David Bowie on the similarities between himself and Prince
There are some songwriters whose artistry never stretches beyond their music, those who never give a second thought to their accompanying persona or visuals. For Prince and David Bowie, that simply wouldn’t do. While their merit was in their music, both were true artists who ensured that their output was filled to the brim with creativity and individuality.
Spawning out of art school in the 1960s, Bowie was primed for stardom. He would continue to sustain a music career for over half a century, during which time he would take on various personas, from the aristocratic Thin White Duke to the iconic, otherworldly Ziggy Stardust. Along the way, he changed his sound just as often and gifted music with some of the most unique and universal songs of all time, including the nostalgia-inducing ‘Heroes’ and the transcendental ‘Starman’.
Just over a decade after Bowie made his debut, Prince began carving his own place in music, infusing it with a similar emphasis on androgyny and artistry. Questioning identity and masculinity, he experimented with and expressed himself through his style – both in music and in fashion. His clear creative vision only served to elevate the iconic status of hits like ‘Purple Rain’ and ‘Kiss’.
While Bowie focused his efforts on a new form of arty, glam rock, Prince veered into realms such as psych and funk, but there was one element that underscored both of their discographies. Their music was always infused with life. Finding success in their singularity, they would both go on to change the course of music, becoming reference points for budding musicians in every generation that succeeded them.
Even Bowie himself once recognised the similarities between his own artistry and Princes. Speaking about their likeness in an interview, he acknowledged, “I know that we share some similarities in as much that we both write much too much.” They certainly were both prolific in their songwriting – Bowie released 26 albums over the course of his career, while Prince released an impressive 42.
The glam rock pioneer also acknowledged the stylistic similarities between the two, stating, “I think he has the same sartorial indulgences that I have.” As two of the most well-dressed rockstars in history, they did both indulge in fashion, though this only served to enhance their artistry.
Bowie concluded by noting some differences between himself and Prince, suggesting, “I think maybe his attention span is a lot more focused than mine. And he has a far tighter genre of music than I do.” Though Prince may have tightened his focus regarding genre, this was never a detriment to Bowie, who thrived on his ever-changing artistry.
Between their unique stylings and enduring sonic output, Bowie and Prince remain two of the most influential names in music. When they both passed away in 2016, they left behind unparalleled artistic legacies.
