Pop Life

The iconic musician who redefined funk, pop, and soul.

Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, actor, and filmmaker. Often credited as one of the greatest musicians of his generation, he pioneered the Minneapolis sound and was influential in the evolution of various other genres.

Quick Facts

Artist

Prince

Album

Sign o' the Times

Release year

1987

Genre

Funk
New Wave
Pop

Primary theme

Celebrity Culture and Fame

Lore & Background

Prince achieved critical success with the albums Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982). In 1984, he became the first singer to simultaneously have a number-one film, album and single in the United States, with Purple Rain, its soundtrack, and 'When Doves Cry'. After disbanding the Revolution, Prince released his first solo double LP, Sign o' the Times (1987), widely considered his greatest work and one of the greatest albums of all time.

Reader's Guide

The song 'Pop Life' was released as a single from Prince's 1985 album Around the World in a Day, not from Sign o' the Times. Sign o' the Times was Prince's first solo double LP after disbanding the Revolution, but 'Pop Life' is not on that album.

Did You Know?

Prince is said to have written an early song, sometimes referred to as 'Funk Machine', on his father's piano when he was seven years old, though the exact title and details are disputed.
Prince was named after his father's stage name, Prince Rogers.
Prince changed his stage name to the unpronounceable Love Symbol in 1993 during a contractual dispute with Warner Bros.