think he's a better singer/dancer ... You may think Stevie made more enjoyable albums and is a better song writer. You can think JB & Sly are funkier, Hendrix is rawer and Sam Cook is smoother.... it's all good. But Prince Rogers Nelson is still simply the greatest.

There are many factors that make this so... but for the sake of time I'm going to just address two...

At the top of the list is the fact that Prince's biggest flaw is also his great strength. Prince has made more bad songs that just about anyone you'd think about putting into GOAT conversation... but what that really says is just how fearless and prolific this man as been. Great men take chances without the fear or shame of failure. Great artists are committed to what they believe in and would rather work than sleep or play.They strive for perfection even if they know deep down it can never be obtained. They know the risks and are willing to deal with the fallout along the way... Prince is like one big nuclear reactor emanating immensely powerful sounds ... and like those reactors waste accumulates along the way.... It's all part of the process. So when you flip the switch on all those great songs, you have to be willing to live with that.

But the thing that really brings it all home is the fact Prince is a rock star in the truest sense. All the rappers out there, that want to sell us on the image they put forth as being a reality, need to study Prince intensely. He has lived the role of himself 24/7 365 from day one. I say "role" because I'm sure there is a real Prince that most of us never even think about ... publicly he has so thoroughly merged with his music and image that the idea of separation is unfathomable.... it's formed a sort of holy trinity that is reaffirmed every time he takes the stage. A Prince show is akin to a revival meeting in that followers are being fed what they came to believe in. It's the reason so many become obsessed... and in turn can become angry when Prince does not live up to a mythological standard Prince himself has created. At that level Prince fandom really does enter a cultish realm but it really does speak to who Prince the icon is. No matter what P does or says that pisses them off ... all can be made right by simply seeing him perform. For them, Prince ripping up the stage is like watching a preacher turn water into wine right before your eyes ... in a world full of let downs and disappointments... Prince live is everything you could want and more.

For those in denial ask yourself this ... What more could Prince really do that he hasn't already done?

Now once I hit "post message" on this shit I know what's going to go down... trust me I'd rather have zero replies than to be right about what I think this will turn into. Because the fact is I'm not saying this for any reason more than it's time the truth is told in a straight forward and honest way. We're all not going to like it ... but that's life.

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