Guitar in hand, Prince has been a Rock & Roll juggernaut just as much as R&B or Pop. Throughout his nearly 40-year career, Prince has merged the genres in establishing a sound of his own that’s been hard to pin down.

For “HARDROCKLOVER,” Prince amps up and plugs in with 3rd Eye Girl. In the trademark Prince Rogers Nelson way, the singer portrays a woman who finds her satisfaction through that hard-edged guitar, drums, and bass. Symbolism aside, The Artist uses the moment to—perhaps in character—call out some of the other sounds that just won’t do it. “Rappers tryna be singers” and “Sade and Babyface/R&B ain’t got no place.” Is this describing one woman’s fix? Possibly. Or could it be the outspoken visionary, who shreds the guitar in this song, making some commentary of his own?

One can easily hear the foundation Prince has laid for Miguel and The Weeknd in moments like this, albeit contemporary.

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