[Above] Prince performing at the American
Music Awards in 1985 (YouTube, 2016). As Lionel Ritchie says at the beginning of the video, “It’s
not just for listening anymore, it’s for looking.” A statement which neatly describes
the sentiment of 80s music and Prince’s effect on it.
Prince had a truly eclectic style which makes him typical of
the 80s. He weaved funk, pop, rock, R&B and soul and new wave psychedelic
influences together into his electronically driven sound. This, coupled with his
flamboyant, loud fashion statements made his music a sensory overload –
especially considering the emotion which he performed with. Prince made a
statement with every performance, of his goal he said; “[I don't want to be] judged for the color of my skin but the quality of
my work” (Whiteneir, 2016:4). In this we see how Prince was not only transformative
for music culture, but for the whole of society in the 1980s.
Maybe most notably, Prince subverted the ‘normal’ notions of
masculinity and sexuality. His performances were distinctly erotic at times and
I think his appearance was purposely androgynous. This speaks to Princes interaction
with the society in which he lived, the way he performed and dressed was
indicative of his “defiance of convention and categorization”
(Whiteneir, 2016:5). Many artists displayed similar ideas throughout the decade
in their performance, music and fashion. Madonna being one, and Michael Jackson
another. However, few were as innovative and influential as Prince for identity
in both music and wider society.
If Prince was typical of the 80s in that he was
concerned with challenging masculinity, femininity and the physical image of
sex and music in society then I believe, 35 years from now, with hindsight we
will see the origin of revolution in the music industry towards the dominance of autonomous and self-determined independent musicians beginning in the middle of the second decade of the 2000's.
Above is an audio of All We Got (YouTube, 2016) from Chance the Rapper’s mixtape Coloring Book. Chance is a
great example of the success which independent musicians – those not signed to
a label – are having in recent years. On accepting his 2017 Grammy for Best Rap
Album he said, “This is for every indie artist. Everybody that's been doing
this mixtape stuff for a long ass time” (YouTube, 2017) evidently proud of the
success and recognition he, and others, have recently attained from the wider
music culture for their independently written, produced and marketed work.
In terms of wider context, I think the increasing
proliferation of independent artists can be attributed to societies apathy towards
large corporations and mechanisms which seemingly run society in the 21st
century. I think on the back of this there has been a greater connection with
artists that showcase their skills by themselves avoiding the parameters set by
large music corporations and labels who have monopolised the market. In the US and UK, independent artists have achieved huge things in terms of sales, charting records and awards this past year. The dominance and monopolisation of record label conglomerates will break down, eventually, and I think 2016 is
the beginning of this revolution in the music industry.
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