Turn off the lights and close your eyes. Put on a pair of headphones. A truly great song paints a picture in your mind. For a music legend like Stevie Wonder, this was not just a figure of speech. Stevie is blind. But when he listened to a young man from Minnesota named Prince, the music was so vivid that he could actually see it.
Stevie could see Old Man Johnson’s farm. He could clearly see the angry boss who told Prince he would never be anything. He could literally feel the “Purple Rain” falling down.
These two men were absolute giants in the music industry. But behind closed doors, they shared a very deep, quiet friendship. They did not just talk about record sales or shiny awards. They talked about the human heart.
Stevie Wonder et Prince – Superstition – Paris Bercy 01 07 2010
During their very last conversation, Stevie and Prince talked about how to fix a broken world. They wanted to stop the spread of lies and prejudice. They wanted to open people’s minds to beautiful new possibilities. Stevie deeply admired the younger artist. He saw how kind and incredibly disciplined Prince was. He saw a man who always knew exactly where he wanted to go.
Because of this deep respect, Stevie gave his friend the ultimate compliment. He looked at the history of music and made a bold statement. He said that if Michael Jackson was the King of Pop, Prince should be the Emperor.
Stevie Wonder’s full interview about Prince
Prince did not earn that title easily. He was a fighter. He was a norm breaker. He battled the music industry for his total artistic freedom. He never allowed anyone to block his path or tell him how to sound. Stevie compared his massive impact to the Beatles and Marvin Gaye. By bravely following his own unique path, Prince took music to a whole other place.
You do not have to follow the normal rules to be great. If you trust your own unique vision and fight for your freedom, you can build an absolute empire.