Prince: 20 years after the release of the album “Musicology”, the song “ United States Of Division ” i
PRINCE
20 years after the release of the album “ Musicology ”
AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME
THE SONG IS STREAMING ON PLATFORMS
” UNITED STATES OF DIVISION ”
“ Being an independent artist, I can speak on any issue that moves me without worry of censorship in any way.
The sound you hear in Musicology is the sound of that freedom. ”
—Prince
https://prince.lnk.to/UnitedStatesOfDivision
20 years after the release of the famous album ” Musicolog y “, NPG Records and Paisley Park Enterprises in collaboration with Sony Music Entertainment are releasing the song ” United States of Division” for the first time on streaming platforms, the b-side of the single ” Cinnamon Girl”. ” .
“United States Of Division ” ( https://prince.lnk.to/UnitedStatesOfDivisionPR ) is a protest song that sees Prince courageously address the social and political problems that have plagued and continue to plague the United States today. Over backbeat percussion and a hidden bass line, enriched by synthesizers and the intervention of wind instruments, Prince laments the state of a fractured nation: “ How far from heaven must we go? / Before the winds of change will blow and show / This world how it’s supposed to be / Land of peace and harmony ” Released in the midst of the US war in Iraq, “ United States Of Division ” is a powerful reminder of the passion of Prince for social themes, often underestimated.
The release of the new song also celebrates the 20th anniversary of Prince’s historic Musicology Live 2004ever tour, an exceptional series of shows that saw the star hand out copies of his latest album “ Musicology ” to thousands of concertgoers along the tour route. At Prince’s request, the tour featured reasonable ticket prices that encouraged fans young and old to attend the shows. Devised by Prince and his attorney, longtime confidante, and “Musicology” executive producer, L. Londell McMillan, this grassroots approach to album marketing profoundly changed the way the music industry viewed live performances and cemented once again Prince’s status as one of modern music’s great creative visionaries.
Speaking about this period of Prince’s career, McMillan said: «some have called it his comeback, Prince called it “Musicology”. The brilliance of this classic album was combined with the commercial success achieved during his tour with ticket sales, which led to Prince reaching his highest chart position since the 1980s. Prince was simply amazing and the music world owes him for his creativity and innovation.”
In an archival interview from the “ Musicology ” era ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgm58cbu0kw ), Prince described how his creative process had changed at this stage of his career : «This record…remembers that it was made by someone who has been there and returned. I hope people feel that and listen to it with that mindset. Music is music, ultimately. Does it make you feel good? Optimal”.
Approaching its 20th April physical release anniversary, Prince’s “ Musicology ” album was praised by Rolling Stone for its slinky grooves and effortless swing, earning him two Grammy awards and certified double platinum by the RIAA in 2005. This album marked the pinnacle of Prince’s resurgence in the early 2000s, coinciding with his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, where he delivered an iconic solo performance of guitar on a Beatles classic, “ While My Guitar Gently Weeps .” Additionally, he duetted with Beyoncé during that year’s Grammy Awards. The “Musicology” tour was the most profitable of Prince’s career in the United States, with approximately 1.5 million spectators, making it one of the most successful tours of the year. Prince’s Grammy-winning 28th studio album garnered rave reviews from critics and fans, marking a significant shift in the music promotion landscape with its innovative direct-to-fan marketing strategy.
“Musicology” is Prince’s 28th studio album and was first released digitally on March 29, 2004 (in UK stores on April 19, 2004 and in the US the following day). A major critical and commercial success, “Musicology” proved to be Prince’s most successful album in years, reaching #3 on the Billboard Top 200, entering the Top 10 in several other countries and winning two Grammy Awards. Heavily influenced by the R&B and funk of Prince’s youth, “ Musicology ” centered on the theme of musical education for listeners. The Musicology Live 2004ever tour, which was hugely successful, featured affordable tickets and a “direct-to-fan” marketing deal that provided every concert attendee with a copy of the CD. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, “ Musicology ” continues to delight and surprise both new listeners and longtime Prince fans with every listen.
«At the time I listened to many masters – reflects Prince – The sound of Motown, James Brown, Sly Stone… I studied them. I studied how they put their sounds together. And I hope that young musicians today listen to the way I put my sounds together on this record.”
Prince was an iconic American musician, singer, songwriter, bandleader, performer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actor, and pioneer of artists’ rights and freedoms. Born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he released his debut LP “For You” in 1978 and went on to become one of the most successful artists of all time, selling over 150 million albums. Over the course of his 40-year career, his work has received unprecedented praise from critics and numerous official recognitions, including 7 Grammy Awards, 7 Brit Awards, 6 American Music Awards, 4 MTV Video Music Awards, 1 Grammy President’s Merit Award, 1 Billboard Icon Award, 1 Golden Globe and 1 Academy Award (for the best original soundtrack of the film “ Purple Rain” ). His albums “ 1999 ” (1982), “ Purple Rain ” (1984) and “ Sign O’ The Times ” (1987) are often cited in lists of the greatest albums of all time. He has been inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, the UK Music Hall Of Fame, the Rhythm And Blues Music Hall Of Fame and has twice been included in the Black Music & Entertainment Walk Of Fame. Prince was a leader in philanthropy, giving privately and without fanfare to countless charities and causes he supported, and a pioneer in fashion, art, music and virtually all forms of entertainment. Prince is considered by many to be the greatest of all time.
Milan, 8 April 2024