It's been almost a week since Prince Rogers Nelson died. Like Prince's multi-million fan-base, I'm still in shock and continue to mourn his passing.
To say Prince had an impact on my life is an understatement. My musical taste began and ended with Prince (despite my mother's wishes).
I was about to get baptized at my church in Tuscaloosa, Ala. As part of the ceremony, I had to learn the Lord's Prayer and the Apostle Creed, two crucial p
ieces of giving your life to Christ.
Somehow, Prince provided assistance. I was listening to the radio one afternoon and they played Prince's Controversy. In the extended version of the song, Prince recited the Lord's Prayer.
My cousin, who was stationed overseas in the Army at the time, sent me and my sister a tape of Prince's Controversy album. I got caught listening to the song and reciting the Lord's Prayer.
It didn't go very well. I'd love to repeat what my mother and grandmother said, but for Political Correctness, I decline.
Several years later, my military cousin got us a bootleg copy of Purple Rain before it was released. The movie and album changed my life. I slipped out one night to attend his concert with some friends in Birmingham months after the release. Seeing Prince live was worth the punishment I later received.
The experience inspired me to help name our high school newspaper The Purple Reign.
I didn't like any of Prince's music after Purple Rain, except Adore, mainly because I was chasing this girl at Pre-med (Later becoming the basis for my well-received College Love 101 series at then-Red Rose Publishing).
Rest in Peace, Prince and thanks for the memories.
7 comments:
It is funny how much music ends up meaning to us. I can still remember songs that were playing when big events happened in my life. Prince's Purple Rain was a ground-breaking movie for the time. I had heard he was thinking about doing a sequel. It would have been good to see.
Well written and evocative of Prince's music. I think he touched us all, some more than others but he will never be forgotten.
I heard he was a really nice, generous person. I didn't follow his music much as I'm a product of the 50's and 60's, but I'm sure he was the kind of person you would be proud to call friend.
His next movie, Under the Cherry Moon, in 1986, was a flop! His last one, Graffiti Bridge, in 1990, bombed! I was correct: he could never recapture the magic of Purple Rain...
Prince isn't considered equal to Michael Jackson, mainly because Thriller was considered the greatest album ever made, Purple Rain second. Prince had a chance to sing a part on USA For Africa's "We are the world," but declined. At that point, Prince never did a duet or sang with a group. He was uncomfortable, but later regretted the move.
K.T., I don't know Prince's I.Q., but he was a very intelligent man and very introspective.
Sandy, if not for Michael Jackson, Prince would be the King of Pop. My Mount Rushmore of Music Icons would be Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Prince and Smokey Robinson.
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